ART did everything right

"I placed a bet. With myself as the wager. So that in the end, I could love myself." I love Murderbot!!!!! FUB free (but I unfollow/block back!)

[hazelek]

Hey. Hey you.

Are you looking for chill and cozy Murderbot servers? I've got you covered!

Are you interested in a general TMBD server with show section that is ship friendly? Join Murderserver! We have an active rp channel, fun exclusive Murderbot emojis and seals (somehow).

Are you interested in adults only shippy, kinky, nsfw TMBD server? Join moistbot! We have horny noodling and weekly kink prompts! Perfect getaway from all those pesky taxes.

Both are lots of fun and a great opportunity to easily chat with fellow fans and make new friends!

[perihelion-with-hat]

Peri with a fedora smoking a cig?

[nevver]

[sowhatifiliveinkyushu]

Residents view the first iceberg of the season as it passes the South Shore, near Ferryland Newfoundland, Canada by Jody Martin

[antique-scarecrow]

it…did not occur to me that icebergs just…pass by people’s houses

[portraitdelajeunefilleenfeu]

i used to live in st. john’s, nl, and, in late spring to early summer, it was not uncommon for a giant iceberg to float slowly by just outside the harbor. they would mention it on the news and radio. they took hours or, sometimes, days to go by. and, when it happened, it would make the whole town colder.. like ice in a glass of water. and, sometimes,… they would groan. as they passed.

[perihelion-with-hat]

Ok it started giving me error messages cause I was trying to send so many let’s just dump them all here. Sorry if this sends like 5 times?

wowie thats a lot of hats

I think peri got a bit too ambitious

[calamansi-calamari]

Thinking about how names are used in TMBD. The only person who uses the name "Murderbot" is Murderbot itself (and also the reader bc we get special reader privileges 🙂‍↕️). It explicitly says that it is a private name. I think that's really interesting, that it's unsure about who it is as a person and its figuring a lot of stuff out, but it's certain about the name. "Murderbot" as a name however carries so many connotations, especially since it is a derogatory term for SecUnits. The name isn't a traditional human name (like Iris), made up (like ART), or unique (like a feed code).

I'm intrigued by the construction of the name: murder + bot. Murderbot deeply regrets killing its clients accidentally and goes to so many lengths to learn the truth (and never outline why exactly, just that it needs to). "Bot" stands in opposition to "human", which is interesting bc Murderbot is a cyborg with a mix of organic and non organic parts, and has been seen as more bot than human for most of its existence. A lot of TMBD looks at how Murderbot exists as something beyond just being a bot who murders. Idk I think it's interesting. I feel like humans who use "murderbot" would use it as a noun ("a murderbot") so I think that's interesting too.

Otherwise, Preservation humans do not have a specific name for Murderbot, and just call it SecUnit. Which is interesting but it's like if you named a roomba "Roomba". It's very descriptive. I guess they would not want to tack on a name that Murderbot did not choose, but that means that they are left with a very neutral name that isn't very unique either.

On the other hand, ART calls Murderbot by its feed code. I think the way they communicate is very cool bc it's in a way that humans do not understand (as non bots/constructs). I choose to think that ART-Murderbot dialogue as it is written in the books is 'translated' from code to english. ART calls Murderbot by its feed code, which acts more or less as an equivalent for a name for bots (unique, you get it when you're created, used to address specific bots/constructs). ART doesn't use "Murderbot" either. However ART itself has very human names: ART from Murderbot and Peri from its family. Both are short, affectionate* nicknames. It's a very human way of addressing a person. I think it's so interesting that ART doesn't reciprocate its nickname by giving Murderbot one as well. But again I just think the way bots and constructs communicate in TMBD is so so so fascinating.

Anyways. All this to say. Murderbot bilingualism (from its cyborgness) off the charts.

[hazelek]

This had been true for the majority of the series, but in NE Three also calls Murderbot "Murderbot". And then there's Platform Decay too.

[calamansi-calamari]

Oh I haven't finished my NE reread yet haha maybe I missed that the first time. What about platform decay specifically?

[hazelek]

That would be spoilers!

But basically every SecUnit Three freed on torus has files Murderbot 2.0 sent to Three and so they all know Murderbot's name and some might use it. It's not shown though. Bit Murderbot's name is hardly private anymore lol

[hazelek]

That's fair enough! Though there's a difference whether a small group of your friends know your private name, people who will respect that privacy, or whether it's an undisclosed number of unknown SecUnits and maybe ComfortUnit most like spreading that name even further. Imagine group chat vs post on Twitter.

And if it was me in Murderbot's boots and I received my own diaries signed up with my own alias I might not people to know, I would feel very, very exposed lol

[calamansi-calamari]

Thinking about how names are used in TMBD. The only person who uses the name "Murderbot" is Murderbot itself (and also the reader bc we get special reader privileges 🙂‍↕️). It explicitly says that it is a private name. I think that's really interesting, that it's unsure about who it is as a person and its figuring a lot of stuff out, but it's certain about the name. "Murderbot" as a name however carries so many connotations, especially since it is a derogatory term for SecUnits. The name isn't a traditional human name (like Iris), made up (like ART), or unique (like a feed code).

I'm intrigued by the construction of the name: murder + bot. Murderbot deeply regrets killing its clients accidentally and goes to so many lengths to learn the truth (and never outline why exactly, just that it needs to). "Bot" stands in opposition to "human", which is interesting bc Murderbot is a cyborg with a mix of organic and non organic parts, and has been seen as more bot than human for most of its existence. A lot of TMBD looks at how Murderbot exists as something beyond just being a bot who murders. Idk I think it's interesting. I feel like humans who use "murderbot" would use it as a noun ("a murderbot") so I think that's interesting too.

Otherwise, Preservation humans do not have a specific name for Murderbot, and just call it SecUnit. Which is interesting but it's like if you named a roomba "Roomba". It's very descriptive. I guess they would not want to tack on a name that Murderbot did not choose, but that means that they are left with a very neutral name that isn't very unique either.

On the other hand, ART calls Murderbot by its feed code. I think the way they communicate is very cool bc it's in a way that humans do not understand (as non bots/constructs). I choose to think that ART-Murderbot dialogue as it is written in the books is 'translated' from code to english. ART calls Murderbot by its feed code, which acts more or less as an equivalent for a name for bots (unique, you get it when you're created, used to address specific bots/constructs). ART doesn't use "Murderbot" either. However ART itself has very human names: ART from Murderbot and Peri from its family. Both are short, affectionate* nicknames. It's a very human way of addressing a person. I think it's so interesting that ART doesn't reciprocate its nickname by giving Murderbot one as well. But again I just think the way bots and constructs communicate in TMBD is so so so fascinating.

Anyways. All this to say. Murderbot bilingualism (from its cyborgness) off the charts.

[hazelek]

This had been true for the majority of the series, but in NE Three also calls Murderbot "Murderbot". And then there's Platform Decay too.

[calamansi-calamari]

Oh I haven't finished my NE reread yet haha maybe I missed that the first time. What about platform decay specifically?

[hazelek]

That would be spoilers!

But basically every SecUnit Three freed on torus has files Murderbot 2.0 sent to Three and so they all know Murderbot's name and some might use it. It's not shown though. Bit Murderbot's name is hardly private anymore lol

[ursiday]

[valtsv]

it really is unfortunate that loving someone enough doesn't give you the ability to pass not entirely painlessly but with complete trust and encouragement through the boundaries preventing you from reaching into each other's chests and wrapping your hand around the slippery-warm muscle of their beating heart. then again we would probably all be having less sex if this was an option so.

[stiffyck]

Heck, if he wanted to do open-heart surgery on me, I’d probably let him.

[dark-spirit-tamamoland]

they're still terming random transfems as i type this i see which does make quite a statement doing this today specifically

[puppetstuffing]

watched three girls who reblogged its new blog mutual aidpost (made literally 15 minutes ago) already disappear from its notifs. transfems are not included in their pride :/

[puppetedlove]

:)

[puppetvictim]

:)

[tamamowand]

QUITE the statement to be nuking transfems at the current accelerated pace right at the start of pride month like this, isn't it

[scytheofdelphi]

—ˋˏ✧ dragon by witold pruszkowski, 1896 ✧ˎˊ—

[dear-ao3]

[fair-itself]

Normies talking about getting whiplash from recipe blogs. You know nothing

[babycharmander]

[ID: An AO3 author’s note reading, “Sorry for vanishing, I did a little too much research on cults an coercive control for Damian’s arc, and then realized I was raised in a cult, and THEN I ran away to a fishing town cabin on the other side of the country and had to start learning to be a person in the real world. I also forgot how to write. But I’m learning again, so I’m back now! Have some more.” The “I” in “I was raised in a cult” is emphasized by sparking emojis, and the note is ended with heart emojis. /end ID]

[babycharmander]

Aaaand THIS is one of the many reasons why it’s not only not a bad thing to portray dark subject matter, but EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to do so!! You can learn a lot when writing, and others can learn a lot when reading! This can save lives, dudes.

[the-real-seebs]

I am so proud of the author though. That took multiple kinds of courage at once. Good job, author.

[goldkirk]

Hi! I’m the original author from ao3!

I want to thank everyone for such hilarious and kind additions/replies/tags on this post, they’ve been so amazing to read. They’ve meant more to me than you guys know. ❤️

I also want to add some information for anyone who wants to know more about recognizing the signs that you might be in a high control group.

High control groups can be small or large, religious or not, clubs, schools, online servers, friend groups, etc.

No human is invulnerable because we all have brains and emotions that can be played like a fiddle. Knowing the red flags can help us all keep ourselves safer!

igotout.org

BITE model of understanding thought and behavior control

International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)

Crisis Text Line (highly recommend, especially if you’re not in a safe place to discuss things on the phone)

Please always protect yourself as best you can and never be afraid to reach out for help—even if you’re just wondering, even if you’re not sure about something.

No safe group or person will EVER be mad at you for being cautious and taking things slow, or for changing your mind at ANY point. You’re the one who gets to decide whether you join or stay with a group, no matter what they threaten or love-bomb you with.

If you’re not safe, there’s help.

If you feel trapped, there’s help.

If people are being actively hurt, good people want to listen, understand, and help.

We all deserve freedom. I’m grateful every morning I wake up that I get to live it now, even though it’s hard and I have a long way to go. Thank you for walking this journey with me, for one brief moment or for years, and helping me—and others like me—not be alone.

Take care, stay safe, and happy fanfiction reading!

[universejunction]

I also recommend Uncultured by Daniella Mestyanek Young

[greelin]

[DAZED FROM BLOOD LOSS] hey not to kill the vibe completely but i think i am in love with you

[ananxiousgenz]

I am once again qifrey posting on main

[securityunit-ese]

“I’ve fucked everything up,” I’d told ART. This was when I was in Medical after my “incident.” Mensah and I had called Amena so she wouldn’t worry (or at least so she would know that I was still alive, even I know that’s important for human children). I told Mensah I wanted to watch media and she had left, and I’d blocked the humans’ comm and feed access to the room.

ART had said, That’s nothing new.

I ignored that because it was just trying to reassure me. If it started being sympathetic it would be terrifying. “Your crew isn’t going to want me to do their security anymore.”

Why is that?

That question was obviously a trap and I should ignore it. It wasn’t as if I could put the answer into words. I was different. It wasn’t just the alien contamination.

What came out was, “Something in me broke.”

System Collapse, Martha Wells

[fforsythiaaa]

Once when I was in undergrad, someone described something as “problematic” in class and our professor was like, “That’s cool, but ‘problematic’ doesn’t really mean anything. It means that the thing you’re describing has a problem, and in and of itself that’s not bad. Art, especially, should always have problems, or else it’s not interesting and not art, either. It sounds like you’re trying to say that this is bad, but you don’t want to say ‘bad.’ Is that right?”

So from then on whenever one of us called something problematic, he would make us talk it out until we could name the “bad” thing we were hinting at. In this particular class, 7/10 it was some type of oppression, and the remainder was like, “I’m uncomfortable because this is very new/confusing/pushing boundaries that made me feel safe.”

Once we stopped calling things “problematic” and stopping at that, class got way more interesting and... we all had to say, like, “that’s racist” or “that’s misogynistic” or “ew capitalism gross” out loud, which a lot of us had never done in a classroom before. Or we had to be like, “Uhhh... I’m not sure what’s so bad?” and confront our own beliefs and that was maybe even more useful.

Anyway. Whenever I see the word problematic, I can’t help but think of this professor being like, “Good starting point, now let’s get specific.” I think when we have to commit to saying “that’s ___” it requires a lot more careful thought about the truth and impact and complexities of whatever we’re claiming. Sometimes there really is some bullshit afoot, and also sometimes it’s art, and it should be full of problems, because that’s what art is.

[hazelek]

I get some stuff wrong too (some of it on purpose, while acknowledging that I know it's not canon) but holy shit there's so many people having posts with so many notes, just getting stuff wrong orz it's kinda frustrating when you wanna correct it so we are all in the same page but you are aware people will treat it as an attack and some weird posturing.

Anyway. Murderbot probably has blood, at least has something that can be mistaken for blood. It has human brain (explicitly said). So it's probably blood, and maybe something else, but the existence of something else has shakier basis than existence of blood. Its human brain also dreams so it just straight up has dreams. And for the love of everything holy, it sweats like a horse in every book.