this obsession is madness

I want more female characters who are just so bad at comforting others. Not for lack of trying or caring, they just get so so awkward when someone's upset, and they try to repeat things they've heard even if it doesn't necessarily apply to the situation, or they accidentally say the wrong thing and make it worse. If someone cries they panic and throw every single comfort technique down at once and it only helps because it's such bizarre behaviour

Basically I'm tired of female characters having the inherent “good helper/wise advisor” trait just bc they're women, and I'm also tired of the faux progressive 'female characters must have no emotion whatsoever'. People seem to think the opposite of being a good caretaker is just not caring, when actually the opposite of being a good caretaker is not knowing which care to take and when or how. Like throwing water onto an oil fire. Putting blankets over someone who is claustrophobic. Recommending family time to an orphan. Etc. I want a female character who will be up with you until 3am because you're struggling but she can't stop quoting Mister Rogers because she has NO idea what to say. Even if she's experienced the same things, she just has no idea how to convey any wisdom through words and gets super duper awkward if you start crying

I should be able to both read for 8hrs a night and sleep for 8hrs a night. That I cannot is very rude and, frankly, poor design.

I hate 2 say it but being a part of a “weird” subculture does not meaningfully inoculate you against a conservative moralizing impulse. You gotta unlearn that. Saying “cringe is dead” is not enough, you have to actually be okay with things that discomfort, perplex and/or disgust you.

you used to be able to put a dvd in your laptop and play it. you used to be able to burn cds.