Wasn’t meant to be funny. I’m not laughing at the cost cutting measures people take. That is not a judgement on the meat people decide to eat, only awareness over disingenuous marketing

So long as I can have one for my baby and one for the road. Though not really, just making a reference.

I condemn the use of slurs. Ask me that question again, I defy you to make me give you the same answer to the same question.

This is not an allyship by any stretch of the imagination.

Then you have a severely limited imagination and an equally dismal knowledge of history beyond the past century. Does the small things the church has tried to do to mend all the awful things they’ve done? Not even close, frankly I’m not satisfied they’ve even begun to redeem themselves for the inquisition and they likely may never in my lifetime. Likely not yours or in a thousand or in a million but they might one day. That small infinitesimal chance is the same as life forming on Earth. I’m hedging my bets on the house.

I’d condemn them.

This is what is irrelevant to my point. It’s not about how you judge others it’s about how others would judge you. Based on your logic of judging others harshly for the action of those that came before, you would be judged severely. Worry not for many would burn with you, myself included.

There’s never been an excuse for such behavior.

No but there’s been an infinite number of rationalizations used for it. Until humanity collectively became better and continues to do so it was a fact of life. Not an excuse just acceptance of reality.

I'm only judging the church and its shitty pope based on their actual words and actions.

Are you though? Because you seem reactionary only to what is in front of you. Not on the totality of human history nor through any perspective beyond your own do you seem to be making your decisions.

They're still an active hate group in 2024.

Yes they are but I can’t say for sure that they will tomorrow. Even if tomorrow they still are, still doesn’t answer for the day after or the one after that and ad infinitum until reality ends and no more chances for redemption could be had.

This is where you and I simply will not agree. I believe that everyone is worthy of redemption. What actually earns redemption is far beyond my point and what an organization as long and old as these fuckers would have to do truly stretches the imagination but it’s not an impossibility. I cannot judge what redeems others because I cannot judge what redeems me. All I know is that trying to be better today than yesterday has to be worth something.

Also, not appreciating you downplaying the fact that the Catholic church clearly believes LGBTQIA+ is a sin.

Is that what that wiki page you presented and I quoted for you says to you? Because to me it says that opinions are split and change couldn’t come soon enough but it’s coming as fast as it can. If that isn’t good enough for you then that is your own personal problem.

In March 2021, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said that the church cannot bless same-sex relationships because "God cannot bless sin".[6]On 18 December 2023, it published Fiducia supplicans, a declaration allowing Catholic priests to bless people who are not considered to be married by the Church, including same-sex couples.[7]

The church provides pastoral care for LGBT Catholics through a variety of official and unofficial channels that vary from diocese to diocese, and senior clergy and popes have recently begun to call for the church to do more. In many parts of the world, the Church is active politically on issues of LGBT rights. The relationship between the Catholic Church and the LGBT community has been a difficult one, especially during the height of the AIDS crisis, and World War II Nazi Germany.[8]

Pope Francis was the first pope to support same-sex civil unions as legal protections for same-sex couples.[9][10] He has denounced laws criminalising homosexuality.[11][12][13]

Dang if only you had read the full article.

You know it’s real easy to judge others for the sins of their fathers. How far into your family history would we need to dig to judge you for the rape or murders your forebears likely committed?

Now I know all about Catholic doctrine having been raised in the faith. And first hand I have experienced their brand of hate, it was both taught to me and turned against me when I came out the closet. For a long time after I was ousted from that community I let that hate fester my every waking thought. It wasn’t until those feelings actually killed me and I came back from the other side that I realized how stupid the whole thing was. Hating those who hated me only produced more hate in the world.

I let go of the pain I felt by no longer wanting others to feel how I did.

Judging people on their words and their beliefs is the same discrimination you say to hate. Doing it to people who do it to you doesn’t magically make you right and them wrong, it’s always wrong.

So I will repeat myself, I condemn the use of slurs.

Condemn the usage of slurs? Easy and always.

But as for actually judging people only based on what they say or what others said they said? That’s for republicunts and religious idiots.

In the same way that 3000 year old stories are not sufficient evidence for people to believe in god, so are a couple news articles about words behind closed doors not enough evidence to condemn a man.

Not wanting people to die is not a defense of who they are. It’s simply not wishing death on others.

If it was that simple it would have been done already. In fact it’s been done multiple times, burning people doesn’t burn away the problem. Hate doesn’t need god, it simply exists as part of humanity. But by all means keep shouting that the elimination of people is the solution to the problem, real popular in Zionism these days you fit right in with them.

Why stop just at him? If death and destruction is how you get your kicks then why not hope for the elimination of an entire people too? If you get rid of all the Catholics and religious people do you think you will get rid of all the hate? What about all the people who don’t need to hate in the name of god, like you?

Only been about 20 years since the push against using slurs. It’s shocking now to watch movies from 2010 and earlier because it’s so prevalent. How far we’ve come as far as respecting other people really obscures how long it really has been.

Really was an honest mistake, I didn’t find out she had mixed up the slur and word for larva of order Diptera until I audited her teaching class. The other educator with me didn’t even react and told me she had been doing it for as long as she knew her. Not her students, not the parents or other teachers ever bothered to correct her. She loved teaching about the life cycle of flies but her fear of accidentally slipping a slur killed that passion.

I’m not apologizing for the pope nor bigots at large. Just saying that there are circumstances in which someone who appears to be one thing isn’t, and you should be suspicious of being told what someone else looks like if you can’t see for yourself.

This is just bad science. Did your dad and grandad also speak multiple languages and belong to an organization that has splintered into factions, some of which whose purpose is to try to destroy all good will and faith built with marginalized communities?

My mom at least speaks multiple languages and for over 20 years of knowing English she thought that maggot was the slur and the word with the hard f sound that rhymes with maggot was the acceptable one to say. It wasn’t until I corrected her behavior did she actually know it was wrong. She will still drop the f-word because the word association has been long since made but at least she apologizes and corrects herself now.

See now we have conflicting anecdotes and the glaring question gets ignored.

Cui bono?

The good news is even if it bombs the whole franchise will see renewed interest. Whether as a last ditch effort to save the series or to capitalize on the momentum this release will be our best chance to see Dragon Age: Origins & Awakening remaster or remake.

Reading more is always the right choice

I can agree with all that. I still defend Odyssey because it grew on me. Once I looked at it as an odyssey it clicked for me. From the moment Odysseus leaves Ithaca to fight in the Trojan war until he gets back everything he does is on an epic scale, so epic it all starts looking mundane when compared to each other. That’s the problem with the game, it’s so vast and huge it just loses meaning of itself within its own glory and majesty. Ubisoft really captured that spirit for me.

My school teachers would be so proud that asking me to read the Iliad and the Odyssey finally paid off. Growing an appreciation for video games was probably not what they had in mind.

I’m playing Unity right now and I’m about to switch to something else. I really like Unity, it is also the biggest collect-a-thon since ACIII. Referring to my earlier point, the maps for the collections are largely locked behind additional purchases.

I had the same complaint about Syndicate, really felt like you were hacking away for way too long on even basic enemies. And again locked behind mtx was basic gameplay balancing.

Origins was great because although it had largely the same mtx issues the new mechanics allowed you to work around them. Odyssey then rolls around and undoes much of the changes Origins made in that regard. It’s an obvious pattern of using questionable design to boost margins.

You joke but I would totally come back to CoD if they went 3rd person. Haven’t played since 2011 MW3

Couldn’t agree more, currently rotating between Unity, Syndicate, Origins and Odyssey and the difference between the first two and the last two is massive. By the time you reach Odyssey it truly stopped feeling like an AC game. Still really like Origins though, vaguely felt true to the spirit of the rest of the series while introducing really nuanced and interesting changes.

My biggest complaint for all of them is how mtx is interwoven with in-game progression. Played them all on PS4 and they felt like a real slog to get through. Now on PC where I indulged and unlocked those features for free they feel accurately balanced. That’s the real problem with Ubi’s games. At some point features are hacked out to be monetized and squeeze out some extra dollars.

Not to mention how predatory the helix credit system is/was, haven’t played Valhalla nor Mirage.

Take my advice with a grain of salt, I have a very polarizing style or so I’ve been told but fuck the haters.

If you are able to get two, something you feel cute in and something you feel conservative/comfortable in. There’s no shame in getting to where you are going and feeling over exposed and having the option to change into something with a little more shielding so to speak is a life saver. Conversely you might not have been feeling that confident when you left but once you arrive you get that surge and you have the option of feeling cuter, options are never a bad a thing. A cover up is amazing, either a waist down or shoulders down are great to have.

Plan on getting your hair wet if you’re going in the water, unless you get a swimming cap but they aren’t very flattering. As for how to manage it, the tightest bun you know and like. Tightest at the top of your head (the crown) and looser as your work your way to the base (the nape). There’s great tutorials on YouTube but I’m on a very stringent boycott so someone else will have input on that.

It was meant to be a triple pun on meow, Muenster cheese and Herman Munster from the classic American TV show The Munsters. My partner thought it was too many puns for one name to handle

If you are able to go with someone else there is safety in numbers. Not just from the general public but from your own mind. Buying a swimsuit can easily overwhelm your sense of self worth so having someone who is championing for you is invaluable.

As for style, whatever you feel cute in. Nothing looks better than confidence in what you’re wearing.

Then you won’t be sorry to learn that we zeroed in on cheese names almost immediately and that Herman Meownster was seriously considered for him. Ultimately Colby Jack won out but I often wonder what if…

Well Ito sounds absolutely precious so I doubt anyone could resist his wiles. It’s so bad in our home that we started a rule that cats must do something other than be cute to get treats or catnip. Treats for tricks we call it, so if they’re good for getting claws trimmed or if they stand on their hind legs for us and things of that nature.

Rowena is not food motivated at all, until recently we couldn’t get her to accept treats. She will also let you know she’s had enough by walking away, she eats way less treats than you think would be enough to satiate. On the other hand she’s crazy about catnip, she will employ the glare if she doesn’t think you’ve given her enough.

Colby Jack is crazy food motivated. We’ve taught him to spin in place for wet food and are working on doing it by command. He will also lead you to the treats. He likes to plop right in front of you and show belly, then when you reach down to pet him he gets up and walks towards the treat cupboard.

I’m sure you could get cats to do all sorts of things with a little patience and a heckin’ lot of catnip and treats.

I absolutely believe that cats understand more than what they let on.

My parents have two cats, Odin and Honey. Odin is a senior cat now but he’s always been sweet as pie. His default position when someone shows up to the home is that they have come for him and must pay tribute to his belly. Honey is pretty typical, if she smells something funny in the air she’s gone before the dust settles.

So one day I come over to my parent’s house to mind the place while they are away and after successfully tithing Odin’s belly I start to look for a place to set my belongings. Off-hand I remark to the cat that I haven’t seen Honey in a while and he should go get her. Odin leaves and I don’t think much of it, kitty shenanigans or whatever they do. I finish putting away my things and I see Honey trotting down the hall, then I hear her yelp because Odin is hot on her heels nipping at her legs.

You believe what you want to about but I know what I do.

Paper tigers.

Absolutely, having a personal opinion on a matter invalidates my arguments. You cornered me now, you wily rascal you. So everyone knows that you toppled my wall of text, three cheers for you:

HUZZAH! HUZZAH! HUZZAH!

They already do. It’s called a counter protest.

I agree with that.

I wanted to see what people thought about the show during Jodie’s run and most of the critique had that narrative so ignored it and chalked it up to the small thoughts of small minds. Some time later when I was going to make a second attempt at watching I wanted to see how public opinion might have changed. Obviously the first reactions seemed to retreat back to the small circles they came from and it did not surprise me that weak side characters continued to plague the show. I like that praised is still being heaped on Jodie Whittaker. In productions where things don’t seem to quite line up right but there is an element or a couple of them that try to make the best of a bad situation, can make it worth watching on that basis. IMHO. So I’m still really pumped to be able to finally watch the series.

ha maybe by the end of summer…

Since I’m so far behind I can only talk about my overall first impressions which is based on only some promo shots. Instantly thought about Rose and the side character Billy Shipton from the Don’t Blink episode. Love Billy, so much charisma, confidence and style. Again based on my limited information I think Ncuti Gatwa is capturing that spirit so I’m very interested to see his performance and the series as a whole on that alone.

I’m not opposed to a tardis team but then it kinda stops being a tardis team and becomes the Doctor’s team. When the vehicle stops being the tardis and it’s on the Doctor to carry the weight of tying it together the dynamic shift might alter the course of the nature of the show. I imagine this is what happened with Jodie’s tenure only because it is what happens with a lot of shows.

It's interesting that you end a post about how important it is to make yourself be heard with a note that you don't care to hear opposing viewpoints unless they are presented in a way you like.

That was not my intended meaning. Only that I do not care for reactionary opinions based on the assumption of what I think is a worthy cause to protest in this way and that if they were going to be presented anyway they should at least be interesting.

As for opposing views and arguments, I welcomed them to the best of my ability. There were very few of those, most responses were attacks on the parts of my reasoning that struck a nerve. It’s like trying to cut down a tree by picking off the leaves.

I can’t really argue with any of the other points you made because I had already accounted for them as conditions for my opinion.

The hill I’m choosing to die on is that whether you’re with the Canada Truck Convoy Boys or part of Palestines Pals you have a right to be heard and that we have a right to judge the actions taken to be heard against what you’re saying.

I truly appreciate your contributions to this conversation.

To answer your question, that is not my position at all. Regardless of my personal feelings on democracy and its current state it isn’t my justification for protesting in a way with potentially deadly consequences. When all other options have been exhausted or in situations of true need you can and you should protest in a manner that might have deadly consequences. And should you choose to protest in a way with potentially deadly consequences you can and should be judged for any and all consequences.

I would make an awful politician. I don’t want the power nor responsibility. Sorta just want to shake it all loose, break it down to more manageable pieces, get rid of anything that’s broken beyond repair or unnecessary and turn it over to everyone else so a greater number of people can have a say in how it’s shaped. Not exactly a winning platform.

I can agree with not engaging with hate and reporting it as encountered.

I don’t think anything about your attitude or demeanor when responding to others. I was referring more towards you saying to simply not engage with the trolls at all so that newbies would get the impression that we’re better than that as the difference between us.

You have found a method that works and you are putting into practice what you think is best. Automatically cements my respect for you because those are things I can get behind.

This isn’t a with all due respect statement, just sincerity, that method doesn’t work for me. I cannot walk away from every chance I come across to challenge my positions because I believe that means losing on opportunities to strengthen my beliefs. This means that sometimes I’m gonna need to get down in the mud, get my hands dirty and make an ass of myself.

The true mind can weather all the lies and illusions without being lost. The true heart can touch the poison of hatred without being harmed.

-Badass Lion Turtle

I’ll tell you lies all the time. While you would use them to shield from inconvenience, my goal is to force you to face what you would rather hide.

Some mud wrasslin’ and chasing an oil covered squealer through a field is just old fashioned wholesome fun. Don’t knock it til you try it neighbor

It’s the things we don’t say that we gotta watch out for. Eat you alive they will.

How seriously do you think black-face was considered? Do you think it was the optics or logistics that stymied that thought?

Body piercings and tattoos also H O T