#extinction burst

[arealtrashact]

'Where will you be when it all boils over?'

Extinction Burst is now live on ComicFury. Scheduled to update every Friday at 12:00 pm PST.

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[maigo-san]

I just want Zoro to devour Luffy. To hug him close, fold him, and put him under his haramaki. I just want Luffy to find serenity in Zoro. To close his eyes and lulled to a deep, comforting nothingness that makes him full. Like being with zoro makes him feel that he needs nothing else.

I just want Zoro to savor Luffy, chew him till soft and mushy. I can see Luffy dancing on a mirror stage that is Zoro's palm, seeing himself shimmering and vibrant on the reflection. He dances with the colors Zoro saw of the world since the first time he laid eyes on Luffy.

[tremendoustragedybard]

I can’t help but think that this whole age verification bullshit the US, UK, and more are pushing into effect is one huge extinction burst.

[on-a-lucky-tide]

I'm so so so sorry that I'm taking this out on you again but that motherfucker won and my mom's crying and I think I'm going to cry too

I'm so sorry.

Mourn. Take the time to feel low because you need to. It's only natural when evil triumphs, if only temporarily.

But then you need to turn it into anger, because anger is weaponised hope. You must keep your head up and you cannot allow them to force you into compliant hopelessness. That is what they need to succeed.

Your rage and your defiance will keep you moving forward.

[whathasntbeen]

When did I stop growing?

When did I stop being me?

When did I start absorbing?

When did the space between what I thought I was feeling

And when I stopped feeling

And started accepting that I was okay with

The absence of feeling to feel

For others as love.

To take their hurt, their anger, and their pain as mine.

Thinking in many ways as I got older if it wasnt directly aimed at me.

If I was HELPING THEM.

I was feeling.

I was actually suffering for so long.

My body was a weapon used to absorb.

Take it its yours.

I dont feel it, except I hate myself silently.

The grocery store somehow became terrifying.

I stare into cars, why?

All my dreams become dreams that are about sacrificing to HELP OTHERS.

I AM A CAREGIVER, I AM A MARTYR.

I AM A 35 YEAR OLD WOMAN WHO IS DEAD INSIDE AND WHO SUDDENLY HAS TWO BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN.

Wait.

My first son was born on my fathers birthday.

How beautiful.

No.

My father is my abuser.

He taught me love is a weapon, love is sacrifice. Love is abandonment hidden behind fulfilling prophecies we blame on our children.

We end up alone in old homes with pictures. With grandchildren who look like us who reject love and who carry our tears and nighttime fears of "What if I hurt you".

I still didnt see it.

But now that I am opening up I see the Father Wound.

I see both sides of the coin.

I suffer the sins of the father so that the son doesnt have to.

[clinging-to-decency]

[karvatovski]

extinction burst

The dog chews the hundredth bone.

I pace, let’s call this a

“charming habit.”

Extinction burst: each night grazing a memory,

attempting to taste one last touch

like catching a fish with your hands.

I gave, give up.

Alms bowl, rice-bare, emptied, cleaned.

Like a burnt umber,

Clarity suits me.

January suits me.

[scapeartist]

I really don’t like to talk politics here because it makes my skin crawl as a general rule, but as someone who has done dog training (positive reinforcement) and some ABA with my kid on the Autism spectrum*, I keep coming back to the idea that what’s happening now in the world—and especially with 45, the Republican conservatives, and white supremacists—feels like an extinction burst. I’m not the only one who has thought this recently, but I haven’t seen it around here much (maybe my dash is that well-curated) either, so I figured I’d mention it in case someone was interested. 

An extinction burst happens when a behavior is no longer positively reinforced. Before the unwanted behavior disappears, it increases in intensity and duration. It’s a last ditch effort to make that behavior reinforcing again. In dogs and children, you gird your loins and stop giving attention and/or the reinforcer and wait as the kid or animal figures out that the behavior is no longer working for them. It takes effort and is incredibly unpleasant while it goes on. 

In 2011, writer Julie Walters talked about extinction bursts, even discussing it in terms of public figures like Sarah Palin. More recently, after 45 was elected, writer Margaret Chiavetta of Medium wrote an article entitled “White Supremacy’s Extinction Burst.” Both acknowledge that as a group we don’t have absolute control over the reinforcement, nor can we ignore the behavior like you would a child having a tantrum, or your dog barking for attention. 

For me, as much as I am horrified by everything that is going on, thinking of all of this in terms of an extinction burst puts me in the frame of mind that I am going to have to work harder to make sure the “bad behavior” doesn’t stick, and that when it is finally over, real progress can resume. Otherwise, I might dig a hole for myself and close it behind me. 

*I am not a psychologist, psychiatrist or any other kind of behavioral scientist. I’m someone who has dealt with this phenomenon first hand though many times.