This Is All Temporary

30s / software / writer / they/them

[ushirominya]

last christmas man me a sand but the very next day man car door hook hand

[ushirominya]

me n u both buddy

[booksinmythorax]

Hey, please check your local library before you join a new streaming service just to watch one movie or TV show! Not everything is made into physical media (DVD/Blu Ray) anymore, but LOTS of things are, including some stuff that's made by streaming services. Spending zero money and supporting your local library is better than spending some money, 100% of the time.

[thejessleigh]

Also, your library might have access to streaming resources like Hoopla or Kanopy, which has tons of movies and TV shows!

[teaboot]

Thinking back to the good early days before my skin grew back when people could shake their heads at me and say "masks are a government conspiracy" and instead of navigating the bullshit like a normal person I could pull mine down and say "I have chemical burns on my face"

[teaboot]

things people expect in a political confrontation:

Facts

Logic

Emotional outbursts

Things they are never prepared for:

Open sores

[headspace-hotel]

This post: "Thinking back to the good early days before my skin grew back"

Me: off to a compelling start

[i-will-write]

[dduane]

No matter how many people have ever written their take on an idea... no one will ever write yours the way you do.

And when you've spent enough hard work on your idea, it's entirely possible that your idea will be better than all the ones that came before.

We'll never know until you write it.

If you're scared that you'll spend a lot of effort on an idea and it won't be any better...?

Welcome! You're now suffering the same uncertainty that every writer ever born deals with, every day.

There's no guarantee that you'll win. But until you start, it's guaranteed that you never will.

Putt your butt in the chair, start working, and begin the daily challenge of taking the same gamble that all of the rest of us take, every day.

It's all any of us can do. :)

[wilwheaton]

I wrote a story for one of the Star Trek manga releases back in the early aughts.

My idea was to show one of the events that could have helped move the Klingon Empire from its warlike posture in TOS to its membership -- and subsequent bureaucratic in-fighting -- in the Federation.

The idea was to put Kirk and a Klingon commander in a situation on a planet where they had to work together, and at a moment when Kirk could save himself or risk his life to save the Klingon, he makes the ethical, moral, Star Trek choice to save him.

They get out of danger, and the Klingon commander's crew beams down to rescue him. When they see Kirk there, they are like "FUCK YEAH! JAMES KIRK IS OUR PRISONER!" But the commander relates the story of Kirk saving him, and wonders if maybe not everything about humans and the Federation is true. Some other stuff happens (I forget what made the final draft) and the last couple pages are this Klingon commander facing a tribunal, and hoping that, somehow, his very public execution will not be in vain.

I had such a good time working on it, putting the guys in a collapsing dilithium mine (CAVES!) and treating it as if it were an actual episode where they only had the budget to work in the caves on Stage 16, and maybe one day on the bridge. From limitation comes creativity, they say.

About 2/3 of the way through my second draft, I realized that I was essentially writing Enemy Mine, which I have not seen, but know enough about to recognize the similarities. I called my friend, Andrew (may his memory be a blessing) and asked him what to do.

"You're writing two men on an island," he said. "It's one of the seven stories. Just make it your own and have fun doing it."

When I was younger (I did this in my 30s), I was terrified to make mistakes. I was convinced that everyone would know that I was the fraud and failure my father made me believe I was. I was so certain that I would be excoriated for stealing an idea, I almost sent the (very small) check back and bailed on all of it.

But I found a way to listen to Andrew, and keep my dad out of the room and out of my head while I told my version of two men on an island.

The book went on to sell about how they expected. It's been out of print forever, but I still have a couple of my contributor's copies on my shelf.

My long-winded point, OP, and my "yes, and," to Diane's post, is that there's no such thing as a totally original story, but nobody else will ever tell YOUR story the way you tell it, so that doesn't matter. Truly. Nobody who matters cares, because everyone who matters knows this.

So when you feel uncertain, please remember that the way you tell your story will be special, unique, and entirely yours.

[onetwistedmiracle]

This is a lesson one can also learn from reading fanfiction. If you doubt what these good people have to say about all this, just go look at the comments on a popular fanfic. Any fandom, any pairing or none, it doesn't matter. A well written fanfic is the absolutely Platonic Embodiment of this concept. It's all been said before? There's nothing new under the sun? Originality is dead? And yet, a thousand people have squealed with joy over this re-telling of an old trope with characters someone else invented.

[wilwheaton]

May fanfiction writers be blessed by all the gods, old and new!

[aurumacadicus]

The kids on TikTok think that just because he was a classic country singer, Johnny Cash was conservative??? My babies he covered a Nine Inch Nails song in his seventies.

Classic country singers (the majority of which came from poor roots) were always talking about how much The Man sucked because they were taking money from poor rural folk. You’re gonna tell me that’s conservative?? Get outta here.

[aurumacadicus]

And somehow on the opposite side of the scale with the same exact opinion the conservative kids say “I like the old country music, because there’s no politics to it” Woodie Guthrie’s got a “this machine kills fascists” sticker on his guitar? You think there’s no politics in 9 to 5 or Folsom Prison Blues?!

[hermit-skrab]

For anyone confused there was a sudden and dramatic shift in the country music genre. It used to be a genre fixated on the experiences of people. Lived or common experiences that resonated with the common people. It was music that you listened to and it thrummed in tune to your soul because you had lived it yourself. And a lot of that was about ordinary people getting ground up in the gears of society.

The hyper patriotism, beer, and trucks chimera we have now didn't show up until after 9/11 and the world is lesser for it

[rubenesque-as-fuck]

[onbearfeet]

Allow me to post the entire lyrics to the Johnny Cash song "Man in Black", released in nineteen goddamn seventy-one and written about why he always wore black onstage:

Well, you wonder why I always dress in black

Why you never see bright colors on my back

And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone

Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down

Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town

I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime

But is there because he's a victim of the times

I wear the black for those who've never read

Or listened to the words that Jesus said

About the road to happiness through love and charity

Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me

Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose

In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes

But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back

Up front there ought to be a man in black

I wear it for the sick and lonely old

For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold

I wear the black in mournin' for the lives that could have been

Each week we lose a hundred fine young men

And I wear it for the thousands who have died

Believin' that the Lord was on their side

I wear it for another hundred-thousand who have died

Believin' that we all were on their side

Well, there's things that never will be right, I know

And things need changin' everywhere you go

But 'til we start to make a move to make a few things right

You'll never see me wear a suit of white

Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day

And tell the world that everything's okay

But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back

'Til things are brighter, I'm the man in black

That right there is an anti-war, anti-bigot, anti-mass-incarceration, anti-war-on-drugs (Cash was an addict in various stages of recovery who was pissed as hell about how this country treats people with substance issues), eat-the-rich protest song. And it was arguably his signature song, his personal manifesto. Notice that even the Jesus reference, which today would be a signal that the song is about to drop some racist dogwhistles, segues immediately into a line about "the road to happiness through love and charity". As in "Motherfucker, our shared god said love thy neighbor and care for the poor and the outsider, and we both know he didn't fucking stutter." He's throwing shade at self-described Christians who use his religion as a cudgel to beat people with.

Johnny Cash wasn't a conservative. I'm pretty sure if he were alive and in reasonably good health today, he'd knock Jason Aldean's teeth out (or, failing that, write a song so devastatingly memetic about how much Aldean sucks that Aldean would never work in music again).

Johnny Cash was punk rock. He just happened to be punk rock in the body of a country singer.

[louisegluckpdf]

every time i sit down 2 watch a horror movie i think of that one tweet :/

[louisegluckpdf]

rb if you too sit down in ur room and watch horror movies alone

[thejessleigh]

Periodic update on me trying to learn how to do a visual art - a medium which very much does not come naturally to me.

[thejessleigh]

I post these because it’s important to my personal goal of relearning that it’s okay to fail. It’s okay to try. It’s okay to do something because I enjoy the act of doing it even if the result doesn’t live up to my dreams. That means I’m growing.

[thejessleigh]

Periodic update on me trying to learn how to do a visual art - a medium which very much does not come naturally to me.

[mercuryfountain-deactivated2024]

The pastoralist fantasy of "modern life is too stressful so I should move to a remote area and do hard labor" is so funny

[dama-the-drama]

I have a theory about that.

I think that what people want, when they talk about a pastoralist fantasy is actually an anti-capitalistic fantasy: i noticed, even from my experience, that most people don't mind phisical labour if it gives them results: actual, tangible, results.

Once my boss asked me to copy every article from a website and paste them in the new one. It took me roughly four hours for three days to do and my soul was slowly leaving my body. It was easy work, i mean who wouldnt want to earn money to just click here and click there, rinse and repeat? But it was boring, ripetitive and basically useless.

But when I take some time and clean my house, i sweat, i am tired but... satisfied. I see in front of me the result of my hard labour and I am happy, or at least i don't think i wasted my time.

So the fantasy of working hard but at least getting something out of it is appealing: why do people work in kitchens? Or bakeries and wake up at dawn to make bread? Or any hard job like that? I knew a guy that had the possibility of having every job he wanted, but he opened a bar and couldnt be happier.

This is my idea, i'm not a student in sociology or anything but I hope i made a point.

[daitoshi]

I have two degrees, and my previous job was the marketing department head for an international biotech company. I was well-paid, but dreaded work every morning. The endless cycle of low-grade manipulation and feeling like “making money for someone else to pocket, HELPING no one else” felt miserable.

I left and now work at a garden center. I haul around plants and educate people about them, so they can make informed choices. I help people, and seeing the plants grow under my care is wonderful. My soul is flourishing, my heart is at peace. My coworkers are all honest (as far as I can tell), and there’s no push for upselling or pushing people to buy stuff if it’s not very suited for their landscape.

Even if my wallet is a lot lighter these days, so too are my worries!

[darthflake]

I worked IT in a city and fuck. People try to controll your every second. Faster! More efficient! You took a second too long to type that. You drove 56 kmh but could have gone 58 without getting caught. I messaged you a minute ago but you didn't reply so I walked to your cubicle to ask you. Also let's have an efficiency meeting. You are too slow. That's your feedback. How long will that task take? Can we somehow shorten that?

And all for what? To manipulate the user to buy product. Not to improve the website mind you. Whenever I suggested: hey, our website is not useable for the visually impaired/people with motor problems. I got back an: we don't care they're too small of a market value

So can you really blame me for fantasizing about a life where I can just plant flowers and vegetables and walk everywhere without the need of manipulating people and mikromanage my every second

[roach-works]

my current job is managing a plasma cutting machine, so i have to spend a lot of time dragging big chunks of iron on and off conveyor belts and i end up sore and filthy at the end of every shift, and usually a bit scratched up.

but it’s third shift and there’s no supervision whatsoever, so while the machine is running, i can type on my phone. i’ve written most of a novel so far with my thumbs, covered in grease and iron dust. and i also produced a lot of construction materials for bridges, dams, warehouses, and skyscrapers.

i really like my job.

[feuervogel]

This is Marx's theory of alienation.

When people are removed from the tangible results of their labor, they become distressed and dissatisfied - and this is the result of capitalist profit-focused processes.

[literallyaflame]

seeing the terms “bad rep” and “good rep” applied to media that was created by and for an in-group makes me want to eat glass

[literallyaflame]

“not sure if this is a good representation of the trans community :/“ right well a trans person made it, and they made it for other trans people, so. perhaps that logic is not applicable here. must we live our entire creative lives under the watchful eye of Cisgender Scrutiny? how can you compare self-expression to willful misrepresentation lmao

[rockyp77mk3]

The Shadow Of Mount Rainier Causing A Gap In The Sunset.

[honeydewcorporation]

Wrong: Darkness Beam Attack!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[nthfunct-deactivated20231201]

man who opened a parenthesis he forgot to close 4 years ago is tragically unaware everything he's said since has been an aside

[tonystarkspenis]

realest thing i have seen in a while

[charliejaneanders]

Every single craft has been paying “The Passion Tax” for generations. This term (coined by author and organizational psychologist Adam Grant) — and backed by scientific research — simply states that the more someone is passionate about their work, the more acceptable it is to take advantage of them. In short, loving what we do makes us easy to exploit.

Guest Column: If Writers Lose the Standoff With Studios, It Hurts All Filmmakers

[thejessleigh]

Highly recommend reading Sarah Jaffe's Work Won't Love You Back for more on how passion for work is an exploitable flaw and how unionization across sectors is necessary for a better life.

[what-even-is-thiss]

So at a party it is socially acceptable to just silently join a circle of people talking and contribute to the conversation when you feel like it as if you already know everyone in the circle, btw.

[what-even-is-thiss]

If you want to know people’s names at some point saying “Sorry, did I catch your name?” or “Sorry, what was your name again?” like you’ve briefly been introduced before is a good move.

[what-even-is-thiss]

Conversation openers for starting a conversation with a random person next to you:

What’s the punch taste like?

What are you drinking?

How do you know the host?

Hey, nice shoes!

Did you bring this drink/food/decoration/etc.?

Hey, what’s your costume?

Are you from (place where a lot of people at the party work or are from)?

Hi! Did you come with (mutual friend)?

[krillbeans]

Fr? On god? Just like that?

[what-even-is-thiss]

Yeah, just act like you’ve been there the whole time.

[what-even-is-thiss]

I have social anxiety and discovered this by trial and error despite my fears. I took on this burden for all of you so you don’t have to. Trust me. Just stand in the gap in the circle. It’s waiting for you. It’s an event where people are expecting to meet other people. It’s not creepy or weird. They’re there to talk to strangers and friends alike. Just step into the circle.

[thejessleigh]

So I used to run networking events for women and non-binary folks career changing into tech and this is exactly what you're supposed to do. Just hop on in. If there is a gap in the circle, it is there specifically to invite people to come fill it.

If networking and partying comes a bit easier to you and you want to make things more inviting to newcomers, the best thing you can do is instead of standing in a circle, make sure you're standing in a Pac Man shape instead! Keep a little wedge open! When someone comes in to fill the gap, everyone should step back a little bit to open Pac Man's mouth back up! This leaves room for folks to come in, and signals that your conversation is open to newcomers, not closed.

I used to feel like I could never be the kind of person who could just jump into a convo. I still feel massive social anxiety and like I'm the most awkward person ever. Here's how I manage: for the first fifteen minutes of any event or party, I commit to pretending to be the kind of person who likes parties and conversations with strangers. I pretend like it doesn't bother me to sidle up to a conversation and assert myself. I have to fully commit to the bit. If, after fifteen minutes, I'm still miserable then I have permission to leave. But usually after a few minutes of LARPing as a more confident version of myself, I'm able to find a conversation that doesn't destroy my soul. On a very good night, I'll even make a new friend or two.

Next time you're out, try LARPing being the person who's comfortable at parties. Just for fifteen minutes. Then let us know how it goes!

Bonus advice: begin a conversation by complimenting someone on a specific choice they've made. If their hair is a cool color, they're wearing an interesting pin, a shirt from a show you like, etc. these are great places to start. When complimenting strangers, make sure to compliment them on something that is intentional and within their control, like a tattoo or a piece of jewelry, rather than physical characteristics that are beyond their control like having pretty eyes or something. First, it comes off as a lot less creepy. Second, if you compliment something the other person has control over it can lead to a discussion. If you compliment something that's the result of a genetic accident, that's a conversational dead end.

[afriendstolovers]

!!!!!!!

[dduane]

“I think fanfiction is literature and literature, for the most part, is fanfiction, and that anyone that dismisses it simply on the grounds that it’s derivative knows fuck-all about literature and needs to get the hell off my lawn. Most of the history of Western literature (and probably much of non-Western literature, but I can’t speak to that) is adapted or appropriated from something else. Homer wrote historyfic and Virgil wrote Homerfic and Dante wrote Virgilfic (where he makes himself a character and writes himself hanging out with Homer and Virgil and they’re like “OMG Dante you’re so cool.” He was the original Gary Stu). Milton wrote Bible fanfic, and everyone and their mom spent the Middle Ages writing King Arthur fanfic. In the sixteenth century you and another dude could translate the same Petrarchan sonnet and somehow have it count as two separate poems, and no one gave a fuck. Shakespeare doesn’t have a single original plot—although much of it would be more rightly termed RPF—and then John Fletcher and Mary Cowden Clarke and Gloria Naylor and Jane Smiley and Stephen Sondheim wrote Shakespeare fanfic. Guys like Pope and Dryden took old narratives and rewrote them to make fun of people they didn’t like, because the eighteenth century was basically high school. And Spenser! Don’t even get me started on Spenser. Here’s what fanfic authors/fans need to remember when anyone gives them shit: the idea that originality is somehow a good thing, an innately preferable thing, is a completely modern notion. Until about three hundred years ago, a good writer, by and large, was someone who could take a tried-and-true story and make it even more awesome. (If you want to sound fancy, the technical term is imitatio.) People were like, why would I wanna read something about some dude I’ve never heard of? There’s a new Sir Gawain story out, man! (As to when and how that changed, I tend to blame Daniel Defoe, or the Modernists, or reality television, depending on my mood.) I also find fanfic fascinating because it takes all the barriers that keep people from professional authorship—barriers that have weakened over the centuries but are nevertheless still very real—and blows right past them. Producing literature, much less circulating it, was something that was well nigh impossible for the vast majority of people for most of human history. First you had to live in a culture where people thought it was acceptable for you to even want to be literate in the first place. And then you had to find someone who could teach you how to read and write (the two didn’t necessarily go together). And you needed sufficient leisure time to learn. And be able to afford books, or at least be friends with someone rich enough to own books who would lend them to you. Good writers are usually well-read and professional writing is a full-time job, so you needed a lot of books, and a lot of leisure time both for reading and writing. And then you had to be in a high enough social position that someone would take you seriously and want to read your work—to have access to circulation/publication in addition to education and leisure time. A very tiny percentage of the population fit those parameters (in England, which is the only place I can speak of with some authority, that meant from 500-1000 A.D.: monks; 1000-1500: aristocratic men and the very occasional aristocratic woman; 1500-1800: aristocratic men, some middle-class men, a few aristocratic women; 1800-on, some middle-class women as well). What’s amazing is how many people who didn’t fit those parameters kept writing in spite of the constant message they got from society that no one cared about what they had to say, writing letters and diaries and stories and poems that often weren’t discovered until hundreds of years later. Humans have an urge to express themselves, to tell stories, and fanfic lets them. If you’ve got access to a computer and an hour or two to while away of an evening, you can create something that people will see and respond to instantly, with a built-in community of people who care about what you have to say. I do write the occasional fic; I wish I had the time and mental energy to write more. I’ll admit I don’t read a lot of fic these days because most of it is not—and I know how snobbish this sounds—particularly well-written. That doesn’t mean it’s “not good”—there are a lot of reasons people read fic and not all of them have to do with wanting to read finely crafted prose. That’s why fic is awesome—it creates a place for all kinds of storytelling. But for me personally, now that my job entails reading about 1500 pages of undergraduate writing per year, when I have time to read for enjoyment I want it to be by someone who really knows what they’re doing. There’s tons of high-quality fic, of course, but I no longer have the time and patience to go searching for it that I had ten years ago. But whether I’m reading it or not, I love that fanfiction exists. Because without people doing what fanfiction writers do, literature wouldn’t exist. (And then I’d be out of a job and, frankly, I don’t know how to do anything else.)”

— “As a professor, may I ask you what you think about fanfiction?” (via meiringens)