Champion of Freedom

Idk if there's official context here but I like to imagine the orcs just saw a magical forest and decided to move in. They had no idea elves practised border control and don't know why they're mad. Presumably the elves are only like that because they're so used to the forest being invaded by colonisers, and things will be fine when they realise the orcs aren't hostile.

casting these before getting out of bed like buff spells before a raid boss

Whenever I bring up the fact gender is a social construct and not linked to "sexed brains", transmeds will always come out of the woodwork and ask me "so you think gender is a choice?"

And I sigh because this line of thinking is so obviously meant to defend against cisgender bigots who believe trans people should not exist. Yeah. It's tempting to tell bigots "I have no choice but to be this way"/"I was born this way"/"I can't be changed" etc. But that just tells me you would be one of those bigots if being trans was theoretically found to be a choice. It tells me that if you had the option to change yourself to conform to a sick society, you would.

This might raise a few hackles but why does it even matter if gender is a choice or not? Your choices as an autonomous human being are still deserving of respect. Even if someone had chosen to transition just because they want to, and considers their gender to have changed, why does that matter? Do you believe that isn't a 'real' trans person? Do you believe they shouldn't be allowed to transition? If so, that is a slippery slope that will harm the 'actual' trans people you claim to protect by causing even more gatekeeping to gender affirming care.

Perisex people need to realize that having their identity as a trans person Proven By Science wouldn't actually convince bigots not to hate them or think they should be "fixed", in fact, pathologization would likely make it worse in many ways. This is coming from an intersex person, I literally have physical body variations visible to the naked eye and pericis people still do not believe I am real. The pathologization just gives bigots more reputable leverage against me to call me disordered. It does not help me and it will not help you.

Plenty of trans people feel their gender has changed, or is continually changing. Plenty of trans people feel as though it has always been the same. I believe and respect both sorts of people equally. I think everyone deserves acess to gender affirming care if they want it. I do not try to sort people into categories of who is deserving of the autonomy to change their body and who isn't, I just believe people when they tell me about their identity and what sort of body they want. It isn't that hard.

episodes that i think every tv show should have:

• one where the camera follows a side character around for the day & the A-plot is left to happen in the background

I feel like I need to talk about this scene. It bothers me not just for personal reasons but for plot reasons as well. I briefly touched on why I despise it so much but I'll elaborate properly, hopefully without being too repetitive.

The girls both quote Mylo that Vander is "their dad too", and yet mention of the boys is completely absent. But it has to be absent, or we might have to be reminded of the entire reason the girls' brothers are dead to begin with: Jinx and Silco both. Because Jinx accidentally killed them, because Silco abducted their dad. And let's be real, Vi and Jinx never had a single meaningful conversation about anything in s2. Everything they went through, all the changes they made, all the people they lost, amounting to a Disneyfied reunion with their werewolf dad. Add the extra layer of irritation of adding Isha, as if she belongs there, as if she's some sort of cheap replacement for the brothers they lost.

Maybe it also speaks to why Jinx doesn't come off as even half as unwell as she was in s1; her hallucinations were Mylo-heavy and they might have to be brought up if she was still having chronic episodes. But no, her replacement family of a small child basically heals her.

I personally feel the complete omission of Mylo and Claggor is disgraceful and downright lazy (but that's s2 in a nutshell). They were Vi and Jinx's brothers, Vander's sons. The loss of them is basically irrelevant in this entire season outside of ep7, where not even Ekko shares a single word with either of the boys, who only get three lines each, who only talk at him. It's like saying "hey look they're alive here, how nice" before pushing them to the side again to make more room for timebomb.

Yes I'm biased because Mylo and Claggor are everything to me, but it's still very much a flaw in the writing not to even mention their names whatsoever. It's not as if their being mentioned would derail the story - it could be sprinkled in when/where necessary, to be touched on. Their presences were still felt throughout s1 long after their deaths but they're irrelevant easter eggs in s2. But seeing as how their were basically two whole writers left in the room for s2, it's not all that surprising either.

Broken record that I am: Mylo and Claggor deserved better.

Also, isn't it WEIRD and OOC that the girls NEVER consider the possibility that Mylo and Claggor met the SAME fate as Vander???? Had their bodies turned into monsters and shit???? Shouldn't they be WORRIED SICK about it and, as such, trying to ALSO figure out WHO did this to Vander in order to check if they didn't get to their brothers as well????

Or maby have Vi AT LEAST ask Jinx if she knows what was done to their brothers' bodies???? Season 1 implies Powder SAW their dead bodies at SOME POINT since she sees them with their death injuries in her hallucinations, but VI DOESN'T KNOW THAT?????

What a missed opportunity to LET them talk about it, heal from it, and THEN heal their sibling relationship in a organic matter. . .

I really wanted them to have a REAL conversation, yk? To the point Jinx opens up about how much guilt she holds for killing them and how much she misses them. And Vi saying she feels the same way, she took them there after all and failed to keep them safe, while also reassuring her, and apologizing again for putting the blame on her, she was just trying to help and it was an accident. She didn't malliciously hurt her family and SHE NEEDS to know this. THEY BOTH NEED TO KNOW THIS IN FACT. They were just kids dealing with an impossible situation and I NEEDED them both to comfort each other about it!

Like, let them heal like to adults??? Opening up to each other in a MEANINGFUL way??? Acknowledging what they went through, what they lost, how they hurt each other, how they wanna make thibgs right now. . .

Like, literally, all their screen time together last season, from kids to adulthood, felt SO MUCH MORE natural and grounded in reality??? And more relatable and heartbreaking because of it???

Meanwhile EVERYTHING they do s2 is generic as hell??? Doesn't hold a candle to s1 :/

the thing about caitlyn fucking kiramman is that i don't even LIKE her, but i also can't stop thinking about her. she could've been SO GREAT. like in s1 i didn't particularly care about her (she was just ... there. there was nothing offensive about her character, she just didn't stand out among all the others in the main cast), but in s2???? so much of what goes on with her in s2 is just so utterly delicious and right up my alley ... in theory. in concept.

but the execution is just so utterly atrocious, and combined with the rest of s2's general idiocy, it makes me so furious, but i still can't not think about the WHAT IF, ya know?

I think the pure horror of seeing Vi humming Dear Friend Across the River before saying "Eh just some song I guess", like it was the final trace of revolutionary spirit leaving her body, is never quite gonna get matched. I sit around shaking with the anxiety it gives me. Canon Caitvi is such a monstrously abusive relationship that sucks out every fibre of Vi's being till she's an empty shell of who she used to be and the writers' insistence that it's cute is just putrid.

Good morning to all of you here, under the glorious light of dishonesty and ignorance!

I have yet to address one of the more complex uses of our techniques but this is an excellent example! @brunnhildeps has expertly combined exaggeration, omission of context, and remained in compliance with the school's accepted depiction of Vi as a character. Now such combining of techniques is not for the beginner Arcane Critical writer, so if you get confused don't feel bad. Just take it slow.

Now you may recall, in our reference guide regarding A.C.A.I.S standards we specifically outlined the only manner in which Vi may be discussed-

And OP has simply nailed it. The former brave revolutionary losing the last traces of herself because her relationship with the soul-sucking abusive topsider. True poetry! And how does @brunnhildeps achieve this masterful falsehood?

Exaggeration + Omission

Exaggeration-

"Canon Caitvi is such a monstrously abusive relationship": Now this is excellent work. You see for anyone taking the writers word at face value it really hammers home the tragedy of Vi's ending. The last of her spirit is sucked away and she's stuck in monstrously abusive relationship. And if you don't put the effort into the exaggeration it just doesn't have the same punch. I mean after all how would it read without it?-

"Canon Caitvi shows a relationship where the only incident of violence born out of anger was in the direct aftermath of an incredibly traumatic battle, with an immensely complex mental and emotional lead up with Caitlyn showing immediate regret?"

That just doesn't have the same zing. It really undercuts the weight of the completely false picture OP is trying to paint.

Omission-

It is the lack of context that really bolsters the overall exaggeration in this post. They work in tandem. Small simple things that are not technically lies (so long as you leave out the right details) are the foundation of the deception. These bolster the bigger lies that require exaggeration. For instance, the writer begins their post discussing the horror in the heart at the way Vi dismissively explains the song, and cites this as evidence of Vi's revolutionary spirit finally being drained away. So, where does omission come into play?

Does Vi say "its just something my mother used to hum"? (or something to that effect)

Yes! Yes indeed. But, would it come off the same if the writer included any mention whatsoever of any of the following?

Hopefully you can all see with clarity how the combination of these techniques can be put to excellent use, regarding our ongoing mission to completely misrepresent season two of Arcane. I am very proud. Well done!

To be fair, I really do think you have an interesting point hidden amidst all the self importance about how we in the Arcane Critical niche talk about Vi vs how she really is. It's true that if the point of Vi as a character throughout season 1 was to be a revolutionary who wanted to destroy Piltover, the choice to make the entire season a sort of sidequest very peripheral to that is strange. The truth is, I'd say the brunt of Vi's character really wasn't the working class hero we like to portray her as. However:

I think all of us, at least in the Arcane Critical gang, agree that Arcane should have been, and was always intended to be, a longer show than two seasons. Vi could've developed in this time. Recognised that she was kinda right when she was 15. A lot of the show's subtext supports this reading. Namely, the fact that Vander is like, wrong in a lot of the things he passes on to Vi. He isn't avoiding violence by refusing to carry on the fight: he's perpetuating it. Nobody in Zaun is comfortable with the status quo. Not only that, but his idea of making peace involved betraying and trying to murder his own best friend. He has the veneer of a wise mentor figure and a benevolent community leader, but in truth he's a man who failed, and betrayed everything he ever stood for. Season 1 was well written and layered enough to demonstrate this.

Secondly, we're all leftists here. We all want the show to agree with our morality that a working class uprising is good. We all want the badass heroine to participate in it. If that doesn't happen, we're gonna be mad.

Also as much as I give you a lot of credit here, your downplaying of abuse and saying our version of Vi is "an invalid" for being an abuse victim is like, truly wretched. Funnily enough someone can be physically strong, and strong of spirit, and still be susceptible to abuse. It's why a lot of us butches relate to Vi and are disgusted by how Caitlyn, the writers, and now you portray her.

You see how the writer completely fails to address anything relating to accusation of exaggeration or lack of context? They simply double down, they are the victim! They are the wronged party! They of course do nothing to bolster their actual point because they have none. And so they use a technique I have yet to cover. The deflection.

Let us return to my statement from the earlier post-

If you will notice there are several things I did not mention regarding this incident-

But in creating new accusations to hurl back at me, the writer escapes accountability for their lack of substance and knowledge regarding this content. I hope you are taking notes.

You will also notice the creative twisting of the version of Vi we here at A.C.A.I.S like to portray into downplaying her status as an assault victim. This is masterful. They both hold to our standard by grossly exaggerating Vi's revolutionary tendencies as well as Caitlyn's abuse, and then use being called out over said standard to bolster their argument.

You will also notice in a touch of Evading (we covered this one already) what do they not address whatsoever?

All in all very well done. You even managed to rope in a snappy little way to say how disgusted you are by "my portrayal" of Vi. I will be placing a letter of commendation in your file. You should be very proud of the work you have done here!

Again not reading this but this is HILARIOUS.

Just like bad people can make good art, bad people can also have good politics and the insistence that they were faking it and secretly fascist all along is just as irrational as retroactively deciding their entire body of work was always bad and you never liked it anyway.

I think Neil Gaiman genuinely believed he was a good and progressive person and was perfectly sincere in his support of trans rights and representation. I think Joss Whedon genuinely believed he was a feminist ally. I think JK Rowling was very sincere about the anti-fascist themes she wrote into Harry Potter, and thought she was a good queer ally when she clapped back at homophobes on Twitter. I think Marion Zimmer Bradley genuinely believed she was a good feminist.

We aren't reliable judges of our own character, and we all see ourselves as good people, even when we're hurting others. Anyone can justify their intentions to themselves, no matter how vile their actions are, and that's a scary thought. There's a perverse comfort in believing that people who do terrible things are pure evil demons in human skin with no capacity for good, but its just a fantasy. A comforting fantasy. The uncomfortable truth is that bad people are PEOPLE who do good as well as bad things just like you.

I think the pure horror of seeing Vi humming Dear Friend Across the River before saying "Eh just some song I guess", like it was the final trace of revolutionary spirit leaving her body, is never quite gonna get matched. I sit around shaking with the anxiety it gives me. Canon Caitvi is such a monstrously abusive relationship that sucks out every fibre of Vi's being till she's an empty shell of who she used to be and the writers' insistence that it's cute is just putrid.

Good morning to all of you here, under the glorious light of dishonesty and ignorance!

I have yet to address one of the more complex uses of our techniques but this is an excellent example! @brunnhildeps has expertly combined exaggeration, omission of context, and remained in compliance with the school's accepted depiction of Vi as a character. Now such combining of techniques is not for the beginner Arcane Critical writer, so if you get confused don't feel bad. Just take it slow.

Now you may recall, in our reference guide regarding A.C.A.I.S standards we specifically outlined the only manner in which Vi may be discussed-

And OP has simply nailed it. The former brave revolutionary losing the last traces of herself because her relationship with the soul-sucking abusive topsider. True poetry! And how does @brunnhildeps achieve this masterful falsehood?

Exaggeration + Omission

Exaggeration-

"Canon Caitvi is such a monstrously abusive relationship": Now this is excellent work. You see for anyone taking the writers word at face value it really hammers home the tragedy of Vi's ending. The last of her spirit is sucked away and she's stuck in monstrously abusive relationship. And if you don't put the effort into the exaggeration it just doesn't have the same punch. I mean after all how would it read without it?-

"Canon Caitvi shows a relationship where the only incident of violence born out of anger was in the direct aftermath of an incredibly traumatic battle, with an immensely complex mental and emotional lead up with Caitlyn showing immediate regret?"

That just doesn't have the same zing. It really undercuts the weight of the completely false picture OP is trying to paint.

Omission-

It is the lack of context that really bolsters the overall exaggeration in this post. They work in tandem. Small simple things that are not technically lies (so long as you leave out the right details) are the foundation of the deception. These bolster the bigger lies that require exaggeration. For instance, the writer begins their post discussing the horror in the heart at the way Vi dismissively explains the song, and cites this as evidence of Vi's revolutionary spirit finally being drained away. So, where does omission come into play?

Does Vi say "its just something my mother used to hum"? (or something to that effect)

Yes! Yes indeed. But, would it come off the same if the writer included any mention whatsoever of any of the following?

Hopefully you can all see with clarity how the combination of these techniques can be put to excellent use, regarding our ongoing mission to completely misrepresent season two of Arcane. I am very proud. Well done!

To be fair, I really do think you have an interesting point hidden amidst all the self importance about how we in the Arcane Critical niche talk about Vi vs how she really is. It's true that if the point of Vi as a character throughout season 1 was to be a revolutionary who wanted to destroy Piltover, the choice to make the entire season a sort of sidequest very peripheral to that is strange. The truth is, I'd say the brunt of Vi's character really wasn't the working class hero we like to portray her as. However:

I think all of us, at least in the Arcane Critical gang, agree that Arcane should have been, and was always intended to be, a longer show than two seasons. Vi could've developed in this time. Recognised that she was kinda right when she was 15. A lot of the show's subtext supports this reading. Namely, the fact that Vander is like, wrong in a lot of the things he passes on to Vi. He isn't avoiding violence by refusing to carry on the fight: he's perpetuating it. Nobody in Zaun is comfortable with the status quo. Not only that, but his idea of making peace involved betraying and trying to murder his own best friend. He has the veneer of a wise mentor figure and a benevolent community leader, but in truth he's a man who failed, and betrayed everything he ever stood for. Season 1 was well written and layered enough to demonstrate this.

Secondly, we're all leftists here. We all want the show to agree with our morality that a working class uprising is good. We all want the badass heroine to participate in it. If that doesn't happen, we're gonna be mad.

Also as much as I give you a lot of credit here, your downplaying of abuse and saying our version of Vi is "an invalid" for being an abuse victim is like, truly wretched. Funnily enough someone can be physically strong, and strong of spirit, and still be susceptible to abuse. It's why a lot of us butches relate to Vi and are disgusted by how Caitlyn, the writers, and now you portray her.

I think the pure horror of seeing Vi humming Dear Friend Across the River before saying "Eh just some song I guess", like it was the final trace of revolutionary spirit leaving her body, is never quite gonna get matched. I sit around shaking with the anxiety it gives me. Canon Caitvi is such a monstrously abusive relationship that sucks out every fibre of Vi's being till she's an empty shell of who she used to be and the writers' insistence that it's cute is just putrid.

Good morning to all of you here, under the glorious light of dishonesty and ignorance!

I have yet to address one of the more complex uses of our techniques but this is an excellent example! @brunnhildeps has expertly combined exaggeration, omission of context, and remained in compliance with the school's accepted depiction of Vi as a character. Now such combining of techniques is not for the beginner Arcane Critical writer, so if you get confused don't feel bad. Just take it slow.

Now you may recall, in our reference guide regarding A.C.A.I.S standards we specifically outlined the only manner in which Vi may be discussed-

And OP has simply nailed it. The former brave revolutionary losing the last traces of herself because her relationship with the soul-sucking abusive topsider. True poetry! And how does @brunnhildeps achieve this masterful falsehood?

Exaggeration + Omission

Exaggeration-

"Canon Caitvi is such a monstrously abusive relationship": Now this is excellent work. You see for anyone taking the writers word at face value it really hammers home the tragedy of Vi's ending. The last of her spirit is sucked away and she's stuck in monstrously abusive relationship. And if you don't put the effort into the exaggeration it just doesn't have the same punch. I mean after all how would it read without it?-

"Canon Caitvi shows a relationship where the only incident of violence born out of anger was in the direct aftermath of an incredibly traumatic battle, with an immensely complex mental and emotional lead up with Caitlyn showing immediate regret?"

That just doesn't have the same zing. It really undercuts the weight of the completely false picture OP is trying to paint.

Omission-

It is the lack of context that really bolsters the overall exaggeration in this post. They work in tandem. Small simple things that are not technically lies (so long as you leave out the right details) are the foundation of the deception. These bolster the bigger lies that require exaggeration. For instance, the writer begins their post discussing the horror in the heart at the way Vi dismissively explains the song, and cites this as evidence of Vi's revolutionary spirit finally being drained away. So, where does omission come into play?

Does Vi say "its just something my mother used to hum"? (or something to that effect)

Yes! Yes indeed. But, would it come off the same if the writer included any mention whatsoever of any of the following?

Hopefully you can all see with clarity how the combination of these techniques can be put to excellent use, regarding our ongoing mission to completely misrepresent season two of Arcane. I am very proud. Well done!

I haven't even read this cuz it's very long but just conceptually this is the funniest thing I've seen in my life and I'm so proud that my writing could inspire it.