Phantom's angel

POTO Christmas Calendar 2020: December 6

YES I agree with the above!

ALSO: Unlike many other Gothic tales, it’s not your usual “purity vs corruption, good vs evil etc” trope (as in Dracula). Christine, in all her goodness, does contrast Erik’s darkness and insanity, but she doesn’t save the day by rejecting or overpowering him in the traditional sense, but by showing him kindness, by offering to stay with him. That’s the absolute beauty of this character, that she is able to feel compassion even for the one who least deserves it (because while I pity Erik, he was beyond forgiveness at the point tbh).

This could so easily have been a story in which Christine whimpers and cries, Erik is a boring Gothic-villain stereotype and Raoul saves the day, but what it is is just so much better.

Then I can fill that head of his with something more worthwhile than the shit he spouts out. t00t t00t!

He would have died. Literally. Just up and died right there. Either that or spontaneously combusted.

And there would be loud, inelegant sobbing involved. Probably while laying prostrate on the floor.

And this is WHY WE DON’T FEED WILD MAMMALS. Bears, deer, raccoons–these are all WILD animals and meant to STAY wild. Yes, it’s nice to get to see them when they show up in your rural yard, but you are manipulating the situation when you feed them for the sole purpose of getting to see them more often. 

Wildlife are not there for your entertainment. When you live in a wildlife-prone area, you are invading their territory, and the fact that you see them at all is proof of that. When you habituate them to your presence by feeding them (to include feeding them things that may not be good for them), it only goes badly for the animals, even if you don’t get attacked. They’re more likely to get hit by cars, attacked by dogs or otherwise come to a bad end, and by feeding them you’re making them dependent on you, especially if you encourage them to overpopulate.

And it’s not just bears. Did you know deer are dangerous? Yup. Even ones without antlers still have nasty sharp hooves and they can deliver a damaging, even fatal, kick. Raccoons carry diseases like rabies and will bite if they feel threatened by humans or pets, and many wild mammals have a tendency to make a nuisance of themselves in garbage. “Bambi” is fiction; the reality is that even supposedly cute, harmless animals can be a threat.

Anyone who is feeding wild mammals–and I include you on this, pagans who are leaving food offerings outside for wildlife to eat–you are harming the animals you claim to love. STOP IT.