Out of the Shipping Closet and into the Olicity Fandom

Proud member of the Arrow fandom. Randomly blogs about comic book stuff.

[msgenevieve447]

scullyseviltwin:

Go out tomorrow, find a cause. NARAL, ASPCA, Planned Parenthood, A New Way Forward, The Innocence Project, Oxfam, Greenpeace… find out about programs and groups that deal with human trafficking, with racism, with sexism, with women’s health, LGBTQA rights, with what you want to fucking change! Sign up, and fucking fight.

Intern at your local congressional office! Stuff envelops! Listen to citizen complaints! Help dig us out of this shitstorm!

Donate money! Donate time! Be a Big Brother or a Big Sister. Reach out and find what your community needs! Join a litter collecting squad or write cards for people at an elderly community or buy a family in need groceries.

There is. So. Much. You. Can. Still. Do.

Online activism is all well and good, but these groups need feet on the fucking pavement. Don’t confuse shouting at people online as activism! So put up, and let’s shut this racist, classist, misogynistic, rape apologist down.

[emmydeactivated-deactivated2017]

[mimozka-deactivated20220128]

colinfirth:

carecen la // center for community change // immigration center for women and children  // american civil liberties union // esperanza immigrant rights project // national immigration law center // kids in need of defense 

other orgs you can help by volunteering/donating: campaign zero (anti police violence) // council on american-islamic relations (support for muslims) // showing up for racial justice (fighting racism)  // friends of the earth (an environmental group) // nextgen climate action (fighting climate change)  // rape, abuse, & incest national network (combating sexual violence) // planned parenthood (healthcare and education) 

[ivyarchive]

declansutherland98:

youngblackandvegan:

This election is an excellent example of what lengths white people are willing to go to when they are afraid of losing their status as majority and privilege. White people, consumed by fear, created Trump

Well that’s racist and sterotypical

Oh fucking really?

[mysharona1987]

[lesbiangonegirl]

[welcomedistraction]

To the 5% of people in Arizona who voted 3rd party- if you had voted for Hillary, that’s 11 electoral votes that would have gone to her.

To the 3% of people in Florida who voted 3rd party- if you had voted for Hillary, that’s 29 electoral votes that would have gone to her.

To the 5.5% of people in Michigan who voted 3rd party- if you had voted for Hillary, that’s 16 electoral votes that would have gone to her.

To the 5% of people in New Hampshire who voted 3rd party- if you had voted for Hillary, that’s 4 electoral votes that would have gone to her.

To the 3.3% of people in Pennsylvania who voted 3rd party- if you had voted for Hillary, that’s 20 electoral votes that would have gone to her.

To the 5.7% of people in Wisconsin who voted 3rd party- if you had voted for Hillary, that’s 10 electoral votes that would have gone to her.

Total, that is 90 electoral votes. As I type this, Hillary needs 61 to win.

Please just let that sink in for a second. 

Hillary would’ve been elected right now, at this very moment, if instead of you protesting your vote, had just voted for her. She would  EASILY be President. 

You KNEW 3rd party candidates didn’t stand a chance. You were told. But instead, you had to vote for them anyways, and guess what?

You screwed us over. Congratulations.

I hope that feeding your “both candidates are bad” superiority complex is worth a Trump presidency. 

[peachesfromny-deactivated202507]

PASS THIS ON.

The first transgender suicide hotline is now up and running in the U.S. You can reach Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860.

[freerenata-deactivated20180915]

reblog if you are...disgusted

[outoftheclosetshipper]

Wow. Arrow couldn´t afford to give Felicity a new apartment set where she can move one with her new bf without the show being disrespectful to the relationship that put the show on the map. Now I can see that they can´t even afford to buy her new bed sheets -- so she´s having sex with her new bf on the same sheets where they had Oliver and Felicity do the Yin Yang kiss.

I honestly think Olicity deserves better than how it´s being treated by S5. There´s lack of funds, sure, but there´s also also too cheap-ass to give the important things some respect. Or maybe Olicity is not that important to the Arrow production team at all.

[bibliophile-06]

These three have brought life to an amazing story and made Oliver, Digg and Felicity a part of our lives, made us root for them and fall in love with them. 

Happy #Arrow100 to them!

[arrowsource]

SINS OF THE FATHER — When Prometheus ups his killing spree, Oliver (Stephen Amell) searches for connections between the victims. Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) and Curtis (Echo Kellum) discover the victims have a mysterious link to Oliver’s past and this new secret could upend his new team. Meanwhile, Thea (Willa Holland) has a heart-to-heart with Lance (Paul Blackthorne), and Felicity considers telling Malone (guest star Tyler Ritter) the truth about her work. John Behring directed the episode written by Wendy Mericle & Brian Ford Sullivan (#506). Original airdate 11/9/2016.

Official Synopsis for Episode 5x06,

So It Begins

(via

geniewithwifi

)

correct me if I’m arong but wasn’t 4x13 or something also called sins of the father. can they repeat ep titles like that?

(via thebelovedsaralance)

You´re absolutely right!

http://arrow.wikia.com/wiki/Sins_of_the_Father

Wow. They really have stopped caring about their show, no?

[outoftheclosetshipper]

Real question:

Why are people up in arms against Oliver about the rumour that he would hook-up with a new female character once he finds out about Felicity´s new BF when people came so quickly to Felicity´s defense (the PTSD reason) about her new love interest? I mean, really, I saw the words ¨man-whore¨ mentioned in relation to Oliver somewhere over this rumoured development, and I thought it was unfair. Just as unfair for people to slut-shame Felicity for having a new BF, no?

My guess is that many of us think that Oliver sleeping with someone else proves that he really doesn´t love Felicity because the same argument was used to prove that Ollie never loved LL. But let´s get one thing sorted: Ollie cheated on LL consistently and repeatedly. They were in a relationship when he hooked up with LL´s sister, Samantha, and apparently a host of other women. Oliver having a new love interest – at the time when Felicity is clearly showing him that there is no hope for them, and has moved on herself – is not the same as L@uriver´s toxic history. Oliver is a free agent now, someone who will obviously be very hurt when he finds out about the new BF that Felicity failed to tail him about (in the same way that Felicity was obviously and rightly hurt about Oliver excluding her from the William issue, and how she´s dealing with PTSD – that justifies why she has new BF for many of the Olicity fandom). 

Oliver never loved LL because he was unfaithful to her, and he ran away from her when she started make plans for their future (twice!). There is no infidelity between him and Felicity – not on her side, and not on his.  Not with the new BF, or the new love interest for Oliver.

(Because, I swear, the moment there is infidelity between Oliver and Felicity is the moment I jump ship. That´s a deal breaker for me.)

[lovesmoakingarrow]

At least in my opinion, the real reason they even gave her a BF is so that Oliver can move on and start dating other people. After last season breaking Felicity’s heart, there was no way they were going to make him be the first person to move on and date. I don’t have a problem with Oliver getting a girlfriend. The problem is we are going to see the relationship evolve, them meeting, interacting, talking and slowly becoming a couple. They never gave this to Felicity. We don’t know how she met her BF, are they living in together, how serious is she about him. Hell they didn’t even give him a first name when they introduced him.

That is my only gripe about this story line. I think I am following the right people because thank god I didn’t see anyone Slut-shaming Felicity or calling Oliver a man whore.

There is also a rumor about the casting for the new BC (Tina) who is expected to be the new LI for Oliver. This is the mess but how could anyone call Oliver Man-Whore. Logic people

[outoftheclosetshipper]

The whole new BC thing is really annoying. There´s already another Canary character -- the original, better one, who trained under the League of Assassins, who is starring in her own show. Why does Arrow insist on honouring the failed one on their show?

[athenaagron]

Arrow - Episode 5.05 - Human Target

Episode description

DC COMICS’ CHRISTOPHER CHANCE AKA HUMAN TARGET TEAMS UP WITH OLIVER — When Tobias Church (guest star Chad L. Coleman) captures and tortures one of Oliver’s new recruits, Oliver must turn to an old friend, Christopher Chance (guest star Wil Traval) AKA the Human Target, for help. Meanwhile, Felicity’s (Emily Bett Rickards) worlds collide when Detective Malone (guest star Tyler Ritter) joins the ACU. Laura Belsey directed the episode written by Oscar Balderrama & Sarah Tarkoff (#505). Original airdate 11/2/2016.

[outoftheclosetshipper]

Yep. Just like some of us said 5x05 will be episode where Oliver finds out about the new BF -- and the ¨Olicity-ish¨ of it is just that.

I´m keeping my expectations low, which seems to be the healthiest way to deal with this show.

[outoftheclosetshipper]

Real question:

Why are people up in arms against Oliver about the rumour that he would hook-up with a new female character once he finds out about Felicity´s new BF when people came so quickly to Felicity´s defense (the PTSD reason) about her new love interest? I mean, really, I saw the words ¨man-whore¨ mentioned in relation to Oliver somewhere over this rumoured development, and I thought it was unfair. Just as unfair for people to slut-shame Felicity for having a new BF, no?

My guess is that many of us think that Oliver sleeping with someone else proves that he really doesn´t love Felicity because the same argument was used to prove that Ollie never loved LL. But let´s get one thing sorted: Ollie cheated on LL consistently and repeatedly. They were in a relationship when he hooked up with LL´s sister, Samantha, and apparently a host of other women. Oliver having a new love interest -- at the time when Felicity is clearly showing him that there is no hope for them, and has moved on herself -- is not the same as L@uriver´s toxic history. Oliver is a free agent now, someone who will obviously be very hurt when he finds out about the new BF that Felicity failed to tail him about (in the same way that Felicity was obviously and rightly hurt about Oliver excluding her from the William issue, and how she´s dealing with PTSD -- that justifies why she has new BF for many of the Olicity fandom). 

Oliver never loved LL because he was unfaithful to her, and he ran away from her when she started make plans for their future (twice!). There is no infidelity between him and Felicity -- not on her side, and not on his.  Not with the new BF, or the new love interest for Oliver.

(Because, I swear, the moment there is infidelity between Oliver and Felicity is the moment I jump ship. That´s a deal breaker for me.)

[outoftheclosetshipper]

When I recall how much care Stephen and Emily Bett put in the 3x20 Olicity love scene -- to make sure that the scene shows how much their characters love each other, and how much Oliver and Felicity have been wanting this for themselves -- I feel bad for them, and get angrier at the writers. Because these two actors have given their best to give Oliver and Felicity's relationship the respect and reverence it deserves. And what do the writers do with Stephen and Emily Bett's hard work? They not only ruin the relationship between Oliver and Felicity, they destroy Oliver's and Felicity's characterisation to throw drama at their relationship. Such disrespect. So annoying.

[micdotcom]

Watch: Michelle Obama’s speech on the Trump tapes should be required viewing for all Americans

[thriftedcardigan]

I’m probably going to reblog this every day until i feel like you’ve al seen it. Every one of you

[outoftheclosetshipper]

Read and weep. Then watch and weep. This is effing amazing.

[reginaking]

Hi, would you mind reading this?

Okay, it’s genuinely upsetting me that people are calling Felicity’s relationship with Det. Malone a symptom of PTSD. I don’t understand why that is the general consensus within a good part of the Olicity fandom given that symptoms of PTSD are:

Behavioral: agitation, irritability, hostility, hypervigilance, self-destructive behavior, or social isolation

Psychological: flashback, fear, severe anxiety, or mistrust

Mood: loss of interest or pleasure in activities, guilt, or loneliness

Sleep: insomnia or nightmares

Also common: emotional detachment or unwanted thoughts  (Mayo Clinic)

I am NOT saying this is the only way PTSD manifests. I AM saying that Felicity having a relationship after her traumatic event is NOT A SYMPTOM OF PTSD.

IT APPEARS TO BE A COPING STRATEGY/MECHANISM.

“Coping strategies refer to the specific efforts, both behavioral and psychological, that people employ to master, tolerate, reduce, or minimize stressful events. Two general coping strategies have been distinguished: problem-solving strategies are efforts to do something active to alleviate stressful circumstances, whereas emotion-focused coping strategies involve efforts to regulate the emotional consequences of stressful or potentially stressful events…An additional distinction that is often made in the coping literature is between active and avoidant coping strategies. Active coping strategies are either behavioral or psychological responses designed to change the nature of the stressor itself or how one thinks about it, whereas avoidant coping strategies lead people into activities (such as alcohol use) or mental states (such as withdrawal) that keep them from directly addressing stressful events .” (x)

I am saying that in this instance Felicity’s SYMPTOMS and a COPING STRATEGIES appear to be two very different things. Felicity is in a relationship because she’s trying to move forward from Havenrock. She’s quite possibly avoiding dealing with the fallout by playing house. She is quite possibly looking for comfort/security in Det. Malone, and thus relies on him for emotional support. 

SHE IS TRYING TO COPE (Is it necessarily healthy, no - but that’s another post).

By calling it a symptom, it looks like the fandom is trying to undermine, devalue, taint, and erase Felicity’s relationship with Det. Malone (not saying everyone is doing this). Not only is it erasing Felicity’s agency and choice to partake in a romantic relationship, but it’s missing a significant point in Felicity’s storyline. 

If you do not like the relationship because it makes you uncomfortable to see Felicity in a relationship with someone else other than Oliver, that is completely fine. If you do not like the relationship because you want Felicity to not only be valued as a love interest, kudos. If you do not like the relationship because Felicity is not in a good place to be in a relationship, that is swell. If you do not like the relationship because you can see that Felicity is hiding behind it to avoid processing her guilt, isolation, detachment, loneliness, and depressive thoughts, that is great. 

But please, recognize that a romantic relationship is one way Felicity is trying to cope with her PTSD. 

(P.S. If I got any of this wrong, please come and talk to me about it. I’m seriously not trying to step on anyone’s toes, it just seems there’s some miscommunication about what a “symptom” looks like.)

[outoftheclosetshipper]

Interesting post.

May I riff on it?

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said:

By calling it a symptom, it looks like the fandom is trying to undermine, devalue, taint, and erase Felicity’s relationship with Det. Malone (not saying everyone is doing this). Not only is it erasing Felicity’s agency and choice to partake in a romantic relationship, but it’s missing a significant point in Felicity’s storyline. 

I might get boo-ed for this, but here goes.

There is a tendency in the Felicity fandom to make a victim out of Felicity, and I´ve realised over the hiatus, that it´s not the fandom´s fault. It´s because we are too often left to create our own narrative about Felicity´s reasons for doing things, and because we love Felicity, we try to find a narrative for ourselves that excuses her from any kind of blame and accountability for her actions and decisions. Arrow writing, specifically in S4B and in the current season, is failing in the writing of Felicity Smoak. Not because they have written her to take action and choices the way she has, but because they have left the reasons for her actions and choices entirely up for the audience to interpret.

This rhetoric, using PTSD as a symptom to explain the new BF thing, is really absolving Felicity out of any responsibility (agency, choice, accountability) for the relationship she´s currently in. It´s as if, because she´s dealing with PTSD over Havenrock, this ugly thing that most people are disgusted about (the new BF), that most people find to be so out-of-the-blue and out of place, is not something that we can make her responsible for. She is a victim of what has happened in S4B, so her decisions in S5 cannot be attributed to her, but her victimhood in S4B and the PTSD that she´s dealing with.

This interpretation of Felicity is entirely due to what the narrative has given us, especially in S4B and in the current season. It´s as if the writing team is so afraid to give Felicity the agency to make bad decisions, to ¨taint¨ Felicity in a such a way that she makes questionable decisions with open eyes, to make Felicity responsible for her actions and decisions, that they would rather leave Felicity´s motivations outside of the script and leave it up for the fandom to defend her against her haters and misogynistic comic book idiots. The Arrow writing team refuses to come to Felicity´s defense -- by consistently including her perspective, her own voice, her reasons for her decisions -- in the narrative. 

So I get why the fandom has grasped the excuse that the new BF is a symptom of her PTSD because there is very little in what we have seen so far to offer any kind of explanation.

You know what would suck more? If the narrative actually shows that the new BF is a symptom of Felicity´s PTSD. Because then the script would have totally stripped Felicity off of her agency, and would have failed her. Again.