First I want to say that I am, and have been a fan of Kendrick for about a decade. I also want to say that despite the criticism I'm about to levy - I'm still a fan.
All that being said, Kendrick Lamar is an admitted Black Hebrew Israelite. I thought this wasn't a controversial statement until I got into an argument yesterday about this.

So What's My Evidence?

This won't be exhaustive but I present two verses off of DAMN. The final verse on YAH. and the outro to FEAR.

[YAH.]
[Verse 2: Kendrick Lamar]
[...]
I'm a Israelite, don't call me black no mo'
That word is only a color, it ain't facts no mo'

This is pretty explicit. The only problem Kendrick has with one labelling him a Black Israelite is that he objects to the adjective 'black' being added out in front. Which is also a subtle affirmation of the claims of the ideology. Since Americans of African descent are the true descendants of the ancient Israelites, according to Kendrick, it's redundant to add 'Black' to the front of the label.
Moving on to FEAR. there is the part that anyone who listens to Kendrick's music with their brains even partially switched on would've picked up on. Carl Duckworth's voicemail at the end of FEAR.

[FEAR.]
[Outro: Carl Duckworth]
[...]
The so-called Blacks, Hispanics, and Native American Indians
Are the true children of Israel
We are the Israelites, according to the Bible
The children of Israel
[...]

So this is Carl Duckworth, one of Kendrick's cousins, laying out the primary conceit of Black Israelite ideology. That the people calling themselves Jews today are phonies and that the True Descendants™ of the ancient tribes of Israel are Hispanics, African and Native Americans.

Why Is This a Problem?

It should go without saying that this ideology is incredibly antisemitic, and aside from that total bullshit. There is a group of Africans who are actually Jewish called the Beta Israel, here's a good video on the history of these people. So this ideology manages to erase the existence of actual African Jews, in some weird faux liberation theology. I'm willing to bet that more people are familiar with Black Hebrew Israelites than the Beta Israel.

Criticism of my Take

The criticism that I received for pointing out Kendrick's associating with the BHI was something along the lines of, Kendrick was rapping from someone else's perspective.
This is clearly not true in the DAMN. references. In the YAH. verse before the I'm a Israelite section Kendrick uses the 'my' pronoun as he was talking about the infamous Fox News clip. He clearly started the verse talking about himself, there is no reason to conclude that he suddenly and conveniently started talking about someone else when he said "I'm a Israelite."

Conclusion

While Kendrick's adherence to Black Israelite ideology is super cringe. I still respect him as an artist, and still count myself among one of his fans. HOWEVER, we [I] don't wanna hear you all say he isn't a Black Israelite, no more. Stop.
Mods please don't delete, I worked hard on this post ty :)

[England]
Hello,
My mother claims Employment and Support Allowance, and she claims a disability component with it (it's labelled as "disability income guarantee"). Recently, I graduated from university, and I’ve got a part-time job working from home, as I need to stay at home with my mom to help her with daily activities.
The issue is that because I’m no longer a full-time student, deductions are made to her ESA, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support. I was recommended by the local authority to apply for my mother PIP so, she won’t have her benefits deducted as a result of me working.
I want to ask if my mother’s PIP claim fails or is rejected, would that have an impact on her other benefits? Not that if her PIP claims fail, then her other benefits ESA, HB and CT support also ends…
Also, to be clear, I’ve already googled this and asked the advisor on the phone, but it is my mother that has to claim PIP and not myself for deductions to not be made?
Please let me know, thank you.

Is anyone else an externalizer? And if so did you like this book? I feel like her book, while helpful was at some points very binary. While I do inherently process things through external methods (talking emotions though, ranting when upset, and changing my mood based on the moods of others) I don't think I'm at an increased likelihood of being abusive myself because I have empathy and have chosen to make sure that my exterbalizing methods don't allow me to be shitty to others. Along with this I also dislike the way she paints the internalizer, externalizer family dynamics. My brother was an internalizer ever since he was young he has been favoured (but still abused) by my parents because he was quiet and independent. Me, as a child with big emotions was pushed to the sidelines and labelled as dramatic instead of taught to emotionally regulate. Their abuse made my outbursts worse until I gave up (really recently) at trying to get their attention. I also personally don't think I gave my brother hell past typical sibling scream matches (which I would always get pubished for). So this is my main qualm with the book, and I think this part is waaay to reductionistic, but other than that I loved it! It really got to the root of why emotionally inmature parents are this way.

I’ve (26M) struggled with depression and some suicidal ideation on and off since I was 16. It was a long road and took a lot of work on myself and countless hours of therapy, but around the end of 2023, I was in what I now consider to be the peak of my life. I was working a job I mostly liked, two semesters away from finishing my bachelor’s degree online and exercising almost every other day. After years of loneliness, I finally found a friend group I really adored spending time with, and I had a boyfriend with whom I hadn’t even realized I had fallen in love, whom I’d seen for about 6 months. For perhaps the first time, I had a generally positive outlook, I felt confident and attractive, and I had so much going for me. I had no clue that I was about to make a decision that would significantly alter that course and steer me off into the deepest, darkest depression and most relentless desire to end it all that I’ve ever felt. This is a very long and personal post about my decision to have surgery that I now, in hindsight, believe to have been unnecessary. The surgery itself has left me with chronic pain and probably lifelong negative consequences that are far worse than anything I ever experienced prior. I’ve kept most of this to myself other than sharing it with my therapist, and although I’m on the ledge, I think writing it all down and putting it out there may calm me somewhat. I haven’t spared some graphic details of some of the more sensitive changes to my body because I want this to be as detailed and accurate as possible. And anyway, why should I care? I may be dead soon anyway... My hope is that if I share my story, someone, somewhere, might benefit from it and might not make the same mistake I did that has me sincerely wanting to off myself. So here it goes.
Around NovembeDecember 2023, I started experiencing some strange stabbing pain in my upper right abdomen that would come on suddenly and then go away for no obvious reason. I also thought I saw trace amounts of blood in my stool, and this concerned me enough that I reached out to my primary care doctor at the beginning of January. My doctor is always booked for months, so they told me to go to the emergency room. The ER was packed, and I ended up sitting in the waiting room for about eight hours in between going for an ultrasound and a CT scan. I was getting very tired of waiting and was about ready to give up and leave as I had to work early in the morning the next day. Looking back, I wish I had left. Just before I was about to leave, they called me back and told me that they found something on the CT scan called an intussusception in my small bowel. This is a condition where the intestine gets caught on a “lead point” and folds in on itself, sort of like a telescope. It is most often found in infants and is very rarely found in people my age, yet I was told it is a medical emergency because the tissue of my bowel could die if left untreated, and/or the lead point could be a potentially cancerous tumor. They admitted me and told me they would scan me again in the morning because, despite the severity, there was a chance it could resolve. Hearing that I would be staying overnight shocked me, as I had never been hospitalized before, having always been in good physical health. I have never had digestive issues in the past, I’ve never been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis or anything of the sort, and I had never heard of this condition, but every medical professional I spoke to seemed very concerned that I had it. They didn’t have a bed for me in the hospital at that point, so I had to sleep in the packed and quite chaotic ER. About an hour after I was given a bed, a man was admitted a few feet from me who was very aggressive with all of the nurses, screaming and cursing at them throughout the night. I was not allowed to eat or drink, given the possibility of surgery. I struggled to get any sleep in that environment and woke up the next morning feeling very lethargic.
The surgeon and resident came by my bed and we spoke briefly. The surgeon explained that while the condition was serious, if it continued to show up in my CT scans, they could do minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery to resect the piece of my bowel that was telescoped and stitch it back together. I feel they really downplayed the severity of this procedure. I will never forget them saying, “It’s such a small piece of your bowel, you won’t miss it.” They felt that since I was young and otherwise healthy, I should have no problem making a full recovery. I felt confident in the fact that I was speaking to the chief of surgery at the hospital, who has more than twenty years of experience in the field. Then they brought me for my second scan, and within a few hours I was told the intussusception had not resolved. I was admitted to a hospital room, and the resident came to discuss moving forward with the surgery. My first impulse was “absolutely not,” but I quickly second-guessed myself. Everything I saw in the limited research I was able to do on my phone stated that this was indeed a serious condition that warranted surgery. In that moment, it seemed like the reasons not to go through with it were somewhat vain, such as not wanting the scars and having to forgo lifting weights at the gym for some time. Though it didn’t quite make sense to me that they wanted to operate on the complete opposite side of my body from the one that was in pain and which brought me into the ER in the first place. When I asked the resident about this, he responded, “We don’t understand how referred pain works,” Okay, fair enough, I thought. More than anything, I thought that if a doctor was in front of me, telling me what was going on with my body was an emergency situation that warranted immediate surgery, I should probably listen to them. They’re the “experts,” after all. And given the state I was in, having been in the hospital for over 24 hours at that point, running on very little sleep and nothing to eat, I don’t think I really had the capacity to fully parse what was going on, but given the doctors level of concern, it seemed like I urgently had to make a decision. After about an hour of talking it over with my mother, even though I never had any pain in the area they were about to operate on, I signed the consent papers. (Biggest fucking mistake of my life) I remember they listed risks of things that could go wrong during or shortly after the surgery, such as infection, bowel perforation, etc. They did not mention the procedure’s possible long-term consequences, and neither the surgeon nor resident ever mentioned possible long-term complications, and I didn’t think to ask. I had no experience with this kind of thing whatsoever; I am not a doctor, I don’t know any doctors, and no one I know has ever had abdominal surgery… I was so naive to trust these people, but I did. In fact, I trusted them so much that I was not terribly scared of the procedure I was about to undergo. Again, I chalk that up to the reduced mental capacity I was in, given a tough overnight stay in the ER. I remember the adrenaline rush as I was wheeled down to the operating room. I was singing one of my favorite songs in my head, hyping myself up for the procedure ahead of me. The last thing I remember was one of the OR nurses telling my mother not to worry, that the surgeon was “the best,” and that they had even operated on her husband.
I woke up high as a kite. I heard one of the nurses say I had been given fentanyl, which I remember freaked me out; I had forgotten it is more than a street drug and actually has legitimate uses. The procedure had gone fine, and I was discharged only a day or two later, with my only guidance upon discharge being not to lift heavy objects and “take it easy,” I was in some pain, but it was to be expected at that point and was well controlled by combining Tylenol and Advil. The surgeon called later that week to inform me that the pathology report had come back and that the lead point was simply “some swollen lymph nodes,” I was relieved to hear that it was not cancer. At my follow-up appointment two weeks later, I reported feeling pretty much fine. I had been granted medical leave and short-term disability from my job for six weeks following the surgery. This was the full length of time after which the surgeons expected I would recover fully. I used the time off to hang out with friends and my boyfriend and to focus on finishing what would have been my final semester of school. Those were the last few weeks that I felt somewhat normal despite what I had just gone through. I had no idea what was about to come.
About 5 weeks post-op is when I first began experiencing worse pain deep in my abdomen, right where I had the surgery, plus the pain in my upper right abdomen had not gone away. This new pain is crampy, yet sometimes stabbing, and had seemed to worsen with activity; I have experienced it every single day, nearly every hour, to varying degrees, since the beginning of February. That was also when I began regularly bloating and having difficulty going to the bathroom. No matter how hard I try to push, I can’t fully evacuate my bowels. (This is a nightmare for someone who has receptive anal sex like I used to do regularly. It is now impossible). With the emergence of all these symptoms, I felt very, very scared that there was something else wrong with me. And, of course, this all happened in the week when I was set to return to work. I have a physically demanding customer service job, and I was in so much pain that I found it impossible to be nice to the customers or even stand, so I left and, thankfully, was allowed to take the rest of the week off to figure things out. I obviously called my surgeon, but it also prompted me to do deeper research into the complications that can develop following abdominal surgery. I began pouring over medical journals, trying to figure out what was going on in my body on my own. That was when I first learned about “surgical adhesions.” These are fibrous bands of scar tissue that can develop due to the incisions made during surgery and handling of the bowel. As your body heals from the trauma of surgery, this scar tissue forms and can cause your intestine to stick to other organs or structures in your body. According to medical literature, they form in 90% of all patients who undergo abdominal surgery, but not all adhesions cause complications like what I’ve experienced. They are not easy to diagnose as they are impossible to visualize on any imaging tests, they do not go away on their own (it’s scar tissue), and the only treatment is surgically cutting them apart, which is risky, given that there’s a strong chance they will just grow back and possibly be even worse. This was obviously terrifying to me, but when I asked the surgeon about this, they said, “There’s very little chance that’s what’s happening,” given that the procedure was laparoscopic, not open. I scheduled another appointment with them, wherein they seemed quite dismissive of my concerns. They said the pain was likely “incisional” (it wasn’t and isn’t) but that they would order another CT scan so we could see what was going on. They also wrote me a script for gabapentin, an anticonvulsant meant to prevent seizures that is used off-label to treat pain and anxiety, with the qualifier that they would not write a script for anything stronger, basically implying that I was seeking narcotics, which was not at all the case, and which I found extremely offensive.
My next CT scan was scheduled about a month following that appointment in early March. In the interim, I began taking the gabapentin. I used more than I was prescribed because it was the only way I was able to control the pain and allow myself to feel comfortable at work. I didn’t anticipate the changes it would cause to my mood and behavior. In addition to feeling depressed and scared, I was also becoming easily emotionally dysregulated in ways I believe I would have been able to control prior to taking the medication. But when I didn’t take it, I was in pretty bad pain almost all the time, and I didn’t understand why at that point. My boyfriend noticed these changes in my mood and decided he needed space from me to protect his emotional wellbeing. I didn’t blame him then, and I still don’t, but I miss him terribly. We were supposed to remain “friends,” and he at least pretended he wanted that for a bit of time. At that point, I became determined to ween myself off the gabapentin and continue to work on improving my mental and physical health, for myself, but also for him; as I said, I really loved him. Later that week, after we split, I had my CT scan, and the surgeon called to tell me that it looked like I was just constipated. They advised me to take Miralax daily to ease that constipation, which should hopefully make me feel better. To me, this seemed like a huge relief. I started taking the Miralax, and at that point, I started exercising and lifting weights again. I also started trying to bulk up again, which had been an important part of my fitness journey prior to the surgery.
So April rolls around, and I am still trying my best to resume my normal life, which felt possible again at that point. I did end up successfully weening myself off gabapentin. With this newfound reinvigoration, I attempted to get my boyfriend back. We would make plans, but then he would reschedule again and again. Eventually, he kept our plans, and we met up for a talk in the park. We obviously had a lot to talk about in our relationship, at which point he told me that he simply was not attracted to me anymore. This was devastating news, as that was the first time I realized it was really over. Before I had thought that if I could show him how much I was trying to get back to the place I was before the surgery, he would stick around, but that was the moment I realized it was impossible for him to see me in the light he once did. Nevertheless, I tried to push on, kept going to the gym, and kept trying to get my life back. I was still seeing my friends regularly, and I was able to push myself to get through work, even though it was painful and hard. Plus, I was still working on my degree despite not feeling able to give it my best effort and focus with everything going on. I was still motivated to keep going, and I thought things might improve from there.
Well, lo and behold, they did not. One day in early April, I was sitting on the couch, sort of mindlessly snacking on some almonds before I was set to go have drinks with friends and see a concert. Immediately afterward, I felt that pain again in my abdomen. Despite that, I was really excited to see my friends and see the show. We met at a bar, where I had three cocktails before we made our way to the venue. I drank one or two more while the opener played. But by the time the headliner came on, I ended up in so much pain that I told my friends quite regrettably that I had to leave. I walked home and ate a small snack, wrongfully thinking it might make me feel better, before popping a melatonin and heading to bed. I woke up around 2 AM in the most intense pain I have experienced both before and after the surgery. I was extremely bloated and unable to pass gas or move my bowels. I had read somewhere that this was a sign of bowel obstruction and that I needed to seek medical attention. I made the decision to go to the ER. I walked down the stairs to leave, and as I did, I felt myself begin to vomit. Thankfully I was able to make it to the sink as I puked up what I imagine was that snack I’d had before bed. Shortly after, I arrived at the ER, this time choosing a different facility from the one where the surgeon had dismissed all of my post-surgical concerns. I was quickly admitted and given another CT scan. They confirmed my bowel was obstructed and told me they would place a tube into my nose down to my stomach to try to pump some of the blockage out. I asked the ER doctor if I was going to need to have surgery, to which he replied, “It’s a strong possibility.” This was horrifying to me. Getting the tube inserted into my nose was so painful, and I was screaming in agony the entire time. Then they gave me morphine, and I passed out. The details and timeline of that hospital stay are somewhat hazy in my mind, but I ended up being there for four days, over which I was given a “gastro graph challenge” test, wherein I was instructed to drink a contrast element which would be visualized by a series of Xrays so the doctors could monitor if anything was passing through my intestines. I met with another surgeon, whom I found to be much more attentive than my prior one, or at least simply possessing superior active listening skills. In fact, I felt that all of the staff at this second hospital were a lot more sensitive to my needs than the first. I really wish I had gone there the first time, as it’s the best hospital in the city. Add that to my long list of mistakes… Anyway.
Despite her more positive demeanor, she recommended another emergency surgery, this time a laparotomy (open) surgery to resect my bowel a second time. Her hypothesis was that the anastomosis (the medical term for the connection formed between my bowel loops during the first surgery) could be too narrow to allow food to pass through properly. I asked this new surgeon if it was possible I had adhesions causing this problem, and unlike the last one, she said, “It’s possible,” especially given that these symptoms began emerging a few weeks after the first surgery. But, like I said, they don’t really know what’s going on until they cut you open and go in there. Given that I am now much more aware of the risks of surgery and the risks of having a second procedure, I was fervently against going under the knife again. I simply couldn’t handle it. So I opted for conservative management, which meant waiting it out, taking an enema, and eventually getting back on a liquid and then solid diet. Thankfully, sitting in the hospital being NPO (Latin for nil per os - “nothing by mouth”) and taking the gastro graph made it pass eventually, and I didn’t have to have a second surgery. I was discharged from the hospital with instructions to schedule another diagnostic test called a “small bowel series,” in which they use xrays to track the amount of time it takes liquid to pass through your digestive system and to start a “low residue” diet- meaning eating very little fiber. Suddenly gone from my diet are all of the fruits and vegetables I once loved, and I can’t eat nuts or seeds (It seems to me that those almonds caused the obstruction in the first place). Basically, I’m now forced to exist on a diet of the most processed foods imaginable because although they are demonstrably unhealthy, that is all that my body is now able to safely digest.
After leaving that second hospital stay, I proceeded to delve even further into research about not only long-term abdominal surgery complications such as adhesions but also the nature of adult intussusceptions in general. I once again started furiously googling, finding results from medical journals and personal accounts from Reddit. I came to the conclusion that intussusceptions in adults, while ostensibly serious, have a strong possibility of resolving on their own, especially when they present in the small bowel, in the absence of vomiting (I never vomited before going to the hospital in January), when there is no obvious lead point (they couldn’t see it on my scans) and there is no obstruction (I was never obstructed before the surgery). Furthermore, while intussusception does present with blood in the stool, it is usually described as “currant jelly stool” (something I don’t recommend you google because it looks atrocious), which is not even close to the trace amounts of blood I saw in my own stool. (But no one ever asked, so how would I know the difference?) I never experienced any pain whatsoever in the area of my small bowel before the surgery. And yet I was told by a doctor that I was experiencing a medical emergency, which might have been caused by some malignant growth, which scared the shit out of me and made me feel at the time that immediate action was necessary. At one point, I even found a paper that attributed intussusception to cannabis use, which I had engaged in that week. In these papers, the authors highlight that these intussusceptions were transient and did not require surgical intervention. And on the point of adhesions, they are not easily diagnosed, and they are not easily treatable without surgical intervention; and said intervention is a cache 22 scenario because every time you get cut open, you risk growing back even more adhesions.
With all of this knowledge, I became absolutely distraught. I was never informed that by having this procedure performed, I would be at this increased risk of experiencing bowel obstruction. Like most people, I literally had no idea what an “adhesion” even was. What made me lose hope the most was that it seems as if doctors do these surgeries and simply ignore adhesion as a consequence because they don’t have any feasible way to prevent it or treat it without potentially creating more adhesion. So, although I was released from the hospital having avoided a second surgery, I felt more lost and hopeless than ever. I simply couldn’t cope with the realization that this would be something I would deal with for the rest of my life, something I could’ve avoided had I never agreed to get the first surgery because although I had that original pain I mentioned earlier- which has still continued to this day, it wasn’t and isn’t anything close to how excruciating the obstruction was, and it wasn’t really disrupting my life in the way the post-surgical pain has. But under the guidance of doctors, I opted to permanently alter my body, and there’s no going back. I feel so incredibly stupid for being deceived by these “medical professionals” who didn’t take the time to understand what was actually going on with me and chose to take an overly aggressive course of action that has left me permanently altered, in pain, and completely diminished my quality of life.
That week after leaving the hospital was truly the most suicidal I have ever felt. As I mentioned, I’ve dealt with suicidal ideation on and off since my adolescence. I’ve always had latent thoughts about wanting to die, wanting to escape, feeling like I’m hopeless and there’s no use trying to better myself. But this time, the desire to end my life was so much more intense. I became extremely disassociated from everything in life. In that week following my second hospitalization, there was absolutely nothing that could bring me joy. Before the surgery, I used to find deep pleasure in simply walking around my neighborhood for at least an hour every day. But I couldn’t do it anymore because walking gives me time to think, and thinking is too painful. It always leads back to the realization of the way I am now. Nothing could make me smile or laugh. I couldn’t even listen to music, one of my favorite things in the world. I became completely devoid of all emotions as my research transitioned away from my various new ailments and into ways I could end my life.
The rest of April and May passed by in a blur. Over that time, I’ve had two more appointments with the surgeons I met at the second hospital, a small bowel study (a more in-depth series of x-rays tracking the transit time of liquid through the GI tract), and a colonoscopy and endoscopy. Those have not yielded any significant findings as to what is going on, making me believe even more that all of these problems are being caused by adhesions. However, the small bowel study did reveal that my stomach is slightly herniated, which I believe is the cause of the original pain that I sought care for in the first place. At my last appointment, I was told to see a “small bowel specialist” GI doctor. But that was three weeks ago, and I haven’t even been able to get an appointment with them. I’m on a waiting list, but I imagine I’m looking at many months before I can get an appointment. I don’t know what they’re going to do for me. I don’t know that there’s anything that can be done besides more surgery, and I am very fearful about that. I fear the only way that these fucking doctors who fucked me up in the first place are going to even try to help me is if I’m obstructed again. But the changes to my diet, as much as I hate them, have kept me in a more manageable amount of pain and out of the hospital for now.
It is now June, and I am shocked that I am still here and confused about what to do now. Despite the diet, I still feel pain and discomfort at some point in the day, every single day. I think about wanting this all to end all of the time. I have not attempted again, though I did pick up another nitrogen tank, and I’ve also stockpiled a 90 day supply of my antidepressant, so at least I have the option. I am drinking two bottles of wine or half a bottle of vodka nearly every night. Alcohol is the only thing that seems to quiet my thoughts enough to get through each evening. I am sitting here in a cycle where I think about doing it, but I still feel obligated to go to work, to see my friends, and to feed my cat. My life has continued, but I don’t feel like I’m living anymore; I merely exist. I feel extremely unattractive because although I look the same as I did on the outside, I’m overcome with never ending emotional pain and turmoil on the inside. I am now unable to take care of myself and be on top of my life the way I used to be. After the second hospitalization, I dropped out of school and have no plans to continue, as I won’t need a bachelor’s degree when I’m dead. I have stopped exercising altogether, as it feels like there’s no point in trying to improve or take care of a body that has been permanently broken. Through all of this, I’ve lost much of my confidence and I feel I have completely lost my identity. I miss that old me so much. I miss my boyfriend so much. Plans with my friends are sometimes the only thing that keeps me going, and I am extremely grateful for them, but despite their continued presence, I feel extremely isolated and lonely. It’s hard to explain what I’ve been through to people without the context of all that has happened. I don’t have the energy to share it with them. And I feel if I speak about what I’m going through, I will feel like a burden, killing the vibe, and I don’t want that.
I have never felt this alienated from my body and from everything in life. I cannot cope with the fact that things will never be how they were before. I feel so incredibly distraught that I threw away what was shaping up to be the best days of my life. There’s nothing I or anyone else can do to change what has happened to me. It took me such a long time to get to the place I was in before the surgery. It was a brief and beautiful couple of months, but it’s over, and there’s no way for me to return. Even if there was, I don’t have that much of a fight left in me. I feel like such a fucking idiot for allowing the doctors to do this to me. I look around at all the happy people around me and know that I am dragging them down with my depression. I am tired of feeling helpless and like a burden on everyone I love. I am a shell of the person I once was. Ending it all is the singular thing that’s in my control. It is the only way to end all of this pain and suffering and stop the concern and confusion of my loved ones. I know that my exit will be painful to them, but they will all get over it in time. But me? I don’t think I will ever get over this. I will never be able to accept this horrible choice that I made. I am so tired of living this way. I am supposed to turn 27 soon, but I really don’t want to live to see my birthday. I have nothing to celebrate. My life is completely, irreversibly fucked. I don’t know when I will go, but it will be sooner rather than later. I am so sorry to everyone. I know this will hurt. I just can’t go on living this way. To all the people I care about, know that I love you, and I am so thankful you were part of my life. I know you will all go on to do great things without me. This entire saga has been unbearable; my life has spun out of control, and suicide is the only way to end my suffering. I’m sorry. I’m signing off.
TL;DR: Doctors performed a surgery I now think was unnecessary and the complications make me want to kill myself.

Let's now delve into Abby's perspective.
Abby's equivalent of the Wyoming Museum is her scenes in the aquarium. I find the choice of this particular ocean biome interesting. Throughout her journey in Seattle, Abby gradually distances herself from the WLF. The aquarium serves as a clandestine refuge where Abby and Owen seek solace away from their WLF responsibilities, a sanctuary amidst the chaos of the city. The ocean represents a hidden world, a sanctuary that other surface animals cannot penetrate, symbolizing a refuge from the conflicts and chaos above. Abby's character in Seattle is symbolized by a crab—outwardly strong yet internally vulnerable, much like herself as depicted by Owen's observation that she appears tough but is soft at heart. This symbolism extends to the imagery of a giant crab adorning the doors leading to the tragic fate of Owen and Mel. Upon her return from the island, blood stains beneath the doors. I think this is supposed to represent how by her actions she brought death to her friends, akin to bearing the weight of guilt or "dirty hands." Throughout her narrative, various other depictions of crabs persistently follows Abby.
Abby's Seattle setting is aquatic, but it wasn't always so. Prior to her father's death, her symbolic habitat was the jungle. In her initial flashback in Salt Lake, she stands at the zoo entrance, surrounded by banners portraying jungle and savanna creatures like tigers, elephants, apes, and antelopes. She can also find a flyer of the zoo ad with the tiger on it. In Santa Barbara, when visiting the Firefly outpost, Lev asks why the children's room depicts animals and a forest. Abby explains that it is a thing parents can do and that her father painted her a jungle in her room when she was little. I think deep within, Abby identifies with a tiger, and she actually re-finds herself with Lev's encounter. The tiger represents her true essence, her totem animal, while the crab represents what she turned into in Seattle. The crab, with its hard exterior and soft interior, also mirrors Abby's hardened exterior developed from her experiences with the WLF.
Yet, subtle hints throughout her narrative suggest a rediscovery of her true self as a tiger that coincide with what she's going throught. One instance that really striked me is the big cartoonish tiger she encounters in a cafe on the road to the hospital, sat in a position of meditation, coinciding with her growing bond with Lev. This moment signifies her gradual return to inner peace and authenticity. Another significant occurrence is the depiction of a tiger hidden behind a counter during her escape from the island with Yara and Lev, labeled with "mean streak." This moment precedes a pivotal confrontation with her former allies, symbolizing Abby's re-embrace of her tiger nature—a resurgence of strength and determination as she confronts her past and fights for her newfound family. The reappearance of the tiger symbolizes Abby's journey of self-discovery and resilience, marking her reclaiming of inner strength and ferocity in the face of adversity.
During the Salt Lake flashback, as Abby finds her father and they continue through the park, they enter the aquatic biome, greeted by a crab facing exactly towards the banner depicting a tiger, symbolizing Abby's future transformation in Seattle. She enters the mouth of a whale, symbolizing her immersion into the aquatic world. In the very next flashback, she will exit from the mouth of a shark, marking her transformation complete.
Owen is symbolized by a spotted seal. The first time they ever entered the aquarium, Owen get out of the water and place himself right in front of a seal depiction named "Oscar", saying some things to Abby. You can see a little crab right under. Hints in dialogues also point at Owen being a seal. During the scene in the aquatic dome underwater, Owen concludes their conversation by expressing his intention to spend some time with the seals. Another subtle clue to Owen's future role as a father is found within the aquarium's main room: a statue depicting a seal and its cub. This imagery hints at Owen's impending journey into parenthood.
I'm going to talk about Tommy in Abby's section because it mostly striked me while doing her parts, with the exception of this dinosaur looking like a horse head in the wyoming museeum as mentionned in my first post. Right after letting Yara at the "Big Fat Crab Shack" to get to the marina, she stumble upon Manny who's being targeted by Tommy. Interestingly, if you look behind Abby, you'll spot the "Big Fat Crab Shack" logo again with its giant crab, while directly in front of her, just a couple of meters away, is an advertising van for "Manke" beer. The logo on the van is a horse, accompanied by the tagline "made with the finest ingredients of southern America," which resonates with Tommy's Texan roots. This van appears again later not far, in the parking lot where Tommy shoots at Abby, instigating an attack from the infected.
However, what puzzles me is why Abby doesn't perceive Tommy as an aquatic animal like she does with others. My only lead on this is that the aquatic version of Tommy is a seahorse. This notion is reinforced by the presence of a seahorse symbol at the Serevena Hotel, where Ellie and Dina encounter men tortured by Tommy. Honestly not 100% convinced on this seahorse part.
Lev is seen as a shark by Abby. A whole section of the aquarium is dedicated to sharks and their importance in the ocean ecosystem ( you can also see a little crab under one of the shark depictions ) When Abby and Yara seek a gift for Lev, they deem a shark plushie as the perfect choice, emphasizing his connection to this creature.
A prominent shark exhibit features a large specimen seemingly poised to attack a diver's cage, adorned with scars on its mouth sides. The image of Lev braving the seas on his boat to rescue his mother on the island further reinforces this association, evoking the image of a shark cutting through the waves with determination.
In Abby's perception, Lev embodies the qualities of a shark, yet he identifies himself with a cat, ( or it's his totem animal ) First and foremost, we can clearly see Lev's agility and fearlessness, particularly evident in his comfort with heights, mirroring a cat's nimbleness and independence. Additionally, Lev expresses fears akin to those of a cat—water and dogs. During Ellie's parts, I found this board on the ancient communication agency swarmed by scars ( in front of the tramway ). There this little text on a board from a meeting to pitch a product, back in the days. It says :
"Client pitch meet ideas - emotional angle - comedy angle - personnification of cat ? "
Even though it might be a bit of a stretch, this corresponds perfectly to what happens between Abby and Lev. She feels pity for him upon learning his story and comes to love him, thus the emotional angle, and Lev also makes some jokes or blunders, like asking Abby what's going on between him and Owen at the worst possible moment, or when he doesn't know certain common words due to his life among the Seraphites.
The more obvious sign that Lev is really a cat can be found in the same cafe where we found the tiger in meditation pose, on the left walls. Just like Owen, we can witness Lev positionning himself right in front of this animal and get some dialogues. He say something like it's weird to represent humans as animals / humans from before were weird doing this. This particular artwork features two cartoonish cats adorned in rock-inspired attire, captured in a lively dancing pose. A male and female, holding hands. This really striked me as being a representaion of Lev's gender duality. Abby mentions Lev's "punk-rock" spirit not long before this, hence the outfits.
Yara is a sea otter, simply because she wears this shirt with a sea otter at the aquarium.
The WLF obviously are wolves but Abby actually sees them as Orcas. Upon awakening at the stadium, Abby is greeted by a rug adorned with an orca motif. Then she gets to the mess hall, there's one wolf banner on one wall but also depictions of orcas adorning pillars and inscriptions proclaiming "Home of the Orcas" on the walls. Orcas are kinda wolves of the seas, share several characteristics with wolves, such as being large predators that hunt in packs, exhibit complex social structures, and are territorial. By associating the WLF with Orcas, Abby's perception elevates them to a level of strength, cunning, and dominance akin to these apex predators of the ocean.
Scars are possibly herons. I found some herons in the wyoming museeum as mentionned in my first post, but also some depictions while Abby is crossing the chinese district to get to martyr's gate. They communicate throught whistling like birds including herons. They also go throught the city by the airs, basically. Theres not much hints, but I do feel like the herons correspond really well to Seraphites due to their way of life and behavior. Firstly, herons are often associated with aquatic areas such as marshes and rivers, where they patiently and strategically hunt their prey. Similarly, the Seraphites have established themselves on an isolated island, resembling a marsh, where they practice an ascetic and contemplative form of living in harmony with nature, living in wooden houses. Furthermore, herons are patient and methodical predators, silently observing their surroundings before taking action ( Remember that arrow in Ellie's shoulder ? ) The Seraphites also exhibit a deliberate approach in their lives and interactions, emphasizing discipline, reflection, and strategic planning.
During the visit to the Chinese district, theres a peculiar creature: the dragon. Numerous depictions of it adorn this area. There might be a connection to the Seraphites, evidenced by the presence of Martyr's Gate and the increased encounters with them following this section. However, it's challenging to pinpoint its exact representation; my guess is that it symbolizes a broader concept rather than a specific character or faction. Might also just be because it's the chinese district.
Abby seem to be also linked to whales and octopus, I think each representing one concept. Ellie's collection of cards includes one intriguing card featuring a whale named "Big Blue." The description of the card reads:
"Big Blue is an extra-dimensional entity who has taken on the appearance of a blue whale. First arriving on Earth over a billion years ago to keep watch over nascent life forms, they use their infinite well of knowledge to help guide the human race in times of great need and upheaval. Their unfathomable age has one major drawback: days appear to pass as microseconds. However, this time dilation effect is offset if they hold their breath—which they can do for several years at a time."
The whale, as an entity with ancient wisdom and knowledge, could be seen as a manifestation of destiny itself. Just as the whale has existed since the dawn of life on Earth, destiny is a force that has shaped Abby's life from the very beginning. It has guided her path, leading her to the pivotal moments and encounters that defined her journey. Despite the challenges she faces, destiny continues to steer her toward her ultimate purpose and fate.
In many cultures and mythologies, the octopus is often associated with aspects of mystery, danger, and conflict. Its tentacled appearance and ability to camouflage itself in its environment make it a powerful symbol of the struggle and complexity of human conflicts. In the game, the giant octopus present at the aquarium can be interpreted as a visual representation of the internal and external conflicts that the characters, especially Abby, must face. The octopus's tentacles seem to stretch out and envelop the environment, evoking how conflict can feel omnipresent and difficult to avoid. Furthermore, the octopus is a formidable predator in the marine world, using its tentacles to capture and subdue its prey. This imagery can be associated with how the characters in the game are ensnared in the conflicts surrounding them.
And finally, Abby sees Ellie as a Stingray. Ellie's journey to get to Abby in Seattle final moments is symbolic of her descent into the aquatic world : to get to the hidden crab in the secretive ocean, she must transform as an aquatic animal. As Ellie approaches the aquarium, the challenges intensify, marked by increasingly stormy weather and turbulent seas. Despite the obstacles, Ellie perseveres, ultimately reaching her destination, not before falling into the ocean. Few notes here, first of all there's this outdoor kids' play area, a crab faces towards a whale and a shark, while an orca wing and a seahorse stand behind them. Could be a representation of how Abby is leaving her past behind and her newfound responsibility towards Lev. Next, right before kneeling to get under the fence, a sign featuring a stingray lies on its side, urging one to "become a member today". Further symbolism unfolds as Ellie encounters a shark depiction just before her fall from a broken window, with a stingray positioned EXACTLY on the floor where she lands. On the same note there is a stingray positionned on the floor exactly where Ellie kills Mel & Owen. The cafe section of the aquarium, named "Stingray Bay Cafe," features murals depicting a beach with palm trees, foreshadowing the events to come in Santa Barbara. Abby's exploration of the aquarium with Yara while looking for Lev reveals a section named "Shipwreck Cove," dominated by a giant stingray overhead, further hinting at the impending encounters and sequences involving boats, serving as a metaphor for both characters feeling like shipwrecks by the end of their tumultuous journey.
Also, The use of animal symbolism during Ellie and Abby's confrontations adds a layer of complexity and depth to their dynamic. During their intense fight in the theater, the actions of Ellie and Abby mirror the characteristics of the animals associated with them. Abby's brute force and relentless attacks, smashing Ellie into the floor and causing them to fall to a lower level, hitting her with her fists or grabbing her, align with the symbolism of the crab and its claws. She also headbut Ellie ( bison ). In contrast, Ellie's actions, repeatedly tries spiking Abby with her knife like a stingray hitting its prey, reflect a more tactical and predatory approach. I invite you to re-check their fight at the theater with that in mind, it's really striking.
As we've discussed, these symbols are not merely decorative but serve as powerful storytelling devices, conveying concepts or themes of identity, transformation, and growth. Whether you've noticed these subtle details yourself or are discovering them for the first time, it's clear that the developers at Naughty Dog have crafted a meticulously designed world filled with rich symbolism and meaningful connections.
So, what are your thoughts? Have you spotted any other animal motifs or symbols ? Let me know your theories !

To start this off, I am 28 years old, AMAB, and one year into HRT. I knew I wasn’t like other boys from a very young age, and by age 10 I was blowing out my birthday candles wishing I had been born a girl. Unfortunately I was too scared to come out because of my father being a Jehovah’s Witness.
There are plenty of women on this subreddit who can probably relate with me when I share that I went through the whole process of male puberty and I hated my body for it. I wished that I could go back and transition earlier to have avoided my deep voice and body/facial hair, and I thought of it as “damage” that had been done to my body.
And then I met self harm… and eating disorders… and then alcohol… By 22 I was a full blown alcoholic, I was drinking every single day because I was so miserable as a male. I have no doubt that I was a girl born in a boy’s body, and I punished myself as if it was my fault; but how could it have been my fault? I was just a kid.
At 25 years old I came out to my family, a year later I started E and came out to the rest of the world. I’m not by any means the most feminine person, and because of that I get misgendered often. I have a Josh Turner deep voice, I have shoulders like a linebacker, and I have a 5 o’ clock shadow around the clock no matter how hard I try.
For as long as I can remember I’ve been trying to be as much of a woman as I could be, I wanted so badly to be “one of them.” The problem is that there are a lot of boxes to check off to fit in the category of “woman.” I thought that slapping the right label on myself was going to be my happiness, that once my breasts come in, once I grow my hair out, once I get my Adam’s apple shaved down, I’ll be so happy!
We’ll I stopped drinking, I grew my hair out, and my breasts were growing quicker than I expected, but I still wasn’t happy. I still wasn’t woman enough in the eyes of society, I was getting called “sir” everywhere I went, until I broke. I checked myself into an intensive inpatient treatment facility because I didn’t want to live anymore. Even though I was doing everything in my power to feminize myself I couldn’t find my happiness.
When I got out of inpatient, a couple diagnoses and a couple prescriptions heavier, I had to go to AA. I was six months sober and ready to relapse the second I got out. I had been to AA before, but for the most part I just got my chip and bailed… And then one day I found an LGBTQIA+ True Colors AA meeting, and that was where I found my happiness.
I promise I’m not trying to preach AA to anyone, (although if you do have a problem there is help available 🫶🏻) what I want to preach is community! I’ve learned from my new friends that the label does not make the person. I’ve tried every box I can and I don’t fit into any of them comfortably. That being said, I’ve removed from my shoulders all the societal expectations and pressures of being a woman. From this point forward I identify as Kali! Pronouns: She/They. Gender: None of your business.
Shatter the binary, make your own path ladies! Don’t look for happiness outside yourself, it’s inside. Be your own soulmate!!!
🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️Happy pride month 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Attention
The recent Instagram update shows the name of the person who shared the reel when you open the link in the app. Since most users maintain an anonymous profile in reddit it might be a breach into their privacy. However this can be overridden if they delete the part after "igsh" from the link while pasting it here.
GENTLE REMINDER
Respectful Conduct: Treat each other and the Bigg Boss contestants with kindness and respect. No room for personal attacks or negativity here.
Stick to Guidelines: Take a quick look at our community guidelines and Reddiquette to make sure your posts and comments follow our values.
No PR Labeling: We're all Bigg Boss enthusiasts, not PR reps! Let's keep discussions friendly and avoid labeling each other.
Let's keep this community fun, inclusive, and welcoming for everyone! Thanks for being amazing BB Viewers!
Mod Team
Gif Thread: https://www.reddit.com/Bigbossmalayalam5/s/n5bw8VtCy9

My fellow gamers, for too long has our community suffered the indignation of an intolerable culture that has denigrated, besmirched, exploited, and has outright demonized our culture of unique individuals with a genuine love of a hobby that they see as profitable and progressive. They have taken beloved IP’s (Intellectual Properties) and twisted them into their own personal ideological crusade of undermining and humiliating the core aspects of characters they deemed as “Toxic” or “White Supremacy”. Through the guise and protection of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity) & ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) they have used our influence in the entertainment industry to push their narratives and agendas that have stigmatized our culture with numerous anti-consumer practices that they call “being progressive”. But the truth of the matter is they were never really looking to be a part of our community, they simply wanted to use our community as a tool of activism and propaganda in the entertainment industry as it was extremely profitable, and they wanted inclusion in that division. Ever since GamerGate & Female Frequency, we have had to endure the incursion of forced ideologies, xenophobic behaviors and inferior overpriced products that have never been in our best interest and have been flat out disgraceful towards foreign media.
Before Gaming had become a major source of entertainment, we were often categorized as anti-social or societies rejects where because we found more enjoyment in playing fictional characters and not spending as much time out and about, we never fully assimilated in society (which is a good thing if you ask me). From 1998 to 2007, at the height of innovation, creativity and production, Gaming had reached a golden age in which it had revolutionized society. Hollywood Execs who had ruined the movie industry turned their attention to video games as a source of income since video games had outperformed movies in terms of profit. No one was concerned about gaming, much less diversity or inclusivity until it became profitable. This makes people like SBI look extremely disingenuous as they were not interested in gamers as a community with its own culture. They simply wanted to use it as another weapon in identity politics.
Microtransactions; the hidden enemy to gamer progress and inducer to mental laziness of our community. Microtransactions have been around for a long time; however, it has never been more potent and apparent than in recent years. It has aided in the dismantling and segregation of players on the ideology of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and has created another sub-culture of gamers who have no real drive to be better outside of how much money they put into the game. This has degraded our culture as well as we have become “fat” off transactional gaming but at the same time we have been “starved” of purposeful gaming where our achievements were our sustenance. I am not saying that microtransactions are bad, but when they are exploitative and predatorial like they have been and don’t give gamers room to grow, we become lethargic and unwilling to improve ourselves as gamers. Oversaturated microtransactional games are one of the many reasons why we have become complacent and unwilling to fight against the exploitative tactics used by big brand game companies such EA, Ubisoft, ActivisionBlizzard, NaughtyDog and so many other western business model companies. Western style games were not like this in the past, they had much more depth and actual effort put into them with the gamer in mind. This has not been the case for over a decade and our connection to western developers has been whittled down to just being transactional. That is one of the reasons why you see so many remasters and remakes in today’s gamer community. They have lost their willingness to improve as developers of games and simply accept corporate/share holder rules.
Game journalists also do not have any real integrity or purpose outside of being funded for their involvement in promoting IPG (Identity Political Games) in a positive light to the public whether it’s positively received or not. They are not interested in what we have to say, they all support the same agenda and that is why they are a dying breed. Within the next couple of years, they will be out of the job and more than likely they will not be able to stay in the industry giving how they have responded to past articles that have clearly been scripted on the premise of diversity and racism. Not only that, but most of them are also extremely hostile to the community as they stereotype and defame the individuals that are a part of the community they are supposed to serve. We have been mentally liberated from their lies and coercive tactics as we tend to laugh at their obvious attempt at virtue signaling while hiding their misdoings so that they can play the victim.
My gamer brothers & sisters, I would not suggest the following action that we must take now without good cause. I have weighed our options and the best option for us now is this…...CULTURAL SECESSION. Naturally this is a form of segregation where they would more than likely claim they are being segregated by the dominant culture of the gaming community but that is incorrect. For years now we have been the ones who are often marginalized and ostracized for the smaller portion of our community. And when we aren’t, we’re exploited for more funds so that these companies can stay in business only to subject us to low quality products that coincide with the “WOKE Agenda” that are often huge expenses to these big brands i.e. AAA/AAAA games that will eventually flop for its obvious forced diversity and bug infested product which will undoubtedly piss off the consumer to the point of wanting a refund. Losing copious amounts of capital and stock in the process, not to mention their reputation is permanently marred.
We must separate on every cultural level in terms of entertainment and ideology. We must reject everything from the west that promotes toxic western beliefs, practices, and exclusion from other cultures (i.e. Southeastern Countries such as Japan and Korea). Japan & Korea have been the targets of unjust discrimination from Western Developers, Western Journalists, Western Localizers (The Wokelizers) and Western Society Prejudice regarding their sense of aesthetics as Westerners hate the aesthetic sense of these countries. The reason why they resort to such base tactics isn’t just because it weaponizes the ideal female form but it’s also because they have deep-seated insecurities about their own looks so when they see attractive female characters, they use terms such as “unrealistic” or “hypersexualized” to establish the moral high ground. But the truth is, they want to feel superior to that which is ideal, so they insult and dehumanize this figure that portrays natural female beauty because they see it as an insult to their own social superiority in what they believe is a hierarchy of them being at the top of all other women. Because of this and so many contributing factors, their movies flop harder than the Fat Chocobo landing on a group of enemies and their games seismically fail just as much if not more. We must sever our connection to Western Developers, Publishers, and ALL Western-Centric Entertainment for they seek to mentally enslave us to their Xenophobic ideology.
Let’s define Western Culture and its traits. Western Culture/Society is composed of more than several different ideologies that work in unison with one another to facilitate dominance over multiple aspects of society. Business, Social, Political, Technological, and sometimes even Global Affairs are affected by these ideologies that portray a specific mindset of Western beliefs. What are those ideologies you ask?

• Perpetual Victimhood: By weaponizing the fact that they are marginalized and of a small portion of western society, they can push their agenda to absurd standards that ultimately ostracize the main demographic. And when companies don’t capitulate, they are labeled as anti-progressive/misogynist’s or cohorts of White Supremacy. They use this to cancel their targets and silence them through societal defamation to keep the public on their side. They also use this mindset to justify their own lack of self-agency as they tend to throw companies who do adhere to their demands but miserably fail to turn a profit under the bus so that they can maintain face in front of the public while denying their actual involvement. They will never accept “Sense of Agency” when it’s negative but will gladly accept it when a positive outcome shines on them as if they are entitled to it.

Official Wiki GamerGate Page)
​

• Societal Terrorism: This is another form of ideology weaponization that they use in order to make companies “toe-the-line” with their agenda. By weaponizing cancel culture, they exert dominance over these companies but in exchange they also reimburse those companies with DEI & ESG funds that raise their credit score as well as having social status with the marginalized demographic. However; cancel culture has not succeeded in years and developers and publishers probably only want the money and the DEI ESG rating. But they have to maintain the image of having social economic power so that they can continue to strong-arm other developers into compliance and promoting financial benefits of DEI & ESG. In other words, if you are not for sale, they discredit and stigmatize you in the industry.

Asmongold Clips.
https://youtu.be/Iq86DnmX2xY
​

• “Its not us, its you who’s wrong” Mentality: This mentality is especially annoying as they tend to use it to hide their incompetence. They often look down upon gamers who are not in the industry to hide their obvious lack of knowledge on game development thinking that their job title grants them special status that they believe gives them the right to be condescending. But the truth they never wanted revealed has already strangled their careers of all credibility. They were never GAMERS, they were INVADERS. Community Colonists that seek to indoctrinate next generational gamers into their hive-mind and brand previous generations of gamers as villains.

@GeeksandGamers
https://youtu.be/1HbrTkqQFuM
​

• Double-standard Enforcement: By labeling something as “unrealistic” or “hypersexualized”, they can claim this is morally wrong if it promotes traditional dynamics between men and women. Heterosexual relationships are condemned while at the same time Same-sex relationships are praised. Additionally, heterosexual relationships with main white male characters turn antagonistic and spotlight stealing. This is deliberate as to promote the “Girl Boss” ideology to indoctrinate women into the Feminazi state of mind. While at the same time, should a male character also adopt the “I don’t need male/female” ideology its seen as Toxic Masculinity which isn’t even a real thing. The idea of a strong male character is taboo while enforcing strong female characters is the ideal.

@MugenLord
https://youtu.be/to5Uciy_yeg
@EndymionTv
https://youtu.be/7TPTR8-qmbk
​

• Dehumanization/Demonization: This is something that most military branches use in order to remove conscious inhibitions such as mass slaughter is wrong or categorization. By enforcing ideologies to denounce humanity in certain targets, it deactivates your conscience by saying this is not human therefore its ethically okay to treat this target without compassion and deny the fact it has sentience. We gamers fall under this category for journalists, developers, companies and society at large. This is a tactic we are familiar with to an extent as it implies that we are not normal when we do not do what everybody else is doing. “Geeks are the worse” or “Nerds need to fall into a pit of lava” are verbal dehumanization forms that most people in society say and we as Gamers tend to be relegated to those categories. This is their way of imposing the social hierarchy on us by establishing superiority. We know this as Gamers as we see it very often in the games that we play and some times experience it in real life.

https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Gamergate#The_end_of_their_relevance
​

• Deflection/Projection: This is basic psychology 101. By redirecting the conversation away from their mistakes and back on to the opposing view to avert blame and justify their innocence they can avoid criticism. However; deflection is a CONSCIOUS decision, meaning they have no real argument to justify their incompetence. If you can consciously process the situation, you have self-agency which means you don’t have a legitimate excuse. Projection is something else entirely. Most times, Projection doesn’t work on conscious decisions rather it is automatically deployed when feeling threatened, anxious or both. Instead of accepting accountability for feelings or actions that are deemed socially unacceptable they accuse others of committing that unacceptable behavior thereby exonerating themselves and proving that those feelings and/or actions are not their own.

@TheTrentReport
https://youtu.be/bPIPSKruYRo
These traits are so nefarious and unconscionable that I have a hard time believing that anyone could harbor them. However, given the social, political, and economic climate that we are in, those in power who use their influence on controlling society most definitely possess these insidious traits. Everything that they do is all about control and since video games are the biggest market in the world, they want control over it and the communities built around it to accrue more wealth and to use that wealth to subjugate other cultures. Mainstream media is a tool as well as mainstream organizations and sites to help accomplish this goal.
The government recently announced its intentions towards what they believe is “GamerGate 2.0” and now even the ADL has made an official appearance, referring to gamers as “extremist’s”. We know EXACTLY what they are doing, and they aren’t even trying to hide it anymore because they don’t think we are aware of their motives. This is just a pretext for them to exert even more control and we know why, it’s because they want the influence we as a community have to must serve them. So here is what we do my fellow gamers-
“In light of recent events and years of mainstream stigma, we the members of the Global Gaming Community [GGC] must officially renounce ALL TIES to the corporate western video game market. We have been financially exploited through predatorial monetization schemes, pelted with numerous articles of disdain and intentional misrepresentation from game journalists, news outlets regarding us as dangerous individuals and, even subjected to inferior products not only riddled with bugs but also products meant to push political agendas. For the preservation of our community and its unique culture, apart from a few select game development studios we officially sever all connections to western owned video game companies & their mainstream affiliates. From this point onward, we will no longer support western corporate developers, journalists and publishers that do not coincide with the goals of our community.”
Naturally this is completely optional. If you are okay with the state of the gaming community as it is, feel free to ignore this. But if you wish for real change and a break away from oversaturated monetization in the games you play and the push for radical ideological reform, then you are in the right place. Lets sever these rotted miasmic ties once and for all so that our community can be preserved and made better for future gamers. If you agree with this, share it with whoever you think might be interested. The more gamers who get involved, the easier it will be for us to finally break free from mainstream game companies and their associates.

I’m auditioning for Midsummer Night’s Dream at a community theatre in my area. I’m between a few monologues and would really like some help picking one out. At another community theatre I’ve played Hermia before and I’d really like to be considered for her again but I’m interested in playing any part really, I just want to be involved in Shakespeare again. Here’s what I’m between:

• Two Gentleman of Verona, Julia, act 4 scene 4, “How many women would do such a message?” I like that it’s not as overdone as some others. I considered her other monologues but wasn’t as keen on them.

-As You Like It, Rosalind, act 5 scene 3, “And why, I pray you?” I really like this one but I’m afraid it’s too overdone. So fun to perform though.
-As you like it, either of Phebe’s monologues. Also overdone but fun to perform.
-Twelfth Night, Viola, act 2 scene 2, “I left no ring with her…” I love this one, but again everyone says it’s overdone.
Does it matter if it’s overdone if I feel I can perform it decently? I’m afraid of picking a monologue that a lot of other auditioners are also doing. I’ve played Jaques in As You Like It so I was considering his “I met a fool in the forest” monologue but I don’t think it fits much for this audition. If there are any other I should consider please let me know!

TITLE: Kant, Herder and Cosmopolitanism: An Inquiry into Historicisms, Universalisms and Eurocentrism.
18th century Prussia was a complex sociocultural landscape, which sported often contradicting imperatives of both cosmopolitanism and ‘nationalism’. While there was a unique cosmopolitan lifestyle, namely thanks to Prussia’s comparative lack of national identity in relation to western European nations, there were also counteractive efforts at establishing this national sentiment. Frederick the Great’s adoption of so called ‘progressive’ policies, such as equality through the law, and freedom of the press, had compounded Prussia’s strategic position in Central Europe, subsequently attracting an influx of trade and diplomacy, most notably from surrounding Germanic states. Regardless, Frederick II’s belief in ‘enlightened absolutism’ yet reflected a dual effort at differentiating Prussia from the rest of Europe, and thus ‘cosmopolitanism’ was something ironically in tandem with so-called nationalism. Thomas Abbt’s Von Tode fur Das Vaterland (1761) had outlined moral imperatives of sacrificing one’s own life for the good of the nation, and efforts at social cohesion were present as far back as 1715, when German became mandated for what was a nationalised schooling system.
Prussia’s cosmopolitan culture was one that was at times combated by, and at other times in tandem with auto-referential imperatives. Both Immanuel Kant and Johann Gottfried Herder were two Prussian thinkers, who’s ideas were distinctly shaped and moulded by this social context. Cosmopolitanism was not merely a lifestyle in Prussia, as institutions like the ‘Berlin Academy of Sciences’, which were central to Frederick II’s belief in ‘enlightened absolutism’, had stimulated the idea that intellectual prowess was similarly integral to Prussia’s ‘modernising’ efforts. In 1784, Herder had published his Outlines of a Philosophy of the History of Man, and later in the year, Kant had published his Idea for a Global History with A Cosmopolitan Intent. Both Kant and Herder imagined ‘cosmopolitanism’ very differently. Where Kant would predominantly focus on the idea of a ‘cosmopolitan order’ as a teleological end goal to history, Herder would instead profess the mere relativity of different ideas and cultural practices. Compared to Kant, Herder had centred intercultural equality as central to cosmopolitanism, and had thus abstained from deterministic, universalist concepts such as that of ‘cosmopolitan order’.
As prevalent as it was in Prussia’s multi-ethnic landscape, ‘cosmopolitanism’ also appears to have ‘triumphed’ in western societies. It is ever relevant today, and these ideas are evidently significant in their legacies. Michael W. Doyle had praised Kant’s ideas for their influence on contemporary ‘liberal internationalism’, while Frederick Beiser had lauded Herder’s ideas for its unique recognition of the relativity of different ideas, particularly when most enlightenment thinkers were instead concerned with arbitrary, universal narratives that he describes as comparatively Eurocentric. Regardless, both historians ignore how both essays may be ‘Eurocentric’ themselves, given the problematic concept of ‘political modernity’ that exists today, and which imbibes characteristically European imaginations as an object standard for societal ‘progress’. Beiser and Doyle ignore this concept, and in this sense, their appraisals reflect a very emanation of this problem. This essay will thus begin with a re-evaluation of the concept of enlightenment universalism, followed by the a formal dissemination of Eurocentrism and its relation to Kant and Herder’s philosophies. Lastly, I will examine the relationship between these concepts and the existence of contemporary ‘political modernity’, with the aim of re-evaluating these essays in the context of Dipesh Chakrabarty’s Provincialising Europe.
To assess the rigour of current evaluations on Kant and Herder’s works is to first gain a deeper understanding of both essays. Immanuel Kant’s imagination of a ‘cosmopolitan order’ was not an isolated idea, but encapsulated a rigid philosophical framework, which he sets out in his essay. In Kant’s eyes, this ‘cosmopolitan’ future would be engendered by teleological human experiences with conflict, or ‘unsocial sociability’ that would aid in the ‘refinement’ of the human spirit through the use of reason, and gradual, developmental realisation of a ‘universal moral law’. Kant maintained that reason would triumph over the course of history, and despite his rigid, and often uncompromising language, he maintains that his teleology would ultimately culminate in the ‘emancipation of all people, in all places’.
Herder’s profession of ‘cultural relativism’ may be similarly contextualised by his broader beliefs on cosmopolitanism. Herder purports the idea of a ‘volksgeist’ or ‘spirit of the people’ that may define human history, and to Herder, it is the use of rigid, abstract language that is at direct odds with cosmopolitanism. For Herder, cultural relativism is an endorsement of a ‘spirit of the people’, which may only be captured once one abstains from superimposing arbitrary narratives onto the diverse cultural practices of global peripheries. Herder and Kant disagreed on precisely which ideas they could label as truly cosmopolitan, and it is this disagreement that has stimulated similarly opposing contemporary evaluations.
Frederick Beiser’s ‘The German Historicist Tradition’ is a retrospective evaluation of different German philosophies, and maintains a particular focus on Herder’s intellectual integrity. While Beiser takes a critical stance on Herder’s notion of particularism, notably for its incompatibility with the idea of shared, universal truths, he also recognises that it is this methodology that warrants his ‘cosmopolitanism’ to have integrity. Beiser notes that Herder’s work maintains an awareness of epistemological diversity, as much as it does cultural diversity, and in this sense, Herder was thus practicing cosmopolitanism as much as he was arguing for it. Contrastingly, Michael Doyle approaches ‘Ways of War and Peace’ from an inquiry into the influential nature of enlightenment thought, more so than its intellectual integrity. His preoccupation with the idea of ‘liberal internationalism’ is, regarding Kant, a testament to the sensationalism of his ideas. For Doyle, cosmopolitanism is a noble pursuit, but is also one that is only meaningful if it is able to be put into practice. Doyle’s appraisal of Kant thus revolves around the idea that the ‘liberal internationalism’ draws much of its influence from the sensationalism of Kantian ideas, most notably those of ‘cosmopolitan order’ and lasting international peace. For Doyle, it is precisely Kant’s rigid, uncompromising language that has created a more cohesive framework for many to better understand and execute cosmopolitanism bureaucratically. It is clear that Beiser and Doyle maintain ideas of cosmopolitanism that are as diverse as Kant and Herder’s imaginations, and they are evidently to be lauded in the ambitious scope of their works.
I would argue that both historians, in spite of their nuances, ignore how Kant and Herder’s philosophies would yet be constrained in both scope and applicability. Their ideas concern themselves with a global scale, and yet the scope of sociolinguistic influences that informed these ideas is much smaller. When Beiser praises Herder’s holistic approach, he ignores how his ideas were deployed teleologically, reflecting the universalism of history in the same image as distinctly European imaginations. Regarding Kant, Doyle ignores how his abstract, universalist terminology risks contradicting the very diversity of ideas and cultures that he had imagined as part of a ‘cosmopolitan order’. It appears confusing that both imaginations of cosmopolitanism would prioritise universalism, as notably, Dipesh Chakrabarty draws considerable links between the universalist preoccupations of enlightenment culture, and the Eurocentric idea of ‘political modernity’ that they have come to unfortunately encapsulate. When Beiser and Doyle ignore this, they warrant investigation into how these essays may have contributed to this very problem through their use of abstract language, orientalist tendencies, and imaginations on historical teleology.
The ideas that came out of enlightenment were often universalist, and yet may be directly linked to specific sociocultural pressures across the continent. The problem here is that when one universalises what is an immediately relevant concept, they risk robbing other social contexts of their own ‘sovereign’ intellectual expression. Kant and Herder were no exception to this trend, and thus their use of universalism appears somewhat contradictory to the cosmopolitanism they sought after. John Pocock’s Barbarism and Religion maintains that the ‘enlightenment’, as a singular concept, is largely reductive of the multidimensionality of ideas that existed in this period. He identifies how many view ‘enlightenment’ as Franco-German in origin, maintaining that ‘the enlightenments’ may be better characterised by their plurality, given the unique linguistic paradigms that shaped different ideas.
Across numerous historical contexts, such as Scotland and France, thinkers had imbibed diverse imaginations on ‘objectivity’, and yet these ideas were distinctly relative to comparatively minuscule, and subsequently unrepresentative linguistic contexts. In 1698, a failed colony in Panama had accompanied Scottish fascination with scientific enquiry across universities, and in 1748, Colin Maclaurin’s An Account of Isaac Newton’s Philosophical Discoveries had conveyed a particular fascination with Newtonian empiricism. Following the 1707 Union Act with England, which brought new trade opportunities not found in Scotland’s failed imperialist endeavours, Scottish thought had merged into a synthesis of empiricism and political economy. Between 1739 and 1740, David Hume would publish A Treatise of Human Nature, which approached political philosophy from an empiricist imagination of the human mind and its ability to form a ‘moral culture’ with other ‘social beings’. These ideas proved influential for Scottish linguistic imaginations, as William Robertson had applied this framework to a study of pre-Columbian populations, endorsing the idea that broader societies may objectively progress in epochs from ‘barbarism’ to ‘civility'. Another example would be Montesquieu’s ‘Spirit of the Laws’, which claimed to assess the ‘utility’ of global religions in his political philosophy, yet this imagination of ‘utility’ was largely contingent on comparatively particularistic linguistic influences; Montesquieu had staunchly opposed the ‘first estate’ taxation privileges of 18th century France, and it is thus no surprise that his imaginations on ‘political triage’ were grounded in the eradication of ‘despotism’ as he had observed it in France.
Contextual forces would not merely inspire ‘enlightened’ ideas, but would also propagate universalist language. When William Robertson had examined pre-columbian cultures as part of his endorsement for Scottish ‘stadialism’, he had done so to justify ‘stadialism’ as a universal, objective concept. These examples demonstrate that while enlightened thought had often claimed to have uncovered ‘objective’ truth, the ‘truth’ of these concepts were only as true as the sociolinguistic contexts that informed them. It appears wrong that any of these abstract concepts may truly be universal, as the universalism of one abstraction ultimately risks obscuring the development and expression of others, which is a testament to the logical equity of different abstract ideas. Enlightenment universalism appears, by default, to be a problematic concept. It is the differential in scope between the influences of enlightenment ideas, and their comparatively global application, that is both Eurocentric and subversive of ‘cosmopolitan’ diversity. Perhaps the biggest irony is that while Kant and Herder had imagined a cosmopolitan future, and on a global scale, they had done so by universalising distinctly particularist influences, which are hardly applicable to the global scope their essays are concerned with. If we are to demonstrate that these ideas disjunct with cosmopolitanism, it follows that we establish the links between Kant and Herder’s universal imaginations and their comparatively particularistic influences.
Kant and Herder had experienced a number of contextual influences that draw considerable links to their philosophies. While Prussia lacked a notable national identity, and involved cross cultural encounters amongst Polish and Lithuanian populations, there was also an extensive state presence in everyday life. Frederick II’s ‘enlightened absolutism’ allowed him to embark on bureaucratic innovations on centralised authoritarian power, most notably through his imposition of standardised military training, and his emphasis on state monopolies as a means of economic regulation. Frederick the Great had prioritised bureaucratic efficiency, yet he was not the first to do so. Instead, Prussia maintained a consistent drive to consolidate its bureaucracy as far back as the ‘Edict of Potsdam’ in 1685. Frederick William I sought to attract Huguenot refugees into the fold of the Prussian economy, and by 1700, French Huguenots had played an integral role in the establishment of the Electoral Brandenburg Society of Sciences, something that would be renamed the ‘Royal Academy’ in 1744 following Frederick II’s patronage of ‘enlightened absolutism’. Frederick the Great and Frederick William I illustrate a historical context of ideological determinism; on the topic of nationhood, Frederick II had noted that “Whoever does not respect and love his own language is not worthy of salvation”. This had followed the standardised teaching of German in Prussian schools (1715), and thus Prussia’s ‘modernising’ efforts were certainly deployed with deterministic presuppositions as to what ‘modernisation’ actually meant (most notably, that of nationhood). Amidst this landscape, Kant had studied mathematics, physics and philosophy at the University of Konigsberg, and had personally participated in what would then be the Royal Academy of Sciences. Ronald Calinger describes how the academy had eventually become a hub for intellectual rigour, and given Kant’s scientific background, it is no surprise that Prussia’s ‘modernising’ imaginations would find itself reflected in his use of language.
Prussian imaginations on objective ‘progress’, and the stadialist idea of ‘modernisation’, appear somewhat tangential to a fascination with ‘unlocking’ objective truth, and scientific enquiry certainly reflected a vehicle through which this may occur. Kant’s language is similarly deterministic, and his imaginations on cosmopolitanism appear, in tandem with his scientific background, to be heavily preoccupied with the idea of uncovering universal conceptual truths. This is something exemplified by Kant’s efforts at establishing a metaphysical grounding for morality, a concept which was integral to his imaginations on reason, history, and historical teleology. There is considerable risk that such language risks marginalising intellectual diversity, as converse to Prussian sciences, these concepts had lacked objective grounding, and ideas of an objective ‘moral law’ are still subject to much contention in Philosophy. His philosophical abstractions appear to be intellectually invasive, as while they outlined a ‘cosmopolitan’ future, they had also stifled the scope for ‘cosmopolitan’ diversity by superimposing this narrative onto the image and identity of global peripheries. Kant’s imaginations on ‘universality’ were moulded in the image of a distinctly European experience with ‘modernity’, and in this sense, his argument for cosmopolitanism appears to reflect something of a contradiction.
In comparison to Kant, Herder’s essay is far more particularistic. His belief in ‘cultural relativism’ appears predominantly informed by his fascination with folklore, poetry and diverse cultural traditions that he had observed within Prussia’s multi-ethnic landscape. Regardless, his ideas on historical teleology are similarly universalist, yet link to incompatibly particularistic influences. Ernst Cassirer draws links between Herder’s experience with a multicultural and multilingual landscape and his ideas, but appears to ignore the clear links between his historical teleology and European Lutheranism. Lutheranism, by default, is a denomination enamoured by the idea of ‘divine providence’, which is to say that God plays an active role in worldly affairs. This relates directly to his preoccupation with ‘outlining’ the ‘history of man’, as the idea of ‘divine providence’ is one that naturally invokes the assumption that worldly affairs occur with a deterministic, ’divine’ intention.
Lutheranism was a predominantly European sect, having originated amidst the Protestant Reformation, and maintained notable ties to germanic culture through Martin Luther. Herder was raised in a Lutheran household, and preceding his philosophical career, he had seriously considered a clerical one. The idea that Herder could universalise history in the image of ‘divine providence’ appears problematic, namely thanks to the fact that Lutheranism was synonymous with predominantly European imaginations. Lutheranism was the ‘national religion’ in Prussia, and even after Frederick II’s period of religious toleration, Christopher Clark maintains that principles of the sect had yet become ingrained in education. It certainly appears ‘Eurocentric’ to assume that such particularism is in any way suitable for a comparatively universal application, and despite Herder’s progressive imaginations on a ‘volksgeist’, his teleological approach reflects the universalism of distinctly European norms and values. Eurocentrism is a multifaceted term however, and possesses several characteristics. To better understand Kant and Herder’s eurocentrism, it follows that we embark on a formal exploration of the concept.
Sebastian Conrad has identified Eurocentrism in ‘What Is Global History?’, which he analyses from a perspective of ever prevalent global entanglements. Like Pocock, Conrad maintains a similar awareness of how enlightenment universalism was inherently problematic. More notable however, is how Conrad explores Eurocentrism through the vein of presenting a newer, comparatively more ‘cosmopolitan’ methodology for studying history. Conrad makes the case for ‘Global History’ which effectively suggests that cross-cultural entanglements have since occurred on a global scale, and thus to study the history of different people and practices is to study the agency involved in establishing their intrinsic global connections. In effect, ‘Global History’ outlines the idea that the past is typically subject to power dynamics, which may only be eradicated by the comparatively even medium that is Global History. For instance, Conrad identifies ‘diffusionism’ in intellectual history, where abstract universalisms had historically infiltrated this measurement of global connectivity.
In Conrad’s eyes, diffusionism was an auto-referential mechanism; he details how in any intellectual context, a paradigm of objectivity may occur with relation to abstract ideas and narratives, informing the conclusion that similar ideas worldwide had merely ‘diffused’ from a given epistemological ‘centre’. This had occurred amidst the Haitian Revolution, which, given its imperial ties to France, had inspired the idea from historians like Cyril James that the phenomena was merely an exportation of distinctly European values and events. James postulates on the exportation of ‘liberty, equality, fraternity’, yet these ideas maintain considerable links to the universalism of abstract imaginations of ‘justice’, as the primary vehicle of ‘sovereignty’ in Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. Conrad shows us how other ideas, not conducive to any given epistemology may be both obscured and marginalised, which precisely illustrates how ‘Eurocentrism’ contains multiple dimensions. It is not merely the obstruction of intercultural diversity and equality, but also possesses a malignant agency.
Edward Said identifies this, formally, as ‘orientalism’, which breathed new life into the term following its use in the fetishisation of the middle east. He details how universalist language is often a vehicle for cultural marginalisation, which occurs when peripheries do not measure up effectively to the arbitrary values and concepts of a domineering cultural context. Said shows us how Kant’s abstract language is not merely obstructive of cultural diversity, but also marginalises it. This is supported by how Kant’s philosophical framework adopted a paternalistic view of global peripheries, construing them as inherently less developed than Europe, and in need of ‘modernisation’ through the exportation of enlightened ideas.
Kant’s broader language, such as his idea for universal moral law, appear to have considerably influenced these orientalist tendencies. The idea of an objective morality, for instance, acts as a vehicle through which cultural peripheries may be viewed as deviating from the European ideal. These moral proclivities are particularly uncompromising in nature, and, given his belief that morality itself was metaphysical, it is no surprise that so much of Kant’s abstract language reflected an emanation of these ‘objective’ virtues. While Kant had often encouraged critical debate and open dialogue, his terminology (e.g. cosmopolitan order, imaginations on the moral functions of reason) would all but subvert these principles in the interests of universality; Kant’s belief that these principles were universally applicable had defined his philosophical system, yet equally reflected a lens for the ‘European gaze’ to take hold. Kant believed in the idea of total equality between cultures, and yet his universalist language is something that poises itself against this very notion. In this sense, Kant’s belief in ‘unsocial sociability’ reflects something of a contradiction, as while he had defined it as a destructive act of auto-referentiality, against the interests of intercultural equality, this is equally something that he was practicing himself.
It would appear that Herder’s doctrines of ‘cultural relativism’ would render his essay to be largely conducive to the cross-cultural equality espoused by Conrad’s Global History, and in this sense, it appears difficult to characterise his work as explicitly Eurocentric. His essay does not only value cultural diversity, but Herder goes as far as to define history itself by the progressive imagination of a ‘volksgeist’, which reflects the very appreciation for cultural diversity that Conrad describes in his case for ‘Global History’. Moreover, his inferences around the rise of global entanglements were hardly a local observation, and also reflected the rampant imperial and commercial initiatives that had prompted ‘orientalist’ preoccupations on behalf of thinkers like William Robertson. While his imaginations on cultural relativity subverted eurocentrism in this sense, his teleological approach yet links to a comparatively localised religious sentiment, and his ‘claiming’ of history in the image of these imaginations touches on a much bigger problem with regards to eurocentrism; when it comes to how we imagine history, ‘enlightened’ universalisms have had broad ramifications for what we find ourselves revering as fundamentally ‘modern’.
Dipesh Chakrabarty maintains a particular focus on the overall legacy of enlightenment ideas, which he does through an interrogation into modern historical imaginations, and conceptualisations of both ‘modernity’ and ‘progress’. He defines historicism as the contemporary idea that history is informed by uniquely historical forces, rather than metaphysical or otherwise philosophical concepts. He argues that contemporary discourse is dominated by this concept, moreover that it has been often informed by a predominantly European paradigm of experiences. To justify his idea, he interrogates the concept of ‘political modernity’ that has encapsulated the so-called ‘modern’ experience, deriding it as a product of European ‘cultural hegemony’, or dominance, that emerged in part thanks to the universalism of European linguistic paradigms. Chakrabarty applies this framework to postcolonial India, examining how British colonialism had slowly distorted and overrode Indian cultural traditions and practices, fostering the development of a new ‘modernity’ in India. He maintains that these forms of ‘hegemony’ may gradually distort modern understandings of the past, until they are merely reflective of an exclusively European gaze; from his perspective, the universalism of abstract, enlightenment ideas risks ‘claiming’ history in the image of the Eurocentric ideal. Chakrabarty’s overall deductions are not at all reductive, nor are they unsubstantiated in light of how contemporary thinkers have reproduced enlightenment imaginations as central to their own. Not only is this indicative of Europe’s dominant ‘hegemony’, but it is something that Kant and Herder’s ideas have contributed to.
Jurgen Habermas, a German sociologist, had evaluated contemporary western societies as part of a broader sociological inquiry in the 1990s. In his essay, he explores how a ‘post-national constellation’ of decentralised government may engender universal worldly progress against nationalistic conflicts of the twentieth century. He reimagines distinctly Kantian ideas of cosmopolitan order and of lasting international peace, while also maintaining the importance of cross-cultural relativism and universal solidarity in tandem with Herder’s imaginations on a global ‘volksgeist’. His ideas draw considerable links to both philosophies, reflecting a contemporary synthesis of germanic imaginations on universality. His idea for collective solidarity is something that revolves around a universal appreciation for both democracy and universal human rights, yet these doctrines have similarly been moulded in the image of European sociolinguistic paradigms. Montesquieu had been one of the first to universalise on the problem of democracy, and the idea of basic human rights, which was influenced heavily by France’s 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, was hinged on universalist principles of ‘justice’ and ‘sovereignty’ that emanated from predominantly French imaginations on what ‘progress’ may actually entail. ‘The Enlightenment’, as described by Pocock, has long been considered a predominantly Franco-German phenomena, and Habermas’ reproduction of this sentiment merely serves as a testament to its evident ‘hegemony’.
We can observe a clear correlation between the contemporary popularity of enlightenment thought and its historical propensity towards universalism. By imbibing and re-imagining distinctly European philosophies, Habermas exemplifies how European imaginations of ‘progress’ have come to encapsulate what contemporary thinkers imagine as a part of ‘political modernity’. It is not that ‘cosmopolitanism’, or ‘democracy’ are inherently bad concepts, but instead that they ought not to become a vehicle for ‘orientalist’ marginalisation, which is fundamental to the binary nature of ‘modernity’, and how all other practices may be subsequently ‘un-modern’ or ‘backward’. There is an evident contradiction between the subject matter of these ‘cosmopolitan’ essays and their implications for how we imagine history in the image of European ‘greatness’. Perhaps this is the biggest irony of both works, yet this is something that Beiser and Doyle fail to recognise. In this sense, both historians merely praise the ‘political modernity’ that these ideas have come to encapsulate, most notably seen in Doyle’s explicit reverence of Kant for his influence on so-called ‘liberal internationalism’.
It is important to note here the titling of Beiser’s book, ‘The German Historicist Tradition’, when looking at historicism. Historicism is a relatively new concept, and yet Beiser maintains that Herder’s teleology was similarly historicist. What is significant however, is how Beiser defines Herder’s ‘historicist’ principles; integral to Herder’s ideas were that the ‘historical forces’ of global entanglements would characterise history as an interplay of cross-cultural agents, intertwining with one another to form a global cosmopolitan telos. His teleological approach, while reductive, does in many ways appear an accurate prediction for global affairs, as Habermas exemplifies how cosmopolitanism has since taken hold both in immediate reality and in public consciousness. Regardless, we ought to question the origins of this sentiment, particularly given Chakrabarty’s illuminations on ‘cultural hegemony’. While cosmopolitanism is undoubtedly pervasive, it is difficult to divorce this fact from the existence of ‘political modernity’ and how these ideas had, in the eyes of thinkers like Doyle and Habermas, come to encapsulate its definition. While Herder’s ideas appear to have accurately predicted globalisation, his universalisms also present a vehicle for the ‘claiming’ of modern historical imaginations at the direct expense of ‘cosmopolitan’ individuality. We can draw links between how his historicism has, through its contemporary influence on thinkers like Habermas, become its own ‘historical force’, complicit in forming and moulding modern historical imaginations. While Beiser was right to laud Herder for his methodological integrity, his preoccupation with a universal historicism is what had ultimately undermined these principles.
Kant and Herder utilise various Eurocentric forms of language in their universalist accounts of history, and while both maintain ties to ‘political modernity’, their works also differ fundamentally on the problem of orientalism. Beiser certainly appears more perceptive in his approach to Herder’s ideas, and while ‘cultural relativism’ has become a pertinent and often contentious term, its illuminations into the origin of many ideas, both culturally and linguistically, most certainly appear beneficial for public relations and broader intellectual conversations. Immanuel Kant, on the other hand, was far more rigid in his language, and it is this fact that enabled greater scope for the orientalist marginalisation of global peripheries. The legacies of these ideas is incredibly nuanced, yet their most problematic legacy is something that lies in their historical reverence, and what this means for how we imagine ‘modernity’. We ought always to check our own biases when we choose to revere only characteristically European ideas as ‘progressive’, as, even as cosmopolitanism shows us, the very imagination of such a beneficial concept may yet be ‘claimed’ in the image of European ‘greatness’.

If you would like to buy, please check my thread on /gamesale.
  Photos upon request.
 

Storage Solutions	Condition
Thin Jewel Case for CD/DVD/Blu-Ray	New. Clear front, black back
Standard Jewel Case for CD/DVD/Blu-Ray	New. Clear front and back
Genesis/Famicom Retro Protection	New, PET acid-free plastic cartridge protector
Super Famicom Cartridge Retro Protection	New, PET acid-free plastic cartridge protector
SNES Cartridge Retro Protection	New, PET acid-free plastic cartridge protector
NES Cartridge Retro Protection	New, PET acid-free plastic cartridge protector

 

amiibo	Condition
Tears of the Kingdom Link	Loose
Ocarina of Time Link	Loose
Majora's Mask Link	Loose
Smash Bros. Link	Loose
Skyward Sword Link	Loose
Zelda & Loftwing	Loose
Wind Waker Link	Loose
Wind Waker Zelda	Loose
Twilight Princess Link	Loose
Wolf Link and Midna	Loose
Callie	Loose
Marie	Loose
Inkling Boy [Neon Green]	Loose
Inkling Girl [Neon Pink]	Loose
Inkling Squid [Neon Purple]	Loose
Splatoon 2 Pearl	Loose
Splatoon 2 Marina	Loose
Splatoon 3 Inkling [Yellow]	Loose
Splatoon 3 Octoling [Blue]	Loose
Splatoon 3 Small Fry	Loose
Zelda Loftwing	New In Box
Sanrio amiibo cards	Sealed Pack
Mario Cereal Box	Cereal Removed/Flattened
Isabelle Summer Outfit	Open Box
Cyrus/K.K./Reese	New In Box/Damaged box
Tom Nook	New In Box
Mabel	New In Box

 

Digital Codes	Condition
SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD-STANDARD EDITION-US	Switch Digital Code

 

Figures	Condition
Chrono Trigger Chrono (Crono)/Robo/Eira (Ayla) Formation Arts Figure	Loose figure, most limbs are detachable by design, no missing parts
Pit Figma Figure	First Edition, Open Box, Contains everything but AR cards
Lillie (Pokemon) Nendoroid	Sealed. US edition from the Pokemon Center
Pixel Pal Mega Man	Sealed, damaged box
Pixel Pal SMB3 Mario	Sealed
Pixel Pal SMB3 Luigi	Sealed
Tracer Nendoroid (730)	Sealed
Tracer (Blizzard Entertainment Cute But Deadly Series 2 Vinyl)	Loose figure

 

Switch	Condition
Adventure Acedamia	Sealed
Atelier Ryza 3	Complete in Box
Azure Striker Gunvolt Striker Pack	Sealed
Bendy and the Ink Machine	Complete in Box
Ender Lilies	Sealed, Japan Import
Labyrinth of Refrain	Loose
Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom	Sealed
Monster Hunter Stories 2 Collector's Edition	Sealed
The Mummy Demastered	Complete in Box
River City Girls	Complete in Box, US Copy, Best Buy Variant
Shadowverse Champion's Battle	Loose
Shantae	Sealed
Shantae Risky's Revenge	Sealed
Shantae Collector's Edition	Sealed
Shantae Risky's Revenge Collector's Edition	Sealed
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Cowabunga Collection	Sealed
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap	Complete in Box
Yu-Gi-Oh Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution	Loose

 

Wii	Condition
Batallion Wars 2	Game and Case
Castle of Shikigami III	Complete in Box
Okami	Game and Case

 

WiiU Games	Condition
Batman Arkham City Armored Edition	Sealed
Disney Infinity 2.0	Sealed
Nintendoland	Complete in Box
Star Fox Guard	Complete in Box
Turbo Super Stunt Squad	Complete in Box, Art/Manual damage

 

DS	Condition
Animal Crossing Wild World	Game, Case, and inserts. No Manual
Chrono Trigger	Loose
Dragon Quest IV	Loose
Final Fantasy Fables Chocobo's Dungeon DS+	Complete in Box, Japanese Import
Izuna 2 The Unemployed Ninja Returns	Loose
Kingdom Hearts Re:coded	Complete in Box
Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ	Cart and Case, no manual. Cartridge label is stained.
Super Scribblenauts	Loose

 

3DS	Condition
Kid Icarus Uprising (Japanese)	Game, Manual, and Case (No Big Box)
Kid Icarus Uprising	Complete in Box, Includes Big Box, Stand and AR cards
Senran Kagura Deep Crimson Double D Edition	Sealed

 

GBA	Condition
Car Battler Joe	Loose. Label imperfections
Chocobo Land A Game of Dice	Loose
Lady Sia	Loose, EU import
Lady Sia	Loose. Label imperfections

 

GB	Condition
Alleyway	Loose
Kid Dracula	Loose

 

NES	Condition
Adventure Island II	Loose
Faria	Game and Box. Box has some wear
Kid Icarus	Game, Box, and Manual; Box shows wear; Protective case for box and manual included
Rainbow Islands	Loose
Super Mario Bros & Duck Hunt	Loose

 

SNES	Condition
Chrono Trigger	Loose, Bad Label Damage, damaged shell
Metal Marines	Loose
Secret of Mana	Loose
Super Punch-Out	Loose
Super Scope 6	Loose
Wild Guns	Loose, Bad Label Damage

 

Gamecube	Condition
Cubivore	Loose disc
Pikmin	Player's Choice, Complete In Box
Star Fox Assault	Loose disc
Resident Evil 0	Player's Choice, Case and Discs, no manual
Resident Evil	Player's Choice, Complete In Box
Resident Evil	Complete In Box
Resident Evil 4	Complete In Box, Disc 2 has label wrinkles
Super Mario Sunshine	Game and case, no manual

 

Sega Genesis	Condition
Jurrassic Park	Loose cartridge, Sharpie on Label
Phantasy Star IV	Loose cartridge, Label Damage
Quackshot	Complete In Box
Rocket Knight Adventures	Loose cartridge, Label Damage
Spider-Man	Loose cartridge, Label Damage

 

Sega Saturn	Condition
NiGHTS Into Dreams	Complete in Box, Not for Resale Edition
Night Warriors Darkstalkers' Revenge	Loose

 

Sega Dreamcast	Condition
Project Justice	Complete in Box, page 2 detached from manual.
Power Stone 2	Loose

 

PSP	Condition
Daxter	Loose, Greatest Hits, Not For Resale
Power Stone Collection	Loose
Silent Hill Origins	Game and Case

 

PS1	Condition
Castlevania Chronicles	Complete in Box
Chocobo Racing	Loose
Chocobo no Fushigi na Dungeon	Complete in Box, Japanese Import
Chocobo's Dungeon 2	Complete in Box, Manual is badly water damaged
Dark Stalkers	Loose slim case version
Dark Stalkers 3	Disc and Manual, no back art
Rival Schools	Complete in Box
Silent Hill	Loose disc, Greatest Hits
Valkyrie Profile	Discs and Case, no manual
World of Dragon Warrior Torneko The Last Hope	Loose
Xenogears	Complete in Box

 

PS2	Condition
Avatar The Last Airbender	Disc and Case
Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance	Complete in Box; Greatest Hits
Bully	Greatest Hits, game & artwork
Burnout 3 Takedown	Complete, Water Damage on back cover art
Burnout Dominator	Case and Disc, Disc has superficial scratches but still boots
Castlevania Curse of Darkness	Loose, Disc has light scratching
Crash Bandicoot The Wrath of Cortex	Greatest Hits, Used, Disc and Case
Dragon Ball Z Budokai	Complete in Box
Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi	Complete in Box; Greatest Hits
Final Fantasy X	Greatest Hits, Used, Disc and Case
Final Fantasy X-2	Complete; Greatest Hits
Haunting Ground	Complete in Box, Water Damage on art and manual
Killzone	Complete in Box
Grand Theft Auto Vice City	Disc, Case, Poster, No Manual
.Hack Quaratine	Discs and Case, no manual
Marvel vs Capcom 2	Cracked Disc, won't boot for me. Comes with case, no manual
Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty	Greatest Hits, Used, Disc and Case
Naruto Ultimate Ninja 2	Disc and Case
Need for Speed Underground	Greatest Hits, Used, Disc and Case
Need for Speed Underground 2	Complete in Box
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2	Greatest Hits, Used, Disc and Case
Resident Evil Dead Aim	Game and Case, No manual
Scarface	Complete; Greatest Hits
Simpsons Road Rage	Loose, Greatest Hits
Valkyrie Profile 2	Complete In Box, some wear on the artwork and manual
Tekken Tag Tournament	Disc and Case, Greatest Hits, Full side Movie Gallery sticker on DVD face

 

PS3	Condition
Sports Champions	Complete in Box

 

PS4	Condition
APEX Construct	Sealed
Gravity Rush Remastered	Loose
J-Stars Victory VS+	Loose
SteamWorld Dig 2	Sealed

 

PS5	Condition
Battlefield 2042	Complete in Box
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Deluxe Eiditon	Sealed

 

XBOX One	Condition
Watchdogs	Sealed

 

Consoles	Condition
Monster Hunter Rise Edition Switch	New in Box (No game code)
Oculus Quest 1	Complete in Box
Playstation 2 w/FreeMcBoot	Original PS2 "Fat" system. Won't read PS1 or blue PS2 discs. Laser could be ready to go bad, or just need re-alignment. Comes with a Yellow PS2 Memory Card that has FreeMcBoot on it. Free McBoot will allow you to to play games off of a hard drive if desired. No cords/controllers included.
Pokemon Scarlet/Violet Edition OLED Switch	New In Box
SNES Jr.	Includes Deck, RF Coax Cable, Third Party AC Adapter, and Third Party Controller. Small crack on the corner.
Splatoon 3 Edition OLED Switch	New In Box

 

Controllers	Condition
FortniteWildcat Joy-Con Set	Comes from the Fortnite Edition Console, never used
Joy-Con Grip	Bagged/Unused - Came with console
Oculus Quest 1/Rift S Left Controller	Used but very good condition. Comes with silicon case
Oculus Quest 1/Rift S Right Controller	Used but very good condition. Comes with silicon case
Platinum Gamecube Controller	Third Party, no nintendo logo, wired, good condition
Joy-Con (Left/Gray)	Good, no drift
Joy-Con (Right/Neon Red)	Good, no drift, Factory refurbished
SNES Controller	Third Party, no nintendo logo
SPIN Z WiiU Pro Controller	Black, Near Mint

 

Misc.	Condition
Chocobo White Mage Plush	Good
Chocobo Mystery Dungeon Everybuddy Pin	Thief costume
Chocobo's Dungeon Card Game Monsters Expansion Pack	Sealed
Black MagicGate 8MB PS2 Memory Card	Has Free McBoot loaded onto the card
Yellow Nyko MagicGate 8MB PS2 Memory Card	Has Free McBoot loaded onto the card
The Art of Splatoon 2	Sealed
Mario Kart 8 Target Pre-Order Keychain	Sealed. Cut in the film.
Nintendo Switch AC Adapter	Gently used
Nintendo 64 Memory Jumper Pack	OEM/Authentic Regular Pack, not to be confused with the expansion
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Pre-Order Coin	Sealed
Breath of the Wild Sheikah Coin	From BotW Special Edition, Good condition
Pokken Art Cel Pre-Order Bonus	Sealed
Blastoise New 3DS Plates	Plates are mint and unused
Nintendo 3DS Stand	OEM, Came with Kid Icarus Uprising
Kid Icarus Uprising Players Guide (Imported from Japan, no AR cards)	Shows a little wear
Kid Icarus AR Card Set (205/404)	Contains 249/402 different North American (AKDE) cards, no duplicates. An itemized list can be provided upon request.
Kid Icarus AR - Pit Rally Cry Sealed Pack	Sealed pack of cards that contains AKDE-403,014,086
Shantae Risky's Revenge 2 LP Soundtrack Vinyl	Sealed
Super Mario Wonder Framed Art Print	Comes from Best Buy, Sealed
Tears of the Kingdom Pin Set (The Legend of Zelda)	From the TotK Collector's Edition. Mint
Tears of the Kingdom Art Book (The Legend of Zelda)	From the TotK Collector's Edition. Mint
Tears of the Kingdom Poster (The Legend of Zelda)	From the TotK Collector's Edition. Mint
Portal 2 Wheatley LED Flashlight	Sealed

 

Cases/Boxes/Inserts	Condition
Chrono Trigger Manual	SNES, Slight Wear
Chrono Trigger Orange Border Map	Slight Water Damage, 2 Pin holes in the folds, frame optional
Chrono Trigger Green Border Map	Slight Water Damage
Disgaea 1 Rosen Queen Edition	Everything but the game
Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi	Greatest Hits Artwork
Shantae Slip Cover	Limited Run Nintendo Switch 5 Game Slip cover with protector
Burnout Revenge	PS2 case and manual
Doom Eternal Steelbook	PS4 Sealed, no game
Dot Hack (.HACK) Infection	PS2 case and manual
Dot Hack (.HACK) Mutation	Empty Case only
Dot Hack (.HACK) Outbreak	PS2 case and manual
Dragonball Z Budokai Tenkaichi	PS2 Greatest Hits Case Only, damaged clips but artwork is in good shape
The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Collector's Edition	Includes everything but the game
Metroid Dread Special Edition	Box only, damaged from shipping
God of War Chains of Olympus	Case and Manual Only
Gran Turismo 3 A-spec	PS2 case only, 'Not For Sale' version
Super Smash Bros Ultimate Nintendo Switch ConsoleBox Only	Empty Box, good condition
Animal Crossing Nintendo Switch Console Box Only	Empty Box, good condition
Pokemon Dialga & Palkia Switch Lite Box Only	Empty Box, good condition
Rival Schools Front Artwork	Just the front artwork
Fortnite Nintendo Switch Console Box Only	Empty Box, good condition
The Witcher III Wild Hunt	Empty Case, good condition
Tears of the Kingdom Steelbook (The Legend of Zelda)	From the TotK Collector's Edition. Empty Case, Mint
Witch's Wish Box	Empty Box, good condition

 

Freebies	Condition
Playstation 2 IDE Connector	Upgraded my HD Adapter to SATA, these are the old/leftover connectors.
Nintendo Switch Cart Caddy	3D Printed. Holds 16 carts. Can connect to an OEM dock.
Yoshi Mario Kart Keychain	Good
Small Jotaro Kujo Figure	3D Printed. From Jojo's Bizarre Adventure All-Star Battle-R
Large Jotaro Kujo Figure	3D Printed. From Jojo's Bizarre Adventure All-Star Battle-R
2 Cartridge DS Travel Case	2 Cartridge DS Travel Case
4 Cartridge DS Travel Case	4 Cartridge DS Travel Case
Wonderswan Display Stand	3D Printed. Does not fit Wonderswan Crystal
Lavos Figure	3D printed in PLA Wood Filament. Not my model, found on thingiverse.

 

Wants	Console
Kid Icarus Uprising AR Cards: AKDE-025 AKDE-039 (Will consider others)	None
Asheron's Call Memorabilia	PC
Game & Watch Devices (Excluding 35th Mario & Zelda editions)	G&W
Trip World	GB
Classic NES Series: Excitebike	GBA
Classic NES Series: Dr. Mario	GBA
Classic NES Series: Pac-Man	GBA
Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble	GBA
Pokemon Puzzle Challenge	GBC
R.O.B. Accessories	NES
Yo Noid	NES
Pirates Of Dark Water	SNES
Chrono Trigger Box/Inserts	SNES
Marvel Super Heroes War of the Gems	SNES
Ribbit King	NGC
Mario Wonder Cards/Pins Pre-Order Bonuses	None
Metal Gear Acid	PSP
Racing Lagoon	PS1
Parasite Eve 2	PS1
Red Ninja (Art/Manual)	PS2
Night Warriors Darkstalkers Revenge (Case & Manual Only)	Saturn
Wonderswan Games	Wonderswan
DS Download Station 1-8,10,11,12,14,16,17,20	DS
Oni	PS2
Sega Master System Games	Master System
ROG Ally Extreme	PC

Prices are subjective, negotiable, and do not include shipping.   If you would like to trade, check out my thread on /gameswap.   Also accepting Cashapp and Venmo.   One Freebie per order.   Photos upon request.
 

Storage Solutions	Price	Condition
Thin Jewel Case for CD/DVD/Blu-Ray	1/per	New. Clear front, black back
Standard Jewel Case for CD/DVD/Blu-Ray	1/per	New. Clear front and back
Genesis/Famicom Retro Protection	1/per	New, PET acid-free plastic cartridge protector
Super Famicom Cartridge Retro Protection	1/per	New, PET acid-free plastic cartridge protector
SNES Cartridge Retro Protection	1/per	New, PET acid-free plastic cartridge protector
NES Cartridge Retro Protection	1/per	New, PET acid-free plastic cartridge protector

 

amiibo	Price	Condition
Tears of the Kingdom Link	25	Loose
Ocarina of Time Link	25	Loose
Majora's Mask Link	30	Loose
Smash Bros. Link	20	Loose
Skyward Sword Link	20	Loose
Zelda & Loftwing	15	Loose
Wind Waker Link	20	Loose
Wind Waker Zelda	20	Loose
Twilight Princess Link	50	Loose
Wolf Link and Midna	25	Loose
Callie	20	Loose
Marie	20	Loose
Inkling Boy [Neon Green]	15	Loose
Inkling Girl [Neon Pink]	25	Loose
Inkling Squid [Neon Purple]	17	Loose
Splatoon 2 Pearl	20	Loose
Splatoon 2 Marina	20	Loose
Splatoon 3 Inkling [Yellow]	22	Loose
Splatoon 3 Octoling [Blue]	20	Loose
Splatoon 3 Small Fry	20	Loose
Zelda Loftwing	30	New In Box
Sanrio amiibo cards	12	Sealed Pack
Mario Cereal Box	15	Cereal Removed/Flattened
Isabelle Summer Outfit	40	Open Box
Cyrus/K.K./Reese	18	New In Box/Damaged box
Tom Nook	12	New In Box
Mabel	9	New In Box

 

Digital Codes	Price	Condition
SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD-STANDARD EDITION-US	10	Switch Digital Code

 

Figures	Price	Condition
Chrono Trigger Chrono (Crono)/Robo/Eira (Ayla) Formation Arts Figure	100	Loose figure, most limbs are detachable by design, no missing parts
Pit Figma Figure	90	First Edition, Open Box, Contains everything but AR cards
Lillie (Pokemon) Nendoroid	300	Sealed. US edition from the Pokemon Center
Pixel Pal Mega Man	30	Sealed, damaged box
Pixel Pal SMB3 Mario	30	Sealed
Pixel Pal SMB3 Luigi	30	Sealed
Tracer Nendoroid (730)	30	Sealed
Tracer (Blizzard Entertainment Cute But Deadly Series 2 Vinyl)	8	Loose figure

 

Switch	Price	Condition
Adventure Acedamia	30	Sealed
Atelier Ryza 3	90	Complete in Box
Azure Striker Gunvolt Striker Pack	40	Sealed
Bendy and the Ink Machine	30	Complete in Box
Ender Lilies	55	Sealed, Japan Import
Labyrinth of Refrain	65	Loose
Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom	60	Sealed
Monster Hunter Stories 2 Collector's Edition	160	Sealed
The Mummy Demastered	55	Complete in Box
River City Girls	120	Complete in Box, US Copy, Best Buy Variant
Shadowverse Champion's Battle	15	Loose
Shantae	50	Sealed
Shantae Risky's Revenge	50	Sealed
Shantae Collector's Edition	150	Sealed
Shantae Risky's Revenge Collector's Edition	150	Sealed
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Cowabunga Collection	30	Sealed
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap	40	Complete in Box
Yu-Gi-Oh Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution	18	Loose

 

Wii	Price	Condition
Batallion Wars 2	11	Game and Case
Castle of Shikigami III	75	Complete in Box
Okami	10	Game and Case

 

WiiU Games	Price	Condition
Batman Arkham City Armored Edition	40	Sealed
Disney Infinity 2.0	15	Sealed
Nintendoland	10	Complete in Box
Star Fox Guard	10	Complete in Box
Turbo Super Stunt Squad	200	Complete in Box, Art/Manual damage

 

DS	Price	Condition
Animal Crossing Wild World	35	Game, Case, and inserts. No Manual
Chrono Trigger	80	Loose
Dragon Quest IV	70	Loose
Final Fantasy Fables Chocobo's Dungeon DS+	25	Complete in Box, Japanese Import
Izuna 2 The Unemployed Ninja Returns	70	Loose
Kingdom Hearts Re:coded	25	Complete in Box
Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ	120	Cart and Case, no manual. Cartridge label is stained.
Super Scribblenauts	5	Loose

 

3DS	Price	Condition
Kid Icarus Uprising (Japanese)	40	Game, Manual, and Case (No Big Box)
Kid Icarus Uprising	120	Complete in Box, Includes Big Box, Stand and AR cards
Senran Kagura Deep Crimson Double D Edition	75	Sealed

 

GBA	Price	Condition
Car Battler Joe	180	Loose. Label imperfections
Chocobo Land A Game of Dice	15	Loose
Lady Sia	30	Loose, EU import
Lady Sia	50	Loose. Label imperfections

 

GB	Price	Condition
Alleyway	5	Loose
Kid Dracula	240	Loose

 

NES	Price	Condition
Adventure Island II	25	Loose
Faria	200	Game and Box. Box has some wear
Kid Icarus	180	Game, Box, and Manual; Box shows wear; Protective case for box and manual included
Rainbow Islands	35	Loose
Super Mario Bros & Duck Hunt	10	Loose

 

SNES	Price	Condition
Chrono Trigger	190	Loose, Bad Label Damage, damaged shell
Metal Marines	90	Loose
Secret of Mana	55	Loose
Super Punch-Out	25	Loose
Super Scope 6	22	Loose
Wild Guns	270	Loose, Bad Label Damage

 

Gamecube	Price	Condition
Cubivore	350	Loose disc
Pikmin	50	Player's Choice, Complete In Box
Star Fox Assault	30	Loose disc
Resident Evil 0	15	Player's Choice, Case and Discs, no manual
Resident Evil	25	Player's Choice, Complete In Box
Resident Evil	27	Complete In Box
Resident Evil 4	30	Complete In Box, Disc 2 has label wrinkles
Super Mario Sunshine	40	Game and case, no manual

 

Sega Genesis	Price	Condition
Jurrassic Park	10	Loose cartridge, Sharpie on Label
Phantasy Star IV	70	Loose cartridge, Label Damage
Quackshot	40	Complete In Box
Rocket Knight Adventures	37	Loose cartridge, Label Damage
Spider-Man	12	Loose cartridge, Label Damage

 

Sega Saturn	Price	Condition
NiGHTS Into Dreams	40	Complete in Box, Not for Resale Edition
Night Warriors Darkstalkers' Revenge	50	Loose

 

Sega Dreamcast	Price	Condition
Project Justice	225	Complete in Box, page 2 detached from manual.
Power Stone 2	90	Loose

 

PSP	Price	Condition
Daxter	10	Loose, Greatest Hits, Not For Resale
Power Stone Collection	30	Loose
Silent Hill Origins	50	Game and Case

 

PS1	Price	Condition
Castlevania Chronicles	165	Complete in Box
Chocobo Racing	55	Loose
Chocobo no Fushigi na Dungeon	20	Complete in Box, Japanese Import
Chocobo's Dungeon 2	70	Complete in Box, Manual is badly water damaged
Dark Stalkers	70	Loose slim case version
Dark Stalkers 3	50	Disc and Manual, no back art
Rival Schools	130	Complete in Box
Silent Hill	105	Loose disc, Greatest Hits
Valkyrie Profile	325	Discs and Case, no manual
World of Dragon Warrior Torneko The Last Hope	90	Loose
Xenogears	150	Complete in Box

 

PS2	Price	Condition
Avatar The Last Airbender	10	Disc and Case
Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance	17	Complete in Box; Greatest Hits
Bully	15	Greatest Hits, game & artwork
Burnout 3 Takedown	11	Complete, Water Damage on back cover art
Burnout Dominator	9	Case and Disc, Disc has superficial scratches but still boots
Castlevania Curse of Darkness	60	Loose, Disc has light scratching
Crash Bandicoot The Wrath of Cortex	10	Greatest Hits, Used, Disc and Case
Dragon Ball Z Budokai	11	Complete in Box
Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi	15	Complete in Box; Greatest Hits
Final Fantasy X	6	Greatest Hits, Used, Disc and Case
Final Fantasy X-2	6	Complete; Greatest Hits
Haunting Ground	300	Complete in Box, Water Damage on art and manual
Killzone	15	Complete in Box
Grand Theft Auto Vice City	10	Disc, Case, Poster, No Manual
.Hack Quaratine	300	Discs and Case, no manual
Marvel vs Capcom 2	60	Cracked Disc, won't boot for me. Comes with case, no manual
Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty	10	Greatest Hits, Used, Disc and Case
Naruto Ultimate Ninja 2	10	Disc and Case
Need for Speed Underground	10	Greatest Hits, Used, Disc and Case
Need for Speed Underground 2	24	Complete in Box
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2	10	Greatest Hits, Used, Disc and Case
Resident Evil Dead Aim	50	Game and Case, No manual
Scarface	40	Complete; Greatest Hits
Simpsons Road Rage	15	Loose, Greatest Hits
Valkyrie Profile 2	40	Complete In Box, some wear on the artwork and manual
Tekken Tag Tournament	10	Disc and Case, Greatest Hits, Full side Movie Gallery sticker on DVD face

 

PS3	Price	Condition
Sports Champions	10	Complete in Box

 

PS4	Price	Condition
APEX Construct	15	Sealed
Gravity Rush Remastered	60	Loose
J-Stars Victory VS+	30	Loose
SteamWorld Dig 2	20	Sealed

 

PS5	Price	Condition
Battlefield 2042	20	Complete in Box
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Deluxe Eiditon	150	Sealed

 

XBOX One	Price	Condition
Watchdogs	15	Sealed

 

Consoles	Price	Condition
Monster Hunter Rise Edition Switch	420	New in Box (No game code)
Oculus Quest 1	180	Complete in Box
Playstation 2 w/FreeMcBoot	80	Original PS2 "Fat" system. Won't read PS1 or blue PS2 discs. Laser could be ready to go bad, or just need re-alignment. Comes with a Yellow PS2 Memory Card that has FreeMcBoot on it. Free McBoot will allow you to to play games off of a hard drive if desired. No cords/controllers included.
Pokemon Scarlet/Violet Edition OLED Switch	400	New In Box
SNES Jr.	120	Includes Deck, RF Coax Cable, Third Party AC Adapter, and Third Party Controller. Small crack on the corner.
Splatoon 3 Edition OLED Switch	400	New In Box

 

Controllers	Price	Condition
FortniteWildcat Joy-Con Set	120	Comes from the Fortnite Edition Console, never used
Joy-Con Grip	8	Bagged/Unused - Came with console
Oculus Quest 1/Rift S Left Controller	115	Used but very good condition. Comes with silicon case
Oculus Quest 1/Rift S Right Controller	115	Used but very good condition. Comes with silicon case
Platinum Gamecube Controller	20	Third Party, no nintendo logo, wired, good condition
Joy-Con (Left/Gray)	35	Good, no drift
Joy-Con (Right/Neon Red)	35	Good, no drift, Factory refurbished
SNES Controller	10	Third Party, no nintendo logo
SPIN Z WiiU Pro Controller	25	Black, Near Mint

 

Misc.	Price	Condition
Chocobo White Mage Plush	20	Good
Chocobo Mystery Dungeon Everybuddy Pin	5	Thief costume
Chocobo's Dungeon Card Game Monsters Expansion Pack	25	Sealed
Black MagicGate 8MB PS2 Memory Card	20	Has Free McBoot loaded onto the card
Yellow Nyko MagicGate 8MB PS2 Memory Card	20	Has Free McBoot loaded onto the card
The Art of Splatoon 2	300	Sealed
Mario Kart 8 Target Pre-Order Keychain	10	Sealed. Cut in the film.
Nintendo Switch AC Adapter	20	Gently used
Nintendo 64 Memory Jumper Pack	20	OEM/Authentic Regular Pack, not to be confused with the expansion
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Pre-Order Coin	15	Sealed
Breath of the Wild Sheikah Coin	25	From BotW Special Edition, Good condition
Pokken Art Cel Pre-Order Bonus	7	Sealed
Blastoise New 3DS Plates	200	Plates are mint and unused
Nintendo 3DS Stand	30	OEM, Came with Kid Icarus Uprising
Kid Icarus Uprising Players Guide (Imported from Japan, no AR cards)	30	Shows a little wear
Kid Icarus AR Card Set (205/404)	600	Contains 249/402 different North American (AKDE) cards, no duplicates. An itemized list can be provided upon request.
Kid Icarus AR - Pit Rally Cry Sealed Pack	20	Sealed pack of cards that contains AKDE-403,014,086
Shantae Risky's Revenge 2 LP Soundtrack Vinyl	55	Sealed
Super Mario Wonder Framed Art Print	25	Comes from Best Buy, Sealed
Tears of the Kingdom Pin Set (The Legend of Zelda)	20	From the TotK Collector's Edition. Mint
Tears of the Kingdom Art Book (The Legend of Zelda)	65	From the TotK Collector's Edition. Mint
Tears of the Kingdom Poster (The Legend of Zelda)	20	From the TotK Collector's Edition. Mint
Portal 2 Wheatley LED Flashlight	120	Sealed

 

Cases/Boxes/Inserts	Price	Condition
Chrono Trigger Manual	100	SNES, Slight Wear
Chrono Trigger Orange Border Map	80	Slight Water Damage, 2 Pin holes in the folds, frame optional
Chrono Trigger Green Border Map	80	Slight Water Damage
Disgaea 1 Rosen Queen Edition	150	Everything but the game
Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi	5	Greatest Hits Artwork
Shantae Slip Cover	100	Limited Run Nintendo Switch 5 Game Slip cover with protector
Burnout Revenge	5	PS2 case and manual
Doom Eternal Steelbook	15	PS4 Sealed, no game
Dot Hack (.HACK) Infection	20	PS2 case and manual
Dot Hack (.HACK) Mutation	20	Empty Case only
Dot Hack (.HACK) Outbreak	30	PS2 case and manual
Dragonball Z Budokai Tenkaichi	10	PS2 Greatest Hits Case Only, damaged clips but artwork is in good shape
The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Collector's Edition	100	Includes everything but the game
Metroid Dread Special Edition	5	Box only, damaged from shipping
God of War Chains of Olympus	15	Case and Manual Only
Gran Turismo 3 A-spec	5	PS2 case only, 'Not For Sale' version
Super Smash Bros Ultimate Nintendo Switch ConsoleBox Only	90	Empty Box, good condition
Animal Crossing Nintendo Switch Console Box Only	20	Empty Box, good condition
Pokemon Dialga & Palkia Switch Lite Box Only	30	Empty Box, good condition
Rival Schools Front Artwork	25	Just the front artwork
Fortnite Nintendo Switch Console Box Only	20	Empty Box, good condition
The Witcher III Wild Hunt	20	Empty Case, good condition
Tears of the Kingdom Steelbook (The Legend of Zelda)	30	From the TotK Collector's Edition. Empty Case, Mint
Witch's Wish Box	50	Empty Box, good condition

 

Freebies	Price	Condition
Playstation 2 IDE Connector	Free with purchase	Upgraded my HD Adapter to SATA, these are the old/leftover connectors.
Nintendo Switch Cart Caddy	Free with purchase	3D Printed. Holds 16 carts. Can connect to an OEM dock.
Yoshi Mario Kart Keychain	Free with purchase	Good
Small Jotaro Kujo Figure	Free with purchase	3D Printed. From Jojo's Bizarre Adventure All-Star Battle-R
Large Jotaro Kujo Figure	Free with purchase	3D Printed. From Jojo's Bizarre Adventure All-Star Battle-R
2 Cartridge DS Travel Case	Free with purchase	2 Cartridge DS Travel Case
4 Cartridge DS Travel Case	Free with purchase	4 Cartridge DS Travel Case
Wonderswan Display Stand	Free with purchase	3D Printed. Does not fit Wonderswan Crystal
Lavos Figure	Free with purchase	3D printed in PLA Wood Filament. Not my model, found on thingiverse.

 

Our institution does NOT allow attendance grades or direct penalties, so let’s lay that premise immediately. You also cannot fail or drop a student for missing x amount of classes.
Still, lots of courses list their attendance as “mandatory”, and students are concerned about whether the course has mandatory attendance.
I struggle with, what does “mandatory” attendance even mean if it has no teeth and no consequences? I don’t list my course as having mandatory attendance because I’m not the attendance police, and there’s a significant “oh shit!” factor of “you will not pass this class if you aren’t here for it”. I also believe it’s part of being a grownup to learn to manage your time towards what holds the most value, and doing so builds internal volition. Most students who take my courses are also entering healthcare, and if you’re going to FAFO the early courses are the time to find out if you have the maturity and drive to succeed here or not.
A prime example is that one of the student evals complained, “this course doesn’t have mandatory attendance but the exams are lecture heavy anyway,” indicating that person (and extrapolating, probably others) really believed they wouldn’t need to show up to learn and thus IMHO is not ready for this field.
I’m curious, for those who list your course as mandatory attendance, does it actually help anything? Or are you just setting yourself up with more stress and disappointment in trying to monitor and enforce it? Is the benefit of the label more than the work it creates?

I am a repped SAG actor, I've auditioned for Telsey 9 times mostly for co-stars for tv, but my new manager was able to get a tape for a great straight play. Thats the extent of my ability to get into theatre.
Everything else feels so closed off. I can join AEA from being in SAG, but i was kinda hoping to get it from doing plays.. but it seems impossible to get play auditions and once you join AEA you can try to get appointments through a lottery system on their website. Great 1 more avenue for theatre auditions.
But what else? I never realized just how utterly SMALL theatre industry is in general, let alone in NYC!
I've cold-called every reputable theatre company trying to inquire about opportunities to get involved as an actor, play readings, things like that. Everything is invite only, meaning you have to already know writers and producres at the theatre.... it's kind of insane to me.
How the hell is tv/film more accessible than theatre?
My heart aches to be a part of a community, to be in a play, and it makes no sense to me why it's been easier for me to get things rolling with film/tv than theatre.

Hello all, I've been racking my brain for days and not succeeding (chem E was too far in the past for me) Is it possible to split this script up into two parts where one script outputs Ca and Treactor and the other outputs Tc? At this point this is just for my own darn curiosity.
Coupled:

import numpy as np import matplotlib.pyplot as plt from scipy.integrate import odeint # from IMC tuning Kc = 4.61730615181 * 2.0 tauI = 0.913444964569 / 4.0 tauD = 0.0 # define CSTR model def cstr(x, t, u, Tf, Caf): Tc = u Ca = x[0] T = x[1] q = 100 V = 100 rho = 1000 Cp = 0.239 mdelH = 5e4 EoverR = 8750 k0 = 7.2e10 UA = 5e4 rA = k0 * np.exp(-EoverR / T) * Ca # Calculate concentration derivative dCadt = q / V * (Caf - Ca) - rA # Calculate temperature derivative dTdt = q / V * (Tf - T) \ + mdelH / (rho * Cp) * rA \ + UA / V / rho / Cp * (Tc - T) # Return xdot: xdot = np.zeros(2) xdot[0] = dCadt xdot[1] = dTdt return xdot # Steady State Initial Conditions for the States Ca_ss = 0.87725294608097 T_ss = 324.475443431599 x0 = np.empty(2) x0[0] = Ca_ss x0[1] = T_ss # Steady State Initial Condition u_ss = 300.0 # Feed Temperature (K) Tf = 350 # Feed Concentration (mol/m^3) Caf = 1 # Time Interval (min) t = np.linspace(0, 10, 301) # storage for recording values op = np.ones(len(t)) * u_ss # controller output pv = np.zeros(len(t)) # process variable e = np.zeros(len(t)) # error ie = np.zeros(len(t)) # integral of the error dpv = np.zeros(len(t)) # derivative of the pv P = np.zeros(len(t)) # proportional I = np.zeros(len(t)) # integral D = np.zeros(len(t)) # derivative sp = np.ones(len(t)) * T_ss # set point # define a setpoint ramp or steps for i in range(15): sp[i * 20:(i + 1) * 20] = 300 + i * 7.0 sp[300] = sp[299] # Upper and Lower limits on OP op_hi = 350.0 op_lo = 250.0 pv[0] = T_ss # Loop through time steps for i in range(len(t) - 1): delta_t = t[i + 1] - t[i] e[i] = sp[i] - pv[i] if i >= 1: # calculate starting on second cycle dpv[i] = (pv[i] - pv[i - 1]) / delta_t ie[i] = ie[i - 1] + e[i] * delta_t P[i] = Kc * e[i] I[i] = Kc / tauI * ie[i] D[i] = -Kc * tauD * dpv[i] op[i] = op[0] + P[i] + I[i] + D[i] if op[i] > op_hi: # check upper limit op[i] = op_hi ie[i] = ie[i] - e[i] * delta_t # anti-reset windup if op[i] < op_lo: # check lower limit op[i] = op_lo ie[i] = ie[i] - e[i] * delta_t # anti-reset windup ts = [t[i], t[i + 1]] u[i + 1] = op[i] y = odeint(cstr, x0, ts, args=(u[i + 1], Tf, Caf)) Ca[i + 1] = y[-1][0] T[i + 1] = y[-1][1] x0[0] = Ca[i + 1] x0[1] = T[i + 1] pv[i + 1] = T[i + 1] op[len(t) - 1] = op[len(t) - 2] ie[len(t) - 1] = ie[len(t) - 2] P[len(t) - 1] = P[len(t) - 2] I[len(t) - 1] = I[len(t) - 2] D[len(t) - 1] = D[len(t) - 2] # Construct results and save data file data = np.vstack((t, u, T, Ca, op)).T # vertical stack and transpose data np.savetxt('CSTR_simulator.txt', data, delimiter=',') plt.ioff() plt.show() par 

I tried this being the cstr:

import numpy as np from scipy.integrate import odeint # Define CSTR model def cstr(x, t, u, Tf, Caf): Ca = x[0] T = x[1] q = 100 V = 100 rho = 1000 Cp = 0.239 mdelH = 5e4 EoverR = 8750 k0 = 7.2e10 UA = 5e4 rA = k0 * np.exp(-EoverR / T) * Ca dCadt = q / V * (Caf - Ca) - rA dTdt = q / V * (Tf - T) + mdelH / (rho * Cp) * rA + UA / V / rho / Cp * (u - T) xdot = np.zeros(2) xdot[0] = dCadt xdot[1] = dTdt return xdot # Simulation function def simulate_cstr(u, Tf, Caf, x0, t): Ca = np.ones(len(t)) * x0[0] T = np.ones(len(t)) * x0[1] for i in range(len(t) - 1): ts = [t[i], t[i + 1]] y = odeint(cstr, x0, ts, args=(u[i], Tf, Caf)) Ca[i + 1] = y[-1][0] T[i + 1] = y[-1][1] x0[0] = Ca[i + 1] x0[1] = T[i + 1] return Ca, T 

and this being the the controller

import numpy as np import matplotlib.pyplot as plt from cstr_reactor import simulate_cstr # Assuming your file is named cstr_reactor.py # PID parameters and initial conditions Kc = 4.61730615181 * 2.0 tauI = 0.913444964569 / 4.0 tauD = 0.0 # Control loop def pid_control(sp, T_ss, u_ss, t, Tf, Caf, x0): u = np.ones(len(t)) * u_ss op = np.ones(len(t)) * u_ss pv = np.zeros(len(t)) e = np.zeros(len(t)) ie = np.zeros(len(t)) dpv = np.zeros(len(t)) P = np.zeros(len(t)) I = np.zeros(len(t)) D = np.zeros(len(t)) # Initialize Ca and T arrays Ca = np.ones(len(t)) * x0[0] T = np.ones(len(t)) * x0[1] # Upper and Lower limits on OP op_hi = 350.0 op_lo = 250.0 pv[0] = T_ss # Create plot plt.figure(figsize=(10, 7)) plt.ion() plt.show() for i in range(len(t) - 1): delta_t = t[i + 1] - t[i] e[i] = sp[i] - pv[i] if i >= 1: dpv[i] = (pv[i] - pv[i - 1]) / delta_t ie[i] = ie[i - 1] + e[i] * delta_t P[i] = Kc * e[i] I[i] = Kc / tauI * ie[i] D[i] = -Kc * tauD * dpv[i] op[i] = op[0] + P[i] + I[i] + D[i] if op[i] > op_hi: op[i] = op_hi ie[i] = ie[i] - e[i] * delta_t if op[i] < op_lo: op[i] = op_lo ie[i] = ie[i] - e[i] * delta_t u[i + 1] = op[i] # Use the current Ca and T for the initial condition of the next step x0 = [Ca[i], T[i]] Ca, T = simulate_cstr(u, Tf, Caf, x0, t) pv[i + 1] = T[i + 1] # Debugging information if i % 50 == 0: print(f"Time: {t[i]:.2f}, Setpoint: {sp[i]:.2f}, PV: {pv[i]:.2f}, OP: {op[i]:.2f}, Ca: {Ca[i]:.2f}, T: {T[i]:.2f}") # Plot the results plt.clf() plt.subplot(4, 1, 1) plt.plot(t[0:i], u[0:i], 'b--', linewidth=3) plt.ylabel('Cooling T (K)') plt.legend(['Jacket Temperature'], loc='best') plt.subplot(4, 1, 2) plt.plot(t[0:i], Ca[0:i], 'g-', linewidth=3) plt.ylabel('Ca (mol/L)') plt.legend(['Reactor Concentration'], loc='best') plt.subplot(4, 1, 3) plt.plot(t[0:i], sp[0:i], 'r--', linewidth=2, label='Set Point') plt.plot(t[0:i], T[0:i], 'k:', linewidth=3, label='Reactor Temperature') plt.ylabel('T (K)') plt.xlabel('Time (min)') plt.legend(loc='best') plt.subplot(4, 1, 4) plt.plot(t[0:i], op[0:i], 'r--', linewidth=3, label='Controller Output (OP)') plt.plot(t[0:i], P[0:i], 'g:', linewidth=2, label='Proportional (Kc e(t))') plt.plot(t[0:i], I[0:i], 'b.-', linewidth=2, label='Integral (Kc/tauI * Int(e(t))') plt.plot(t[0:i], D[0:i], 'k-.', linewidth=2, label='Derivative (-Kc tauD d(PV)/dt)') plt.legend(loc='best') plt.ylabel('Output') plt.draw() plt.pause(0.01) op[len(t) - 1] = op[len(t) - 2] ie[len(t) - 1] = ie[len(t) - 2] P[len(t) - 1] = P[len(t) - 2] I[len(t) - 1] = I[len(t) - 2] D[len(t) - 1] = D[len(t) - 2] # Save data to file data = np.vstack((t, u, T, Ca, op)).T np.savetxt('data_doublet_steps.txt', data, delimiter=',') return u, T # Main execution if __name__ == "__main__": t = np.linspace(0, 10, 301) x0 = [0.87725294608097, 324.475443431599] sp = np.ones(len(t)) * 324.475443431599 # Define a setpoint ramp or steps for i in range(15): sp[i * 20:(i + 1) * 20] = 300 + i * 7.0 sp[300] = sp[299] u, T = pid_control(sp, 324.475443431599, 300.0, t, 350, 1, x0) 

But I don't get the same values as in my original script where it isn't decoupled. Should I be posting or asking somewhere else? Thank you!

I’m at my wits end. I feel so trapped in my own life. This man is a toxic, psychologically manipulative narcissist. We used to be so close, my dad(52), and I(23F). Our daddy, daughter relationship was unmatched. I put him on a pedestal and I shouldn’t have. Our relationship took a downward turn during COVID and after I graduated high school(2019). We have been sharing a room together for the past 11 years. We sleep on the floor about 3ft apart from each other. I’m just tired of being so close to him 24/7. It’s driving me crazy. How did we end up in that situation? Very long story. I’ll try to keep it short, when I was 12 my birth giver was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. After that, she made the conscious decision that she didn’t want the responsibility of raising 2 kids anymore. So she packed up her life and moved from California to Atlanta, leaving us behind. We didn’t want to live with her and she didn’t want to wait for my dad to get his own place and take us in. So she manically left. My older brother went to live with my grandmother and I was forced to move 3 hours away from the city I grew up in. I had to move in with my aunt, her son, and her granddaughter(my cousin). After a year spent with them, my dad came to get me so that I could live with him. But when he got me, he was homeless. He was living in a motel six. No car. $2000 to his name. I didn’t care though. I was just happy to be with him. Something familiar and comforting. The year I spent with my aunt was rough. I was raised completely different from the way she was raising her granddaughter. I couldn’t identify with them. I was raised in the suburbs. My parents had good jobs. They’ve lived in apartment complexes in bad neighborhoods all their lives. My cousin had a teenage mom and a dad in prison. She fights in school. She’s fast with boys. She wears booty shorts with pride and watches Bad Girls Club. I liked Bratz dolls and twinkle toes and iCarly. We bickered often. I was expected to fight her battles when she would pick fights with girls bigger and uglier than her. Because “you the oldest cousin”. I got called a pusy often for not wanting to fight. I would complain to my birth giver but she’d just say “yeah beat her a”. Knowing damn well she’s ran from every physical altercation brought to her. I just didn’t feel comfortable around them. I felt unheard and unwanted. I felt like I didn’t belong to anyone. I wanted to die. I ended up being pulled out of school and I was sent to a mental health facility for suicidal teens. I was placed on suicide watch for a week. I was having a lot of self-conscious issues and insecurities. The normal teenage girls stuff. but my cousin,(miss I’m that btch) was fortunate enough to not have the same problems as I, so my issues were looked at as “abnormal”. So I was labeled as mentally unstable. I was treated like I had a virus My dad still had a job. But it was an hour away from my aunts city. He had no car so he had to take public transportation. While he worked, I stayed in the motel room alone. Eventually my godmothers best friend took us into her home. And we’ve been here ever since. Yes, I’m in my dad’s custody. Yes, that’s what I wanted. Yes, I am grateful that he came to get me (even though he wasn’t financially ready). But my internal issues aren’t just going to go away because I got my daddy. My Borderline Personality Disorder isn’t going to disappear just because daddy’s home. My insecurities, my sense of self. He tells me that all of that should’ve went away the moment he came and got me. “You should’ve been good. But you just HAVE to dwell. Oh, my mom abandoned me so I’m gonna cut my wrist.” He said that. I still remember that day. I remember everything violating that he says to me. Problem is he doesn’t. I’ve made a lot of silly kitty mistakes in my life. And I’ve had to deal with all his “life lessons“. He used to tell me all the time that if he died tomorrow, I wouldn’t know what to do in this world without him. I’ve learned to handle his verbal blows silently. I used to cry when I was a kid. But then he would demand that I tell him why I was crying, then another argument ensues. So after a while I learned to block him out when he starts. I just blank out and go into a different headspace. I pretend that I’m not present. I choose not to listen when he’s being negative. When he talks about my hair, my weight ,the things I eat, my career choices, the type men I like, my sexuality. At this point, there is nothing that he can say to me that will hurt my feelings. Because I feel like he is deflecting his insecurities. It is his actions that are literally digging me into a deeper hole. He is using me for his own personal gain and financial support because he feels like I owe him. I owe him because “he’s busted his ass raising me and he’s done everything for me since I was born”. I hear that a lot. I heard that when he took half of my paycheck for himself because he didn’t get paid while he had COVID. I heard that when he took my debit card while I was sleeping and put bills on it without telling me. I hear it every time I have to pay for his alcohol and his marijuana because he refuses to go to the DMV because he doesn’t want to stand in line. My dad is a functioning alcoholic. I mean, highly functional. I have witnessed him chug, a full bottle of wine and then drive me to work. I am feeding this man’s addiction against my will. I can’t even come home after work and take a nap because I have to stay awake for his weed delivery. Like come on now you’re 50+ years old why am I paying for your alcohol like you’re under age? I try to find the nicest way possible to tell him things like this are not normal nor fair to me. He gets extremely defensive. “I’ve done everything for you. I raised you since you were two years old and you can’t even pay for my weed.” those were his exact words. Am I crazy or does that not sound crazy? He guilt trips me and I’m forced to give in. He does all these things to me on a daily basis and when I ignore him or give him the cold shoulder, it’s “what have I done to you to make you treat me this way?” You’re probably asking why don’t I just move out? To make it simple, I don’t make enough money. When I was 21 I became a CNA and stayed in that field for 2 1/2 years. I formed a really good relationship with my classmates. We would help each other study and supported each other through training. We all wanted to become LVN eventually. In the state of California, you have to had worked as a CNA for at least six months before you can become an LVN. we all made a pact that we would work our one year at the same facility and then go to the same medical school together. Just to get our experience in. LVN school is 18 months long. And from what I was told a great majority of your hours should be spent studying. LVN students still work but not that much. maybe part-time or under a contract. But my dad didn’t want me to stop working for 18 months. He wanted me to keep working so that I can help him pay off his debts and bills so that we can move. He was afraid that our landlord was gonna kick us out while I was in the middle of my school semester. (She wasn’t. We’re helping her pay off her mortgage by renting this room.) Ever since we’ve moved into this room consecutively year after year, he has promised me that we would move out and get our own place. My dad is not very good with spending and saving money. The reason why he doesn’t have a car now is because he can’t afford to buy nor keep the car. He has so much debt from unpaid rent , unpaid card notes, phone bills, and other IRS stuff. His credit score is currently under 215. Meaning it is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE for him to qualify to live anywhere. He is delusional to the fact that he cannot fix this himself. So he just gives me false hope year after year. I genuinely believe that he thinks he’s God. I hated being a CNA and wanted out as soon as I could. I just wanted to do my one year and then start nursing school. He says to my brother, “she wants to go back to school, but she can’t until we get out of here”. After I heard that I pretty much gave up on my nursing career. Because I knew that if that was the case, I would never be able to go back to school. So I gave up. I continue to work as a CNA until my certification expired. He got pissed at me because I told him that I wasn’t going to renew it. Why do I have to work a job that I hate for you? Someone who won’t allow me to elevate? If I can’t be an LVN the next best thing that’s gonna get me away from wiping old peoples butts is medical assisting with phlebotomy. The school that I got my CNA certification from was offering a medical assisting course with no tuition. That was the route that I was going to take, but they told me that I didn’t qualify to be in the program because I am alumni. There’s another medical school close to where I live, but it’s private. And I wanted to avoid having student debt because tuition is 10k. They offer financial aid, but I feel like even if I do apply, I’m gonna get the minimum amount or nothing at all. I don’t have any debt currently. Hell, I don’t even have credit. And I wanted to avoid that, but I’m desperate at this point. The next course is July of next year. That leaves plenty of time to apply for financial aid and grants. But the debt after completion is what’s nerve-racking to me. My dad tells me that I can’t handle any stress of any kind so I HAVE to make as much money as possible and avoid debt to avoid stress. Whether what I do makes me happy or not. But I’ve made plans of my own that will NOT include him. My grandmother (dad’s mom) passed away about 15+ years ago. She left her life insurance to myself my dad and my brother. 20K each. But my brother and I couldn’t get access to it until we turned 25. I turn 24 in two weeks and 25 next year. My plan was to take that money by myself a car and move TF out. As far away as possible from him. Cut off contact and all. Then I would start school a month later. I just don’t want him interfering with my plans. He still likes to hold some type of control over me. And if my plans don’t include him, he will force himself in. He wants to go to family therapy with me. But honestly, I’m not interested. I’m so drained, I don’t want to talk anymore. The only way that our problems will stop is if we don’t live together. I have tried to walk out and just leave multiple times. and each time he has physically stopped me from walking out the door. he tells me I can leave and find my own place but when I try to, he stops me. When I was 19 he called me an ungrateful piece of shit because I told him I didn’t want to live with him anymore. I’ve suffered at the hands of his verbal abuse and being his scapegoat and his last resort for too long. I am beyond done. You can’t treat me this way just because you raised me. When he talks to me the way that he does he tells me that I’m too sensitive and that I shouldn’t take it that way because he’s my dad. He tells me that I should be able to separate him from everybody else. That is his golden excuse. “I’m your parent“. being my parent DOES NOT give you the excuse to disrespect me. I would never do that to him because he has violent tendencies. and I am not one to hesitate to call the police when I feel threatened. he has threatened to put hands on me multiple times. if he touches me, I’m calling the police. Simple. I don’t ever want it to get to that point because he has a good job. In the moment that he gets put into handcuffs that shit is over with, and he’s back at square one trying to figure out his retirement. Now, what did he do that made me type all this out? I had to pay for his weed again, using my ID card. I currently have a job position pending due to background checks and I work but only two days a week. I don’t have a car so I use Uber and Lyft to get myself to work. I make $18 an hour and the Uber rides are $60 combined. whenever he places in order, he sends me the amount of money to pay for it. but there’s an ATM fee each time. and guess who had to pay the fee with the rest of everything that was in her account? I have nine cents in my checking account as we speak. and he doesn’t care since it’s not him. he offered to pay me back the difference, but it’s the principle of the whole thing. Why do I have to do this to myself FOR you? And because he’s an alcoholic with no car, I have to use DoorDash to buy his 20 liter of wine. I live in a small area so a lot of the times we get the same Dasher over and over. I get so embarrassed when I answer the door and give them my ID. I feel like they think it’s me ordering alcohol every single day. but my dad tells me I can’t care what people think. I just feel trapped under this man’s hold. I have no friends. i’ve never had a boyfriend. i’ve never had sex. I don’t have a drivers license because I don’t know how to drive. because I don’t have anyone around me that owns a car to teach me how to drive. I already cut my birth giver out of my life. that’s another long story, but basically my brother was homeless for six months as a result of something she did. so I don’t have a mom and I’m about to not have a dad. this man disgusts me. He makes me feel like I’m crazy for feeling this way. Am I crazy? AITA for filling this way. WIBTA if I cut him out my life? or am I being dramatic?

So I’m 22f and currently live with my friend Lori. she’s the same age. About 4 months ago she met and befriended a girl on Insta. For some context, we live in a big city and this girl comes from a wealthy background (she lives in the posh expensive area).
Over the months she started inviting us to these ‘exclusive’ parties which were fun at first but I stopped going for various reasons (one being that it started to make me uncomfortable). As I work 2 jobs it also clashed with my schedule a lot and my friend kept pressuring me to take time off work which isn’t feasible for me. So there already was some tension.
Anyway the girl introduced us to her social circle and we started hanging out with them more, though I didn’t enjoy it much as I couldn’t keep up financially and didn’t want to pretend I could (unlike Lori who kind of gave them a wrong impression of us). There’s a guy in the group whose beach house we used as a hangout spot kinda so we saw him occasionally. However I started to distance myself from him and the wider group as he made several misogynistic comments about me (he said something shocking the very first time we met which permanently left a sour taste in my mouth). Lori told me to chill out and that he just likes me a lot and that I’m lucky etc. I had already made clear to him that we are not friends and never will be.
Being a part of this group was very important to Lori but she never wanted to do things on her own so always asked me to come along, which I did reluctantly because I wanted to be a good friend.
Anyway the guy’s birthday is coming up soon and everyone got him something, except for my friend. I asked her if she’s planning on getting him anything and she said she had something “in the works”. A week later she told me that she had prepared his birthday present and guess what it was? She basically said that the birthday present was me spending a weekend with him. Allegedly he told her that she doesn’t need to get him anything and that he just wants to get to know me.
I was extremely disgusted and disturbed that she would do something like this to me and just treat me like a literal object. I asked her why tf can’t she just get something he likes and she said that he has everything already so this is the only thing that would mean something to him and she can’t afford anything expensive or rare.
Of course I refused and we’ve had arguments about it and each time I walked away. She said that I’m so boring, that I never wanna do fun stuff and that I’m the reason her friends think we’re “poor innocent little kids” (I didn’t know we had that label but apparently we do).
To make matters worse she had already told him that I’m open to the idea so he thinks I’m coming. Now she’s blaming me for getting her into this sticky situation and keeps begging me to just help her out for once. She said that she will repay me in future and that she’s forever in my debt etc
AITAH for not helping my friend out? AITAH for overthinking the situation and not considering that he might wanna hang out as a friend? AITAH for potentially making her look stupid in front of everyone?

When it comes researching I find myself easily overwhelmed by information and becoming very lost.
I am capable of identifying key words for what I'm looking for but when I read the information, I get confused and wonder if this is what I'm looking for or if there is something I'm missing. More then likely it is what I'm looking for, but for some reason a very deep part of me doubts it. This results in me looking for hours and getting frustrated that I'm not finding what I need. This mostly happens when the site or whatever I'm looking at isn't straight forward. It throws multiple options at me or labels things in unexpected (but I would say reasonable) ways.
I feel this ties into my anxiety because I don't always feel like this unless it's for important decisions or task that needs to get done. Any ways on coping would be great. I feel like I'm being severely hindered in my independence. I rely heavily on others to confirm if what I'm looking at is correct or if I'm missing something.

Hey everyone, I need one more player for my homebrew DND campaign of big boss hunting and would love for someone to join, rn we have 3males and 1 female so I would prefer to have 1 more female to somewhat even out the team. BUT everyone is welcome.
Google Form Application: https://forms.gle/RBTJw3CK8Dx1W7eNA
Story: On a planet named Terra, a world where many wonders and magic reside, once a home to billions of all intelligent races came a great catastrophe. Titans rose from the crust of the earth. Destroying everything in their path, killing off many of the population. Survivors took refuge in kingdoms across the globe with only 4 main metropolises and a few small cities known to man-kind. The rest of Terra, barren wastelands. No one dares travels outside of the protection of the Kaiju Defense Force(KDF) even so many have lost their lives due to 'visits' from wandering Kaiju. Our heros story starts when they enrolled into KDF's Kaiju Hunting Academy to be part of the defense force. For reasons to join the most dangerous/deadly/PTSD inducing job in the world is something they only know. We shall see if they can survive to see the end of the Era Of Titans.

This is a problem that I’ve had for as long as I can remember and I’ve never been comfortable talking about it because I was afraid that people would think I’m bragging. I wanted to post here to see if anyone else had this problem, and I just honestly want to feel like I’m not alone.
Ok here goes. I’ll emphasize that I feel awful typing every word of this, I just want to be descriptive to see if anyone else has these patterns.
I learn pretty quickly, and I get good at what I do. Over the span of high school I learned 4 instruments and music production to the point of my music teachers recommending that I apply to Berkelee or Juliard for any one of them. I didn’t end up doing that but I continued music production in college and almost got a connect with a record label lol. I learned recruitment and went from an awkward guy to the lead recruiter of my org in the span of a semester. I then tried photography as a hobby and a year later I now work as a photographer for my university and I do freelance product and model work for some companies.
Ok so here’s the part that sucks: I end up quitting quickly and I feel like I haven’t earned a single thing in my life. I completely stopped music, I don’t recruit anymore, among a bunch of other things. I rarely relate to anyone about anything because I don’t learn at the same pace. It feels like I’ve just been coasting by because of luck, and god knows I don’t deserve any of the praise I get. And more than anything, I’ve never, ever been proud of anything I’ve done. I’m 21 now and I’ve never had a moment where I didn’t hate myself. I have everything I could ever want and I feel like the world’s biggest ingrate for not being able to appreciate it. I feel like the last person on earth that deserves to be able to do this stuff. I feel like I haven’t worked hard a day in my entire life despite handling a million commitments and being busy 24/7.
Please tell me there’s someone that can relate because I feel like an alien. I know that was a lot, and I really am grateful that you have read all of it. I hope you’re having a peaceful day

Reviewed and Written May 26th, 2024, Updated June 7th, 2024.
Total Score: 1.6
Appearance: 1.5 Artificially Enhanced color, and yet it’s still pale?! Absolutely ridiculous. Not so much inappropriate as it is disappointing.
Louche: 1.5 Barely louched at all. Although milky, it’s less than one-dimensional. It’s flat, uninteresting, and chalky. I louched it once to no avail, no milky cloud formation. Second glass did louche, but it was so uninteresting and flat I felt like it didn’t matter either way.
Aroma: 1.5 Barely has an aroma, neat or louched. If Grande Absente were somehow muted, it would be this liqueur both neat and louched. Frankly, it’s less than awful, it’s non-existent.
FlavoMouthfeel: 2 As a Crillon Import, it is a bit of a star anise bomb, like Grande Absente. Being a liqueur, the flavors are muted and unbalanced, if they’re even there at all. The one thing my mind keeps jumping to is that it’s almost tea-like in the lack of intensity of the various botanicals. Absolutely nothing to grasp onto here. I swear, flavor and mouthfeel-wise, this is absinthe tea when diluted. Awful, truly. Finish: 1 Is there even a finish to this? No lasting numbness, even through the star anise I can pick out. Completely uncharacteristic of absinthe.
Overall: 1.5 Please, do yourself a favor and save money for a bottle of Oregon Spirit, La Clandestine, or any other traditionally-made absinthe on the market. As this is part of Crillon’s Faux Absinthe line, I’m at all not surprised at its quality; but it’s still very sad to think people can get introduced to such a wonderful spirit with such an awful liqueur. The one saving grace is that the labeling is accurate. This is a Liqueur, and I’m glad Crillon had the courage to label at least one of their products accurately. God help those who only know this as their gateway to absinthe. Truly, truly awful swill, take this off the market for Christ sakes. Somehow even worse than Grande Absente in all but price point. For $30 a bottle, I could get a 375ml bottle of Oregon Spirit and be more than satisfied.