This Is Exactly How It Played Out

What I think "This Is America" means for us white people

To add onto the other "This Is America" interpretations, I think that part of the point of the dancing with all the surrounding chaos was to show the spread of parts of African-American culture (such as rap and different dances) into white appreciation and focus without the acknowledgement of the pain that the community that makes it is suffering. We white people can take in those elements that we like without having to worry about also experiencing the 'less appealing' parts of the culture like police brutality, gun violence, homelessness, poverty and other things that come as the product of systemic racism (which in America was made by our race). Maybe we would recognize it better if *some artist* paired depictions of the art we all love with depictions of black bodies being brutalized and desecrated at every turn. I think that's why he says at the end "America / I just checked my following list and / You motherfuckers owe me" -- because it's not fair that American culture can be taking in the richness and beauty of one of its subsets without owning up to the hardships it gave that subset to have birthed this art in the first place.

If we are going to appreciate African-American art, we have to support the African Americans who make it.

Quick necessary update on my profile picture:

This picture is from the "knuckles sings" video from the YouTuber Gregzilla, which is where the meme originated from. I don't want to support the Ugandan Knuckles meme because from what I can tell it's racist -- the accent is bad enough, but I've also read that the clicking noises are actually making fun of click-based languages from Africa. I'm white and not an expert, but it seems off to me and I would much rather err on the side of being careful than let my picture sit and possibly hurt people.

However, I think the skin itself is fucking hilarious so if you, like me, want an offense-free way to enjoy this meme go watch the original video that's linked first. Stay safe and be good people everyone!

(p.s. If I find out that the image itself is too connected to racism then I'll take it down. It's just not worth it to hurt people guys.)

AAAAHHHHHHH MY FRIEND IS SO KIND AND TALENTED

friend aesthetic (6/?) — sam (@purple-37-bird) 🌌

Amidst the rubble of the Kingsman tailor shop, Eggsy and Mark Strong’s Merlin — two of the only people to survive the high-stakes hit — meet. [Director Matthew] Vaughn says that Eggsy’s orange smoking jacket is a sign that he hasn’t shaken off all his idiosyncracies and rough edges. “I can’t imagine Colin Firth having an orange smoking jacket,” laughs Vaughn. “It actually looks really cool. Dapper. Eggsy has his favourite orange Adidas tracksuit and says, ‘if it looks good in a tracksuit, why can’t I have it in a dinner jacket?’” [x]

it me

Autism Type #1148

an old-world autistic farm maiden in a cabin in the damp wilds, alone with my harp and the thistle and the finches, spinning deep magic into a modest living, helping travelers and plucking bitter herbs for my botanical remedies

You know it was probably for the best the Terezi was some recluse who lived in the woods and ate live squirrel meat because if she actively participated in society with other teals they would have fucking necked themselves

I love him so much

Elliott Smith talking about how he made up “Between the Bars” while watching Xena the Warrior Princess with the sound off. 

Punishment for stimming is BAD.

I don't care if my blog's not popular, if this post reaches one person it'll be one more person helped. I just had a college class in abnormal psychology where the professor taught us that punishment is a workable and useful therapy to "treat" autistic symptoms such as head-banging, biting etc. What he neglected to tell the class is that those behaviors are forms of self-stimulation (aka stimming) which is necessary for most people with autism to regulate their sensory systems. Specifically the above destructive behaviors are forms of overload stimming, in which the person will turn to types of self-stimulation that blocks out whatever is causing them distress in their environment. For example, head-banging and biting cause pain and so the body is forced to process that instead of what's outside, temporarily interfering with their perception of the world to give them a reprieve. To clarify: this behavior isn't good, it's dangerous. The solution is to replace the overload stims with healthier ones, let them remove themself from the situation, and give them coping mechanisms and plans so that next time they don't have to get to overload levels of upset.

The solution is NOT to punish them for overload stimming. They are not exhibiting bad behavior, they are trying desperately to do what their body needs them to do. If you punish them and they stop overload stimming in response, it's not successful learning: it's abuse. They are not stopping because they 'see the error in their ways,' they are stopping because they are afraid of what you will do to them. All punishment works like that, but it is called for when the person does something wrong, not when they are working to do what their body needs because there is nothing wrong with that.

By the way, this is true for non-destructive types of stimming as well. Preventing any kind of stimming is abuse because it prevents people with autism's bodies from working as they should. Instead stimming needs to be accommodated and respected or, if it absolutely must be stopped, immediately replaced with an equally effective option.

To recap: punishment is designed to stop bad behavior. Stimming is not bad behavior because it is an action that people with autism need to do to regulate their sensory systems. It is abuse to punish someone without cause. Therefore it is abuse to punish someone for stimming. Instead find non-destructive stims and solutions that solve the problem without the damaging consequences.

*p.s. if someone is overload stimming they're already really upset. don't make it worse. it's common sense and so easy to do if you care about that person.*

Today’s mood: Ned in the ‘trying food from The Trump Grill’ video

Hey shameless plug for Hozier's 2014 album. On its resume is having helped dozens of anxiety attacks, being perfectly in range for an alto or soprano voice and alluding to social justice issues in the songs. Plus it sounds fucking good the guitar and composition and piano and his fucking voice just. give it a listen you won't be sorry.