For Those Who Saw My Earlier Posts, Nevermind. This Thread Was So Long, I Cannot Even.

For those who saw my earlier posts, nevermind. This thread was so long, I cannot even.

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Flash Thompson's flinch (excuse the language) | Andrew garfield spiderman, Thompsons, Amazing spiderman

Sep 18, 2015 - Flash Thompson's flinch (excuse the language)

CHIS ZYLKA’S ACTING IS ON POINT!! I didn’t even notice this when I watched it years ago in cinemas. Yeah, this is an 8-years-later reblog, don’t judge me

You wouldn't flinch if someone was going to throw a basketball at your head?

[x]

I’m sure you think you’re being original, but I’ve literally (and I do mean literally) seen about a hundred people respond with nearly the exact same wording, and every single one of you seem to be missing the point.

My post:

Are we really not talking about this flinch?

Flash Thompson’s father, canonically, is an abusive drunk.

Are we really not talking about this flinch

About a HUNDRED people have responded with various versions of your snotty question. For the most part I’ve just sat back and watched other people explain to you smug whiner-babies why you’re being ignorant high-and-mighty fucks who are completely missing the point of the post, but you came directly to my ask box and you went on anon, so it’s my turn.

Usually I don’t get bitchy when people send me asks, but this is as much in response to the other hundred of you as it is to you personally, so be warned, I’m not going to be nice about this.

Of course he’s flinching because of the fucking basketball. Nearly everyone would flinch in this context. Literally no one is denying that???

However, most people wouldn’t react to a basketball coming at their face by turning their back to it, getting low to the ground, and bracing their entire body. Most people would flinch back, maybe take a step back, and try to block the ball with their arm and shoulder. Most people wouldn’t have that expression of shame and dawning comprehension afterward. 

Do you know the difference between a bad actor and a good actor?

A bad actor tells one story.

A good actor tells a multitude of stories.

Of fucking course he’s flinching because there’s a basketball coming at his fucking head, that’s story #1, that’s literally the scene, NO ONE is debating or disputing that. There is no other reason for him to be flinching in this moment. 

The WAY he flinches is what’s interesting, because that’s story #2.

He turns away and brings his forearms up to cover his face — children in physically abusive homes learn to protect their faces at all costs so that no one sees evidence of the abuse and asks about it.

He braces his whole body.

He gets low to the ground.

And after he registers what’s happened he looks ashamed, humiliated, angry at HIMSELF, not at Peter.

When you react to something involuntarily, because of a learned behavior, because of anxiety or fear, and you realize you’ve reacted incorrectly to the situation at hand? That you’re using the wrong social script, and your reaction was disproportionate to the situation? THAT is the fucking look on his face afterward.

Anyone with anxiety can relate to that expression. That expression says “fuck, I fucked up, now everyone knows.” It’s fear and shame and self loathing, and it has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the fucking basketball.

Would I flinch if someone was going to throw a basketball at my head? Yes, of course I would. But I wouldn’t flinch like THAT. I’m going to go out on a limb here, since you’re being an asshole about this, and say neither would you.