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2023.06.10 19:33 zlaxy Exactly 50 years ago, the Soviet architect and restorer Ludwig Heinrich Mavrikievich died
 | Exactly 50 years ago, the Soviet architect and restorer Ludwig Heinrich Mavrikievich died. In recent years his name has become popular in the West as “one of the people caught up in Stalin’s purges, he was killed because of his knowledge about aliens; he was officially accused of being a spy for the Vatican, but in 2011, the Russian paper Top Secret claimed that his work at the Vatican was studying manuscripts that indicated ancient alien contact“. In this vein, his name became known thanks to a popular documentary TV series “Ancient Aliens“, on the History Channel, an episode of “Russia’s Secret Files“. submitted by zlaxy to forgeryreplicafiction [link] [comments] The film claimed: “The reason he was accused of being a spy for the Vatican is because in 1920s, as a young student of architecture, he visited the Vatican, where he was given access to the secret library. In that library, he found manuscripts that describe extraterrestrial civilizations and more. Dr. Genrikh Ludvig discovered a number of manuscripts suggesting that there had been historic extraterrestrial contact with ancient civilizations in Egypt, Israel, and Mesopotamia. These manuscripts that talked, for example, about the pyramids and described them as energy machines.” The film went on to make a bold attempt to identify Russian cosmism with Ancient astronauts. https://preview.redd.it/d2tdkulh785b1.jpg?width=880&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=627947f59ea2362f2a05b7cfc74584983e1ebb06 All such information about Heinrich Ludwig’s connection to Vatican archives and aliens is based on a single Russian-language source – the article “Professor Ludwig’s Worlds” in the Russian newspaper Sovershenno Sekretno (“Top Secret”), written by journalist Vladimir Kucharyants, who, as he himself claims, personally knew Ludwig when was a student at the Institute. The article explains the episode in which the Soviet architect was allowed access to the Vatican archives this way: “He, who was studying the Etruscans and deciphering their language, was extremely interested in the documents held in the Vatican library. In his ‘Herodotus journey’, Rome was one of the key points. At the Vatican he sought permission from the Cardinal, the keeper of the library. As one of his arguments, he cited a terrible Italian swearword that blasphemously commemorated Our Lady… The Cardinal, becoming enraged, wanted to throw him out, but when Ludwig began hastily revealing to him the etymology and esoteric meaning of these words (and it is very different, almost sacred in Etruscans), the Holy Father was so impressed by his knowledge that he not only allowed him into the vault, but also allowed him to photograph the necessary documents.”Apart from this anecdotal episode, the article also claims other contradictory biographical details, such as: “I was brutally beaten at interrogations, demanding confessions of fantastic absurdities: ‘While a member of the VKP(b), I was simultaneously a resident of American, German, Polish, Turkish and Vatican counterintelligence for 15 years, trading in the blood of workers and peasants in the USSR. Prepared the bombing of the Nikolaev grain elevator (I have never been to Nikolaev). Organised the largest assassination attempt in the form of explosion of all bread lines of the USSR. He was a chairman of fascist organisation in the Soviet Union…”. I must say a special word about one subtle trick in the methodology of the investigation. After another refusal by me to testify, the investigator opened the door to the corridor of the Lefortovo prison’s investigation rooms and nodded to someone. Nearby a woman was being brutally beaten. -Do you recognise it? – The investigator gloated. I grew wary, lost in anguished speculation. – You scoundrel, bastard, fascist! You don’t pity your own wife! And we’re only beating her because of you… I’ve never heard my wife scream like that before! When the woman fell unconscious, then /she/ let out a moan, I shouted: – Stop it! I’ll sign everything, just don’t hit my wife. At the dictation of the investigator I signed slanderous testimony against myself…”. Later he found out: it wasn’t his wife who was tortured. His wife, a Party worker, was still living happily in their big, cosy flat on Tverskaya street. She had written a denunciation about her husband.”In this case, according to Kucharyants, this is a fragment of the manuscript, which the professor’s widow herself provided to the journalist. Another source, A.V. Trubetskoy’s memoirs “Paths undiscovered“, mentions another episode relating to the architect Ludwig: “There was a rather famous architect, Heinrich Ludwig, an elderly, grey-haired man with bushy eyebrows (the kind of man who usually smokes a pipe when he is outside). I knew him well. Ludwig told me that he had entered a design competition for the Palace of the Soviets, and his design had been exhibited and published. In the camp Ludwig had a hernia operation and had his navel cut out. The operated one later joked that only Adam, as not being born by a woman, did not have a belly button.”Some more reliable sources report that before the crackdown, Ludwig held the following positions: “head of the architectural workshops of the People’s Commissariat of Health (1934-1935) and the People’s Commissariat of Light Industry (1935-1937) of the USSR, professor at the MIIT, MISI, MVTU, the Military Engineering Academy, director of the MArhI (1936-1937), head of restoration work in the Kremlin, in the Ostankino and Arkhangelskoye estates, the Church of St Basil the Blessed, the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. He has carried out over 200 major projects.” He is considered to be one of the most active figures of the Russian architectural avant-garde. In the words of art historian Selim Omarovich Khan-Magomedov, he “synthesised an artist and an engineer”. It is said that he travelled to Turkey at the personal invitation of Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish nation, who decided to change the face of Ankara, and met with him repeatedly. Ludwig created the design for a Soviet embassy in Turkey, the year after the young Republic of Turkey was founded. He was also the author of competition designs for the monument to Christopher Columbus in Santo Domingo and the Palace of the Soviets in Moscow. https://preview.redd.it/sv1nmy0m785b1.png?width=1485&format=png&auto=webp&s=021ed41072eb149231ec2741c115f43ed0aa085a Artist Vyacheslav Lenkov made this statement in the newspaper Russky Vestnik about the unrealised project of the Palace of the Soviets: “When Stalin finally came to power before the war, he summoned a specialist and told him to scientifically substantiate that this enormous Palace on the site of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour was technically impossible to build. It was Professor Ludwig Heinrich Mavrikievich. He was later reminded of this memo and exiled to Siberia for his German origin, and in the camp his bones were crushed – as if they had been made into a crucifix. Then he could hardly walk, but he came back and taught at our place.”Meanwhile, in the Volga Correctional Labour Camp, Ludwig worked as an architect in the technical department of the Volgostroy NKVD. Later, he was head of construction works, technologist at plant No.1 of the MGB in Yaroslavl; chief architect of the camp in the town of Spassk in the Karaganda region. It may be noted that he worked as an architect in Rybinsk, during the construction of the Rybinsk hydroelectric power station during the flooding of the ancient trade and religious centre, the town of Mologa. The following year after Stalin’s death Heinrich Ludwig was released from the camps (having been convicted under Article 58-6-1 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR, espionage) and rehabilitated a couple of years later. After the exile he taught, was a corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Construction and Architecture, was the editor of the journals “Architecture in the USSR” and “Architecture Abroad”, and was an honorary member of the Institute of Archaeology in Illinois (USA). It is difficult to determine what is reliable information among the many biographical fragments from the life of Heinrich Ludwig and what is not: whether he was a talented architect, innocently condemned by the Soviet system for espionage, or whether he was a “great architect” of Soviet and international secret societies, with a fabricated and mythologized biography, of the rank of Nikolai Alexandrovich Morozov (the forefather and architect of the New Chronology theory, the venerable master of the Zarya Peterburga Lodge). In any case, Ludwig was connected with space not only by hypothetical ancient aliens from “Sovershenno Sekretno” newspaper, but also by close cooperation with Alexander Chizhevsky, a representative of Russian cosmism, who during his lifetime was removed from several leading positions for falsification of scientific research results. It was Ludwig who wrote the first review of one of Chizhevsky’s last manuscripts, “On the Shore of the Universe – Memories of K.E. Tsiolkovsky“, a fragment of which was put on the cover of the posthumous edition. “Nowhere is the personality of K.E. Tsiolkovsky, as a man, so clearly and distinctly portrayed as in the book under consideration… In the literature about K.E. Tsiolkovsky there is nothing more powerful… The work of Professor A.L. Chizhevsky, an eyewitness and friend of the genius scientist, should be called a classic… Professor G.M. Ludwig” |
2023.06.10 19:05 Time_Good_3680 Lyft driver changed my destination without telling me and said we're going to his home
I honestly don't know what to do at this point after what happened during my lyft ride yesterday.
I called a lyft for just myself (female, 28) to go to my sister's apartment in Chicago that was supposed to be a 21 minute drive. As soon as I was matched, I checked to see that this driver had a 5 star rating. I get in his car once he arrives and I asked if his name was M***, but didn't hear him respond as I noticed he had a hearing aid on, so I thought he must be hard of hearing.
The first red flag was when I noticed he got off the expressway 3 exits earlier than where were supposed to exit. It was Friday nearing the end of rush hour traffic so I rolled my eyes thinking he just wanted to bypass the traffic, but I definitely started feeling uneasy. This is an odd thought but I also remember thinking that since he might be deaf he was just zoning out and not paying attention to the directions. I go check what the Lyft app is saying as I'm expecting it to re-navigate now that he exited way early, but I come to find that my app is not loading and I cannot see where we are on the map, and so now I'm relying on the driver's phone on the dashboard that displays the GPS route. After 5 minutes of watching him not follow ANY of the turns/directions, I also notice that the app is now displaying that 15 minutes has been added to the ETA, but the map is still not loading. Now I'm annoyed and anxious because he is not saying at all where we are going and I'm noticing we're in a neighborhood opposite of the direction we are supposed to be heading! I finally speak up after I see him miss another turn and I say "I think you were supposed to turn left" to which he immediately responds in an aggressive, clear, and abrupt tone "I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING". This immediately fires another round of red flags and the following argument ensues:
Me: I don't understand, you're not following the GPS.
M***: I know where I'm going, I'm taking shortcuts.
Me: Have you been to this address before? Is that why you know where you're going? **(at this point we are now taking side streets and he is not at all driving in the general direction of where the final destination should be)
*And this is where things start to get really scary*
M***: I'm driving home.
Me:... We're going to your home?
M***: We're going to a new destination.
Me: WE'RE GOING TO A NEW DESTINATION??
M***: Yes. I'm going home, the new destination.
At this point we are at an intersection where he has to pull up to a stop sign and we are full on arguing. The car behind us honks at us because he's not driving as I'm telling him I don't feel safe as a passenger because he isn't following the directions and I don't know where we're going to which he responds "I'm an officer". At that point I gather my things and say I don't feel safe I'm leaving, you can cancel the ride, but he tells me "no YOU CANCEL THE RIDE".
I run down the street to a Wing Stop where there are people around and call 911 through the safety assistance button (again, my phone is not loading the map, it still thinks I'm in the ride). The dispatcher connects me to an officer to file a report but I'm on hold for 2 minutes so I hang up. I call my sister and explain what happened and she starts ordering me an uber ride (I didn't have uber on my phone BUT I DO NOW), and as I'm waiting THE DRIVER CIRCLES BACK AND PASSES ME, rolls down his window, smiling, and yells out my name. I turn away and run in the other direction where there's more people and start full on crying. Thankfully the uber ride (thank you Evelyn for being so kind and listening to what happened) arrived and I was finally able to cancel my ride (after restarting my phone) and talking to the lyft safety support team.
I screenshotted his license plate and name before I cancelled the ride. Should I file a police report? I told the lyft support team that this driver absolutely needs to be fired as I never felt more in danger of my life. Has this happened to anyone else? When he told me we were going to his home as his new destination I was fully prepared to find the child locks were engaged on the doors but thankfully they were not. I feel like this was so close to a kidnapping and lyft needs to take this seriously. I'm worried that he saved my apartment address since the app took awhile to cancel the ride and he now knows where I live.
submitted by Time_Good_3680 to Lyft [link] [comments]
I called a lyft for just myself (female, 28) to go to my sister's apartment in Chicago that was supposed to be a 21 minute drive. As soon as I was matched, I checked to see that this driver had a 5 star rating. I get in his car once he arrives and I asked if his name was M***, but didn't hear him respond as I noticed he had a hearing aid on, so I thought he must be hard of hearing.
The first red flag was when I noticed he got off the expressway 3 exits earlier than where were supposed to exit. It was Friday nearing the end of rush hour traffic so I rolled my eyes thinking he just wanted to bypass the traffic, but I definitely started feeling uneasy. This is an odd thought but I also remember thinking that since he might be deaf he was just zoning out and not paying attention to the directions. I go check what the Lyft app is saying as I'm expecting it to re-navigate now that he exited way early, but I come to find that my app is not loading and I cannot see where we are on the map, and so now I'm relying on the driver's phone on the dashboard that displays the GPS route. After 5 minutes of watching him not follow ANY of the turns/directions, I also notice that the app is now displaying that 15 minutes has been added to the ETA, but the map is still not loading. Now I'm annoyed and anxious because he is not saying at all where we are going and I'm noticing we're in a neighborhood opposite of the direction we are supposed to be heading! I finally speak up after I see him miss another turn and I say "I think you were supposed to turn left" to which he immediately responds in an aggressive, clear, and abrupt tone "I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING". This immediately fires another round of red flags and the following argument ensues:
Me: I don't understand, you're not following the GPS.
M***: I know where I'm going, I'm taking shortcuts.
Me: Have you been to this address before? Is that why you know where you're going? **(at this point we are now taking side streets and he is not at all driving in the general direction of where the final destination should be)
*And this is where things start to get really scary*
M***: I'm driving home.
Me:... We're going to your home?
M***: We're going to a new destination.
Me: WE'RE GOING TO A NEW DESTINATION??
M***: Yes. I'm going home, the new destination.
At this point we are at an intersection where he has to pull up to a stop sign and we are full on arguing. The car behind us honks at us because he's not driving as I'm telling him I don't feel safe as a passenger because he isn't following the directions and I don't know where we're going to which he responds "I'm an officer". At that point I gather my things and say I don't feel safe I'm leaving, you can cancel the ride, but he tells me "no YOU CANCEL THE RIDE".
I run down the street to a Wing Stop where there are people around and call 911 through the safety assistance button (again, my phone is not loading the map, it still thinks I'm in the ride). The dispatcher connects me to an officer to file a report but I'm on hold for 2 minutes so I hang up. I call my sister and explain what happened and she starts ordering me an uber ride (I didn't have uber on my phone BUT I DO NOW), and as I'm waiting THE DRIVER CIRCLES BACK AND PASSES ME, rolls down his window, smiling, and yells out my name. I turn away and run in the other direction where there's more people and start full on crying. Thankfully the uber ride (thank you Evelyn for being so kind and listening to what happened) arrived and I was finally able to cancel my ride (after restarting my phone) and talking to the lyft safety support team.
I screenshotted his license plate and name before I cancelled the ride. Should I file a police report? I told the lyft support team that this driver absolutely needs to be fired as I never felt more in danger of my life. Has this happened to anyone else? When he told me we were going to his home as his new destination I was fully prepared to find the child locks were engaged on the doors but thankfully they were not. I feel like this was so close to a kidnapping and lyft needs to take this seriously. I'm worried that he saved my apartment address since the app took awhile to cancel the ride and he now knows where I live.
2023.06.10 19:00 SkittishReflections I was Forced to Live a Nightmare
When you're rich enough, you get perks you can only dream of. Literally. But somehow, my paradise turned into hell.
Have you ever had a dream so amazing, you wished you could relive it? Explore it? Relish it? Well, when you're rich enough, you don't have to wish. It's a reality thanks to dream banks. You may have heard of them and their pricy services, which include recording, saving, and projecting dreams.
For example, if you'd like a dream recorded, you can book one of their luxurious suites for the night, where the dream techs will fit you with a special helmet and leave you to rest. The next morning, they'll replay the recorded dream for you via the helmet and ask if you want to shell out the extra bucks to save it. If you don't, they'll delete it and you can pay to book for another time to try again.
If you do decide to save it, you must select an item within the dream that will act as the exit key. (This will come in handy during projections.) While still wearing the helmet, you must touch the item, and the dream techs will label those electric signals as the key.
Afterwards, everything is saved under your name, and you can now relive your dream at any time by booking a suite for three, five, or eight hours. Unlike recordings, during projections, you don't have to wait for sleep to come. After you enjoy a snack of your choice, the helmet is fitted and you're immediately transported to your dream, where you have free will and can enjoy it at your leisure. And if you ever need to leave early, this is when you touch the key, which will shut down the helmet right away.
In my case, the key is the stegosaurus leather rug I have hanging on the wall of my throne room. I never have a reason to touch it otherwise, making it a perfect key. I've also never had to touch it. Experiencing life as an all-powerful, worshipped being who lives on my own planet and hunts dinosaurs in my spare time, I relished my dream to the last second.
Yes, the fees are exorbitant, but at the time, I felt it was worth it. The techs were skilled, the system was sleek, and the dreams were private. Each could only be unlocked by the unique brainwaves of the dreamer.
Or so I thought.
My literal nightmare began when I booked a five-hour projection on a rainy Friday afternoon. After taking a sip of champagne to wash down the cranberry brie bites, I settled into the cool silk sheets with a smile. My usual dream tech smiled back as she fastened my helmet, and the last thing I heard was her wishing me pleasant dreams before I was plunged into darkness.
I waited for the split-second adjustment from reality to the dream world, and my confusion grew when I didn't find myself on my throne surrounded by fawning gods and goddesses.
Instead, I found myself in the middle of an endless street. Alone. There were no cars, no life, not even wind. Towering street lamps lined the sidewalk as far as I could see, arcing over the road and tinting everything an eerie red. Behind them, identical buildings stood side by side, silent, their dark, narrow windows hollow.
My pulse spiking, I whipped around. The other direction was just as endless. Uneasy confusion prickled beneath my skin. This had to be someone else's dream. The techs must have made a mistake. I didn't know how it was possible, but there was no other explanation.
My unease piqued as my situation sank in. I was in a stranger's dream and I didn't know the key. I was stuck here until my five hours ran out. Or until the techs realized their mistake. I was ready to rip them a new one once I was out, but until then, I had no choice but to wait.
I studied my surroundings with a frown before I walked over to the curb and sat down, and that was when I noticed I couldn't feel anything. I also noticed I was naked. It didn't matter. There was no one here, and none of this was real anyway.
Time passed, and I tried to distract myself from my nettled offense by humming, but no sound came out. Sitting up, I took a deep breath and screamed. Not even a squeak was heard. I slapped my hand against the ground. Nothing. This place was like a black hole of the senses.
Sighing, I lay down on my back and stared at the red light above me, wondering if I could fall asleep in a dream. I tried, but the more I wished to escape this silent, crimson prison, the more it seemed to come into focus. Soon, the utter lack of noise and movement grew from slightly unnerving to completely intolerable.
There was no way I could wait. I'd go insane. I had to get out of here. I had to find the key.
Jumping up, I ran to the nearest building and wrenched open the door, and a pitch black void greeted me. I gasped, and gasped again as it felt like my very breath was being suctioned out of my lungs. Panicking, silent wheezes rattled in my chest as I struggled to yank myself out of the vacuum, jerking my limbs and bucking my body until I toppled over backwards on the sidewalk.
Gulping in fitful breaths, I scrambled to my feet and ran down the road without looking back, my wide eyes scanning the horizon for salvation. I just wanted out of here, but the hellish path stretched on forever, making me feel like I was running in place as every identical building and street lamp mocked me. Even my silent stomping and mute panting served to draw insanity closer.
And then, a person showed up.
There, in the distance.
With my hope spurred, I raced towards them, desperate. I didn't care who they were. I needed to break this monotony.
As I got closer, hope morphed to confusion, and then to despair. The person was me. It was a mirror, propped up across the entire street.
Sweat-soaked, I slowed down to a jog before I stopped right in front of my reflection. It was me alright, naked, exhausted, and frustrated. But the eyes, something was off about the eyes. With an anxious frown, I stepped closer, staring into them, and they stared back …
… until they glanced behind me.
I gasped and jumped away, and so did my reflection … before it glanced over my shoulder again.
A chill trickled down my spine. My reflection had nothing behind it but the empty street, so I gulped and turned around, and my mouth fell open in a silent scream as a lovecraftian behemoth barrelled its way towards me. With its slick shell gleaming red beneath the lights, it slammed down one spiny tentacle after the other as its five mouths bared their dripping, concentric fangs.
Drenched in undiluted horror, tremors gripped my body as I stumbled away until my back was against the mirror. I knew death was a foolproof key in a dream, but I didn't know if this creature would kill me right away or leave me to suffer in agony until my five hours were up.
With it only inches away, I squeezed my eyes shut and pressed myself into the mirror, and my stomach flipped as I fell backwards. I opened my mouth to gasp, but there was nothing for me to draw in. Floating in an airless void, I flailed and thrashed, my wild eyes scanning the darkness for answers as I began to spin around.
Although death would free me, one of my greatest fears was suffocating. On one of my weightless rotations, a red, glass cube passed me by, and I grabbed it, hoping it was a breathing device. I brought it close to my face, and I gawked at what it held within.
Me.
Surrounded by identical buildings and red street lamps while a lovecraftian behemoth tore me apart.
Horrified, I threw the cube as far as I could and increased my efforts to escape this void. Yet all the flailing and thrashing was for naught as the darkness revealed no end. My eyesight began to go red as my lungs spasmed, and I clawed at my throat as my pulse stuttered in my chest.
The red kept growing and growing until it engulfed my entire vision, and I gave up. There was nothing to do but face my fears and die. With my straining heart lumbering, I let myself go limp as I stared at the red and waited.
And waited.
And waited.
I wasn't dying.
In fact, I could breathe just fine.
Frowning, I opened my eyes, and intense unease spread through my core. Above me, a red moon had taken up the entire sky, each one of its craters crystal clear, like eyes watching me. I turned my head away, and I realized I was in a park, laying down on the grass. Sitting up, I blinked in surprise at the pond right beside me, its opaque water reflecting the moon's red light. Ducks were swimming in a circle across its surface, their movements smooth with nary a splash.
Trees surrounded us, so dense I couldn't tell when one began and the other ended. It was mind-numbingly quiet here as well, and I still couldn't feel anything or make any noise, but at least the ducks were moving. This place seemed more tolerable than the last, and I was willing to wait out my five hours here. I hoped at least an hour had passed already, but with dreams, one never knew. All I knew was that I was too exhausted to search for the key. And too scared. I didn't know whose dream this was, but they had to be masochistic if they saved this nightmare.
Curling up beside the pond, I worked on calming myself down as I watched the ducks swim in their systematic circle over and over and over. I tried counting the rotations the way one would count sheep, but that still didn't lull me to sleep. I wished I'd chosen the three-hour projection, but at least I hadn't chosen the eight-hour one.
Distorted circus music crackled around me and I jolted up, my heart ricocheting in my chest. There was finally sound, but the last thing I wanted to hear was a cliche horror movie soundtrack. Gulping, I looked around. The music was coming from the trees, and my stomach dropped when I spied a shadow behind one of them. Then another. And another. They emerged into the crimson moonlight, and my blood turned to ice.
Clowns.
I whipped around, trembling to the rhythm of my frantic pulse. They were surrounding me. Dozens of them. As classic as any clown could be. Colorful clothes, big shoes, silly hair, exaggerated makeup. I wasn't scared of clowns, as long as they were where they belonged. And they didn't belong here, staring at me with big, empty eyes and yellow, toothy grins.
I tried to convince myself that they weren't dangerous since they didn't have weapons and didn't seem monstrous, but when they took a step closer in unison, I jumped back, nearly falling into the pond. The ducks remained oblivious, still swimming in their circle. The distorted circus music got louder, and my hair stood on end when I saw the grass ripple in front of each clown. They were sending something my way through the ground.
Panicking, I jumped into the pond, and I screamed as I sank right in. There was no bottom. There was no water either. The pond was filled with red, translucent spheres, each the size of a tennis ball. Still able to breathe, I began swimming through the spheres with clumsy breast strokes, just hoping I could end up as far away from the clowns as possible.
After swimming for what felt like enough time, I tried to swim up, until I realized I had no idea which direction I was facing. Remember a trick for those stuck in avalanches, I spat, but my glob of saliva just hovered in front of me. Before panic could set in, I noticed what looked like an office desk floating amidst the spheres in the distance. After blinking a few times to make sure it was really there, I swam towards it, desperate for any change in my situation.
It was an office desk, a wooden one with carved borders and locked drawers. Tucked beneath it was a stool, and the moment I pulled it out and set it under my ass, an office replaced the red spheres.
I grunted as gravity returned, and I looked around in bewilderment at the cluttered bookshelves and grimy floors. Dust was floating everywhere, highlighted by the red light filtering in through the blinds behind me. I jumped as a clock hanging on the wall chimed. Its glass was too dirty for me to tell the time, but I was glad I could hear. I coughed at the dust. And I could make noise. I dusted my hands. And I could feel. I could even smell, which I now wished I couldn't as I wrinkled my nose at the faint stench of rot.
After failing to read the spines of some of the books on the shelves, I studied the shadowy corners of the room. A slack-jawed skeleton hung in the far end, and a faded poster with anatomical diagrams curled off a cupboard. This had to be a doctor's office. Was the creator of this dream a doctor?
A silhouette slid in front of the frosted glass door, and I gulped as the knob began to turn. A hand reached in, gripping the edge one finger at a time, and my heart dropped as I knew this horror cliche was only going to be followed by another. Having no time to think, I slid off the stool and crouched beneath the desk, my hand over my mouth as cobwebs clung to me.
Praying spiders wouldn't swarm me, I peeked through a small slit in the wood, and I froze when an emaciated nurse walked in the room. Layers upon layers of blood coated her scrubs, so much so that I couldn't even tell what color they originally were. She had no shoes. No feet either. Just ankle stubs, and my stomach turned as I heard bone clunk against the tiles.
A surgical mask covered her face, as bloodstained as her scrubs, and grimy lab goggles obscured her eyes. I was grateful, because judging by the pus leaking out of her scabbed, balding scalp, I didn't want to know what her face looked like. The closer she got, the stronger the stench of rot became, and I struggled to keep myself from retching.
She stopped halfway into the room, and I gawked at her hands. They were transforming. Her fingers elongating into razor-edged blades. She then began to hunch over, and I cringed as her spine cracked and popped until she was as bent as a candy cane, her face staring at her pelvis.
As if that wasn't unsettling enough, her head creaked as it spun around 180 degrees, now facing the front, upside down. Right after, her arms shot to the ground, and I watched with increasing dread as she bent them at the elbows and wrists so they flanked her head like distorted T-Rex arms.
She spread her fingers out and took a few more steps towards me, and I held my breath, hoping she couldn't hear my rabid heart or smell my fear. Her ankle bones clicked and clacked against the tiles as she made her way around the desk, and I cowered as my frantic eyes searched for a weapon. I found none, but I did spy a brass button beside my head.
With her legs now an arms distance away, I had nothing to lose as I jammed my thumb into the button. The back of the desk flung open, and I scrambled to my feet and dashed out from my hiding place, screaming in response to the nurse screeching behind me. Bursting through the door, I held up my fists and began punching like a maniac in fearful anticipation of a horde of nurses swarming me.
Except I was no longer in a hospital. I was in an outdoor parking lot. Alone. And judging by the roiling red clouds, a storm was brewing. After a second to collect my bearings, I dove into the closest car, thankful it was unlocked. The moment I slammed the door shut, lightning blinded me as thunder cracked and the downpour began. Sighing in relief, I tried to shake away my adrenaline, but the bloodshot eyes in my rearview mirror reignited my panic.
Before I could react, a belt snapped over my neck, pinning my head back against the headrest. With a frightened wheeze, I clawed at the leather, and I flinched as hot, heavy breath wafted across my ear. Gagging at the putrid smell, I reached over, desperate to scratch my strangler's face or poke their eyes out.
I felt their greasy hair and tried to pull it, but my fingers refused to hold on. I tried again and again, using my nails for purchase, but the strands just kept slipping out of my weak grip. Shifting focus, I tried to claw at their eyes, but it felt as though I was moving through molasses as my hand slid down their face. Once I felt a wet, bulbous eye, I tried to scratch it, but I didn't have enough strength to do anything damage.
My frustration clashed with my terror and I tried to punch them, but my arm swung back in slow motion and merely prodded a stubbly cheek. Tears welled in my eyes as I writhed and gasped, my strangler's laugh adding insult to injury. Despite knowing death will set me free, fear and self-preservation rummaged through my mind, searching for a solution. And they found one.
Hoping I had enough grip and energy, I reached down and found the reclining lever. Wrapping my fingers around it tight, I jerked it up and heaved my body back, and I gulped in a deep breath as I fell backwards, the belt now slack. Not at all prepared to face my attacker, I slipped out from beneath the belt, flung open the door, and zoomed out into the storm.
Sheets of rain obscured my vision, but not enough for me to see that the keys were left inside a red convertible. After making sure no one was hiding in the back, I jumped in, started the engine, and took off, the wheels squealing through the puddles. A sole street curled down a hill, and I took it, adrenaline pumping in waves through my quivering body.
This rush was a confusing mixture of exhilaration and apprehension. I wanted out, but I wasn't giving up. I made it this far, and I was going to survive every cliche this masochist dreamed up. Sharks? Snakes? Zombies? Bring it on. And afterwards, I was going to detail every single trial and tribulation I went through as I sued the dream bank for all the trauma they caused me.
Up ahead, the road curved, and I gasped as it ended in a cliff. I slammed the breaks, but they didn't do anything. Breaking out in a cold sweat, I slammed them again and again as I yanked the hand break as far as it would go. The car refused to slow down, and I cursed myself for not anticipating this cliche. In a move of desperation, I swerved, but it wasn't enough as the car careened over the edge and took me with it.
My heart hung in my throat as I hung on to the steering wheel, my knuckles white, my screams frozen in my lungs, the raindrops like needles. An endless body of water spread below me, and I knew sharks were my next challenge. I screwed my eyes shut as I awaited the inevitable plunge …
… and I gasped as the car crashed against the surface.
I lurched forward, and I cried out as I bashed my forehead against the wheel. Groaning, I leaned back, my ears ringing as I looked around, disoriented. I was still in the convertible, but we were right side up, having crashed into the concrete wall of an indoor garage. Blood trickled down my face and I reached up, only to feel around my head in shock.
I was wearing the helmet.
Why was it in the dream?
Or had I made it out?
I looked down. I wasn't naked. My pyjamas were plastered to my sweat-soaked skin. I was out. I looked around at the broken glass and mangled metal in confusion. But if I was finally out, why was I in a car and not between silk sheets?
I removed the helmet, and a yell from behind made me jump. I turned to see one of the dream techs running towards me. Was she always that skinny? And why were her scrubs red instead of the usual blue?
She made it to me, panting as she took the helmet out of my hands, and I wrinkled my nose at her unpleasant breath. She said I'd had a nightmare and began sleepwalking, and I'd left the dream bank and stole a car from their underground parking before she triggered a wake-up signal in the helmet, which made me crash.
I stared at her, not believing what I was hearing. I told her I'd booked a projection, not a recording, and she gave me a concerned frown and claimed the opposite. Anger replaced my confusion, and I called her a liar and accused them of misconduct, and she reminded me that dreams can only be unlocked by the dreamer.
Furious, I cursed at her as I tried to get out of the car, demanding to see my file. She was quick to tell me not to move in case I made my injuries worse as she pulled out her phone and said she was going to call an ambulance.
While I sat there and waited, fuming, I glimpsed my reflection in the dangling rearview mirror. Unease rippled beneath my skin and I sat up, grabbing the mirror and angling it to show my neck.
There was an angry red mark across it.
As though I was recently strangled.
Trembling, I tilted the mirror up.
Cobwebs. Stuck in my hair.
Dumbstruck in utter stupefaction, I scanned the rest of my body. My pyjamas were dirty and there was black under my fingernails, but the rest of my examination was cut short by tinny circus music. A chill jolted down my spine and I whipped my head to face the dream tech. That was her ringtone. She smiled as she answered the call, and I drew back at her yellow, toothy grin.
What was going on? I was out of the dream, I knew I was. Had everything been real? What had the dream bank done with me? Done to me?
Ambulance sirens wailed as they entered the underground parking, and the flashing red lights reflecting off the walls triggered my recent traumas. With terror-fueled adrenaline flooding my veins, I jerked my legs free of the wreck, jumped out of the car, and booked it, the dream tech's yells merging with the screeching sirens behind me.
SR
submitted by SkittishReflections to nosleep [link] [comments]
Have you ever had a dream so amazing, you wished you could relive it? Explore it? Relish it? Well, when you're rich enough, you don't have to wish. It's a reality thanks to dream banks. You may have heard of them and their pricy services, which include recording, saving, and projecting dreams.
For example, if you'd like a dream recorded, you can book one of their luxurious suites for the night, where the dream techs will fit you with a special helmet and leave you to rest. The next morning, they'll replay the recorded dream for you via the helmet and ask if you want to shell out the extra bucks to save it. If you don't, they'll delete it and you can pay to book for another time to try again.
If you do decide to save it, you must select an item within the dream that will act as the exit key. (This will come in handy during projections.) While still wearing the helmet, you must touch the item, and the dream techs will label those electric signals as the key.
Afterwards, everything is saved under your name, and you can now relive your dream at any time by booking a suite for three, five, or eight hours. Unlike recordings, during projections, you don't have to wait for sleep to come. After you enjoy a snack of your choice, the helmet is fitted and you're immediately transported to your dream, where you have free will and can enjoy it at your leisure. And if you ever need to leave early, this is when you touch the key, which will shut down the helmet right away.
In my case, the key is the stegosaurus leather rug I have hanging on the wall of my throne room. I never have a reason to touch it otherwise, making it a perfect key. I've also never had to touch it. Experiencing life as an all-powerful, worshipped being who lives on my own planet and hunts dinosaurs in my spare time, I relished my dream to the last second.
Yes, the fees are exorbitant, but at the time, I felt it was worth it. The techs were skilled, the system was sleek, and the dreams were private. Each could only be unlocked by the unique brainwaves of the dreamer.
Or so I thought.
My literal nightmare began when I booked a five-hour projection on a rainy Friday afternoon. After taking a sip of champagne to wash down the cranberry brie bites, I settled into the cool silk sheets with a smile. My usual dream tech smiled back as she fastened my helmet, and the last thing I heard was her wishing me pleasant dreams before I was plunged into darkness.
I waited for the split-second adjustment from reality to the dream world, and my confusion grew when I didn't find myself on my throne surrounded by fawning gods and goddesses.
Instead, I found myself in the middle of an endless street. Alone. There were no cars, no life, not even wind. Towering street lamps lined the sidewalk as far as I could see, arcing over the road and tinting everything an eerie red. Behind them, identical buildings stood side by side, silent, their dark, narrow windows hollow.
My pulse spiking, I whipped around. The other direction was just as endless. Uneasy confusion prickled beneath my skin. This had to be someone else's dream. The techs must have made a mistake. I didn't know how it was possible, but there was no other explanation.
My unease piqued as my situation sank in. I was in a stranger's dream and I didn't know the key. I was stuck here until my five hours ran out. Or until the techs realized their mistake. I was ready to rip them a new one once I was out, but until then, I had no choice but to wait.
I studied my surroundings with a frown before I walked over to the curb and sat down, and that was when I noticed I couldn't feel anything. I also noticed I was naked. It didn't matter. There was no one here, and none of this was real anyway.
Time passed, and I tried to distract myself from my nettled offense by humming, but no sound came out. Sitting up, I took a deep breath and screamed. Not even a squeak was heard. I slapped my hand against the ground. Nothing. This place was like a black hole of the senses.
Sighing, I lay down on my back and stared at the red light above me, wondering if I could fall asleep in a dream. I tried, but the more I wished to escape this silent, crimson prison, the more it seemed to come into focus. Soon, the utter lack of noise and movement grew from slightly unnerving to completely intolerable.
There was no way I could wait. I'd go insane. I had to get out of here. I had to find the key.
Jumping up, I ran to the nearest building and wrenched open the door, and a pitch black void greeted me. I gasped, and gasped again as it felt like my very breath was being suctioned out of my lungs. Panicking, silent wheezes rattled in my chest as I struggled to yank myself out of the vacuum, jerking my limbs and bucking my body until I toppled over backwards on the sidewalk.
Gulping in fitful breaths, I scrambled to my feet and ran down the road without looking back, my wide eyes scanning the horizon for salvation. I just wanted out of here, but the hellish path stretched on forever, making me feel like I was running in place as every identical building and street lamp mocked me. Even my silent stomping and mute panting served to draw insanity closer.
And then, a person showed up.
There, in the distance.
With my hope spurred, I raced towards them, desperate. I didn't care who they were. I needed to break this monotony.
As I got closer, hope morphed to confusion, and then to despair. The person was me. It was a mirror, propped up across the entire street.
Sweat-soaked, I slowed down to a jog before I stopped right in front of my reflection. It was me alright, naked, exhausted, and frustrated. But the eyes, something was off about the eyes. With an anxious frown, I stepped closer, staring into them, and they stared back …
… until they glanced behind me.
I gasped and jumped away, and so did my reflection … before it glanced over my shoulder again.
A chill trickled down my spine. My reflection had nothing behind it but the empty street, so I gulped and turned around, and my mouth fell open in a silent scream as a lovecraftian behemoth barrelled its way towards me. With its slick shell gleaming red beneath the lights, it slammed down one spiny tentacle after the other as its five mouths bared their dripping, concentric fangs.
Drenched in undiluted horror, tremors gripped my body as I stumbled away until my back was against the mirror. I knew death was a foolproof key in a dream, but I didn't know if this creature would kill me right away or leave me to suffer in agony until my five hours were up.
With it only inches away, I squeezed my eyes shut and pressed myself into the mirror, and my stomach flipped as I fell backwards. I opened my mouth to gasp, but there was nothing for me to draw in. Floating in an airless void, I flailed and thrashed, my wild eyes scanning the darkness for answers as I began to spin around.
Although death would free me, one of my greatest fears was suffocating. On one of my weightless rotations, a red, glass cube passed me by, and I grabbed it, hoping it was a breathing device. I brought it close to my face, and I gawked at what it held within.
Me.
Surrounded by identical buildings and red street lamps while a lovecraftian behemoth tore me apart.
Horrified, I threw the cube as far as I could and increased my efforts to escape this void. Yet all the flailing and thrashing was for naught as the darkness revealed no end. My eyesight began to go red as my lungs spasmed, and I clawed at my throat as my pulse stuttered in my chest.
The red kept growing and growing until it engulfed my entire vision, and I gave up. There was nothing to do but face my fears and die. With my straining heart lumbering, I let myself go limp as I stared at the red and waited.
And waited.
And waited.
I wasn't dying.
In fact, I could breathe just fine.
Frowning, I opened my eyes, and intense unease spread through my core. Above me, a red moon had taken up the entire sky, each one of its craters crystal clear, like eyes watching me. I turned my head away, and I realized I was in a park, laying down on the grass. Sitting up, I blinked in surprise at the pond right beside me, its opaque water reflecting the moon's red light. Ducks were swimming in a circle across its surface, their movements smooth with nary a splash.
Trees surrounded us, so dense I couldn't tell when one began and the other ended. It was mind-numbingly quiet here as well, and I still couldn't feel anything or make any noise, but at least the ducks were moving. This place seemed more tolerable than the last, and I was willing to wait out my five hours here. I hoped at least an hour had passed already, but with dreams, one never knew. All I knew was that I was too exhausted to search for the key. And too scared. I didn't know whose dream this was, but they had to be masochistic if they saved this nightmare.
Curling up beside the pond, I worked on calming myself down as I watched the ducks swim in their systematic circle over and over and over. I tried counting the rotations the way one would count sheep, but that still didn't lull me to sleep. I wished I'd chosen the three-hour projection, but at least I hadn't chosen the eight-hour one.
Distorted circus music crackled around me and I jolted up, my heart ricocheting in my chest. There was finally sound, but the last thing I wanted to hear was a cliche horror movie soundtrack. Gulping, I looked around. The music was coming from the trees, and my stomach dropped when I spied a shadow behind one of them. Then another. And another. They emerged into the crimson moonlight, and my blood turned to ice.
Clowns.
I whipped around, trembling to the rhythm of my frantic pulse. They were surrounding me. Dozens of them. As classic as any clown could be. Colorful clothes, big shoes, silly hair, exaggerated makeup. I wasn't scared of clowns, as long as they were where they belonged. And they didn't belong here, staring at me with big, empty eyes and yellow, toothy grins.
I tried to convince myself that they weren't dangerous since they didn't have weapons and didn't seem monstrous, but when they took a step closer in unison, I jumped back, nearly falling into the pond. The ducks remained oblivious, still swimming in their circle. The distorted circus music got louder, and my hair stood on end when I saw the grass ripple in front of each clown. They were sending something my way through the ground.
Panicking, I jumped into the pond, and I screamed as I sank right in. There was no bottom. There was no water either. The pond was filled with red, translucent spheres, each the size of a tennis ball. Still able to breathe, I began swimming through the spheres with clumsy breast strokes, just hoping I could end up as far away from the clowns as possible.
After swimming for what felt like enough time, I tried to swim up, until I realized I had no idea which direction I was facing. Remember a trick for those stuck in avalanches, I spat, but my glob of saliva just hovered in front of me. Before panic could set in, I noticed what looked like an office desk floating amidst the spheres in the distance. After blinking a few times to make sure it was really there, I swam towards it, desperate for any change in my situation.
It was an office desk, a wooden one with carved borders and locked drawers. Tucked beneath it was a stool, and the moment I pulled it out and set it under my ass, an office replaced the red spheres.
I grunted as gravity returned, and I looked around in bewilderment at the cluttered bookshelves and grimy floors. Dust was floating everywhere, highlighted by the red light filtering in through the blinds behind me. I jumped as a clock hanging on the wall chimed. Its glass was too dirty for me to tell the time, but I was glad I could hear. I coughed at the dust. And I could make noise. I dusted my hands. And I could feel. I could even smell, which I now wished I couldn't as I wrinkled my nose at the faint stench of rot.
After failing to read the spines of some of the books on the shelves, I studied the shadowy corners of the room. A slack-jawed skeleton hung in the far end, and a faded poster with anatomical diagrams curled off a cupboard. This had to be a doctor's office. Was the creator of this dream a doctor?
A silhouette slid in front of the frosted glass door, and I gulped as the knob began to turn. A hand reached in, gripping the edge one finger at a time, and my heart dropped as I knew this horror cliche was only going to be followed by another. Having no time to think, I slid off the stool and crouched beneath the desk, my hand over my mouth as cobwebs clung to me.
Praying spiders wouldn't swarm me, I peeked through a small slit in the wood, and I froze when an emaciated nurse walked in the room. Layers upon layers of blood coated her scrubs, so much so that I couldn't even tell what color they originally were. She had no shoes. No feet either. Just ankle stubs, and my stomach turned as I heard bone clunk against the tiles.
A surgical mask covered her face, as bloodstained as her scrubs, and grimy lab goggles obscured her eyes. I was grateful, because judging by the pus leaking out of her scabbed, balding scalp, I didn't want to know what her face looked like. The closer she got, the stronger the stench of rot became, and I struggled to keep myself from retching.
She stopped halfway into the room, and I gawked at her hands. They were transforming. Her fingers elongating into razor-edged blades. She then began to hunch over, and I cringed as her spine cracked and popped until she was as bent as a candy cane, her face staring at her pelvis.
As if that wasn't unsettling enough, her head creaked as it spun around 180 degrees, now facing the front, upside down. Right after, her arms shot to the ground, and I watched with increasing dread as she bent them at the elbows and wrists so they flanked her head like distorted T-Rex arms.
She spread her fingers out and took a few more steps towards me, and I held my breath, hoping she couldn't hear my rabid heart or smell my fear. Her ankle bones clicked and clacked against the tiles as she made her way around the desk, and I cowered as my frantic eyes searched for a weapon. I found none, but I did spy a brass button beside my head.
With her legs now an arms distance away, I had nothing to lose as I jammed my thumb into the button. The back of the desk flung open, and I scrambled to my feet and dashed out from my hiding place, screaming in response to the nurse screeching behind me. Bursting through the door, I held up my fists and began punching like a maniac in fearful anticipation of a horde of nurses swarming me.
Except I was no longer in a hospital. I was in an outdoor parking lot. Alone. And judging by the roiling red clouds, a storm was brewing. After a second to collect my bearings, I dove into the closest car, thankful it was unlocked. The moment I slammed the door shut, lightning blinded me as thunder cracked and the downpour began. Sighing in relief, I tried to shake away my adrenaline, but the bloodshot eyes in my rearview mirror reignited my panic.
Before I could react, a belt snapped over my neck, pinning my head back against the headrest. With a frightened wheeze, I clawed at the leather, and I flinched as hot, heavy breath wafted across my ear. Gagging at the putrid smell, I reached over, desperate to scratch my strangler's face or poke their eyes out.
I felt their greasy hair and tried to pull it, but my fingers refused to hold on. I tried again and again, using my nails for purchase, but the strands just kept slipping out of my weak grip. Shifting focus, I tried to claw at their eyes, but it felt as though I was moving through molasses as my hand slid down their face. Once I felt a wet, bulbous eye, I tried to scratch it, but I didn't have enough strength to do anything damage.
My frustration clashed with my terror and I tried to punch them, but my arm swung back in slow motion and merely prodded a stubbly cheek. Tears welled in my eyes as I writhed and gasped, my strangler's laugh adding insult to injury. Despite knowing death will set me free, fear and self-preservation rummaged through my mind, searching for a solution. And they found one.
Hoping I had enough grip and energy, I reached down and found the reclining lever. Wrapping my fingers around it tight, I jerked it up and heaved my body back, and I gulped in a deep breath as I fell backwards, the belt now slack. Not at all prepared to face my attacker, I slipped out from beneath the belt, flung open the door, and zoomed out into the storm.
Sheets of rain obscured my vision, but not enough for me to see that the keys were left inside a red convertible. After making sure no one was hiding in the back, I jumped in, started the engine, and took off, the wheels squealing through the puddles. A sole street curled down a hill, and I took it, adrenaline pumping in waves through my quivering body.
This rush was a confusing mixture of exhilaration and apprehension. I wanted out, but I wasn't giving up. I made it this far, and I was going to survive every cliche this masochist dreamed up. Sharks? Snakes? Zombies? Bring it on. And afterwards, I was going to detail every single trial and tribulation I went through as I sued the dream bank for all the trauma they caused me.
Up ahead, the road curved, and I gasped as it ended in a cliff. I slammed the breaks, but they didn't do anything. Breaking out in a cold sweat, I slammed them again and again as I yanked the hand break as far as it would go. The car refused to slow down, and I cursed myself for not anticipating this cliche. In a move of desperation, I swerved, but it wasn't enough as the car careened over the edge and took me with it.
My heart hung in my throat as I hung on to the steering wheel, my knuckles white, my screams frozen in my lungs, the raindrops like needles. An endless body of water spread below me, and I knew sharks were my next challenge. I screwed my eyes shut as I awaited the inevitable plunge …
… and I gasped as the car crashed against the surface.
I lurched forward, and I cried out as I bashed my forehead against the wheel. Groaning, I leaned back, my ears ringing as I looked around, disoriented. I was still in the convertible, but we were right side up, having crashed into the concrete wall of an indoor garage. Blood trickled down my face and I reached up, only to feel around my head in shock.
I was wearing the helmet.
Why was it in the dream?
Or had I made it out?
I looked down. I wasn't naked. My pyjamas were plastered to my sweat-soaked skin. I was out. I looked around at the broken glass and mangled metal in confusion. But if I was finally out, why was I in a car and not between silk sheets?
I removed the helmet, and a yell from behind made me jump. I turned to see one of the dream techs running towards me. Was she always that skinny? And why were her scrubs red instead of the usual blue?
She made it to me, panting as she took the helmet out of my hands, and I wrinkled my nose at her unpleasant breath. She said I'd had a nightmare and began sleepwalking, and I'd left the dream bank and stole a car from their underground parking before she triggered a wake-up signal in the helmet, which made me crash.
I stared at her, not believing what I was hearing. I told her I'd booked a projection, not a recording, and she gave me a concerned frown and claimed the opposite. Anger replaced my confusion, and I called her a liar and accused them of misconduct, and she reminded me that dreams can only be unlocked by the dreamer.
Furious, I cursed at her as I tried to get out of the car, demanding to see my file. She was quick to tell me not to move in case I made my injuries worse as she pulled out her phone and said she was going to call an ambulance.
While I sat there and waited, fuming, I glimpsed my reflection in the dangling rearview mirror. Unease rippled beneath my skin and I sat up, grabbing the mirror and angling it to show my neck.
There was an angry red mark across it.
As though I was recently strangled.
Trembling, I tilted the mirror up.
Cobwebs. Stuck in my hair.
Dumbstruck in utter stupefaction, I scanned the rest of my body. My pyjamas were dirty and there was black under my fingernails, but the rest of my examination was cut short by tinny circus music. A chill jolted down my spine and I whipped my head to face the dream tech. That was her ringtone. She smiled as she answered the call, and I drew back at her yellow, toothy grin.
What was going on? I was out of the dream, I knew I was. Had everything been real? What had the dream bank done with me? Done to me?
Ambulance sirens wailed as they entered the underground parking, and the flashing red lights reflecting off the walls triggered my recent traumas. With terror-fueled adrenaline flooding my veins, I jerked my legs free of the wreck, jumped out of the car, and booked it, the dream tech's yells merging with the screeching sirens behind me.
2023.06.10 18:55 PassedPawn_ [TW: Sexual Abuse] Shedding Light on Sexual Abuse against Boys and Men in India
According to a national study on child abuse conducted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in India with the support of UNICEF, Save the Children and Prayas, it was discovered that child sexual abuse is a widespread problem affecting both boys and girls in the country. The study found that boys also face significant sexual abuse, as more than half of the respondents who reported abuse were boys:
Boys are vulnerable to victimization by both male and female perpetrators, and they usually don't understand that they were sexually abused:
Furthermore, there's a harmful stigma associated with male child victims of sexual abuse. While cases of sexual abuse faced by girls are vastly underreported in India, the NCRB data reveals that cases involving boys are substantially more underreported, despite the enactment of gender-neutral child sexual abuse laws:
The phenomenon of male sexual abuse isn't just confined to the domain of children, either. Delhi-based Centre for Civil Society found that approximately 18% of Indian adult men surveyed reported being coerced or forced to engage in conjugal relations. Of those, 16% claimed a female perpetrator and 2% claimed a male perpetrator.
Source: A Case for Gender-Neutral Rape Laws in India
While we can't say much about the accuracy and conclusions of such surveys, we don't have any official data regarding adult male victims of sexual crimes in India to work with, on account of the failure of our rape and sexual assault laws to recognize them. For a multitude of reasons, there exists a serious scarcity of information about this topic.
Moreover, while discussions on this topic typically center around women, it's worth acknowledging that men also face sexual harassment in significant numbers, as highlighted by the The Economic Times-Synovate Survey:
Some more indications:
This article on The Hindu depicts several instances of sexual harassment faced by men including stalking, sexual harassment at workplace and sexual assault.
In India, the issue of sexual harassment against men is customarily overlooked, with a lack of public awareness and recognition of male vulnerability. Moreover, the absence of comprehensive legal frameworks contributes to the culture of silence surrounding male victimhood:
Some factors that discourage men from speaking up about their encounters:
In 2016, the University Grants Commission issued regulations stating that sexual harassment is a gender-neutral issue, recognizing that male students are equally susceptible to various forms of sexual harassment, just like their female and transgender counterparts. Although this is only applicable to institutions of higher education, it's still a positive development. Additionally, Wipro Technologies and Infosys in Bangalore have gender-neutral complaint committees. It's also worth noting that around 77 countries have already embraced gender-neutral laws. Given the international progress, it's long overdue for India to follow suit.
As a final note, I feel strongly about this subject because, as a male, I've personally been a target of sexual misconduct. I've come across many other men who have reported similar experiences, and I hope that more men feel comfortable sharing their stories so that the distorted narrative of sexual abuse can eventually be challenged.
submitted by PassedPawn_ to IndiaSpeaks [link] [comments]
A questionnaire was administered to 12,447 children belonging to the five different categories of children in family environment, children in schools, children in institutions, children at work and street children in 13 different states. The major findings of this survey were:(https://www.legalserviceindia.com/legal/article-4985-child-sexual-abuse-in-india.html)
• Out of the total child respondents, 53.22% reported having faced one or more forms of sexual abuse. Among them 52.94% were boys and 47.06% girls.
• The age wise distribution of children reporting sexual abuse in one or more forms showed that though the abuse started at the age of 5 years, it gained momentum 10 years onward, peaking at 12 to 15 years and then starting to decline. This means that children in the teenage years are most vulnerable.
• The significant finding was that contrary to the general perception, the overall percentage of boys was much higher than that of girls.
• In fact 9 out of 13 States reported higher percentage of sexual abuse among boys as compared to girls, with states like Delhi reporting a figure of 65.64%.
• Out of the total child respondents, 20.90% were subjected to severe forms of sexual abuse. Out of these 57.30% were boys and 42.70% were girls.
• 76% children were subjected to other forms of sexual abuse. Out of these 53.07% were boys and 46.93% were girls.
• Assam reported the highest incidence of sexual abuse among both boys and girls. 62.55% boys and 51.19% girls from Assam reported facing one or more forms of sexual abuse, which was highest amongst all the 13 sample states. This was followed by Delhi with 54.66% boys and 22.54% girls and Bihar with 35.89% boys and 30.40% girls reporting high incidence of sexual abuse. The Goa figures of 2.55% boys and 2.17% girls do not seem to be in line with the general perception.
• Across the country, every second child was being subjected to other forms of sexual abuse and every fifth child was facing severe forms of sexual abuse.
• Children on streets, children at work and children in institutional care reported the highest incidents of sexual abuse.
• 77% children did not report the matter to anyone.
• 50% abuses are persons known to the child or in a position of trust and responsibility.
The questionnaire relating to young adults looked at sexual assault in two forms: one penetration of anus and vagina by objects, and second penetration by penis and oral sex. Out of the 2324 young adult respondents, 10.33% reported having been subjected to sexual assault of one or both forms. When looked separately, 9.2% of young respondents reported penetration by penis and 7.4% by objects. The high percentage of young adults reporting penetration by an object is a reflection of the brutality perpetrated on children. The gender break up of all young adult respondents having faced sexual assault during childhood revealed that more males (58.33%) faced one or both forms of sexual assault as compared to females (41.67%).
Boys are vulnerable to victimization by both male and female perpetrators, and they usually don't understand that they were sexually abused:
Other interesting findings included that in India, some of the boys in the sample study were abused by women too, which was not found in other participating countries. The India report went further with the narrative of physical strength to include independence and knowledge about how to have sex. Or only in India did some of the respondents state the expectation for men to know about 'how to have sex'. What was suggested in all the reports was that boys do not appear to understand that boys can be sexually abused. They could give examples of sexual abuse, but the focus always appeared to be the abuse of girls. That is, many of the male respondents did not know what they had experienced was abuse, and often what is legally defined as abuse was described by a boy as experimentation or even as transactional.(https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2022/04/13/decade-after-pocso-campaign-aims-to-highlight-male-sexual-abuse.html)
Furthermore, there's a harmful stigma associated with male child victims of sexual abuse. While cases of sexual abuse faced by girls are vastly underreported in India, the NCRB data reveals that cases involving boys are substantially more underreported, despite the enactment of gender-neutral child sexual abuse laws:
“Crime in India” 2019 report by The National Crime Record Bureau revealed that registration of cases under the POCSO Act has increased by 18.9 per cent. While, of the 26,192 cases filed under POCSO Act that has rape charges, 25,934 were girls, and only 258 were boys. Even after the implementation of POCSO (gender-neutral law), it can be seen that there is a very low rate of reporting and help-seeking among victims of sexually abused boys in India.(https://childsafetyatwork.com/minor-boys-sexual-abuse-an-ignored-reality-in-india/)
The phenomenon of male sexual abuse isn't just confined to the domain of children, either. Delhi-based Centre for Civil Society found that approximately 18% of Indian adult men surveyed reported being coerced or forced to engage in conjugal relations. Of those, 16% claimed a female perpetrator and 2% claimed a male perpetrator.
Source: A Case for Gender-Neutral Rape Laws in India
While we can't say much about the accuracy and conclusions of such surveys, we don't have any official data regarding adult male victims of sexual crimes in India to work with, on account of the failure of our rape and sexual assault laws to recognize them. For a multitude of reasons, there exists a serious scarcity of information about this topic.
Moreover, while discussions on this topic typically center around women, it's worth acknowledging that men also face sexual harassment in significant numbers, as highlighted by the The Economic Times-Synovate Survey:
In an interesting new trend, a substantial 38% of the respondents agreed that in today’s workplaces, even men are as vulnerable to sexual harassment as women. In Hyderabad and Mumbai, 55% of the respondents agreed to this point. Many of the corporates and PSUs ET spoke to agree to this new trend and point out that many male employees do not come out in the open and file complaints because they feel they will not be believed, considering India’s social beliefs. They usually seek a transfer to get out of the situation or find a new job.And, in contradiction to prevailing notions, it's not just men who sexually harass; the survey found that female perpetrators of workplace sexual harassment were as prevalent as male ones.
Some more indications:
During Ungender’s brainchild ‘Project Jagruk’, a sensitization and awareness drive regarding the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 conducted in Police Stations of South Delhi, many Police personnel wished to know if the act to applied to men as well. Many male victims of sexual harassment had approached them with complaints. When these police personnel were told that the act specifically applied only to women, they wished to know when men would also be protected from sexual harassment.(https://www.ungender.in/why-india-inc-needs-to-protect-men-against-sexual-harassment-at-workplaces-in-india-case-for-gender-neutral-policies)
This article on The Hindu depicts several instances of sexual harassment faced by men including stalking, sexual harassment at workplace and sexual assault.
In India, the issue of sexual harassment against men is customarily overlooked, with a lack of public awareness and recognition of male vulnerability. Moreover, the absence of comprehensive legal frameworks contributes to the culture of silence surrounding male victimhood:
The issue is so entirely neglected in men that even our legal system is obsolete of laws protecting men from sexual harassment. The sexual assault laws of our country have been devised such as that they clearly state their existence exclusively for women. The sections 354, 509, and 376 of the Indian Penal Code which deal with sexual assault, namely, outraging the modesty of a woman, eve teasing and committing rape of a woman, all assume that men cannot be subjected to these crimes. The Vishakha guidelines which aims to prevent sexual harassment in work places are also just limited to women.(https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sexual-harassment-of-male-a-reality-but-remains-a-taboo)
“According to the Indian law, modesty, if at all, exists only in women,” says ex-IPS officer Uday Sahai on the issue of male sexual harassment. “The only form in which a wrong sexual advancement on a man is recognized as an offence is as sodomy under the 377 section of the IPC. Apart from that there is no law to punish a person for molesting a man,” he further explains.
Some factors that discourage men from speaking up about their encounters:
The fear of not being taken seriously is not the only reason which prevents men from reporting sexual harassment cases. The fear that a female perpetrator may, in fact, use sexual harassment laws to wrongly implicate the male victim (by alleging that it was the man who sexually harassed her) has led many male victims of sexual harassment to not formally complain.(https://www.firstpost.com/india/vijay-nair-sexual-harassment-case-rising-incidents-against-men-emphasise-need-for-gender-neutral-laws-in-india-3452286.html)
. . .
The idea that a woman can sexually harass a man is still considered inconceivable in the Indian society. What makes it even more difficult for men to speak about such incidents openly is the tendency of others to perceive male victims of sexual harassment as "feminine" or "weak". The disbelief surrounding sexual harassment of men by women in India can also be attributed to the absence of data/statistics on this issue. This, in turn, becomes a vicious cycle where the fear of being disbelieved may cause a male victim of sexual harassment to not report such incidents, leading to further lack of statistics in such matters.
In 2016, the University Grants Commission issued regulations stating that sexual harassment is a gender-neutral issue, recognizing that male students are equally susceptible to various forms of sexual harassment, just like their female and transgender counterparts. Although this is only applicable to institutions of higher education, it's still a positive development. Additionally, Wipro Technologies and Infosys in Bangalore have gender-neutral complaint committees. It's also worth noting that around 77 countries have already embraced gender-neutral laws. Given the international progress, it's long overdue for India to follow suit.
As a final note, I feel strongly about this subject because, as a male, I've personally been a target of sexual misconduct. I've come across many other men who have reported similar experiences, and I hope that more men feel comfortable sharing their stories so that the distorted narrative of sexual abuse can eventually be challenged.
2023.06.10 17:28 LingoLady65 Sit down and be quiet. Sure thing …
This happened in Sweden about 40 years ago, and even if my memories may be a bit hazy, the gist of the story is absolutely true even if the details are a bit off.
I had bought an old clunker of a car to get to my new job. And when I say clunker, that is being nice. It was mainly held together by gaffa tape, and it cost me a whopping $100. Kind of temporary, until I got my first pay check.
On my way home, one of the few police cars in my small town (~25k) pulled me over, which was indeed understandable as it was around midnight and the car being what it was. But it was actually roadworthy, and their issue was with the road tax.
They said it was unpaid, and that it was illegal to drive the car. However, they knew who I was, because my dad was the district court judge, so they allowed me to drive home while following me (so I’d actually go home, I guess). I complied, of course.
When I parked outside our house, they said they had to take the plates off the car, and that I could pay the tax the next day, go to the station, show the receipt and get the plates back. Fine, I said. They started rummaging in the trunk of their car, and discovered someone had pilfered their toolbox.
I offered them to take the keys instead, but nah. They asked if I had a screwdriver in my car, and I said no (had just bought it). I started to talk about other options, but the boss cop told me to just go sit in the car and stay quiet. Not another word from you, little missy lind of attitude. I complied. Of course.
I was just about to say I could fetch a screwdriver from the tool shed, but they weren’t interested in that - I do think they were worried that I’d wake the judge. Oh horror. Or not. So they opted to call the one other car they had roaming the town that night - a K-9 unit. And that got noisy. We lived near the park, so of course those cops figured it was an opportunity to let the dogs stretch their legs. Sigh.
Well … I obeyed orders. Sat there. Was quiet. They were not. First my father came out in his robe and slippers, looking slightly frazzled and confused. Not exactly someone to be afraid of. But I just sat there, as instructed. Because I knew what would come next. My mother.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MY DAUGHTER!?!?
Well. It went downhill from there. Don’t think my dad said a word, but my mom certainly ripped them a new one (and got kind of famous on our street the next few days).
Could have been a very quiet and nice interaction here, but well, they wanted to make a big deal about the missing tax payment, so a big deal they got. For 10 cents (simple typo).
submitted by LingoLady65 to MaliciousCompliance [link] [comments]
I had bought an old clunker of a car to get to my new job. And when I say clunker, that is being nice. It was mainly held together by gaffa tape, and it cost me a whopping $100. Kind of temporary, until I got my first pay check.
On my way home, one of the few police cars in my small town (~25k) pulled me over, which was indeed understandable as it was around midnight and the car being what it was. But it was actually roadworthy, and their issue was with the road tax.
They said it was unpaid, and that it was illegal to drive the car. However, they knew who I was, because my dad was the district court judge, so they allowed me to drive home while following me (so I’d actually go home, I guess). I complied, of course.
When I parked outside our house, they said they had to take the plates off the car, and that I could pay the tax the next day, go to the station, show the receipt and get the plates back. Fine, I said. They started rummaging in the trunk of their car, and discovered someone had pilfered their toolbox.
I offered them to take the keys instead, but nah. They asked if I had a screwdriver in my car, and I said no (had just bought it). I started to talk about other options, but the boss cop told me to just go sit in the car and stay quiet. Not another word from you, little missy lind of attitude. I complied. Of course.
I was just about to say I could fetch a screwdriver from the tool shed, but they weren’t interested in that - I do think they were worried that I’d wake the judge. Oh horror. Or not. So they opted to call the one other car they had roaming the town that night - a K-9 unit. And that got noisy. We lived near the park, so of course those cops figured it was an opportunity to let the dogs stretch their legs. Sigh.
Well … I obeyed orders. Sat there. Was quiet. They were not. First my father came out in his robe and slippers, looking slightly frazzled and confused. Not exactly someone to be afraid of. But I just sat there, as instructed. Because I knew what would come next. My mother.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MY DAUGHTER!?!?
Well. It went downhill from there. Don’t think my dad said a word, but my mom certainly ripped them a new one (and got kind of famous on our street the next few days).
Could have been a very quiet and nice interaction here, but well, they wanted to make a big deal about the missing tax payment, so a big deal they got. For 10 cents (simple typo).
2023.06.10 16:48 TheBlackCycloneOrder If You Gamble Against a Man With a Hat for a Face, Know What Your Wager Is
All I ever wanted was for my wife and I to live comfortably. But the longer we stayed together, the higher our bills increased. We’d already fought off debts from college, barely scraping by. Even after we paid them off, we were only able to afford a tiny apartment on the outskirts of New York City.
Sidewalks laid cracked everywhere while condemned buildings sat sadly against their crooked foundations. Crooked lampposts would hang only by electrical wires. Graffiti marked every street corner in bland art that existed without rhyme or reason. Homeless people could be found on every street corner, a constant reminder of what would happen if my wife and I failed to keep up with our payments.
However, I managed to make somewhat decent money as a plumber. But even then, it sometimes wasn’t enough to deal with loan sharks, the hefty utility bills, food prices, and gas money. I was willing to do anything to get us out.
And that is where I encountered gambling. I was willing to take the risks. I’d take any chance to obtain a reward, even just a small one. It started out with just a handful of poker games. Then I moved on to scratch tickets and slot machines. All I needed was enough to get by. Unfortunately, obtaining a payday from the casinos was impossible. I started growing desperate, which only led to more debt. The whole cycle sucked me down like Odysseus’ ship in Charybdis’ maw. And just like that, my relationship with my wife began to tear us apart.
My wife and I were once so close together. Before we married, there would be days where we’d work together at wood shops, creating 3D prints of various sci-fi characters and video games. Other times we’d study the components of circuits and use them to create elaborate lighting displays whenever Christmas arrived. Our wedding day was supposed to be the greatest day of our lives. Instead of relying on the help of others back like we did in college, we relied on ourselves.
But my actions tore all that apart. I didn’t know what else to do, either.
—
A few nights ago, I arrived at my shitty apartment, having completed a ten hour shift fixing the drains of several upper class folks. I rested my hand on the knob, expecting the worst from my wife. Sighing, I pushed the door. The moment I did, she was already in the front hall. Her eyes were scrunched and she was holding a bank statement, smacking it for emphasis.
“Care for an explanation?” She demanded.
I rubbed my temples, removing my scum covered overalls and plopping them right into the nearest laundry hamper. We locked eyes. Breaking eye contact with her would only ignite her anger further. She was holding another piece of evidence of my failures. My failure to strike it rich. All I could do was stand there sheepishly, tail tucked behind me, and wait to get ripped a new one. No words could come out of my mouth.
She marched up to me, holding it in my face. “Frank, you wasted three-thousand dollars at the casino AGAIN?!” my wife bellowed.
I set my tool box down and washed the pipe gunk from my hands, looking down just for a bit.
“Turn around and look me in the eyes.”
Resting a hand on my eyes, I glanced over at her petite frame. Then, I began to speak. “We can live comfortably if you just give-“
“Enough of the excuses! We nearly lost our apartment twice by you betting on slots, you wasted our heating money on roulette, and now this!”
I held up my hands reassuringly. “Look, just let me figure this out! I’ll think of some way to get the money!”
“You’d better. Otherwise we’re getting a divorce. Got it?”
Without another word, I put on a casual outfit, exiting for some fresh air. Shutting the door behind me, I gazed back at the unpolished apartment number on the frame. Wincing, I clenched a fist and descended the rickety stairs. Eventually, my boots hit the cracked pavement, and I headed off.
---
I had only made it a few blocks from my apartment, when I noticed shadows lurking in one of the alleyways. Picking up my stride, I try to evade the figures. They drew closer and closer. My stride changed into a sprint. Another alleyway comes into my sights. I make a break for it, hoping for an opportunity to escape. Only a dead end greets me. Before long, the figures cornered me. The light from a street lamp illuminated two shady faces. Loan sharks. Before I could react, the duo held me up by my throat.
“What the hell are you guys doing?!” I strained, feebly kicking back one of the thugs. He jammed a fist right under my rib cage. My lips pursed as I lost my breath. The other grabbed me by the chin, grinning like a maniac and revealing his tobacco rotted jaw. I gulped.
“Frank, calm down. Take it easy,” every word he said ground my inner ears. Brown saliva sprayed on my cheeks. “We just want to have a little talk…” I didn’t have the courage to speak up. All I could do was let them tell me everything.
“Your landlord is getting rather impatient with your payments. We just came to send a little message. He has some demands.” The other guy snarled.
I tugged on my collar. “What…demands?”
“The landlord wants you to cough up $18,000 for your next payment!”
My hands grew clammy. Were they out of their minds? I was a plumber, not a heart surgeon! I didn’t have that kind of money! Besides, the rent was only $500 a month.
“You have until the end of the month,” one of the goons croaked.
That was only two weeks! I couldn’t have made that kind of money with such constraints! I’d barely be able to afford food and electricity! Negotiating was out of the question. God knows what would have happened to me if I dared speak up.
“The landlord has given you chance after chance to pay up. But you’ve never followed through. He’s let it slide for three months. You haven’t paid shit in that time frame. Do you realize how much he has to pay for his own apartment? If you fail to pay at that time, there will be consequences…” He makes a capiche gesture.
I nodded. The moment I complied, they released me, disappearing into the smog.
—
I stood outside a graffiti covered subway station, pacing around, hands in my pockets. My fists constricted as I pounded a nearby wall. There’s no way I would have been able to make that kind of money! Craps were too unpredictable, arcade machines were always rigged, and roulette was too high in stakes. Seeing red, I screamed and kicked a wall as hard as I could. My foot throbbed and once I was done with my fit, I broke down sobbing. The sidewalk darkened with my tears. I pressed my head against it, clawing at it until my fingernails turned crimson.
Then, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Wiping the tears away, I glanced over my shoulder. A card was lying on the floor. Its borders were covered in green dollar symbols. The rest of the card was a silver color shiny enough to reflect my face in it. Written in gold letters were the following:
ACES HIGH CASINO
WIN ONE ROUND OF BLACKJACK
AND EARN FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS!
NO MONETARY WAGER NEEDED
TABLE 777
My eyes lit up. All I had to do was win one game of blackjack, and I’d be rich? Dimples formed on my cheeks and I pumped my fist. I nearly clicked my heels in joy, but decided against it. I’d already caused enough of a scene already, and I wanted to make sure nobody knew my secret. When I flipped it around, it had an address also written in golden letters.
---
Despite the address being in an unknown area, I still managed to pull it up on my phone’s map and arrived without any struggle. The casino itself was a pigsty, to say the least. Smokers polluted the air in the prison gray interior. Slot machines with broken lights clicked and whirred while cheap dice clattered against tables with peeling felt. Meanwhile, the concrete floor was covered in colonies of roaches while neglected beer bottles sat against the rungs of several tables. The only thing that was kept well was the bar and a room draped with navy blue curtains with golden sashes. Emblazoned above the doorway was the number 777.
This was the first time I had entered a casino smiling. For once, I thought that this was my lucky night.
When I pushed the curtains away, they revealed a room with ornate black wallpaper, an assortment of oak desks and other furniture. The walls were covered in fine Baroque paintings. On the floor was a single blue carpet covered in opulent tapestry. I followed the back wall to a single dealer table coated in green felt. Two seats were present with one patron taking the seat on the left. He was shaking with what I assumed was excitement.
Behind him was the dealer, a trim man with long blond hair and a top hat over his nose and eyes. He wore a dapper tuxedo free of blemishes that shimmered in the light of a single hanging glass lamp. His skin was pure and free of moles, glistening with slight amounts of glitter.
“Why, hello there…” The man spoke in a voice slicker than the gel in his hair. “Are you here to win big?” Unlike the loan sharks, his teeth were cleaner than a freshly washed plate.
“Yup. Deal me in.” I said, straightening my back, shuffling into the last seat. The other player had his jaw locked together. His eyes were drooping and bloodshot. Sweat pooled around his brow like glass beads. Just like him, I always felt nervous about losing, so their reaction was understandable.
“You know the rules of blackjack. I deal out cards. You can say ‘hit me’ if you want more cards. Get closest to twenty one without going over. Dealer only draws two cards. And you can also surrender your cards for half your bet. When you don’t want any more cards, say the word ‘stand.’” The dealer said, shuffling the cards through his hands and manipulating them like a sculptor with a ceramic pot.
I double blinked. Wager? “What do I bet with?”
The mysterious man just focused on passing out his cards. First, he brought out two cards for himself and dealt two more to each player. Instantly, he flipped over his cards. A jack and a king. Twenty.
I clutched the velvet backed cards, seeing what I was dealt.
A ten and a seven of hearts. I forced my face into a neutral smile. My stomach twisted. There was no way I could get twenty one that easily. “Surrender,” I said, pushing my cards to the dealer. All he did was reshuffle the cards and toss me two more. They didn’t even bother looking back up at me during the process.
The other player started clutching his stomach. My smile vanished. I carefully looked over the left guy’s cards. A seven and a two of clubs.
“Hit me…” the guy on the left choked out. An ace of spades. A total of ten. Sweat trickled down his head like a shower in April. His eyes welled up with tears while foam developed around his mouth. I raised a brow, wondering what his deal was.
I knew the stakes of gambling, but my sixth sense kept telling me something was just not right. No. That couldn’t be true. Even if there was some kind of string attached or fine print I didn’t read, I couldn’t risk giving up that money. Besides, this might have been my only chance to obtain such a vast award without much risk.
“Hit me…” The man wheezed. A five of hearts. His teeth chattered.
While I waited for my turn, I stood up and walked around the room, getting a closer look at all the ornate gadgets and such. My eyes focused on a painting on the leftmost wall. It resembled a man in rich military regalia. But something made my hair stand on end. Their upturned white mustache looked damp, and their face sagged like they were crying. Linear, stick-like shadows were cast on the sleeves. Edging forward, they came into focus.
Hands. I followed their forms outward, which extended into oily, dripping arms.
“Husssssssssh…” A faint noise echoed from somewhere in the room.
“What?” I mouthed, turning an ear to the source.
“Husssssssssh…” It came from the painting. I backed away, hands out at my sides. Was someone dragged in that painting?
“Where are you going? You forgot to pay up!” The dealer yelled back, hands slamming on the table and pulling out a sack of navy blue poker chips.
I double took. “I thought the card said there was no monetary wager needed?”
“There isn’t.”
Then, I looked at the ground. There was a second rug on the ground. The tapestry matched, but its patterns didn’t match with the other rug. It was off center from the rest of the decorations, like someone didn’t even bother setting it up properly. Taking a closer look, I could hear faint whispers coming from it, too. When I looked back up, the guy on the left was gone. I rushed over, checking his cards. A total of twenty five.
Swallowing saliva, I stood in confusion, wondering what to do next. I scraped my fingernails against my palms. I needed that money. If I didn’t get it, I’d lose my wife and my apartment. And what about the loan sharks? Only God knew what would happen to me if I didn’t pay up. What was I going to do? What would happen if I lost? Would I turn into another object just like the other guy? Or would I be in for a worse fate?
“That’s because there isn’t a MONETARY wager. I’m still taking half of what you owe.”
A sharp pain punched my left side. My left side felt heavier than before, like my veins were replaced with tungsten. I grabbed my fingers around my chest. The area around the pain almost felt solid like a tumor. Brushing around the area, I could make out a cylindrical mass. I tried to inspect it some more, but the pain overwhelmed me, and I crumpled to the ground.
I crouched down on all fours, trying to get back to my seat, but the pain froze me in place. Reaching out a hand, I called out for help. Nothing.
Slithering away, I pulled back the curtains to the entrance of the casino. I spat on the ground from the bludgeoning pain.
“Don’t feel out of luck. You can still surrender once more and you still have two chances left!” The dealer smiled, adjusting his hat. It was only a glimpse, but I caught a look at his upper face. His eyes were on his hat and his forehead was blank. The dealer looked like they were plucked straight out of an Alice in Wonderland book. What or who was this dealer?
“Think long and hard about this. I saw you arguing with your wife. And those ruffians nearly killed you.”
I clambered back to my seat. I still didn’t know what that dealer did to me. Something in me forced me to get back up and keep playing. More questions ate at me the longer I played. How did he know that information?
Then, I remembered feeling a tap back at Grand Central Station. And the card that brought me here. He couldn’t have been human. Was he some kind of demon? I didn’t bother asking. There wasn’t any way he would spill the beans about his nature.
After what seemed like hours, I managed to writhe back into my seat, slumping over the table like I’d just had the worst hangover.
“Ready to try again?” The charming man said, resting his chin on his interlocked hands.
Reluctantly, I gave him a thumbs up. He took back the cards and began manipulating the split deck once more. I analyzed every move he made. None of the cards were tricked. He wasn’t second dealing and didn’t have any aces up his sleeve. Never revealed anything under the table, either. The only thing that brought me reassurance was that he was honest. Still, keeping an eye out was critical.
The dealer revealed his cards. Two tens again. One of spades, one of hearts. His face was harder than diamond and glowed like one, too. Not a pleasing glow, but one that would hex anyone that dared gaze at it for too long.
I looked at my cards. An ace and a seven. Eighteen. Gripping my lower abdomen, I stayed crumpled in agony. The odds of getting a blackjack were slim and the stabbing pain skewed my thoughts.
“Surrender…” I wheezed. The words slipped out of my mouth like the dying breath of a wounded soldier. The dealer smiled, holding a pile of blue poker chips around him. He waved his hand over the mound and made an inaudible chant. Then, they vanished.
I held my hands over my face, bracing myself. Suddenly, the pain doubled, shifting to my right like a mudslide down a hill. Now I knew everything the previous player was going through.
I vomited out something hard and blue. A poker chip. Suddenly, my guts turned and another seven spilled out. My esophagus wound itself into knots more contorted than cobwebs. “I…forfeit!”
The man started to smile. “Without these?” With a thud, the hat faced dealer pulled out a jar filled with a kidney and a piece of liver. They still were oozing with blood that plumed and fit their containers. I remembered how the dealer said that there was no monetary wager. He never said there wasn’t a wager at all. My wager…was my organs.
“You want them back? Win them.” He set them back on the ground.
Now there was no choice. My fate was sealed if I tried to leave. I started to shed tears. If I didn’t get these organs back and fast, I was done for. Even if someone saw me passed out on the floor, finding donors for organs wasn’t guaranteed. And even then, I’d be put further in debt. Nothing would be solved. Then again, was trying to beat this guy even worth it? No. The reward was too great. Taking a few deep breaths, I sat back down. Reluctantly, I asked that he proceed.
The dealer drew out cards just like before. He took the cards and gave them a good shuffle. Plucking two cards out of the stack, he revealed them. A king and a nine. Another poker chip tumbled out my throat. I spat it out in a red and blue plastic heap. Not paying attention to the mess I made, he handed me two cards. A jack and a two. Twelve.
“Hit…me.” An ace. Aces could count as one or eleven depending on what other cards were drawn. I still had a fighting chance.
“Hit me.” A five.
His dead stare tore at my soul. I scratched against the felt, the wounds in my fingers reopening. From the corner of my eyes, I could see him frowning. “Are you going to play, or do you want all that money to go to waste?”
I gritted my teeth. “Shut up…Hit me…” Swallowing saliva, I watched the dealer play out my last card. A queen.
“You lose.” The dealer said coldly, grabbing a pile of poker chips and holding them close. He waved his hand over the mound and made another incantation. Then, they vanished once more. Everywhere at once, burning pain sears my skin, making me blackout.
---
When I wake up and feel my arms, they are covered in something hard, blue and plastic. My clothes were gone. I examined my extremities and my torso.
My skin was missing and replaced with poker chips. They were shaped to fit every part of my body. Cracks filled with blood gushed out with each slight movement I made. Horrified, I spilled my guts. More poker chips slid out my throat. Piles of skin laid clumped on the side of the table in hideous pink and blood red sheets.
“I think you know what’s at stake now. One try left. Better make it count. You want to end up in an object for an eternity?” He taunted.
The rigidity of my plastic coated skin made each movement expose more of the cracks, searing my muscles. I groaned as I raised myself up. Crimson liquid dampened the table. I pounded at the table. This was it. I either walked out with my money and saved my marriage and tied up all those knots. Or I lost and suffered a fate worse than death. Giving up was not an option. I gave the mysterious man a death glare, not even bothered by his resistance.
He plucks out two cards. A nine and a ten. This was my chance.
Then, my cards were revealed. A ten and a two. Fingers rattling, I took a deep breath and let calmness seep into me.
“Hit…Me…” I sputtered. Another two.
Huffing, I opened my mouth to speak again. The dealer just stared into me, tilting his head like a vulture waiting for roadkill. The poker chips rattled again, grinding against each other.
“Hit…” I paused for a moment, recollecting my thoughts. At a value of fourteen, I needed at least a six to beat the dealer. But an eight or higher would result in disaster. Gulping down another chaser of saliva, I spoke. “Hit…me.”
To my chagrin, a five slipped out of the hand. I was now tied. Staring at the pile of skin and my other organs, I closed my eyes and shook in horror. An ace or a two were the only cards I could draw in order to win. I looked down at my cards, sweat dripping on the table. With a quick glance, I gazed at the eyes on the man’s silk hat.
“Don’t keep me waiting.” The man demanded.
I’d begun hyperventilating. His stare grew more intense the longer I waited. His confident smile turned into a frown of irritation. Eyebrows and mouth twisted into a hideous snarl. He rattled his fingers against the dealing table. The cacophony made my ears go numb.
Then, I whispered my answer.
“Hit…me…”
The man darted up, smiling back in anticipation. “I’m sorry, what was that?”
I closed my eyes, expecting the worst.
“HIT ME!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.
Then, the last card was revealed:
A two.
I’d won!
My mouth dropped. The sheets of skin unfurled themselves and flattened over me. Two organ jars spilled over, their contents rising in a beam of white and torpedoing back into my body. Immediately, I yelped at the top of my lungs, skipping my heels and doing a jig. I regained my strength, instantly looking around for traces of my prize. For several minutes, I wasn’t able to uncover anything. Staring directly at the dealer’s face, I asked him to reveal my prize.
“I don’t have it with me.” He said, blankly.
Not listening, I scrutinized every inch of the room, looking behind his station, checking under the table, everything.
I searched everywhere for my prize, my happiness dissipating. With each step I took, my smile faded even further, twisting into a frown. My nose crinkled. “Where is the fifty million?” I demanded, overturning the table, ripping off the ornate paintings and yanking the tasseled rugs off the floor. “You promised me fifty million dollars if I beat you! Do you realize what’s gonna happen to me if I don’t get that money, you charlatan?!”
The strange man just stood there, not even acknowledging my pleas.
“YOU PROMISED ME MONEY! You’re a thief!” I roared, pointing an accusing finger at him. “I only did this for my wife, to save my marriage! I almost gave up my life trying to help my family out! How can you take that away from me?!”
The demon stuck his hands behind his back and shook his head. He rolled his eyes back in thought. Something was up with him. “You aren’t like the other gamblers.” He said.
“Other gamblers?” I said, stepping back.
“They all wanted the money for worthless things. A mansion with fountains and a view, hookers, a trip to Tahiti…” He paced around me. His face was rather relaxed and calm. Never once did he lose eye contact with me. “But you had so much determination to help your wife out that you would risk it all. I admire that. It took me a while to figure out that you were actually a kind hearted person.”
I saw red and tried to punch him. He grabbed my fist, shoving it back.
“Listen to me. I understand your rage. There never was a prize in the first place. It was nothing but a lure to capture those that wasted their lives away. But there is one thing that you don’t understand.”
I saw red and I thrusted my hands back. “You nearly killed me all for nothing?!”
“Yes, but that was before I saw you the way you really were. Listen to my words.”
Slowly, I relaxed my posture, but still remained firm. “Why should I listen to you?”
“I can help you out of your situation.” The man said.
My nostrils flared. “You owe me money you snake!”
“You never needed the money in the first place.”
Taken aback, I retreated. “What do you mean?” My arms relaxed once more.
“You are a plumber, aren’t you? I saw you come home from work, just barely catching a glimpse of your schedule. Forty hours a week for thirty-eight dollars an hour for five days a week. That’s $15200 a week for two weeks. You already have everything you need.”
“But you don’t understand. They need $18000!” I pleaded.
He wouldn’t budge. “Trying to earn this money via dumb risks and chances will not get you anywhere. Look at all the things that you’ve done wrong.”
Tears began to well up. “And I want to change that.” I wiped my eyes. “But what am I supposed to do now?”
“The only way you can earn that money is through grit and spit,” He said, walking around me. “You aren’t going to find solace through good luck alone. You have to work for it. And you already have the tools that some people don’t have. If you give up now, you might as well have lost. Think about it.” With those last words, he raised his hand and snapped it, disappearing without a trace. Slowly, I gathered my things and walked out of the casino, head hanging low.
---
The following day, I sat outside an old woman’s faucet, inspecting how to fix a leak. I wondered what the demon’s words meant to me. Before I stuck the wrench up to a U trap, I remembered my pay. If I worked the same amount of hours as before, I’d only make $15200. But if I pulled off some overtime and worked several extra hours, I might just be able to pay off my debts.
I started staying up much later than before. Not long after, my wife started to become suspicious. Eventually, she confronted me.
“Frank, you’ve been staying up late. Are you going back to the casinos again?” she asked, hands on her hips.
I closed my eyes. Instead of fear, calmness filled my veins and my blood stilled. “Not this time. I’ve been working overtime.”
Her face loosened up for just a moment before hardening back up. I held my hands up and motioned my palms downward. “Listen, I have been horrible lately. All my gambling did was drown us in deeper debt.”
Her expression began to soften up again, her frown vanishing.
“I want to change things. We used to work so well together, doing everything to help each other. Instead of fighting against each other, it’s time we made peace. And we bring us out of our debt, together.” I held out my hand for her to shake it. She kept her arm pulled back and folded like the pincer of a mantis. Inch by inch, she extended it and took it.
The following day, my wife convinced me to go to therapy to get out of my addiction, which I gladly obliged. Simultaneously, she decided to start up another job working as an electrician. Day by day passed and we pooled all our resources as one. Before our eyes, bills were paid and debt disappeared faster than eye floaters. Our financial status wasn’t the only thing that changed. Her once crusty mood lightened up and she began to smile more. She began to believe my words and began to respect the changes I made.
And then, we paid off our rent. We got a letter from our landlord, saying that we now were even. The moment that letter came in, we embraced each other. The only question now was, what were we going to do with this extra money?
Not too long ago, we ended up earning enough money to create another 3d project, this time of a Companion Cube. Day after day, we created more projects. Although we weren’t as happy as our days back in college, we still could make the best with what we had. In retrospect, the hat-faced man put up a good fight, but I managed to come out of a casino with more than I came in with. It wasn’t exactly money, but it wasn’t worthless, either.
submitted by TheBlackCycloneOrder to WeAreLegion [link] [comments]
Sidewalks laid cracked everywhere while condemned buildings sat sadly against their crooked foundations. Crooked lampposts would hang only by electrical wires. Graffiti marked every street corner in bland art that existed without rhyme or reason. Homeless people could be found on every street corner, a constant reminder of what would happen if my wife and I failed to keep up with our payments.
However, I managed to make somewhat decent money as a plumber. But even then, it sometimes wasn’t enough to deal with loan sharks, the hefty utility bills, food prices, and gas money. I was willing to do anything to get us out.
And that is where I encountered gambling. I was willing to take the risks. I’d take any chance to obtain a reward, even just a small one. It started out with just a handful of poker games. Then I moved on to scratch tickets and slot machines. All I needed was enough to get by. Unfortunately, obtaining a payday from the casinos was impossible. I started growing desperate, which only led to more debt. The whole cycle sucked me down like Odysseus’ ship in Charybdis’ maw. And just like that, my relationship with my wife began to tear us apart.
My wife and I were once so close together. Before we married, there would be days where we’d work together at wood shops, creating 3D prints of various sci-fi characters and video games. Other times we’d study the components of circuits and use them to create elaborate lighting displays whenever Christmas arrived. Our wedding day was supposed to be the greatest day of our lives. Instead of relying on the help of others back like we did in college, we relied on ourselves.
But my actions tore all that apart. I didn’t know what else to do, either.
—
A few nights ago, I arrived at my shitty apartment, having completed a ten hour shift fixing the drains of several upper class folks. I rested my hand on the knob, expecting the worst from my wife. Sighing, I pushed the door. The moment I did, she was already in the front hall. Her eyes were scrunched and she was holding a bank statement, smacking it for emphasis.
“Care for an explanation?” She demanded.
I rubbed my temples, removing my scum covered overalls and plopping them right into the nearest laundry hamper. We locked eyes. Breaking eye contact with her would only ignite her anger further. She was holding another piece of evidence of my failures. My failure to strike it rich. All I could do was stand there sheepishly, tail tucked behind me, and wait to get ripped a new one. No words could come out of my mouth.
She marched up to me, holding it in my face. “Frank, you wasted three-thousand dollars at the casino AGAIN?!” my wife bellowed.
I set my tool box down and washed the pipe gunk from my hands, looking down just for a bit.
“Turn around and look me in the eyes.”
Resting a hand on my eyes, I glanced over at her petite frame. Then, I began to speak. “We can live comfortably if you just give-“
“Enough of the excuses! We nearly lost our apartment twice by you betting on slots, you wasted our heating money on roulette, and now this!”
I held up my hands reassuringly. “Look, just let me figure this out! I’ll think of some way to get the money!”
“You’d better. Otherwise we’re getting a divorce. Got it?”
Without another word, I put on a casual outfit, exiting for some fresh air. Shutting the door behind me, I gazed back at the unpolished apartment number on the frame. Wincing, I clenched a fist and descended the rickety stairs. Eventually, my boots hit the cracked pavement, and I headed off.
---
I had only made it a few blocks from my apartment, when I noticed shadows lurking in one of the alleyways. Picking up my stride, I try to evade the figures. They drew closer and closer. My stride changed into a sprint. Another alleyway comes into my sights. I make a break for it, hoping for an opportunity to escape. Only a dead end greets me. Before long, the figures cornered me. The light from a street lamp illuminated two shady faces. Loan sharks. Before I could react, the duo held me up by my throat.
“What the hell are you guys doing?!” I strained, feebly kicking back one of the thugs. He jammed a fist right under my rib cage. My lips pursed as I lost my breath. The other grabbed me by the chin, grinning like a maniac and revealing his tobacco rotted jaw. I gulped.
“Frank, calm down. Take it easy,” every word he said ground my inner ears. Brown saliva sprayed on my cheeks. “We just want to have a little talk…” I didn’t have the courage to speak up. All I could do was let them tell me everything.
“Your landlord is getting rather impatient with your payments. We just came to send a little message. He has some demands.” The other guy snarled.
I tugged on my collar. “What…demands?”
“The landlord wants you to cough up $18,000 for your next payment!”
My hands grew clammy. Were they out of their minds? I was a plumber, not a heart surgeon! I didn’t have that kind of money! Besides, the rent was only $500 a month.
“You have until the end of the month,” one of the goons croaked.
That was only two weeks! I couldn’t have made that kind of money with such constraints! I’d barely be able to afford food and electricity! Negotiating was out of the question. God knows what would have happened to me if I dared speak up.
“The landlord has given you chance after chance to pay up. But you’ve never followed through. He’s let it slide for three months. You haven’t paid shit in that time frame. Do you realize how much he has to pay for his own apartment? If you fail to pay at that time, there will be consequences…” He makes a capiche gesture.
I nodded. The moment I complied, they released me, disappearing into the smog.
—
I stood outside a graffiti covered subway station, pacing around, hands in my pockets. My fists constricted as I pounded a nearby wall. There’s no way I would have been able to make that kind of money! Craps were too unpredictable, arcade machines were always rigged, and roulette was too high in stakes. Seeing red, I screamed and kicked a wall as hard as I could. My foot throbbed and once I was done with my fit, I broke down sobbing. The sidewalk darkened with my tears. I pressed my head against it, clawing at it until my fingernails turned crimson.
Then, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Wiping the tears away, I glanced over my shoulder. A card was lying on the floor. Its borders were covered in green dollar symbols. The rest of the card was a silver color shiny enough to reflect my face in it. Written in gold letters were the following:
ACES HIGH CASINO
WIN ONE ROUND OF BLACKJACK
AND EARN FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS!
NO MONETARY WAGER NEEDED
TABLE 777
My eyes lit up. All I had to do was win one game of blackjack, and I’d be rich? Dimples formed on my cheeks and I pumped my fist. I nearly clicked my heels in joy, but decided against it. I’d already caused enough of a scene already, and I wanted to make sure nobody knew my secret. When I flipped it around, it had an address also written in golden letters.
---
Despite the address being in an unknown area, I still managed to pull it up on my phone’s map and arrived without any struggle. The casino itself was a pigsty, to say the least. Smokers polluted the air in the prison gray interior. Slot machines with broken lights clicked and whirred while cheap dice clattered against tables with peeling felt. Meanwhile, the concrete floor was covered in colonies of roaches while neglected beer bottles sat against the rungs of several tables. The only thing that was kept well was the bar and a room draped with navy blue curtains with golden sashes. Emblazoned above the doorway was the number 777.
This was the first time I had entered a casino smiling. For once, I thought that this was my lucky night.
When I pushed the curtains away, they revealed a room with ornate black wallpaper, an assortment of oak desks and other furniture. The walls were covered in fine Baroque paintings. On the floor was a single blue carpet covered in opulent tapestry. I followed the back wall to a single dealer table coated in green felt. Two seats were present with one patron taking the seat on the left. He was shaking with what I assumed was excitement.
Behind him was the dealer, a trim man with long blond hair and a top hat over his nose and eyes. He wore a dapper tuxedo free of blemishes that shimmered in the light of a single hanging glass lamp. His skin was pure and free of moles, glistening with slight amounts of glitter.
“Why, hello there…” The man spoke in a voice slicker than the gel in his hair. “Are you here to win big?” Unlike the loan sharks, his teeth were cleaner than a freshly washed plate.
“Yup. Deal me in.” I said, straightening my back, shuffling into the last seat. The other player had his jaw locked together. His eyes were drooping and bloodshot. Sweat pooled around his brow like glass beads. Just like him, I always felt nervous about losing, so their reaction was understandable.
“You know the rules of blackjack. I deal out cards. You can say ‘hit me’ if you want more cards. Get closest to twenty one without going over. Dealer only draws two cards. And you can also surrender your cards for half your bet. When you don’t want any more cards, say the word ‘stand.’” The dealer said, shuffling the cards through his hands and manipulating them like a sculptor with a ceramic pot.
I double blinked. Wager? “What do I bet with?”
The mysterious man just focused on passing out his cards. First, he brought out two cards for himself and dealt two more to each player. Instantly, he flipped over his cards. A jack and a king. Twenty.
I clutched the velvet backed cards, seeing what I was dealt.
A ten and a seven of hearts. I forced my face into a neutral smile. My stomach twisted. There was no way I could get twenty one that easily. “Surrender,” I said, pushing my cards to the dealer. All he did was reshuffle the cards and toss me two more. They didn’t even bother looking back up at me during the process.
The other player started clutching his stomach. My smile vanished. I carefully looked over the left guy’s cards. A seven and a two of clubs.
“Hit me…” the guy on the left choked out. An ace of spades. A total of ten. Sweat trickled down his head like a shower in April. His eyes welled up with tears while foam developed around his mouth. I raised a brow, wondering what his deal was.
I knew the stakes of gambling, but my sixth sense kept telling me something was just not right. No. That couldn’t be true. Even if there was some kind of string attached or fine print I didn’t read, I couldn’t risk giving up that money. Besides, this might have been my only chance to obtain such a vast award without much risk.
“Hit me…” The man wheezed. A five of hearts. His teeth chattered.
While I waited for my turn, I stood up and walked around the room, getting a closer look at all the ornate gadgets and such. My eyes focused on a painting on the leftmost wall. It resembled a man in rich military regalia. But something made my hair stand on end. Their upturned white mustache looked damp, and their face sagged like they were crying. Linear, stick-like shadows were cast on the sleeves. Edging forward, they came into focus.
Hands. I followed their forms outward, which extended into oily, dripping arms.
“Husssssssssh…” A faint noise echoed from somewhere in the room.
“What?” I mouthed, turning an ear to the source.
“Husssssssssh…” It came from the painting. I backed away, hands out at my sides. Was someone dragged in that painting?
“Where are you going? You forgot to pay up!” The dealer yelled back, hands slamming on the table and pulling out a sack of navy blue poker chips.
I double took. “I thought the card said there was no monetary wager needed?”
“There isn’t.”
Then, I looked at the ground. There was a second rug on the ground. The tapestry matched, but its patterns didn’t match with the other rug. It was off center from the rest of the decorations, like someone didn’t even bother setting it up properly. Taking a closer look, I could hear faint whispers coming from it, too. When I looked back up, the guy on the left was gone. I rushed over, checking his cards. A total of twenty five.
Swallowing saliva, I stood in confusion, wondering what to do next. I scraped my fingernails against my palms. I needed that money. If I didn’t get it, I’d lose my wife and my apartment. And what about the loan sharks? Only God knew what would happen to me if I didn’t pay up. What was I going to do? What would happen if I lost? Would I turn into another object just like the other guy? Or would I be in for a worse fate?
“That’s because there isn’t a MONETARY wager. I’m still taking half of what you owe.”
A sharp pain punched my left side. My left side felt heavier than before, like my veins were replaced with tungsten. I grabbed my fingers around my chest. The area around the pain almost felt solid like a tumor. Brushing around the area, I could make out a cylindrical mass. I tried to inspect it some more, but the pain overwhelmed me, and I crumpled to the ground.
I crouched down on all fours, trying to get back to my seat, but the pain froze me in place. Reaching out a hand, I called out for help. Nothing.
Slithering away, I pulled back the curtains to the entrance of the casino. I spat on the ground from the bludgeoning pain.
“Don’t feel out of luck. You can still surrender once more and you still have two chances left!” The dealer smiled, adjusting his hat. It was only a glimpse, but I caught a look at his upper face. His eyes were on his hat and his forehead was blank. The dealer looked like they were plucked straight out of an Alice in Wonderland book. What or who was this dealer?
“Think long and hard about this. I saw you arguing with your wife. And those ruffians nearly killed you.”
I clambered back to my seat. I still didn’t know what that dealer did to me. Something in me forced me to get back up and keep playing. More questions ate at me the longer I played. How did he know that information?
Then, I remembered feeling a tap back at Grand Central Station. And the card that brought me here. He couldn’t have been human. Was he some kind of demon? I didn’t bother asking. There wasn’t any way he would spill the beans about his nature.
After what seemed like hours, I managed to writhe back into my seat, slumping over the table like I’d just had the worst hangover.
“Ready to try again?” The charming man said, resting his chin on his interlocked hands.
Reluctantly, I gave him a thumbs up. He took back the cards and began manipulating the split deck once more. I analyzed every move he made. None of the cards were tricked. He wasn’t second dealing and didn’t have any aces up his sleeve. Never revealed anything under the table, either. The only thing that brought me reassurance was that he was honest. Still, keeping an eye out was critical.
The dealer revealed his cards. Two tens again. One of spades, one of hearts. His face was harder than diamond and glowed like one, too. Not a pleasing glow, but one that would hex anyone that dared gaze at it for too long.
I looked at my cards. An ace and a seven. Eighteen. Gripping my lower abdomen, I stayed crumpled in agony. The odds of getting a blackjack were slim and the stabbing pain skewed my thoughts.
“Surrender…” I wheezed. The words slipped out of my mouth like the dying breath of a wounded soldier. The dealer smiled, holding a pile of blue poker chips around him. He waved his hand over the mound and made an inaudible chant. Then, they vanished.
I held my hands over my face, bracing myself. Suddenly, the pain doubled, shifting to my right like a mudslide down a hill. Now I knew everything the previous player was going through.
I vomited out something hard and blue. A poker chip. Suddenly, my guts turned and another seven spilled out. My esophagus wound itself into knots more contorted than cobwebs. “I…forfeit!”
The man started to smile. “Without these?” With a thud, the hat faced dealer pulled out a jar filled with a kidney and a piece of liver. They still were oozing with blood that plumed and fit their containers. I remembered how the dealer said that there was no monetary wager. He never said there wasn’t a wager at all. My wager…was my organs.
“You want them back? Win them.” He set them back on the ground.
Now there was no choice. My fate was sealed if I tried to leave. I started to shed tears. If I didn’t get these organs back and fast, I was done for. Even if someone saw me passed out on the floor, finding donors for organs wasn’t guaranteed. And even then, I’d be put further in debt. Nothing would be solved. Then again, was trying to beat this guy even worth it? No. The reward was too great. Taking a few deep breaths, I sat back down. Reluctantly, I asked that he proceed.
The dealer drew out cards just like before. He took the cards and gave them a good shuffle. Plucking two cards out of the stack, he revealed them. A king and a nine. Another poker chip tumbled out my throat. I spat it out in a red and blue plastic heap. Not paying attention to the mess I made, he handed me two cards. A jack and a two. Twelve.
“Hit…me.” An ace. Aces could count as one or eleven depending on what other cards were drawn. I still had a fighting chance.
“Hit me.” A five.
His dead stare tore at my soul. I scratched against the felt, the wounds in my fingers reopening. From the corner of my eyes, I could see him frowning. “Are you going to play, or do you want all that money to go to waste?”
I gritted my teeth. “Shut up…Hit me…” Swallowing saliva, I watched the dealer play out my last card. A queen.
“You lose.” The dealer said coldly, grabbing a pile of poker chips and holding them close. He waved his hand over the mound and made another incantation. Then, they vanished once more. Everywhere at once, burning pain sears my skin, making me blackout.
---
When I wake up and feel my arms, they are covered in something hard, blue and plastic. My clothes were gone. I examined my extremities and my torso.
My skin was missing and replaced with poker chips. They were shaped to fit every part of my body. Cracks filled with blood gushed out with each slight movement I made. Horrified, I spilled my guts. More poker chips slid out my throat. Piles of skin laid clumped on the side of the table in hideous pink and blood red sheets.
“I think you know what’s at stake now. One try left. Better make it count. You want to end up in an object for an eternity?” He taunted.
The rigidity of my plastic coated skin made each movement expose more of the cracks, searing my muscles. I groaned as I raised myself up. Crimson liquid dampened the table. I pounded at the table. This was it. I either walked out with my money and saved my marriage and tied up all those knots. Or I lost and suffered a fate worse than death. Giving up was not an option. I gave the mysterious man a death glare, not even bothered by his resistance.
He plucks out two cards. A nine and a ten. This was my chance.
Then, my cards were revealed. A ten and a two. Fingers rattling, I took a deep breath and let calmness seep into me.
“Hit…Me…” I sputtered. Another two.
Huffing, I opened my mouth to speak again. The dealer just stared into me, tilting his head like a vulture waiting for roadkill. The poker chips rattled again, grinding against each other.
“Hit…” I paused for a moment, recollecting my thoughts. At a value of fourteen, I needed at least a six to beat the dealer. But an eight or higher would result in disaster. Gulping down another chaser of saliva, I spoke. “Hit…me.”
To my chagrin, a five slipped out of the hand. I was now tied. Staring at the pile of skin and my other organs, I closed my eyes and shook in horror. An ace or a two were the only cards I could draw in order to win. I looked down at my cards, sweat dripping on the table. With a quick glance, I gazed at the eyes on the man’s silk hat.
“Don’t keep me waiting.” The man demanded.
I’d begun hyperventilating. His stare grew more intense the longer I waited. His confident smile turned into a frown of irritation. Eyebrows and mouth twisted into a hideous snarl. He rattled his fingers against the dealing table. The cacophony made my ears go numb.
Then, I whispered my answer.
“Hit…me…”
The man darted up, smiling back in anticipation. “I’m sorry, what was that?”
I closed my eyes, expecting the worst.
“HIT ME!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.
Then, the last card was revealed:
A two.
I’d won!
My mouth dropped. The sheets of skin unfurled themselves and flattened over me. Two organ jars spilled over, their contents rising in a beam of white and torpedoing back into my body. Immediately, I yelped at the top of my lungs, skipping my heels and doing a jig. I regained my strength, instantly looking around for traces of my prize. For several minutes, I wasn’t able to uncover anything. Staring directly at the dealer’s face, I asked him to reveal my prize.
“I don’t have it with me.” He said, blankly.
Not listening, I scrutinized every inch of the room, looking behind his station, checking under the table, everything.
I searched everywhere for my prize, my happiness dissipating. With each step I took, my smile faded even further, twisting into a frown. My nose crinkled. “Where is the fifty million?” I demanded, overturning the table, ripping off the ornate paintings and yanking the tasseled rugs off the floor. “You promised me fifty million dollars if I beat you! Do you realize what’s gonna happen to me if I don’t get that money, you charlatan?!”
The strange man just stood there, not even acknowledging my pleas.
“YOU PROMISED ME MONEY! You’re a thief!” I roared, pointing an accusing finger at him. “I only did this for my wife, to save my marriage! I almost gave up my life trying to help my family out! How can you take that away from me?!”
The demon stuck his hands behind his back and shook his head. He rolled his eyes back in thought. Something was up with him. “You aren’t like the other gamblers.” He said.
“Other gamblers?” I said, stepping back.
“They all wanted the money for worthless things. A mansion with fountains and a view, hookers, a trip to Tahiti…” He paced around me. His face was rather relaxed and calm. Never once did he lose eye contact with me. “But you had so much determination to help your wife out that you would risk it all. I admire that. It took me a while to figure out that you were actually a kind hearted person.”
I saw red and tried to punch him. He grabbed my fist, shoving it back.
“Listen to me. I understand your rage. There never was a prize in the first place. It was nothing but a lure to capture those that wasted their lives away. But there is one thing that you don’t understand.”
I saw red and I thrusted my hands back. “You nearly killed me all for nothing?!”
“Yes, but that was before I saw you the way you really were. Listen to my words.”
Slowly, I relaxed my posture, but still remained firm. “Why should I listen to you?”
“I can help you out of your situation.” The man said.
My nostrils flared. “You owe me money you snake!”
“You never needed the money in the first place.”
Taken aback, I retreated. “What do you mean?” My arms relaxed once more.
“You are a plumber, aren’t you? I saw you come home from work, just barely catching a glimpse of your schedule. Forty hours a week for thirty-eight dollars an hour for five days a week. That’s $15200 a week for two weeks. You already have everything you need.”
“But you don’t understand. They need $18000!” I pleaded.
He wouldn’t budge. “Trying to earn this money via dumb risks and chances will not get you anywhere. Look at all the things that you’ve done wrong.”
Tears began to well up. “And I want to change that.” I wiped my eyes. “But what am I supposed to do now?”
“The only way you can earn that money is through grit and spit,” He said, walking around me. “You aren’t going to find solace through good luck alone. You have to work for it. And you already have the tools that some people don’t have. If you give up now, you might as well have lost. Think about it.” With those last words, he raised his hand and snapped it, disappearing without a trace. Slowly, I gathered my things and walked out of the casino, head hanging low.
---
The following day, I sat outside an old woman’s faucet, inspecting how to fix a leak. I wondered what the demon’s words meant to me. Before I stuck the wrench up to a U trap, I remembered my pay. If I worked the same amount of hours as before, I’d only make $15200. But if I pulled off some overtime and worked several extra hours, I might just be able to pay off my debts.
I started staying up much later than before. Not long after, my wife started to become suspicious. Eventually, she confronted me.
“Frank, you’ve been staying up late. Are you going back to the casinos again?” she asked, hands on her hips.
I closed my eyes. Instead of fear, calmness filled my veins and my blood stilled. “Not this time. I’ve been working overtime.”
Her face loosened up for just a moment before hardening back up. I held my hands up and motioned my palms downward. “Listen, I have been horrible lately. All my gambling did was drown us in deeper debt.”
Her expression began to soften up again, her frown vanishing.
“I want to change things. We used to work so well together, doing everything to help each other. Instead of fighting against each other, it’s time we made peace. And we bring us out of our debt, together.” I held out my hand for her to shake it. She kept her arm pulled back and folded like the pincer of a mantis. Inch by inch, she extended it and took it.
The following day, my wife convinced me to go to therapy to get out of my addiction, which I gladly obliged. Simultaneously, she decided to start up another job working as an electrician. Day by day passed and we pooled all our resources as one. Before our eyes, bills were paid and debt disappeared faster than eye floaters. Our financial status wasn’t the only thing that changed. Her once crusty mood lightened up and she began to smile more. She began to believe my words and began to respect the changes I made.
And then, we paid off our rent. We got a letter from our landlord, saying that we now were even. The moment that letter came in, we embraced each other. The only question now was, what were we going to do with this extra money?
Not too long ago, we ended up earning enough money to create another 3d project, this time of a Companion Cube. Day after day, we created more projects. Although we weren’t as happy as our days back in college, we still could make the best with what we had. In retrospect, the hat-faced man put up a good fight, but I managed to come out of a casino with more than I came in with. It wasn’t exactly money, but it wasn’t worthless, either.
2023.06.10 15:10 Blackblade-Nex A long list of ideas and improvements i think fits in the radius
Ideas for general gameplay:
And of course i hope they add a 2-3 player co-op NOT MULTIPLAYER, and please don't comment with “iT wOuLdNt mAkE sEnSe LOrE wiSE” because it would be fun as hell to play and coordinate with friends, and if you don't like it just play it alone damnit. Please let me know if you find these ideas interesting or just a waste of braincells.
submitted by Blackblade-Nex to intotheradius [link] [comments]
- make more gun customization, both changing color and attachments. ex muzzle brakes, flash hider and so on to change velocity and recoil (grips could also help with recoil). you could also add angled rails for DMRs and snipers.
- More realism regarding items and durability. Why does oil, knives and suppressors decrease in durability, but toiletpaper and lights don't go down. i propose all items should go down in either battery and durability. Meaning you need to find/buy batteries to charge your lights and holosights. ( they could add a new flashlight you can charge with cranking it)
- Make all items findable. Armor and gasmasks should also be findable but super rare Make a Nato crate, which can hold all from a g17 to a scar. (why can we find an mp5 but not an aug or m4?)
- Make all findable/ loot items usable. Once you find 1 toilet paper and 2 toothbrushes, you never need to loot new once (since they don't have durability) Finding lightsouces could have semi used batteries that you can take. so you don't run mindlessly past all items except artifacts and weather monitors etc.
- armor penetration should be fundamentally changed IMO, i think it sucks that all my shots can potentially bounce of a target except for AP/P+, it makes all other types basically worthless unless you're poor. I would hope they change it to what rust has. in other words, the bullet always goes through, but the damage is nerfed by what the penetration % is, so a ak74 fmj with 50% will do 25 per bullet instead of having a 50% chance to do nothing.
- as a player with 290 hours i hope they add more maps with the next release. I Know the zones as good as i know my own neighborhood IRL.
- To build upon the previous point i hope they randomize the enemies and enemy spawn points. It could be tied to security level or something.
- I hope they add more enemies. A more passive enemy that dont directly engage you but if you get too close or look at them for too long they will gain semi-invisibility and and sneak around you to get you from where you don't expect. but you can use the night eye to see their heat so you know where they are. Another enemy could be false artifact, simply put the enemy is invisible, and makes the detector go off, if you flash the false artifact it will reveal a faster and weaker seeker enemy. This enemy would never be near any other artifact clusters.
- My final point are missions that revamp the earlier sites/compounds. Make a mission where for example the train station from pervomay or the bolotki construction site. the mission area is filled with high tier enemies. (around 7-15 depending on where the mission is) You have to either sneak in or charge in and eliminate a purple fragment that drops a superrare artifact that goes for 2K. a sidemission could also be to wipe the remaining guys to get 1K extra. Other missions could be more chill like taking ground samples and such.
And of course i hope they add a 2-3 player co-op NOT MULTIPLAYER, and please don't comment with “iT wOuLdNt mAkE sEnSe LOrE wiSE” because it would be fun as hell to play and coordinate with friends, and if you don't like it just play it alone damnit. Please let me know if you find these ideas interesting or just a waste of braincells.
2023.06.10 14:49 EcstaticAnteater5424 First Timer Itinerary Check! (Tokyo-Fuji-Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo) 19 FULL DAYS [+ 2 travel days]
Hello JapanTravel,
London couple (mid thirties) visiting Japan late April - early May 2024 for the first time. This is a belated honeymoon - we were meant to go in 2020 but for obvious reasons were unable to :(
Husband is massive Nintendo/ Pokémon fan.I love historical holidays but can find food tricky when travelling as I’m vegetarian (dairy is fine but no meat/ fish).
Would be grateful of any feedback on sights chosen and days of week/ times of day planned to visit.Please assume for day trips that we will arrive as early as we possibly can face!
I also have some specific questions detailed below so would be grateful of any pointers please!
**Day 0 (Friday)**LHR - HND
Day 1 (Saturday) Tokyo- Arrive in HND around 11am- Go to Hotel Blossom Hibiya
Spend afternoon in Ginza/ Chuo City- Head to Okuno Building, check out Room 306 if open- Pokémon Centre Tokyo DX- Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store- Grab something to eat at T’s Tantan- Head back to Hotel Blossom Hibiya
Day 2 (Sunday) Tokyo
Spend morning in Asakusa area- Asakusa Shrine- Senso-ji Temple- Checkout Tokyo Skytree- Visit Kirby Cafe (will look to book in advance)
Spend afternoon in Akihabara- No specific plans other than to be sure to check out Super Potato- Explore! Play in the arcades!- Maybe walk up to Ueno park if we feel like it- Eat dinner at Bon restaurant- Head back to Hotel Blossom Hibiya
Day 3 (Monday) Day Trip to Kamakura & Enoshima- Kotoku-in (arrive around 9am)- Hasedera- Early lunch at Cotonoha- Komachi-dori street- Tsurugaoka Hachimangu- Enoshima Benzaiten Nakamise Doir- Enoshima Shrine- Enoshima Daishi- Enoshima Sea Candle- Head back to Hotel Blossom Hibiya (leave about 5:30pm)- Dinner at Mutsukari
Day 4 (Tuesday) Tokyo
Explore Shinjuku area- Go up Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building first thing- Explore Shinjuku National Garden- Head back to Hotel late afternoon & freshen up- Get the New York Bar at Park Hyatt for drinks around 5pm- Dinner at Shuwashua Peace at around 7:30pm- Explore Shinjuku nightlife (Kabukicho area)
Day 5 (Wednesday) Day Trip to NikkoQUESTION: is it better to go to Kegon Falls in the morning or afternoon?Will probably bring snacks for lunch or grab a quick bite to optimise time!
Here’s my current plan:- Shinkyo Bridge (arrive 9am)- Nikkozan Rinnoji Temple- Nikko Toshogu- Nikko Futarasan jinja- Kanmangafuchi Abyss- Kegon Falls- Back to Tokyo (leave around 7pm)- Dinner TBD
Day 6 (Thursday) Tokyo- Ghibli Museum (hoping to nab a 10am ticket)- Check out Hard Off Kichijoji- Back to Shinjuki Station, aiming to leave around 1ish
QUESTION: is this too much for half a day, assuming we’re here until late?
Spend afternoon in Shibuya area- Meiji Jingu- Harajuku- Go up Shibuya Sky- Check out Shibuya Scramble- Rub Akita dog- Head to Center-Street- Visit Pokemon Centre- Visit Nintendo Centre- Dinner at Tudore Tranquility around 8pm- Head back to Hotel Blossom Hibiya
Day 7 (Friday) Tokyo + travel to Mt. Fuji- Check out teamLab Planets- Check out Tokyo Tower- Lunch at Diago- Around 3pm - make way to Mt. Fuji- Arrive at around 6:30pm at Hotel Konansou- Grab dinner at Pizza Onda at around 7:30pm- Head back to Hotel Konansou
Day 8 (Saturday) Mt. Fuji + travel to Osaka- Watch sunrise from Kawaguchiko Bridge- Check out Chureito Pagoda- Walk around Lake Kawaguchiko- Be on 5pm bus from Kawaguchi station to Mishima Station- Take train from Mishima to Shin-Osaka- Arrive at Hotel The Flag around 10:30pm
Day 9 (Sunday) Osaka
QUESTION: is this too much for one day? I could push some activities out to Day 12…
- Osaka Castle- Shinsekai- Nipponbashi Debden Town- Hozenji- Dontobori- Back to Hotel the Flag- Dinner at Paprika Shokudo Vegan- Drinks & karaoke
Day 10 (Monday) Osaka- Super Nintendo World- Maybe check out Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel, if feeling inclined…?- Back to Hotel The Flag- Check out teamLab Botanical Garden- Dinner at Vegetarian Meals ROCCA- Maybe have a drink or two at a bar near the hotel- Back to Hotel The Flag
Day 11 (Tuesday) Day Trip to Miyajima, Hiroshima & Himeji Castle- Itsukushima- Hiroshima- Stop off at Himeji Castle on way back to Osaka- Back to Hotel The Flag- Dinner TBD - reckon we’ll be back quite late…
Day 12 (Wednesday) Osaka + travel over to Kyoto
QUESTION: Not too sure about the plan for this - maybe we’ll want to go back to any areas we want to from Day 8?
Current ideas/ plans are:- Check out Amerika-Mura?- Check out Abeno Harukas?- Get cheesecake?- Have early-ish dinner somewhere? Saijiki Vegan restaurant?- Take 8:21pm train to Kyoto- Check into The Gate Hotel Kyoto at around 9pm- Have drink at hotel/ head to bed
Day 13 (Thursday) Kyoto- Hanamikoji Street- Yasaka-jinja Shrine- Maruyama Park- Chion-in- Lunch at Zirael Vegan Restaurant- Nanzen-ji Temple- Eikan-do Temple- Philosophers Path- Higashiyama Jisho-ji- Taxi back to The Gate Hotel Kyoto- Dinner at Gyoza ChaoChao
Day 14 (Friday) Day Trip to Nara- Nara Park- Todai-ji & Todai-ji Daibutsuden- Namdaimon Gate- Todai-ji Nigatsudo- Lunch at Vegan Cafe Ramuna- Bit more Nara Park-ing- Back to The Gate Hotel Kyoto- Dinner at Teppan Tavern Tenamonya at around 6:30pm- Visit Fushimi Imari at around 8pm- Check out Ojamakan Fukakusa Store around 9pm- Back to The Gate Hotel Kyoto at around 9:30pm
Day 15 (Saturday) Kyoto
QUESTION: Should I go to Nara on Saturday and do this day on Friday, in terms of crowds?
- Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Templ- Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple- Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street- Gio-ji- Jakko-ji- Lunch at Tenryuji Temple Shigetsu- Tenryu-ji- Arashiyama Bambbo Grove- Togetsu-Kyo Bridge- Arashiyama Park (see Poke Lid)- Back to The Gate Hotel- Dinner at Itadakizen Kyoto
Day 16 (Sunday) Kyoto- Kinkaku-ji- Ryoan-ji- Lunch at Tofu Restaurant Saigen-in- Take a taxi to: Hokan-ji Temple- Visit Nineizaka Starbucks- Kiyomizu-dera- Higashiyama Ward- Back to The Gate Hotel- Dinner at Hyssop
Day 17 (Monday) Kyoto + travel back to Tokyo- Fushimi Inari- Rengeo-in- Pop into Marufukuro hotel- Lunch TBD- Check out Nishiki Market- Stroll around Gion- Dinner TBD- Catch 8pm train back to Tokyo- Check into Hotel Hillarys Akasaka for night
Day 18 (Tuesday) Tokyo + Day 19 (Wednesday) Tokyo
QUESTION: I haven’t made an solid plans for my last two days in Tokyo, would like it to be relatively chilled - got some ideas though so feedback very welcome!
Current ideas/ plans are to:- Check into Hishinoya Hotel for last two nights- Check out Roppongi area maybe on Monday? Wasn’t too sure what there is to “do“ there???- Check out Imperial Palace maybe on Tuesday ?- Husband would like to go to Pokémon Centre Mega Tokyo - is it worth trek as we’ll have been to two other Pokemon Centre’s already??
We’ll travel back to London on Day 20 (Thursday), leaving HND about 1ish
Thanks in advance for your advice!
submitted by EcstaticAnteater5424 to JapanTravel [link] [comments]
London couple (mid thirties) visiting Japan late April - early May 2024 for the first time. This is a belated honeymoon - we were meant to go in 2020 but for obvious reasons were unable to :(
Husband is massive Nintendo/ Pokémon fan.I love historical holidays but can find food tricky when travelling as I’m vegetarian (dairy is fine but no meat/ fish).
Would be grateful of any feedback on sights chosen and days of week/ times of day planned to visit.Please assume for day trips that we will arrive as early as we possibly can face!
I also have some specific questions detailed below so would be grateful of any pointers please!
**Day 0 (Friday)**LHR - HND
Day 1 (Saturday) Tokyo- Arrive in HND around 11am- Go to Hotel Blossom Hibiya
Spend afternoon in Ginza/ Chuo City- Head to Okuno Building, check out Room 306 if open- Pokémon Centre Tokyo DX- Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store- Grab something to eat at T’s Tantan- Head back to Hotel Blossom Hibiya
Day 2 (Sunday) Tokyo
Spend morning in Asakusa area- Asakusa Shrine- Senso-ji Temple- Checkout Tokyo Skytree- Visit Kirby Cafe (will look to book in advance)
Spend afternoon in Akihabara- No specific plans other than to be sure to check out Super Potato- Explore! Play in the arcades!- Maybe walk up to Ueno park if we feel like it- Eat dinner at Bon restaurant- Head back to Hotel Blossom Hibiya
Day 3 (Monday) Day Trip to Kamakura & Enoshima- Kotoku-in (arrive around 9am)- Hasedera- Early lunch at Cotonoha- Komachi-dori street- Tsurugaoka Hachimangu- Enoshima Benzaiten Nakamise Doir- Enoshima Shrine- Enoshima Daishi- Enoshima Sea Candle- Head back to Hotel Blossom Hibiya (leave about 5:30pm)- Dinner at Mutsukari
Day 4 (Tuesday) Tokyo
Explore Shinjuku area- Go up Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building first thing- Explore Shinjuku National Garden- Head back to Hotel late afternoon & freshen up- Get the New York Bar at Park Hyatt for drinks around 5pm- Dinner at Shuwashua Peace at around 7:30pm- Explore Shinjuku nightlife (Kabukicho area)
Day 5 (Wednesday) Day Trip to NikkoQUESTION: is it better to go to Kegon Falls in the morning or afternoon?Will probably bring snacks for lunch or grab a quick bite to optimise time!
Here’s my current plan:- Shinkyo Bridge (arrive 9am)- Nikkozan Rinnoji Temple- Nikko Toshogu- Nikko Futarasan jinja- Kanmangafuchi Abyss- Kegon Falls- Back to Tokyo (leave around 7pm)- Dinner TBD
Day 6 (Thursday) Tokyo- Ghibli Museum (hoping to nab a 10am ticket)- Check out Hard Off Kichijoji- Back to Shinjuki Station, aiming to leave around 1ish
QUESTION: is this too much for half a day, assuming we’re here until late?
Spend afternoon in Shibuya area- Meiji Jingu- Harajuku- Go up Shibuya Sky- Check out Shibuya Scramble- Rub Akita dog- Head to Center-Street- Visit Pokemon Centre- Visit Nintendo Centre- Dinner at Tudore Tranquility around 8pm- Head back to Hotel Blossom Hibiya
Day 7 (Friday) Tokyo + travel to Mt. Fuji- Check out teamLab Planets- Check out Tokyo Tower- Lunch at Diago- Around 3pm - make way to Mt. Fuji- Arrive at around 6:30pm at Hotel Konansou- Grab dinner at Pizza Onda at around 7:30pm- Head back to Hotel Konansou
Day 8 (Saturday) Mt. Fuji + travel to Osaka- Watch sunrise from Kawaguchiko Bridge- Check out Chureito Pagoda- Walk around Lake Kawaguchiko- Be on 5pm bus from Kawaguchi station to Mishima Station- Take train from Mishima to Shin-Osaka- Arrive at Hotel The Flag around 10:30pm
Day 9 (Sunday) Osaka
QUESTION: is this too much for one day? I could push some activities out to Day 12…
- Osaka Castle- Shinsekai- Nipponbashi Debden Town- Hozenji- Dontobori- Back to Hotel the Flag- Dinner at Paprika Shokudo Vegan- Drinks & karaoke
Day 10 (Monday) Osaka- Super Nintendo World- Maybe check out Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel, if feeling inclined…?- Back to Hotel The Flag- Check out teamLab Botanical Garden- Dinner at Vegetarian Meals ROCCA- Maybe have a drink or two at a bar near the hotel- Back to Hotel The Flag
Day 11 (Tuesday) Day Trip to Miyajima, Hiroshima & Himeji Castle- Itsukushima- Hiroshima- Stop off at Himeji Castle on way back to Osaka- Back to Hotel The Flag- Dinner TBD - reckon we’ll be back quite late…
Day 12 (Wednesday) Osaka + travel over to Kyoto
QUESTION: Not too sure about the plan for this - maybe we’ll want to go back to any areas we want to from Day 8?
Current ideas/ plans are:- Check out Amerika-Mura?- Check out Abeno Harukas?- Get cheesecake?- Have early-ish dinner somewhere? Saijiki Vegan restaurant?- Take 8:21pm train to Kyoto- Check into The Gate Hotel Kyoto at around 9pm- Have drink at hotel/ head to bed
Day 13 (Thursday) Kyoto- Hanamikoji Street- Yasaka-jinja Shrine- Maruyama Park- Chion-in- Lunch at Zirael Vegan Restaurant- Nanzen-ji Temple- Eikan-do Temple- Philosophers Path- Higashiyama Jisho-ji- Taxi back to The Gate Hotel Kyoto- Dinner at Gyoza ChaoChao
Day 14 (Friday) Day Trip to Nara- Nara Park- Todai-ji & Todai-ji Daibutsuden- Namdaimon Gate- Todai-ji Nigatsudo- Lunch at Vegan Cafe Ramuna- Bit more Nara Park-ing- Back to The Gate Hotel Kyoto- Dinner at Teppan Tavern Tenamonya at around 6:30pm- Visit Fushimi Imari at around 8pm- Check out Ojamakan Fukakusa Store around 9pm- Back to The Gate Hotel Kyoto at around 9:30pm
Day 15 (Saturday) Kyoto
QUESTION: Should I go to Nara on Saturday and do this day on Friday, in terms of crowds?
- Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Templ- Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple- Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street- Gio-ji- Jakko-ji- Lunch at Tenryuji Temple Shigetsu- Tenryu-ji- Arashiyama Bambbo Grove- Togetsu-Kyo Bridge- Arashiyama Park (see Poke Lid)- Back to The Gate Hotel- Dinner at Itadakizen Kyoto
Day 16 (Sunday) Kyoto- Kinkaku-ji- Ryoan-ji- Lunch at Tofu Restaurant Saigen-in- Take a taxi to: Hokan-ji Temple- Visit Nineizaka Starbucks- Kiyomizu-dera- Higashiyama Ward- Back to The Gate Hotel- Dinner at Hyssop
Day 17 (Monday) Kyoto + travel back to Tokyo- Fushimi Inari- Rengeo-in- Pop into Marufukuro hotel- Lunch TBD- Check out Nishiki Market- Stroll around Gion- Dinner TBD- Catch 8pm train back to Tokyo- Check into Hotel Hillarys Akasaka for night
Day 18 (Tuesday) Tokyo + Day 19 (Wednesday) Tokyo
QUESTION: I haven’t made an solid plans for my last two days in Tokyo, would like it to be relatively chilled - got some ideas though so feedback very welcome!
Current ideas/ plans are to:- Check into Hishinoya Hotel for last two nights- Check out Roppongi area maybe on Monday? Wasn’t too sure what there is to “do“ there???- Check out Imperial Palace maybe on Tuesday ?- Husband would like to go to Pokémon Centre Mega Tokyo - is it worth trek as we’ll have been to two other Pokemon Centre’s already??
We’ll travel back to London on Day 20 (Thursday), leaving HND about 1ish
Thanks in advance for your advice!
2023.06.10 14:29 Specialist-Prior-759 Ex BF (36M) has been hacking and stalking me for 2 years now and won't leave me alone. Please help
I'm a 28F currently dealing with a revenge obsessed ex-boyfriend (36M) who has been stalking me online for at least 2 years now and is hell bent on destroying my life. Basically I was his first GF in 7 years at the time and prior to the girl before me who cheated on him he claimed he never had a GF except girls who thought he looked like Harry Potter in middle school. He is 36 and doesn't have a lot of experience with women so the break up is apparently still difficult for him to process even though its 3 years later and we have not spoken except me asking him profusely to stop doing this stuff.
At the time we were dating a few years ago I was dealing with some identity issues during our relationship which I was honest with him about, (identified as bisexual at the time, but was questioning my sexuality). We had some disagreements about it and he would always ask why he couldn't stay over early on in the relationship (~1 month into it). I ended up breaking things off with him after roughly 4 months because I felt like we weren't compatible and also because I had lost my job at the time and was dealing with personal issues on the side (severely depressed, was in therapy for it).
We were friends for a short time after the breakup until things started getting VERY weird. He began circling the road next to my apartment several times per hour EVERY DAY. At the time I considered it strange but had a limited knowledge of technology other than basic CS classes I had taken in the past. The internet would randomly shut off for 30 mins - 1 hour for no reason. I would later find out in the logs the router was being hit with DOS attacks several times per day.
I would also see my documents on Google Drive opened by strange usernames of fake accounts, and eventually had a remote access trojan on my laptop after he sent me photos of us through Google Photos which I suspect he used to infect my computer. He would backspace while I typed, open and close windows, click random things on the screen, and straight up mess with me for several hours per day every day for MONTHS.
Then eventually the computer crashed and would never start again. It was a $1500 Macbook Pro. My new car also mysteriously got something poured in the fuel tank and after a few weeks and several hundreds of dollars of new parts no mechanic could fix the car. My apartment was broken into repeatedly with subtle signs of forced entry but nothing stolen. Examples: Pry marks on the inside of the front door, side door and back door, personal care items like body wash, underwear or bras stolen or moved, coming home to find personal documents like medical records, tax records, and bank info layed out on my bedroom floor shuffled around. I filed police reports each time it happened but couldn't prove it was him.
My car has also been broken into a few times now with my dashcam broken off the mount, hidden under the passenger seat, stick figures taking a dump drawn on my windshield, and nails in my back tire and spare tire. I believe he put a GPS tracker on the car because I have heard someone outside opening and closing the car door but nothing was stolen. So far no mechanic has been able to find a tracker and I couldn't either.
I had to stop using the wifi at my apartment because every device I use on that network gets hacked (multiple different laptops, 2 kindles, and 3 cell phones). I found a keylogger on my M1 Macbook Pro (~$2000) which he also placed persistent malware on and I can not get rid of despite wiping the hard drive 8 times since this January. He defaced my professional website I was trying to use to get a job twice (first time put a pic of nude child and set his hacker username as my bank account number, added a redirect link which I stupidly clicked on and then it downloaded some sort of spyware or RAT onto my device, 2nd time he put up 2 women doing the deed also nude).
He has had remote access to this computer for an unknown amount of time and I can not afford to replace it. My cell phone also booted up into safe mode the next morning and the background was changed on my work/school email account. I tried taking my computer to a repair shop and they claimed if he does have a RAT on it, it is likely hidden on the recovery partition and they weren't able to find it or get it off my computer. This is a $2000 M1 Mac and he already destroyed my previous Macbook Pro which cost me $1500.
I also had to buy a new cell phone after I kept getting creepy phone calls and phishing texts from unknown numbers. When he put the new keylogger on my computer recently I saw where he made a folder which he named the digits of my new phone number. I had just bought a brand new Samsung Galaxy and he already got the new phone number for it and hacked it. He kept enabled the camera and microphone and while I was eating turned on the camera and started recorded me while I was eating. I factory reset the phone and he was still able to control the camera and mic on it.
I have reported him to the FBI IC3 unit 6 times now in the last year and now he is getting cocky about it and knows he will get away with it so he keeps doing it. He knows I am broke with no money and can't afford a new computer, to move away, or to keep buying a new cell phone every month and he seems to get off on trying to destroy my whole life. I have not spoken to him in 3 years now and we do not talk at all. I sent him a FB message telling him to stop explaining to him I have been going through a lot since my sister died a few years ago and just want to be left alone. He keeps doing it and won't stop.
He also recruited my crush who I never mentioned to him to help him with the hacking (my crush is a system admin) and now my crush won't speak to me at all and hates my guts. I have no idea what he said to my crush or how he got them to come after me but they have been going full on nuclear and won't stop. I caught him staking me out a few days ago at the gas station across from a wifi hotspot I was using where he was just sitting there for an extended period of time watching me. Then when I started drive near him he inched his truck like he was thinking about if he was going to follow me or not. He also knows when I come and go at night and drives by my apartment minutes after I get home at different times.
This guy seems to think I owe him something and has a serious problem. He just keeps doing all this and will not stop. While I am not the type of person to do anything crazy back, the police have done nothing and in terms of the hacking there is not a lot they can do. What can I do to at least expose this guy. I don't think he is ever going to stop until he kills me and this has got to stop.
submitted by Specialist-Prior-759 to AskNetsec [link] [comments]
At the time we were dating a few years ago I was dealing with some identity issues during our relationship which I was honest with him about, (identified as bisexual at the time, but was questioning my sexuality). We had some disagreements about it and he would always ask why he couldn't stay over early on in the relationship (~1 month into it). I ended up breaking things off with him after roughly 4 months because I felt like we weren't compatible and also because I had lost my job at the time and was dealing with personal issues on the side (severely depressed, was in therapy for it).
We were friends for a short time after the breakup until things started getting VERY weird. He began circling the road next to my apartment several times per hour EVERY DAY. At the time I considered it strange but had a limited knowledge of technology other than basic CS classes I had taken in the past. The internet would randomly shut off for 30 mins - 1 hour for no reason. I would later find out in the logs the router was being hit with DOS attacks several times per day.
I would also see my documents on Google Drive opened by strange usernames of fake accounts, and eventually had a remote access trojan on my laptop after he sent me photos of us through Google Photos which I suspect he used to infect my computer. He would backspace while I typed, open and close windows, click random things on the screen, and straight up mess with me for several hours per day every day for MONTHS.
Then eventually the computer crashed and would never start again. It was a $1500 Macbook Pro. My new car also mysteriously got something poured in the fuel tank and after a few weeks and several hundreds of dollars of new parts no mechanic could fix the car. My apartment was broken into repeatedly with subtle signs of forced entry but nothing stolen. Examples: Pry marks on the inside of the front door, side door and back door, personal care items like body wash, underwear or bras stolen or moved, coming home to find personal documents like medical records, tax records, and bank info layed out on my bedroom floor shuffled around. I filed police reports each time it happened but couldn't prove it was him.
My car has also been broken into a few times now with my dashcam broken off the mount, hidden under the passenger seat, stick figures taking a dump drawn on my windshield, and nails in my back tire and spare tire. I believe he put a GPS tracker on the car because I have heard someone outside opening and closing the car door but nothing was stolen. So far no mechanic has been able to find a tracker and I couldn't either.
I had to stop using the wifi at my apartment because every device I use on that network gets hacked (multiple different laptops, 2 kindles, and 3 cell phones). I found a keylogger on my M1 Macbook Pro (~$2000) which he also placed persistent malware on and I can not get rid of despite wiping the hard drive 8 times since this January. He defaced my professional website I was trying to use to get a job twice (first time put a pic of nude child and set his hacker username as my bank account number, added a redirect link which I stupidly clicked on and then it downloaded some sort of spyware or RAT onto my device, 2nd time he put up 2 women doing the deed also nude).
He has had remote access to this computer for an unknown amount of time and I can not afford to replace it. My cell phone also booted up into safe mode the next morning and the background was changed on my work/school email account. I tried taking my computer to a repair shop and they claimed if he does have a RAT on it, it is likely hidden on the recovery partition and they weren't able to find it or get it off my computer. This is a $2000 M1 Mac and he already destroyed my previous Macbook Pro which cost me $1500.
I also had to buy a new cell phone after I kept getting creepy phone calls and phishing texts from unknown numbers. When he put the new keylogger on my computer recently I saw where he made a folder which he named the digits of my new phone number. I had just bought a brand new Samsung Galaxy and he already got the new phone number for it and hacked it. He kept enabled the camera and microphone and while I was eating turned on the camera and started recorded me while I was eating. I factory reset the phone and he was still able to control the camera and mic on it.
I have reported him to the FBI IC3 unit 6 times now in the last year and now he is getting cocky about it and knows he will get away with it so he keeps doing it. He knows I am broke with no money and can't afford a new computer, to move away, or to keep buying a new cell phone every month and he seems to get off on trying to destroy my whole life. I have not spoken to him in 3 years now and we do not talk at all. I sent him a FB message telling him to stop explaining to him I have been going through a lot since my sister died a few years ago and just want to be left alone. He keeps doing it and won't stop.
He also recruited my crush who I never mentioned to him to help him with the hacking (my crush is a system admin) and now my crush won't speak to me at all and hates my guts. I have no idea what he said to my crush or how he got them to come after me but they have been going full on nuclear and won't stop. I caught him staking me out a few days ago at the gas station across from a wifi hotspot I was using where he was just sitting there for an extended period of time watching me. Then when I started drive near him he inched his truck like he was thinking about if he was going to follow me or not. He also knows when I come and go at night and drives by my apartment minutes after I get home at different times.
This guy seems to think I owe him something and has a serious problem. He just keeps doing all this and will not stop. While I am not the type of person to do anything crazy back, the police have done nothing and in terms of the hacking there is not a lot they can do. What can I do to at least expose this guy. I don't think he is ever going to stop until he kills me and this has got to stop.
2023.06.10 14:27 Alarming-Moose-921 Almost shat my pants walking home.
There are some really mean girls at work (actually all of them are, a select few are just very good at being fake nice). And I thought for a minute that one of them got off my train station and moved to my area.
I would say some of the girls are mentally ill, cannot live without male attention or a boyfriend, cannot share space with confident, independent women, and a couple are stalker obsessive level. It was so creepy and scary being followed around and mimicked during work hours (and they were really poor workers as well btw) and during breaks. BREAKS!!! And they would constantly ask me about my living situation, where I lived, if I had a car, etc. Creepy af.
Anyway, I live pretty far away and I don't tell anyone other than HR and my managers, and today I thought I saw one of them get off the train station. I can't walk fast because I ended up with several injuries from all that bullying, so I didn't get to see her face. She had a distinct super dyed blond hair that was a similar shade but longer, so at first I thought she grew it out. They were also of similar height. I was so fucking shocked I felt like all the adrenaline made me feel less pain and walk better LOL.
But then I calmed myself down, coz that mean coworker lives with her parents and her parents are loaded (but I wouldn't be surprised if she went out of her way to find my address then move somewhere near). Furthermore, by looking at the stranger's fashion, the stranger was much more fashionable and appropriately styled than that coworker; I also think that the coworker wouldn't wear some of the items that random blonde stranger wore (because it would be so beneath her and make her 'look like all the other girls'), but it was still SO SCARY!!! omg.
(For funnies, I had another psycho stalker coworker from a former job that moved out of her parents' house, claimed to have 'run away' from abusive parents and to not tell anyone or them, stalked me to my own apartment (I had a feeling that I was being followed but back then I didn't know who it was), we became roommates because she said she was looking for two roommates and I had to leave my place because my original roommate accused me of stealing- that girl broke into my apartment by stealing my keys from work and stole items from my roommate, then brought it to work, at first I thought it was weird that she would use the same things as my ELDERLY roommate used and found it weird that I kept missing my keys when I brought them with me to work.) , then she claimed that I was abusive to her and moved back to her parents place. Her parents even came to work the day after she moved out as well. Fucking crazy people.)
Joke of the day:
Q: Why do girls (and maybe guys, had a few of those too) stalk me so much?
A: Because I'm not like other girls. -wink wink smile-
Enjoy!
submitted by Alarming-Moose-921 to coworkerstories [link] [comments]
I would say some of the girls are mentally ill, cannot live without male attention or a boyfriend, cannot share space with confident, independent women, and a couple are stalker obsessive level. It was so creepy and scary being followed around and mimicked during work hours (and they were really poor workers as well btw) and during breaks. BREAKS!!! And they would constantly ask me about my living situation, where I lived, if I had a car, etc. Creepy af.
Anyway, I live pretty far away and I don't tell anyone other than HR and my managers, and today I thought I saw one of them get off the train station. I can't walk fast because I ended up with several injuries from all that bullying, so I didn't get to see her face. She had a distinct super dyed blond hair that was a similar shade but longer, so at first I thought she grew it out. They were also of similar height. I was so fucking shocked I felt like all the adrenaline made me feel less pain and walk better LOL.
But then I calmed myself down, coz that mean coworker lives with her parents and her parents are loaded (but I wouldn't be surprised if she went out of her way to find my address then move somewhere near). Furthermore, by looking at the stranger's fashion, the stranger was much more fashionable and appropriately styled than that coworker; I also think that the coworker wouldn't wear some of the items that random blonde stranger wore (because it would be so beneath her and make her 'look like all the other girls'), but it was still SO SCARY!!! omg.
(For funnies, I had another psycho stalker coworker from a former job that moved out of her parents' house, claimed to have 'run away' from abusive parents and to not tell anyone or them, stalked me to my own apartment (I had a feeling that I was being followed but back then I didn't know who it was), we became roommates because she said she was looking for two roommates and I had to leave my place because my original roommate accused me of stealing- that girl broke into my apartment by stealing my keys from work and stole items from my roommate, then brought it to work, at first I thought it was weird that she would use the same things as my ELDERLY roommate used and found it weird that I kept missing my keys when I brought them with me to work.) , then she claimed that I was abusive to her and moved back to her parents place. Her parents even came to work the day after she moved out as well. Fucking crazy people.)
Joke of the day:
Q: Why do girls (and maybe guys, had a few of those too) stalk me so much?
A: Because I'm not like other girls. -wink wink smile-
Enjoy!
2023.06.10 14:09 iiSysteM Houston Protectorate (Worm) vs. The Seven (The Boys, Amazon)
The Houston Protectorate, Eidolon, Dispatch and Exalt end up in The Boys universe, specifically in New York. The Protectorate team is tasked with taking down The Seven, though thanks to Vought intelligence, The Seven happen to know of the Protectorate's presence. Which team comes out on top?
CONDITIONS!
submitted by iiSysteM to whowouldwin [link] [comments]
CONDITIONS!
- Houston Protectorate: The Protectorate team consists of Eidolon, Dispatch and Exalt. All members are at their full power and have basic knowledge of The Seven, 10+ hours of preparation time for the team.
- The Seven: The Seven consists of Homelander, A-Train, The Deep, Translucent, Starlight, Black Noir and Queen Maeve. All members are at full power and have basic knowledge of the Houston Protectorate, 10+ hours of preparation time.
- Location: After preparation time, the Houston Protectorate and The Seven end up ambushing each other on the streets near Vought Tower. Both teams start at a reasonable distance apart.
2023.06.10 13:47 Erwinblackthorn The 4 Types of Writers: A Followup to the "Woke Test"
A while ago, I posted a test that was to determine what kind of writer someone is, based on what part of the “modernist” spectrum they fall into. Part of the reason why I did this was to see how much I understand about the subject matter, since I will always have a postmodernist tell me that I am clueless as to what any of these are. Another reason is to have writers start realizing why they think the way they do, and possibly start questioning why they write how they do. I found out that, from the dozen or so people who took the test and posted their results to me, that most people I encounter and get along with online are modernist. A lot of these people reject mainstream media and they are secluded in alternative media sites because they don’t get along with the current overton window that’s among popular sites. I think it’s safe to say a lot, if not all, of these people are anti-woke, and they received 1 or 0 answers on the woke aspect of the test.
If I can pat myself on the back for anything, at least I can say I got the woke part correct.
Although the buzzwords I used for woke might be cheating since we all know I’m referring to something woke when I say something like “inclusivity” or “intersectionality” or “oppression”, because anyone who listens to even something like Joe Rogan will know these terms and treat them like they’re dripping with vomit and diarrhea. A lot of us, especially the classical liberal, center to center-right types, and even the center-left types, are tired of this woke nonsense. Even some guy who drinks beer while watching football and shopping at a basic store like Target is tired of this tomfoolery.
So this followup is to address a lot of the complaints I received and also to bring in some insight into how I wanted to conceptualize the test and how it turned out. I will also explain the relevancy of this type of test since some are wondering why something like scoring modernist means anything.
In philosophy, you are to hit 5 branches in order for your philosophy to be considered “full” or at least “full enough” to be granted a name. These 5 are:
Or maybe to question what they read so that we can see what a writer finds interest in, so that it correlates with what they would write.
That was not critiqued by others, but I know I messed up on that. I was listening to a Jordan Peterson video where he said that a good survey questionnaire takes months of planning to get the wording right for the questions and the answers, and I looked at my test and saw I did it in a day, and went “well, I think I messed up, yeah.” My own critique will be taken into consideration so that I can remake the test and make it better. To repeat what I said in the test: I wish to use this to determine who to avoid when hiring and working with people, because anyone scoring even something like 2 answers on the woke mentality is something to be concerned about.
Other critique involves question 1 where the phrase “copy it” should be changed to “emulate it”. Yeah, I agree, that makes more sense, since copy makes it sound like someone is not putting their own spin on it or putting it in their own words. Imitate, match, resemble, something that intends to retain the purpose but including your own position on the matter. Question 17, how we get our knowledge, is a very open question about epistemology, and that one seems to have given a few people the woke answer by accident, even if they aren’t woke in the way they answer. The problem with the term “lived experience” is that people think it’s a normal term and it is one of the few woke terms that go over some people’s heads. The term is used commonly in correspondence with articles that feature globohomo artwork and they talk about how it’s important to have a person in your corporation or non-profit organization who holds “lived experience” and they are referring to living as a black person to know what a black person feels.
I find this incredibly woke because, as I’ll explain further later on, the woke are saying that the only way to know something is to be that thing, thus forcing writers to be, say, autistic in order to write an autistic character. Or they must be a woman to write a woman. Or they must be a black to write a black. This enforcement is what causes the demand for diversity hires, because somehow these diversity hires hold mystical magical knowledge that nobody else in the company would even dare to understand or comprehend unless they checked off some boxes first. On top of that, the term “pragmatic action” was poor wording and that’s my bad. I was trying to say something like “scientific realization” in order to attach the modernist to science. Something that is both pragmatic(able to be done practically) and part of some kind of education/training. You’ve done it, you’ve learned about it, you see others do it, that can be the modernist idea of knowledge.
Other than those two, I think every other question went over rather well, but I will still enhance them to be worded better as time goes on and as I revisit it with more of an organized “5 sets of 4 and the 2 big ‘uns” in mind. But then there comes the elephant in the room. The scoundrel who dared to question my authority and make a critique about the test. How dare they and stuff.
Jokes aside, I really like this kind of critique and it’s great that she put it into clear questions that I can firmly address. I like it when people are clear. It’s much better than that obfuscation thing the postmodernists always do when they complain about me without really having a reason other than something where they don’t like labels or they were offended that I dared to mention any category of anything. Page Zaplendam, a fellow writer, brought up 3 important questions which you can see for yourself here:
To begin the explanation, we’re going to need to establish what modernism is so that the others can be explained. It’s the word that created the reason we see a difference in aesthetics like this because this was the moment we engaged in what’s called the enlightenment. During the early 17th century and around that time, people started to remove their dependency on kingdoms and instead create nations and industry. Religion was also being questioned because scientific advancements through record keeping allows people to give better assessments on what causes something to happen in the world. The view of the world started to become more natural and so naturalism was common, as well as rationalism and empiricism. People were using logic to make their decisions and data to come to conclusions, rather than faith or scripture from prior.
During this time, the modern age, traditions were tarnished and deemed as unnecessary. Medicine allowed people to praise science instead of pray for a mystical cure. Predictions of weather with meteorology allowed people to reduce famines and starvation. Printing presses allowed books to become more common, machinery allowed more production of goods, and life went from depending on neighbors to depending on communities and global trade. This dramatic change in both lifestyle and mentality allowed art to enter the modernist art era, which is determined as art that experiments to search for new meaning and objectivity without the necessity of a deity, tradition, or the supernatural.
Mythology became psychology, alchemy became academia, and religion became fandom. Everything mentally changed under modernism to create an environment of experimentation, the romances took over, which led to the pulp adventures and existentialist works of things like noir. Weird tales brought us ideas of cosmicism, thanks to the lack of god or at least the lack of a god who cares about humanity. With this freedom from religion, the mostly liberal environment of modernism allowed people to make up their own rules, their own ideas of what’s real, and thus we were able to focus more on the individual, rather than the collective. Stephen Hicks has a great video where he lectures about how modernism came to be and what it is, but I can simplify it into the 5 categories he has on his chart.
Metaphysics: naturalism
Epistemology: empiricism and reason
Human Nature: Tabula Rasa(everything mental is gained from experience)
Ethics: individualism
politics/economics: liberal capitalism
As you can see, modernism caused this reliance on the self, but also reliance on science as a replacement for religion. It caused the worship of money, while also opening people up to other ideas thanks to the liberal mindset. The liberty to engage with other things allowed people to mingle with both good and bad ideas. This is actually why people, like James Lindsay, say that liberals caused things like Nazism and Communism to come into fruition, because the liberal is so open and accepting that they allow terrible ideas to take over the top of the social structure and they think it won’t touch them if they are on the bottom. This is also how dictators were able to trick people into treating them like a God, because the dictator convinced people that they were able to answer prayers and did this during their campaigns to get elected or during the revolution while they’re beheading their opponents in the streets.
In other words, the uprising of democracy had people rely on voting in the same way as people relied on prayers, but here it’s where we pray to a natural government and hope they do something we want.
One thing that we don’t like to realize is that colonization occurred because of a scientific superiority among the Europeans, and this scientific advancement was caused by years of wars and immense dedication to their royalty. Then there were areas they colonized that had a crazy amount of gold, such as Australia and the Aztec empire, and this abundance of gold allowed trade to skyrocket, while Indian trade and the silk road allowed wealth to spread across the globe. Diamonds and gold found in Africa, like a sick joke from God to force white people to go to such a hellhole to get the diamonds in the rough. It’s not that white people wanted to go around and rule the world. It’s that enlightened explorers and merchants wanted to make a crazy amount of money and these environments were inhabited by people who left these literal gold mines untapped, and these explorers used technology to take over.
No wonder modernism was full of that toga wearing utopia sci-fi stuff!
It’s not hard to realize why the Europeans took over entire empires with small groups of conquistadors. They had armor, guns, ships with cannons. Those Chinese must have their face red realizing they are the ones who sold them black powder. Every alchemist should feel bad and stuff that they are the reason guns were used versus the people who didn’t have guns. It was such a destructive force to use guns against savage tribes and kingdoms because it was both physical and psychological. It was like dealing with metallic robots who fired lightning from their arms and filled the area with a concealing smoke. That’s like showing a caveman a cellphone, their brains instantly melt trying to comprehend what’s going on.
So people are angry at the modernists for being… rational and empirical, and I guess being urbanized or industrialized. People are mad at capitalism for being effective and a good way to globally get along. They’re mad at liberals for being okay with race mixing. The utter nerve of such horrid actions. How dare people mix. I’ll make sure to tell my own future mixed kids that they should be ashamed of themselves for having parents who came from different parts of the Earth and that’s about it.
So modernism, do I like it?
Well, it’s not bad. A lot of my favorite stuff is modernist and usually when people say they want to go back to the old days, they point at modernism as the example. Hell, a lot of postmodernists now are saying they want to go back to modernism, and then they say they don’t, because they feel like it's superior, but they hate the idea of accepting that it’s modernist. I mean, that’s why it’s called postmodernism, it’s the thing after modernism is gone, it’s the rejection of modernism and also pre-modernism. But more on that one later.
I noticed a lot of people got mostly modernist as their answers on the test and it makes sense. Many people online, especially on alternative social media, will be actual liberals who are open to different ideas, which allows them to engage with things that both offend them and possibly something they see as evil. They’re open to having their minds changed and they are always willing to learn more because there’s a big idea on learning more and experimenting, which is something I can relate to because I’m always trying out new restaurants in my area and I don’t mind trying a genre that I’m not familiar with. For me, I have a bit of that liberal mindset because I try out a lot of things I’m not familiar with and I end up liking some stuff, but I usually stick to what I established as my firm ideas from prior.
For example, when I was a kid I hated eating beans and I refused to eat fish that wasn’t canned tuna. Now, after being more open, I love salmon and I love eating beans, which dramatically helped my nutritional intake. There is a healthiness involved with experimenting and there is also a risk factor. But if you know how to avoid dangers, I don’t see a problem with trying out something like a new genre you’re not used to, just to see if you can get into it.
I mention this because the modernist writer will experiment, but will also claim a truth that comes from rationalism, which assumes the world we live in is logical. Even if it’s chaotic and absurd, they’ll say it’s logical, because it’s predictable and we can interact with it. This allows their writing to hold to formulas through things like pulp, while also experimenting through things like weird fiction. There is repetition that happens, and this is why genres became a big thing, so the reader can tell what form of repetition they want to deal with through what they are familiar with. This caused what’s called a comfort zone, which is the state of mind where a person feels at ease because there is an abundance of familiarity and a lack of unwanted challenges. Genres create these comfort zones, and this is then where we have to talk about individualism.
Liberalism has the problem of causing individualism to slowly become sophistry and egotism. The person declaring they are the one who is to be relied on and they are the ones who make up their own rules becomes a person who can’t tell who they’re obeying. Especially if that person puts something above themselves, like race, or science, or nation, or the opinions of others through democracy. Thanks to romanticism during this modernist time, we were able to feel like we had an abundance of freedom and capability, but then barely a century later the rise of Naizsm and Communism caused people to realize that this capability is in relation to what the shadow is capable of. The darkest, most disturbing and destructive actions a person is capable of, beyond their imagination and beyond what we’d consider a “human act”.
This quick change into the most dangerous entity nearby is why I don’t trust anarchists when they say their utopia would be functional. When it comes to real life, that doesn’t work, we need a more powerful overarching thing to keep that shadow in check, and we need that entity above the human to be in check of its own shadow on top of that. And this shadow is also what causes the modernist to engage with things like dada and a hatred of art to the point where they can say the work is for them and them alone, or that all art is equal, down to where a turd on a pedestal is the same as the Mona Lisa.
The pro of modernism is a focus on the individual, which promotes movements like poetic realism and neorealism, which grants a look into everyday lives. The mundane can be put into the forefront and average people can feel like they relate, which allows the average person to buy the work. That is a great plus, and it’s why the most popular shows out there are stuff that involves soap opera style drama and an environment that is simple, like a hospital or a police station. The sitcom is a result of modernism, because only a modernist would find value in seeing a family hang around their house while you’re sitting in your house with your family watching someone else in their house with their family.
Now let’s get on with pre-modernism, after all of that introduction is said and done. Pre-modernism is everything that came before this enlightenment and this separation from God. Atheists like to say how atheism has been popular forever and they have simply been suppressed, but something crazy that they ignore is that every civilization, without ever talking to each other, before any contact with anyone else, became a religious, spiritual, civilization. We even have a name for this basic religion, called animism. This natural desire to be religious in humans comes from how we think when we are young, as well as how we think when we are not relying on science or even words.
I know this sounds strange but we think more in pictures and visions than we do with words when we don’t know how to read. Reading unlocks a vast amount of knowledge that can be gained practically instantly, but a lack of language in our ability to think causes an abundance of symbolism in our head to fill in the gaps, meaning the ability to read locks away this visual aspect. When we’re babies, we view everything as giant, threatening, and frightening. And why not? We’re this tiny soft thing that has a skull that can easily be dented and we’re unable to feed ourselves. We need someone to throw food into our mouths like bananas into the mouth of a hippo at a zoo. We have our parents doing stuff for us, and so our brain right away connects the two.
Stuff happening around us is caused by something like a parent, like an authority, like a sky father and earth mother. The father gives me brain stuff and the mother gives me food stuff. But then we’ll grow up and realize that something like the wind moves on its own, the moon comes up to replace the sun on its own, and the seasons change on their own. There’s something we can’t see that’s doing this, something beyond the sky and under the ground, and everywhere we can’t see, especially behind our eyeballs. There’s this strange image that appears behind my vision that is not of the world but of my mind, and I conjured it.
And if I didn’t conjure it, I had someone else put it in my head through a spell, in the form of words, which cast the symbol to occur in my mind. Writers in the pre-modernist age are spellcasters, wizards, that make sure something is explained about the mysterious and supernatural world that is beyond the stuff we see around us. This “rejection of the average” causes the pre-modernist writer to talk about stuff that are not only real, but hyper-real. It doesn’t speak about an individual and it’s not for an individual, because it’s attaching everyone under the same umbrella and form. This is why I find poor interpretations of mythology humorous but also rather useless.
People will look at something like Greek mythology where a god has a child with their sister and go “well, isn’t incest a bad thing?” Not only do they miss the point, but they forget that it's a god we’re talking about and it’s not a human. It’s not some biological thing standing in front of you. It’s the supernatural, it’s beyond something like biology. Or better yet when someone reads the bible and goes “why did Adam take a rib out to get a woman? Couldn’t God just make a woman without taking his rib?”
It’s like, you missed the point and you’re ignoring the importance of symbolism, and this symbolism grants all of the meaning that you’re missing from the bible. Yes, Eve is made from Adam, and yes, it takes a rib, because rib is a bone and bone is structure. A rib is near a heart, a protector of heart. Heart is courage, love, emotions, stuff that makes our blood pump. Blood is a humor based on air, and air is one of the 4 elements. The connection goes on and on and on, because this mythology is all connected together into one giant story that goes beyond the words stated in the story. Each tiny noun or verb means way more than it lets up to mean. I’ve been studying mythology for a while, and really trying to look into them before I say anything about them, and there is so much inner history with mythology that’s both present and reachable, but it’s practically endless with how everything connects.
And at the same time, all of this is essential, of a form, symbolic, and objective.
This relation to religion in pre-modernism causes the definition to be something like “the art form that depicts hyper-reality in an objective truth that involves the supernatural as a source of the natural and as the source of truth.
Stephen Hicks puts the politics of the pre-modernist as feudalism, but it’s more like monarchy, where you believe that there should be a king, because someone has a family line that was sacred enough to treat like one. In pre-modernism, we had ancestor worship in every culture, because your family line was important to keeping your existence relevant. This is because everything in the pre-modern age involved titles, which were granted by an authority, and many times this authority is a god or an ancestor.
Your title within your family is in relation to your family members and your last name determines your family’s title for others to recognize. If someone was a smith, they would get the last name smith, like say John the smith just becomes John Smith, and they will endow their established trade to their next of kin. So if the son of John Smith wants to make a living, he’s going to be a smith as well. There is this lineage and family business that is treated seriously, because if you step out of this title, you’ll have to create your own. People could do that by entering a trade or a guild, by learning from others, from gaining a title after being born a bastard, or whatever they could to get a title.
But the key factor is that title is important to the pre-modernist. What’s even more important is form, because this religious mentality creates the environment that perfection is possible. A metaphysical manifestation separate from the material world that is able to be aimed towards and sought after, even if unable to be reached. This was well portrayed in characters like Jesus, which Christianity dedicated itself to fulfill the traits of Jesus, due to Christianity being a religion where people follow the teachings of Jesus.
I would say that every religion had their own type of Jesus, the perfect form that someone or something has to uphold and look up to as inspiration.
Later on, alchemy came out of the prototype phase and started to connect all of these religions and symbols with each other to create more overarching symbolism that went for more core ideas. At this point, people could only argue against combinations and where something is in a hierarchy, rather than the validity of the claim of something like a single god or a creator. Sects of religions were made in order to determine different end goals, or different ideas in how a ritual should be done, or whether something like a church is important for worship, and these were the biggest sources of dispute possible.
You either followed God's will or you didn’t, and if you didn’t, you were a heathen. Heathens are sent to the bad place, believers go to the good place. We have a supernatural aspect of our body, beyond our body, beside our body, that went there for us, usually in the sense of a soul or spirit. The mind is an intermediary between the body and spirit that allows communication between the two at all times. This was usually depicted with gods like Psyche or Hermes or any other messenger god.
The gods would speak to us with omens and with us using clairvoyance. Any pattern in front of us or up in the stars could be used as a means to decipher a supernatural message. This message was easily able to repeat itself because there was an objective meaning to everything, which is why something like Zodiacs are constantly watched even to this day. Pre-modernist art retains this tradition of using mythology and symbolism to depict truths about the world. Romanticism was an attempt to return to this truth telling style during the modernist era, but Romanticism was absent of the religious aspect and was more of something like a neo-alchemical way of handing stories, where symbols were kept basic and for individual progress instead of a collective one.
A big part of pre-modernism is collectivism, especially the collective unconscious, which Jung coined later on when referring to his more pre-modernist analysis of psychology that heavily relied on alchemy and mythology. We used mythology to say something of value, with a universal or at least human level of objectivity, and the only way to miss the message is to deny that symbolism exists for them. Or at least, your level of symbolism in your interpretation would have to be so low resolution that it misses every point entirely and has zero context as to why mythology is important in the first place.
Mythology grants the idea that our world holds order, while the modernist idea is more about how the world is chaotic and we hold order to shape the world better. Fables grant the idea that particular personalities do particular things, while modernism declares that things change or can be grey and shows how. The black and white morality of the pre-modernist merged into grey once modernism kicked in, because there is the lack of theism under modernism.
We’re half way through the explanation and now we come to postmodernism.
Pre-modernism establishes that the supernatural causes order to cause truth, modernism changed that to say a secular natural world causes chaos to have us find truth. So what does postmodernist do to change all of that?
It rejects both and says both pre-modernism and modernism are wrong, and instead says everything that can be perceived is subjective and the objective is unknown to us. Stephen Hicks says in his video that postmodernists are really intelligent and well read into an abundance of stuff, and he’s impressed by that. I would have to disagree with him because it’s not like they read everything they did in order to understand it. They read everything and continue searching because they intend on claiming it’s not true, and use their personal interpretation to claim such. It’s very much like when a person studies mythology to then say “you know, the gods committing incest and magically transforming is really weird.”
Before I get deep into postmodernism, I would like to explain the concept of realism. Realism, in both philosophy and art, is to depict a thing as how it truthfully is. There is accuracy, there is something there that really exists, and it has attributes that causes it to really exist. Both modernism and pre-modernism have this as an axiom. Postmodernism on the other hand is ANTI-realism.
You cannot believe in something being “real” as a postmodernist because to claim something is real is to claim an objective truth, which a postmodernist is allergic to doing. They are unable to claim anything as true, because there is no proof for them to use, thus any statements they make must be an opinion and any statement they see must be perceived as an opinion as well. In all honesty, I have trouble finding postmodernists who go this far down the rabbit hole. All of them focus on subjectivity, but they’ll still try to tell others that things can be real in a colloquial way that lets them blend in with modernists. It’s hard to get people to follow you when you claim things aren’t real, so there is a form of deception and contradiction that occurs, but it’s also acceptable to the postmodernist.
This is because postmodernists don’t care about logic, and anything they want to claim as “true” is based on a social subjectivism that can also be considered an overton window that shows them what is acceptable to say and what isn’t. A lot of them try to push it, others try to blend in with it, with the intensity depending on how far they want to push their deconstructionism and reductionism. For example, phrases like “we’re all just stardust floating around” is a way for the postmodernist to seem deep with their reductionism, but it’s actually their way of saying they are nihilistic while trying to sound deep and poetic.
Stephen Hicks does have an amazing point in his presentation where he says truth no longer matters to the postmodernist and what does matter is power. That kind of concept comes from Nietzsche’s will to power (which is why Nietzsche is considered a proto-postmodernist, one who helped birth it into existence) and Marx’s historical materialism. The thought that human labor forms the material basis of society, and this idea being spread out into every 3rd world country(aka communist country during the cold war) means that a big chunk of the world is convinced of this concept of power through labor and power through capital that’s seen as “stolen labor” when it’s a bourgeoisie.
This leaning into Marxist terminology, thanks to communists and hippies, causes postmodernist politics to be considered leftist, and exclusively leftist. There is no way for a right wing postmodernist to even occur because the right winger believes in a truth through natural rights and there is no way to remove that aspect. This is why Stephen Hicks calls the postmodernist political and economic idea socialist, which what he really means is leftist. Although, socialist works a bit more for the political aspect since socialism is a wonky word that means whatever the socialist wants it to mean.
They think the worker owns the means of production and that some form of social relevancy should happen and the rest is dependent on what they want to advocate for. Not surprisingly, this socialist aspect quickly turned into syndicalism and later corporatism when relying on the government to enforce this social power upon the masses, also known as a cult of personality. The cult leader, or leaders, tell everyone that they have power, they tell everyone that they’re special, the people don’t question it because they think it’s a common opinion, and so the cult grows unrestrained. We see this at all times when people will both hold water for a politician for any little thing and also attack their opposition for any little thing, no matter how much of a double standard or fallacy they apply to their advocacy.
To the postmodernist, advocacy is labor geared towards power, with advocacy being the only thing you can do to socially stay relevant.
When it comes to postmodernist media, the key idea is exploitation, because the goal is to get as many views as possible and break as many boundaries as possible. Modernist rating systems are pushed and pushed constantly into exploitation to the point where new ratings are made and R rated material becomes the new norm. The grindhouse is a common place and is normalized, even though before these would be considered taboo, because the way the overton window moved more towards the left through their advocacy. The leftist postmodernist demands power as the social structure and so they demand power and are slowly granted it over time. But there is a bit of a weird thing that happens between how Hicks and I see postmodernism.
In his chart, he labels postmodernism as collectivist and egalitarian. I see this as a bit misleading since the leftist is not really for collectivism in the same way as a pre-modernist would claim we’re all connected. The postmodernist believes that we’re all connected in how we’re all trapped in our own subjective constructions, as if we’re all islands in this massive chain of islands and the water between us is the subjective separation.
For example, let’s say I look at a dog and another person looks at a dog. We both see the dog but the dog is one dog for me and another dog for them and there is this supposed infinite number of dogs who make up this single entity that takes up the space where the perceived dog resides. And not just an infinite number of dogs, but infinite number of things between what the dog is made of, with an infinite number of those for each smaller thing. I guess, to him, that’s collectivism, and the egalitarian thing comes from how leftist demand that people are to be treated equal, as well as all art to be treated equal.
Just like dada, which was a proto-postmodernist art movement, the postmodernist thinks that all art is equal, with the Mona Lisa holding the same aesthetic value as a turd on a pedestal. This allows the postmodernist to use juxtaposition to combine something of high regard with something of low regard, like say having classical music play during a moment where someone is being tortured in a grindhouse way. Or maybe another example is like how Tarantino combines low quality exploitation movies with high quality dialogue that people praise for its realism and tension. This is why surrealism became popular under postmodernism, because surrealism juxtaposes a high concept symbol with nonsensical low concept literal images or events.
Another aspect of postmodernism is the idea that art and real life has merged into a type of hyperreality that blurs the line where life and art meet. People record their lives online and turn that into media, thus turning even things like talking about people who are in media into a form of media itself(aka Hollywood gossip stuff and youtube drama).
Without much of a message or objective symbolism, a lot of postmodernist media focuses on playfulness, because messing with things is all that there’s left as a means of entertainment and media making. Personal interpretation as the only means of experiencing causes the postmodernist to aim for open interpretation work, using vague wording and dog whistles to hide intents that they believe a common audience wouldn’t like, but select circles would catch. And with this demand for social power came the rise of corporate media, where corporations crank out stuff with self made trends and control groups who guide the corporation towards more money, thus more power.
There is also a combination of media, usually in the form of merchandising, so that a form of media will still be advertised and thought about, even when not engaged with the media directly. For example, GI Joe started out as a toy for kids. Then it became a comic and a show for kids. Now it’s a movie series for kids. Transformers, He-Man, I think even Gundam. These things aim for sales first and then plan the story after, because it’s all one big marketing campaign. There’s nothing in these that try to say what is true, they simply try to say things that will have people think they agree with it, or at least can’t argue against it to where they disengage with the product that’s being sold.
This has caused postmodernist media to become both highly marketable but also highly forgettable. Things easily get outdated even if the tech level stays consistent because of intertextuality, which is the relationship one media has with another to grant the user of intertextuality with relevancy that can have the audience understand the reference. This is a fancy way of saying something like an inside joke or a typical reference like a meme that we see online. If you ever want to understand this one, just think of any Channel Awesome reviewer. They will try to make jokes that reference something in media, probably something they reviewed prior, in order to keep the dedicated fans in the circle of attention and make the new fans try to keep up with this intensifying requirement of knowing jargon.
Intertextuality can also be seen as a sort of specialized culture within a franchise or company or genre or just stuff that is similar, so that the people who are of the fandom can all enjoy speaking some special language with each other and keep out the people who don’t know about their niche idioms and references.
This combination of reality and media, along with removing objectivity from the equation, with high and low arts being combined through playfulness and for marketing, is why our media is the way it is today. It’s made like fast food, doesn’t offer anything for the brain to work with, and is actually more for our brains to turn off if anything. People like Ray Bradburry saw this issue with TV and determined it was going to turn us into Idiocracy, which he explored in his book Fahrenheit 451. People are indulged and distracted by the idiot tube, they stop questioning things, books start being called evil, the government enacts a war against books, all people have left are things that keep them dumb, and then they can’t even see a war that’s happening all around them and in their own backyard.
The benefit of postmodernism is that it can appear more creative and people get entertained. That’s about it. No more feeling like you need to tell the truth, now you can make a story about whatever. The only benefit quickly becomes the main problem with it: it’s a bad influence. Postmodernists can only deconstruct and so they’re never pleased.
We see this all the time with Channel Awesome reviewers where they will miss the point of everything in a movie, like say Last Action Hero, and even though Last Action Hero is a postmodernist deconstruction of action movies, the reviewer will scream and holler about how the movie can’t be taken seriously. Then when they are challenged on the integrity of their review, they will spin it around and say they were just being meta and knew it was satire all along, that nobody should take any review of theirs seriously or as their actual opinion.
Or better yet, a postmodernist fan will chime in and speak for the reviewer, like when I said Spoony’s review of Final Fantasy 8, yet another deconstruction work that people were conflicted on, was misguided and wrong. A bunch of fans came in and said “Well, that’s not his REAL opinion. He didn’t REALLY say what he wanted to during the months he spent working on that review.”
I guess the point of postmodernism is to NOT say what you mean. Because how can they? That would address there is an objective idea in their head of what they mean, and that can’t happen under postmodernism. So you’re left with this endless chain of people trying to make a satire or make fun of something that is already making fun of something and that thing is already not to be taken seriously, and… you get the picture.
But then, recently, a sort of organized idea sprouted out from postmodernism. This idea that everything is both power and subjective, while also being a social construct, coagulated into a unification of something under what is called intersectionality. In 1989, Kimberly Chrenshaw coined the term, which already was working off of ideas during postmodernism such as second wave feminism and critical race theory. Through the idea that extreme egalitarianism is the way, in a subjective way, these defenders of the marginalized demanded that media should cater to whoever they deem as marginalized.
This branch of postmodernism is known as woke.
For wokeness, there isn’t much of a history or even aesthetic choice to shift through, but there is an awful lot of jargon to explain so that people know what I’m talking about. So for the majority of the woke explanation, I will be explaining the special words used that the woke will both claim are super important to know, but will also refrain from defining because they want to keep it on the down low. They mostly want to do that because they know their reasoning doesn’t make any sense and because it’s self contradictory, but that’s okay for them because they are, by their own admittance, anti-logic and “there is no real wokeness”.
Actually, before I explain the jargon, I want to get into that “there is no such thing as woke” talking point they always do. This is the same thing as saying “I want everyone to do x and there is no x”. Or when they are less radical, they will say something like “Everyone should do x, but nobody has done x yet.” But recently it’s been more like “This thing in the media has always been x, which is why we need it to be more x”.
As you can see, the narrative is always changing and they are always telling people to do something. This is the opposite of postmodernism in how it’s authoritarian, but is part of postmodernism because of the subjective aspect, as well as the neo-dada form of anti-art. The “art” of woke art is meant to express representation, and this representation is supposed to be of a group, and this group is supposed to look a particular way, absent of any stereotypes, negative or positive, and absent of any grand narratives, pre-modernist or modernist.
Therefore, all we’re left with is… appropriation and exploitation of marginalized groups.
Something tells me they didn’t think this through. It’s almost as if their goal is to be the thing they claim to fight against, but they don’t want to be called racist or sexist or whatever phobic because they don’t want to lose social power. This enforcement of an ideology, an ideology that tries to equally exploit for money, is put under the acronym DEI: Diversity, equity, and inclusion. This is a profitable business to get into, because DEI is estimated to have corporations annually spend $17 billion on DEI programs and organizations by the year 2027. In 2003, it was estimated that corporations spent $8 billion. In 2022, that number was recorded at $9 billion.
What do these numbers mean? It means companies are wasting money on this and they’re losing money after enacting woke policies.
When we combine wokeness with the socialist/Marxist mentality of the postmodernist, we end up with a constant drain of capital on the end of the media maker. The one making the art LOSES MONEY when they go woke, which is why we say “go woke, go broke.” There is no intention on making money with wokeness. This is why governments added wokeness to what is called the ESG score, which is a score that governments use to subsidize companies that follow things like climate change advocacy, DEI, and following whatever regulations a country puts in like mask regulations.
Follow these things, get closer to the “leader” score, and you get more money from the government. This is why companies don’t care when they lose customers, because at the end of the day, they are kept afloat by tax dollars. Then the people in charge of these companies buy the lowered stock that was hit by a controversy, and they have it go back up between woke projects. This is why the CEO of a corporation loves woke backlash, as long as they can pretend they had nothing to do with the woke decision. This is why, for example, Budlight decided they had nothing to do with hiring Dylan Mulvaney AFTER the boycotts worked, instead of, you know, while hiring him to be a spokesperson for the beer on April Fools day of all days.
So the go broke part is for the company itself, while the people using wokeness for their benefit are grifting and taking short term gains. Same thing was for something like BLM, which is an organization that revealed the money donated for the purpose of helping black communities was instead used to buy the founders mansions. The idea that wokeness brings in the cash and it can be called “woke capitalism” is absurd due to the lack of longevity the concept has. This is like calling a stolen item that gets sold at a pawn shop “illegal capitalism”. It doesn’t mean much, and it’s just trying to tie capitalism in with something negative, which is hilarious since wokeness is meant for the left.
With that out of the way, I’m going to get into the jargon, which will allow us to see some of the “philosophy” behind woke. The first one is “critical theory” which is what everything under wokeness is based on to enact a policy. This is how they choose who is marginalized and who isn’t. The term critical race theory originated in the 1980s through discussions about laws because some people decided that equality was not enough. It’s not enough that you can treat a person as an equal, like how a liberal does, because somehow a person born in 1980 is influenced by their ancestry from 1480. Judith Butler helped popularize critical queer theory, which lost the critical part once that aspect was seen as bad, thanks to critical race theory.
They kept all of the critical theory roots, but they removed the word critical because they don’t want to appear… critical. This also happened when Lisa Tuttle popularized the current form of feminist theory, where they remove the critical part because of the stigma they know the word has. No matter what, deception and omission must be used to get their agenda through, because that’s all they know how to do. They cannot get power unless they deceive people into giving them their power. And I find that a little odd since critical theory is a Marxist theory that came from the Frankfurt School from a man named Max Horkheimer, way back in 1937.
Max’s idea was that the enlightenment was a mistake, making him anti-modernist, but the postmodernists of this school of thought will still insist that there is something modernist about critical theory. They claim it’s because Marx was objective because Marx thought something objective is whatever is practiced, yet nothing he claims that is practiced was ever true, so it’s sort of a strange way to misdirect people into thinking that his appeal to his own version of rationalism was somehow actual rationalism. In other words, it’s wordplay. But, we can still say something like his attachment to science being a key element of his ideology, with science trying to be used to determine the natural world, is sort of modernist.
And this is the first step into getting confused as to what anything is, which is why people need a clear explanation as to what something like a modernist is. A good way to explain if something is actually modernist is if you can ask a writer if they believe in marxism and objectivity. If they say no, then we can see that Marxism appeals to the postmodernist in a way that is by design, not by accident. This is why Jordan Peterson is forced to call actual Marxists “neo-Marxists” and “cultural marxists”, because of the constant wordplay that is used by the very same Marxists.
Now, I want to harp on Marxism due to the fact that every single critical theory that the woke adopted is a Marxist theory. Critical theory was based on Marxism and critical theory declared that cultural equality was required in order to prevent fascism. It determined that individuals are not the ones behind social problems, but instead these problems were caused by social structures and cultural bias. What are these problems and what are the solutions, you may ask?
Well, critical theory doesn’t have any of that covered. In fact, the goal was to NOT cover any of those and to just say “social problems are at the social level” and that’s it. Congratulations, theory complete. The social thing is about society and society is how individuals interact. So it’s not the individual’s fault, it’s how they act with each other that’s the problem. So the theory is saying we need to change our act in order to solve the problems, and this was followed by the feminists who say we need to help the women get up in life. This was followed by the CRTists who said we need to help certain races get up in life. This was followed by the Queer Theorists who said we need to help the LGBT get up in life. There is the body positivity, the handicapped, the “don’t slut shame me" movement, and the list goes on and on.
Now we’re in a world where all of these things are in our media and forced into our media because somehow critical theory is the new normal, but you’re not allowed to say it’s forced. If you say it’s forced, some people might reject it and then the enforcers lose power, so they will always say “this is how media always was”. This is how we now have people claiming that ancient civilizations were pro-trans and pro-gay, even though they weren’t and I thought the entire point in CHANGING society is because these social problems are ingrained into society?
This is how the woke say one thing and then mean another. They want the power, but claim the power is given to someone else, while they take the power for themselves. Something like gender is told to be super important and something even worth committing suicide over, but then the lady who made up queer theory says that gender is performative, meaning that it doesn’t matter. Feminism is told to be super important because this is how we can help women become equal, and then we’re told by the person who made current feminist theory that “you’re not born a woman, you become one, even if you were born a male.”
This “equality of power” that the critical theorists said they wanted quickly turned into an “equality of babbling”. Nothing under wokeness makes any sense, and neither does the origin of the term woke. It is meant to mean a person is awake, that they were sleepwalking through life and now they are aware that bad things are happening in society. What are these bad things? Well, whatever you can make up and convince others is bad, since it’s all subjective. If someone steals a VCR and they are black, you can say the police who arrested the thief are evil because they are oppressing a desperate black man who “wouldn’t have stolen if society just treated him better.”
Of course, this implies that rapists only rape because they weren’t treated well enough by society, but only of that rapist is a particular skin color. The woke quickly tie the “need to rape” with skin color, and then call others racists. Actually, now that I’m on the race topic, let’s lay out CRT and how they view race from their supposed “law related origins”.
CRT determines that race doesn’t actually exist, that white people created race to then create racism. I’ll say that again to make sure if you caught that. CRT, a belief about how race works, claims that race doesn’t exist. But then it blames a particular race because… it’s not racist. Did I mention that this belief is anti-evidence and anti-reason? Yes, they do not want reason or evidence to be used for laws, because these things are biased. Instead they want storytelling from the marginalized person, who is called black, even though they don’t believe black as a race exists. This storytelling can be something like “I was walking down the street and I saw a police officer and I felt fear. I should not feel fear. That means the police officer is racist because I’m black and they made me fear.”
To make it even worse, they determine that color blindness from laws causes racist laws to form, because discrimination can occur from certain laws like murder rates, drug use, and theft. Something like being on time to work is considered racist, because a clock is a construction by white people to keep black people down. There’s always something designed by the white man to “keep black people down” because they believe white people only have power because they can keep others down. This is why they advocate to pull all of the non-whites up by forcing white people to hire non-white people into roles in movies or something like a job or using affirmative action to force black people into college classes by reducing their requirements.
Apparently, when you go to the military, the goal is not to have a good soldier but to allow more women to get in by reducing the standard for them. The goal of getting black people into college is to reduce the requirements for them so that they can get in, while increasing the requirements for Asians because there are too many Asians in college. But if we look at media, and only the US media, we can see there is a lack of Asians, so Asians are forced into film sets. Yes, there are plenty of Asians in, you know, Asian countries, soaking up all of the film time, but they don’t count.
In fact, they don’t count because white people don’t watch them as much, so now we have to have an enforcement of Asians being translated into English for western audiences to indulge in Asian culture, which is why Netflix transfers money from the west to the east and tries to get a bunch of Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and Thai content out. A lot of this Asian content is also LGBT, because even though these Asian countries don’t care for such content, the west must believe that the east is super open about it. There will be something like a comedy about a pregnant male that comes from Korea, and the west will take that and say it’s empowering because it fights against gender norms.
Meanwhile, the story is just a postmodernist joke about how it would be funny if men felt pregnancy pain. And it’s because there was a postmodernist comedy called Junior which had the joke “wouldn’t it be funny if a big buff Austrian dude was pregnant?”
My point is that wokeness is just appropriation, through and through. If it’s ancient bigotry, they will say it’s woke. If it’s modernist liberalism, they’ll say it’s woke. If it’s postmodernism making fun of wokeness, they’ll say it’s woke. No matter what, they will spin something to call it woke, just so that they can say liberalism is evil and equality is evil. Their goal is to have an equal outcome, which is their excuse to give certain groups more money and fame, all while ignoring merit. The very idea of rejecting merit as a qualifier is the reason woke media is designed to lose money, and is also a way to tie woke to postmodernism.
I think this is enough explanation of the jargon for now. Not sure if I missed anything, but I think enough of a point is made on that part to have anyone understand how wokeness works. The metaphysics is the same as postmodernist, it’s all subjective. The epistemology is through lived experience because of the storytelling that’s deemed as superior to reason. The ethics is social justice, because they demand equity, aka equal outcome. The politics are marxist, meaning their goal is to remove capitalism because capitalism is an evil product of liberalism. And finally the aesthetic is what I would call anti-art.
I guess I might be able to explain the aesthetics, but it’s rather loose. The problem is that art to the woke is just propaganda. The don’t really give a story or plot with woke media, instead they just take something generic and roll with it, assuming they even give it a plot. For example, there is a woke comic from Marvel(since every comic from them is woke now) where a superhero gets stopped by a cop for being native american. This female, possibly lesbian, native american uses her powers to have the cop realize he’s racist by mind controlling him into thinking he’s racist.
Work with me here…
So the cop is at his house later and decides that he can’t live with himself as a racist person, so he shoots himself in the head. The native american woman watches him from afar and goes “my work here is done” and considers herself a hero for the day. Comic book issue over. So the plot of that story was “super hero uses powers to make a random cop kill himself because racism.”
There is nothing in the story we can call true, nothing we can call interesting, nothing can be called entertaining, nothing can be called useful, nothing can be called anything other than utterly pointless. But the point was to say “racism exists. Stay woke.” That’s the message. That’s the reason an artist spent a month working on a comic and that’s why a company invested money into it to sell it to people who decided to pay money for it and read it. I have no idea who paid money to read that, but I can safely say it wasn’t that many people.
The goal is not to have people buy the product, it’s to simply say the product exists and point to it and go “see, a company put money into that group.” This is kind of like an updated version of “everyone gets a trophy” but instead of everyone, it’s the non-whites, non-cis, non-straights, and non-males. And instead of a trophy you get a product people don’t want to buy.
This is why I consider any answer as woke in my test as an indication of a person being woke. You really do need to jump through a bunch of hurdles to get stuck into this kind of mentality and the only question that people got woke was the one where lived experience is the answer. I think a better term might be anecdotal evidence, because like I said, the woke will reject reason and evidence and instead focus on storytelling, with storytelling here meaning you’re saying what you thought happened through your subjective opinion, and this can be anything you want it to be.
Hell, I can say something like “I felt like a unicorn” and that is considered a lived experience, because somehow I know what a unicorn feels like and somehow you now need to believe I did. So maybe anecdotal is the proper term to use, but then the woke will avoid that one since they know it looks like a fallacy and they can’t socially bring themselves to be stigmatized like that when they think it’s not acceptable. So it’s one of those things where I can either have one wording that causes a false positive or the other wording that will cause a false negative. But, then again, if someone is woke already, they would fail other questions anyway, so maybe I can put that one as not really important to worry about.
So there you have it, definitions and grave detail into all 4 types. I’m sure someone will conjure up more questions and I’m sure a postmodernist will say I’m wrong about everything, but at that point, I did my part so it’s not my problem.
Onto the next section that follows the next question: How do you justify reducing things to something like woke?
Reductionism is when you take something that is complex, like a story, and reduce it to particular fundamentals to provide a sufficient explanation. This is something like when a story gets reduced to a genre when you label it with a genre, because the genre is fundamental. This can also be something like calling yourself a Christian when you believe in the teachings of Christ. Sure, you have other qualities about yourself, but this can be an explanation into something that explains very quickly because it broadens the scope. But the question is HOW do I do this with something like woke, or modernism.
Simple: you look at the definition and go “ah, I see, that’s what it’s doing.”
Pre-modernism and modernism are objective, postmodernism and woke are subjective. Already these two groups are split by a single key factor. I can instantly say woke is a terrible storytelling way of thinking because the goal is to treat merit and superior quality as oppressive, so there is no possible way of making a good story that’s woke. It’s, by design, unable to be good. If we take postmodernism, we can say that it instantly rejects telling the truth, so it must make something up with exploitation and it’s going to be like fast food for the brain. It is, by design, unable to stand the test of time.
But then if we take something like modernism, we can see a truth is there, even if it tries to be individual, because then a guide based on personalities can be seen, and a way might be unlocked. This is why a modernist story is considered classic, and we look up to it as inspiration. Pre-modernism is as primitive and societally significant as you can get, to the point where it’s part of history books as a mythology. We base entire cultures around this type of media and we follow through with our daily life by using this type of media as a guide. In fact, pre-modernism is found IN postmodernism by accident when a postmodernist tries to appropriate, which is why we can find something like alchemy and Gnosticism in a postmodernist movie like The Matrix. There are modernist concepts like The Rabbit Hole in The Matrix, despite The Matrix trying to subvert it and reject it.
So like a genre, the direction of your modernist variant is reliant on both intention and focus, rather than if something is there. I can have a cockroach crawl into my cake when I’m baking it, that doesn’t mean cockroach is part of the recipe. So the goal of the test is to see what kind of recipe people are following and we can determine what kind of cook they are in how they view recipes. There is no danger of reductionism because reductionism is used to prevent dangers. In fact, in the most ironic way possible, to claim reductionism is dangerous here is to use dangerous reductionism to make such a claim, because it reduces the entire process to the idea of dangerous.
Now for the last question: How do you prevent people from rejecting pre-modernism?
Page has determined that if you claim form = function = truth, then you have caused pre-modernism to be the same as woke. As I’ve explained, they aren’t the same thing. Yes both are based on religions, with wokeness being based on Gnosticism, which is to self worship and deem yourself as the true god that is imprisoned in your body by the demiurge, but that isn’t the same thing as “telling an actual truth”.
Gnosticism is sophistry mixed with satanism. I always forget the term and can never find it, but it’s the belief that you’re alone and you’re talking to yourself even when you talk to others. This is how people get trapped in an echo chamber, because all the can do is hear themselves talk and tackle their own ideas of what could be wrong, which requires them accepting they could be wrong, and if they don’t accept that possibility, then everything goes in one ear and out the other. They start to follow a script, become an NPC, and all they can do is become violent once the script runs dry.
Can the pre-modernist become the same thing? Absolutely not. The benefit of a pre-modernist is that we don’t believe we rule the world. We understand that the world is in control, the supernatural controls the world, and we are below all of that as measly humans. We are the cameraman, not the director. Better yet, we are the audience watching a live feed with a cameraman controlling what we get to see, and we’re not involved in any of the production. This acceptance of humility allows the pre-modernist to seek truth, which is how a mythology is born in the first place. The only valid criticism is that the subjects become so grand and universal that they are basic and unable to really tackle the more personal and social issues that modernism tackles.
This basic and broadness is what Page considered “unentertaining”. But during a later exchange, during the making of this response, I found something fascinating. Page’s definition of entertaining is contradictory, because she believes it is objective in the fact that entertainment exists, but WHAT WE SEE as entertaining is subjective. So the complaint that something could be unentertaining isn’t valid, because it doesn’t mean anything if it’s subjective. It’s like saying a traditional dish doesn’t taste good and that’s why that traditional dish is bad to limit people to it.
Well, what if every good dish becomes traditional because people see it as tasty? I am not limited to my own personal tradition, I can enjoy another person’s tradition. I can eat sushi as a German who loves bratwurst and sauerkraut. I can eat pad thai and I can eat sweet and sour pork. I can eat baba ghanoush and shepherd’s pie.
Do you know why I can eat these? Because they are all food that is made of nutrients that people ate since the dawn of time. My human body needs stuff that humans eat for nutrients and there is a select number of nutrients that I need per day because it’s the stuff my body uses. Same goes for storytelling and the specific things my brain will use to gain wisdom and intelligence. The pre-modernist believes that there are these end points that we can address and say “this is the form, this is the end point, can’t go past that.”
The modernist claims “this is scientifically why we can’t go past a certain point, but we might get more information later that will allow us to pass that point.”
Then the postmodernist says “that point is a made up line, the limitation is made up, and the idea you’re in a particular position is also made up, so just mess with things and call them different things.”
Then the woke say “That point doesn’t exist but it’s oppressing me.”
As you can see, the pre-modernist is the most coherent because it’s the most accepting of how things are. I think what Page misunderstood is that some people think a form is what humans determine the form to be, and the form is left as that. Wrong. Form is to reach an endpoint and we cannot physically reach this endpoint, meaning the form will only be in our mental state through symbolism when we’re trying to think of such. Thus, symbolism is the key factor, and all you have to do is make the symbol more clear.
What really struck me as odd is that Page also declared the Bible as entertaining, meaning a pre-modernist work is the prime example of entertaining while her rejection of pre-modernism is because it is not entertaining. I cannot make any sense of that contradiction other than maybe Page believing that media being full of lies is entertainment and that’s not allowed under pre-modernism, which doesn’t mean anything to me.
That’s like going “well, your philosophy doesn’t allow contradictions and uses only logic, so it’s not a good philosophy.”
At that point, we simply have to call such a person postmodernist, because only a postmodernist would demand such a thing.
What am I going to do now that the test was tested? Well, I am sure I am going to make 5 sets of 4 questions for sure, with the 2 overarching questions added in the beginning and end. I will also try to use that google forms thing so that it can be a real test. When I get a website up for my company, I will have the test as part of the entrance exam to join the club. Pre-modernists are preferred, modernists are welcomed, postmodernists are tolerated, and woke are excluded. Sorry, we don’t allow such hateful people into the club. We like to work with normal functional people, and the woke do not meet either requirement.
And I know it doesn’t seem like it, but I am working on the test to have writers see what they KNOW about writing. That one is going to be a bit harder to put together, since I was thinking of getting written answers rather than multiple choice. I think the hardest part with that one will be figuring out how to work in creativity, since that one is tricky to sense if it’s intentional or accidental. But, like always, if I need help, I’ll ask.
Till next time.
submitted by Erwinblackthorn to TDLH [link] [comments]
If I can pat myself on the back for anything, at least I can say I got the woke part correct.
Although the buzzwords I used for woke might be cheating since we all know I’m referring to something woke when I say something like “inclusivity” or “intersectionality” or “oppression”, because anyone who listens to even something like Joe Rogan will know these terms and treat them like they’re dripping with vomit and diarrhea. A lot of us, especially the classical liberal, center to center-right types, and even the center-left types, are tired of this woke nonsense. Even some guy who drinks beer while watching football and shopping at a basic store like Target is tired of this tomfoolery.
So this followup is to address a lot of the complaints I received and also to bring in some insight into how I wanted to conceptualize the test and how it turned out. I will also explain the relevancy of this type of test since some are wondering why something like scoring modernist means anything.
In philosophy, you are to hit 5 branches in order for your philosophy to be considered “full” or at least “full enough” to be granted a name. These 5 are:
- Metaphysics (study of existence)
- Epistemology (study of knowledge)
- Ethics (study of action)
- Politics (study of force)
- Aesthetics (study of art)
Or maybe to question what they read so that we can see what a writer finds interest in, so that it correlates with what they would write.
That was not critiqued by others, but I know I messed up on that. I was listening to a Jordan Peterson video where he said that a good survey questionnaire takes months of planning to get the wording right for the questions and the answers, and I looked at my test and saw I did it in a day, and went “well, I think I messed up, yeah.” My own critique will be taken into consideration so that I can remake the test and make it better. To repeat what I said in the test: I wish to use this to determine who to avoid when hiring and working with people, because anyone scoring even something like 2 answers on the woke mentality is something to be concerned about.
Other critique involves question 1 where the phrase “copy it” should be changed to “emulate it”. Yeah, I agree, that makes more sense, since copy makes it sound like someone is not putting their own spin on it or putting it in their own words. Imitate, match, resemble, something that intends to retain the purpose but including your own position on the matter. Question 17, how we get our knowledge, is a very open question about epistemology, and that one seems to have given a few people the woke answer by accident, even if they aren’t woke in the way they answer. The problem with the term “lived experience” is that people think it’s a normal term and it is one of the few woke terms that go over some people’s heads. The term is used commonly in correspondence with articles that feature globohomo artwork and they talk about how it’s important to have a person in your corporation or non-profit organization who holds “lived experience” and they are referring to living as a black person to know what a black person feels.
I find this incredibly woke because, as I’ll explain further later on, the woke are saying that the only way to know something is to be that thing, thus forcing writers to be, say, autistic in order to write an autistic character. Or they must be a woman to write a woman. Or they must be a black to write a black. This enforcement is what causes the demand for diversity hires, because somehow these diversity hires hold mystical magical knowledge that nobody else in the company would even dare to understand or comprehend unless they checked off some boxes first. On top of that, the term “pragmatic action” was poor wording and that’s my bad. I was trying to say something like “scientific realization” in order to attach the modernist to science. Something that is both pragmatic(able to be done practically) and part of some kind of education/training. You’ve done it, you’ve learned about it, you see others do it, that can be the modernist idea of knowledge.
Other than those two, I think every other question went over rather well, but I will still enhance them to be worded better as time goes on and as I revisit it with more of an organized “5 sets of 4 and the 2 big ‘uns” in mind. But then there comes the elephant in the room. The scoundrel who dared to question my authority and make a critique about the test. How dare they and stuff.
Jokes aside, I really like this kind of critique and it’s great that she put it into clear questions that I can firmly address. I like it when people are clear. It’s much better than that obfuscation thing the postmodernists always do when they complain about me without really having a reason other than something where they don’t like labels or they were offended that I dared to mention any category of anything. Page Zaplendam, a fellow writer, brought up 3 important questions which you can see for yourself here:
- Where are the definitions of the terms?
- How do you justify reducing things to something like woke?
- How do you prevent people from rejecting pre-modernism?
To begin the explanation, we’re going to need to establish what modernism is so that the others can be explained. It’s the word that created the reason we see a difference in aesthetics like this because this was the moment we engaged in what’s called the enlightenment. During the early 17th century and around that time, people started to remove their dependency on kingdoms and instead create nations and industry. Religion was also being questioned because scientific advancements through record keeping allows people to give better assessments on what causes something to happen in the world. The view of the world started to become more natural and so naturalism was common, as well as rationalism and empiricism. People were using logic to make their decisions and data to come to conclusions, rather than faith or scripture from prior.
During this time, the modern age, traditions were tarnished and deemed as unnecessary. Medicine allowed people to praise science instead of pray for a mystical cure. Predictions of weather with meteorology allowed people to reduce famines and starvation. Printing presses allowed books to become more common, machinery allowed more production of goods, and life went from depending on neighbors to depending on communities and global trade. This dramatic change in both lifestyle and mentality allowed art to enter the modernist art era, which is determined as art that experiments to search for new meaning and objectivity without the necessity of a deity, tradition, or the supernatural.
Mythology became psychology, alchemy became academia, and religion became fandom. Everything mentally changed under modernism to create an environment of experimentation, the romances took over, which led to the pulp adventures and existentialist works of things like noir. Weird tales brought us ideas of cosmicism, thanks to the lack of god or at least the lack of a god who cares about humanity. With this freedom from religion, the mostly liberal environment of modernism allowed people to make up their own rules, their own ideas of what’s real, and thus we were able to focus more on the individual, rather than the collective. Stephen Hicks has a great video where he lectures about how modernism came to be and what it is, but I can simplify it into the 5 categories he has on his chart.
Metaphysics: naturalism
Epistemology: empiricism and reason
Human Nature: Tabula Rasa(everything mental is gained from experience)
Ethics: individualism
politics/economics: liberal capitalism
As you can see, modernism caused this reliance on the self, but also reliance on science as a replacement for religion. It caused the worship of money, while also opening people up to other ideas thanks to the liberal mindset. The liberty to engage with other things allowed people to mingle with both good and bad ideas. This is actually why people, like James Lindsay, say that liberals caused things like Nazism and Communism to come into fruition, because the liberal is so open and accepting that they allow terrible ideas to take over the top of the social structure and they think it won’t touch them if they are on the bottom. This is also how dictators were able to trick people into treating them like a God, because the dictator convinced people that they were able to answer prayers and did this during their campaigns to get elected or during the revolution while they’re beheading their opponents in the streets.
In other words, the uprising of democracy had people rely on voting in the same way as people relied on prayers, but here it’s where we pray to a natural government and hope they do something we want.
One thing that we don’t like to realize is that colonization occurred because of a scientific superiority among the Europeans, and this scientific advancement was caused by years of wars and immense dedication to their royalty. Then there were areas they colonized that had a crazy amount of gold, such as Australia and the Aztec empire, and this abundance of gold allowed trade to skyrocket, while Indian trade and the silk road allowed wealth to spread across the globe. Diamonds and gold found in Africa, like a sick joke from God to force white people to go to such a hellhole to get the diamonds in the rough. It’s not that white people wanted to go around and rule the world. It’s that enlightened explorers and merchants wanted to make a crazy amount of money and these environments were inhabited by people who left these literal gold mines untapped, and these explorers used technology to take over.
No wonder modernism was full of that toga wearing utopia sci-fi stuff!
It’s not hard to realize why the Europeans took over entire empires with small groups of conquistadors. They had armor, guns, ships with cannons. Those Chinese must have their face red realizing they are the ones who sold them black powder. Every alchemist should feel bad and stuff that they are the reason guns were used versus the people who didn’t have guns. It was such a destructive force to use guns against savage tribes and kingdoms because it was both physical and psychological. It was like dealing with metallic robots who fired lightning from their arms and filled the area with a concealing smoke. That’s like showing a caveman a cellphone, their brains instantly melt trying to comprehend what’s going on.
So people are angry at the modernists for being… rational and empirical, and I guess being urbanized or industrialized. People are mad at capitalism for being effective and a good way to globally get along. They’re mad at liberals for being okay with race mixing. The utter nerve of such horrid actions. How dare people mix. I’ll make sure to tell my own future mixed kids that they should be ashamed of themselves for having parents who came from different parts of the Earth and that’s about it.
So modernism, do I like it?
Well, it’s not bad. A lot of my favorite stuff is modernist and usually when people say they want to go back to the old days, they point at modernism as the example. Hell, a lot of postmodernists now are saying they want to go back to modernism, and then they say they don’t, because they feel like it's superior, but they hate the idea of accepting that it’s modernist. I mean, that’s why it’s called postmodernism, it’s the thing after modernism is gone, it’s the rejection of modernism and also pre-modernism. But more on that one later.
I noticed a lot of people got mostly modernist as their answers on the test and it makes sense. Many people online, especially on alternative social media, will be actual liberals who are open to different ideas, which allows them to engage with things that both offend them and possibly something they see as evil. They’re open to having their minds changed and they are always willing to learn more because there’s a big idea on learning more and experimenting, which is something I can relate to because I’m always trying out new restaurants in my area and I don’t mind trying a genre that I’m not familiar with. For me, I have a bit of that liberal mindset because I try out a lot of things I’m not familiar with and I end up liking some stuff, but I usually stick to what I established as my firm ideas from prior.
For example, when I was a kid I hated eating beans and I refused to eat fish that wasn’t canned tuna. Now, after being more open, I love salmon and I love eating beans, which dramatically helped my nutritional intake. There is a healthiness involved with experimenting and there is also a risk factor. But if you know how to avoid dangers, I don’t see a problem with trying out something like a new genre you’re not used to, just to see if you can get into it.
I mention this because the modernist writer will experiment, but will also claim a truth that comes from rationalism, which assumes the world we live in is logical. Even if it’s chaotic and absurd, they’ll say it’s logical, because it’s predictable and we can interact with it. This allows their writing to hold to formulas through things like pulp, while also experimenting through things like weird fiction. There is repetition that happens, and this is why genres became a big thing, so the reader can tell what form of repetition they want to deal with through what they are familiar with. This caused what’s called a comfort zone, which is the state of mind where a person feels at ease because there is an abundance of familiarity and a lack of unwanted challenges. Genres create these comfort zones, and this is then where we have to talk about individualism.
Liberalism has the problem of causing individualism to slowly become sophistry and egotism. The person declaring they are the one who is to be relied on and they are the ones who make up their own rules becomes a person who can’t tell who they’re obeying. Especially if that person puts something above themselves, like race, or science, or nation, or the opinions of others through democracy. Thanks to romanticism during this modernist time, we were able to feel like we had an abundance of freedom and capability, but then barely a century later the rise of Naizsm and Communism caused people to realize that this capability is in relation to what the shadow is capable of. The darkest, most disturbing and destructive actions a person is capable of, beyond their imagination and beyond what we’d consider a “human act”.
This quick change into the most dangerous entity nearby is why I don’t trust anarchists when they say their utopia would be functional. When it comes to real life, that doesn’t work, we need a more powerful overarching thing to keep that shadow in check, and we need that entity above the human to be in check of its own shadow on top of that. And this shadow is also what causes the modernist to engage with things like dada and a hatred of art to the point where they can say the work is for them and them alone, or that all art is equal, down to where a turd on a pedestal is the same as the Mona Lisa.
The pro of modernism is a focus on the individual, which promotes movements like poetic realism and neorealism, which grants a look into everyday lives. The mundane can be put into the forefront and average people can feel like they relate, which allows the average person to buy the work. That is a great plus, and it’s why the most popular shows out there are stuff that involves soap opera style drama and an environment that is simple, like a hospital or a police station. The sitcom is a result of modernism, because only a modernist would find value in seeing a family hang around their house while you’re sitting in your house with your family watching someone else in their house with their family.
Now let’s get on with pre-modernism, after all of that introduction is said and done. Pre-modernism is everything that came before this enlightenment and this separation from God. Atheists like to say how atheism has been popular forever and they have simply been suppressed, but something crazy that they ignore is that every civilization, without ever talking to each other, before any contact with anyone else, became a religious, spiritual, civilization. We even have a name for this basic religion, called animism. This natural desire to be religious in humans comes from how we think when we are young, as well as how we think when we are not relying on science or even words.
I know this sounds strange but we think more in pictures and visions than we do with words when we don’t know how to read. Reading unlocks a vast amount of knowledge that can be gained practically instantly, but a lack of language in our ability to think causes an abundance of symbolism in our head to fill in the gaps, meaning the ability to read locks away this visual aspect. When we’re babies, we view everything as giant, threatening, and frightening. And why not? We’re this tiny soft thing that has a skull that can easily be dented and we’re unable to feed ourselves. We need someone to throw food into our mouths like bananas into the mouth of a hippo at a zoo. We have our parents doing stuff for us, and so our brain right away connects the two.
Stuff happening around us is caused by something like a parent, like an authority, like a sky father and earth mother. The father gives me brain stuff and the mother gives me food stuff. But then we’ll grow up and realize that something like the wind moves on its own, the moon comes up to replace the sun on its own, and the seasons change on their own. There’s something we can’t see that’s doing this, something beyond the sky and under the ground, and everywhere we can’t see, especially behind our eyeballs. There’s this strange image that appears behind my vision that is not of the world but of my mind, and I conjured it.
And if I didn’t conjure it, I had someone else put it in my head through a spell, in the form of words, which cast the symbol to occur in my mind. Writers in the pre-modernist age are spellcasters, wizards, that make sure something is explained about the mysterious and supernatural world that is beyond the stuff we see around us. This “rejection of the average” causes the pre-modernist writer to talk about stuff that are not only real, but hyper-real. It doesn’t speak about an individual and it’s not for an individual, because it’s attaching everyone under the same umbrella and form. This is why I find poor interpretations of mythology humorous but also rather useless.
People will look at something like Greek mythology where a god has a child with their sister and go “well, isn’t incest a bad thing?” Not only do they miss the point, but they forget that it's a god we’re talking about and it’s not a human. It’s not some biological thing standing in front of you. It’s the supernatural, it’s beyond something like biology. Or better yet when someone reads the bible and goes “why did Adam take a rib out to get a woman? Couldn’t God just make a woman without taking his rib?”
It’s like, you missed the point and you’re ignoring the importance of symbolism, and this symbolism grants all of the meaning that you’re missing from the bible. Yes, Eve is made from Adam, and yes, it takes a rib, because rib is a bone and bone is structure. A rib is near a heart, a protector of heart. Heart is courage, love, emotions, stuff that makes our blood pump. Blood is a humor based on air, and air is one of the 4 elements. The connection goes on and on and on, because this mythology is all connected together into one giant story that goes beyond the words stated in the story. Each tiny noun or verb means way more than it lets up to mean. I’ve been studying mythology for a while, and really trying to look into them before I say anything about them, and there is so much inner history with mythology that’s both present and reachable, but it’s practically endless with how everything connects.
And at the same time, all of this is essential, of a form, symbolic, and objective.
This relation to religion in pre-modernism causes the definition to be something like “the art form that depicts hyper-reality in an objective truth that involves the supernatural as a source of the natural and as the source of truth.
Stephen Hicks puts the politics of the pre-modernist as feudalism, but it’s more like monarchy, where you believe that there should be a king, because someone has a family line that was sacred enough to treat like one. In pre-modernism, we had ancestor worship in every culture, because your family line was important to keeping your existence relevant. This is because everything in the pre-modern age involved titles, which were granted by an authority, and many times this authority is a god or an ancestor.
Your title within your family is in relation to your family members and your last name determines your family’s title for others to recognize. If someone was a smith, they would get the last name smith, like say John the smith just becomes John Smith, and they will endow their established trade to their next of kin. So if the son of John Smith wants to make a living, he’s going to be a smith as well. There is this lineage and family business that is treated seriously, because if you step out of this title, you’ll have to create your own. People could do that by entering a trade or a guild, by learning from others, from gaining a title after being born a bastard, or whatever they could to get a title.
But the key factor is that title is important to the pre-modernist. What’s even more important is form, because this religious mentality creates the environment that perfection is possible. A metaphysical manifestation separate from the material world that is able to be aimed towards and sought after, even if unable to be reached. This was well portrayed in characters like Jesus, which Christianity dedicated itself to fulfill the traits of Jesus, due to Christianity being a religion where people follow the teachings of Jesus.
I would say that every religion had their own type of Jesus, the perfect form that someone or something has to uphold and look up to as inspiration.
Later on, alchemy came out of the prototype phase and started to connect all of these religions and symbols with each other to create more overarching symbolism that went for more core ideas. At this point, people could only argue against combinations and where something is in a hierarchy, rather than the validity of the claim of something like a single god or a creator. Sects of religions were made in order to determine different end goals, or different ideas in how a ritual should be done, or whether something like a church is important for worship, and these were the biggest sources of dispute possible.
You either followed God's will or you didn’t, and if you didn’t, you were a heathen. Heathens are sent to the bad place, believers go to the good place. We have a supernatural aspect of our body, beyond our body, beside our body, that went there for us, usually in the sense of a soul or spirit. The mind is an intermediary between the body and spirit that allows communication between the two at all times. This was usually depicted with gods like Psyche or Hermes or any other messenger god.
The gods would speak to us with omens and with us using clairvoyance. Any pattern in front of us or up in the stars could be used as a means to decipher a supernatural message. This message was easily able to repeat itself because there was an objective meaning to everything, which is why something like Zodiacs are constantly watched even to this day. Pre-modernist art retains this tradition of using mythology and symbolism to depict truths about the world. Romanticism was an attempt to return to this truth telling style during the modernist era, but Romanticism was absent of the religious aspect and was more of something like a neo-alchemical way of handing stories, where symbols were kept basic and for individual progress instead of a collective one.
A big part of pre-modernism is collectivism, especially the collective unconscious, which Jung coined later on when referring to his more pre-modernist analysis of psychology that heavily relied on alchemy and mythology. We used mythology to say something of value, with a universal or at least human level of objectivity, and the only way to miss the message is to deny that symbolism exists for them. Or at least, your level of symbolism in your interpretation would have to be so low resolution that it misses every point entirely and has zero context as to why mythology is important in the first place.
Mythology grants the idea that our world holds order, while the modernist idea is more about how the world is chaotic and we hold order to shape the world better. Fables grant the idea that particular personalities do particular things, while modernism declares that things change or can be grey and shows how. The black and white morality of the pre-modernist merged into grey once modernism kicked in, because there is the lack of theism under modernism.
We’re half way through the explanation and now we come to postmodernism.
Pre-modernism establishes that the supernatural causes order to cause truth, modernism changed that to say a secular natural world causes chaos to have us find truth. So what does postmodernist do to change all of that?
It rejects both and says both pre-modernism and modernism are wrong, and instead says everything that can be perceived is subjective and the objective is unknown to us. Stephen Hicks says in his video that postmodernists are really intelligent and well read into an abundance of stuff, and he’s impressed by that. I would have to disagree with him because it’s not like they read everything they did in order to understand it. They read everything and continue searching because they intend on claiming it’s not true, and use their personal interpretation to claim such. It’s very much like when a person studies mythology to then say “you know, the gods committing incest and magically transforming is really weird.”
Before I get deep into postmodernism, I would like to explain the concept of realism. Realism, in both philosophy and art, is to depict a thing as how it truthfully is. There is accuracy, there is something there that really exists, and it has attributes that causes it to really exist. Both modernism and pre-modernism have this as an axiom. Postmodernism on the other hand is ANTI-realism.
You cannot believe in something being “real” as a postmodernist because to claim something is real is to claim an objective truth, which a postmodernist is allergic to doing. They are unable to claim anything as true, because there is no proof for them to use, thus any statements they make must be an opinion and any statement they see must be perceived as an opinion as well. In all honesty, I have trouble finding postmodernists who go this far down the rabbit hole. All of them focus on subjectivity, but they’ll still try to tell others that things can be real in a colloquial way that lets them blend in with modernists. It’s hard to get people to follow you when you claim things aren’t real, so there is a form of deception and contradiction that occurs, but it’s also acceptable to the postmodernist.
This is because postmodernists don’t care about logic, and anything they want to claim as “true” is based on a social subjectivism that can also be considered an overton window that shows them what is acceptable to say and what isn’t. A lot of them try to push it, others try to blend in with it, with the intensity depending on how far they want to push their deconstructionism and reductionism. For example, phrases like “we’re all just stardust floating around” is a way for the postmodernist to seem deep with their reductionism, but it’s actually their way of saying they are nihilistic while trying to sound deep and poetic.
Stephen Hicks does have an amazing point in his presentation where he says truth no longer matters to the postmodernist and what does matter is power. That kind of concept comes from Nietzsche’s will to power (which is why Nietzsche is considered a proto-postmodernist, one who helped birth it into existence) and Marx’s historical materialism. The thought that human labor forms the material basis of society, and this idea being spread out into every 3rd world country(aka communist country during the cold war) means that a big chunk of the world is convinced of this concept of power through labor and power through capital that’s seen as “stolen labor” when it’s a bourgeoisie.
This leaning into Marxist terminology, thanks to communists and hippies, causes postmodernist politics to be considered leftist, and exclusively leftist. There is no way for a right wing postmodernist to even occur because the right winger believes in a truth through natural rights and there is no way to remove that aspect. This is why Stephen Hicks calls the postmodernist political and economic idea socialist, which what he really means is leftist. Although, socialist works a bit more for the political aspect since socialism is a wonky word that means whatever the socialist wants it to mean.
They think the worker owns the means of production and that some form of social relevancy should happen and the rest is dependent on what they want to advocate for. Not surprisingly, this socialist aspect quickly turned into syndicalism and later corporatism when relying on the government to enforce this social power upon the masses, also known as a cult of personality. The cult leader, or leaders, tell everyone that they have power, they tell everyone that they’re special, the people don’t question it because they think it’s a common opinion, and so the cult grows unrestrained. We see this at all times when people will both hold water for a politician for any little thing and also attack their opposition for any little thing, no matter how much of a double standard or fallacy they apply to their advocacy.
To the postmodernist, advocacy is labor geared towards power, with advocacy being the only thing you can do to socially stay relevant.
When it comes to postmodernist media, the key idea is exploitation, because the goal is to get as many views as possible and break as many boundaries as possible. Modernist rating systems are pushed and pushed constantly into exploitation to the point where new ratings are made and R rated material becomes the new norm. The grindhouse is a common place and is normalized, even though before these would be considered taboo, because the way the overton window moved more towards the left through their advocacy. The leftist postmodernist demands power as the social structure and so they demand power and are slowly granted it over time. But there is a bit of a weird thing that happens between how Hicks and I see postmodernism.
In his chart, he labels postmodernism as collectivist and egalitarian. I see this as a bit misleading since the leftist is not really for collectivism in the same way as a pre-modernist would claim we’re all connected. The postmodernist believes that we’re all connected in how we’re all trapped in our own subjective constructions, as if we’re all islands in this massive chain of islands and the water between us is the subjective separation.
For example, let’s say I look at a dog and another person looks at a dog. We both see the dog but the dog is one dog for me and another dog for them and there is this supposed infinite number of dogs who make up this single entity that takes up the space where the perceived dog resides. And not just an infinite number of dogs, but infinite number of things between what the dog is made of, with an infinite number of those for each smaller thing. I guess, to him, that’s collectivism, and the egalitarian thing comes from how leftist demand that people are to be treated equal, as well as all art to be treated equal.
Just like dada, which was a proto-postmodernist art movement, the postmodernist thinks that all art is equal, with the Mona Lisa holding the same aesthetic value as a turd on a pedestal. This allows the postmodernist to use juxtaposition to combine something of high regard with something of low regard, like say having classical music play during a moment where someone is being tortured in a grindhouse way. Or maybe another example is like how Tarantino combines low quality exploitation movies with high quality dialogue that people praise for its realism and tension. This is why surrealism became popular under postmodernism, because surrealism juxtaposes a high concept symbol with nonsensical low concept literal images or events.
Another aspect of postmodernism is the idea that art and real life has merged into a type of hyperreality that blurs the line where life and art meet. People record their lives online and turn that into media, thus turning even things like talking about people who are in media into a form of media itself(aka Hollywood gossip stuff and youtube drama).
Without much of a message or objective symbolism, a lot of postmodernist media focuses on playfulness, because messing with things is all that there’s left as a means of entertainment and media making. Personal interpretation as the only means of experiencing causes the postmodernist to aim for open interpretation work, using vague wording and dog whistles to hide intents that they believe a common audience wouldn’t like, but select circles would catch. And with this demand for social power came the rise of corporate media, where corporations crank out stuff with self made trends and control groups who guide the corporation towards more money, thus more power.
There is also a combination of media, usually in the form of merchandising, so that a form of media will still be advertised and thought about, even when not engaged with the media directly. For example, GI Joe started out as a toy for kids. Then it became a comic and a show for kids. Now it’s a movie series for kids. Transformers, He-Man, I think even Gundam. These things aim for sales first and then plan the story after, because it’s all one big marketing campaign. There’s nothing in these that try to say what is true, they simply try to say things that will have people think they agree with it, or at least can’t argue against it to where they disengage with the product that’s being sold.
This has caused postmodernist media to become both highly marketable but also highly forgettable. Things easily get outdated even if the tech level stays consistent because of intertextuality, which is the relationship one media has with another to grant the user of intertextuality with relevancy that can have the audience understand the reference. This is a fancy way of saying something like an inside joke or a typical reference like a meme that we see online. If you ever want to understand this one, just think of any Channel Awesome reviewer. They will try to make jokes that reference something in media, probably something they reviewed prior, in order to keep the dedicated fans in the circle of attention and make the new fans try to keep up with this intensifying requirement of knowing jargon.
Intertextuality can also be seen as a sort of specialized culture within a franchise or company or genre or just stuff that is similar, so that the people who are of the fandom can all enjoy speaking some special language with each other and keep out the people who don’t know about their niche idioms and references.
This combination of reality and media, along with removing objectivity from the equation, with high and low arts being combined through playfulness and for marketing, is why our media is the way it is today. It’s made like fast food, doesn’t offer anything for the brain to work with, and is actually more for our brains to turn off if anything. People like Ray Bradburry saw this issue with TV and determined it was going to turn us into Idiocracy, which he explored in his book Fahrenheit 451. People are indulged and distracted by the idiot tube, they stop questioning things, books start being called evil, the government enacts a war against books, all people have left are things that keep them dumb, and then they can’t even see a war that’s happening all around them and in their own backyard.
The benefit of postmodernism is that it can appear more creative and people get entertained. That’s about it. No more feeling like you need to tell the truth, now you can make a story about whatever. The only benefit quickly becomes the main problem with it: it’s a bad influence. Postmodernists can only deconstruct and so they’re never pleased.
We see this all the time with Channel Awesome reviewers where they will miss the point of everything in a movie, like say Last Action Hero, and even though Last Action Hero is a postmodernist deconstruction of action movies, the reviewer will scream and holler about how the movie can’t be taken seriously. Then when they are challenged on the integrity of their review, they will spin it around and say they were just being meta and knew it was satire all along, that nobody should take any review of theirs seriously or as their actual opinion.
Or better yet, a postmodernist fan will chime in and speak for the reviewer, like when I said Spoony’s review of Final Fantasy 8, yet another deconstruction work that people were conflicted on, was misguided and wrong. A bunch of fans came in and said “Well, that’s not his REAL opinion. He didn’t REALLY say what he wanted to during the months he spent working on that review.”
I guess the point of postmodernism is to NOT say what you mean. Because how can they? That would address there is an objective idea in their head of what they mean, and that can’t happen under postmodernism. So you’re left with this endless chain of people trying to make a satire or make fun of something that is already making fun of something and that thing is already not to be taken seriously, and… you get the picture.
But then, recently, a sort of organized idea sprouted out from postmodernism. This idea that everything is both power and subjective, while also being a social construct, coagulated into a unification of something under what is called intersectionality. In 1989, Kimberly Chrenshaw coined the term, which already was working off of ideas during postmodernism such as second wave feminism and critical race theory. Through the idea that extreme egalitarianism is the way, in a subjective way, these defenders of the marginalized demanded that media should cater to whoever they deem as marginalized.
This branch of postmodernism is known as woke.
For wokeness, there isn’t much of a history or even aesthetic choice to shift through, but there is an awful lot of jargon to explain so that people know what I’m talking about. So for the majority of the woke explanation, I will be explaining the special words used that the woke will both claim are super important to know, but will also refrain from defining because they want to keep it on the down low. They mostly want to do that because they know their reasoning doesn’t make any sense and because it’s self contradictory, but that’s okay for them because they are, by their own admittance, anti-logic and “there is no real wokeness”.
Actually, before I explain the jargon, I want to get into that “there is no such thing as woke” talking point they always do. This is the same thing as saying “I want everyone to do x and there is no x”. Or when they are less radical, they will say something like “Everyone should do x, but nobody has done x yet.” But recently it’s been more like “This thing in the media has always been x, which is why we need it to be more x”.
As you can see, the narrative is always changing and they are always telling people to do something. This is the opposite of postmodernism in how it’s authoritarian, but is part of postmodernism because of the subjective aspect, as well as the neo-dada form of anti-art. The “art” of woke art is meant to express representation, and this representation is supposed to be of a group, and this group is supposed to look a particular way, absent of any stereotypes, negative or positive, and absent of any grand narratives, pre-modernist or modernist.
Therefore, all we’re left with is… appropriation and exploitation of marginalized groups.
Something tells me they didn’t think this through. It’s almost as if their goal is to be the thing they claim to fight against, but they don’t want to be called racist or sexist or whatever phobic because they don’t want to lose social power. This enforcement of an ideology, an ideology that tries to equally exploit for money, is put under the acronym DEI: Diversity, equity, and inclusion. This is a profitable business to get into, because DEI is estimated to have corporations annually spend $17 billion on DEI programs and organizations by the year 2027. In 2003, it was estimated that corporations spent $8 billion. In 2022, that number was recorded at $9 billion.
What do these numbers mean? It means companies are wasting money on this and they’re losing money after enacting woke policies.
When we combine wokeness with the socialist/Marxist mentality of the postmodernist, we end up with a constant drain of capital on the end of the media maker. The one making the art LOSES MONEY when they go woke, which is why we say “go woke, go broke.” There is no intention on making money with wokeness. This is why governments added wokeness to what is called the ESG score, which is a score that governments use to subsidize companies that follow things like climate change advocacy, DEI, and following whatever regulations a country puts in like mask regulations.
Follow these things, get closer to the “leader” score, and you get more money from the government. This is why companies don’t care when they lose customers, because at the end of the day, they are kept afloat by tax dollars. Then the people in charge of these companies buy the lowered stock that was hit by a controversy, and they have it go back up between woke projects. This is why the CEO of a corporation loves woke backlash, as long as they can pretend they had nothing to do with the woke decision. This is why, for example, Budlight decided they had nothing to do with hiring Dylan Mulvaney AFTER the boycotts worked, instead of, you know, while hiring him to be a spokesperson for the beer on April Fools day of all days.
So the go broke part is for the company itself, while the people using wokeness for their benefit are grifting and taking short term gains. Same thing was for something like BLM, which is an organization that revealed the money donated for the purpose of helping black communities was instead used to buy the founders mansions. The idea that wokeness brings in the cash and it can be called “woke capitalism” is absurd due to the lack of longevity the concept has. This is like calling a stolen item that gets sold at a pawn shop “illegal capitalism”. It doesn’t mean much, and it’s just trying to tie capitalism in with something negative, which is hilarious since wokeness is meant for the left.
With that out of the way, I’m going to get into the jargon, which will allow us to see some of the “philosophy” behind woke. The first one is “critical theory” which is what everything under wokeness is based on to enact a policy. This is how they choose who is marginalized and who isn’t. The term critical race theory originated in the 1980s through discussions about laws because some people decided that equality was not enough. It’s not enough that you can treat a person as an equal, like how a liberal does, because somehow a person born in 1980 is influenced by their ancestry from 1480. Judith Butler helped popularize critical queer theory, which lost the critical part once that aspect was seen as bad, thanks to critical race theory.
They kept all of the critical theory roots, but they removed the word critical because they don’t want to appear… critical. This also happened when Lisa Tuttle popularized the current form of feminist theory, where they remove the critical part because of the stigma they know the word has. No matter what, deception and omission must be used to get their agenda through, because that’s all they know how to do. They cannot get power unless they deceive people into giving them their power. And I find that a little odd since critical theory is a Marxist theory that came from the Frankfurt School from a man named Max Horkheimer, way back in 1937.
Max’s idea was that the enlightenment was a mistake, making him anti-modernist, but the postmodernists of this school of thought will still insist that there is something modernist about critical theory. They claim it’s because Marx was objective because Marx thought something objective is whatever is practiced, yet nothing he claims that is practiced was ever true, so it’s sort of a strange way to misdirect people into thinking that his appeal to his own version of rationalism was somehow actual rationalism. In other words, it’s wordplay. But, we can still say something like his attachment to science being a key element of his ideology, with science trying to be used to determine the natural world, is sort of modernist.
And this is the first step into getting confused as to what anything is, which is why people need a clear explanation as to what something like a modernist is. A good way to explain if something is actually modernist is if you can ask a writer if they believe in marxism and objectivity. If they say no, then we can see that Marxism appeals to the postmodernist in a way that is by design, not by accident. This is why Jordan Peterson is forced to call actual Marxists “neo-Marxists” and “cultural marxists”, because of the constant wordplay that is used by the very same Marxists.
Now, I want to harp on Marxism due to the fact that every single critical theory that the woke adopted is a Marxist theory. Critical theory was based on Marxism and critical theory declared that cultural equality was required in order to prevent fascism. It determined that individuals are not the ones behind social problems, but instead these problems were caused by social structures and cultural bias. What are these problems and what are the solutions, you may ask?
Well, critical theory doesn’t have any of that covered. In fact, the goal was to NOT cover any of those and to just say “social problems are at the social level” and that’s it. Congratulations, theory complete. The social thing is about society and society is how individuals interact. So it’s not the individual’s fault, it’s how they act with each other that’s the problem. So the theory is saying we need to change our act in order to solve the problems, and this was followed by the feminists who say we need to help the women get up in life. This was followed by the CRTists who said we need to help certain races get up in life. This was followed by the Queer Theorists who said we need to help the LGBT get up in life. There is the body positivity, the handicapped, the “don’t slut shame me" movement, and the list goes on and on.
Now we’re in a world where all of these things are in our media and forced into our media because somehow critical theory is the new normal, but you’re not allowed to say it’s forced. If you say it’s forced, some people might reject it and then the enforcers lose power, so they will always say “this is how media always was”. This is how we now have people claiming that ancient civilizations were pro-trans and pro-gay, even though they weren’t and I thought the entire point in CHANGING society is because these social problems are ingrained into society?
This is how the woke say one thing and then mean another. They want the power, but claim the power is given to someone else, while they take the power for themselves. Something like gender is told to be super important and something even worth committing suicide over, but then the lady who made up queer theory says that gender is performative, meaning that it doesn’t matter. Feminism is told to be super important because this is how we can help women become equal, and then we’re told by the person who made current feminist theory that “you’re not born a woman, you become one, even if you were born a male.”
This “equality of power” that the critical theorists said they wanted quickly turned into an “equality of babbling”. Nothing under wokeness makes any sense, and neither does the origin of the term woke. It is meant to mean a person is awake, that they were sleepwalking through life and now they are aware that bad things are happening in society. What are these bad things? Well, whatever you can make up and convince others is bad, since it’s all subjective. If someone steals a VCR and they are black, you can say the police who arrested the thief are evil because they are oppressing a desperate black man who “wouldn’t have stolen if society just treated him better.”
Of course, this implies that rapists only rape because they weren’t treated well enough by society, but only of that rapist is a particular skin color. The woke quickly tie the “need to rape” with skin color, and then call others racists. Actually, now that I’m on the race topic, let’s lay out CRT and how they view race from their supposed “law related origins”.
CRT determines that race doesn’t actually exist, that white people created race to then create racism. I’ll say that again to make sure if you caught that. CRT, a belief about how race works, claims that race doesn’t exist. But then it blames a particular race because… it’s not racist. Did I mention that this belief is anti-evidence and anti-reason? Yes, they do not want reason or evidence to be used for laws, because these things are biased. Instead they want storytelling from the marginalized person, who is called black, even though they don’t believe black as a race exists. This storytelling can be something like “I was walking down the street and I saw a police officer and I felt fear. I should not feel fear. That means the police officer is racist because I’m black and they made me fear.”
To make it even worse, they determine that color blindness from laws causes racist laws to form, because discrimination can occur from certain laws like murder rates, drug use, and theft. Something like being on time to work is considered racist, because a clock is a construction by white people to keep black people down. There’s always something designed by the white man to “keep black people down” because they believe white people only have power because they can keep others down. This is why they advocate to pull all of the non-whites up by forcing white people to hire non-white people into roles in movies or something like a job or using affirmative action to force black people into college classes by reducing their requirements.
Apparently, when you go to the military, the goal is not to have a good soldier but to allow more women to get in by reducing the standard for them. The goal of getting black people into college is to reduce the requirements for them so that they can get in, while increasing the requirements for Asians because there are too many Asians in college. But if we look at media, and only the US media, we can see there is a lack of Asians, so Asians are forced into film sets. Yes, there are plenty of Asians in, you know, Asian countries, soaking up all of the film time, but they don’t count.
In fact, they don’t count because white people don’t watch them as much, so now we have to have an enforcement of Asians being translated into English for western audiences to indulge in Asian culture, which is why Netflix transfers money from the west to the east and tries to get a bunch of Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and Thai content out. A lot of this Asian content is also LGBT, because even though these Asian countries don’t care for such content, the west must believe that the east is super open about it. There will be something like a comedy about a pregnant male that comes from Korea, and the west will take that and say it’s empowering because it fights against gender norms.
Meanwhile, the story is just a postmodernist joke about how it would be funny if men felt pregnancy pain. And it’s because there was a postmodernist comedy called Junior which had the joke “wouldn’t it be funny if a big buff Austrian dude was pregnant?”
My point is that wokeness is just appropriation, through and through. If it’s ancient bigotry, they will say it’s woke. If it’s modernist liberalism, they’ll say it’s woke. If it’s postmodernism making fun of wokeness, they’ll say it’s woke. No matter what, they will spin something to call it woke, just so that they can say liberalism is evil and equality is evil. Their goal is to have an equal outcome, which is their excuse to give certain groups more money and fame, all while ignoring merit. The very idea of rejecting merit as a qualifier is the reason woke media is designed to lose money, and is also a way to tie woke to postmodernism.
I think this is enough explanation of the jargon for now. Not sure if I missed anything, but I think enough of a point is made on that part to have anyone understand how wokeness works. The metaphysics is the same as postmodernist, it’s all subjective. The epistemology is through lived experience because of the storytelling that’s deemed as superior to reason. The ethics is social justice, because they demand equity, aka equal outcome. The politics are marxist, meaning their goal is to remove capitalism because capitalism is an evil product of liberalism. And finally the aesthetic is what I would call anti-art.
I guess I might be able to explain the aesthetics, but it’s rather loose. The problem is that art to the woke is just propaganda. The don’t really give a story or plot with woke media, instead they just take something generic and roll with it, assuming they even give it a plot. For example, there is a woke comic from Marvel(since every comic from them is woke now) where a superhero gets stopped by a cop for being native american. This female, possibly lesbian, native american uses her powers to have the cop realize he’s racist by mind controlling him into thinking he’s racist.
Work with me here…
So the cop is at his house later and decides that he can’t live with himself as a racist person, so he shoots himself in the head. The native american woman watches him from afar and goes “my work here is done” and considers herself a hero for the day. Comic book issue over. So the plot of that story was “super hero uses powers to make a random cop kill himself because racism.”
There is nothing in the story we can call true, nothing we can call interesting, nothing can be called entertaining, nothing can be called useful, nothing can be called anything other than utterly pointless. But the point was to say “racism exists. Stay woke.” That’s the message. That’s the reason an artist spent a month working on a comic and that’s why a company invested money into it to sell it to people who decided to pay money for it and read it. I have no idea who paid money to read that, but I can safely say it wasn’t that many people.
The goal is not to have people buy the product, it’s to simply say the product exists and point to it and go “see, a company put money into that group.” This is kind of like an updated version of “everyone gets a trophy” but instead of everyone, it’s the non-whites, non-cis, non-straights, and non-males. And instead of a trophy you get a product people don’t want to buy.
This is why I consider any answer as woke in my test as an indication of a person being woke. You really do need to jump through a bunch of hurdles to get stuck into this kind of mentality and the only question that people got woke was the one where lived experience is the answer. I think a better term might be anecdotal evidence, because like I said, the woke will reject reason and evidence and instead focus on storytelling, with storytelling here meaning you’re saying what you thought happened through your subjective opinion, and this can be anything you want it to be.
Hell, I can say something like “I felt like a unicorn” and that is considered a lived experience, because somehow I know what a unicorn feels like and somehow you now need to believe I did. So maybe anecdotal is the proper term to use, but then the woke will avoid that one since they know it looks like a fallacy and they can’t socially bring themselves to be stigmatized like that when they think it’s not acceptable. So it’s one of those things where I can either have one wording that causes a false positive or the other wording that will cause a false negative. But, then again, if someone is woke already, they would fail other questions anyway, so maybe I can put that one as not really important to worry about.
So there you have it, definitions and grave detail into all 4 types. I’m sure someone will conjure up more questions and I’m sure a postmodernist will say I’m wrong about everything, but at that point, I did my part so it’s not my problem.
Onto the next section that follows the next question: How do you justify reducing things to something like woke?
Reductionism is when you take something that is complex, like a story, and reduce it to particular fundamentals to provide a sufficient explanation. This is something like when a story gets reduced to a genre when you label it with a genre, because the genre is fundamental. This can also be something like calling yourself a Christian when you believe in the teachings of Christ. Sure, you have other qualities about yourself, but this can be an explanation into something that explains very quickly because it broadens the scope. But the question is HOW do I do this with something like woke, or modernism.
Simple: you look at the definition and go “ah, I see, that’s what it’s doing.”
Pre-modernism and modernism are objective, postmodernism and woke are subjective. Already these two groups are split by a single key factor. I can instantly say woke is a terrible storytelling way of thinking because the goal is to treat merit and superior quality as oppressive, so there is no possible way of making a good story that’s woke. It’s, by design, unable to be good. If we take postmodernism, we can say that it instantly rejects telling the truth, so it must make something up with exploitation and it’s going to be like fast food for the brain. It is, by design, unable to stand the test of time.
But then if we take something like modernism, we can see a truth is there, even if it tries to be individual, because then a guide based on personalities can be seen, and a way might be unlocked. This is why a modernist story is considered classic, and we look up to it as inspiration. Pre-modernism is as primitive and societally significant as you can get, to the point where it’s part of history books as a mythology. We base entire cultures around this type of media and we follow through with our daily life by using this type of media as a guide. In fact, pre-modernism is found IN postmodernism by accident when a postmodernist tries to appropriate, which is why we can find something like alchemy and Gnosticism in a postmodernist movie like The Matrix. There are modernist concepts like The Rabbit Hole in The Matrix, despite The Matrix trying to subvert it and reject it.
So like a genre, the direction of your modernist variant is reliant on both intention and focus, rather than if something is there. I can have a cockroach crawl into my cake when I’m baking it, that doesn’t mean cockroach is part of the recipe. So the goal of the test is to see what kind of recipe people are following and we can determine what kind of cook they are in how they view recipes. There is no danger of reductionism because reductionism is used to prevent dangers. In fact, in the most ironic way possible, to claim reductionism is dangerous here is to use dangerous reductionism to make such a claim, because it reduces the entire process to the idea of dangerous.
Now for the last question: How do you prevent people from rejecting pre-modernism?
Page has determined that if you claim form = function = truth, then you have caused pre-modernism to be the same as woke. As I’ve explained, they aren’t the same thing. Yes both are based on religions, with wokeness being based on Gnosticism, which is to self worship and deem yourself as the true god that is imprisoned in your body by the demiurge, but that isn’t the same thing as “telling an actual truth”.
Gnosticism is sophistry mixed with satanism. I always forget the term and can never find it, but it’s the belief that you’re alone and you’re talking to yourself even when you talk to others. This is how people get trapped in an echo chamber, because all the can do is hear themselves talk and tackle their own ideas of what could be wrong, which requires them accepting they could be wrong, and if they don’t accept that possibility, then everything goes in one ear and out the other. They start to follow a script, become an NPC, and all they can do is become violent once the script runs dry.
Can the pre-modernist become the same thing? Absolutely not. The benefit of a pre-modernist is that we don’t believe we rule the world. We understand that the world is in control, the supernatural controls the world, and we are below all of that as measly humans. We are the cameraman, not the director. Better yet, we are the audience watching a live feed with a cameraman controlling what we get to see, and we’re not involved in any of the production. This acceptance of humility allows the pre-modernist to seek truth, which is how a mythology is born in the first place. The only valid criticism is that the subjects become so grand and universal that they are basic and unable to really tackle the more personal and social issues that modernism tackles.
This basic and broadness is what Page considered “unentertaining”. But during a later exchange, during the making of this response, I found something fascinating. Page’s definition of entertaining is contradictory, because she believes it is objective in the fact that entertainment exists, but WHAT WE SEE as entertaining is subjective. So the complaint that something could be unentertaining isn’t valid, because it doesn’t mean anything if it’s subjective. It’s like saying a traditional dish doesn’t taste good and that’s why that traditional dish is bad to limit people to it.
Well, what if every good dish becomes traditional because people see it as tasty? I am not limited to my own personal tradition, I can enjoy another person’s tradition. I can eat sushi as a German who loves bratwurst and sauerkraut. I can eat pad thai and I can eat sweet and sour pork. I can eat baba ghanoush and shepherd’s pie.
Do you know why I can eat these? Because they are all food that is made of nutrients that people ate since the dawn of time. My human body needs stuff that humans eat for nutrients and there is a select number of nutrients that I need per day because it’s the stuff my body uses. Same goes for storytelling and the specific things my brain will use to gain wisdom and intelligence. The pre-modernist believes that there are these end points that we can address and say “this is the form, this is the end point, can’t go past that.”
The modernist claims “this is scientifically why we can’t go past a certain point, but we might get more information later that will allow us to pass that point.”
Then the postmodernist says “that point is a made up line, the limitation is made up, and the idea you’re in a particular position is also made up, so just mess with things and call them different things.”
Then the woke say “That point doesn’t exist but it’s oppressing me.”
As you can see, the pre-modernist is the most coherent because it’s the most accepting of how things are. I think what Page misunderstood is that some people think a form is what humans determine the form to be, and the form is left as that. Wrong. Form is to reach an endpoint and we cannot physically reach this endpoint, meaning the form will only be in our mental state through symbolism when we’re trying to think of such. Thus, symbolism is the key factor, and all you have to do is make the symbol more clear.
What really struck me as odd is that Page also declared the Bible as entertaining, meaning a pre-modernist work is the prime example of entertaining while her rejection of pre-modernism is because it is not entertaining. I cannot make any sense of that contradiction other than maybe Page believing that media being full of lies is entertainment and that’s not allowed under pre-modernism, which doesn’t mean anything to me.
That’s like going “well, your philosophy doesn’t allow contradictions and uses only logic, so it’s not a good philosophy.”
At that point, we simply have to call such a person postmodernist, because only a postmodernist would demand such a thing.
What am I going to do now that the test was tested? Well, I am sure I am going to make 5 sets of 4 questions for sure, with the 2 overarching questions added in the beginning and end. I will also try to use that google forms thing so that it can be a real test. When I get a website up for my company, I will have the test as part of the entrance exam to join the club. Pre-modernists are preferred, modernists are welcomed, postmodernists are tolerated, and woke are excluded. Sorry, we don’t allow such hateful people into the club. We like to work with normal functional people, and the woke do not meet either requirement.
And I know it doesn’t seem like it, but I am working on the test to have writers see what they KNOW about writing. That one is going to be a bit harder to put together, since I was thinking of getting written answers rather than multiple choice. I think the hardest part with that one will be figuring out how to work in creativity, since that one is tricky to sense if it’s intentional or accidental. But, like always, if I need help, I’ll ask.
Till next time.
2023.06.10 13:33 VeryBigdDick prompt
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Well-adjusted Stable Diffusion weights. You can
always use the default, but sometimes fine-tuned weights can generate better results.
This will strengthen your ability to
bring your creative dream images to life.
Prompt keyword weighting is supported. You can increase the attention of a keyword but not higher than 1.5.
Use the format (example:weight). By default, words have a coefficient of 1 (example: 0.4), they will have a lower priority.
Attention for words Technique:
Adding "()" in the prompt increases attention to enclosed words, while "[]" decreases it. You can combine multiple modifiers:
- a (word) - increase attention to word by a factor of 1.1
- a ((word)) - increase attention to word by a factor of 1.21 (= 1.1 * 1.1)
- a [word] - decrease attention to word by a factor of 1.1
- a (word:1.5) - increase attention to word by a factor of 1.5
- a (word:0.25) - decrease attention to word by a factor of 4 (= 1 / 0.25)
You can also use a few words in "()" and "[]". You can also use a few words in "()" and "[]".
Also you can still use this structure: (example, example :weight), so the weight will increase for several words at once.
Examples: (grayscale, woodcut:1.2); (((blue hair, floating hair, liquid hair, chromatic aberration))); (rutkowski, artstation:0.8); (masterpiece, best quality:1.4); [cute, volumetric fog]
Please note that to increase or decrease the weight of several words, you need to put a comma between them.
Start by asking a list of questions
b) Environment. Indoor, outdoor, underwater, in space
c) Color Scheme. Vibrant, dark, pastel
e) Point of view. Front, Overhead, Side
f) Background. Solid color, nebula, forest
This is not an all-inclusive list, but will help you get great results when you start.
your prompt crafting journey.
Answer the following questions:
a. Special Lighting. Soft, ambient, ring light, neon => natural light
b. Environment. Indoor, outdoor, underwater, in space => in the sky
c. Color Scheme. Vibrant, dark, pastel => with bright colors
The order of words is important
The order and presentation of our desired output is almost as an important aspect as the vocabulary itself. It is recommended to list your concepts explicitly and separately than trying to cramp it into one simple sentence.
The keyword categories are:
You don’t have to include keywords from all categories. You can use them as a checklist to remind you what could be used.
A negative prompt is a way to tell the neural network what should not be in the image. You can use words or phrases that describe what you want to avoid or exclude from the image. You can also use weights in negative prompt to increase or decrease the effect of certain words.
Generally accepted negative prompt is considered: (deformed, distorted, disfigured:1.3), poorly drawn, bad anatomy, wrong anatomy, extra limb, missing limb, floating limbs, (mutated hands and fingers:1.4), disconnected limbs, mutation, mutated, ugly, disgusting, blurry, amputation.
Realistic negative prompt: overexposed, (deformed iris, deformed pupils, semi-realistic, cgi, 3d, render, sketch, cartoon, drawing, anime:1.3), text, close up, cropped, out of frame, worst quality, low quality, jpeg artifacts, ugly, duplicate, morbid, mutilated, extra fingers, mutated hands, poorly drawn hands, poorly drawn face, mutation, deformed, blurry, dehydrated, bad anatomy, bad proportions, extra limbs, cloned face, disfigured, gross proportions, malformed limbs, missing arms, missing legs, extra arms, extra legs, fused fingers, too many fingers, long neck.
For positive prompt and negative prompt, I have thought of universal keywords - styles. You may not find them in the examples because they are new. Almost every style has a Negative prompt. It is advisable to write it together with positive prompt.
An example of how to use styles if you want to create a cat image in a Professional photo style:
For example, if you want to generate an image of a girl with Natural skin:
Here are completely universal styles that you can combine and use in your prompt(I highly recommend using them!):
Professional photo:
Natural skin:
Details:
Gloomy style:
Cinematic style:
Horror cinematic style:
Cinematic art style:
Engraving style:
Epic painting:
good prompt: (dark shot:1.1), epic realistic, portrait of halo, sunglasses, blue eyes, tartan scarf, white hair by atey ghailan, by greg rutkowski, by greg tocchini, by james gilleard, by joe fenton, by kaethe butcher, gradient yellow, black, brown and magenta color scheme, grunge aesthetic!!! graffiti tag wall background, art by greg rutkowski and artgerm, soft cinematic light, adobe lightroom, photolab, hdr, intricate, highly detailed, (depth of field:1.4), faded, (neutral colors:1.2), (hdr:1.4), (muted colors:1.2), hyperdetailed, (artstation:1.4), cinematic, warm lights, dramatic light, (intricate details:1.1), complex background, (rutkowski:0.66), (teal and orange:0.4)
good prompt: (dark theme:0.9), medieval portrait of a man sharp features, grim, cold stare, dark colors, Volumetric lighting, baroque oil painting by Greg Rutkowski, Artgerm, WLOP, Alphonse Mucha dynamic lighting hyperdetailed intricately detailed, (hdr:1.22), muted colors, complex background, hyperrealism, hyperdetailed, amandine van ray
good prompt: a demon made with black stone, Giovanni Strazza sculpt style , bokesharp focus depth, shadows, mist, fog, very High detailed, cinematic lighting, Cinematic, high detailed, ultra detailed, Accent Lighting, very god colors, realistic, 8k, HDR
good prompt: woman, samurai armor, helmet oni evil mask intricate, ornaments detailed, cold colors, metal, egypician detail, highly intricate details, realistic light, trending on cgsociety, glowing eyes, facing camera, neon details, ultra realistic details, portrait full body, japanese atmosphere, global illumination, shadows, octane render, 8 k, ultra sharp
good prompt: (dark shot:1.1), epic realistic, RAW, analog, A full portrait of stunning woman wearing swimsuit, alluring expression, swimming pool, clear water, wet hair, natural look, no make up, pureerosface_v1, masterpiece that captures the essence and beauty of the woman and water, ((highly detailed skin, skin details, water details)), sharp focus, volumetric fog, 8k UHD, DSLR, high quality, film grain, Fujifilm XT3, art by greg rutkowski and artgerm, soft cinematic light, adobe lightroom, photolab, hdr, intricate, highly detailed, (depth of field:1.4), faded, (neutral colors:1.2), (hdr:1.4), (muted colors:1.2), hyperdetailed, (artstation:1.4), cinematic, warm lights, dramatic light, (intricate details:1.1), complex background, (rutkowski:0.66), (teal and orange:0.4), (natural skin texture, hyperrealism, soft light, sharp)
good prompt: A flower by Casey Weldon, Olga Kvasha, Miho Hirano, hyperdetailed intricately detailed gothic art trending on Artstation triadic colors Unreal Engine 5 detailed matte painting, deep color, fantastical, intricate detail, splash screen, complementary colors, fantasy concept art, 8k resolution, gothic deviantart masterpiece, (dark shot:1.4), art by greg rutkowski and artgerm, soft cinematic light, adobe lightroom, photolab, hdr, intricate, highly detailed, (depth of field:1.4)
good prompt: almaty girl, kazakh, Portrait of haute couture beautiful kazakh fashion model , ethereal dreamy foggy, photoshoot by alessio albi, editorial fashion magazine photoshoot, fashion poses, in front of mountain. kinfolk magazine. film grain, (dark shot:1.3), (natural skin texture, hyperrealism, soft light, sharp)
good prompt: Delicious glowing galaxy cake on a dining table in the kitchen, comfortable light, romantic light, ultra details, photorealistic, realistic, gel lighting, Cinematic, Filmic, medium shot, 4k, Front-light, Cinematic Lighting, volumetric Light, Ray Tracing Reflections, Chromatic Aberration, photography, hyper realistic, 4k, 8k,closeup
just an example: drunk, creepy santa, muddy, crowded bottles bar, intricate details, hdr, intricate details, hyperdetailed, cinematic, dark shot, muted colors, film grainy, soothing tones, muted colors, technicolor
just an example: (masterpiece, best quality), (best illumination, an extremely delicate and beautiful), (best illumination, an extremely delicate and beautiful), (beautiful detailed face), (finely detailed eyes and detailed face:1.4), dark fantasy, (young girl, small beasts, 1girl, solo, crazy smile, pale skin, white hair, red glowing eyes, dynamic angle, vampire), (gaint vampire castle in background), (red moon, red sky), pointy ears, fangs, demon wings, demon horns, blood on face, blood rain, blood fog, (depth of field), high contrast, (blood splatter:1.4), full body
just an example: masterpiece, chinese dragon, long dragon, Loong,fangs,fantasy, mythical, art by( greg rutkowski:0.8), epic lighting, (photo realism:1.2), high quality, highly detailed, masterpiece, epic
just an example: epic video game key visual, giant armored creature, horde, skeletal army, many approaching in an ancient desert windy dust debris storm landscape midnight moonlight foreground debris (zrpgstyle) (masterpiece:1.2) (illustration:1.1) (best quality:1.2) (detailed) (intricate) (8k) (HDR) (wallpaper) (cinematic lighting) (sharp focus)
just an example: 1girl, beautiful vintage color, instagram (photorealistic, high resolution:1.4), ((puffy eyes)), looking at viewer, full body (8k, RAW photo, best quality, masterpiece:1.2), (realistic, photo-realistic:1.37),(sharp focus:1.2), professional lighting, photon mapping, radiosity, physically-based rendering, (pale skin:1.2),nsfw, small breasts,nipples, looking at viewer, middle hair, portrait, purple eyes, wet clothes(sliver hair:1.1),bangs, (simple background:1.4), solo, upper body, white background,realistic, (masterpiece:1.4), (best quality:1.4),(shiny skin), makeup, red lips, smile, (skinny,closed mouth,shy:1.3), blackshirt short sleeve, black pencil short skirt,black tight skirt, school unifrom
just an example: complex 3d render, ultra detailed, beautiful death angel, biomechanical cyborg, analog 150 mm lens, beautiful natural soft rim light, crystal feathers, roots, fine foliage lace, colorful details, Boris Bidjan Saberi outfit, pearl earrings, piercing, art nouveau fashion embroidered, intricate details, mesh wire, mandelbrot fractal, facial muscles, cable wires, microchip, badass, hyper realistic, ultra detailed, octane render, volumetric lighting, 8k post-production, red and white with a bit of black, detailled metalic bones, semi human, iridescent colors, Glenn Brown style, futuristic room, power of the god, high-angle shot, complex body poses
just an example: the anatomy of a head of lettuce, an ultrafine detailed painting by james jean, behance contest winner, vanitas, angular, altermodern
just an example: (RAW photo, best quality), (realistic, photo-realistic:1.3), masterpiece, an extremely delicate and beautiful, extremely detailed, CG, unity , 2k wallpaper, Amazing, finely detail, light smile, extremely detailed CG unity 8k wallpaper, huge filesize, ultra-detailed, highres, absurdres, soft light, (((medium hair:1.3), short bang, pink hair, floating hair novafrogstyle)), beautiful detailed girl, detailed fingers, extremely detailed eyes and face, beautiful detailed nose, beautiful detailed eyes, long eyelashes, light on face, looking at viewer, (closed mouth:1.2), 1girl, cute, young, mature face, (full body:1.3), ((small breasts)), realistic face, realistic body, beautiful detailed thigh, business suit, cross-laced clothes, collared shirt, open clothes, in office, detailed office, open cardigan, black thighhighs, miniskirt, black underwear, unbuttoned shirt
just an example: end of the world, epic realistic, (hdr:1.4), (muted colors:1.4), apocalypse, freezing, abandoned, neutral colors, night, screen space refractions, (intricate details), (intricate details, hyperdetailed:1.2), artstation, cinematic shot, vignette, complex background, buildings, snowy
anime prompt: (flat color:1.1),(colorful:1.3),(masterpiece:1.2), best quality, masterpiece, original, extremely detailed wallpaper, looking at viewer,1girl,solo,floating colorful water
anime prompt: (masterpiece, best quality, ultra-detailed, best shadow), (detailed background,dark fantasy), (beautiful detailed face), high contrast, (best illumination, an extremely delicate and beautiful), ((cinematic light)), colorful, hyper detail, dramatic light, intricate details, (1girl, solo,black hair, sharp face,low twintails, red eyes, hair between eyes,dynamic angle), blood splatter, swirling black light around the character, depth of field, black light particles, (broken glass), magic circle
anime prompt: (masterpiece, top quality, best quality, official art, beautiful and aesthetic:1.2), (1girl), extreme detailed, (fractal art:1.5),(cherry flowers in fractal art:1.3), colorful, highest detailed, upper body, purple hair, purple eyes, large breasts, kimono, bangs, sash, mole, obi, tassel, blush, hair ornament
anime prompt: (Girlish Painting:1.3), (Ultra detailed:1.3), (Cosy:1.3), best quality, masterpiece, highly detailed, ultra-detailed, 1girl, Emma Watson, unreal engin 5, octane render, (2D:1.2), limited palette flat color, digital painting, artstation, concept art, smooth, sharp focus, art by ross tran, art by greg rutkowski, art by alphonse Mucha, art by Bak Karol, (oil painting:1.16), (acrylic paint:1.16), (colorful:1.5), (watercolor:1.16), by nvinkpunk, kuvshinov, dreamlikeart, samdoesart, modelshoot style, (by Artist Koho Shoda:1.3), (by Artist Mike Mignola:1.3), (by Artist Joop Polder:1.3), (Classicism Art:1.3), (Industrial Art:1.3), (Solarpunk Art:1.3)
anime prompt: ((masterpiece, best quality)), 1girl, solo, flat chest, chain, cuffs, shackles, broken chain, collar, chained, handcuffs, barefoot, black and white hair, long hair, metal collar, solo, ankle cuffs, broken, purple eyes, very long hair, ball and chain restraint, bound, bdsm
anime prompt: (Highest picture quality), (Master's work), (ultra-detailed), (Detailed eye description:1.2), masterpiece, best quality, absurdres, original, extremely delicate and beautiful, beautiful detailed eyes and face, 1girl, black hair, cherry blossom, white clothes, looking at viewer, mole, pink flower, solo, (masterpiece:1.4), (best quality:1.4)
anime prompt: masterpiece, best quality, best detail, 5girls, swimsuit, focus on character detail, character on the front camera, high detail background, bloom, blue sky, high lighting detail, widescreen, 16:9, sea, beach, sunny day, medium hair, red face, megane, smile, sexy pose, realistic finger detail, close-up, portrait, getting wet, random hair colors, standing, erotic, yuri, hentai, nipple, leg strap, sexy hip, see-through, Draw realistic hand, random eye color, erotic face, sexy eye contact, half-naked, random hairstyle, random face, hold breast pussy, megane, pussy cum, small breast, yuri sex, kissing, open mouth, tongue, breasts grab
anime prompt: masterpiece, high quality, highres, absurdres, ultra-detailed, detailed eyes, 8k, 1girl, colorful eyes, fangs, open mouth, blue eyes, bangs, colorful background, (graffiti mural walls background), looking at viewer, vibrant, contrast, blue hair, white hair, gradient hair, happy, high five, heart symbols
anime prompt: (extremely delicate and beautiful:1.2),1girl,fashi-girl, bangs, blue eyes, blurry, blurry background, bow, brown hair, closed mouth, from side, hair between eyes, hair bow, lantern, light particles, long sleeves, looking at viewer, medium hair, night, red bow, solo, star symbol, upper body,smile,red lips
anime prompt: masterpiece, best quality, ultra-detailed, illustration, 1girl, solo, outdoors, camping, night, mountains, nature, stars, moon, tent, twin ponytails, green eyes, cheerful, happy, backpack, sleeping bag, camping stove, water bottle, mountain boots, gloves, sweater, hat, flashlight, forest, rocks, river, wood, smoke, shadows, contrast, clear sky, constellations, Milky Way, peaceful, serene, quiet, tranquil, remote, secluded, adventurous, exploration, escape, independence, survival, resourcefulness, challenge, perseverance, stamina, endurance, observation, intuition, adaptability, creativity, imagination, artistry, inspiration, beauty, awe, wonder, gratitude, appreciation, relaxation, enjoyment, rejuvenation, mindfulness, awareness, connection, harmony, balance, texture, detail, realism, depth, perspective, composition, color, light, shadow, reflection, refraction, tone, contrast, foreground, middle ground, background, naturalistic, figurative, representational, impressionistic, expressionistic, abstract, innovative, experimental, unique
anime prompt: best quality, masterpiece, high definition, high quality, high resolution, sharp focus, trending on Artstation, 4k, beautiful fantasy spring sunny scenery landscape, celestial japanese temple alone at the peak of a mountain overlooking the landscape below, high point of view
anime prompt: (flat color:1.1), (colorful:1.3), (masterpiece:1.2), best quality, masterpiece, original, extremely detailed wallpaper, looking at viewer,1girl,solo,floating colorful water
anime prompt: (masterpiece:1.2), (best quality:1.1), 1girl, transparent, perfect face, black silk stockings, high quality, cute, black hair, highest quality, ultra-detailed, extremely detailed, hyper detail, (intricate detail:1.2), (panties over black pantyhose:1.2), (Japanese sailor suit:1.2), (cameltoe:1.2), (lift feet:1.4), soles, lie down, park, looking at viewer, sun shine
anime prompt: (masterpiece, best quality:1.1), bird's eye view, asymmetrical, blue ocean, low tide, sea waves, coastal road, sandy beach, piers, sailboats, yachts, ship wake, contrail, cars, tourists, lighthouse, seagulls, horizon, breeze, summer, morning, sunny, cloud, calm, fresh air, depth of field
anime prompt: masterpiece, best quality, ultra-detailed, illustration, 1girl, solo, fantasy, flying, broom, night sky, outdoors, magic, spells, moon, stars, clouds, wind, hair, cape, hat, boots, broomstick, glowing, mysterious, enchanting, whimsical, playful, adventurous, freedom, wonder, imagination, determination, skill, speed, movement, energy, realism, naturalistic, figurative, representational, beauty, fantasy culture, mythology, fairy tales, folklore, legends, witches, wizards, magical creatures, fantasy worlds, composition, scale, foreground, middle ground, background, perspective, light, color, texture, detail, beauty, wonder
anime prompt: masterpiece, best quality, 1girl, (colorful),(finely detailed beautiful eyes and detailed face),cinematic lighting,bust shot,extremely detailed CG unity 8k wallpaper, white hair, solo, smile, intricate skirt, ((flying petal)), (Flowery meadow) sky, cloudy sky, building, moonlight, moon, night, (dark theme:1.3), light, fantasy
anime prompt: masterpiece, best quality, ultra-detailed, illustration,2girls,fantasy, RPG, heroine, devil, final battle, outdoors, epic, dramatic, intense, powerful, dynamic, magic, spells, sword, shield, armor, wings, horns, tail, fire, smoke, light, shadow, impact, movement, energy, determination, bravery, courage, heroism, villainy, evil, darkness, destruction, victory, defeat, redemption, justice, sacrifice, friendship, companionship, teamwork, perseverance, challenge, obstacle, success, achievement, goal-oriented, progress, improvement, realism, naturalistic, figurative, representational, video game culture, anime, manga, Japanese, RPG tropes, character design, animation, special effects, composition, scale, foreground, middle ground, background, perspective, light, color, texture, detail, beauty, wonder
anime prompt: masterpiece, best quality, ultra-detailed, city, street, gothic, steampunk, illustration, 1girl, (solo), platinum long hair, boots, from behind, vintage, antique, brass, metal, gears, machinery, ornate, elegant, classic, sophisticated, refined, poised, contemplative, thoughtful, curious, mysterious, enigmatic, magical, watchful, intelligent, bookish, contrast, perspective, depth, texture, detail, realism, impressionistic, expressionistic, abstract, surrealistic, innovative, experimental, unique, atmosphere, ambiance, mood, nostalgia, historical, cultural, technological, industrial, fantasy, imagination, creativity, artistry, craftsmanship, skill, precision, detail, composition, balance, harmony, rhythm, colorful, darker, reflection, refraction, foreground, middle ground, background, vanishing point, horizon line, focal point, naturalistic, figurative, representational
anime prompt: (masterpiece, best quality:1.2), cinematic anime, anime clip of a 3 girls floating in space, universe, milky way, cosmos, planet, stars, astronaut, full body, ultra detailed, beautiful face, finely detailed eyes, extremely detailed, correct anatomy, incredibly_absurdres
anime prompt: ((masterpiece)), (((gray eyes))), (((blue hair, floating hair, liquid hair, chromatic aberration))), (focus on eyes, shaded, photo, insanely detailed, bloom:1.5), short hair, photorealistic, masterpiece, dynamic angle, highest quality, photorealistic, masterpiece, dynamic angle, highest quality, intricate, Alessandro Casagrande, Greg Rutkowski, Sally Mann, athletic wet punk body, (blue panties), nipples, concept art, 4k, far-off, (medium breasts, portrait, choker, soft), (sadness), (((blue flowers))), (((Night))), high sharpness, extreme saturation and contrast
anime prompt: ((4k,masterpiece, best quality)), shuimobysim, traditional chinese ink painting, lotus, hanfu, maxiskit, 1girl, solo, white hair, long hair, fox ears, white, bikini, fish, many fish near girl, look at viewer, tease
anime prompt: 1girl, ((cinematic light)), colorful, hyper detail, dramatic light, intricate details, best quality, (extremely detailed CG unity 8k wallpaper, masterpiece, best quality, ultra-detailed, best shadow), (detailed background:1.4), (beautiful detailed face, beautiful detailed eyes), High contrast, (best illumination, an extremely delicate and beautiful), (girl:1.5), solo, black skirt, blue eyes, electric guitar, guitar, headphones, holding, holding plectrum, instrument, long hair, music, one side up, pink hair, playing guiter, pleated skirt, black shirt, indoors ((caustic)), dynamic angle, beautiful detailed glow, full body, cowboy shot
Here is a list in my opinion of the most important artists:
- Agnes Martin - an artist who paints geometric abstract paintings. In stable diffusion, she helps to get the texture of canvas or an object with this texture.
- Jacob Hashimoto - an artist who creates complex worlds from paper, bamboo and other materials. In stable diffusion, he helps to get an interesting background with modular components or bright colors.
- Stanley Donwood - a designer who invents covers for albums, posters and other things. In stable diffusion, he helps to get arts with stable stripes and lines, which is useful for fingerprints or other graphic effects.
- Julie Mehretu - an artist who works with markers, pencils, acrylic and ink. In stable diffusion, she helps to get intersecting lines and layers, if you add the word "eclectic" to the prompt.
- Quentin Blake - an artist and illustrator of children's books. In stable diffusion, he helps to get a cartoon style with simple shapes and expressive emotions. If you add the word "punk" to the prompt, you can get a more daring and unusual style.
- David Palumbo - an artist who creates illustrations in the genres of fantasy and science fiction. In stable diffusion, he helps to get visible strokes and smudges from paint, which gives the art more realism and dynamics.
- Phil Jimenez - a comic book artist, known for his work on Wonder Woman. In stable diffusion, he helps to get increased detail and realism of characters and scenes.
- Geof Darrow - a comic book artist, known for his extremely detailed work. In stable diffusion, he helps to get highly detailed backgrounds with lots of small elements and textures.
- Nicola Samori - an artist who creates dark and gloomy baroque. In stable diffusion, he helps to get splashes, blotches, stains and dirt on the art, which gives it more expressiveness and contrast.
- Ben Templesmith - an artist whose work was adapted into the film "30 Days of Night". He creates covers for books, cards and concepts for films. In stable diffusion, he helps to get a dark and dirty style with bloody accents and fuzzy contours.
- Brandon Woelfel - a photographer with neon photos. In stable diffusion, he helps to get a photographic neon light with bright colors and contour effect at low-res.
- Viviane Sassen - a photographer from the world of fashion. In stable diffusion, she helps to get stylish and aesthetic photos with models in different poses and moods. As we know, almost identical faces are generated in many neural networks. Viviane Sassen also helps to mask the neural network and get unique faces by adding the word "detailed" to the prompt.
- Brian Oldham - a photographer who creates creatively or creatively. In stable diffusion, he helps to get professional, cinematic, creative photos or arts without additional tokens. Just write his name after the prompt.
- Lisa Frank - an artist who makes mega colorful school supplies. In stable diffusion, she helps to get a bright and rainbow style with different animals, stars, hearts and other elements.
- Simon Stalenhag - an artist who specializes in retro-futurism. In stable diffusion, he helps to get a cozy and major style with elements of old technologies, robots, rockets and other things from the past future.
- Iryna Yermolova - an artist from Russia who creates magnificent works in oil. In stable diffusion, she helps to get a classic style of painting with realistic characters and landscapes. If you write her name with I (Irina), you can get a 3D effect on the art.
- Todd Schorr - an American artist who works in the style of pop-surrealism. In stable diffusion, he helps to get Slavic motifs with khokhloma, ear-zagogulinki, molding and other elements of national color.
- Alayna Lemmer - a star of art-station who creates magnificent landscapes, castles and magical creatures. In stable diffusion, she helps to get a fantasy style with detailed and colorful images. She is mandatory for any prompt in the genre of fantasy.
- Andre Charles Boulle - a French artist who makes wood carvings and draws ornaments. In stable diffusion, he helps to get intrigue gold or golden effect on the art by adding low-res.
- Conor Harrington - an Irish street graffiti artist. In stable diffusion, he helps to get an epic staging of a scene or a hero with realistic details and contrasting colors.
- Wangechi Mutu - an artist from Kenya who makes anthropological art with African motifs. In stable diffusion, she helps to get coffee-chocolate arts with different patterns and symbols.
- Patrick Dougherty - an eco-artist who makes sculptures and installations from sticks and seedlings. In stable diffusion, he helps to get a hay-like or wooden effect on the art, if you need to make something out of shit and sticks. It creates anything from branches
About Modifiers
Modifiers are words that can change the style, format, or perspective of the image. There are certain magic words or phrases that are proven to boost the quality of the image. In this section, we will talk different types of modifiers you can use in your prompt.
Photography
Photography Prompt - Mix and Match!
Shot type- Close-up; Extreme Close-up; POV; Medium shot; Long shot; At a distance;
Style- polaroid; Tilt-shift; Color splash; Monochrome; white and black;
Subject- Woman; Old man; Grey cat; Bunny; Ferrari;
Lighting- Cinematic light; Sun light; Ambient light; Soft light; moonlight; dramatic light;
Context- Indoor; Outdoor; At night; In the park; Studio;
Lens- Wide-angle; Telephoto; 24mm; EF 70mm; Bokeh; F/1.4; 50mm;
Device-iPhone X; CCTV; Nikon Z FX; Canon; Gopro; Fujifilm XT3 ;
3D illustrations
Stable diffusion can be used to create any 3D scene or object you can imagine!
Isometric assets- isometric kitchen in a cutaway box, isometric, tiny, cute, soft smooth lighting, soft colors, 100mm lens, 3d blender render;
Low Poly- kawaii, low poly, squirrel character, 3d isometric render, white background, ambient occlusion, unity engine;
Pixar Renders- 3d fluffy Lion, close-up, cute, adorable, cute big circular reflective eyes, long fuzzy fur, Pixar render, unreal engine, cinematic, intricate detail, cinematic;
3D Item Render- isometric Alarm Clock, isometric, tiny, soft smooth lighting, soft colors, 3d blender render, trending on polycount, modular constructivism, physically based rendering;
More illustrations
Vector- living room, vector illustration, Flat Style, pastel color palette;
Comic- Retro comic style artwork, benedict cumberbatch, highly detailed, comic book cover, symmetrical, vibrant;
Caricature- Caricature art, spiderman, sitting , chair, drinking beer, on Charlie Hebdo;
Propaganda- Poster, USSR propaganda poster, Eat Oreo!;
Psychedelic Art- dear face, Hypnotic illustration, hypnotic psychedelic art, by Dan Mumford, pop surrealism, dark glow neon mystical, Behance;
Splash Art- mage, channeling arcane magicks, armored, Splash art, mana shooting from his hands, mystical energy in the air, action shot, heroic fantasy art, special effects, hd octane render;
Stickers- Die-cut sticker, Cute, kawaii, Goldendoodle character, sticker, white background, illustration minimalism, vector, pastel colors;
Simple feelings modifiers can set the atmosphere of the scene!
Positive emotions
Cosy- Cosy vintage bedroom, octane render, by weta digital, exotic colorful pastel, ray traced lighting, reflections;
Romantic- couple shopping, romantic lighting;
Joyful- Joyful, husky puppy, splashing water, canon eos r3;
Energetic- Energetic painting, pool with flamingos;
Hope- Woman, filled with hope, beautiful dress, running, beach;
Lust- couple, Painting, filled with lust, by mike mignola;
Peaceful- Japanese city street, peaceful, dreamy, soft colors, studio ghibli style;
Satisfaction- Old man, looking at viewer, filled with satisfaction, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV;
Negative emotions
Depressing- Depressing photo, futuristic park;
Loneliness- Girl, sitting in window, reading a book, loneliness;
Grim- lake with ducks, grim painting;
Regret- man, looking at viewer, painting, filled with regret;
Suffering- woman, suffering, sitting on a bench, forest, Digital painting, by goro fujita;
Hopelessness- Man, hopelessness, black and white, looking at viewer, sketch, intricate details;
Fear- Child running towards the camera, in fear, by atey ghailan, by mike mignola;
Vibrant keywords: Weirdcore, Acidwave, Dreamcore, Vaporwave;
Gloomy:
Liminal Space- Flooded, liminal space,underground city carpark, lighting with lensflares, photorealistic 8k, eerie;
After Hours- After hours, stairs to the park, complex background, stuff in the background, highly detailed, (gloomy:1.3), dark, dimmed, hdr, vignette, grimy, (slate atmosphere:0.8);
Brutalism- Building, architecture, brutalism;
Post-Apocalyptic- Post-Apocalyptic town, houses, cars;
Magic words:
HDR, UHD, 64K- Quality words like HDR, UHD, 4K, 8k, and 64K can make a dramatic difference.
Greg rutkowski- Adds epicness to the photo, often suitable for fantasy art
Highly detailed- Quality words like highly detailed can make a dramatic difference.
Studio lighting- Studio lighting could really add some nice texture to the image
Professional- Adding professional, can greatly improve the color contrast and details in the image
Trending on artstation- without description
Unreal engine- a magic word that adds very realistic 3D renderings
Vivid Colors- Adding Vivid Colors, adds life to your images
Bokeh- Bokeh blurs the background and highlights the subject. It’s like iPhone portrait mode.
High resolution scan- Want a historic looking photo? Add "High resolution scan"
submitted by VeryBigdDick to u/VeryBigdDick [link] [comments]
all the techniques to master Stable Diffusion.
The secret for generating good images
A well-written prompt consisting of modifiers and a good
sentence structure. We will also show you all types of modifiers and some magic words.
Well-adjusted Stable Diffusion weights. You can
always use the default, but sometimes fine-tuned weights can generate better results.
This will strengthen your ability to
bring your creative dream images to life.
Prompt keyword weighting is supported. You can increase the attention of a keyword but not higher than 1.5.
Use the format (example:weight). By default, words have a coefficient of 1 (example: 0.4), they will have a lower priority.
Attention for words Technique:
Adding "()" in the prompt increases attention to enclosed words, while "[]" decreases it. You can combine multiple modifiers:
- a (word) - increase attention to word by a factor of 1.1
- a ((word)) - increase attention to word by a factor of 1.21 (= 1.1 * 1.1)
- a [word] - decrease attention to word by a factor of 1.1
- a (word:1.5) - increase attention to word by a factor of 1.5
- a (word:0.25) - decrease attention to word by a factor of 4 (= 1 / 0.25)
You can also use a few words in "()" and "[]". You can also use a few words in "()" and "[]".
Also you can still use this structure: (example, example :weight), so the weight will increase for several words at once.
Examples: (grayscale, woodcut:1.2); (((blue hair, floating hair, liquid hair, chromatic aberration))); (rutkowski, artstation:0.8); (masterpiece, best quality:1.4); [cute, volumetric fog]
Please note that to increase or decrease the weight of several words, you need to put a comma between them.
Start by asking a list of questions
- Do you want a photo or a painting?
- What’s the subject of the photo? Person? An animal or perhaps a landscape?
- What details do you want to add?
b) Environment. Indoor, outdoor, underwater, in space
c) Color Scheme. Vibrant, dark, pastel
e) Point of view. Front, Overhead, Side
f) Background. Solid color, nebula, forest
- In a specific art style? 3D render, studio ghibli, movie poster
- A specific photo type? Macro, telephoto
This is not an all-inclusive list, but will help you get great results when you start.
your prompt crafting journey.
Answer the following questions:
- Do you want a photo or a painting? => painting
- What’s the subject of the photo? Person. animal, landscape. => a goldendoodle
- In a certain camera position? side view, from bottom, from above, from behind => from behind
- What details do you want to be added? => suit
a. Special Lighting. Soft, ambient, ring light, neon => natural light
b. Environment. Indoor, outdoor, underwater, in space => in the sky
c. Color Scheme. Vibrant, dark, pastel => with bright colors
- In specific art style? 3D render, studio ghibli, movie poster => by Studio Ghibli
The order of words is important
The order and presentation of our desired output is almost as an important aspect as the vocabulary itself. It is recommended to list your concepts explicitly and separately than trying to cramp it into one simple sentence.
The keyword categories are:
- Subject: what you want to see in the image, such as a person, an object, a scene, etc.
- Medium: the material used to make the artwork, such as illustration, oil painting, realistic, anime, 3D rendering, etc.
- Style: the artistic style of the image, such as impressionist, surrealist, pop art, etc.
- Artist: the name of a specific artist or multiple artists whose style you want to emulate or blend.
- Website: the name of a niche graphic website that aggregates images of a certain genre, such as Artstation or Deviant Art.
- Additional details: any other modifiers that can enhance the image, such as sci-fi, stunningly beautiful, dystopian, etc.
- Color: the overall color or tone of the image, such as iridescent gold, pastel pink, etc.
- Lighting: the effect of light and shadow on the image, such as cinematic lighting, soft lighting, dark, dark shot, bright, etc.
You don’t have to include keywords from all categories. You can use them as a checklist to remind you what could be used.
A negative prompt is a way to tell the neural network what should not be in the image. You can use words or phrases that describe what you want to avoid or exclude from the image. You can also use weights in negative prompt to increase or decrease the effect of certain words.
Generally accepted negative prompt is considered: (deformed, distorted, disfigured:1.3), poorly drawn, bad anatomy, wrong anatomy, extra limb, missing limb, floating limbs, (mutated hands and fingers:1.4), disconnected limbs, mutation, mutated, ugly, disgusting, blurry, amputation.
Realistic negative prompt: overexposed, (deformed iris, deformed pupils, semi-realistic, cgi, 3d, render, sketch, cartoon, drawing, anime:1.3), text, close up, cropped, out of frame, worst quality, low quality, jpeg artifacts, ugly, duplicate, morbid, mutilated, extra fingers, mutated hands, poorly drawn hands, poorly drawn face, mutation, deformed, blurry, dehydrated, bad anatomy, bad proportions, extra limbs, cloned face, disfigured, gross proportions, malformed limbs, missing arms, missing legs, extra arms, extra legs, fused fingers, too many fingers, long neck.
For positive prompt and negative prompt, I have thought of universal keywords - styles. You may not find them in the examples because they are new. Almost every style has a Negative prompt. It is advisable to write it together with positive prompt.
An example of how to use styles if you want to create a cat image in a Professional photo style:
- Positive prompt: (dark shot:1.4), 80mm, cat, soft light, sharp, exposure blend, medium shot, bokeh, (hdr:1.4), high contrast, (cinematic, teal and orange:0.85), (muted colors, dim colors, soothing tones:1.3), low saturation, (hyperdetailed:1.2), (noir:0.4)
- Negative prompt: neon, (deformed, distorted, disfigured:1.3), poorly drawn, bad anatomy, wrong anatomy, extra limb, missing limb, floating limbs, (mutated hands and fingers:1.4), disconnected limbs, mutation, mutated, ugly, disgusting, blurry, amputation, over saturated
For example, if you want to generate an image of a girl with Natural skin:
- Positive prompt: girl, (natural skin texture, hyperrealism, soft light, sharp)
- Negative prompt: (cgi:0.9), (deformed, distorted, disfigured:1.3), poorly drawn, bad anatomy, wrong anatomy, extra limb, missing limb, floating limbs, (mutated hands and fingers:1.4), disconnected limbs, mutation, mutated, ugly, disgusting, blurry, amputation, 3d, illustration, cartoon, (doll:0.9)
Here are completely universal styles that you can combine and use in your prompt(I highly recommend using them!):
Professional photo:
- Positive prompt for Professional photo: (dark shot:1.4), 80mm, {POprompt}, soft light, sharp, exposure blend, medium shot, bokeh, (hdr:1.4), high contrast, (cinematic, teal and orange:0.85), (muted colors, dim colors, soothing tones:1.3), low saturation, (hyperdetailed:1.2), (noir:0.4)
- Negative prompt for Professional photo: neon, {NEprompt}, over saturated
Natural skin:
- Positive prompt for natural skin: (natural skin texture, hyperrealism, soft light, sharp)
- Negative prompt for natural skin: (cgi:0.9), 3d, illustration, cartoon, (doll:0.9)
Details:
- Positive prompt Details: (intricate details:0.9), (hdr, hyperdetailed:1.2)
Gloomy style:
- Positive prompt for gloomy style: complex background, stuff in the background, highly detailed, (gloomy:1.3), dark, dimmed, hdr, vignette, grimy, (slate atmosphere:0.8)
- Negative prompt for gloomy style: (depth of field:1.3), (bokeh:1.2), (blur), blurred, pink
Cinematic style:
- Positive prompt for Cinematic style: (cinematic look:1.4), soothing tones, insane details, intricate details, hyperdetailed, low contrast, soft cinematic light, dim colors, exposure blend, hdr, faded, slate gray atmosphere
- Negative prompt for Cinematic style: grayscale, black and white, bw, monochrome
Horror cinematic style:
- Positive prompt for horror cinematic style: slate atmosphere, cinematic, dimmed colors, dark shot, muted colors, film grainy, lut, spooky
Cinematic art style:
- Positive prompt for Cinematic art style: art by greg rutkowski and artgerm, soft cinematic light, adobe lightroom, photolab, hdr, intricate, highly detailed, (depth of field:1.4)
Engraving style:
- Positive prompt for Engraving style: (grayscale, woodcut:1.2), (etching:1.1), (engraving:0.2), {prompt}, detailed
- Negative prompt for Engraving style: colored
Epic painting:
- Positive prompt for Painting: rutkowski, intricate digital art, soothing tones, (cartoon:0.3), (art:1.4), epic realistic, faded, neutral colors, (hdr:1.4), (muted colors:1.4), (intricate), (artstation:1.5), dramatic, intricate details, (technicolor:0.9), detailed, intricate, cinematic, detailed
good prompt: (dark shot:1.1), epic realistic, portrait of halo, sunglasses, blue eyes, tartan scarf, white hair by atey ghailan, by greg rutkowski, by greg tocchini, by james gilleard, by joe fenton, by kaethe butcher, gradient yellow, black, brown and magenta color scheme, grunge aesthetic!!! graffiti tag wall background, art by greg rutkowski and artgerm, soft cinematic light, adobe lightroom, photolab, hdr, intricate, highly detailed, (depth of field:1.4), faded, (neutral colors:1.2), (hdr:1.4), (muted colors:1.2), hyperdetailed, (artstation:1.4), cinematic, warm lights, dramatic light, (intricate details:1.1), complex background, (rutkowski:0.66), (teal and orange:0.4)
good prompt: (dark theme:0.9), medieval portrait of a man sharp features, grim, cold stare, dark colors, Volumetric lighting, baroque oil painting by Greg Rutkowski, Artgerm, WLOP, Alphonse Mucha dynamic lighting hyperdetailed intricately detailed, (hdr:1.22), muted colors, complex background, hyperrealism, hyperdetailed, amandine van ray
good prompt: a demon made with black stone, Giovanni Strazza sculpt style , bokesharp focus depth, shadows, mist, fog, very High detailed, cinematic lighting, Cinematic, high detailed, ultra detailed, Accent Lighting, very god colors, realistic, 8k, HDR
good prompt: woman, samurai armor, helmet oni evil mask intricate, ornaments detailed, cold colors, metal, egypician detail, highly intricate details, realistic light, trending on cgsociety, glowing eyes, facing camera, neon details, ultra realistic details, portrait full body, japanese atmosphere, global illumination, shadows, octane render, 8 k, ultra sharp
good prompt: (dark shot:1.1), epic realistic, RAW, analog, A full portrait of stunning woman wearing swimsuit, alluring expression, swimming pool, clear water, wet hair, natural look, no make up, pureerosface_v1, masterpiece that captures the essence and beauty of the woman and water, ((highly detailed skin, skin details, water details)), sharp focus, volumetric fog, 8k UHD, DSLR, high quality, film grain, Fujifilm XT3, art by greg rutkowski and artgerm, soft cinematic light, adobe lightroom, photolab, hdr, intricate, highly detailed, (depth of field:1.4), faded, (neutral colors:1.2), (hdr:1.4), (muted colors:1.2), hyperdetailed, (artstation:1.4), cinematic, warm lights, dramatic light, (intricate details:1.1), complex background, (rutkowski:0.66), (teal and orange:0.4), (natural skin texture, hyperrealism, soft light, sharp)
good prompt: A flower by Casey Weldon, Olga Kvasha, Miho Hirano, hyperdetailed intricately detailed gothic art trending on Artstation triadic colors Unreal Engine 5 detailed matte painting, deep color, fantastical, intricate detail, splash screen, complementary colors, fantasy concept art, 8k resolution, gothic deviantart masterpiece, (dark shot:1.4), art by greg rutkowski and artgerm, soft cinematic light, adobe lightroom, photolab, hdr, intricate, highly detailed, (depth of field:1.4)
good prompt: almaty girl, kazakh, Portrait of haute couture beautiful kazakh fashion model , ethereal dreamy foggy, photoshoot by alessio albi, editorial fashion magazine photoshoot, fashion poses, in front of mountain. kinfolk magazine. film grain, (dark shot:1.3), (natural skin texture, hyperrealism, soft light, sharp)
good prompt: Delicious glowing galaxy cake on a dining table in the kitchen, comfortable light, romantic light, ultra details, photorealistic, realistic, gel lighting, Cinematic, Filmic, medium shot, 4k, Front-light, Cinematic Lighting, volumetric Light, Ray Tracing Reflections, Chromatic Aberration, photography, hyper realistic, 4k, 8k,closeup
just an example: drunk, creepy santa, muddy, crowded bottles bar, intricate details, hdr, intricate details, hyperdetailed, cinematic, dark shot, muted colors, film grainy, soothing tones, muted colors, technicolor
just an example: (masterpiece, best quality), (best illumination, an extremely delicate and beautiful), (best illumination, an extremely delicate and beautiful), (beautiful detailed face), (finely detailed eyes and detailed face:1.4), dark fantasy, (young girl, small beasts, 1girl, solo, crazy smile, pale skin, white hair, red glowing eyes, dynamic angle, vampire), (gaint vampire castle in background), (red moon, red sky), pointy ears, fangs, demon wings, demon horns, blood on face, blood rain, blood fog, (depth of field), high contrast, (blood splatter:1.4), full body
just an example: masterpiece, chinese dragon, long dragon, Loong,fangs,fantasy, mythical, art by( greg rutkowski:0.8), epic lighting, (photo realism:1.2), high quality, highly detailed, masterpiece, epic
just an example: epic video game key visual, giant armored creature, horde, skeletal army, many approaching in an ancient desert windy dust debris storm landscape midnight moonlight foreground debris (zrpgstyle) (masterpiece:1.2) (illustration:1.1) (best quality:1.2) (detailed) (intricate) (8k) (HDR) (wallpaper) (cinematic lighting) (sharp focus)
just an example: 1girl, beautiful vintage color, instagram (photorealistic, high resolution:1.4), ((puffy eyes)), looking at viewer, full body (8k, RAW photo, best quality, masterpiece:1.2), (realistic, photo-realistic:1.37),(sharp focus:1.2), professional lighting, photon mapping, radiosity, physically-based rendering, (pale skin:1.2),nsfw, small breasts,nipples, looking at viewer, middle hair, portrait, purple eyes, wet clothes(sliver hair:1.1),bangs, (simple background:1.4), solo, upper body, white background,realistic, (masterpiece:1.4), (best quality:1.4),(shiny skin), makeup, red lips, smile, (skinny,closed mouth,shy:1.3), blackshirt short sleeve, black pencil short skirt,black tight skirt, school unifrom
just an example: complex 3d render, ultra detailed, beautiful death angel, biomechanical cyborg, analog 150 mm lens, beautiful natural soft rim light, crystal feathers, roots, fine foliage lace, colorful details, Boris Bidjan Saberi outfit, pearl earrings, piercing, art nouveau fashion embroidered, intricate details, mesh wire, mandelbrot fractal, facial muscles, cable wires, microchip, badass, hyper realistic, ultra detailed, octane render, volumetric lighting, 8k post-production, red and white with a bit of black, detailled metalic bones, semi human, iridescent colors, Glenn Brown style, futuristic room, power of the god, high-angle shot, complex body poses
just an example: the anatomy of a head of lettuce, an ultrafine detailed painting by james jean, behance contest winner, vanitas, angular, altermodern
just an example: (RAW photo, best quality), (realistic, photo-realistic:1.3), masterpiece, an extremely delicate and beautiful, extremely detailed, CG, unity , 2k wallpaper, Amazing, finely detail, light smile, extremely detailed CG unity 8k wallpaper, huge filesize, ultra-detailed, highres, absurdres, soft light, (((medium hair:1.3), short bang, pink hair, floating hair novafrogstyle)), beautiful detailed girl, detailed fingers, extremely detailed eyes and face, beautiful detailed nose, beautiful detailed eyes, long eyelashes, light on face, looking at viewer, (closed mouth:1.2), 1girl, cute, young, mature face, (full body:1.3), ((small breasts)), realistic face, realistic body, beautiful detailed thigh, business suit, cross-laced clothes, collared shirt, open clothes, in office, detailed office, open cardigan, black thighhighs, miniskirt, black underwear, unbuttoned shirt
just an example: end of the world, epic realistic, (hdr:1.4), (muted colors:1.4), apocalypse, freezing, abandoned, neutral colors, night, screen space refractions, (intricate details), (intricate details, hyperdetailed:1.2), artstation, cinematic shot, vignette, complex background, buildings, snowy
anime prompt: (flat color:1.1),(colorful:1.3),(masterpiece:1.2), best quality, masterpiece, original, extremely detailed wallpaper, looking at viewer,1girl,solo,floating colorful water
anime prompt: (masterpiece, best quality, ultra-detailed, best shadow), (detailed background,dark fantasy), (beautiful detailed face), high contrast, (best illumination, an extremely delicate and beautiful), ((cinematic light)), colorful, hyper detail, dramatic light, intricate details, (1girl, solo,black hair, sharp face,low twintails, red eyes, hair between eyes,dynamic angle), blood splatter, swirling black light around the character, depth of field, black light particles, (broken glass), magic circle
anime prompt: (masterpiece, top quality, best quality, official art, beautiful and aesthetic:1.2), (1girl), extreme detailed, (fractal art:1.5),(cherry flowers in fractal art:1.3), colorful, highest detailed, upper body, purple hair, purple eyes, large breasts, kimono, bangs, sash, mole, obi, tassel, blush, hair ornament
anime prompt: (Girlish Painting:1.3), (Ultra detailed:1.3), (Cosy:1.3), best quality, masterpiece, highly detailed, ultra-detailed, 1girl, Emma Watson, unreal engin 5, octane render, (2D:1.2), limited palette flat color, digital painting, artstation, concept art, smooth, sharp focus, art by ross tran, art by greg rutkowski, art by alphonse Mucha, art by Bak Karol, (oil painting:1.16), (acrylic paint:1.16), (colorful:1.5), (watercolor:1.16), by nvinkpunk, kuvshinov, dreamlikeart, samdoesart, modelshoot style, (by Artist Koho Shoda:1.3), (by Artist Mike Mignola:1.3), (by Artist Joop Polder:1.3), (Classicism Art:1.3), (Industrial Art:1.3), (Solarpunk Art:1.3)
anime prompt: ((masterpiece, best quality)), 1girl, solo, flat chest, chain, cuffs, shackles, broken chain, collar, chained, handcuffs, barefoot, black and white hair, long hair, metal collar, solo, ankle cuffs, broken, purple eyes, very long hair, ball and chain restraint, bound, bdsm
anime prompt: (Highest picture quality), (Master's work), (ultra-detailed), (Detailed eye description:1.2), masterpiece, best quality, absurdres, original, extremely delicate and beautiful, beautiful detailed eyes and face, 1girl, black hair, cherry blossom, white clothes, looking at viewer, mole, pink flower, solo, (masterpiece:1.4), (best quality:1.4)
anime prompt: masterpiece, best quality, best detail, 5girls, swimsuit, focus on character detail, character on the front camera, high detail background, bloom, blue sky, high lighting detail, widescreen, 16:9, sea, beach, sunny day, medium hair, red face, megane, smile, sexy pose, realistic finger detail, close-up, portrait, getting wet, random hair colors, standing, erotic, yuri, hentai, nipple, leg strap, sexy hip, see-through, Draw realistic hand, random eye color, erotic face, sexy eye contact, half-naked, random hairstyle, random face, hold breast pussy, megane, pussy cum, small breast, yuri sex, kissing, open mouth, tongue, breasts grab
anime prompt: masterpiece, high quality, highres, absurdres, ultra-detailed, detailed eyes, 8k, 1girl, colorful eyes, fangs, open mouth, blue eyes, bangs, colorful background, (graffiti mural walls background), looking at viewer, vibrant, contrast, blue hair, white hair, gradient hair, happy, high five, heart symbols
anime prompt: (extremely delicate and beautiful:1.2),1girl,fashi-girl, bangs, blue eyes, blurry, blurry background, bow, brown hair, closed mouth, from side, hair between eyes, hair bow, lantern, light particles, long sleeves, looking at viewer, medium hair, night, red bow, solo, star symbol, upper body,smile,red lips
anime prompt: masterpiece, best quality, ultra-detailed, illustration, 1girl, solo, outdoors, camping, night, mountains, nature, stars, moon, tent, twin ponytails, green eyes, cheerful, happy, backpack, sleeping bag, camping stove, water bottle, mountain boots, gloves, sweater, hat, flashlight, forest, rocks, river, wood, smoke, shadows, contrast, clear sky, constellations, Milky Way, peaceful, serene, quiet, tranquil, remote, secluded, adventurous, exploration, escape, independence, survival, resourcefulness, challenge, perseverance, stamina, endurance, observation, intuition, adaptability, creativity, imagination, artistry, inspiration, beauty, awe, wonder, gratitude, appreciation, relaxation, enjoyment, rejuvenation, mindfulness, awareness, connection, harmony, balance, texture, detail, realism, depth, perspective, composition, color, light, shadow, reflection, refraction, tone, contrast, foreground, middle ground, background, naturalistic, figurative, representational, impressionistic, expressionistic, abstract, innovative, experimental, unique
anime prompt: best quality, masterpiece, high definition, high quality, high resolution, sharp focus, trending on Artstation, 4k, beautiful fantasy spring sunny scenery landscape, celestial japanese temple alone at the peak of a mountain overlooking the landscape below, high point of view
anime prompt: (flat color:1.1), (colorful:1.3), (masterpiece:1.2), best quality, masterpiece, original, extremely detailed wallpaper, looking at viewer,1girl,solo,floating colorful water
anime prompt: (masterpiece:1.2), (best quality:1.1), 1girl, transparent, perfect face, black silk stockings, high quality, cute, black hair, highest quality, ultra-detailed, extremely detailed, hyper detail, (intricate detail:1.2), (panties over black pantyhose:1.2), (Japanese sailor suit:1.2), (cameltoe:1.2), (lift feet:1.4), soles, lie down, park, looking at viewer, sun shine
anime prompt: (masterpiece, best quality:1.1), bird's eye view, asymmetrical, blue ocean, low tide, sea waves, coastal road, sandy beach, piers, sailboats, yachts, ship wake, contrail, cars, tourists, lighthouse, seagulls, horizon, breeze, summer, morning, sunny, cloud, calm, fresh air, depth of field
anime prompt: masterpiece, best quality, ultra-detailed, illustration, 1girl, solo, fantasy, flying, broom, night sky, outdoors, magic, spells, moon, stars, clouds, wind, hair, cape, hat, boots, broomstick, glowing, mysterious, enchanting, whimsical, playful, adventurous, freedom, wonder, imagination, determination, skill, speed, movement, energy, realism, naturalistic, figurative, representational, beauty, fantasy culture, mythology, fairy tales, folklore, legends, witches, wizards, magical creatures, fantasy worlds, composition, scale, foreground, middle ground, background, perspective, light, color, texture, detail, beauty, wonder
anime prompt: masterpiece, best quality, 1girl, (colorful),(finely detailed beautiful eyes and detailed face),cinematic lighting,bust shot,extremely detailed CG unity 8k wallpaper, white hair, solo, smile, intricate skirt, ((flying petal)), (Flowery meadow) sky, cloudy sky, building, moonlight, moon, night, (dark theme:1.3), light, fantasy
anime prompt: masterpiece, best quality, ultra-detailed, illustration,2girls,fantasy, RPG, heroine, devil, final battle, outdoors, epic, dramatic, intense, powerful, dynamic, magic, spells, sword, shield, armor, wings, horns, tail, fire, smoke, light, shadow, impact, movement, energy, determination, bravery, courage, heroism, villainy, evil, darkness, destruction, victory, defeat, redemption, justice, sacrifice, friendship, companionship, teamwork, perseverance, challenge, obstacle, success, achievement, goal-oriented, progress, improvement, realism, naturalistic, figurative, representational, video game culture, anime, manga, Japanese, RPG tropes, character design, animation, special effects, composition, scale, foreground, middle ground, background, perspective, light, color, texture, detail, beauty, wonder
anime prompt: masterpiece, best quality, ultra-detailed, city, street, gothic, steampunk, illustration, 1girl, (solo), platinum long hair, boots, from behind, vintage, antique, brass, metal, gears, machinery, ornate, elegant, classic, sophisticated, refined, poised, contemplative, thoughtful, curious, mysterious, enigmatic, magical, watchful, intelligent, bookish, contrast, perspective, depth, texture, detail, realism, impressionistic, expressionistic, abstract, surrealistic, innovative, experimental, unique, atmosphere, ambiance, mood, nostalgia, historical, cultural, technological, industrial, fantasy, imagination, creativity, artistry, craftsmanship, skill, precision, detail, composition, balance, harmony, rhythm, colorful, darker, reflection, refraction, foreground, middle ground, background, vanishing point, horizon line, focal point, naturalistic, figurative, representational
anime prompt: (masterpiece, best quality:1.2), cinematic anime, anime clip of a 3 girls floating in space, universe, milky way, cosmos, planet, stars, astronaut, full body, ultra detailed, beautiful face, finely detailed eyes, extremely detailed, correct anatomy, incredibly_absurdres
anime prompt: ((masterpiece)), (((gray eyes))), (((blue hair, floating hair, liquid hair, chromatic aberration))), (focus on eyes, shaded, photo, insanely detailed, bloom:1.5), short hair, photorealistic, masterpiece, dynamic angle, highest quality, photorealistic, masterpiece, dynamic angle, highest quality, intricate, Alessandro Casagrande, Greg Rutkowski, Sally Mann, athletic wet punk body, (blue panties), nipples, concept art, 4k, far-off, (medium breasts, portrait, choker, soft), (sadness), (((blue flowers))), (((Night))), high sharpness, extreme saturation and contrast
anime prompt: ((4k,masterpiece, best quality)), shuimobysim, traditional chinese ink painting, lotus, hanfu, maxiskit, 1girl, solo, white hair, long hair, fox ears, white, bikini, fish, many fish near girl, look at viewer, tease
anime prompt: 1girl, ((cinematic light)), colorful, hyper detail, dramatic light, intricate details, best quality, (extremely detailed CG unity 8k wallpaper, masterpiece, best quality, ultra-detailed, best shadow), (detailed background:1.4), (beautiful detailed face, beautiful detailed eyes), High contrast, (best illumination, an extremely delicate and beautiful), (girl:1.5), solo, black skirt, blue eyes, electric guitar, guitar, headphones, holding, holding plectrum, instrument, long hair, music, one side up, pink hair, playing guiter, pleated skirt, black shirt, indoors ((caustic)), dynamic angle, beautiful detailed glow, full body, cowboy shot
Here is a list in my opinion of the most important artists:
- Agnes Martin - an artist who paints geometric abstract paintings. In stable diffusion, she helps to get the texture of canvas or an object with this texture.
- Jacob Hashimoto - an artist who creates complex worlds from paper, bamboo and other materials. In stable diffusion, he helps to get an interesting background with modular components or bright colors.
- Stanley Donwood - a designer who invents covers for albums, posters and other things. In stable diffusion, he helps to get arts with stable stripes and lines, which is useful for fingerprints or other graphic effects.
- Julie Mehretu - an artist who works with markers, pencils, acrylic and ink. In stable diffusion, she helps to get intersecting lines and layers, if you add the word "eclectic" to the prompt.
- Quentin Blake - an artist and illustrator of children's books. In stable diffusion, he helps to get a cartoon style with simple shapes and expressive emotions. If you add the word "punk" to the prompt, you can get a more daring and unusual style.
- David Palumbo - an artist who creates illustrations in the genres of fantasy and science fiction. In stable diffusion, he helps to get visible strokes and smudges from paint, which gives the art more realism and dynamics.
- Phil Jimenez - a comic book artist, known for his work on Wonder Woman. In stable diffusion, he helps to get increased detail and realism of characters and scenes.
- Geof Darrow - a comic book artist, known for his extremely detailed work. In stable diffusion, he helps to get highly detailed backgrounds with lots of small elements and textures.
- Nicola Samori - an artist who creates dark and gloomy baroque. In stable diffusion, he helps to get splashes, blotches, stains and dirt on the art, which gives it more expressiveness and contrast.
- Ben Templesmith - an artist whose work was adapted into the film "30 Days of Night". He creates covers for books, cards and concepts for films. In stable diffusion, he helps to get a dark and dirty style with bloody accents and fuzzy contours.
- Brandon Woelfel - a photographer with neon photos. In stable diffusion, he helps to get a photographic neon light with bright colors and contour effect at low-res.
- Viviane Sassen - a photographer from the world of fashion. In stable diffusion, she helps to get stylish and aesthetic photos with models in different poses and moods. As we know, almost identical faces are generated in many neural networks. Viviane Sassen also helps to mask the neural network and get unique faces by adding the word "detailed" to the prompt.
- Brian Oldham - a photographer who creates creatively or creatively. In stable diffusion, he helps to get professional, cinematic, creative photos or arts without additional tokens. Just write his name after the prompt.
- Lisa Frank - an artist who makes mega colorful school supplies. In stable diffusion, she helps to get a bright and rainbow style with different animals, stars, hearts and other elements.
- Simon Stalenhag - an artist who specializes in retro-futurism. In stable diffusion, he helps to get a cozy and major style with elements of old technologies, robots, rockets and other things from the past future.
- Iryna Yermolova - an artist from Russia who creates magnificent works in oil. In stable diffusion, she helps to get a classic style of painting with realistic characters and landscapes. If you write her name with I (Irina), you can get a 3D effect on the art.
- Todd Schorr - an American artist who works in the style of pop-surrealism. In stable diffusion, he helps to get Slavic motifs with khokhloma, ear-zagogulinki, molding and other elements of national color.
- Alayna Lemmer - a star of art-station who creates magnificent landscapes, castles and magical creatures. In stable diffusion, she helps to get a fantasy style with detailed and colorful images. She is mandatory for any prompt in the genre of fantasy.
- Andre Charles Boulle - a French artist who makes wood carvings and draws ornaments. In stable diffusion, he helps to get intrigue gold or golden effect on the art by adding low-res.
- Conor Harrington - an Irish street graffiti artist. In stable diffusion, he helps to get an epic staging of a scene or a hero with realistic details and contrasting colors.
- Wangechi Mutu - an artist from Kenya who makes anthropological art with African motifs. In stable diffusion, she helps to get coffee-chocolate arts with different patterns and symbols.
- Patrick Dougherty - an eco-artist who makes sculptures and installations from sticks and seedlings. In stable diffusion, he helps to get a hay-like or wooden effect on the art, if you need to make something out of shit and sticks. It creates anything from branches
About Modifiers
Modifiers are words that can change the style, format, or perspective of the image. There are certain magic words or phrases that are proven to boost the quality of the image. In this section, we will talk different types of modifiers you can use in your prompt.
Photography
Photography Prompt - Mix and Match!
Shot type- Close-up; Extreme Close-up; POV; Medium shot; Long shot; At a distance;
Style- polaroid; Tilt-shift; Color splash; Monochrome; white and black;
Subject- Woman; Old man; Grey cat; Bunny; Ferrari;
Lighting- Cinematic light; Sun light; Ambient light; Soft light; moonlight; dramatic light;
Context- Indoor; Outdoor; At night; In the park; Studio;
Lens- Wide-angle; Telephoto; 24mm; EF 70mm; Bokeh; F/1.4; 50mm;
Device-iPhone X; CCTV; Nikon Z FX; Canon; Gopro; Fujifilm XT3 ;
3D illustrations
Stable diffusion can be used to create any 3D scene or object you can imagine!
Isometric assets- isometric kitchen in a cutaway box, isometric, tiny, cute, soft smooth lighting, soft colors, 100mm lens, 3d blender render;
Low Poly- kawaii, low poly, squirrel character, 3d isometric render, white background, ambient occlusion, unity engine;
Pixar Renders- 3d fluffy Lion, close-up, cute, adorable, cute big circular reflective eyes, long fuzzy fur, Pixar render, unreal engine, cinematic, intricate detail, cinematic;
3D Item Render- isometric Alarm Clock, isometric, tiny, soft smooth lighting, soft colors, 3d blender render, trending on polycount, modular constructivism, physically based rendering;
More illustrations
Vector- living room, vector illustration, Flat Style, pastel color palette;
Comic- Retro comic style artwork, benedict cumberbatch, highly detailed, comic book cover, symmetrical, vibrant;
Caricature- Caricature art, spiderman, sitting , chair, drinking beer, on Charlie Hebdo;
Propaganda- Poster, USSR propaganda poster, Eat Oreo!;
Psychedelic Art- dear face, Hypnotic illustration, hypnotic psychedelic art, by Dan Mumford, pop surrealism, dark glow neon mystical, Behance;
Splash Art- mage, channeling arcane magicks, armored, Splash art, mana shooting from his hands, mystical energy in the air, action shot, heroic fantasy art, special effects, hd octane render;
Stickers- Die-cut sticker, Cute, kawaii, Goldendoodle character, sticker, white background, illustration minimalism, vector, pastel colors;
Simple feelings modifiers can set the atmosphere of the scene!
Positive emotions
Cosy- Cosy vintage bedroom, octane render, by weta digital, exotic colorful pastel, ray traced lighting, reflections;
Romantic- couple shopping, romantic lighting;
Joyful- Joyful, husky puppy, splashing water, canon eos r3;
Energetic- Energetic painting, pool with flamingos;
Hope- Woman, filled with hope, beautiful dress, running, beach;
Lust- couple, Painting, filled with lust, by mike mignola;
Peaceful- Japanese city street, peaceful, dreamy, soft colors, studio ghibli style;
Satisfaction- Old man, looking at viewer, filled with satisfaction, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV;
Negative emotions
Depressing- Depressing photo, futuristic park;
Loneliness- Girl, sitting in window, reading a book, loneliness;
Grim- lake with ducks, grim painting;
Regret- man, looking at viewer, painting, filled with regret;
Suffering- woman, suffering, sitting on a bench, forest, Digital painting, by goro fujita;
Hopelessness- Man, hopelessness, black and white, looking at viewer, sketch, intricate details;
Fear- Child running towards the camera, in fear, by atey ghailan, by mike mignola;
Vibrant keywords: Weirdcore, Acidwave, Dreamcore, Vaporwave;
Gloomy:
Liminal Space- Flooded, liminal space,underground city carpark, lighting with lensflares, photorealistic 8k, eerie;
After Hours- After hours, stairs to the park, complex background, stuff in the background, highly detailed, (gloomy:1.3), dark, dimmed, hdr, vignette, grimy, (slate atmosphere:0.8);
Brutalism- Building, architecture, brutalism;
Post-Apocalyptic- Post-Apocalyptic town, houses, cars;
Magic words:
HDR, UHD, 64K- Quality words like HDR, UHD, 4K, 8k, and 64K can make a dramatic difference.
Greg rutkowski- Adds epicness to the photo, often suitable for fantasy art
Highly detailed- Quality words like highly detailed can make a dramatic difference.
Studio lighting- Studio lighting could really add some nice texture to the image
Professional- Adding professional, can greatly improve the color contrast and details in the image
Trending on artstation- without description
Unreal engine- a magic word that adds very realistic 3D renderings
Vivid Colors- Adding Vivid Colors, adds life to your images
Bokeh- Bokeh blurs the background and highlights the subject. It’s like iPhone portrait mode.
High resolution scan- Want a historic looking photo? Add "High resolution scan"
2023.06.10 13:30 Risotto7363773 President Rensen's briefing on the current political situation in Sordland
Remy was of course at the inauguration on the podium somewhere in the third row of people behind the President. He has only known the man for around a year, having arrived as part of a packaged deal with Mayor of Holsord Lileas Graf so it was natural for him not to have the main seats at the event. However when he did get a peak over some politicians shoulders, he saw Orso Hawker closing the Bible and as the Chief Justice walked back to the crowd of the USP members and politicians, he glanced at Remy. It was time for him to play his role in the next chapter.
Once the ceremony was over and the President and Vice-President were on their way to their separate jet balck Kadillas, he rather unemotionally left his wife (who too had no emotional reaction) on the podium and ran past the hordes of politicians following the new leader carrying a file in his hand.
He reached the President as he was already entering the car almost being stopped by his security. He provided Rensen with a document for reading on the way to the Maroon Palace. He then quickly ran to the Vice-President and gave him the same report.
Remy then walked a few streets down to his car. He had his driver stationed further away from the presidential inauguration in order to avoid the traffic caused by the crowds trying to swarm the presidential cars. He wanted to get to the Maroon Palace first and await the President while the report would still be fresh in his mind.
The report read:
Chief of Staff Report
My congratulations to you Mr. President on your victory. Certainly a hard-fought campaign but without sacrifice there is no future. Now to business,
1. Cabinet Composition
Your first order of business would be of course to finalize your cabinet picks. While analyzing each candidate through their intellectual potential as well as skill, I understand that certain deals have been struck in order to achieve this electoral victory. Therefore to avoid any possible problems later on with the charcaters that you were dealing with, I would advise to respect the notion “pacta sunt servanda”. Mayor Graf already mentioned to me in private that she would like Mr. Youri Strohm to become the new Interior Minister. She believes him a capable candidate that would be able to without question handle this important office.
However the decision is ultimately up to you. I’m sure all of Sordland is looking forward to the official cabinet communique.
2. Speaker Election
USP-wise, we must ensure a victory in the Speakership race. With only 33.12% of the vote, the Speakership election loss could weaken us even more in the eyes of our voters, potentially leaving them to start searching for alternatives. A loss would be the USP leaking blood more into the sea that's filled with these reenergized opposition sharks. We must show the people that the USP is here and here to stay and that this electoral result is just a fluke. We can discuss strategy and your favoured picks later after you arrive at the Maroon Palace.
3. Most Pressing Matters
Based on our polling, sampling, we can safely come to the conclusion that the amount of people demanding change is growing. The demand for change is being heightened by 2 main issues.
These issues in order of importance are:
The Economy is the most pressing and in order for you to get the full picture of this situation, I would advise waiting for the Minister of Economy’s Situation Report later in the week.
2B The Constitution
While they are more concerned about the economy than the Constitution, they blame the system for their problems.
Evidence of this can be seen with the recent election where an increased number of voters has decided to expand the CPS’s electoral base from 0% in 1950 to almost 8% in 1953. Radicals such as Denis Stahler are becoming more and more popular. Radicalism will be the end to the USP’s pragmatic steering of the country and Sordland as a whole.
Everyone is expecting us to bring the change that the last government wasn't able to. Reformist politicians are increasing in number.
While the reformist wing inside our party is still a minority, with the new parties entering the Assembly, the opposition could have a tri-partisan majority in the assembly.
The PFJP will likely seek to take the spotlight in constitutional reform as they wish to be perceived by the public as a Leader of Reform. Their support too faltered in this election leading to the unceremonious exit of PFJP Chairman Frens Ricter and they seek to get back on the horse so to speak. However, with the new People’s Front taking voters from both the USP and the PFJP, we could seek to pursue an electoral alliance (not a coalition) with them seeking to ensure that in the next election, the People’s Front does not cross the threshold. Due to our proportional system, if they fell under the threshold, most of the seats would be redistributed to the 2 largest parties. We would therefore regain the status quo and maintain a political duopoly which in our situation is more preferable than the multi-party assembly we have now. They are still small enough to destroy but time is of the essence in this regard.
An alternative would be to appease the reformists but this risks upsetting our conservative voters and inflating the NFP which would also spell disaster for the country. In order for you to survive your Presidency, we must after all learn from the mistakes of the biggest USP reformist politician, ex-President Ewald Alphonso.
If we are however to pursue constitutional reform
In the event of constitutional reform, some points of change can be noted.
The Supreme Court
Currently: The Supreme Court has the final say over constitutional legislation. Without their approval we cannot even change it.
Some Reformists think it to be absurd that they get to vote for bills when they aren’t even elected and would seek to take away their vote in constitutional legislation.
(Likely) Reformist demands
- want to limit the President's veto powers by fixing the current loopholes - ensure that the Supreme Court is independent and - take away the Court’s right to vote on constitutional amendments.
It will be tough to persuade our base if we work with the reformists.
Apart from the Grand National Assembly, there are however few institutional hurdles if we decide to embark upon the path of constitutional reform.
The Supreme Court
The Supreme Court will do its best to preserve the power that is granted to it by the Constitution. Chief Justice Hawker and his allied judges have a great influence over the Supreme Court, which will be tough to break. A long fight with Hawker could take our attention from more important matters that we promised to fix.
Also, many allies would be needed to break their power.
President’s Decision
If we are to move forward with a constitutional change, we will move forward by forming a Reform Committee together with all the parties and start reaching out to all the stakeholders in the Assembly and the Court for a new Constitution.
By later in the next year, we would have an idea of the reform contents and what the other parties want.
4. Oligarch Matters
Changes in the Lotherberg Group
There have been changes within the Lotherberg Group which is the organization where oligarchs convene under to talk about and influence Sordish economic policies.
Konrath Konronti led it for a long time before falling ill. He has unfortunately died following your election.
The new leader is Mr Walter Tusk.
Proceeding with Caution
According to reports, some members of the National Business Council are in the pockets of the Lotherberg Group. Tusk and the Group may try to bribe us in exchange for special economic protections.
A possible asset within the Group
As far as we know, Marcel Koronti has some strong ties to this group. His influence could definitely be an asset for us. But since he is a businessman he will want something in return. He is currently fighting to become the next CEO of HOS, his now deceased-father’s company.
5. The Military
The military and the General Staff are a powerful element in and as history tells us, a dangerous one too. We have some room to make structural changes – by reducing or increasing their budget for example. But it is quite limited.
In order to refrain from confronting the military too directly, it is common consensus that the budget should at least be maintained.
Minister of Defense & Security Major Iosef Lancea is more loyal to us compared to Chief of the Sordish Armed Forces and Chief of the General Staff General Valken Kruger who have a potential rift as they are clearly of different minds. The loyalty of General Mark Duran to us is unknown as of yet but he apparently acts as a middle-ground between the two military men when the spats get too aggressive.. Any loyalty to us can obviously change due to our actions. If we act strongly against the military, all these men will unite against us. If we act to strong in favour of reform and ruining Soll's legacy, they will act.
We need to tread carefully on all sides with all power players to survive our term. The seriousness of the situation canot be understated.
I await your and the Vice-President's arrival to the Maroon Palace where I hope we can have a brief chat (as well as celebration) and get confirmation of your decisions regarding everything mentioned in this report today.
Good luck and once again congratulations are in order.
Chief of Staff Remy Adler
submitted by Risotto7363773 to SordlandRP [link] [comments]
Once the ceremony was over and the President and Vice-President were on their way to their separate jet balck Kadillas, he rather unemotionally left his wife (who too had no emotional reaction) on the podium and ran past the hordes of politicians following the new leader carrying a file in his hand.
He reached the President as he was already entering the car almost being stopped by his security. He provided Rensen with a document for reading on the way to the Maroon Palace. He then quickly ran to the Vice-President and gave him the same report.
Remy then walked a few streets down to his car. He had his driver stationed further away from the presidential inauguration in order to avoid the traffic caused by the crowds trying to swarm the presidential cars. He wanted to get to the Maroon Palace first and await the President while the report would still be fresh in his mind.
The report read:
Chief of Staff Report
My congratulations to you Mr. President on your victory. Certainly a hard-fought campaign but without sacrifice there is no future. Now to business,
1. Cabinet Composition
Your first order of business would be of course to finalize your cabinet picks. While analyzing each candidate through their intellectual potential as well as skill, I understand that certain deals have been struck in order to achieve this electoral victory. Therefore to avoid any possible problems later on with the charcaters that you were dealing with, I would advise to respect the notion “pacta sunt servanda”. Mayor Graf already mentioned to me in private that she would like Mr. Youri Strohm to become the new Interior Minister. She believes him a capable candidate that would be able to without question handle this important office.
However the decision is ultimately up to you. I’m sure all of Sordland is looking forward to the official cabinet communique.
2. Speaker Election
USP-wise, we must ensure a victory in the Speakership race. With only 33.12% of the vote, the Speakership election loss could weaken us even more in the eyes of our voters, potentially leaving them to start searching for alternatives. A loss would be the USP leaking blood more into the sea that's filled with these reenergized opposition sharks. We must show the people that the USP is here and here to stay and that this electoral result is just a fluke. We can discuss strategy and your favoured picks later after you arrive at the Maroon Palace.
3. Most Pressing Matters
Based on our polling, sampling, we can safely come to the conclusion that the amount of people demanding change is growing. The demand for change is being heightened by 2 main issues.
These issues in order of importance are:
- The Economy
- The Constitution
The Economy is the most pressing and in order for you to get the full picture of this situation, I would advise waiting for the Minister of Economy’s Situation Report later in the week.
2B The Constitution
While they are more concerned about the economy than the Constitution, they blame the system for their problems.
Evidence of this can be seen with the recent election where an increased number of voters has decided to expand the CPS’s electoral base from 0% in 1950 to almost 8% in 1953. Radicals such as Denis Stahler are becoming more and more popular. Radicalism will be the end to the USP’s pragmatic steering of the country and Sordland as a whole.
Everyone is expecting us to bring the change that the last government wasn't able to. Reformist politicians are increasing in number.
While the reformist wing inside our party is still a minority, with the new parties entering the Assembly, the opposition could have a tri-partisan majority in the assembly.
The PFJP will likely seek to take the spotlight in constitutional reform as they wish to be perceived by the public as a Leader of Reform. Their support too faltered in this election leading to the unceremonious exit of PFJP Chairman Frens Ricter and they seek to get back on the horse so to speak. However, with the new People’s Front taking voters from both the USP and the PFJP, we could seek to pursue an electoral alliance (not a coalition) with them seeking to ensure that in the next election, the People’s Front does not cross the threshold. Due to our proportional system, if they fell under the threshold, most of the seats would be redistributed to the 2 largest parties. We would therefore regain the status quo and maintain a political duopoly which in our situation is more preferable than the multi-party assembly we have now. They are still small enough to destroy but time is of the essence in this regard.
An alternative would be to appease the reformists but this risks upsetting our conservative voters and inflating the NFP which would also spell disaster for the country. In order for you to survive your Presidency, we must after all learn from the mistakes of the biggest USP reformist politician, ex-President Ewald Alphonso.
If we are however to pursue constitutional reform
- We must start working with a 'Reform Committee' to evaluate all possibilities for a new Constitution as soon as possible and understand what each party seeks to achieve.
- We must then write a Draft Constitution.
- After we have settled on a draft, we will need to talk to key party figures as we must get 150 signatures in order to present the Constitution before the Assembly.
- We would then need to continue convincing influential figures within the Assembly to back the Constitution in order to receive the ⅔ majority in the GNA (166 votes).
- Finally, to achieve a simple majority in the Supreme Court, we must convince 6 judges to back the Constitution.
In the event of constitutional reform, some points of change can be noted.
The Supreme Court
Currently: The Supreme Court has the final say over constitutional legislation. Without their approval we cannot even change it.
Some Reformists think it to be absurd that they get to vote for bills when they aren’t even elected and would seek to take away their vote in constitutional legislation.
(Likely) Reformist demands
- want to limit the President's veto powers by fixing the current loopholes - ensure that the Supreme Court is independent and - take away the Court’s right to vote on constitutional amendments.
It will be tough to persuade our base if we work with the reformists.
Apart from the Grand National Assembly, there are however few institutional hurdles if we decide to embark upon the path of constitutional reform.
The Supreme Court
The Supreme Court will do its best to preserve the power that is granted to it by the Constitution. Chief Justice Hawker and his allied judges have a great influence over the Supreme Court, which will be tough to break. A long fight with Hawker could take our attention from more important matters that we promised to fix.
Also, many allies would be needed to break their power.
President’s Decision
If we are to move forward with a constitutional change, we will move forward by forming a Reform Committee together with all the parties and start reaching out to all the stakeholders in the Assembly and the Court for a new Constitution.
By later in the next year, we would have an idea of the reform contents and what the other parties want.
4. Oligarch Matters
Changes in the Lotherberg Group
There have been changes within the Lotherberg Group which is the organization where oligarchs convene under to talk about and influence Sordish economic policies.
Konrath Konronti led it for a long time before falling ill. He has unfortunately died following your election.
The new leader is Mr Walter Tusk.
Proceeding with Caution
According to reports, some members of the National Business Council are in the pockets of the Lotherberg Group. Tusk and the Group may try to bribe us in exchange for special economic protections.
A possible asset within the Group
As far as we know, Marcel Koronti has some strong ties to this group. His influence could definitely be an asset for us. But since he is a businessman he will want something in return. He is currently fighting to become the next CEO of HOS, his now deceased-father’s company.
5. The Military
The military and the General Staff are a powerful element in and as history tells us, a dangerous one too. We have some room to make structural changes – by reducing or increasing their budget for example. But it is quite limited.
In order to refrain from confronting the military too directly, it is common consensus that the budget should at least be maintained.
Minister of Defense & Security Major Iosef Lancea is more loyal to us compared to Chief of the Sordish Armed Forces and Chief of the General Staff General Valken Kruger who have a potential rift as they are clearly of different minds. The loyalty of General Mark Duran to us is unknown as of yet but he apparently acts as a middle-ground between the two military men when the spats get too aggressive.. Any loyalty to us can obviously change due to our actions. If we act strongly against the military, all these men will unite against us. If we act to strong in favour of reform and ruining Soll's legacy, they will act.
We need to tread carefully on all sides with all power players to survive our term. The seriousness of the situation canot be understated.
I await your and the Vice-President's arrival to the Maroon Palace where I hope we can have a brief chat (as well as celebration) and get confirmation of your decisions regarding everything mentioned in this report today.
Good luck and once again congratulations are in order.
Chief of Staff Remy Adler
2023.06.10 13:04 Proud-Criminal Street parking overnight without paying or getting ticketed?
So I was planning to visit my friend and park on the street. Thing is in last couple years the street outside his apartment complex became paid parking. This boggles my mind since its no where near to center, its an outer district and this street is a dead end that only goes to his apartment complex (newish). So there is no reason to have paid parking here IMO. Its thievery.
So Im guessing no one will check the cars status between 21:00 in evening at 6:00 the next morning? This is not a big main street in Old or New town its a back street that goes no where. What are the chances I get ticketed at night? How many people actually pay for parking in these absurd places where its not justified?
submitted by Proud-Criminal to Vilnius [link] [comments]
So Im guessing no one will check the cars status between 21:00 in evening at 6:00 the next morning? This is not a big main street in Old or New town its a back street that goes no where. What are the chances I get ticketed at night? How many people actually pay for parking in these absurd places where its not justified?
2023.06.10 12:30 FappidyDat [H] TF2 Keys & PayPal [W] Humble Bundle Games (Also Games From Past Bundles)
Notes:
I pay with the following:
TF2 & PayPal
IGS Rep Page:
https://www.reddit.com/IGSRep/comments/ggsaik/fappidydats_igs_rep_page/
SteamTrades Rep Page (1000+):
https://www.steamtrades.com/use76561198097671494
GameTrade Rep Page:
https://www.reddit.com/GameTradeRep/comments/ggrz1y/fappidydats_gametrade_rep_page/?
SGSFlair Rep Page:
https://www.reddit.com/sgsflaicomments/ggag04/flair_profile_ufappidydat/
submitted by FappidyDat to indiegameswap [link] [comments]
- I am EXTREMELY busy, but I check my messages and DMs at least ONCE per day. Please be patient and wait at least 24 hours for my response if I don't get back to you immediately.
- I buy only in Unrevealed Key Link Format or Plain Steam Keys. No gift links.
- For PayPal, I am in the US region and I only send via G&S. Please note there will be PayPal fees (including international/conversion and purchasing fees) to consider.
- All games that you sell to me should ideally be REGION-FREE. Please ensure the games are not region-locked/bound to a specific country.
- You must be willing to fill a spreadsheet with steam keys.
I pay with the following:
TF2 & PayPal
| I BUY HB Games | with TF2 | with PayPal | Currently Active Humble Bundle? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20XX | 0.4 TF2 | $0.88 PP | - |
| 5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel | 2.6 TF2 | $5.13 PP | - |
| 60 Parsecs! | 1.6 TF2 | $3.16 PP | - |
| 7 Billion Humans | 1.4 TF2 | $2.86 PP | - |
| 7 Days to Die | 1.1 TF2 | $2.16 PP | - |
| A Game of Thrones: The Board Game - Digital Edition | 1.4 TF2 | $2.72 PP | - |
| A Hat in Time | 5.1 TF2 | $10.08 PP | - |
| A Juggler's Tale | 1.5 TF2 | $2.9 PP | - |
| A Plague Tale: Innocence | 1.7 TF2 | $3.44 PP | - |
| ABZU | 2.1 TF2 | $4.23 PP | - |
| AMID EVIL | 0.6 TF2 | $1.15 PP | - |
| AO Tennis 2 | 0.8 TF2 | $1.57 PP | - |
| APICO | 2.3 TF2 | $4.61 PP | - |
| Absolver | 1.9 TF2 | $3.84 PP | - |
| Aeterna Noctis | 1.5 TF2 | $2.91 PP | - |
| Age of Empires Definitive Edition | 1.2 TF2 | $2.34 PP | - |
| Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition | 1.5 TF2 | $2.94 PP | - |
| Age of Wonders III Collection | 0.9 TF2 | $1.81 PP | - |
| Age of Wonders: Planetfall - Deluxe Edition | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| Age of Wonders: Planetfall | 1.2 TF2 | $2.28 PP | - |
| Airport CEO | 3.3 TF2 | $6.59 PP | - |
| Alan Wake Collector's Edition | 0.7 TF2 | $1.37 PP | - |
| Alan Wake's American Nightmare | 0.5 TF2 | $0.98 PP | - |
| Aliens: Colonial Marines Collection | 1.2 TF2 | $2.42 PP | - |
| Aliens: Fireteam Elite | 1.0 TF2 | $1.92 PP | - |
| Alina of the Arena | 2.1 TF2 | $4.23 PP | - |
| Amnesia: The Dark Descent | 1.8 TF2 | $3.53 PP | - |
| Among Us | 1.1 TF2 | $2.11 PP | - |
| Ancestors Legacy | 0.6 TF2 | $1.2 PP | - |
| Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey | 2.4 TF2 | $4.79 PP | - |
| Aragami | 0.4 TF2 | $0.89 PP | - |
| Arizona Sunshine | 2.1 TF2 | $4.19 PP | - |
| Arma 3 Apex Edition | 1.4 TF2 | $2.8 PP | - |
| Arma 3 Contact Edition | 2.5 TF2 | $4.86 PP | - |
| Arma 3 Jets | 1.1 TF2 | $2.1 PP | - |
| Arma 3 Marksmen | 0.9 TF2 | $1.72 PP | - |
| Arma 3 | 2.0 TF2 | $3.89 PP | - |
| Assetto Corsa Competizione | 3.1 TF2 | $6.1 PP | - |
| Assetto Corsa Ultimate Edition | 6.8 TF2 | $13.53 PP | - |
| Automobilista 2 | 9.4 TF2 | $18.68 PP | - |
| BATTLETECH - Mercenary Collection | 3.8 TF2 | $7.55 PP | - |
| BIOMUTANT | 1.5 TF2 | $2.91 PP | - |
| BROFORCE | 1.1 TF2 | $2.17 PP | - |
| Baba Is You | 1.5 TF2 | $3.06 PP | - |
| Back 4 Blood | 2.8 TF2 | $5.49 PP | - |
| Bad North: Jotunn Edition | 1.6 TF2 | $3.07 PP | - |
| Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition | 0.6 TF2 | $1.11 PP | - |
| Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| Bang-On Balls: Chronicles | 3.1 TF2 | $6.12 PP | - |
| Banished | 2.2 TF2 | $4.29 PP | - |
| Barotrauma | 7.1 TF2 | $14.14 PP | - |
| Bastion | 0.5 TF2 | $0.95 PP | - |
| Batman - The Telltale Series | 1.4 TF2 | $2.83 PP | - |
| Batman Arkham Collection | 1.2 TF2 | $2.42 PP | - |
| Batman: Arkham Knight | 0.6 TF2 | $1.11 PP | - |
| Batman: The Enemy Within - The Telltale Series | 1.4 TF2 | $2.72 PP | - |
| Batman™: Arkham Knight Premium Edition | 1.3 TF2 | $2.53 PP | - |
| Batman™: Arkham Origins | 0.9 TF2 | $1.75 PP | - |
| Batman™: Arkham VR | 0.7 TF2 | $1.47 PP | - |
| Battle Chasers: Nightwar | 0.6 TF2 | $1.2 PP | - |
| Battlefleet Gothic: Armada II | 1.8 TF2 | $3.51 PP | - |
| Battlefleet Gothic: Armada | 0.9 TF2 | $1.69 PP | - |
| Battlezone Gold Edition | 2.1 TF2 | $4.25 PP | - |
| Besiege | 1.5 TF2 | $2.89 PP | - |
| Beyond Blue | 1.6 TF2 | $3.17 PP | - |
| Beyond Two Souls | 1.9 TF2 | $3.68 PP | - |
| BioShock Collection | 1.1 TF2 | $2.23 PP | - |
| BioShock Infinite | 0.8 TF2 | $1.6 PP | - |
| BioShock Remastered | 0.9 TF2 | $1.76 PP | - |
| Bioshock Infinite: Season Pass | 0.7 TF2 | $1.32 PP | - |
| Blade of Darkness | 1.1 TF2 | $2.23 PP | - |
| Blair Witch | 1.1 TF2 | $2.27 PP | - |
| Blasphemous | Must-Play Metroidvanias Bundle | ||
| Blood Bowl 2 - Legendary Edition | 0.8 TF2 | $1.67 PP | - |
| Blood: Fresh Supply | 0.6 TF2 | $1.28 PP | - |
| Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night | Must-Play Metroidvanias Bundle | ||
| Boomerang Fu | 0.6 TF2 | $1.18 PP | - |
| Borderlands 2 VR | 4.6 TF2 | $9.16 PP | - |
| Borderlands 2 | 0.8 TF2 | $1.53 PP | - |
| Borderlands 3 Super Deluxe Edition | 2.4 TF2 | $4.85 PP | - |
| Borderlands 3 | 1.3 TF2 | $2.63 PP | - |
| Borderlands 3: Director's Cut | 1.3 TF2 | $2.51 PP | - |
| Borderlands: The Handsome Collection | 3.3 TF2 | $6.5 PP | - |
| Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel | 0.6 TF2 | $1.11 PP | - |
| Brutal Legend | 1.0 TF2 | $2.03 PP | - |
| Bus Simulator 18 | 2.1 TF2 | $4.07 PP | - |
| CHUCHEL Cherry Edition | 0.5 TF2 | $0.91 PP | - |
| Call of Cthulhu | 1.1 TF2 | $2.21 PP | - |
| Call of Duty: WWII | 14.7 TF2 | $29.16 PP | - |
| Call of Juarez: Gunslinger | 0.4 TF2 | $0.79 PP | - |
| Call to Arms - Gates of Hell: Ostfront | 9.6 TF2 | $18.99 PP | - |
| Car Mechanic Simulator 2018 | 0.9 TF2 | $1.75 PP | - |
| Carcassonne - Tiles & Tactics | 0.6 TF2 | $1.22 PP | - |
| Carto | 0.4 TF2 | $0.78 PP | - |
| Celeste | Pixel Pride Bundle | ||
| Chess Ultra | 0.6 TF2 | $1.2 PP | - |
| Children of Morta | 0.6 TF2 | $1.23 PP | - |
| Chivalry 2 | 3.4 TF2 | $6.82 PP | - |
| Chivalry: Medieval Warfare | 0.4 TF2 | $0.8 PP | - |
| Chrono Ark | 2.8 TF2 | $5.56 PP | - |
| Cities: Skylines Deluxe Edition | 7.2 TF2 | $14.2 PP | - |
| Clone Drone in the Danger Zone | 4.8 TF2 | $9.55 PP | - |
| Cloudpunk | 0.9 TF2 | $1.74 PP | - |
| Code Vein | 1.7 TF2 | $3.35 PP | - |
| Coffee Talk | 2.5 TF2 | $4.93 PP | - |
| Company of Heroes 2 - The Western Front Armies | 0.8 TF2 | $1.55 PP | - |
| Company of Heroes | 1.8 TF2 | $3.62 PP | - |
| Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts | 0.8 TF2 | $1.49 PP | - |
| Conan Exiles | 2.0 TF2 | $3.88 PP | - |
| Construction Simulator 2015 | 1.2 TF2 | $2.44 PP | - |
| Contagion | 0.4 TF2 | $0.89 PP | - |
| Control Ultimate Edition | 1.9 TF2 | $3.86 PP | - |
| Creed: Rise to Glory™ | 2.2 TF2 | $4.37 PP | - |
| Crusader Kings II: Imperial Collection | 9.9 TF2 | $19.52 PP | - |
| Crusader Kings II: Royal Collection | 6.5 TF2 | $12.82 PP | - |
| Crusader Kings III | 7.2 TF2 | $14.2 PP | - |
| Crysis® 2 Maximum Edition | 0.8 TF2 | $1.56 PP | - |
| Cultist Simulator Anthology Edition | 1.4 TF2 | $2.75 PP | - |
| Cultist Simulator | 1.1 TF2 | $2.23 PP | - |
| Curse of the Dead Gods | Humble Choice (Jun 2023) | ||
| DARK SOULS™ III Deluxe Edition | 19.8 TF2 | $39.14 PP | - |
| DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT | 3.0 TF2 | $5.89 PP | - |
| DEATHLOOP | 2.7 TF2 | $5.33 PP | - |
| DIRT 5 | 4.2 TF2 | $8.36 PP | - |
| DMC - Devil May Cry | 1.0 TF2 | $1.9 PP | - |
| DRAGON BALL FIGHTERZ - Ultimate Edition | 15.2 TF2 | $30.14 PP | - |
| DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2 | 1.8 TF2 | $3.54 PP | - |
| DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE | 0.6 TF2 | $1.16 PP | - |
| DRAGONBALL XENOVERSE Bundle Edition | 0.9 TF2 | $1.76 PP | - |
| DRIFT21 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.11 PP | - |
| Dark Deity | 0.4 TF2 | $0.83 PP | - |
| Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin | 7.8 TF2 | $15.53 PP | - |
| Dark Souls III | 16.7 TF2 | $33.01 PP | - |
| Darkest Dungeon | 0.6 TF2 | $1.17 PP | - |
| Darksiders Genesis | 1.3 TF2 | $2.66 PP | - |
| Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition | 1.0 TF2 | $2.06 PP | - |
| Darksiders III | 0.8 TF2 | $1.53 PP | - |
| Darkwood | 0.5 TF2 | $1.07 PP | - |
| Day of the Tentacle Remastered | 0.4 TF2 | $0.88 PP | - |
| DayZ | 8.2 TF2 | $16.2 PP | - |
| Daymare: 1998 | 0.4 TF2 | $0.78 PP | - |
| Dead Estate | 1.4 TF2 | $2.85 PP | - |
| Dead Island - Definitive Edition | 0.8 TF2 | $1.61 PP | - |
| Dead Island Definitive Collection | 1.5 TF2 | $2.96 PP | - |
| Dead Island Riptide - Definitive Edition | 0.6 TF2 | $1.25 PP | - |
| Dead Rising 2: Off the Record | 1.2 TF2 | $2.44 PP | - |
| Dead Rising 3 Apocalypse Edition | 1.7 TF2 | $3.29 PP | - |
| Dead Rising 4 Frank’s Big Package | 2.5 TF2 | $4.96 PP | - |
| Dead Rising 4 | 1.0 TF2 | $2.04 PP | - |
| Dead Rising | 1.0 TF2 | $1.92 PP | - |
| Dead Rising® 2 | 1.1 TF2 | $2.23 PP | - |
| Death's Gambit | 0.6 TF2 | $1.15 PP | - |
| Deep Rock Galactic | 3.3 TF2 | $6.58 PP | - |
| Descenders | 0.7 TF2 | $1.44 PP | - |
| Desperados III | 0.9 TF2 | $1.78 PP | - |
| Destiny 2: Beyond Light | 1.2 TF2 | $2.34 PP | - |
| Destroy All Humans | 1.0 TF2 | $2.06 PP | - |
| Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Director's Cut | 0.9 TF2 | $1.8 PP | - |
| Deus Ex: Mankind Divided | 1.1 TF2 | $2.21 PP | - |
| Devil May Cry HD Collection | 1.8 TF2 | $3.56 PP | - |
| Devil May Cry® 4 Special Edition | 1.4 TF2 | $2.84 PP | - |
| DiRT Rally 2.0 | 5.0 TF2 | $9.99 PP | - |
| Dicey Dungeons | 1.2 TF2 | $2.43 PP | - |
| Dinosaur Fossil Hunter | 0.5 TF2 | $0.9 PP | - |
| Distance | 1.0 TF2 | $2.07 PP | - |
| Distant Worlds: Universe | 0.6 TF2 | $1.27 PP | - |
| Do Not Feed the Monkeys | 0.4 TF2 | $0.75 PP | - |
| Doom Eternal | 2.6 TF2 | $5.19 PP | - |
| Door Kickers | 1.7 TF2 | $3.33 PP | - |
| Door Kickers: Action Squad | 0.4 TF2 | $0.74 PP | - |
| Dorfromantik | 2.0 TF2 | $4.0 PP | - |
| Dragon Ball FighterZ | 2.2 TF2 | $4.34 PP | - |
| Dragons Dogma - Dark Arisen | 1.0 TF2 | $2.07 PP | - |
| Drake Hollow | 0.4 TF2 | $0.89 PP | - |
| Drone Swarm | 0.4 TF2 | $0.8 PP | - |
| Dungeon Defenders | 1.1 TF2 | $2.24 PP | - |
| Dungeon Defenders: Awakened | 2.6 TF2 | $5.21 PP | - |
| Dungreed | 0.9 TF2 | $1.78 PP | - |
| Dusk | 2.0 TF2 | $4.0 PP | - |
| EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair | 3.1 TF2 | $6.22 PP | - |
| ELEX | 1.1 TF2 | $2.13 PP | - |
| EVERSPACE™ | 1.8 TF2 | $3.57 PP | - |
| Elite: Dangerous | 1.4 TF2 | $2.75 PP | - |
| Empire of Sin | 1.3 TF2 | $2.6 PP | - |
| Endzone - A World Apart | 0.4 TF2 | $0.78 PP | - |
| Euro Truck Simulator 2 | 1.7 TF2 | $3.37 PP | - |
| Europa Universalis IV | 2.5 TF2 | $5.03 PP | - |
| Exanima | 2.6 TF2 | $5.17 PP | - |
| FTL: Faster Than Light | 1.0 TF2 | $1.95 PP | - |
| Fable Anniversary | 4.8 TF2 | $9.48 PP | - |
| Fallout 76 | 2.2 TF2 | $4.32 PP | - |
| Fantasy General II | 0.6 TF2 | $1.23 PP | - |
| Farming Simulator 17 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.11 PP | - |
| Fight'N Rage | 0.7 TF2 | $1.34 PP | - |
| Fights in Tight Spaces | 6.0 TF2 | $11.88 PP | - |
| Firefighting Simulator - The Squad | 4.8 TF2 | $9.43 PP | - |
| First Class Trouble | 0.5 TF2 | $1.07 PP | - |
| For The King | 0.9 TF2 | $1.84 PP | - |
| Forager | 1.1 TF2 | $2.25 PP | - |
| Forts | 3.0 TF2 | $5.86 PP | - |
| Friday the 13th: The Game | 2.9 TF2 | $5.81 PP | - |
| Frostpunk | 1.0 TF2 | $2.03 PP | - |
| Full Metal Furies | 0.6 TF2 | $1.12 PP | - |
| Furi | 1.3 TF2 | $2.54 PP | - |
| GRIME | Humble Choice (Jun 2023) | ||
| GRIS | 0.5 TF2 | $0.91 PP | - |
| GUILTY GEAR XX ACCENT CORE PLUS R | 0.4 TF2 | $0.82 PP | - |
| Gang Beasts | 3.0 TF2 | $5.94 PP | - |
| Garden Paws | 1.0 TF2 | $2.0 PP | - |
| Gas Station Simulator | 3.1 TF2 | $6.15 PP | - |
| Gears 5 | 10.9 TF2 | $21.52 PP | - |
| Gears Tactics | 4.8 TF2 | $9.55 PP | - |
| Generation Zero® | 0.8 TF2 | $1.55 PP | - |
| Ghostwire Tokyo | Humble Choice (Jun 2023) | ||
| Goat Simulator | 0.4 TF2 | $0.89 PP | - |
| Godlike Burger | 1.0 TF2 | $1.9 PP | - |
| Golf With Your Friends | 1.1 TF2 | $2.23 PP | - |
| Gordian Quest | 1.8 TF2 | $3.54 PP | - |
| Gotham Knights | 5.5 TF2 | $10.84 PP | - |
| GreedFall | 0.8 TF2 | $1.52 PP | - |
| Gremlins, Inc. | 1.4 TF2 | $2.74 PP | - |
| Grim Dawn | 4.8 TF2 | $9.54 PP | - |
| Grim Fandango Remastered | 0.6 TF2 | $1.1 PP | - |
| Guacamelee! 2 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.18 PP | - |
| HITMAN™2 Gold Edition | 3.0 TF2 | $5.88 PP | - |
| HIVESWAP: Act 2 | 1.6 TF2 | $3.23 PP | - |
| HROT | 4.2 TF2 | $8.22 PP | - |
| Hard Bullet | 1.2 TF2 | $2.35 PP | - |
| Hearts of Iron IV: Battle for the Bosporus | 1.8 TF2 | $3.57 PP | - |
| Hearts of Iron IV: Cadet Edition | 5.9 TF2 | $11.67 PP | - |
| Hearts of Iron IV: Death or Dishonor | 1.0 TF2 | $1.94 PP | - |
| Hearts of Iron IV: Waking the Tiger | 2.0 TF2 | $3.88 PP | - |
| Heave Ho | 0.6 TF2 | $1.09 PP | - |
| Heavy Rain | 1.1 TF2 | $2.25 PP | - |
| Hell Let Loose | 6.3 TF2 | $12.38 PP | - |
| Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice | 1.4 TF2 | $2.86 PP | - |
| Hello, Neighbor! | 0.5 TF2 | $1.01 PP | - |
| Hellpoint | 0.4 TF2 | $0.73 PP | - |
| Heroes of Hammerwatch | 0.8 TF2 | $1.56 PP | - |
| Hitman Absolution | 0.4 TF2 | $0.77 PP | - |
| Hitman Game of the Year Edition | 1.3 TF2 | $2.58 PP | - |
| Hollow Knight | Must-Play Metroidvanias Bundle | ||
| Homefront: The Revolution | 0.8 TF2 | $1.65 PP | - |
| Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak | 0.4 TF2 | $0.76 PP | - |
| Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number Digital Special Edition | 0.6 TF2 | $1.22 PP | - |
| Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number | 0.6 TF2 | $1.14 PP | - |
| Hotline Miami | 0.9 TF2 | $1.81 PP | - |
| House Flipper | 3.1 TF2 | $6.08 PP | - |
| Human: Fall Flat | 1.2 TF2 | $2.29 PP | - |
| HuniePop | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| Huntdown | 1.7 TF2 | $3.3 PP | - |
| Hurtworld | 2.2 TF2 | $4.4 PP | - |
| Hyper Light Drifter | 1.6 TF2 | $3.09 PP | - |
| Hypnospace Outlaw | 0.8 TF2 | $1.53 PP | - |
| I Am Fish | 0.4 TF2 | $0.72 PP | - |
| I Expect You To Die | 1.3 TF2 | $2.67 PP | - |
| I-NFECTED | 4.1 TF2 | $8.02 PP | - |
| INSIDE | 1.6 TF2 | $3.14 PP | - |
| INSURGENCY | 2.3 TF2 | $4.46 PP | - |
| Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition | 0.4 TF2 | $0.73 PP | - |
| Imperator: Rome Deluxe Edition | 1.6 TF2 | $3.16 PP | - |
| Imperator: Rome | 1.2 TF2 | $2.28 PP | - |
| In Sound Mind | 0.5 TF2 | $0.91 PP | - |
| Injustice 2 Legendary Edition | 1.1 TF2 | $2.21 PP | - |
| Injustice 2 | 0.9 TF2 | $1.74 PP | - |
| Injustice: Gods Among Us - Ultimate Edition | 0.7 TF2 | $1.29 PP | - |
| Into the Breach | 1.5 TF2 | $2.91 PP | - |
| Into the Radius VR | 3.3 TF2 | $6.6 PP | - |
| Ion Fury | 1.9 TF2 | $3.74 PP | - |
| Iron Harvest | 0.9 TF2 | $1.83 PP | - |
| Jalopy | 0.9 TF2 | $1.81 PP | - |
| Job Simulator | 6.2 TF2 | $12.21 PP | - |
| Jurassic World Evolution 2 | 2.2 TF2 | $4.4 PP | - |
| Jurassic World Evolution | 0.7 TF2 | $1.43 PP | - |
| Just Cause 2 | 0.4 TF2 | $0.87 PP | - |
| Just Cause 3 XXL Edition | 1.2 TF2 | $2.34 PP | - |
| Just Cause 4: Complete Edition | 1.9 TF2 | $3.82 PP | - |
| KartKraft | 4.2 TF2 | $8.39 PP | - |
| Katamari Damacy REROLL | 1.1 TF2 | $2.08 PP | - |
| Katana ZERO | 1.5 TF2 | $2.88 PP | - |
| Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes | 2.7 TF2 | $5.42 PP | - |
| Kerbal Space Program | 1.3 TF2 | $2.58 PP | - |
| Killer Instinct | 8.7 TF2 | $17.3 PP | - |
| Killing Floor 2 | 0.7 TF2 | $1.38 PP | - |
| Killing Floor | 0.9 TF2 | $1.69 PP | - |
| Kingdom Come: Deliverance | 1.6 TF2 | $3.09 PP | - |
| Kingdom: Two Crowns | 1.1 TF2 | $2.09 PP | - |
| Kitaria Fables | 0.4 TF2 | $0.75 PP | - |
| LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Premium Edition | 0.5 TF2 | $0.9 PP | - |
| LEGO Batman Trilogy | 1.4 TF2 | $2.74 PP | - |
| LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.2 PP | - |
| LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars | 0.6 TF2 | $1.16 PP | - |
| LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga | 0.6 TF2 | $1.16 PP | - |
| LEGO® City Undercover | 1.0 TF2 | $1.93 PP | - |
| LEGO® DC Super-Villains Deluxe Edition | 1.9 TF2 | $3.77 PP | - |
| LEGO® DC Super-Villains | 0.5 TF2 | $0.95 PP | - |
| LEGO® Jurassic World™ | 0.4 TF2 | $0.88 PP | - |
| LEGO® MARVEL's Avengers | 0.4 TF2 | $0.78 PP | - |
| LEGO® Marvel Super Heroes 2 Deluxe Edition | 1.1 TF2 | $2.15 PP | - |
| LEGO® Marvel Super Heroes 2 | 0.7 TF2 | $1.32 PP | - |
| LEGO® Star Wars™: The Force Awakens - Deluxe Edition | 1.1 TF2 | $2.23 PP | - |
| LEGO® Star Wars™: The Force Awakens | 0.5 TF2 | $0.98 PP | - |
| LEGO® Worlds | 1.0 TF2 | $1.96 PP | - |
| LIMBO | 0.4 TF2 | $0.71 PP | - |
| Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective | 0.7 TF2 | $1.45 PP | - |
| Labyrinthine | 1.8 TF2 | $3.54 PP | - |
| Lake | 0.6 TF2 | $1.11 PP | - |
| Last Oasis | 0.8 TF2 | $1.67 PP | - |
| Layers of Fear 2 | 6.2 TF2 | $12.22 PP | - |
| Layers of Fear | 0.6 TF2 | $1.11 PP | - |
| Legion TD 2 | 2.3 TF2 | $4.56 PP | - |
| Len's Island | 4.1 TF2 | $8.16 PP | - |
| Lethal League Blaze | 2.4 TF2 | $4.78 PP | - |
| Lethal League | 1.5 TF2 | $2.97 PP | - |
| Library Of Ruina | 3.2 TF2 | $6.36 PP | - |
| Life is Feudal: Your Own | 0.7 TF2 | $1.32 PP | - |
| Life is Strange 2 Complete Season | 0.7 TF2 | $1.43 PP | - |
| Little Misfortune | 2.2 TF2 | $4.42 PP | - |
| Little Nightmares Complete Edition | 1.6 TF2 | $3.09 PP | - |
| Little Nightmares | 0.9 TF2 | $1.79 PP | - |
| Lobotomy Corporation Monster Management Simulation | 5.0 TF2 | $9.88 PP | - |
| Loot River | 2.9 TF2 | $5.76 PP | - |
| Lords of the Fallen Game of the Year Edition | 0.8 TF2 | $1.61 PP | - |
| Lost Ember | 1.4 TF2 | $2.73 PP | - |
| Luck be a Landlord | 1.0 TF2 | $1.91 PP | - |
| METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN | 1.2 TF2 | $2.41 PP | - |
| METAL GEAR SOLID V: The Definitive Experience | 2.0 TF2 | $3.99 PP | - |
| MONSTER HUNTER RISE | 4.2 TF2 | $8.41 PP | - |
| MORTAL KOMBAT 11 | 1.6 TF2 | $3.07 PP | - |
| MX vs ATV Reflex | 0.6 TF2 | $1.11 PP | - |
| Mad Max | 1.1 TF2 | $2.22 PP | - |
| Mafia II: Definitive Edition | 3.0 TF2 | $5.99 PP | - |
| Mafia III: Definitive Edition | 2.1 TF2 | $4.23 PP | - |
| Mafia: Definitive Edition | 2.2 TF2 | $4.3 PP | - |
| Magicka 2 - Deluxe Edition | 1.0 TF2 | $1.9 PP | - |
| Magicka 2 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.16 PP | - |
| Magicka | 0.4 TF2 | $0.71 PP | - |
| Maneater | 0.8 TF2 | $1.6 PP | - |
| Mars Horizon | 0.8 TF2 | $1.52 PP | - |
| Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite - Deluxe Edition | 2.8 TF2 | $5.56 PP | - |
| Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition | 6.2 TF2 | $12.21 PP | - |
| Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne | 0.7 TF2 | $1.48 PP | - |
| Max Payne | 1.0 TF2 | $2.02 PP | - |
| MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries | 2.5 TF2 | $4.97 PP | - |
| Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.25 PP | - |
| Mega Man Legacy Collection | 0.4 TF2 | $0.79 PP | - |
| Men of War: Assault Squad 2 - Deluxe Edition | 0.8 TF2 | $1.67 PP | - |
| Men of War: Assault Squad 2 War Chest Edition | 0.8 TF2 | $1.64 PP | - |
| Men of War: Assault Squad 2 | 0.8 TF2 | $1.64 PP | - |
| Messenger | 0.9 TF2 | $1.72 PP | - |
| Metro 2033 Redux | 0.7 TF2 | $1.48 PP | - |
| Metro Exodus | 1.7 TF2 | $3.46 PP | - |
| Metro Redux Bundle | 0.9 TF2 | $1.78 PP | - |
| Metro: Last Light Redux | 1.1 TF2 | $2.14 PP | - |
| Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Game of the Year Edition | 1.0 TF2 | $2.02 PP | - |
| Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ | 0.7 TF2 | $1.48 PP | - |
| Middleearth Shadow of War Definitive Edition | 1.2 TF2 | $2.34 PP | - |
| Mirror's Edge | 3.8 TF2 | $7.56 PP | - |
| Miscreated | 1.5 TF2 | $2.91 PP | - |
| Monster Hunter: World | 3.4 TF2 | $6.8 PP | - |
| Monster Sanctuary | 0.6 TF2 | $1.25 PP | - |
| Monster Train | 0.5 TF2 | $0.98 PP | - |
| Moonlighter | 0.4 TF2 | $0.81 PP | - |
| Moons of Madness | 1.7 TF2 | $3.43 PP | - |
| Mordhau | 1.8 TF2 | $3.56 PP | - |
| Mortal Kombat X | 0.7 TF2 | $1.32 PP | - |
| Mortal Shell | 1.4 TF2 | $2.72 PP | - |
| Motorcycle Mechanic Simulator 2021 | 1.1 TF2 | $2.23 PP | - |
| Motorsport Manager | 1.4 TF2 | $2.73 PP | - |
| Move or Die | 0.7 TF2 | $1.44 PP | - |
| Moving Out | 1.0 TF2 | $1.9 PP | - |
| Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden - Deluxe Edition | 1.7 TF2 | $3.28 PP | - |
| Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden | 1.8 TF2 | $3.53 PP | - |
| My Friend Pedro | 0.9 TF2 | $1.76 PP | - |
| My Time At Portia | 1.1 TF2 | $2.11 PP | - |
| NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 4 Road to Boruto | 3.5 TF2 | $6.89 PP | - |
| NASCAR Heat 5 - Ultimate Edition | 0.6 TF2 | $1.16 PP | - |
| Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 | 2.0 TF2 | $3.9 PP | - |
| Naruto to Boruto Shinobi Striker - Deluxe Edition | 1.6 TF2 | $3.1 PP | - |
| Naruto to Boruto Shinobi Striker | 0.4 TF2 | $0.82 PP | - |
| Necromunda: Hired Gun | 1.0 TF2 | $1.97 PP | - |
| Neon Abyss | 0.5 TF2 | $0.94 PP | - |
| Neverwinter Nights: Complete Adventures | 3.7 TF2 | $7.26 PP | - |
| Nine Parchments | 2.1 TF2 | $4.22 PP | - |
| No Straight Roads: Encore Edition | 1.3 TF2 | $2.63 PP | - |
| No Time to Relax | 3.7 TF2 | $7.29 PP | - |
| Northgard | 1.2 TF2 | $2.38 PP | - |
| Not For Broadcast | 0.6 TF2 | $1.28 PP | - |
| ONE PIECE BURNING BLOOD | 0.7 TF2 | $1.44 PP | - |
| ONE PIECE PIRATE WARRIORS 3 Gold Edition | 1.1 TF2 | $2.12 PP | - |
| One Step From Eden | 1.0 TF2 | $1.98 PP | - |
| Opus Magnum | 1.1 TF2 | $2.09 PP | - |
| Orcs Must Die! 3 | 1.9 TF2 | $3.81 PP | - |
| Outlast 2 | 0.8 TF2 | $1.61 PP | - |
| Outward | 1.5 TF2 | $2.91 PP | - |
| Overcooked | 0.8 TF2 | $1.58 PP | - |
| Overcooked! 2 | 1.5 TF2 | $2.91 PP | - |
| Overgrowth | 0.8 TF2 | $1.54 PP | - |
| PC Building Simulator | 0.7 TF2 | $1.41 PP | - |
| Paint the Town Red | 3.6 TF2 | $7.1 PP | - |
| Parkitect | 6.5 TF2 | $12.85 PP | - |
| Pathfinder: Kingmaker - Enhanced Plus Edition | 0.6 TF2 | $1.24 PP | - |
| Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous | 1.4 TF2 | $2.79 PP | - |
| Pathologic 2 | 0.5 TF2 | $1.03 PP | - |
| Pathologic Classic HD | 0.6 TF2 | $1.13 PP | - |
| Per Aspera | 0.7 TF2 | $1.37 PP | - |
| Pikuniku | 0.7 TF2 | $1.48 PP | - |
| Pillars of Eternity Definitive Edition | 1.4 TF2 | $2.87 PP | - |
| Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire | 1.0 TF2 | $2.02 PP | - |
| Pistol Whip | 6.2 TF2 | $12.21 PP | - |
| Plague Inc: Evolved | 1.6 TF2 | $3.2 PP | - |
| Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition | 0.4 TF2 | $0.76 PP | - |
| Planet Coaster | 1.8 TF2 | $3.63 PP | - |
| Planet Zoo | 2.1 TF2 | $4.17 PP | - |
| Planetary Annihilation: TITANS | 7.1 TF2 | $14.13 PP | - |
| Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid | 2.7 TF2 | $5.42 PP | - |
| PowerBeatsVR | 1.0 TF2 | $1.97 PP | - |
| PowerSlave Exhumed | 1.4 TF2 | $2.74 PP | - |
| Praey for the Gods | 0.5 TF2 | $0.9 PP | - |
| Prehistoric Kingdom | 1.3 TF2 | $2.51 PP | - |
| Prison Architect | 0.4 TF2 | $0.88 PP | - |
| Pro Cycling Manager 2019 | 1.3 TF2 | $2.58 PP | - |
| Project Hospital | 2.4 TF2 | $4.72 PP | - |
| Project Wingman | 1.6 TF2 | $3.25 PP | - |
| Project Winter | 1.5 TF2 | $2.88 PP | - |
| Propnight | 0.7 TF2 | $1.37 PP | - |
| Pumpkin Jack | 0.4 TF2 | $0.83 PP | - |
| Quantum Break | 2.6 TF2 | $5.14 PP | - |
| RESIDENT EVIL 3 | 2.4 TF2 | $4.76 PP | - |
| RUGBY 20 | 1.3 TF2 | $2.55 PP | - |
| RUINER | 0.5 TF2 | $1.04 PP | - |
| RWBY: Grimm Eclipse | 3.7 TF2 | $7.42 PP | - |
| Ragnaröck | 3.5 TF2 | $6.84 PP | - |
| Railway Empire | 0.4 TF2 | $0.8 PP | - |
| Rain World | Must-Play Metroidvanias Bundle | ||
| Raw Data | 1.1 TF2 | $2.14 PP | - |
| Re:Legend | 1.0 TF2 | $1.94 PP | - |
| Red Matter | 4.5 TF2 | $8.86 PP | - |
| Remnant: From the Ashes - Complete Edition | Humble Choice (Jun 2023) | ||
| Resident Evil / biohazard HD REMASTER | 1.1 TF2 | $2.09 PP | - |
| Resident Evil 0 / biohazard 0 HD Remaster | 1.2 TF2 | $2.31 PP | - |
| Resident Evil 5 GOLD Edition | 1.5 TF2 | $3.0 PP | - |
| Resident Evil 5 | 1.0 TF2 | $1.95 PP | - |
| Resident Evil 6 | 1.4 TF2 | $2.78 PP | - |
| Resident Evil: Revelations 2 Deluxe Edition | 2.4 TF2 | $4.84 PP | - |
| Resident Evil: Revelations | 1.0 TF2 | $1.93 PP | - |
| Retro Machina | 0.5 TF2 | $1.01 PP | - |
| Risen 3 - Complete Edition | 1.0 TF2 | $2.02 PP | - |
| Risen | 0.6 TF2 | $1.25 PP | - |
| Rising Storm 2: Vietnam | 0.7 TF2 | $1.33 PP | - |
| River City Girls | 1.4 TF2 | $2.83 PP | - |
| Roboquest | 0.5 TF2 | $1.05 PP | - |
| Rollercoaster Tycoon 2: Triple Thrill Pack | 1.6 TF2 | $3.16 PP | - |
| Rubber Bandits | 0.8 TF2 | $1.5 PP | - |
| Ryse: Son of Rome | 1.7 TF2 | $3.32 PP | - |
| SCP: Pandemic | 2.4 TF2 | $4.85 PP | - |
| SCUM | 3.5 TF2 | $6.86 PP | - |
| SOMA | 3.3 TF2 | $6.51 PP | - |
| SONG OF HORROR Complete Edition | 1.0 TF2 | $1.92 PP | - |
| STAR WARS® THE FORCE UNLEASHED II | 0.9 TF2 | $1.69 PP | - |
| STAR WARS®: Knights of the Old Republic™ II - The Sith Lords™ | 0.4 TF2 | $0.76 PP | - |
| STAR WARS™: Squadrons | 1.6 TF2 | $3.14 PP | - |
| SUPERHOT VR | 2.3 TF2 | $4.46 PP | - |
| SUPERHOT | 0.8 TF2 | $1.57 PP | - |
| SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE | 0.5 TF2 | $0.98 PP | - |
| Saint's Row The Third Remastered | 2.4 TF2 | $4.81 PP | - |
| Saints Row 2 | 0.8 TF2 | $1.5 PP | - |
| Saints Row IV Game of the Century Edition | 1.3 TF2 | $2.6 PP | - |
| Saints Row IV | 1.1 TF2 | $2.23 PP | - |
| Saints Row the Third - The Full Package | 1.0 TF2 | $1.91 PP | - |
| Saints Row: The Third | 0.7 TF2 | $1.46 PP | - |
| Salt and Sanctuary | 1.1 TF2 | $2.14 PP | - |
| Sanctum 2 | 0.5 TF2 | $1.05 PP | - |
| Satisfactory | 6.8 TF2 | $13.49 PP | - |
| Scarlet Nexus | 2.9 TF2 | $5.75 PP | - |
| Scribblenauts Unlimited | 0.4 TF2 | $0.76 PP | - |
| Secret Neighbor | 0.9 TF2 | $1.74 PP | - |
| Serious Sam 2 | 0.8 TF2 | $1.57 PP | - |
| Serious Sam 3: BFE | 1.0 TF2 | $1.95 PP | - |
| Serious Sam 4 | 4.7 TF2 | $9.3 PP | - |
| Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem | 2.3 TF2 | $4.47 PP | - |
| Severed Steel | 1.7 TF2 | $3.46 PP | - |
| Shadow Man Remastered | 1.1 TF2 | $2.11 PP | - |
| Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun | 0.4 TF2 | $0.85 PP | - |
| Shadow Warrior 2 | 0.9 TF2 | $1.74 PP | - |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 3.1 TF2 | $6.15 PP | - |
| Shenmue 3 | 1.3 TF2 | $2.55 PP | - |
| Shenmue I & II | 1.3 TF2 | $2.55 PP | - |
| Shining Resonance Refrain | 0.4 TF2 | $0.81 PP | - |
| Sid Meier's Civilization V | 0.6 TF2 | $1.25 PP | - |
| Sid Meier's Civilization VI : Platinum Edition | 3.1 TF2 | $6.22 PP | - |
| Sid Meier's Civilization VI | 0.7 TF2 | $1.43 PP | - |
| Sid Meier's Civilization® V: The Complete Edition | 1.9 TF2 | $3.71 PP | - |
| Sid Meiers Civilization IV: The Complete Edition | 0.8 TF2 | $1.5 PP | - |
| Siege of Centauri | 0.6 TF2 | $1.15 PP | - |
| SimCasino | 1.3 TF2 | $2.54 PP | - |
| SimplePlanes | 2.0 TF2 | $3.89 PP | - |
| Skullgirls 2nd Encore | 1.8 TF2 | $3.62 PP | - |
| Slap City | 1.1 TF2 | $2.23 PP | - |
| Slay the Spire | 3.1 TF2 | $6.22 PP | - |
| Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition | 0.9 TF2 | $1.81 PP | - |
| Slime Rancher | 1.9 TF2 | $3.8 PP | - |
| Sniper Elite 3 | 0.9 TF2 | $1.87 PP | - |
| Sniper Elite 4 | 1.4 TF2 | $2.69 PP | - |
| Sniper Elite V2 Remastered | 1.4 TF2 | $2.86 PP | - |
| Sniper Elite V2 | 1.0 TF2 | $2.0 PP | - |
| Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 | 0.8 TF2 | $1.58 PP | - |
| Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts | 0.9 TF2 | $1.85 PP | - |
| Sonic Adventure DX | 0.7 TF2 | $1.39 PP | - |
| Sonic Adventure 2 | 1.5 TF2 | $2.91 PP | - |
| Sonic Mania | 1.5 TF2 | $3.06 PP | - |
| Soul Calibur VI | 1.6 TF2 | $3.2 PP | - |
| Source of Madness | 0.6 TF2 | $1.12 PP | - |
| Space Engineers | 2.6 TF2 | $5.24 PP | - |
| Space Haven | 0.6 TF2 | $1.13 PP | - |
| Spec Ops: The Line | 0.9 TF2 | $1.79 PP | - |
| SpeedRunners | 0.5 TF2 | $1.02 PP | - |
| Spelunky | 1.1 TF2 | $2.22 PP | - |
| Spirit Of The Island | 1.5 TF2 | $2.88 PP | - |
| SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated | 1.1 TF2 | $2.13 PP | - |
| Spyro™ Reignited Trilogy | 4.8 TF2 | $9.55 PP | - |
| Star Renegades | 2.9 TF2 | $5.82 PP | - |
| Star Trek: Bridge Crew | 4.3 TF2 | $8.55 PP | - |
| Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (Classic, 2005) | 0.4 TF2 | $0.84 PP | - |
| Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic | 0.4 TF2 | $0.76 PP | - |
| Star Wars® Empire at War™: Gold Pack | 1.1 TF2 | $2.15 PP | - |
| Star Wars®: Jedi Knight®: Jedi Academy | 0.4 TF2 | $0.73 PP | - |
| Starbound | 1.4 TF2 | $2.83 PP | - |
| State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition | 3.1 TF2 | $6.21 PP | - |
| Staxel | 0.6 TF2 | $1.11 PP | - |
| SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech | 0.5 TF2 | $1.06 PP | - |
| Steel Division: Normandy 44 | 2.2 TF2 | $4.36 PP | - |
| Stellaris Galaxy Edition | 4.9 TF2 | $9.61 PP | - |
| Stellaris | 4.1 TF2 | $8.07 PP | - |
| Stellaris: Lithoids Species Pack | 1.0 TF2 | $1.95 PP | - |
| Stick Fight: The Game | 0.6 TF2 | $1.27 PP | - |
| Strange Brigade | 0.5 TF2 | $0.9 PP | - |
| Strategic Command WWII: World at War | 2.1 TF2 | $4.21 PP | - |
| Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection | 2.4 TF2 | $4.77 PP | - |
| Stronghold 2: Steam Edition | 1.9 TF2 | $3.73 PP | - |
| Stronghold Crusader 2 | 1.0 TF2 | $1.89 PP | - |
| Stronghold Crusader HD | 0.6 TF2 | $1.16 PP | - |
| Stronghold Legends: Steam Edition | 0.9 TF2 | $1.74 PP | - |
| Styx: Shards Of Darkness | 0.9 TF2 | $1.74 PP | - |
| Subnautica | 3.5 TF2 | $7.0 PP | - |
| Summer in Mara | 0.5 TF2 | $1.04 PP | - |
| Sunless Sea | 0.9 TF2 | $1.85 PP | - |
| Sunless Skies | 1.1 TF2 | $2.18 PP | - |
| Sunset Overdrive | 1.8 TF2 | $3.56 PP | - |
| Super Meat Boy | 0.5 TF2 | $1.07 PP | - |
| Superliminal | 2.0 TF2 | $3.88 PP | - |
| Supraland Six Inches Under | 1.1 TF2 | $2.23 PP | - |
| Supreme Commander 2 | 0.8 TF2 | $1.58 PP | - |
| Surgeon Simulator: Experience Reality | 1.7 TF2 | $3.44 PP | - |
| Survive the Nights | 0.8 TF2 | $1.63 PP | - |
| Surviving the Aftermath | 0.7 TF2 | $1.4 PP | - |
| Sword Art Online Fatal Bullet - Complete Edition | 3.2 TF2 | $6.32 PP | - |
| Sword Art Online Hollow Realization Deluxe Edition | 1.5 TF2 | $2.97 PP | - |
| Syberia: The World Before | 1.1 TF2 | $2.25 PP | - |
| Synth Riders | 3.5 TF2 | $6.87 PP | - |
| TEKKEN 7 | 1.4 TF2 | $2.74 PP | - |
| TT Isle of Man Ride on the Edge 2 | 1.7 TF2 | $3.38 PP | - |
| Tales from the Borderlands | 3.8 TF2 | $7.49 PP | - |
| Tales of Berseria | 1.1 TF2 | $2.09 PP | - |
| Talisman: Digital Edition | 0.4 TF2 | $0.87 PP | - |
| Tank Mechanic Simulator | 1.1 TF2 | $2.14 PP | - |
| Telltale Batman Shadows Edition | 1.4 TF2 | $2.83 PP | - |
| Terraforming Mars | 0.6 TF2 | $1.28 PP | - |
| Terraria | 2.2 TF2 | $4.31 PP | - |
| The Ascent | 1.1 TF2 | $2.1 PP | - |
| The Battle of Polytopia | 0.5 TF2 | $0.9 PP | - |
| The Beast Inside | 0.4 TF2 | $0.76 PP | - |
| The Blackout Club | 0.6 TF2 | $1.11 PP | - |
| The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope | 2.1 TF2 | $4.21 PP | - |
| The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan | 2.2 TF2 | $4.37 PP | - |
| The Darkness II | 0.6 TF2 | $1.09 PP | - |
| The Dungeon Of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet Of Chaos | 0.8 TF2 | $1.5 PP | - |
| The Escapists 2 | 1.0 TF2 | $1.97 PP | - |
| The Escapists | 0.5 TF2 | $1.08 PP | - |
| The Henry Stickmin Collection | 0.7 TF2 | $1.43 PP | - |
| The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing Final Cut | 1.3 TF2 | $2.64 PP | - |
| The Intruder | 2.1 TF2 | $4.23 PP | - |
| The Jackbox Party Pack 2 | 2.0 TF2 | $3.96 PP | - |
| The Jackbox Party Pack 3 | 2.8 TF2 | $5.62 PP | - |
| The Jackbox Party Pack 4 | 2.1 TF2 | $4.07 PP | - |
| The Jackbox Party Pack 5 | 3.1 TF2 | $6.06 PP | - |
| The Jackbox Party Pack | 1.1 TF2 | $2.14 PP | - |
| The LEGO Movie 2 Videogame | 0.4 TF2 | $0.79 PP | - |
| The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky | 1.6 TF2 | $3.23 PP | - |
| The Long Dark | 2.6 TF2 | $5.21 PP | - |
| The Long Dark: Survival Edition | 0.5 TF2 | $0.9 PP | - |
| The Mortuary Assistant | 2.4 TF2 | $4.77 PP | - |
| The Red Solstice 2: Survivors | 0.4 TF2 | $0.78 PP | - |
| The Surge 2 | 0.9 TF2 | $1.78 PP | - |
| The Survivalists | 0.8 TF2 | $1.53 PP | - |
| The Talos Principle | 1.5 TF2 | $2.97 PP | - |
| The Walking Dead: The Final Season | 0.7 TF2 | $1.43 PP | - |
| The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series | 2.4 TF2 | $4.75 PP | - |
| The Witness | 3.9 TF2 | $7.67 PP | - |
| The Wolf Among Us | 1.2 TF2 | $2.42 PP | - |
| This Is the Police | 0.5 TF2 | $1.01 PP | - |
| This War of Mine: Complete Edition | 0.7 TF2 | $1.41 PP | - |
| Titan Quest Anniversary Edition | 0.6 TF2 | $1.16 PP | - |
| Tomb Raider | 1.5 TF2 | $2.88 PP | - |
| Torchlight II | 0.7 TF2 | $1.38 PP | - |
| Total Tank Simulator | 0.5 TF2 | $0.95 PP | - |
| Total War Shogun 2 Collection | 1.7 TF2 | $3.46 PP | - |
| Total War: ATTILA | 2.7 TF2 | $5.34 PP | - |
| Total War: Empire - Definitive Edition | 1.8 TF2 | $3.54 PP | - |
| Total War: Napoleon - Definitive Edition | 1.8 TF2 | $3.56 PP | - |
| Total War: Rome II - Emperor Edition | 2.7 TF2 | $5.38 PP | - |
| Total War™: WARHAMMER® | 2.9 TF2 | $5.76 PP | - |
| Totally Accurate Battle Simulator | 2.8 TF2 | $5.56 PP | - |
| Totally Reliable Delivery Service | 0.6 TF2 | $1.23 PP | - |
| Tour de France 2020 | 0.6 TF2 | $1.13 PP | - |
| Townscaper | 0.6 TF2 | $1.19 PP | - |
| Trailmakers Deluxe Edition | 1.4 TF2 | $2.74 PP | - |
| Train Simulator Classic | 0.8 TF2 | $1.58 PP | - |
| Tribes of Midgard | 0.8 TF2 | $1.53 PP | - |
| Tricky Towers | 2.0 TF2 | $4.0 PP | - |
| Trine 2: Complete Story | 1.2 TF2 | $2.28 PP | - |
| Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince | 1.2 TF2 | $2.37 PP | - |
| Trine Ultimate Collection | 5.1 TF2 | $10.15 PP | - |
| Tropico 5 – Complete Collection | 0.8 TF2 | $1.59 PP | - |
| Tropico 6 El-Prez Edition | 2.3 TF2 | $4.54 PP | - |
| Tropico 6 | 2.3 TF2 | $4.47 PP | - |
| Turmoil | 0.5 TF2 | $0.96 PP | - |
| Turok | 0.4 TF2 | $0.75 PP | - |
| Tyranny - Gold Edition | 0.7 TF2 | $1.36 PP | - |
| Ultimate Chicken Horse | 1.8 TF2 | $3.56 PP | - |
| Ultimate Fishing Simulator | 0.5 TF2 | $0.91 PP | - |
| Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 | 1.8 TF2 | $3.59 PP | - |
| Ultra Street Fighter IV | 0.6 TF2 | $1.11 PP | - |
| Undertale | 2.1 TF2 | $4.2 PP | - |
| Universe Sandbox | 4.8 TF2 | $9.41 PP | - |
| Unrailed! | 1.6 TF2 | $3.07 PP | - |
| Until You Fall | 0.7 TF2 | $1.39 PP | - |
| VTOL VR | 6.4 TF2 | $12.66 PP | - |
| Vacation Simulator | 5.2 TF2 | $10.21 PP | - |
| Vagante | 0.7 TF2 | $1.33 PP | - |
| Valkyria Chronicles 4 Complete Edition | 1.9 TF2 | $3.76 PP | - |
| Valkyria Chronicles™ | 1.0 TF2 | $1.97 PP | - |
| Vampyr | 2.2 TF2 | $4.34 PP | - |
| Verdun | 0.4 TF2 | $0.72 PP | - |
| Vertigo Remastered | 0.4 TF2 | $0.8 PP | - |
| Visage | 2.9 TF2 | $5.83 PP | - |
| Viscera Cleanup Detail | 2.0 TF2 | $4.05 PP | - |
| Void Bastards | 0.7 TF2 | $1.32 PP | - |
| Volcanoids | 1.4 TF2 | $2.82 PP | - |
| Vox Machinae | 3.4 TF2 | $6.7 PP | - |
| Wargame: Red Dragon | 5.2 TF2 | $10.22 PP | - |
| Wargroove | 0.5 TF2 | $0.91 PP | - |
| Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters | 2.0 TF2 | $3.89 PP | - |
| Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Master Collection | 1.5 TF2 | $2.91 PP | - |
| Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Grand Master Collection | 2.3 TF2 | $4.56 PP | - |
| Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II: Retribution | 0.8 TF2 | $1.68 PP | - |
| Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War | 0.7 TF2 | $1.4 PP | - |
| Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Tyranids | 1.4 TF2 | $2.86 PP | - |
| Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Collection | 3.1 TF2 | $6.22 PP | - |
| Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine | 1.7 TF2 | $3.28 PP | - |
| Warhammer: Chaosbane - Slayer Edition | 0.9 TF2 | $1.88 PP | - |
| Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide Collector's Edition | 0.7 TF2 | $1.36 PP | - |
| Warhammer: Vermintide 2 - Collector's Edition | 1.6 TF2 | $3.15 PP | - |
| Warhammer: Vermintide 2 | 0.7 TF2 | $1.44 PP | - |
| Warhammer® 40,000: Dawn of War® II | 0.6 TF2 | $1.25 PP | - |
| Warhammer® 40,000™: Dawn of War® III | 1.8 TF2 | $3.49 PP | - |
| Warpips | 0.7 TF2 | $1.48 PP | - |
| Wasteland 3 | 1.3 TF2 | $2.6 PP | - |
| We Happy Few | 0.9 TF2 | $1.88 PP | - |
| We Need to Go Deeper | 1.4 TF2 | $2.87 PP | - |
| We Were Here Too | 1.2 TF2 | $2.38 PP | - |
| White Day : a labyrinth named school | 0.6 TF2 | $1.24 PP | - |
| Who's Your Daddy | 1.9 TF2 | $3.67 PP | - |
| Wingspan | 1.2 TF2 | $2.31 PP | - |
| Winkeltje: The Little Shop | 1.1 TF2 | $2.08 PP | - |
| Witch It | 4.2 TF2 | $8.22 PP | - |
| Wizard of Legend | 1.8 TF2 | $3.56 PP | - |
| World War Z: Aftermath | 4.4 TF2 | $8.62 PP | - |
| Worms W.M.D | 1.2 TF2 | $2.37 PP | - |
| X4: Foundations | 8.3 TF2 | $16.49 PP | - |
| X4: Split Vendetta | 1.8 TF2 | $3.56 PP | - |
| XCOM 2 Collection | 1.4 TF2 | $2.7 PP | - |
| XCOM 2 | 0.4 TF2 | $0.76 PP | - |
| XCOM 2: Reinforcement Pack | 0.4 TF2 | $0.72 PP | - |
| XCOM: Enemy Unknown Complete Pack | 0.8 TF2 | $1.6 PP | - |
| XCOM: Enemy Unknown | 0.7 TF2 | $1.37 PP | - |
| XCOM: Ultimate Collection | 1.3 TF2 | $2.56 PP | - |
| Yakuza 0 | 2.4 TF2 | $4.76 PP | - |
| Yakuza 3 Remastered | 1.0 TF2 | $2.07 PP | - |
| Yakuza Kiwami 2 | 4.5 TF2 | $8.86 PP | - |
| Yakuza Kiwami | 2.4 TF2 | $4.68 PP | - |
| Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles | 1.3 TF2 | $2.66 PP | - |
| YouTubers Life | 0.7 TF2 | $1.42 PP | - |
| ZERO Sievert | 5.3 TF2 | $10.57 PP | - |
| Zenith MMO | 2.2 TF2 | $4.32 PP | - |
| Zero Caliber VR | 4.3 TF2 | $8.48 PP | - |
| Zombie Army 4: Dead War | 1.8 TF2 | $3.64 PP | - |
| Zombie Army Trilogy | 0.5 TF2 | $0.97 PP | - |
| biped | 0.8 TF2 | $1.61 PP | - |
| rFactor 2 | 4.8 TF2 | $9.55 PP | - |
| while True: learn() Chief Technology Officer Edition | 0.8 TF2 | $1.57 PP | - |
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2023.06.10 12:27 ParaMoon42 Birdie Flew The Coop Yesterday (just a LONG rant)
Hi there! It's me, Dani. :-)
It's been forever since I last posted here about my 57-year-old brother named Rob with a brain tumor and the impossible burden of my sister and me getting dumped into the role of caretaking for him by his soon-to-be ex-wife (They're still legally married... just pointing out that fact bitterly. =p)
Okay, let me start by explaining the situation concerning myself and my sister, Ace. We're in our forties now with our own hereditary illnesses. Sure, it's not as serious as a brain tumor, but it's nothing to sneeze at. To respect my sister's privacy, I will not go into the finer details of her health issues, but I will simply state that she is immunocompromised and recently had a bone marrow procedure done this month (She assured me that it was okay for me to share that much with this lovely Reddit community, don't worry!).
As for myself, I'm a little more open about my various health issues to strangers - not everything, but I can share with you that I'm neurodivergent, suffer from anxiety, PTSD, depression, and agoraphobia, and my physical ailments are with both knees (requiring physical therapy) and ongoing eye disease (Keratoconus) that means that I'm currently reading posts/replying/and writing this ranting post by a talking screen-reader that I've set on British voice. Hello, world. ;-)
To say the least, perhaps my sister and I need caretakers, instead of being so. Regardless, we both work hard to keep our independence (ie: taking our medication, keeping up with medical appointments, going to therapy, keeping up with our bills, our hygiene, etc.) and to help out one another with the things each of us may excel in.
For example, I can't always handle phone calls or leave the house on my own, so my sister will make important phone calls for me, go with me to appointments, and pick up my medication from the local pharmacy. And I'm tall enough to reach things that my sister can't around the house, to encourage her confidence when she needs it, and carry heavy things when she can't. Ace and I are best friends and we work as a team together.
So, to recap - The first plan was for Rob to travel from Maryland to Minnesota, to visit us at our apartment for his birthday, before he was to go in for his brain surgery in Philadelphia. He was a little worse off, frail and needing assistance to walk up the stairs to our second-floor apartment, and was nursing a few wounds on his leg (that wasn't healing because the brain tumor gave him diabetes). He visited a few hospitals on his visit with us, due to the pain he was feeling in his legs, but besides that, he was mobile and had a good time with us on his birthday. Ace traveled with him back home to Maryland and we had planned for him to visit us again in the future, after his surgery in Philly.
The day before that surgery, he decided that it would be better to travel back to Minnesota and seek out his surgery here. His wife tried to talk him out of that, Ace tried to talk him out of it, and so did I to no avail. So, I said "Okay, but it will take longer for you to get another surgery set up in Minnesota." and he insisted on flying to Minnesota on his own, right away. And then... his wife was suddenly eager to send him off as well.
In hindsight, it all makes a lot of sense WHY she was so eager to dump her very sick husband off on us. Underneath "Tumor Rob" is "Man-child Rob", unfortunately. If Ace and I had known that we'd be saddled with a man who apparently took on every toxic trait of our mother, we would have said "no" to this change of plans!
Rob nearly died waiting for his brain surgery at UofM, here in Minnesota. Thankfully, the surgery was a success and he survived, but it didn't magically give him back his physical mobility or make him a reasonable person. It turned out that what Ace and I thought of our brother as a person, was shrouded in childhood nostalgia. We had been apart for decades and hadn't known each other long as adults now. The last time he saw Ace and I, we were in our early twenties, in Philly. He was catching up to how much Ace and I had grown as people in our forties now.
And his soon-to-be ex-wife explained to us, finally, that his man-child-ness is why she wanted to divorce him long before Rob had ever got sick with a tumor. She felt "stuck" in taking care of him, after he got sick with a brain tumor, and she saw my sister and me as a great opportunity to get rid of her problem.
Even though I understand her desperation, I don't believe that was a fair thing for her to do to me and my sister at all. I feel a lot bitter and angry with her now. She didn't warn us how much his health had degraded since the last time we visited with him, or how awful he can be - emotionally manipulative, selfish, entitled, and spiteful. She's happy to confess it NOW, but didn't say a word of it before she put him on a plane and abandoned him with us.
I feel hurt that she didn't even consider if Ace and I could take care of Rob at all. She just assumed that we could and gave us no warning! Neither of us was prepared and this whole thing upended our lives - it nearly came in between the friendship of my sister and me. It nearly drove my sister to suicide at some point (don't worry, she's in therapy now!) and I nearly lost myself in this whole thing as well. Why couldn't she just dump him in a nursing home, as NORMAL PEOPLE do?!
Anyway, Rob has been insisting for the past two months that we take him out of hospital care and "back home" to our apartment - demanding that my sister and I give up our lives to be 24-7 caretakers to him instead. For my sister to give up her job (and she's the main breadwinner here!), our friends, our appointments, and our health, in order to wait on him hand and foot.
The doctors insist that he CAN gain physical mobility back, that all he has to do is physical therapy in order for him to walk again and not need to wear adult diapers anymore. So, at this point in time, Rob's inability to walk is completely voluntary on his part. He keeps refusing physical therapy and getting into arguments with the physical therapists on multiple occasions.
Ace and I had learned that this surgery was his FOURTH brain surgery - as neither he nor his wife told us this beforehand. We were under the impression that this was Rob's second brain surgery to remove the tumor, but the doctors at UofM informed us of the truth... because that means that the brain tumor keeps growing back and Rob needs radiation or chemo treatments to keep it from doing that. Otherwise, Rob is going to need a new brain surgery in his sixties next time around, and he may not survive it. This is when Rob confessed that he opted out of radiation/chemo care the other THREE times before this last tumor.
So, the new plan was for Rob to undergo radiation treatments and physical therapy. Once he regains his physical mobility again - able to use the toilet on his own/no diapers, able to walk on his own and up the stairs to our apartment, able to dress and shower himself again (as he did on his birthday visit), walk to the kitchen and fix meals for himself, and so on, he could live with my sister and me in Minnesota, for as long as he needed to. He can't go back to Maryland to his wife (as he decided to not pay the rent, thus losing the family home, and his ex is living back with her parents now with the kids) and she doesn't want to live with him anymore. And other relatives are not interested in taking him in at all.
Rob decided that he doesn't want to do physical therapy at all or radiation. He insists that Ace and I carry him up the stairs to our apartment, to become his at-home nurses (also, he doesn't want actual at-home nurses, just me and Ace to do it!), to change his diapers, to shower him with all of our attention, to skip out on our medical appointments, or hanging out with friends, or having a life outside of caring for him! Ace kindly told him the reality of what would happen - that he would be left in his own waste for hours at a time on our sofa, uncared for completely, and that's IF we could somehow magic him up the stairs to our apartment. That it wasn't a safe option for him, me, or her overall.
She advocated the same to his team of doctors at UofM and they wholeheartedly agreed. So, Rob decided that UofM was a horrible hospital and got himself transferred to the VA hospital instead. And the VA set him up for physical therapy and radiation treatments, which he didn't want and refused to comply, and again Ace explained to the VA doctors that it wasn't safe for Rob to be released to our apartment - as we can't give him the care that he needs or wants, let alone the stairs. The VA docs agreed.
So Rob decided to sign out AMA (against medical advice) and to take a bus to Philly, to live in a homeless shelter. He decided that two days ago - sending hundreds of texts and voicemails to Ace, my aunties, all of his exes, and myself with an ultimatum that if he didn't get his way, he was going to opt out of all medical care and live in a homeless shelter in Philly. And so, my sister and I responded with, "Rob, you are a grown man who can make your own decisions. If you want to leave for Philly, so be it. Happy travels."
So, yesterday, Rob signed himself out AMA and bought a bus ticket. He was stuck at the bus station for three hours, as he didn't find it so easy to get strangers to help get him on a bus right away. We know about this because he called my aunties, screaming that this was Ace's fault. I calmly reminded Ace that it was NOT her fault, but his own decision. As my mother ironically used to say often of others, "Ain't no fool like an old fool.". We decided that if he remained stranded, Ace would pick him up at the bus station and admit him to another hospital. At 8pm on a Friday night, he called Ace to let her know that he made it onto a bus and was on his way to Philly. And she responded, "Okay, have fun, then." And he was super angry with her response and she tiredly said, "What do you want me to say, Rob? You're doing what you wanted to do now. This is your decision." He got angry and hung up on her.
And Ace and I shrugged and went back to watching "Severance" on our new sofa - a new sleeper sofa that we had to buy recently because Rob soiled our last sofa, due to us being unprepared about his diaper situation and we were forced to junk the old one. Btw... the show is SO very good and we finished the first season wanting more. :-)
Our friends, relatives, and therapists have been nothing but supportive of us during this whole thing. My aunties and Rob's sons think he's f-ing nuts for leaving like this, but everyone is in agreement that Ace and I have done more than enough for our brother. Most within our circle are arguing that we went beyond what most siblings would do for one another for Rob.
I can't say that I did much (I'm the "scribe" of this quest!), but I know that Ace certainly did a lot for Rob. She visited Rob in the hospital, religiously, every other day of the week. It didn't matter if she felt sick that day or tired, during snowstorms and rainstorms, she spent a lot of money on Uber going to visit Rob so he wouldn't feel alone in the hospital. She bought his soiled clothing home from the hospital and washed them for him, almost every visit. Rob insisted that the hospital food was inedible, so she spent a lot of money sending takeout to his room every day.
We both skipped doctor appointments to be there for him. I skipped my appointment for seeing an eye doctor who could maybe help with my eye condition, because it was a "maybe" and my sister was too worn out, trying to visit Rob that week and take me to my appointment. I opted out of going, telling her that it was okay, that Rob was more important. She insisted that she could do both, but I saw that she couldn't, she was so very worn out, so I sacrificed my appointment for her sake and Rob's. But mostly for her sake. =p
And now, he's run off. I feel a little guilty that my reaction is a resounding "OH, THANK GOD! WE'RE FREE!!!" I know that my sister worries still and I'm trying to encourage her that this is for the best. I went into my bank account and bought us a shipment of Maryland blue crabs for the weekend, it's our usual summer tradition, after all. We plan to have a crab feast this weekend while watching John Wick 4, to relax and slowly put our lives back to normalcy again.
I love my brother and I wish him the best in his life, no matter what. The same way that I love my problematic parents still. However, Ace and I must live our lives and do what's best for us. And Ace and i both made a promise to each other - when we grow old and very sick, if it becomes a burden to the other like it has been with Rob, it's totally okay to put the other in a nice nursing home!
Anyway, sorry for this book-length rant. It was a LOT to explain and recap. lol. No need to respond or reply - I just wanted to vent/rant on this Saturday A.M., is all. And to update anyone who is wondering what happened after my last post here. Cliffhangers suck! :-)
Be excellent to each other. And peace out! <3
submitted by ParaMoon42 to CaregiverSupport [link] [comments]
It's been forever since I last posted here about my 57-year-old brother named Rob with a brain tumor and the impossible burden of my sister and me getting dumped into the role of caretaking for him by his soon-to-be ex-wife (They're still legally married... just pointing out that fact bitterly. =p)
Okay, let me start by explaining the situation concerning myself and my sister, Ace. We're in our forties now with our own hereditary illnesses. Sure, it's not as serious as a brain tumor, but it's nothing to sneeze at. To respect my sister's privacy, I will not go into the finer details of her health issues, but I will simply state that she is immunocompromised and recently had a bone marrow procedure done this month (She assured me that it was okay for me to share that much with this lovely Reddit community, don't worry!).
As for myself, I'm a little more open about my various health issues to strangers - not everything, but I can share with you that I'm neurodivergent, suffer from anxiety, PTSD, depression, and agoraphobia, and my physical ailments are with both knees (requiring physical therapy) and ongoing eye disease (Keratoconus) that means that I'm currently reading posts/replying/and writing this ranting post by a talking screen-reader that I've set on British voice. Hello, world. ;-)
To say the least, perhaps my sister and I need caretakers, instead of being so. Regardless, we both work hard to keep our independence (ie: taking our medication, keeping up with medical appointments, going to therapy, keeping up with our bills, our hygiene, etc.) and to help out one another with the things each of us may excel in.
For example, I can't always handle phone calls or leave the house on my own, so my sister will make important phone calls for me, go with me to appointments, and pick up my medication from the local pharmacy. And I'm tall enough to reach things that my sister can't around the house, to encourage her confidence when she needs it, and carry heavy things when she can't. Ace and I are best friends and we work as a team together.
So, to recap - The first plan was for Rob to travel from Maryland to Minnesota, to visit us at our apartment for his birthday, before he was to go in for his brain surgery in Philadelphia. He was a little worse off, frail and needing assistance to walk up the stairs to our second-floor apartment, and was nursing a few wounds on his leg (that wasn't healing because the brain tumor gave him diabetes). He visited a few hospitals on his visit with us, due to the pain he was feeling in his legs, but besides that, he was mobile and had a good time with us on his birthday. Ace traveled with him back home to Maryland and we had planned for him to visit us again in the future, after his surgery in Philly.
The day before that surgery, he decided that it would be better to travel back to Minnesota and seek out his surgery here. His wife tried to talk him out of that, Ace tried to talk him out of it, and so did I to no avail. So, I said "Okay, but it will take longer for you to get another surgery set up in Minnesota." and he insisted on flying to Minnesota on his own, right away. And then... his wife was suddenly eager to send him off as well.
In hindsight, it all makes a lot of sense WHY she was so eager to dump her very sick husband off on us. Underneath "Tumor Rob" is "Man-child Rob", unfortunately. If Ace and I had known that we'd be saddled with a man who apparently took on every toxic trait of our mother, we would have said "no" to this change of plans!
Rob nearly died waiting for his brain surgery at UofM, here in Minnesota. Thankfully, the surgery was a success and he survived, but it didn't magically give him back his physical mobility or make him a reasonable person. It turned out that what Ace and I thought of our brother as a person, was shrouded in childhood nostalgia. We had been apart for decades and hadn't known each other long as adults now. The last time he saw Ace and I, we were in our early twenties, in Philly. He was catching up to how much Ace and I had grown as people in our forties now.
And his soon-to-be ex-wife explained to us, finally, that his man-child-ness is why she wanted to divorce him long before Rob had ever got sick with a tumor. She felt "stuck" in taking care of him, after he got sick with a brain tumor, and she saw my sister and me as a great opportunity to get rid of her problem.
Even though I understand her desperation, I don't believe that was a fair thing for her to do to me and my sister at all. I feel a lot bitter and angry with her now. She didn't warn us how much his health had degraded since the last time we visited with him, or how awful he can be - emotionally manipulative, selfish, entitled, and spiteful. She's happy to confess it NOW, but didn't say a word of it before she put him on a plane and abandoned him with us.
I feel hurt that she didn't even consider if Ace and I could take care of Rob at all. She just assumed that we could and gave us no warning! Neither of us was prepared and this whole thing upended our lives - it nearly came in between the friendship of my sister and me. It nearly drove my sister to suicide at some point (don't worry, she's in therapy now!) and I nearly lost myself in this whole thing as well. Why couldn't she just dump him in a nursing home, as NORMAL PEOPLE do?!
Anyway, Rob has been insisting for the past two months that we take him out of hospital care and "back home" to our apartment - demanding that my sister and I give up our lives to be 24-7 caretakers to him instead. For my sister to give up her job (and she's the main breadwinner here!), our friends, our appointments, and our health, in order to wait on him hand and foot.
The doctors insist that he CAN gain physical mobility back, that all he has to do is physical therapy in order for him to walk again and not need to wear adult diapers anymore. So, at this point in time, Rob's inability to walk is completely voluntary on his part. He keeps refusing physical therapy and getting into arguments with the physical therapists on multiple occasions.
Ace and I had learned that this surgery was his FOURTH brain surgery - as neither he nor his wife told us this beforehand. We were under the impression that this was Rob's second brain surgery to remove the tumor, but the doctors at UofM informed us of the truth... because that means that the brain tumor keeps growing back and Rob needs radiation or chemo treatments to keep it from doing that. Otherwise, Rob is going to need a new brain surgery in his sixties next time around, and he may not survive it. This is when Rob confessed that he opted out of radiation/chemo care the other THREE times before this last tumor.
So, the new plan was for Rob to undergo radiation treatments and physical therapy. Once he regains his physical mobility again - able to use the toilet on his own/no diapers, able to walk on his own and up the stairs to our apartment, able to dress and shower himself again (as he did on his birthday visit), walk to the kitchen and fix meals for himself, and so on, he could live with my sister and me in Minnesota, for as long as he needed to. He can't go back to Maryland to his wife (as he decided to not pay the rent, thus losing the family home, and his ex is living back with her parents now with the kids) and she doesn't want to live with him anymore. And other relatives are not interested in taking him in at all.
Rob decided that he doesn't want to do physical therapy at all or radiation. He insists that Ace and I carry him up the stairs to our apartment, to become his at-home nurses (also, he doesn't want actual at-home nurses, just me and Ace to do it!), to change his diapers, to shower him with all of our attention, to skip out on our medical appointments, or hanging out with friends, or having a life outside of caring for him! Ace kindly told him the reality of what would happen - that he would be left in his own waste for hours at a time on our sofa, uncared for completely, and that's IF we could somehow magic him up the stairs to our apartment. That it wasn't a safe option for him, me, or her overall.
She advocated the same to his team of doctors at UofM and they wholeheartedly agreed. So, Rob decided that UofM was a horrible hospital and got himself transferred to the VA hospital instead. And the VA set him up for physical therapy and radiation treatments, which he didn't want and refused to comply, and again Ace explained to the VA doctors that it wasn't safe for Rob to be released to our apartment - as we can't give him the care that he needs or wants, let alone the stairs. The VA docs agreed.
So Rob decided to sign out AMA (against medical advice) and to take a bus to Philly, to live in a homeless shelter. He decided that two days ago - sending hundreds of texts and voicemails to Ace, my aunties, all of his exes, and myself with an ultimatum that if he didn't get his way, he was going to opt out of all medical care and live in a homeless shelter in Philly. And so, my sister and I responded with, "Rob, you are a grown man who can make your own decisions. If you want to leave for Philly, so be it. Happy travels."
So, yesterday, Rob signed himself out AMA and bought a bus ticket. He was stuck at the bus station for three hours, as he didn't find it so easy to get strangers to help get him on a bus right away. We know about this because he called my aunties, screaming that this was Ace's fault. I calmly reminded Ace that it was NOT her fault, but his own decision. As my mother ironically used to say often of others, "Ain't no fool like an old fool.". We decided that if he remained stranded, Ace would pick him up at the bus station and admit him to another hospital. At 8pm on a Friday night, he called Ace to let her know that he made it onto a bus and was on his way to Philly. And she responded, "Okay, have fun, then." And he was super angry with her response and she tiredly said, "What do you want me to say, Rob? You're doing what you wanted to do now. This is your decision." He got angry and hung up on her.
And Ace and I shrugged and went back to watching "Severance" on our new sofa - a new sleeper sofa that we had to buy recently because Rob soiled our last sofa, due to us being unprepared about his diaper situation and we were forced to junk the old one. Btw... the show is SO very good and we finished the first season wanting more. :-)
Our friends, relatives, and therapists have been nothing but supportive of us during this whole thing. My aunties and Rob's sons think he's f-ing nuts for leaving like this, but everyone is in agreement that Ace and I have done more than enough for our brother. Most within our circle are arguing that we went beyond what most siblings would do for one another for Rob.
I can't say that I did much (I'm the "scribe" of this quest!), but I know that Ace certainly did a lot for Rob. She visited Rob in the hospital, religiously, every other day of the week. It didn't matter if she felt sick that day or tired, during snowstorms and rainstorms, she spent a lot of money on Uber going to visit Rob so he wouldn't feel alone in the hospital. She bought his soiled clothing home from the hospital and washed them for him, almost every visit. Rob insisted that the hospital food was inedible, so she spent a lot of money sending takeout to his room every day.
We both skipped doctor appointments to be there for him. I skipped my appointment for seeing an eye doctor who could maybe help with my eye condition, because it was a "maybe" and my sister was too worn out, trying to visit Rob that week and take me to my appointment. I opted out of going, telling her that it was okay, that Rob was more important. She insisted that she could do both, but I saw that she couldn't, she was so very worn out, so I sacrificed my appointment for her sake and Rob's. But mostly for her sake. =p
And now, he's run off. I feel a little guilty that my reaction is a resounding "OH, THANK GOD! WE'RE FREE!!!" I know that my sister worries still and I'm trying to encourage her that this is for the best. I went into my bank account and bought us a shipment of Maryland blue crabs for the weekend, it's our usual summer tradition, after all. We plan to have a crab feast this weekend while watching John Wick 4, to relax and slowly put our lives back to normalcy again.
I love my brother and I wish him the best in his life, no matter what. The same way that I love my problematic parents still. However, Ace and I must live our lives and do what's best for us. And Ace and i both made a promise to each other - when we grow old and very sick, if it becomes a burden to the other like it has been with Rob, it's totally okay to put the other in a nice nursing home!
Anyway, sorry for this book-length rant. It was a LOT to explain and recap. lol. No need to respond or reply - I just wanted to vent/rant on this Saturday A.M., is all. And to update anyone who is wondering what happened after my last post here. Cliffhangers suck! :-)
Be excellent to each other. And peace out! <3
2023.06.10 11:27 Noghbuddy Secret Chord - Part 6
I realize this is a bit late. I suppose this is my public declaration that u/wolven91 can post my stories wherever. I just wanted to get this part out before the sub froze. I hope to write more, however I'm not a big fan of Tumblr, so I won't be making an account. If the Discord seems viable then I'll probably haunt that, but otherwise I'll have to figure out where to post. However this shakes out, y'all have fun and have a good one.
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David loved the rain. Growing up in a desert, he loved the smell that’d come off the dirt and how the overcast skies shielded the sun-bleached streets and buildings from the blinding star. He’d spend hours sitting at a coffee shop listening to music and watching the cars drive through the puddles. The rain was nothing short of miraculous. If it made it over the wall of mountains blocking David from the ocean, the rain would knock all the dust and smog out of the air revealing a crystal-clear view of all the mountains down the valley. The parched dirt greedily drank it up and sat still, free from the gusting winds. Then the next day, the brown hills and mountainsides would turn a bright vibrant green. It brought him a measure of peace.
The shuttle shuddered slightly as it passed through the atmosphere, windows becoming blocked by dark grey clouds. This planet was permanently overcast. Tons of water circled the globe, floating on the currents of air, speeding from one horizon to the other frequently dousing the surface with heavy showers. David couldn’t help a small grin sticking to his face. It’d been years since he’d seen rain.
“It’s about an hour till touchdown.” Reported the pilot over the intercom.
David turned his attention away from the windows. The shuttle reminded him of an airport bus someone threw into space, complete with cheap upholstery. It was thankfully empty save for himself and his two companions. He glanced left at Ruk’sa who was fast asleep in her chair. She stayed up all night with David, but it seems she’s not quite as used to sleep deprivation as he is. She stirred slightly, tucking her legs up under her and wrapping her tail around herself. Sarif was livid when David asked the fik to come with him, but calmed down somewhat when he explained he wanted someone to keep an eye on his apartment while he was gone.
He looked to his right at Hilda who had been studying him, pad forgotten in her lap. “Enjoying the view?” she asked gesturing to the windows.
“I love the rain.” He answered with his small smirk still in place.
“Really?
“Yeah…It always put me in a good mood back home. It sort of…refreshed me, I guess.” Hilda pondered her next question before David interrupted, “You like the rain?”
“Uh, um…I suppose so. It depends.”
“On what?”
“On how strong the storm was. If it was light rain, I didn’t mind. It was good for the crops and gave us all a reason to take it easy. No one wanted to work in the rain. But if it was a major storm…Well, then we were all worried about the damage it could cause. If there was lightning it could start a fire…”
“Crops? You’re a farm girl?”
He could see her mentally kick herself as she drew a slow breath, “Yes…I’m a farm girl…”
“I guess that explains why you look corn fed.” He mumbled.
“Corn fed?”
“Don’t worry about it. You look great. Like a brick shithouse.”
Her brows knit in confused thought. “That sounds worse.”
He chuckled then, “You look good. I promise.” They settled into silence for a while, broken by Hilda.
“What was home like?”, she asked softly.
David leaned back and took a breath, “What was it like?...Home, I guess…” He looked at his companion’s inquisitive look and sighed. “It was mostly a desert…Hot…But a paradise…The sun always shone, and the temperature was always bearable. We had beaches, snowy mountains, vast fertile plains, giant magnificent forests, and huge stretches of desert. That’s not even counting all the different cities and people. Whatever you could want, it was there…It wasn’t perfect. I hated it plenty of times…Seems a bit silly now…But, now I realize just how amazing it was…” He stared out the window, eyes unfocused.
“Was that the whole planet?”
“What? No. That was just my state. The rest of the planet had a lot more going on… You gotta remember it took a little more effort to travel before…Yeah…Especially where I lived…”
Hilda had hundreds more questions but could tell he was growing uncomfortable. She tried to shift gears, “If you really like the starshine, why do you love the rain?”
He collected his words, “It was always sunny…A bit too hot for my taste…So, the rain was a nice change of pace. It was rare…A lot of other humans hate the rain, but I think that’s just because they grew up in places where it always rained…Most people I knew who grew up without rain loved it.”
“Five till touchdown.”, reported the pilot.
Ruk’sa was roused from her nap as the shuttle shuddered slightly and swung down from the clouds. It gracefully flew through the valley to the designated landing point where it slowly landed beside half a dozen other shuttles of various makes and sizes. The trio stood and made their way out led by David.
He descended the short ramp and strode through the parked shuttles. Emerging into the open he looked toward the Guardian waiting area. There were a couple of those big bastards, a couple canids, an avian and-
He screwed his eyes shut and shook his head. His companions looked where he had. Ruk’sa put her hand on his shoulder and asked, “You want Ruk’sa to-“
“No. No, just go wait with the others…And make sure that thing doesn’t slither up the hill.”
Ruk’sa squeezed his shoulder as Hilda gave a disapproving sigh, before the duo strode off toward the other Guardians. Keeping his sight on anywhere but the gathered aliens, David started hiking up the hill.
The hill sat in the middle of a long valley covered in a bright green, almost luminescent grass, with gnarled trees dotting the hillsides. The ground beneath David gave a little with each step threatening to devolve into a muddy slurry, but the rain died down, seemingly aware of the ceremony. Breathing heavily, he finally crested the hill to find a handful of other humans.
It was shocking. He hadn’t seen another human since…Since…He couldn’t remember…Was it really since he was still a slave? The half dozen or so humans milled about the gravesite. A metal casket adorned the mockup above the grave. It wasn’t right. Sure, it was a box meant to hold a corpse, but it just seemed…off…Too bulky.
David focused on the other humans. A small group of two noticed his arrival, so he made his way over to them, straightening the subtle wrinkles in his shirt and slacks. A man and a woman greeted him as he walked up.
“Hello there!” called the man, “I thought we were supposed to have one more. How are you? Have a smooth trip?”
David could tell the man wasn’t speaking English. “Fair enough. I got the invite a bit late. Had to make a bunch of last-minute plans.”
“Sorry to hear that.” said the woman, “At least you made it. Did you know the deceased?”
“No…I thought it was strange to get the invitation, but well…If he wanted me here, I guess I could spare the time.” He noticed the other two were eyeing him strangely. He cleared his throat, “So, did either of you know him?”
“No…I don’t think anyone did. I guess he…or whoever carried out his will, just looked up the closest humans in the system and invited them. At least they were discreet.”
David didn’t understand the need for discretion, but agreed anyway, “Right…Wouldn’t want just anyone showing up.” The other two seemed confused, but quickly recovered.
“Say…” the woman began, “Do I know you?”
David shook his head, “No, I don’t think so. I don’t get out much.”
“No, I know you.” She began typing on her com, “…Hah! Is this you?” She held it up for David to see.
A vid began playing of an all too familiar back room of an all too familiar café. It showed David from the rear singing into a mic. Eyes closed in emotional concentration, “Fly me to the Moon, let me play among the stars. Let me see what spring is like, on Jupiter and Mars.” He swayed and danced slightly, enough to get a good look at his face. David stared at the video slack jawed until the end where a pair of felinoid fingers surreptitiously retrieved the recording com.
“So, it is you! I thought I recognized you.” She seemed pleased. David was a bit heartbroken. “What’s the matter? You sound wonderful.”
“I…I…”
“Say! Can you sing for the service? We don’t have anyone, and it just seems right…Could you?”
David was conflicted. Still reeling. He wasn’t betrayed exactly…He never asked to not be recorded, but this…How many people saw?...He shook himself from his reverie. “What?”
“Could you sing a hymn or two? Mr. Albrecht wanted a traditional funeral. So, that would mean a song or two, right?”
He thought for a moment. All he wanted to do was show face. Maybe see a couple humans and reconnect, but…Well… “I guess I could…I’ve done a couple funerals before…” He looked between the two and answered, “Alright…Just let me know when to go up…”
They shook his hand and patted him on the shoulder before going and finding the preacher. He could see them talking and pointing in his direction before he found a seat beside the casket facing the front. Everyone else found a seat as the older man at the front addressed the gathering.
“Welcome. Thank you all for coming. I am chaplain Richard Martinez, and I will be leading and delivering the eulogy today. Unfortunately, Mr. Albrecht’s family could not attend, however I would like to thank all of you in attendance. I know coming together as one people is a challenge, but Mr. Albrecht and I thank you for your sacrifice. We are gathered here today to mourn the loss and celebrate the life of Mortimer Albrecht. During our tumultuous journey to the stars, and diaspora among its people, we lost a small sense of our joint humanity. We split and spread out to the four winds in a bid for self-preservation. But now we come together. We join one another to recognize a fellow brother and son of Earth. We come together to give final rights and recognition to the deceased that they are truly human, and we will not forget or abandon them to the cold uncaring void of space. Mr. Albrecht was born on Earth and believed in the unstoppable spirit and drive of humanity. We share this belief with all of you. Those who answered the call. Those who believed in the brotherhood of humanity. That our spirit is strong and unbreaking. That humanity will one day walk in the sun, unafraid and proud of who we are. That we will one day stand before the other races of the galaxy as an equal. Please join me in prayer as we put the spirit of Mortimer Albrech to rest. For those who practice, please bow your head and join me in prayer, and for those who don’t, please observe a respectful silence.
Dear Lord, we come before you to humbly ask that you guide Mr. Albrecht swiftly and surly to your eternal peace. That you guard and guide his spirit as surely as you guide our own. In your name we pray, amen. Now we will turn our time over to a special guest who has volunteered to sing a hymn or two.” He gestured to David in his seat.
David stood and made his way to the front of the casket and faced the small crowd. He cleared his throat and began, “Good morning. I’m David King, and I’ll sing a couple of traditional songs. You are welcome to sing along if you know the words.”
He cleared his throat, took a breath and began, “Amazing grace. How sweet the sound…”
He sang clearly and steadily, as his voice rang out through the narrow valley, keeping his hand folded in front of him. A couple of the attendees sang quietly with him, but David remained steady. Focused on the task at hand. He may not have known the man, but that was no excuse to disrespect him. He noticed the woman from before sitting in the back of the crowd, recording his performance. He considered protesting, but today wasn’t about him. Besides, what harm could it do?
When ‘Amazing Grace’ was done he went straight into ‘Danny boy.’ About that time the attendees grew misty-eyed. “You’ll bend down and tell me that you love me. And I shall rest in peace until you come to me.”
Even the preacher-man seemed reluctant to say anything, so David continued. “This next song…Means a lot to me…It got me…and others through a particularly hard time. If Samuel is somewhere out there. This is for us.” He planted himself, breathed, and began. “When peace, like a river, atendeth my way. When sorrows like sea billows roll. Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well, with my soul…”
David hadn’t thought of that hymn in years. The memories weren’t pleasant, but it seemed appropriate at the time. Chaplin Martinez made his way up beside David and put his hand on his shoulder. “Thank you. We all appreciated that. This concludes the service for Mr. Albrecht. Go in peace.”
The tiny congregation stood a milled about before making their way back down the hill. David stayed behind to wait out the snake’s charge, looking over the casket and simple gravestone. He had hoped to maybe make some kind of connection, but the humans dispersed without so much as a word. He was alone again. And he didn’t know why.
After a time, there were only a couple shuttles left. The casket had been let down with a couple chains, and the Guardians had dispersed with their humans. David shambled down the hill and met his companions.
“Ready to go?”
“I guess.”
“You sounded beautiful.”
“You could hear that?”
Hilda nodded.
“Thanks…I try…” They boarded the shuttle and took off. David wondered if it was even worth it.
*****
Sammuel was making his rounds through the station. The children loved him, and the parents loved the break. He stood in the middle of the park entertaining and answering questions. The dark-skinned man loved any opportunity to give back to the community that took him in. The dark-skinned man was keeping watch over some ursdain children when he heard something that caught his attention.
“When sorrows like sea billows roll.”
He sought out the youngster with the vid loaded on his com, “Hey. Could you do me a favor and show me that?”
The ssypno child seemed confused, but complied, “You know this song?”
“Whatever my lot, you have taught me to say, it is well, it is well, with my soul.”
He watched the screen intently, his jovial attitude sobering somewhat. “I know that song…I know that man…” He watched intently the man who helped him through the hardest part of his life. “You have any idea where that is?” The child of course didn’t know. “Well…I’m gonna have to find him on my own…”
submitted by Noghbuddy to WolvensStories [link] [comments]
----------
David loved the rain. Growing up in a desert, he loved the smell that’d come off the dirt and how the overcast skies shielded the sun-bleached streets and buildings from the blinding star. He’d spend hours sitting at a coffee shop listening to music and watching the cars drive through the puddles. The rain was nothing short of miraculous. If it made it over the wall of mountains blocking David from the ocean, the rain would knock all the dust and smog out of the air revealing a crystal-clear view of all the mountains down the valley. The parched dirt greedily drank it up and sat still, free from the gusting winds. Then the next day, the brown hills and mountainsides would turn a bright vibrant green. It brought him a measure of peace.
The shuttle shuddered slightly as it passed through the atmosphere, windows becoming blocked by dark grey clouds. This planet was permanently overcast. Tons of water circled the globe, floating on the currents of air, speeding from one horizon to the other frequently dousing the surface with heavy showers. David couldn’t help a small grin sticking to his face. It’d been years since he’d seen rain.
“It’s about an hour till touchdown.” Reported the pilot over the intercom.
David turned his attention away from the windows. The shuttle reminded him of an airport bus someone threw into space, complete with cheap upholstery. It was thankfully empty save for himself and his two companions. He glanced left at Ruk’sa who was fast asleep in her chair. She stayed up all night with David, but it seems she’s not quite as used to sleep deprivation as he is. She stirred slightly, tucking her legs up under her and wrapping her tail around herself. Sarif was livid when David asked the fik to come with him, but calmed down somewhat when he explained he wanted someone to keep an eye on his apartment while he was gone.
He looked to his right at Hilda who had been studying him, pad forgotten in her lap. “Enjoying the view?” she asked gesturing to the windows.
“I love the rain.” He answered with his small smirk still in place.
“Really?
“Yeah…It always put me in a good mood back home. It sort of…refreshed me, I guess.” Hilda pondered her next question before David interrupted, “You like the rain?”
“Uh, um…I suppose so. It depends.”
“On what?”
“On how strong the storm was. If it was light rain, I didn’t mind. It was good for the crops and gave us all a reason to take it easy. No one wanted to work in the rain. But if it was a major storm…Well, then we were all worried about the damage it could cause. If there was lightning it could start a fire…”
“Crops? You’re a farm girl?”
He could see her mentally kick herself as she drew a slow breath, “Yes…I’m a farm girl…”
“I guess that explains why you look corn fed.” He mumbled.
“Corn fed?”
“Don’t worry about it. You look great. Like a brick shithouse.”
Her brows knit in confused thought. “That sounds worse.”
He chuckled then, “You look good. I promise.” They settled into silence for a while, broken by Hilda.
“What was home like?”, she asked softly.
David leaned back and took a breath, “What was it like?...Home, I guess…” He looked at his companion’s inquisitive look and sighed. “It was mostly a desert…Hot…But a paradise…The sun always shone, and the temperature was always bearable. We had beaches, snowy mountains, vast fertile plains, giant magnificent forests, and huge stretches of desert. That’s not even counting all the different cities and people. Whatever you could want, it was there…It wasn’t perfect. I hated it plenty of times…Seems a bit silly now…But, now I realize just how amazing it was…” He stared out the window, eyes unfocused.
“Was that the whole planet?”
“What? No. That was just my state. The rest of the planet had a lot more going on… You gotta remember it took a little more effort to travel before…Yeah…Especially where I lived…”
Hilda had hundreds more questions but could tell he was growing uncomfortable. She tried to shift gears, “If you really like the starshine, why do you love the rain?”
He collected his words, “It was always sunny…A bit too hot for my taste…So, the rain was a nice change of pace. It was rare…A lot of other humans hate the rain, but I think that’s just because they grew up in places where it always rained…Most people I knew who grew up without rain loved it.”
“Five till touchdown.”, reported the pilot.
Ruk’sa was roused from her nap as the shuttle shuddered slightly and swung down from the clouds. It gracefully flew through the valley to the designated landing point where it slowly landed beside half a dozen other shuttles of various makes and sizes. The trio stood and made their way out led by David.
He descended the short ramp and strode through the parked shuttles. Emerging into the open he looked toward the Guardian waiting area. There were a couple of those big bastards, a couple canids, an avian and-
He screwed his eyes shut and shook his head. His companions looked where he had. Ruk’sa put her hand on his shoulder and asked, “You want Ruk’sa to-“
“No. No, just go wait with the others…And make sure that thing doesn’t slither up the hill.”
Ruk’sa squeezed his shoulder as Hilda gave a disapproving sigh, before the duo strode off toward the other Guardians. Keeping his sight on anywhere but the gathered aliens, David started hiking up the hill.
The hill sat in the middle of a long valley covered in a bright green, almost luminescent grass, with gnarled trees dotting the hillsides. The ground beneath David gave a little with each step threatening to devolve into a muddy slurry, but the rain died down, seemingly aware of the ceremony. Breathing heavily, he finally crested the hill to find a handful of other humans.
It was shocking. He hadn’t seen another human since…Since…He couldn’t remember…Was it really since he was still a slave? The half dozen or so humans milled about the gravesite. A metal casket adorned the mockup above the grave. It wasn’t right. Sure, it was a box meant to hold a corpse, but it just seemed…off…Too bulky.
David focused on the other humans. A small group of two noticed his arrival, so he made his way over to them, straightening the subtle wrinkles in his shirt and slacks. A man and a woman greeted him as he walked up.
“Hello there!” called the man, “I thought we were supposed to have one more. How are you? Have a smooth trip?”
David could tell the man wasn’t speaking English. “Fair enough. I got the invite a bit late. Had to make a bunch of last-minute plans.”
“Sorry to hear that.” said the woman, “At least you made it. Did you know the deceased?”
“No…I thought it was strange to get the invitation, but well…If he wanted me here, I guess I could spare the time.” He noticed the other two were eyeing him strangely. He cleared his throat, “So, did either of you know him?”
“No…I don’t think anyone did. I guess he…or whoever carried out his will, just looked up the closest humans in the system and invited them. At least they were discreet.”
David didn’t understand the need for discretion, but agreed anyway, “Right…Wouldn’t want just anyone showing up.” The other two seemed confused, but quickly recovered.
“Say…” the woman began, “Do I know you?”
David shook his head, “No, I don’t think so. I don’t get out much.”
“No, I know you.” She began typing on her com, “…Hah! Is this you?” She held it up for David to see.
A vid began playing of an all too familiar back room of an all too familiar café. It showed David from the rear singing into a mic. Eyes closed in emotional concentration, “Fly me to the Moon, let me play among the stars. Let me see what spring is like, on Jupiter and Mars.” He swayed and danced slightly, enough to get a good look at his face. David stared at the video slack jawed until the end where a pair of felinoid fingers surreptitiously retrieved the recording com.
“So, it is you! I thought I recognized you.” She seemed pleased. David was a bit heartbroken. “What’s the matter? You sound wonderful.”
“I…I…”
“Say! Can you sing for the service? We don’t have anyone, and it just seems right…Could you?”
David was conflicted. Still reeling. He wasn’t betrayed exactly…He never asked to not be recorded, but this…How many people saw?...He shook himself from his reverie. “What?”
“Could you sing a hymn or two? Mr. Albrecht wanted a traditional funeral. So, that would mean a song or two, right?”
He thought for a moment. All he wanted to do was show face. Maybe see a couple humans and reconnect, but…Well… “I guess I could…I’ve done a couple funerals before…” He looked between the two and answered, “Alright…Just let me know when to go up…”
They shook his hand and patted him on the shoulder before going and finding the preacher. He could see them talking and pointing in his direction before he found a seat beside the casket facing the front. Everyone else found a seat as the older man at the front addressed the gathering.
“Welcome. Thank you all for coming. I am chaplain Richard Martinez, and I will be leading and delivering the eulogy today. Unfortunately, Mr. Albrecht’s family could not attend, however I would like to thank all of you in attendance. I know coming together as one people is a challenge, but Mr. Albrecht and I thank you for your sacrifice. We are gathered here today to mourn the loss and celebrate the life of Mortimer Albrecht. During our tumultuous journey to the stars, and diaspora among its people, we lost a small sense of our joint humanity. We split and spread out to the four winds in a bid for self-preservation. But now we come together. We join one another to recognize a fellow brother and son of Earth. We come together to give final rights and recognition to the deceased that they are truly human, and we will not forget or abandon them to the cold uncaring void of space. Mr. Albrecht was born on Earth and believed in the unstoppable spirit and drive of humanity. We share this belief with all of you. Those who answered the call. Those who believed in the brotherhood of humanity. That our spirit is strong and unbreaking. That humanity will one day walk in the sun, unafraid and proud of who we are. That we will one day stand before the other races of the galaxy as an equal. Please join me in prayer as we put the spirit of Mortimer Albrech to rest. For those who practice, please bow your head and join me in prayer, and for those who don’t, please observe a respectful silence.
Dear Lord, we come before you to humbly ask that you guide Mr. Albrecht swiftly and surly to your eternal peace. That you guard and guide his spirit as surely as you guide our own. In your name we pray, amen. Now we will turn our time over to a special guest who has volunteered to sing a hymn or two.” He gestured to David in his seat.
David stood and made his way to the front of the casket and faced the small crowd. He cleared his throat and began, “Good morning. I’m David King, and I’ll sing a couple of traditional songs. You are welcome to sing along if you know the words.”
He cleared his throat, took a breath and began, “Amazing grace. How sweet the sound…”
He sang clearly and steadily, as his voice rang out through the narrow valley, keeping his hand folded in front of him. A couple of the attendees sang quietly with him, but David remained steady. Focused on the task at hand. He may not have known the man, but that was no excuse to disrespect him. He noticed the woman from before sitting in the back of the crowd, recording his performance. He considered protesting, but today wasn’t about him. Besides, what harm could it do?
When ‘Amazing Grace’ was done he went straight into ‘Danny boy.’ About that time the attendees grew misty-eyed. “You’ll bend down and tell me that you love me. And I shall rest in peace until you come to me.”
Even the preacher-man seemed reluctant to say anything, so David continued. “This next song…Means a lot to me…It got me…and others through a particularly hard time. If Samuel is somewhere out there. This is for us.” He planted himself, breathed, and began. “When peace, like a river, atendeth my way. When sorrows like sea billows roll. Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well, with my soul…”
David hadn’t thought of that hymn in years. The memories weren’t pleasant, but it seemed appropriate at the time. Chaplin Martinez made his way up beside David and put his hand on his shoulder. “Thank you. We all appreciated that. This concludes the service for Mr. Albrecht. Go in peace.”
The tiny congregation stood a milled about before making their way back down the hill. David stayed behind to wait out the snake’s charge, looking over the casket and simple gravestone. He had hoped to maybe make some kind of connection, but the humans dispersed without so much as a word. He was alone again. And he didn’t know why.
After a time, there were only a couple shuttles left. The casket had been let down with a couple chains, and the Guardians had dispersed with their humans. David shambled down the hill and met his companions.
“Ready to go?”
“I guess.”
“You sounded beautiful.”
“You could hear that?”
Hilda nodded.
“Thanks…I try…” They boarded the shuttle and took off. David wondered if it was even worth it.
*****
Sammuel was making his rounds through the station. The children loved him, and the parents loved the break. He stood in the middle of the park entertaining and answering questions. The dark-skinned man loved any opportunity to give back to the community that took him in. The dark-skinned man was keeping watch over some ursdain children when he heard something that caught his attention.
“When sorrows like sea billows roll.”
He sought out the youngster with the vid loaded on his com, “Hey. Could you do me a favor and show me that?”
The ssypno child seemed confused, but complied, “You know this song?”
“Whatever my lot, you have taught me to say, it is well, it is well, with my soul.”
He watched the screen intently, his jovial attitude sobering somewhat. “I know that song…I know that man…” He watched intently the man who helped him through the hardest part of his life. “You have any idea where that is?” The child of course didn’t know. “Well…I’m gonna have to find him on my own…”
2023.06.10 09:54 Philster07 What on earth does this parking sign mean?
https://imgur.com/a/793s0Mv
The sign is on the back streets near Southgate tube station, I see no other parking boxes/resident permit holder signs/Yellow or Red lines. So I should be able to park near here for the day? Right?
( I checked it's also outside the ULEZ)
submitted by Philster07 to drivingUK [link] [comments]
The sign is on the back streets near Southgate tube station, I see no other parking boxes/resident permit holder signs/Yellow or Red lines. So I should be able to park near here for the day? Right?
( I checked it's also outside the ULEZ)
2023.06.10 07:48 NomadicSoul88 CX410 - an 'illuminating' review of the new night colour view camera from ReoLink
 | I have been using ReoLink products for around 3 years now, first replacing some unbranded 5MP cameras with 9x ReoLink RLC-811A recording back to a Synology Surveillance Station package running on a NAS. The camera quality and feature set for the price point is very impressive, however I found the Synology solution lacking in areas such as being unable to download 4K H.265 on iOS and the motion detection was spotty at best. Impressed with the cameras, I upgraded to a ReoLink RLN16-410 NVR and the end-to-end integration has made every aspect of controlling, viewing, searching and downloading recordings effortless, especially when searching by ‘smart’ motion events such as person, car or pet. Remote viewing has always worked well (both from the cameras and the NVR) and has been easy to manage and reliable. submitted by NomadicSoul88 to reolinkcam [link] [comments] Since then, I have also upgraded my parents’ system, two of my neighbours have switched over to ReoLink and I am even using them at work for 3D printer observation cameras. In short, I’m very impressed with the product range, their integration and feature set. I have shared my thoughts online about the various ReoLink products I use and as a result and when the new CX410 became available, ReoLink reached out to me to test and review the product against my existing RLC-811a cameras (of note, I have not been paid for this review and these are my genuine thoughts). VIDEOs and IMAGEs All images from this review can be found on Imgur at this link: https://imgur.com/a/sk8WzAg Various videos have been made showcasing the review and have been assembled into a YouTube playlist available here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZJ0PgGlhPq3jQ0uNNR7bP2NxwHpdWoJ3 FIRST IMPRESSIONS The ReoLink CX410 has a relatively standard ‘bullet style’ form factor and is quite compact in size. In the box apart from the camera there are mounting anchors and screws, waterproof ethernet cable barrel, short network cable and a documentation sleeve. The sleeve contains setup guides, a handy drilling template and a CCTV warning sticker for your window or door. Of note, there is no power supply included, so you will need an NVR with PoE ports, a PoE network switch or a POE injector if you want single cable operation. Unboxing - https://youtu.be/OMDvVTENA_s Compared to previous ReoLink products I have used and am aware of, three stand out differences of the CX410 are:
TESTS For comparison tests and as this is a temporary installation for this review, I zip-tied the CX410 to the underside of my existing RLC-811a to match the viewing angle and scene as much as possible. Apart from looking like I am becoming super paranoid and constructing my own frankensteined dual lens cameras to protect my secrets from the government, this alignment revealed some pretty surprising and unexpected results for me. The CX410 has an 89º horizontal view and 46º vertical view with a 4mm lens which is just a bit shy to that of the RLC-811a (31º horizontal, 55º vertical with 2.7mm lens at full wide). The image has practically no fish-eye distortion and sharpness and detail is consistent throughout. CX410 Daytime View (4MP) RLC811a Daytime View (8MP) During daytime, the camera performs well both in overcast and sunny conditions, especially where there is a wider dynamic range between light and shadow. The RLC-811a has more detail, however this is an 8MP camera with 5x optical zoom (4K 3840 x 2160) vs the fixed lens and 4MP sensor of the CX410 (running at QHD 2560x1440). Despite this, the CX410 produces more vibrant and bright colours and shadow detail when both cameras are set to their default image settings. Images can be captured at up to 30fps, with the ability for the camera to dynamically vary frame rate depending on lighting and motion conditions. Comparison of CX410 and RLC811a - https://youtu.be/W304l92q_7w Night time is when the CX410 really shines, figuratively and literally. For the tests, I disabled the spotlight and infrared lights on the RLC-811a so that there wasn’t false illumination. Beyond this, I turned off all the garden lighting and even lighting in the front of the house to really push the camera in a dark environment. The only light source during the test was a streetlight across the road, top left of frame. For reference, this photograph was taken and adjusted to match what the eye could see at the time of testing. Actual 'human eye' view of the scene at which both the CX410 and RLC811a were pointed towards. The only light source is the street light. During testing, all garden lighting and house lighting facing the scene were turned off. This is the resulting image from the CX410 without the 4x warm LED lights switched on. Motion was very smooth when compared to the RLC-811a, however fast-moving objects such as cars and a person on an electric bike had some motion blur. Colour reproduction is accurate, even with the red Chinese maple tree on the left. CX410 Night Colour Mode - no illumination CX410 Night Colour Mode - https://youtu.be/mQluY2RtUvs As above, however with 4x warm 400lm LED lights on. Motion blur decreased with this on and also helped to eliminate shadows cause by the streetlight. This was also tested with Smart Detection and was responsive, without much image degradation when switching between illuminated and non-illuminated modes. Interestingly, there is also an ‘Auto Mode’ which works well in which the warm LEDs will turn on at varying brightness’s to supplement the image as needed, rather than just full-on, full-off to a preset maximum brightness like other cameras. Beyond this, there is also a ‘Smart Mode’ which achieves the same, however when a motion event is detected, will turn the lights to full and then back to automatic once the event is over. It would be great to see this intelligence rolled out across all spotlight capable cameras! CX410 Spotlight Mode - https://youtu.be/DKYsqASa_W0 CX410 with 4x Warm LEDs at maximum brightness For comparison, here are the images from the RLC-811a RLC811a - No infrared, no spotlight RLC811a - Infrared, no spotlight RLC811a - Spotlight (5x cold LEDs) Whilst the spotlights in the cameras are designed to both illuminate motion events and to also act as a deterrent, I and my neighbours have found them quite useful for practical lighting when going down a dark pathway at night. It has negated the need for additional lighting to be installed. When comparing the RLC-811a 5x white LEDs at 450lm vs the CX410 4x warm white LEDs at 400lm, the RLC-811a has better spread, coverage and illumination, however it is not by a significant margin as is to be expected with the LED placement and the slightly better specifications. Due to the mounting position, whilst the lights are bright, especially if they turn on during total darkness, they are not uncomfortable unless you’re looking directly at them. CX410 with 4x warm white LEDs on (400lm) RLC-811a with 5x cold white LEDs on (450lm) HUMAN MOTION To further test the difference in motion blur and clarity, a test was conducted where I walked a set path along the street (approx. 15m away), then up and down my driveway and through the garden on the periphery of the cameras’ view. This path was chosen to test quality of the image from a distance, in the middle of the frame and to the edge of the frame. I wore a cap and hooded jacket to simulate someone trying to stay unidentified to further push the cameras during the test. Human Motion Tests - https://youtu.be/A3BeCIsHgcs Focusing on the CX410, with the warm LED lights not on, the frame rate was still high however clarity was very poor, especially for facial features when in completely unlit areas. This improved however where the face was illuminated by other light sources, in this case a nearby streetlight. When the warm LED lights were on, clarity massively improved, with facial features being much more clearly defined both near and far and when in motion. This is where the ‘Auto’ and ‘Smart’ modes will be useful to balance between monitoring a space and having good illumination for then there is a motion detection alarm. After a firmware update, motion detection worked very well. Approaching the camera from areas of either light or dark were not an issue, with the camera being responsive at turning on the warm LED spotlight in Night Smart, Auto and Smart Modes. Even when running down the foot path at about a 20m distance from the camera, the light came on quickly. Unlike other cameras I have tested, when the camera switches between the LEDs being on and off, there is not too much blooming or over-exposure, with the image and exposure correcting very quickly between modes. CX410 Light Switching Tests - https://youtu.be/Qj8W02lVNxM CX410 Motion Detection Tests - https://youtu.be/bAA-RVp8vgU CX410 - no spotlight with human and dog CX410 - spotlight with human and dog When the subject is still as seen in the images above, clarity and features of both human and pet faces is quite good for a 4MP sensor camera. It is also important to remember that as these still images were captured, the space I was standing in was in total darkness. RLC811a - no infrared, no spotlight with human and dog RLC811a - spotlight with human and dog For comparison, these are the same images taken with the RLC-811a with Infrared Off and Spotlight On. The CX410 4MP sensor and f1 lens produces clearer and brighter images, however the 8MP sensor of the RLC-811a allows the ability to more clearly zoom into an image for identification or analysis. Of note, even during a large burst of rain which occurred early one morning, the CX410 still performed well and there was no visible degradation in picture quality or clarity. Other cameras can often capture the infrared light reflecting from the rain leaving big white streaks across the image, reducing effectiveness: CX410 Heavy Rain Test - https://youtu.be/mY9HmGK9ezg SUMMARY Despite the size and price-point, the CX410 has an incredible image sensor and optics which result in high quality colour night vision with very smooth motion and minimal motion blur without the need for infra-red and in the majority of cases, without visible illumination. When visible light is required, the 4x warm LEDs when under Smart and Auto modes only illuminate to the required intensity, which prevents areas being blasted with light throughout the evening resulting in much more subtle illumination. Powerful motion detection settings for humans, pets and cars allow the user to fine tune these parameters to best suit their needs and environment. The next generation features including toolless adjustment and waterproof caps are welcome improvements on previous models and demonstrates ReoLinks’ receptiveness to customer feedback. My only hope is that there will be a 4K version coming out too which can neatly integrate with the RLC-811a style cameras where a more discreet approach to low light colour security is required. I would recommend this camera where infrared light cannot be used, or where colour imaging is required for night-time surveillance. |
2023.06.10 06:56 jackanus moving to nyc, leaving my car. am I insane?
Hello!
I'll be moving to NYC for grad school (performance/composition degree) in the fall, and I think I'm going to leave my car (SUV). While I could conceivably get street parking somewhat-kind-of near my apartment, most people I've talked to have said it's more trouble than it's worth (alternating sides every week, monetary costs, etc.).
I have also heard from bassist friends up there that it's doable to ride the subway with a bass. Also, I'll (thankfully) have a locker on campus where I'll leave my good bass, and I'll be able to keep my beateoutside-gig-bass at home. So I'll just commute with an instrument for gigs; it's not gonna be an everyday thing (though hopefully, the gigs do become somewhat frequent, lol).
I kinda just can't wrap my head around walking around to subway stops and riding the train being the way I move around with this thing. But I've also heard people do it, and *many* people have told me not to bring a car. Would love to hear the thoughts of any bassists who've lived/spent time in the city!
Also, I'm thinking about a better solution to weatherproofing my bass if/when I need to move around in rain/snow. Not something I have to deal with currently, so all I have is a soft case, and I'm worried about the resilience of that/if it will protect the instrument from the more extreme weather conditions of NYC compared to my current climate (DFW area).
Sorry for the novel, lmao. Much 2 think about. Appreciate y'all's thoughts!
submitted by jackanus to doublebass [link] [comments]
I'll be moving to NYC for grad school (performance/composition degree) in the fall, and I think I'm going to leave my car (SUV). While I could conceivably get street parking somewhat-kind-of near my apartment, most people I've talked to have said it's more trouble than it's worth (alternating sides every week, monetary costs, etc.).
I have also heard from bassist friends up there that it's doable to ride the subway with a bass. Also, I'll (thankfully) have a locker on campus where I'll leave my good bass, and I'll be able to keep my beateoutside-gig-bass at home. So I'll just commute with an instrument for gigs; it's not gonna be an everyday thing (though hopefully, the gigs do become somewhat frequent, lol).
I kinda just can't wrap my head around walking around to subway stops and riding the train being the way I move around with this thing. But I've also heard people do it, and *many* people have told me not to bring a car. Would love to hear the thoughts of any bassists who've lived/spent time in the city!
Also, I'm thinking about a better solution to weatherproofing my bass if/when I need to move around in rain/snow. Not something I have to deal with currently, so all I have is a soft case, and I'm worried about the resilience of that/if it will protect the instrument from the more extreme weather conditions of NYC compared to my current climate (DFW area).
Sorry for the novel, lmao. Much 2 think about. Appreciate y'all's thoughts!
2023.06.10 05:02 queenofeeveerything And I still never got my food in the end…
 | Normally I pay for priority to get my order first. After waiting ~25 minutes after she picked up my order for what’s normally a 10-15min delivery I checked and saw she was nowhere near my address. submitted by queenofeeveerything to UberEATS [link] [comments] When she finally arrived at my apartment (doorman building) she didn’t even attempt to deliver the food to the right place (lots of different condos/buildings on the street)…. Causing me to not get my food. Why even go through the trouble if you’re just going to give up delivery in the end. At least I got my refund |