ALRIGHT! QUICK NOTE ABOUT THIS AU AND WHAY MAY HAPPEN FROM HERE:
I heard about the whole situation with Qwel. When I got the idea to make this AU, it actually wasn’t is support of Qwel themselves, but rather with the project itself. The designs for the toons are adorable and I really liked their story. I also had this dream of this AU. So I wanted to make it because of the dream itself. I admit I also joined the server out of curiosity and mostly for codes. However, after hearing the fact she knew about the victims and such, I left because it would feel like I was supporting someone’s heinous actions and behavior. And where to go from here with this AU? I honestly don’t know. I might still keep it up or change things and make this into a different kind of blog. I am writing this so for those who like my AU idea understand where I stand.
a man just saw my "hex the patriarchy" notebook, assumed i think men can't hold leadership positions, and proceeded to explain to me why he thinks my position is wrong without giving me the chance to explain my position
While I agree with much of what you post, so much of it also comes across hypocritical given your own rants. You claim "a desire to take care of him" but people who prefer the spawn route, who feel the same way, are "fixers". Player agency is paramount, unless they think differently. In the end it's like you're just saying "stop having fun" but with more vitriol. I'm not going to say that you haven't been on the receiving end because I'm sure you have. But nobody's being the bigger person here. I used to be fully a spawn fan, and the thing that held me back from enjoying aa the longest was how militant some people are about it being the correct path for him, and how sad and depressing they construe the spawn ending to be. I had to block your blog, and several others, because apparently people can't refrain from slandering others to make a point. I only come back to say that I have come to see your side of things, but it doesn't excuse the behavior of you and several others in your circle. I'm also not going to excuse anyone who's been rude to you, because all of that is childish and immature. I just think everyone could chill out more. Everyone is taking everyone else's opinion to be a personal attack, rather than analysis. And some people are pointedly writing things just to piss on everyone else's party.
Well, if you've blocked me, that's fine, it's a good decision that allows you to avoid content that might upset you. But I hope you'll still get an answer, because I'd like to explain my position.
Hypocrisy – I disagree. Yes, you noted my “desire to take care of him,” which is true, but I don't consider the desire to make someone “good” in the eyes of a certain group of people and/or in accordance with someone else's morality to be caring. “Fixers” is a term I saw for the first time here on Tumblr, and I liked it, and many people use it. It refers to that part of the fandom that likes to ‘fix’ or “re-educate” Astarion. That is “fixing” in its purest form. I used to refer to these very people, whom you call militant defenders of the righteousness of the UA path, in slightly different terms, different words, depending on the degree of “formality” or publicity of the place, but AA fans here on Tumblr have found a word that very clearly conveys the essence and is not obscene, and I also considered it a correct and clear definition. I don't think all UA fans are fixers, and I believed that the definition “fixers” actually creates a certain division, and if I wrote “UA fans” instead, it would be unfair, as it would affect those who are not fixers. I completely understand those people from the UA fandom who criticized his ending, considered it sad and depressing, and demanded that Larian change it. If they, in turn, understand why other players do not want to agree to this and accept it under any circumstances, but experience genuine pleasure from “evil” in this case, then I can also understand those who do not want to “do evil,” but at the same time wanted a good and happy ending. These are not fixers, and some of them have also been bullied within the fandom by the “sacred narrative sect” for allegedly “not understanding the drama,” in order to silence them and prevent them from criticizing how Larian made this “good path.” And for me, protecting Astarion from “good” is also part of “taking care of him.” “Protection from Good” is a pretty useful spell for vampires in general.
Maybe I was too emotional in some places, I am only human, and I am sorry if I made any unfair generalizations and offended you or anyone else who is not directly involved in the “anti-AA” movement. Before patch 6, there was a lot of nastiness online about Astarion, but I wasn't going to get involved in fights. I liked to communicate only with a small circle of good people on the forum, which I later regretted, because the principle of “the dog barks, but the caravan moves on” only works until the moment when your agency is taken away by force. It may happen that hyenas will surround and devour the caravan. Misandrists who tried to push their agenda about “toxic white men” and how they should be humiliated, for whom this “kick in the balls” was written. Haters who declare themselves victims, who are triggered by Tav's happy expressions while kissing, demanding that non-con scenes be returned to the game (posts where “I am a victim” is highlighted in bold and underlined, and largely duplicating or paraphrasing posts by real victims of SA/DA who wrote about it after patch 6). Trashy people who sent videos of rapes to real victims of violence from the AA fandom. Just disgusting gaslighting, when many people simply listened to these lies and were afraid to Ascend Astarion in their game. Obvious propaganda techniques, straight out of the textbook. Bitchy Karens have no mercy and never will, and kind of... They deserve nothing but the same treatment. I'm sorry if I hurt any other people in the process.
It's a pity you didn't specify what exactly you find hypocritical in what I write, and what kind of “ranting” you mean — I've written a lot, and without specifics, it's hard for me to understand what you don't like. Player agency — yes, I agree that it is of paramount importance — within the game itself. I usually use this definition when criticizing game developers—player freedom depends on them, not on anyone's posts or opinions. As for slander, I can quote a specific post verbatim, without changing or distorting anything, and provide a link to the source so that readers can see the source and form their own opinion. This is within the bounds of normal debate in public discourse, so what constitutes slander? Similar rebuttal posts on Tumblr, as far as I can see, are quite common. I have been sent similar rebuttal posts on the subject of elven relationships in D&D, and I don't understand how they differ from mine. Or when I respond to someone's question or post in my inbox, I discuss the topic raised by the author of the anonymous question/post, discussing the points they raise. People also often provide links to sources in their posts.
I've encountered a lot of things, yes, the fandom is toxic and it's unlikely that anything will change in that regard. It's just a fact, like bad weather. I have never called myself a fan of both paths. I am an ardent fan of Astarion as Astarion, but I hate the UA path because of what happens to Astarion on that path, and I also can't stand Tav on that path. I have never hidden this; it is not hypocrisy. I, of course, also love Astarion himself during these UA path runs for the sake of analysis and information, and perhaps even more intensely because of the pain I feel with him. On the Ascension path, I get high and rejoice. Playing this path with mods is like therapy after the UA path and testing all kinds of additional unpleasant sex scenes. I consider not every piece of writing by Astarion's haters to be a violation of the player's agency towards me, but when they specifically harmed us and Astarion directly in the game. I also read that the “kisses” in patch 6 were made “at the request of players.” And “how can you complain when the UA path is available.” Or something like “you want UA, not AA” — is this a projection of their own attitude towards him as a “dildo” for satisfying their sexual preferences onto other people? Or maybe that's true hypocrisy—to declare that after the Ascension, he's not Astarion, he's “another person,” and get “indulgence” to hurt and kill him? Their hatred for Astarion permeates real life, and they think it's okay to bully those who love him as Ascended. I don't think it's childish (well, there are childish attempts to insult, of course, but they're usually pretty stupid and funny), I think their actions are quite malicious. They use certain psychological techniques, gaslighting. Their malicious bullying and gaslighting has caused real emotional damage to many people. I sympathize with these people. I'm not going to make excuses, I'm writing honestly what I think, but I'll try to reflect on what you wrote. I want to say that I did not try to deliberately offend you or anyone like you. I hope you don't get upset and enjoy everything you want, regardless of anyone else's opinion. All the best to you, and I hope your future in this fandom brings you more positive than negative emotions.
Deepening PDP Crisis: My Position as he Pulls Out Of Peace Agreement Initially Reached
Amidst lingering intra-party crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for years, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and immediate-past Governor of Rivers States, Nyesom Wike, has revealed own stand on the story.
Yesterday, 25th May, 2025, this revelation was made to bring to the awareness of the…
Do you really believe a lot of the anons you've been getting lately? I'm really not trying to be rude so I apologize if it comes off as it but from your responses you appear very bitter towards harry and in your last response it leads me believe that you don't even think they're really together. I don't know everything just seems so negative lately in your responses and I really don't know where you stand.
Hi anon. I post pretty much anon that I get. Sometimes I agree with them, sometimes I don’t. I’ve said that before. I don’t post ones that I think will bring me too much grief, or ones where people ask me not to.
But you’re not rude (and you don’t need to apologize) and so I will be 100% clear: I do not like what Harry and his team are doing. That tweet is what finally set my bullshit meter over the edge. He knows what he’s doing and it’s working. I don’t think he’s queerbaiting, I think he’s walletbaiting. As I have been saying for weeks, this is a business (for all of the men) and people can choose what to support, but I’m no longer opening up my wallet for it/him.
I’m looking at my last dozen anons. A bunch are about fandom things. Yes, I agree there will be reaching. I think there has been already. And I have been clearly critical of this fandom–not just about Harry, but about how they reacted to Steve, about how they didn’t support Niall when claiming to be OT4/5, about the hypocrisy over criticizing Zayn but not Harry, and I’ve talked briefly about how I think Liam gets the shaft by the fandom in general.
The majority of my anons today have been about how Harry’s song is actually doing sales-wise and radio-wise. I’m not sure there’s anything anti-Harry in stating actual facts. Fact: He’s not getting a lot of radio play. Fact: His being on SNL as an untested solo artist is highly unusual. Fact: His song got an edit that nobody is talking about.
A host of other anons are people expressing their frustration with Harry’s image/robotic tweets/team. I don’t think that saying you don’t like what is going on means you hate Harry. I think it’s emotionally manipulative to tell people that they need to support someone no matter what.
There are plenty of other people who will blame everything on Sony/Harry’s team. Most people in this fandom prefer to credit the men for things they like and excuse them for things they don’t. I’m over that. Harry chose this team. I do not like what his team–the one he chose and hired–is doing.
I’ve clearly stated, just in the last day, that I’m not at the point where I think they’re not together, so I’m not understanding where that idea is coming from (looking at my reply, I can see that it may not be clear, so scratch that; my answer to that anon was about the idea of them breaking up/not being together). I thought there was another ask that said they thought they were broken up that I disagreed with, but I can’t find it…
I think Harry’s team/Harry expected to do better in his debut. I think they’re scrambling a bit to figure out their footing. I think they are taking advantage of Larries. I don’t like it.
That doesn’t mean I think they’ve broken up.
Oh, and yes, I absolutely meant it when I said I don’t think the Azoffs give a shit about Louis. I feel like there’s an unspoken assumption in the posts that read someting like “They’re together! They make decisions together! They love one another. Trust them.” That unspoken assumption is that everyone around them loves and respects both and them and would never do anything that harmed the other. I don’t believe that at all.
You can be annoyed as hell with how he’s treating fans and his solo launch and not hate him and still think they are still together.
