You Know, When You Create A Culture (or Makes Derivatives/dig Further Into Other Created Cultures), It

I'm sorry women, none of my fic pass the Bechdel Test

Making a drive folder and related spreadsheet of my fanfics so y'all can ask me to have access to them if you don't have an AO3 account (since I locked all my fics for registered users only)

Forgot to tell y'all

But I've finished that dang thing!!!!

So I have thrown myself into a huge project, which is to make a plaid for my mother

This is the finished plaid from the creator and all the squares, half squares and quarter squares I have to do.

I've done all that so far, which corresponds to the four corners, all the big borders, half of the small borders and one baby square.

I'm doing it using yarn my mother wanted, which is a mix of cotton and merinos wool. There's 10 colours total but I'm not using the same as what is shown in the pattern.

following along a video and having fun I guess fhalsdjfhasdf

so yeah, if anyone wants to help me through my ko-fi to get it so my text recordings can be better I would be much oblige (and you can send me a lil text to read when you do)(so I can sorta thank you)

I guess I’ll take a Samson Go Mic for my recording stuff, but it’s still like,,,, 60€ so hmmm I need money lmao

I was just wondering something.

Has anyone else stumbled onto problems with artfol? I’m not talking about the lag here but the ability to post art.

For some reason, I’m unable to post anything but text (and yes, I have an artist account). When I go to post artwork through the + button at the bottom or the lil image at the top, it leads me to the gallery/file reader but when I chose one pic it brings me back to the app without doing anything.

I made my account four days ago and contacted in DM the official account two/three days ago but they still haven’t answered me and I found only two or three other people having issues like that.

So yeah if anyone knows why lmao it would be great.

New AO3 Tag Wrangling Policy and the Transformers Fandom

(This is a long one, folks, but I think it's important.)

A new tag-wrangling policy on AO3 has the potential to create some massive confusion and chaos in the Transformers fanfic community, with regards to fandom tags. There is a Reddit post about it here with a focus on anime fandoms, but I want to give some concrete examples for the Transformers fandom on why we DO NOT WANT this, and why I think it's a horrible idea.

The Problem

Basically, AO3 is looking to get rid of the "All Media Types" fandom tag across the board, either by dismantling them or just not maintaining them. The Transformers - All Media Types tag has been an all-purpose tag that you could select when your story doesn't fall into any one specific continuity. Additionally, all most (see below) TF continuities on AO3 are considered a subtag of the Transformers - All Media Types tag. For example, if you look at the link above for all works in the All Media Types tag, you will see fics that are also tagged ONLY with Transformers: Animated, because it falls under the All Media Types tag.

One exception: With the upcoming Transformers: One movie coming out imminently, there will likely be a big influx of stories tagged with Transformers: One. In fact, there are several already. However, it hasn't been linked to the larger Transformers - All Media Types tag yet. I wasn't worrying about it though, because I know these things can take time.

With information about this new tagging policy, however, I'm now wondering whether it'll EVER get linked to the All Media Types tag. If that happens, and when more continuities are developed in the coming years (since you know Hasbro loves creating new universes) this has the potential to cause massive confusion when looking for stories to read.

Searching for Stories with the New Tagging System

So let's say the All Media Types fandom tag isn't accurate anymore, because it no longer includes ALL of the continuities (such as TF:One). You will need to include ALL the Transformers continuities when browsing for TF fics.

How many tags is that? Well, here are all of the tags currently listed under the Transformers - All Media Types tag:

Note that this doesn't include Transformers: One since it hasn't been categorized yet.

You will potentially have to have 40 or more different fandom tags in your search, just in case the author tagged their story with something you weren't expecting.

This massively decreases the findability of a story.

Tagging with the New System

The email response from the Tag Wrangling group (see the linked Reddit post above) seems to be a bit flip in the response to the user's concern. "...encourages creators to tag with the media they intend."

While I appreciate what they are attempting to do, this policy change feels like a solution in search of a problem, especially in larger fandoms with multiple continuities, versions, and media types that are all cross-pollinated in both canon and fanon. While I'm focusing on Transformers fandom, imagine a creator in the DC comic universe writing a story that incorporates bits and pieces from a dozen different reboots.

For example, let's say that I am writing a fic about Ratchet. I am using the setting of the original G1 episodes, but I also am using the characterization of him as a bit of an old man grump. That characterization originated in the Animated continuity, but I want to incorporate bits of pieces of his other characterizations as well (old friend of Optimus from TFP, Ratchet ran a faction-free clinic like he did in the War for Cybertron series, he's got a Decepticon boyfriend like in IDW1 - or maybe even Cyberverse, etc.)

With this new tagging structure, I might potentially have to tag the story with ALL of those continuities. So instead of just slapping down the "All Media Types" tag (and maybe one other fandom tag that matches the characters as best I can), I'll have to analyze my story and try to figure out how best to tag for the characters I used.

And what if you're doing a completely AU version of the story? For example, a humanformers story, or merformers? Using the All Media Types tag along with a Alternate Universe - Human or Alternate Universe - Mermaid tag worked perfectly, since you weren't writing the story to fit into one specific continuity. But now, that might not be an option.

What To Do??

The first thing I would suggest is to contact AO3 (using the Feedback and Support page) and let them know (nicely) that you think this is a horrible idea. Give them some examples on how you use the All Media Types tag to find stories to read, or to help you tag a story. People outside of the Transformers fandom don't always appreciate how absolutely tangled the continuities can be with each other, and providing examples might help them see why this would be a really messy change.

Readers: Be aware that when you are looking in the All Media Types tag, it will no longer show newer continuities. And if AO3 starts dismantling that tag like they suggested they are doing, be aware that some stories won't show up in that tag like they used to. You can also create and then bookmark a custom search page that includes all 40+ continuities. REALLY annoying, but it's a workaround.

Writers: Until they start dismantling the All Media Types tag, ALWAYS ALWAYS tag your stories using Transformers - All Media Types... Especially for newer continuities. This will be especially important if you are writing a Transformers: One story. Right now, anyone who is only browsing the All Media Types tag will not see a story tagged only with Transformers: One. Make sure you're aware of how tags work and how they can affect the visibility and findability of your story.

Epilogue

Ugh. That's a lot of words for a long-weekend Saturday. And maybe I'm overreacting a tiny bit. But my work involves information architecture, and this change just absolutely baffles me. It's almost as though they want to make it harder to find stories. Considering that AO3 won a Hugo partially because of its fantastic tagging system, this change seems like AO3 is doing its best to shoot itself in the foot.

When you have a square hole, a round hole, and a rectangular hole… Yeah, you DO want each peg to go in the "right" hole. But if all of the pegs fit in the square hole, who cares? You got the job done.

I love you @ao3org, but please reconsider this change... Especially for IPs that are as old and are as varied as Transformers.

Read more here:

Vice

Adobe Tells Users They Can Get Sued for Using Old Versions of Photoshop

"You are no longer licensed to use the software," Adobe told them.

Not 100% sure I'm reading this right but,

Redbubble Blog

Understanding how the new account fee may apply to you

Redbubble Blog

We’re introducing new artist account tiers. Here’s why this will make Redbubble a better marketplace, and how the changes will apply to you.

The tiers are intended to encourage actions that are positive for the marketplace and recognise and reward artists who invest time creating and promoting unique products.

Hum... Great, so if you wanted to have a redbubble on the side to make some money then you're basically not welcome???

Redbubble Blog

How accounts are reviewed and classified

And seriously I am in tears at that like wow. Basically, if you make enough money for Redbubble, the fee is removed. Basic tiers have to pay a fee, but premium and pro don't.

There's also the "opportunity to create licensed fan art" that bugs me because, there already was a list of things you could make fan art of depending on the list they have, but now you can't unless you have a premium or pro account? While (from what I've seen at least) most small artists make fan art and sell it because they know that there is a fanbase for it and that it will sell.

I do understand the copyright problem they face, sure. But the rest still is... not good.

Over the past few years the amount of new accounts and content has increased significantly on our marketplace. This has resulted in increased costs as we’ve needed greater investment in resources to operate the marketplace and support our artist community and your customers.

So yeah, increased costs that they will make the small artists pay for and subsequently make people think twice before coming on the plateform, or just leave it.

Y’all, I tested my mic today so here’s a draft of a book I’ll read on monday! (yes, it’s in french)

How I pratice drawing things, now in a tutorial form. The shrimp photo I used is here Show me your shrimps if you do this uvu  PS: lots of engrish because foreign