It's Okay to Criticize Senna–But Let's Use Real Facts, Not Reverse Myths
Ayrton Senna was an imperfect driver. You can (and should) criticize his aggression, his clashes with Prost, or his mystique. But lately I've seen "critical" arguments that fall into the same exaggerations as blind fans — just in the opposite direction.
Here are four recurring arguments, broken down with actual data and historical context.
"Senna blackmailed Ron Dennis with absurd demands. He asked for $1 million per race, threatened not to race, and even would take hostages"
In 1992–1993, Ron Dennis deceived Senna. He promised a competitive chassis, but during testing he gave Senna the heavier 1989 MP4/5 instead of the MP4/6 he had requested. The goal was to pressure Senna into signing quickly.
When Senna discovered the deception, he used his leverage as a three-time world champion. And it worked: he secured a contract worth $1 million per race in 1993. That wasn't a tantrum—it was the market rate for a top driver at a time when drivers had far less power than today.
"Senna was willing to drive for Williams for free—how pathetic It shows weakness or lack of self-respect."
Senna never raced for free. His 1994 Williams contract was worth $1.5 million per race.
The "free driving" story comes from a conditional offer he made while still at McLaren: "If the Williams car is championship-winning, I'll drive without a salary." That's not weakness. That's prioritizing titles over money. A statement that his motivation wasn't cash—it was winning. How many current drivers would say the same?
"Senna isn't a GOAT because he only won titles with one team (McLaren). Prost and Schumacher won with multiple teams."
Let's check raw data:
Prost: 13 full seasons (1980–1993). Titles with McLaren and Williams.
Schumacher: 19 full seasons (1991–2012). Titles with Benetton and Ferrari.
Senna: 9 full seasons (1984–1994, cut short).
Titles only with McLaren… because he died in his first year with Williams.
Senna was on his way to fighting for the title with a new team. Death prevented him from completing the process of becoming a "multi-team champion."
Comparing raw career totals without adjusting for time is a fallacy. If Prost had died in 1987, he'd have 2 titles (both with McLaren). If Schumacher had died in 1997, he'd have 2 titles (Benetton only). The logic is rigged.
It's not that Senna "couldn't" win with another team. It's that he ran out of time.
"He's not that great because he only won three championships. Schumacher beat him in '94."
Problems with this argument is Senna was leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix when he crashed. Schumacher inherited the lead after the red flag.·
If we apply the same logic to other sports:
Is Bruce Lee not a martial arts legend because he died young?
Is Jim Morrison not a great rocker because he died at the age of 27?
The "what if" isn't cheap mythology. It's simply the reality that a career was cut short before its time. That doesn't artificially inflate Senna—it just prevents us from knowing what more he would have achieved.
Using death as a statistical argument is logically invalid. You cannot penalize someone for failing to do what death prevented them from doing.
I mean, criticizing Senna is fine. Do it for for his unnecessary aggression in some overtakes. His violence with Prost. Or even his religious mystique that sometimes rubbed people the wrong way. He deserves criticism made with the same rigor as praise. Without omitting context. Without logical fallacies. Without tricks. If you want to criticize, you're welcome. But bring the data—not the memes.
IT’S PAUL STANLEY’S BIRTHDAY!!!! Seriously, guys, I’ve been looking forward to this day for... long enough that it’s probably weird lol. But anyway, here now is the story I decided to post for his birthday!
So you guys remember how Starchild and Black Dahlia used to be betrothed? Well, here’s the story of what happened when it ended. Enjoy!
Black Dahlia loved Starchild; he was her best friend, after all. He was empathetic, tried to do what was right, wanted to see his realm prosper, and he was unafraid to speak his mind, even if what he said involved sass. Those were Black Dahlia’s favorite moments; she really did enjoy bantering back and forth with him. The best part, though, was that she felt he understood her, and she understood him. She wasn’t sure how exactly they understood each other so well, but she didn’t care much. She loved Starchild, as her best friend and her platonic soulmate. But no matter how much the Council prayed to their Gods the two of them would fall in love, platonic was all they would ever be.
It became a problem, however, when they both began to wonder how a platonic friendship would work when they were going to be married. Black Dahlia wasn’t naïve; she knew what happened on a wedding night. And the Council would of course be demanding an heir as soon as possible. And that was one thing she was definitely not looking forward to.
All things considered, when during a dinner date Starchild told her the betrothal was over, it came as absolutely no surprise that Black Dahlia immediately felt relief.
“Really?” she asked, just to be sure.
Starchild nodded. “Really. The Elder told the Council it was unnecessary, when the Sisterhood has already been an unquestioned ally for centuries.” A small smile came to his face. “I think she may have intimidated the Council into agreeing.”
“So…” Black Dahlia said slowly, just so she could be absolutely sure. “We aren’t betrothed anymore?”
His eyebrows twitched in slight confusion, but Starchild nodded all the same. “That’s right,”
It only took Black Dahlia a moment to fully process—she made a mental note to personally thank the Elder—then she slumped back in her chair and blew a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank the Gods… I was not looking forward to that at all.”
Starchild got a relieved look of his own, and he sat back in his chair. “So you aren’t upset?”
“Of course not! Could you imagine us being married?”
“It wouldn’t have been so bad. At least we like each other.”
“True, but we would have had to sleep with each other.”
A rather disgusted look crossed her friend’s face. “Actually, you’re right.” He sighed in frustration. “A part of me wishes this had never happened at all.”
Black Dahlia couldn’t deny her agreement with that. “So do I.” She smiled at Starchild. “Though, if it had never happened, I never would have met you.”
Starchild smiled back. “That’s true. I don’t know how life would be without your friendship.”
They smiled at each other, then Black Dahlia snickered. “Can you imagine me having to carry your heir? Now that would not be a happy time.”
Starchild thought for a moment, then snorted. “You would probably try to curse the Council,”
“Bold of you to assume I don’t already think about that.”
“Please do not actually do that… no matter how entertaining it would be.”
Once again they were in agreement: both of them strongly disliked the Council. They were only as cordial as propriety demanded, but apart from that it was clear most of the Council considered themselves the true rulers of KISSteria instead of the Elder and Starchild. To their credit, they were mostly indifferent towards the Sisterhood, perhaps knowing what would happen if they dared to overstep their bounds with it. A few had even been vocal in their respect of Black Dahlia’s family. But just because there was the small minority she had no problem with, it didn’t mean she still disliked the Council as a whole.
“Wouldn’t it be hilarious if we could pull a joke on them somehow?” Black Dahlia asked, laughing.
Starchild laughed with her. “That would be hilarious,”
Then they suddenly stopped laughing, considering it more seriously, and looked at each other. Starchild grinned at her. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
Black Dahlia grinned back. “I think so,”
-KISSTERIA-
They decided to execute their little plan in the palace gardens. It was the most public place, guaranteeing they would be seen and heard. So, the next day, the two of them went strolling through the gardens arm in arm. They had to keep from looking at each other, for fear that they would start laughing and ruin it.
“Do you remember what to do?” Starchild mumbled under his breath to her.
Black Dahlia shot him a smirk. “Of course I do. Are we ready?”
Smiling, Starchild nodded, and they stopped walking and faced each other. After a moment’s pause, Starchild began. “My dear sweet Black Dahlia, flower of my affections, I have a confession I must make.”
He projected his voice slightly so those around them would hear. Black Dahlia raised an eyebrow at him, nearly laughing, then sobered up and replied. “Dear star of my life, you know you may tell me whatever is on your mind, for I would rather die than judge the thoughts of my sweet love. What is your confession?”
Starchild snorted quietly, then knelt down on one knee and took her hands, his voice turning dramatic. “What I say next gives me pain so torturous death would be salvation... but I cannot marry you!”
Black Dahlia gasped dramatically, her shocked expression nearly comical. “What?! Why?! Why can we not marry?!”
“I wish I could tell you why, my sweet Dahlia, but we can never be. I am so very sorry.”
“How can you break my heart so with this betrayal, my brightest star? I have never held such affection and love for any other in my life!”
“You will always hold a piece of my heart, my dearest flower, but our love was never meant to be. But I swear to you, I,” Starchild had to lower his head, and Black Dahlia heard him laughing quietly as his shoulders shook, “I will never love another the way I love you!”
Black Dahlia had to work to stop herself from grinning. “Neither shall I, my beloved Starchild. Not a day shall pass where I do not weep tears of misery over what can never be!”
“So shall it be for me as well.” Starchild rose to his feet, still holding her hands. “And now, my love, will you allow me one final kiss before we part forever?”
Black Dahlia pretended to swoon. “Oh, my beloved, kiss me like the world is ending!” But she couldn’t help but add under her breath, “Don’t actually, please.”
“Of course not,” he muttered back. Then he grabbed her waist, dipped her, and they pretended to kiss passionately. Starchild’s hair and her arms luckily obscured how they were really just grinning.
After a good long moment, enough to satisfy even the most romantic, Starchild brought her back up. There was a stretch of silence where they stared at each other, smiling widely. Then they burst into laughter, doubling over and cackling at what they had just done.
When he calmed a bit, Starchild spoke again, still grinning. “Seriously though, we’re not getting married.”
“Yeah, I got that,” Black Dahlia sniggered. She sighed, pretending to wipe away a tear of laughter, then smiled. Oh how she loved her best friend. “Training grounds?”
“Sounds perfect.” Starchild jokingly offered his arm, both of them snickering as she took it. And they went off on their merry way.
The witnesses to their little melodrama included not just members of the Council, but of the royal court as well. Which meant in less than a day, the news that the betrothal between the two clear lovers had ended. It was a hot piece of gossip for two weeks afterwards, during which neither Starchild nor Black Dahlia had ever laughed harder in their lives.
The Fairy Kei sales page is not for things to sell that you think are "kawaii". They're for things that can be used in FAIRY KEI FASHION. We don't use red, we don't very much use orange, black is not part of it (unless you're branching into Spank! or pastel goth which are totally different anyways), and neither are deep and muted colors. It's bright pastels. Very few neon colors. So tired of seeing people posting those things for sale that don't have anything to do with fairy kei. I don't mind if they can be used for Lolita, but for christs sake do a little research before you out things for sale. I don't mean to be /that guy/ but it's a group meant for certain items and if you have other things to sell there are more than likely pages and groups you can use to get rid of them. You can sell off of Ebay. It's certainly annoying seeing these posts in my feed that have NOTHING to do with the fashion.
