🦋Light Echo🦋

I’d read the articles that young people have no privacy and have become so accustomed to it that they enact on themselves. Abstractly I knew this and had accepted it, but it’s only now that I’m seeing it become a major issues.

Obviously part of the problem is I need to become a trusted member of my new fandom. But fandom in general is becoming far more hostile to privacy than even just 5 years ago.

I’ve had to leave 3 servers that want to do age verification. And this is new. Not even 5 years ago when I started zines ppl just turning 18-20 were far more receptive to the ideas espoused by us older folks about not being surveilled. But now it almost feels like they *want* to be surveilled.

They’ve become so used to it from tiktok and their government that they crave it. I’d write a dystopia about it but unfortunately what even is there to say that hasn’t already been said?

If you’re 18-22 now and you’re reading this and willing to listen without immediately calling me suspicious: this is not normal. Age verification will not keep you safe and will not keep minors safe either. It will only lead to the normalization of further surveillance and erosion of your privacy.

I know it can be an unwieldy text especially if you’re not used to reading academic sources, but go read The Panopticon. Watch V for Vendetta or read the comic, read 1984. Watch The Lives of Others and understand the ways this modern era is not so different from the Stasi in the film.

Please.

the average human lifespan globally is 70+ years

taking the threshold of adulthood as 18, you are likely to spend at least 52 years as a fully grown adult

at the age of 30 you have lived less than one quarter of your adult life (12/52 years)

'middle age' is typically considered to be between 45-65

it is extremely common to switch careers, start new relationships, emigrate, go to college for the first or second time, or make other life-changing decisions in middle age

it's wild that I even have to spell it out, but older adults (60+) still have social lives and hobbies and interests.

you can still date when you get old. you can still fuck. you can still learn new skills, be fashionable, be competitive. you can still gossip, you can still travel, you can still read. you can still transition. you can still come out.

young doesn't mean peaked. you're inexperienced in your 20s! you're still learning and practicing! you're developing social skills and muscle memory that will last decades!

“The event was organized by the Care Esports Association, which runs competitive gaming events aimed at senior citizens. The tournament featured Tekken 8 and brought together competitors ranging from their 70s through to their 90s, complete with brackets and live commentary.”

Cali Park, a changeling College of Dance Bard/ Rune Knight fighter multi class 💎🍃🪨

Locke the Claviger🗝️🦋🌌

Ive been really into Legends of Avantris and decided to make a character for their new setting thats launching soon 'Neon Odyssey'! 🪸🦑💫

The old barmaid at the local inn hasn't aged in nigh on two decades. She's a werewolf, you see. She hides it well.

The whole village is built atop an ancient ruin full of riches. The giants who lived here before filled it in with their powerful earth magic.

The brightly-colored lizards that are so often spotted sunning themselves on rocks are spies for a wyvern too shy to make an appearance themself.

The entertainers' caravan that comes through once a year is a smuggling front.

The rash of thefts of late are being perpetrated by people under the effects of a sleepwalking spell - they are, in essence, stealing from themselves. The spellcaster? The mayor himself.

The hero lately come to town doesn't even know how to hold the sword he's so well-known for. The blade is inhabited by a spirit that guides his hand.

The vagrant at the fountain was once a princess, now on a journey of penance.

The fresh grave at the outskirts of town contains not a corpse but a coffin full of jewels.

The old shoemaker was once a ruthless pirate.

The baker laces his bread with an addictive substance.