Hello, universe.

All You Need Is LOVE: Will someone be my queer platonic partner?

I really want/need some kind of queer companionship right now. I am very lonely right now.

Suggested Requirements on Being My Queer Platonic Partner:

Enjoy hugging/cuddling or at least allow me to hug/cuddle you at random and spontaneous time intervals.

Comfort me or at least put up with my…

Wait just a few more weeks and I’ll totally hetero-life-partner at you!

Doctors Urge Their Colleagues To Quit Doing Worthless Tests : NPR

Not only are there excessive tests, but prices are ridiculous as well, particularly at emergency rooms.

A Quantum Theory of Mitt Romney

Physics + Politics: two of my favorite things!

Introducing Gmail Tap

I actually got really excited about this.

http://bit.ly/HIMwNe

The best colored soda. http://instagr.am/p/I-w9szHDbh/

uminotenshi:

mynameisjuthika:

obentomusubi:

thatsocialjusticebitch:

kaminapan:

hinduthug:

anedumacation:

karnythia:

bossymarmalade:

pantsreminder:

bossymarmalade:

pantsreminder:

Hemashri

So I’m making up Hindu myths or something. She charms men, has sex with them, then eats their souls. fun stuff.

(Hemashri means one with a golden body apparently)

Are you Hindu?

If you’re not (and judging from this bizarre Jasmine flower-of-the-desert outfit and lack of knowledge of EXISTING Hindu myth figures, I’m guessing you’re not even Indian), why do you think it’s your right to “make up Hindu myths”?

I don’t know, creative freedom maybe?

Just because I don’t know much about Hinduism and clearly didn’t do any research doing a stupid doodle doesn’t mean I can’t give it a half assed story related to what I happened to be inspired by.

Maybe if I had seemed a little more serious about this I’d understand why you felt the need to ask this, but in all honesty, do I have to explain creative impulses to you? I’d do research if I was more serious about it because there’s nothing worse than being the artist that doesn’t know about what they’re drawing, but I’m not really even planning on doing anything with this character.

I don’t know if you’re an artist but if you are you know how you can just see an image in your head, and you have to draw it. Usually while I’m drawing I make up stories, and that’s not exactly a time when I want to be doing research. I just create, regardless of inaccuracies.

Maybe instead of getting angry you could try and educate me as to why you think I shouldn’t do this or what I did wrong or something. I always accept critiques on my art, which includes problems with accuracy, or if it offends you I can draw something more accurate. I’m not here to make enemies, I don’t want you to feel like you can’t tell me that I’m wrong. (for the record though, I’d definitely prefer you take it to my ask box)

Maybe if you didn’t want actual Hindus to be grossed out by your half-assed assumptions and perpetrating of stereotypes, you should keep this kind of shit in your digital sketchbook and not post it with a laconic comment about how you invented a Hindu creature who sexes up men and eats their souls.

“Artistic license” and “creative freedom” are valid concepts. They mean that as an artist you can use images in whatever way you choose to communicate a message. What they DON’T mean is that nobody should criticize you if blithely use the iconography of a group you don’t belong to, because we should all understand your artistic methods and that your creative impulses are more important than the way this representation of Hinduism hurts actual Hindus.

“Maybe instead of getting angry you could try and educate me”

AHAHAHAHAHHA

I don’t do Racism 101, sorry. Maybe instead of being defensive and demanding an education, you could DO SOME DAMN RESEARCH.

Bolded the important bit. This, friends & neighbors is what we call an excellent response to ignorant bullshit. The state owes you a free(ish) education. No one else does.

Dear artist:

You don’t get to have creative impulses about some things, especially since you’re not willing to do the research it takes to respectfully deal with a culture that is not your own.

“So I’m making up Hindu myths or something. She charms men, has sex with them, then eats their souls. fun stuff.”

….

I’m restraining the urge to cuss you out, but only because I don’t really feel like wasting the energy on someone as utterly worthless as you.

no love ever,

hi-c.

^^^

Evelyn

So, I’m making Christian myths or something. She charms men, gives them apples, and then poops on their heads. fun stuff.

(this is how silly you sound)

oh my god, OP, leave.

awesome commentary.

Yes, OP. You need to explain your “creative impulses” when you attempt to exotify an entire religion. gr0ss

LOL I love how the op is bawwing about how we all ruined her week even though this shit hurts me like every fucking day of my life. here’s a hint: how about you look up your goddam shit before you talk about ‘making hindu myths’. a week’s worth of pain is not even comparable to the countless amounts of racism south asians get every day. also your drawing is horrible.

Oh. My. Goodness.

This. And all of these wonderful comments.

And I just have to say right now.

I used to fucking do this.

Granted I was a 10-15 year old who had no idea of what cultural appropriation is. Still, as a white kid who grew up in a primarily white Christian well-to-do community, I used to think that this kind of stuff was okay. I thought I was being ‘creative’ by taking things from so called ‘exotic’ places, to make a part of my art or writings. And I actually thought that I was being ’respectful’ to a certain culture simply because I was ‘interested’ in it and got to ‘glorify’ it by making it a part of whatever I wanted. I even thought I was doing ‘research’ simply by looking up ‘Baby Names in X language’.

You know what?

I was one fucking ignorant kid.

I’ve grown up. I’ve learned and changed. I’m still changing and still learning.

I hope that you learn, and change, and grow too, OP. I really hope you do.

Y’all have too much free time. (Heck, I have too much free time for even bothering to read that thread.)

I have three points.

1. I hate it when people tell others to “do their own research” or “I’m not required to educate you.” If you’re going to get into a debate with someone or criticize them, you are obliged to explain why. This is all a part of the intellectual idea of backing up your claims.

2. Making up drawings and weird stories about other cultures while disregarding what that culture is actually like is just stupid, and in some cases, harmful. But actually doing research on another culture and taking elements of that culture into your work? Back in my day, we didn’t call that cultural appropriation; we called it cultural exchange, and it was considered a good thing.

3. You get more flies with honey than with vinegar. Publicly flaming this person might make you feel self-righteous, but it sure as hell won’t change their mind.

Look at how pretty this scarf is! $28 on Etsy.

Words are hard

airellia:

I’ve been thinking about the term “slut-shaming” a lot recently. Something rubs me the wrong way about it but I’m not sure how to articulate exactly what that is. I mean, mostly I don’t like the word “slut.” If the group of men I saw at Slutwalk carrying signs saying “we love sluts” and ogling protesters demonstrated anything to me, it’s that “slut” is far from being “reclaimed.” Also, my aversion to the term probably has something to do with my upbringing and experiences. I pass as white much of the time (“Are you Italian? Jewish? You must be Lebanese, then…”) so I am somewhat lucky in that hypersexuality is not immediately ascribed onto my body, but the darker women in my family get catcalled and groped like no one’s business. You don’t have to be a “slut” to be treated like you’re “asking for it,” apparently. Every time I’ve been sexually harassed or victimized, it’s been because I’m (perceived as) a lesbian. It’s not that I’m being a “slut” - in fact, I’m “withholding” sex from men who feel entitled to it.

So “slut-shaming” has too narrow a focus for me, I guess, in discussing rape culture. (Also it calls people “sluts” without their consent). Really, it’s just misogyny.

Does anyone else have ideas? I’m not sure if I’m articulating this very well.

Very well-put. My problem with it is basically what you said parenthetically at the end — that it assumes that the person in question is actually behaving in a slut-like way or doing something to deserve being called a “slut.” And yes, I agree that slut still has its negative connotations.

You say tomayto, I say tomahto. You say victim-blaming, I say personal responsibility.

"1. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
2. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
3. You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.
4. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
5. You cannot build character and courage by taking away man’s initiative and independence.
6. You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.
7. You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
8. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.
9. You cannot establish security on borrowed money.
10. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they will not do for themselves."

- Minister William J. H. Boetcker

Hello, universe.

About Me

Blogs I follow:

Words are hard

You say tomayto, I say tomahto. You say victim-blaming, I say personal responsibility.