Empress of Mars: Undisputed @zebratron2084@awoo.space

@kistaro There's a beautiful image in Theodore Roszak's Making of a Counterculture, and it goes something like (I paraphrase DRASTICALLY, it's been decades)...

The state keeps all its loyal people in a big fort, where there's food and water and comfort inside -- and all the freaks and rabble are kept outside. But they don't have the forces to keep them out forever.

So they have a very clever strategy: once the outsiders are pointing so hard at the door that they're sure to get inside, they FLING the door wide open instead, and make sure the invaders run so far inside that they're trapped.

Then someone hands them a baton and a uniform and steers them to the door.

"Oh, we're so glad you're here! We had JUST decided we were all wrong about you people and were going to let you in! Now, do us a favor -- take this and guard the door against those freaks outside."

@kistaro

also *coughburningmancough* >_<

@kistaro Specifically, I'm bringing it up as a reminder that in a way, the mainstream kinda holds subcultures like ours up as forbidden fruit. First we're a tantalizing other, and once we're both repulsive and curiosity-inducing... it's time to strip off all our problematic parts and put us out as bait. So arguably it's even worse, because it's not just that normal people are randomly wandering in, it's that they're effectively being *sent* in to colonize us as a reward for Being Good.

"OK, folks, meet your new friend Hugh Hefner. we're willing to relax your sexual repression a little bit IF you're rich enough and play the game right AND you dress right AND you look right AND you take a lead role in reinforcing the patriarchy for us. Have fun, sport! ^_____^ "

"OK, folks, we see that the Internet is getting very popular. Good news! We've dropped the taboo on socializing and roleplaying online. You just have to pay a big corporate gaming studio to mediate the whole thing for you. What's that? Community? Oh, we have something better -- RARE ITEM DROPS! ^_______^ "

"Good news, queer people! It's OK to be gay! Now sign up to your corporate mailing list and we'll hand out the ribbons. Now, rents ARE going to become unachievable for all your friends who *couldn't* get cushy IT jobs, so you're going to have to decatuple up on living quarters. But you people love that anyway, with your polyamory and free love and everything, right? ^______^ "

You get the picture...

@kistaro Are you familiar with the neo-Marxist term "repressive desublimation?" It feels like it applies very well to this whole problem we're discussing...

Truly excellent write-up either way. <3

@mmsword It's a beautiful experience, isn't it.

@anthracite That's Coin Crypt. Nothing in Disco Elysium makes cheerful noises, dear.

I have now completed Disco Elysium four times, if by "complete" you mean "beat Measurehead senseless, then declare victory and start the game over."

@Leucrotta Practice with one of my favorite songs!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRyjPhgxWpc

@anthracite i saw the headline and was afraid you were gonna spill the beans about ralphs shocking lifestyle :O

I know there are some problematic gender politics moments in Twin Peaks, but... "Fix your hearts or die" is the best exhortation to accept trans people I've ever heard It's good to know David, addled and cryptic though he can be, is on our side. <3

Oh, yeah and (d) I think I may have really annoyed some conspiracy theorists who were babbling about Baphomet, Biden, and a particularly rectum-scented brand of numerology. And of course (e) dragon lady has been getting back to work, gorgeous work, on Parallax.

So today did basically provide a small sampler pack of The Things Enormous Monstercats Love.

Today was kind of meh, but (a) my dealer's probably coming over tomorrow (b) a deservedly 5-star Cuban/Honduran restaurant opened down the street and I ate arroz con pollo and tostones probably intended to feed like four people (c) Shemp was a super-cuddly boy today and hung out on the back of my studio couch and kneaded my stuffed unicorn for like ten minutes, freakin' adorable and I wish I'd gotten pics.

🖼

god... fucking... just god fucking dammit

(https://www.furaffinity.net/view/25666924 though this particular thought was inspired by the most recent page)

"You know... I think I like these fae types a lot better when they look NERVOUS. Just a little scared of _you_ is exactly where you want these motherfuckers to be."

@Soreth APPROPRIATION!!!

(fortunately, according to my new religion, appropriation is always appropriate...

https://youtu.be/fgOw9nk9Zq8?t=507

[CW: willful and satirical misuse of indigenous cultural items; deliberate extreme whiteness; scary amateur bris practices :> ])

@Soreth Not unless you are all of the following

(a) a sphinx
(b) black
(c) made of quartz

either before or after your TF stock footage

I took a Socio 101 course in college. I loved it. And I could have absolutely sworn that I read a quote in our textbook from an African-American researcher who proposed that racial relations improve in direct proportion to the number of civil, open conversations happening between people of different races, as equals and as part of daily life, where racial politics is not involved.

I really wish I had that textbook, could confirm the source, and could get the details. What I have instead is a cup of tears, from pondering just how far away we've drifted away from that ideal.