Claws, Fangs and Willing Victims

Hey, let's talk about anons like this, because I know some people haven't been in a position to see the patterns these play out in on broader scale and may indeed not spot the trap.

And it is a trap.

An ask like this has several purposes.

First, it uses social justice language in passive aggressive and manipulative ways to try to coerce a behavior. In this case, the desired behavior is usually for the recipent to participate in community shunning and/or harrassment. The language above is intended to put the recipient on the defensive where, in the haste to disassociate themself from the Bad Thing, they quickly disassociate themself from the bad person, often with no particular fact checking or evidence.

The message is also intended to create a sense of being surveilled and judged by an unknown amount of people with unknown amount of social power and an unknown amount of relevance to your life.

Notice that these asks are usually framed as if they are coming from a follower or potential follower, someone who is addressing you personally and who cares about your opinion and who your blog has an effect on. However this is usually.... very much not the case. If you've ever had the misfortune to watch a gossip campaign from like this from the outside, you will very quickly notice that messages like this get sent in mass batches to dozens and dozens of strangers. (You can often turn these up with a tumblr search, if you look.)

The sender does not know you and probably does not follow you. They have a person they don't like (possibly for their stated reason and possibly not), and they are going through the reblogs of a post from that blog and mass messaging *everyone* with a form letter. They will not see your response and they will probably never even see your blog again.

Which brings us to the second goal of whisper campaigns like this:

Notice that I blacked out the names above? That's because when the recipient answers anonymous asks like this, they provide a platform for the opinion on their blog. An anonymous message like this that gets posted doesn't just spread gossip and apply pressure to the recipient, it is spread to the recipient's entire community.

The *goal* is to get access to your community. The *goal* is to use you as a soapbox.

Is the information accurate? Did anyone check? Does the anon have an ulterior social motive? BIG SHRUG

If you go into the comments on one of these whisper campaigns you will see that *most people never bother to check.*

They assume good faith from a follower, they're off balance defending themselves, and they jump straight to conciliation.

I listen to soundtracks mostly - this 24hr WoW playlist is good fun if you’ve got an ad-blocker - or weird stuff like early 16th century lute music and renaissance polyphony... I can’t work to things with lyrics, but Palestrina, Tallis, Weelkes, and Victoria, as well as composers they inspired like Vaughan Williams (the Kyrie and Gloria (tenor line at 6:07 in is just sublime, seriously) from that are particularly spine-tingling) will always be hugely relaxing, even though I’m not religious. I think because I spent an awful lot of time singing it, it’s kind of in my blood now!!

I also listen to things like ‘atmospheres/ambiences’ based on music from Skyrim etc.

When you’re sorting the tank filters and a big boye wants cuddles. 

werewolf boyfriend waiting for you at home

extra:

Loose sketch commission for @sigfigures of his toons,  Sigmus and Nayla!

You were visiting your uncles ranch for the summer, you hadn’t been there in years. You had loved it there, it was always so fun and peaceful most of all. The horses were all friendly, his dogs were cute, hell even the cows had a special charm to them.

Your uncle was busy when you arrived, other than giving you a quick kiss and instructions to go see his newest ranch hand, he didn’t have much time to talk. Which you were fine with, you would always catch up during dinner later. So you went off to the barn where the ranch hand was supposed to be.

Poking your head through the barn doors, you were greeted with the sight of nothing. “Hello?”

A head poked up from the stall, dreads falling from their pony tail as the man looked sheepishly back at you. He was hot, like godly hot. Deep rich skin, warm chocolate brown eyes, and a jawline that could cut glass. “Hey,” he squeaked. “You must be the niece, I promise I don’t always sleep on the job.”

You giggled as you ventured farther into the barn. “Not to worry, I did the same thing too.”

He looked a little relieved. ‘Oh, good. Well I’m Sifan, nice to meet you he said raising up a bit to hold out his hand, smiling when you shook it. “So you’re here for the whole summer?”

“Yeah, I’m excited,” you said. “School got so busy that I never had the chance to swing by.”

He nodded in understanding. “Yeah, I get that. Well, you looking to work?”

You nodded. “Oh yeah, I want to help out.”

He grinned. “A hard worker, I like that. Well, climb on and I’ll take you to the field.”

Your brows furrowed. “Climb… On?”

He nodded, rising to an astounding height of ten feet, it was then that you realized his bottom half wasn’t human. It was horse, or more specifically, a Clydesdale.

He looked down at you as he exited the stall, his tail swishing nervously. “Wasn’t expecting this?”

“The horse is a surprise,” you admitted before smiling up at him. “But a pleasant one.”

He looked relieved as he kneeled for you to climb on, his warm hands guiding you onto his back. “Feel free to hold onto me.”

“Oh, no problem,” you said lowly as your arms circled around his waist.

-sweats- 

Look its dragon Raihan that no one asked for. Just based the design off his hoodie really. Listen I just love creature design okay? If any of you really know me this was BOUND to happen eventually.

The Kanto Fire Pokemon, Charizard and Charmander! 

 Now available at my InPrnt shop! https://inprnt.com/gallery/pencilcat/charizard-and-charmander/

Others have done this exact scene but I just had to draw it out.