#redrants

[heckinconfusedparade]

Because I had a dog named Shadow, now whenever I see this mf:

It takes my entire soul when talking about him to not call him SHA DOOOOWS! In a little voice. CAUSE LOOKITHIM! BABY! His name triggers something in me I have not had since like.. September.

Also I’m glad I never had a Shadow plushie while my Shadow was alive. She had.. a history. With an individual also named Shadow.

Didn’t end well.

[red-anansi]

Of course I knew the word, I was just being silly. But this is a better response than anything I could have hoped 🤣

[redrants]

[red-f-smith]

Quick say, because, as of recent, I have been trying to quit smoking and found it hard to get out of bed with a smile. I understand that not everyday in life the sun is going to shine on your perfectly like a spot light. There are days where it blinds you, it just feels stronger than you, and some days there is no sun. Just clouds covering warmth as you look up and see darkness without the stars. Which is ok. We all have days like that- I have those days, your friend has those days, your parents, sibling, role model- but those days do pass. You have to survive 24 hours of it and half of that time your sleeping, or too busy to notice the time. You have another 345 days before you hit this day again, next year. You got this. If you feel like you don't, then buckle down, lower your head, and ready your shoulders because youre going to have to trackle through. It's going to hurt. It's going to suck. You're gonna want to quit and say "screw this crap, im not dealing with it anymore." And that's ok. Take a breath. Sit for a minute. Cry out how you feel. Just- just don't give up.

[every-dayiwakeup]

I really do! Want Eddie Munson to come back. Not because I hate him I actually love his character, but his return would feel like ann insult to not only his character arc and making his sacrifice meaningless. But it's also an insult to ever other character that was killed off (Barb, Bob, Alexei, Patrick, Fred, Chrissy... BILLY!) I don't mind Joseph coming back as a vision of the Vecna or a flashback to when Dustin first met Eddie but aside from that there's no reason for him to return. If you want his character to have justice and his name cleared, have Dustin tell the truth to the world or smth. The only way I'll allow him to come back is if it means everyone else who died comes back including, the Vecna victims, Barb, Bob AND Billy!

I think I'm just a little pissed because if that does happen imagine how unbearable the antis /steddie Stans will be?!!! It makes me mad just thinking about it😡😡😡😡

Yeah, I'm not looking forward to what antis and st3ddies (not all of them, some moots of mine are cool and this isn't about yall don't worry 💖💖) will be like if Eddie does come back.

I agree with what you said about his arc. His storyline was literally him running away from things, and he chose in that moment to stay. I personally think his death was both predictable and avoidable. The DB keep killing off new characters (like Bob, Patrick, Chrissy, Fred, Aleksei etc.) while stretching out plot armor for the main characters. Plus... running away is literally a human reaction.

There's no shame in running away. Every time a character has any sort of human reaction and they aren't a part of the main character crew, it's treated like something that needs to be fixed.

It would be a bad decision to bring Eddie back (so I'm sure the DB will end up doing it).

Billy was one of the most human characters on the show not just because he was relatable to so many people, but because he reacted. He felt real. He was one of the first characters on ST to have some sort of reaction to trauma.

How trauma impacts a character is not a flaw, and it shouldn't be treated as such. There's a reason why the other characters fell flat. If you're going to fuck your characters up, show how it impacts them. I don't care if it's a Sci fi show- if you want a character to come alive, let them be human. Let them be messy. Let them get angry about what happened to them. Let them go apeshit.

Personal opinion: no matter what genre you're in, if your goal is to add some sort of realism to your story, the best thing you can do is let your characters react. Think of it as improv- and I say this because the best moments of ST weren't in the script. Since the actors are in character, they are acting as they feel the character would react, which if executed naturally (instead of forced) can bring a level of authenticity to both the role and the story.

I view writing books the same way. The moment a character takes on a life of their own, I sit back and let them improvise. It's their story, and I'm just along for the ride. They start off as figments of my imagination, then I do my best to breathe life into them so that they aren't cardboard cutouts. I let them go fucking wild.

If they do bring Billy back as well... at least Dacre will be there, and we know he won't demonize Billy.

[red-anansi]

Y'all

So I've been learning (sensual)bachata, west coast swing, salsa, merengue, and kizomba(/urban kiz) the last 3 years off and on.

I just went to a kizouk workshop this weekend and let me tell you. Zouk is a Whole Nother Animal.

And yet, it's the most natural extension of everything else I've picked up. It was SO GOOD yall. Kizomba and zouk are some of the most connected I've ever been with another human.

I didn't connect with everyone, but the good ones? I mean it took Seconds and we were *synched*. Head to toe connection. I can't begin to truly describe it. But it's something I'll probably chase for the next several years

[red-anansi]

Eyo I am interested in religious discussion. I'm very much a solitary at practice, but I have a mainstream religious background and my current outlook is largely about not perpetuating what one is against, because I might now have the "right" label. Considering writing a philosophy book in the future on a kind of "anti-religion" religion in the sense of "here's practical application and the logic I see" vs. "here's abstract concepts you can weaponize and an afterlife you can use as an excuse."

Here are some overarching themes/patterns of religion that i have noticed.

But first, my background: I was raised "fundamental" conservative christian, graduated with a bachelor's in ministry from a college of my sect, and did 2 years of full-time ministry before I left the practice of organized religion, traumatized and disillusioned. This also informs you, dear reader, of many biases I come by naturally whatever my growth since leaving has brought me.

All that being said,

There are three overarching truths that almost all religions agree on from Christianity, to Buddhism, to Islam, to Wiccan:

1. Actions have consequences, so choose to do good*

2. There is a "divine"**

3. Humanity has a power called faith that can affect the universe if coupled with the aforementioned divine.

*good is obviously relative to the religion. and they call this process different things "karma, the law of sowing and reaping, the 3-fold rule," but all seem to agree that because your actions will directly affect your life metaphysically as well as physically, one should live well and do good.

** the divine is as open to interpretation as "good." From Jehova, to Jesus, to Mother Earth, to the "consciousness cloud we all descend from," to the "Universe" my manifestation girlies love to cite as their source. Even Buddhists follow Sutra offered by those Enlightened line the the Great Sun Buddha by connection to "Greater Wisdom." Another example is Reiki. While a much softer divine, it still remains a greater-than-human power that can guide and perform supernatural feats.

However you understand the divine or "god" to function as a concept, most all religions concede that humanity has the ability to discover and follow a higher plan /path/will that, coupled with faith, will open otherwise closed doors, and fix otherwise impossible problems.

Another interesting concept, is to think of religions as a wand in Olivander's shop that connects your internal power (faith) to the greater power (divine/universe) to enact change to your life and affectable surroundings. Some elements of certain religious practices may feel more natural for one to connect with their idea of "Divine." Everyone should be free and encouraged to explore and connect with the "wand" or path to divinity that most aligns with their nature. Whether gaudy pomp and circumstance, giving/serving to the point of poverty, or morning affirmations of health and wealth, all are welcome to find their own kind of divine, in a large organized way or a more soloistic approach. I only ask you to consider carefully before bequeathing your wealth to any institution.

Which leads me to the topic of my frustration with a pattern of religion. In my research, almost all religions that grow large start with a message of love and kindness to begin to amass a following. When the followers of the religion reach a certain level of influence in society, the people at the top realize A. That they have a measure of power from their followers' trust in them, and B. that love and kindness are freeing, instead of restricting. This limits the amount of power they are able to wield. And over and over, millennia after millennia, the people in power alter the message of love and peace to a message of Othering and Fear to enact greater control and power over the masses. Some claim a "greater good," others are more honest in their pursuits. But organized religion ends in a bid for power without fail, to my knowledge. Even the "peaceful" religions have been used to fight nationwide wars, to persecute and destroy the "others."

I find myself nowadays circling back to something Jesus reportedly said about the Torah. Two laws, of the hundreds given, can offer enlightenment and guidance on your journey that will end with you on the divine path. Two laws. Three instructions. Love God, love yourself, and love your fellow human as you love yourself.

I have many more wild and/or nuanced takes on a great many aspects of religion, but that is my current collection of big picture concepts.

Thank you for indulging me

[red-anansi]

Yall I discovered queuing a while back and set it to five posts a day. I always felt bad about spamming yall all the time whenever I popped into Tumblr.

It's gotten...out of hand

What do I DO with them all??!!?