Hey, if you have half a minute and care about the LGTBQIA+ community in the EU, I'd suggest you take a look at this initiative to ban conversion therapies in the EU.
1 million people are required to sign, but there's barely 100k. The form takes less than a minute, it only requires your ID, name and surname.
Please, help spread the initiative so that it can reach the goal ASAP!
I didn't have 'German Chancellor suffers eye injury after jogging accident and posting pics of himself with an eyepatch and "I'm excited for the memes" on twitter on my 2023 bingo card and yet
Thanks for all of the recent feedback around Community Labels being incorrectly applied to content. In particular, we appreciate the input we’ve received from the LGBTQIA+ community and understand the frustrations from folks who felt that their content was unfairly labeled. When we realized this was happening, we immediately investigated and are taking steps to prevent this from happening again.
The LGBTQIA+ community makes up about a quarter of the Tumblr community. It is important for us to support all Tumblr users, especially those whose safe spaces are under threat in certain parts of the world.
As you know, alongside of the rollout of Community Labels we also expanded the types of content allowed on Tumblr as a way to welcome more creativity, art, and self-expression. Our goals remain the same today. Human error happens and we apologize to anyone who has been impacted by these mistakes.
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4,000 votes isn't a large enough sample size especially considering that queer spaces are close gknit resulting in a selection bias. To solve the potential selection bias, we simply need more people to see the poll and participate in it.
Quite simple, it needs to break containment.
I think around about a million or so votes would do the trick.
i’m curious to know the ratio of writers to readers on ao3 so here’s a poll. when i say writer, i mean people who have published works on ao3, doesn’t matter if it’s once, or if it was ages ago, or if it’s a regular occurrence. when i say reader, i mean people who have never published a work on ao3. the reader vote still counts if you don’t have an account on ao3. if you’re a writer who is also an active reader, please still click on the “writer” option!
ao3 ratio
writer
reader
Voting ended onAug 15, 2023
please do boost this so it reaches a larger sample space!
I want you to reblog this if you believe that two people can be very close and physically affectionate with one another, but still have a completely nonsexual, non-romantic relationship.
Even if the two people in question are capable of being sexually or romantically attracted to one another.
Because the friendship I share with someone I consider family in a way that transcends blood has been typecast as a romantic relationship ENTIRELY too many times, and I’m beginning to get sick of it.
wish i had a bit going where whenever i said “the prophecy” like three of my friends would repeat “the prophecy” in different tones while squinting into the distance and rubbing their chins like sages deep in thought. i would also do this for them, im a team player
okay, so, be me, 27 years old at the time, an adult by any definition in the world
be me at the los angeles zoo, one of my very favorite places in the world, because i love animals. i am immedietly 8 years old when presented with a little creature. i can’t help it.
okay, wait, go back. we must establish two things for this to hit right
first:
the year before, i’d gone to the san diego zoo with my aunt and grandma and! they let you feed giraffes there!!
how wonderful a world and how wonderful a life, where for $10 I can hand feed a giant creature three crispy biscuits. i go “i am feeding the giraffes right now” and go in line to buy the biscuits and return moments later triumphant, 3 biscuits in my grasp
“oh good!” my grandmother says, “one for each of us!”
“yes,” i say, despondent, “one for each of us.”
i wanted to feed all three to the giraffes myself but since i am an actual adult and not a child i do not say this and share the biscuits
second:
my friend group echoes. a lot
someone tells a story and ends it with “and that’s what happened!” and the rest of us will repeat “and that’s what happened!”
often in unison. and it’s constant, all the time, even to little stuff. often said in the tone of “they don’t even have dental”
ok, so we’re back at the los angeles zoo. they have opened the giraffe feeding
i am not going to be thwarted again
my two friends (K and M) get in line to feed them and i go to buy the biscuits. i return with nine biscuits because i am going to give the giraffes three biscuits myself and i do not want to hear a word of protest. i am being fair. i am being equitable. i am sharing. no one can judge me
“wow!” says K. “that’s a lot of biscuits!”
“the cult provides,” i say generously, handing over their share, because what is a friend group if not a small cult
and then, automatically, in unison, like they have so many times before and thinking nothing of what exactly they’re saying, M and K reply, “the cult provides”
two different people in line turn to stare at us while we all blink at each other and then M nervously shouts, “we are definitely not in a cult!” which sounds like something someone who is in a cult might say
and ever since it’s been a running bit where one person says “the cult ____” and everyone echoes it as seriously as possible, no matter where we are or who we’re around
which is to say, OP, that you could be living the dream if your friends weren’t cowards
I still want to write the fic where an outsider has all these preconceptions about what the Force is and then goes into a room with a bunch of Jedi who are tearing into each other like bitchy old academics.
“Ooh, look at Master Structuralist over here with his ever-so-deep ‘everything is attachment actually’ reading”
“I don’t want to hear that from someone who calls every new opinion ‘new depths of their relationship with the Force’”
“The Jedi Order is a social construct–”
“Could you stuff the po-mo and pick up a book once in a while? These aren’t new ideas! You are not a pioneer because you asked one question!”
“I think you could all benefit on more reflection on how our rooting in the Force is actually deeply sexual–”
“If I have to hear one more word about lightsabers being penis envy you are going to be one with the Force immediately.”
#I’m 100% into this and want annual conferences about the force and what it means to be a jedi#everyone keep asking very passive-aggressive questions after every presentations#at one point a lecturer says ‘I know this because the Force told me so’ instead of listing their sources and the whole room groans#a scholar who isn’t force-sensitive shows up and half of the jedi are like ‘who even is this guy’#a LOT of rage is being released in the force at the same time#the only moment everyone in the room makes an appreciative noise is when the lunch break is announced#a huge debate blows up during the break because someone mentions it could be good to invite a nightsister next year#someone storms off mumbling about heresy and not taking part in this debacle @obiwanobi
yes please I need more jedi symposiums with knights who had different views than consulars who have different views than shadows. Temple-centered jedi versus those who lead frequent diplomatic or medical missions versus exploratory and research jedi who spend most of their time in uninhabited wild space and the outer rim.
There is absolutely no way an organization that large doesn’t have factions that understand the force differently–my 15-person philosophy class couldn’t agree on a single thing we read all term.
#Obi wan was pissed that his past presentation on Jedi/Mandalorian cultural parallelism was laughed out#so he put Anakin up to it just to send the room into a tailspin#Anakin LOVED it#he got to sword fight an eighty year old snake#and force chuck a dude into a wall#he officially never misses one of these anymore#every year he just goes up and says the most controversial thing he can to get the room to riot#the year after its ‘the more midichlorians you have the closer you are to the force’#he almost got stabbed by an old monk from the far side of dantooine#for that one#the council keeps letting him speak because it’s way less embarrassing to blame the fights on Skywalker#than admit everyone at an academic conference wants to murder each other#they did get a Nightsister to come to the conference btw#it was very enlightening and everyone liked her#the problem was that Anakin’s presentation that year was#‘master/student bonds are no different than lovers bonds in the force’#and#the Nightsister took REAL offense to that#Anakin is like 30% sure he got cursed#totally worth it for the look on Obi-Wan’s face tho#the Nightsister came back the next year#she brought friends!#they’re not sure if she did that because they were interested in the academics or if she wanted backup to beat the shit out of Anakin#but the council likes both cases#so they see this as an absolute win!
It happened six hundred years ago so no one knows but theories range from “he ate all the snacks” to “he personally instigated a duel meant to settle whether channeling the force through combat meditation is more effective than through regular meditation but the duel got out of hand and everyone but him lost at least one limb”
the truth is that he was never actually banned, he’s just been saying it so he doesn’t have to go. he started all the rumors himself
After Mortis anakin’s presentation is just standing ahsoka on stage solid 5 minutes and then as she’s rolling her eyes and about to hop off Morai flies past a window and anakin clicks to the next slide and it just says “the bird is the light side and it’s stalking my padawan”
Simon and Johnny are alone on base and Simon sleepwalks, revealing some of his secrets
They were on mission, technically, but it had been a few days since they’d seen any action and from the info Price and Gaz had sent back from the field, it would be a few more.
Simon and Johnny had been alone in the small foreign barracks, and it was easy enough for them. No one on earth had said what both of them had been thinking. That it was just a little more than comradery, a little more than close friendship. Not even they had mentioned it as they crawled into the same bed. Not platonic, but not taking it too far. Leaving it questionably justifiable.
That particular night, however, they slept apart. Johnny knew why, but Simon would never have said it. His dreams often woke him on nights when the day before was particularly hard to wade through. Simon hated the quiet, and sitting on his hands, and he’d gotten lost in his mind again. So Johnny made sure he ate and gave him his space.
He walked through the base in darkness, making sure everything was locked up. Checking in again with Price. He eventually went and lay in his bed but he didn’t feel like sleep would find him any time soon. Something about that day with Ghost felt different. Not that it was unusual behavior in the Lieutenant, but that it felt different for Soap.
He’d always hated the way the man suffered, cringing at the dark stories of his past and marveling at the selflessness and kindness and forgiveness the man displayed in spite of it. He supposed these darker days were fair and called for in between the high energy, hyper-focused days they spent in the field.
But that day…meeting his eyes and hearing the lower, more tired register of his voice, Johnny realized how much the man meant to him. Really. Not just a crush or a respected superior. Johnny would have died for him long before feeling like this. This was a desperation to live, and for Simon to live, to exist in the world at the same time and in comfort and safety.
It made him think about quieter days off duty, and how relieved he was to have those days alone, and then suddenly, he didn’t want to have them alone at all.
He’d been in and out of sleep for a while when a noise caught his ear and he sat up, slowly to keep from making any noise. He could hear heavy feet and cabinets opening and closing. He wasn’t worried about intruders, he knew immediately that it was Ghost. He knew his footsteps.
Soap went and stood at his door, cracking it open. It was, however, strange that he was being so loud. Simon would never make that much noise knowing that Soap was in bed. He was notoriously careful to not disturb the others. Worried, Soap left his room and padded nearly silently down the hall.
Whatever Simon was doing, he hadn’t turned on any lights. As Soap neared, he could hear him speaking, every so often like he was having a conversation with someone. Sleepwalking. He’d mentioned it before, in passing, like a warning, and Soap hadn’t thought much of it. But he was thinking of it then and his heart clenched. He didn’t want Simon to suffer, and if nothing else it was completely humiliating to lose control of your body, even in sleep.
He neared the kitchen and Simon never looked in his direction. Never knew he was there. Soap stayed near the entrance to the hall, crossing his arms and leaning on the door frame. He knew he shouldn’t try to wake him. Not unless he was in danger. But Soap didn’t want to leave him alone, either.
“I told them I’d be back next Friday.” Simon took completely random items from the kitchen cabinet and carried them to a nearby table. “They never listen.”
He was quiet for a moment longer, stilling as though he were listening to the other person’s answer. Soap watched him, admiring how relaxed he looked.
“We should just drive together, yeah?”
Another pause. Still, he hadn’t acknowledged Soap’s existence.
“I can’t do everything for you, Tommy.” Simon’s voice was warm, almost affectionate. Soap was lost in that sound so it shocked him when Simon turned and faced him head on as though he’d known he was there the entire time. “You coming?”
Soap stayed completely still, knowing that even if Simon were in and out of consciousness it wouldn’t be good to scare or confuse him.
But Simon kept staring. “Come on, Tom, the food’s getting cold.” Soap still didn’t move and Simon shifted his weight on his feet, getting frustrated. “Today?”
Slowly, testing, Soap lowered his hands to his sides and straightened. He took one step forward and that seemed to satisfy Simon as he turned back toward the table and pulled out two chairs. Soap stopped again to see if Simon would move on with the dream, but he looked over his shoulder again to see if Soap was coming or not.
So, he went. Probably because he wasn’t sure what else to do, but a small part of him wanted to be whatever presence Simon was seeking.
“I haven’t seen them since I went to Mexico, Tommy.” Simon sighed. Soap just watched him, taking his seat and waiting for another cue. “I have so much to tell them.”
It was quiet for a moment, like Simon was listening again. Eventually he looked up, and Soap swore he looked directly into his eyes.
Soap stared back, searching their unusually unguarded depths. Simon wasn’t like this during the day. So open.
“Yes, but I can’t ask him to go with me.” He furrowed his brow slightly, quiet for another moment. “Because he’d say no, I think.”
“Who is it?” Soap heard himself ask and immediately bit his tongue so hard it hurt.
He could be there for Simon in that moment but he wasn’t going to take advantage of his state. But he watched, in darkness lit only by a few far off safety lights, a small smile across Simon’s face.
“He’s just a Sergeant.” He sat back, like he was proud of himself. “A scot, though, but I think I can overlook it.”
Soap felt butterflies roll in his stomach, mixed with emotion. His voice was quiet when he replied, unsure if Simon could hear him at all. “He’d go with you.”
Simon just nodded slowly, looking off into the distance. “He’d like you, Tommy. You’d get along.”
“I think you’re right.” Soap whispered. Simon was still looking into the distance but Soap was only looking at him.
He didn’t know what Simon thought he was talking with his brother about, but he was so casual, a simple conversation with someone he loved and trusted. Something he didn’t get to do often. But maybe, maybe Soap could give him a taste of that in his waking hours again. Maybe he wouldn’t have to go looking for it like this, in the middle of the night.
Simon stood and Soap blinked out of his own thoughts, watching him pick up what he’d carried to the table and haphazardly replacing them. Soap slowly stood to face him.
Simon just nodded and walked toward the hall Soap had come from. Soap followed him. A few steps down the hall, Simon turned and looked at him again.
“Maybe you should drive, then. I need to sleep.”
“Sure, Simon.” Soap answered, walking to catch up with him.
Simon’s room was the other direction. As they neared his, he reached for Simon’s arm and gently guided him inside.
Nothing else was said, Simon was still asleep, but he followed, and he climbed into bed behind whatever safe presence he’d felt in the middle of his vision.
Johnny wrapped him in his arms and held him there, still and warm, as he relaxed back into regular sleep. He clenched his eyes shut and willed himself to take every ounce of loneliness and deep, hollow sadness from the man he bent his body around.
Simon woke with his head on Johnny’s arm, the other draped over his waist. He hadn’t remembered seeking Johnny out the night before, but it didn’t surprise him. He’d gone to bed full of darkness and Johnny seemed to be the only presence on earth that could ease that. He should have followed him to bed in the first place.
He lay there a long time before the sun reached a decent height and Johnny stirred. Simon rolled over to face him. Blue eyes cracked, just barely. He laid a hand along Soap’s jaw and placed a single kiss at the corner of his mouth.
“Breakfast.” He stated. Soap’s eyes were wider but he didn’t fight him as he stood.
Someone had fucked up the kitchen cabinets. He’d have to have a chat about that with Soap later. He needed to have a chat with Soap about quite a bit. And instead of making him nervous, it settled warm in his middle, much like it felt waking pressed against him. He heard his Sergeant’s feet in the hall, footsteps he’d know anywhere, and smiled.
Btw much as I love to make fun of twitter and reddit’s business decisions, I have 0% trust in tumblr’s management to not go a similar route so this is your gentle reminder that you should regularly go to your blog settings to export your blog. That’s a fancy way of saying you can download a backup of your blog so if everything goes down you’ll still have a backup of your posts & convos.
It’s gonna come as a surprise to most of you, but if you don’t want to do that for whatever reason you’re allowed to not reblog this post. I’m not holding a gun to your head here I’m just trying to spread the word for people who do want a backup of their stuff.
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