Call me B

As usual with TikTok comment sections, there’s a ton of antisemitic bullshit, but I want to point out this comment because I see it a lot, especially from younger fans.

Saying religion is stupid or illogical isn’t the take you think it is. Suggesting that the only way Bruce is a smart person/leader is because he’s atheist is ridiculous. Implying that Bruce’s Judaism is only valid when he maintains atheism at all times? Rude as hell. Suggesting that his atheism is only valid if/when he rebukes religion as a whole? Lame tbh.

There seems to be a reluctance to exercise nuance in these discussions. Like you guys understand that insulting religion isn’t edgy, right? People who are religious are not automatically stupid or less morally superior than you.

A good portion of the time, people are projecting from their own negative experiences with Christianity, and that’s a valid feeling but not one to project onto other people. And especially not lumping all religion into “well it all sucks and I’m smarter than them anyways.”

Religiosity is a spectrum, observances vary, and those deserve if not respect, then neutrality from others.

Bruce’s character requires thought and consideration (and research) to view from a religious angle. What he represents in these implied moments from DC says something. Judaism has a strong tradition of memory when it comes to loved ones — routines, prayers, traditions — and that fits well with Bruce’s traumatic past and focus on his parents deaths and keeping their vision alive. At the same time, he represents (when suggested/implied Jewish) a unique experience of halachic Jews disconnected from the diaspora. He is an excellent example of how religion, ethnicity, and identity change what it means to be Jewish, not Jewish, etc. it’s a work in progress when it does appear, but it’s a lot more than just “he lights a menorah and never talks about religion EVER.”

I am the angriest cat today!!! So here are some of the things on my mind right now.

I also want to add this: I don't have hate or even animosity toward people who use generative AI. I get that some of us can't avoid using it for our jobs. I also understand that AI can be incredibly useful for science and medicine. I also recognize that in our current stage of capitalism, we're all tired, stretched too thin, and broke. Using generative AI to create a flyer, a meme, or even a social media post feels easy and victimless.

But here is what fills me with rage: a small group of people is making a shit ton of money -- far more than any of us will ever see in our lives -- by stealing our unique, human-created work: art, music, writing, photos, recipes, and more. And oh yeah, they're also trying to take away many of our jobs…while offering no safety net to us. To make matters worse, they know this whole genAI thing isn't really living up to their promises, so they are aggressively trying to convince all of us that we will be "left behind" if we don't use it.

ONE BIG @#$%ING GRIFT!!

And that's why I talk about it so much. The whole premise of AI: cheap, easy, and convenient is not dissimilar to fast fashion. The problem? We end up with shitty, disappointing stuff…at the expense of this planet and lots of people.

Okay, glad I got that off my chest.

Snake: “He was at church when a bomb went off, got pierced by a crucifix, survived by drinking his family’s blood.”

Raiden: “So that’s why he’s called Vamp?”

I would be reluctant to use fridging in this exact context, because this isn't some imaginary scenario to generate manpain for a white hero, this is a much more common experience of Native American and First Nation people, having their wives and daughters and sisters (in particular, but not exclusively) go missing. And never getting answers, never learning what happened, and not being believed that there's a problem in the first place.

This is like how being rescued from a tower by a prince is not particularly empowering or affirming to cis physically able straight thin perisex white women and girls, but can be for basically anybody else. Particularly black girls and women, who do not get a lot of cultural messages that treat them as people who are so valuable and precious, who may not have the strength to save themselves, or may wish that they didn't fucking have to save themselves (and everyone else) all the time.

White men have this story so often happen that we have a trope name specific to one specific and particularly egregious version of this, but you don't often see men who look like Robbie dealing with this type of story in fictional settings, even though it happens for men like Robbie in real life with horrifying frequency.

Templin said declining federal funding and rising insurance costs have drained the coalition's contingency funds. The organization has already cut its annual budget from $86,000 to $72,000, but is still falling short.

Terry Pratchett: "!" said the stranger.