I’m not going to lie i am deeply said about what is happening to tumblr. We frequently describe the site as trash but the reality is besides its horrible moderation, tumblr is conceptually an ideal site for creative / introspective people looking to interact with each other. When used right, it does not encourage just passive consumption of content which i feel happens on other social media to a greater extent. I just cant remain here watching this community disintegrate bc of bad lazy decisions, watching my innocuous film posts get flagged while there are still active reactionary communities here that the site has done nothing about, watching any kind of lgbt content get flagged as explicit for no reason. I am deeply attached to this site, and the people ive met here even if we dont talk often. While it made perfect sense with all the inaptitude shown throughout the years, i did not think tumblr would just implode this soon.

man the crazy thing about babies is that like, some people would think that reading a baby a book about farm animals is teaching them about farm animals, but really it’s teaching them about the concept of a book and how there’s new information on each page of a single object, but really, beyond that, it’s teaching them how language works, and beyond that it’s really actually teaching them about human interaction, and really really it’s them learning about existing in a three-dimensional space and how they can navigate that space, but actually, above all it is teaching them that mama loves them.

Dreamwidth links

lost-spook:

Hopefully useful! For those who are trying it out or considering it as an option. It is very different to tumblr, and though there is image uploading it’s limited (but you can embed via other hosting sites like imgur or tinypic etc, so it’s the same as posting art, vids, or podfic to AO3 in which you just embed the content). Whereas, on tumblr, everything happens on your dash, on Dreamwidth, a lot of the activity takes place in the comments to individual journal and community posts, so it takes a while to adjust (from either end).

Anyway, because it takes a while to find communities and friends and things, here are some links:

Basic Dreamwidth for tumblr users (post): https://staranise.dreamwidth.org/620081.html

Friending meme (post): https://snickfic.dreamwidth.org/667727.html

ETA: Community for tumblr purge refugees: https://the-great-tumblr-purge.dreamwidth.org/

General Friending comm: https://addme.dreamwidth.org/

Fandom friending comm: https://addme-fandom.dreamwidth.org/

Fandom calendar aka pimping central for all fannish creative events (v useful even if you don’t want to be on DW): https://fandomcalendar.dreamwidth.org/

Icons: https://fandom-icons.dreamwidth.org/ & Layouts: https://dreamwidthlayouts.dreamwidth.org/

Reccing comms:

https://fancake.dreamwidth.org/

https://gensplosion.dreamwidth.org/

https://tardis-library.dreamwidth.org/ (for Doctor Who)

Creative Challenges & Activity Comms:

https://fan-flashworks.dreamwidth.org/

https://ladiesbingo.dreamwidth.org/

https://genprompt-bingo.dreamwidth.org/

https://hc-bingo.dreamwidth.org/

https://snowflake-challenge.dreamwidth.org/

https://fic-promptly.dreamwidth.org/

https://fic-rush.dreamwidth.org/ (a sort of monthly 48-hr-fic marathon)

https://b7friday.dreamwidth.org/ (Blake’s 7 fortnightly flash fanwork comm)

https://who-allsorts.dreamwidth.org/

https://fandom-stocking.dreamwidth.org/ (open now for sign-ups till 15th Dec)

https://yuletide.dreamwidth.org/ (Yuletide exchange chat comm; official announcements here: https://yuletide-admin.dreamwidth.org/)

(plus lots more; these are just some that I like, and not even all of those, plus many fic exchanges and fests.)

icon challenge comms:

(Okay, icons may not make sense till you use LJ or DW, but I love 100×100 icons. They are addictive and the best.)

https://icons10in20.dreamwidth.org/

https://icontalking.dreamwidth.org/

https://iconthat.dreamwidth.org/

A handful of more general comms (for discussion, fic posting, pimping events, icons etc. etc.):

https://blakes7.dreamwidth.org/

https://doctorwho.dreamwidth.org/

https://sapphire-and-steel.dreamwidth.org/

https://who-at-50.dreamwidth.org/ (despite the name, a general Doctor Who comm, and often more active than doctorwho).

https://vidding.dreamwidth.org/ (aka the best way to find excellent vids that I know of)

https://mystery-mansion.dreamwidth.org/ (for all crime/detective fandoms)

https://hidden-passages.dreamwidth.org/ (for all Gothic fandoms)

A couple of these are fairly quiet, but all have people on them who are still around, and some are very active, and these are just a handful from my profile list!

It’s miserable when these things happen (speaking as someone who took a long time to stop clinging to LJ and suffering through all the various LJ-pocalypses, and it was seriously distressing), but the internet is a big place, and there are lots of good fannish things out there, and different ways to interact (this is just the one I know and like best, and I hope that maybe some people will also enjoy it, despite the unhappy circumstances).

antifaspiderman:

its actually really aggravating that any conversations about problems with tumblr always end up having to be all about fandom and peoples precious erotic fanfiction and fanart bc like “losing fandom history” is not an actual problem in the real world and constantly making it out to be some crisis makes all the complaints about this website seem like a silly gimmick to outsiders. no one pays attention to or cares about the actual problems with this website cuz the public face of the complaints is “fandom freedom is being threatened” and its annoying that that remains the case bc people always hijack the situation to make it about fandom bs.

like its apalling that articles about tumblr give barely a sentence to acknowledge that there were cp rings and pedo positivity blogs operating in the open on tumblr. of the most recent batch of news many only briefly mentioned how much the newest update is going to affect sex workers before dovetailing into paragraphs about fandom artists and the “november purge” (which lmao a lot of those artists were not deleted out of the blue they were notified and it was bc of underage nsfw fanart, p much everyone i follow who was actually deleted by accident got their blog back) and the na/zi problem is only being brought up as a zinger about nipples when there should be articles about radicalization on tumblr the same way journalists have written about facebook and youtube.

like its just so frustrating. the entire website is not all just for fandom. there are sitewide problems that have nothing to do with fandom. the way these problems are being addressed currently is fucking over people who make a living from adult content with adults for adults only and it has nothing, i mean nothing, to do with fandom. any crossover is because everyone on the website is being affected by their terrible algorithm lmao not bc fandom is being targeted.

To Write or Not to Write: Tackling The “Struggle Novel” as an outsider

writingwithcolor:

totally-magneato asked:

Hello! This blog was recommended to me by a writing professor, in regards to the novel I’m currently planning in class. I had a couple questions I hope you could clear up.

-My main character is a black man. His mother always told him white women were the devil, due to a literal bargain with the devil who appeared to her during a summoning as a white woman. Ignoring his mother, he settles down with a white woman. When she dies under mysterious circumstances, he finds the town that once pretended to respect him liked him a lot less than they let on. The first part of this question, I suppose, is is it a savior’s narrative if my novel addresses PTSD, fear of the dark, racism in small towns, and police brutality? Along, of course, with random occult under themes to address the historical fire under Centralia, PA. My professor believes that to be the case, though I am uncertain.

-What DOES constitute as savior narrative? As of today, I believed it was the narrative that it takes a white person to show up and make everything all better. Is the fact that I’m a white author make it instantly a savior narrative?

Aw, so cool that your professor recommended us!

Anyhow, I’ve read over this question a few times and don’t see where your details would connect to a white savior narrative.

White Savior, in short, relates to white people saving People of Color.

It could be from circumstances (e.g. financially poor PoC, White people in “Africa” …who also don’t even bother to mention/know the African country they’re in!)

It might be from themselves or their own bad decisions

As mentioned in “Is this the white savior trope?” – on our common misconceptions II post:

If you have a story with a sympathetic or kind white character, that doesn’t mean it’s the white savior trope. The problem with the white savior is that it centers POC’s realities and stories on whiteness. The only time so many of our stories get told is through whiteness, like Dances With Wolves, The Last Samurai, etc. Whether or not the white protag is a jerk or genuinely being helpful isn’t the only issue.

So, not seeing a white savior in your particular storyline.

Is the fact that I’m a white author make it instantly a savior narrative?

I think your last question is spot on; I think your professor may have been warning that you, the author, are leaning towards becoming “the white savior” from your approach to these subjects.

You’ve got:

Black intercommunity issues (dating outside race and mistrust of white people/women)

PTSD (potentially traumatized Black characters?)

Police brutality

Racism

So many of these topics we have warned against writing about if you’re outside of the community. (See: White Authors and Topics to Avoid/Tread Carefully)

Personally, I cannot recommend writing this for all the ways it can and does go wrong. I also don’t feel like in the climate of the world, especially my world in America, I need a book like this right now. I’m sure others agree as well. There’s not much you can teach me with this book, especially as a non-Black person, who also sees what is happening around me and is affected by it.

As for those it may teach, i’m more comfortable with a Black voice imparting that authentic perspective vs. someone outside of the community.

There are questions you should ask yourself before tackling such a book:

Why are you writing about this subject?

Are you qualified to write it? If you’re trying to teach readers a lesson about racism: if you cannot experience racism or anti-blackness yourself, I would not trust your qualifications.

What is your message? What does your book intend to say blatantly and also what does it imply subtly?

Does it hurt/benefit the people?

Does it portray the people in a three-dimensional matter or is it a one-sided story of pain and struggle? How proportional are your happy/normal moments to the struggles?

Can you comfortably represent these people’s culture and daily life?

Does your voice add to the conversation or attempt to dominate the discussion?

Have you talked to the people you’re writing about (regarding your ideas/ events in the story)?

Has your ideas and actual story been/going to be beta-read by the people at hand?

There are also things you should do before tackling such a book:

Become as close to an expert as possible. This requires extensive research. (Books alone will not do. You need to talk and work with people in the community. Scourge blogs, conversations, know the history, etc. See WWC Research Posts)

Have sensitivity readers. They should review everything from your concepts, the work in process, and final product. (I’d recommend someone you pay and can be brutally honest, not just a friend)

Know your limits. You simply cannot write about what racism feels like or what it’s like to be an X, if you haven’t experienced it. Be aware of your perspective.

Consider addressing issues on a smaller scale. This could mean scaling down the number of issues you focus on, and/or making one of the race topics just one aspect of the plot vs. the plot. This seems more manageable, especially if you have never written on the topic before.

…Or smaller Issues altogether: Another idea would be to practice covering the tough topics. For example: writing a story that incorporates micro-aggressions into a Character of Color’s life without any aggressive racism, and then working your way up in this WIP.

Consider a co-writer. Maybe you shouldn’t write this work alone. What about inviting a voice to the work who has first-hand experience in the topic?

Balance the struggle. Even stories that cover the hard stuff should not be all about struggle. You need moments of light, breaks from the pain, sweet with the bitter, or else it’s just needless suffering that simply hurts to read.

Don’t speak over us/for us: If you’re white, your story naturally comes with privilege. People are more willing to listen to a white person talking about People of Color’s issues than actual People of Color themselves. That’s why a book like this should work with that privilege to actually center the struggles of the people at hand. Don’t make it about you or the white characters and certainly to not excessively highlight or victimize them. As a white writer, become as invisible as possible.

Know your book will likely be highly criticized and rejected. At least by the community. You’re going to get stuff wrong. You’re also going to get stuff right, but people aren’t comfortable with who is speaking that truth when it could be someone more qualified speaking it. These are all valid reactions.

~Mod Colette

chapelcore:

hey @markiplier remember the time pewdiepie paid people to hold up a sign calling for “death to all jews”, and made several other videos including anti-Semitic content?

anyways thanks for posting a 45 minute stream promoting his channel on the first night of Hanukkah ¯_(ツ)_/¯

I actually was a fan of yours back in middle school, i’m super sad to see that this is where your content is going.

(goyim please rb but keep your opinions off my post)

hellenhighwater:

shinelikethunder:

cupofcoffin:

Hot adulting tip: make a “responsibilitysona” and roleplay them when you have chores to do

#this is Neurotypical Karen and she enjoys having good sleep hygeine & returning phone calls (via @deadpanwalking)

I find that if I’m wearing Real Adult Business Clothes my worksona can do things like call people and check my inbox, whereas pajamas hellen mostly wants to shovel hamburgers into her face and set things on fire.

ushas42:

I feel like at this point Edgeworth should have a form e-mail he sends out to new hires like

“Welcome to the Prosecutor’s Office. As part of your orientation it’s important for you to know that we all have legal system related traumas, but none of us enjoy talking about them. Enclosed is a list of relevant court cases for you to peruse in your own time to ensure that you’re on the same page as everyone else and can have a conversation with your new coworkers without putting your foot in your mouth.”

“If you yourself have a traumatic court case in your own past, and, as you work here now, you probably do, feel free to send me a link and I will update the list. This is voluntary, and you will not receive any retaliation for keeping your sad backstory private, unless
failing to disclose

it violates professional ethics in other ways.”

“I look forward to working with you.”

He’s got a corresponding form e-mail he sends to the rest of the office that basically reads

“Please welcome our new hire. The trauma PDF has been updated.”

adamussutekh:

adamussutekh:

ocean-in-my-rebel-soul:

queenology:

Now this is interesting

Article: https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/a3mjxg/apple-tumblr-porn-nsfw-adult-content-banned

YES!! I LIKE THIS TAKE!!

Basically, because I know Mobile is bad with links, the article points out hat the broad, “sfw only, no titties allowed” wave on the internet in recent years is largely due to Apple’s absolute stranglehold on the App Store. Apple has strict guidelines about NSFW content that choke creators right out of mainstream social media, even on sites like Reddit, for users of their products:

But there are fewer and fewer mainstream sites and services that support porn and adult content, and much of that attitude has grown out of Apple’s strict controls over the App Store and the iOS ecosystem. Steve Jobs famously suggested that “folks who want porn can buy an Android phone,” and Apple has repeatedly leveraged its unprecedented power over millions of smartphones to sanitize the apps that are available on iPhones. Apple does not allow apps “that contain user generated content that is frequently pornographic.” In 2016, Apple famously deleted all third-party Reddit apps that allowed users to toggle NSFW posts on and off; even now, it is impossible to access porn on an iOS Reddit app unless you jump through various hoops.

remember though that this anger isn’t about Being Horny On Main, it’s about sex workers, their platforms and followers, NSFW creators and their art, and adult content communities that are continually being shoved out of spaces they created in recent years:

Tumblr’s leadership seems to believe that the community using Tumblr for adult content is the same as any other porn site—showing a serious disconnect with how its users actually interact and connect on its own platform. “We will leave it to them and focus our efforts on creating the most welcoming environment possible for our community,” he wrote.

The value of Tumblr for NSFW creators and fans was in the autonomy to curate something original, and the freedom to express and share what they’re into—something that can’t be replaced by algorithmically-suggested porn on the rest of the internet.

it was mentioned before somewhere else, but 20% of Tumblr’s traffic is brought in by content they’re now flagging as “adult”

This is yet another example of a platform ignoring adult content when it helps the platform flourish, and then leaving those users out to dry when it’s time to crack down for some monetary gain or face-saving. In addition to being a terrible way to treat your user base, banning adult content on Tumblr will stifle a lot of creativity.

and of course, Apple is also one of the companies that has repeatedly come under fire for censoring lgbtq/queer identities on their sites, the app store, and also caved to russia’s anti-lgbtq policies like a stick of rotten bamboo

The communities that will feel this change the most will be the already-marginalized. “Tumblr banning adult content is a huge loss for the LGBTQ community, especially those with overlapping marginalized identities,” Kitty Stryker, a queer porn performer and consent activist, told Motherboard in an email. “For many, that’s the one place we could find porn that represents us, made by indie performers who created their own content outside of an often racist, transmisogynist, fatphobic industry. Tumblr was where our content could exist without pushing us into the restrictions of a misogynist, male dominated workplace.”

Source: queenology

stark:

in the light of the newest tumblr purge, a lot of sfw content has been unjustly flagged by tumblr as explicit. all of us are here sharing the screenshots of this small dick energy. if you see a post that has been wrongfully tagged, take the time to shoot the OP a quick message (or send them an ask if they have their DMs closed) and link them the post you saw because while staff said they’d be notifying the OPs if their post got flagged, it’s not happening to all of us. my edits, for example, got flagged on accident and I didn’t get an email. I would have never known had I not seen a screenshot of my gifs. please help your creators out in this dumbass time.