The Overload Alchemist's Random Chatter

Hey, Have you entered The Trials of Fate yet? The more people that enter, the more the prizes will increase. Can you help? https://wn.nr/6yMNMcj

For those of my followers who play SWTOR...3 new datacrons to collect!!

Time for a lovely and hopefully CIVIL conversation on one of the hot topics in the cosplay community right now…. TINTING ONES SKINTONE FOR COSPLAY….NATURAL OR NON-HUMAN… AKA the “Black Face” Controversy…. Let’s start off right now with the fact that while not everyone will tint their skin to accurately portray a cosplay, it should not be seen as offensive to others. If one wishes to lighten or darken their skin tone to better reflect that character, then they should have the right to do so without being called racist, disgusting, evil and insensitive. Whether it’s lightening or darkening or even a completely not normal human shade (gray, blue, purple, etc), it’s all about the purpose behind the action that determines if it is RESPECTFUL or DISRESPECTFUL. It’s when the intent of the action is being done for harmful or malicious intent that it becomes “Black Face” (or other X-Face Term). Here’s the deal though… most of the people out there who do all this calling out of people who tint there skin for cosplay or the like are usually the SJW snobs out to stir the pot and basically drive us all at each other’s throats. These folks have NOTHING better to do then to stir up a hornets nest over usually shit that is stupid, and they do it to get a RISE from a group a people, nothing more. Not to say that on occasion a SJW doesn’t have something interesting to say, but this is the 21st century and there are certain topics that well the SJW snobs need to back the fuck away from. Racial bullshit is one of them. SOCIAL JUSTICE WARRIORS WHO ARE DOING THIS SHIT… YOU ARE NOT THE RACE POLICE, SO JUST FUCKING STOP ALREADY!! What I have to say to these bigot assholes… STFU and go crawl back to the sewer where you belong. You aren’t doing anybody favors cause you salty and have false misinterpretations of what is defined as black face or and similar racial typing’s. It’s the 21st Gorram fucking century. It time to put racial bullshit behind us… Yes, the past is not pleasant, but it’s the people who keep egging the past and refusing to let shit die that are keeping the racial divide alive. Mind you, we shouldn’t forget the dark and fucked up past of everything relating to racial shit, but we need to let it fucking go already. Here’s the thing, most of those whom ‘call out’ cosplayers and scream ‘Black Face’, ‘Yellow Face’, ‘White Face’…etc…. usually don’t know the underlying meaning or proper definition of the terms. As one whom has been in theater when younger and also one whom has made it a hobby to study weird and odd shit…I myself have come to learn and understand the meaning behind the terms probably better then what some think. And from my ‘studies’ I have learned this… Here’s some general enlightenment in simplified terms: Black Face is when a white individual uses makeup, usually theatrical (though in the 1800’s it was grease and burnt cork) to portray a POC in a manner that is INTENTIONALLY DONE IN A CHARACTERISTIC AND DEROGATORY MATTER MEANT TO BE PURPOSELY OFFENSIVE AND DISRESPECTFUL... Usually with the malicious intent to upset and or piss off said race or culture....by comically MAKING FUN OF STEREOTYPES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT RACE/CULTURE. Yellow Face is the term used when the action is being done to MOCK AND DISREPECT Asian races and cultures… ‘Red Face’ is a term usually used when mocking Native American or Indian races and cultures….though you don’t often see this one used much… White Face….Yes it actually fucking exists…. is basically a reverse of Black Face, where a POC or non-white person of ethnicity uses makeup to portray the ‘typical white person’… IOW… making fun of whites and white privilege, among other things. Much of these forms came about during the era of Minstrel and Vaudeville performances from the mid to late 1800’s, where white men would portray POC and non-white cultures (and usually sometimes even women) , usually for comedy purposes and related performances. When such performances occurred, it was done with the intent to be demeaning, to be insulting and to mock the stereotypes white people had of these races and cultures. Their purpose was to make you think that the stereotypes where actually how these cultures or races actually acted in real life or how they should act if that particular ‘stereotype’. Just tinting your skin to better portray a culture or race IS NOT 'X'FACE...(X being race/color). You are simply trying to portray the character as best as possible. One should not have to apologize for trying to bring a character to life. Cause if that's the case, then body painting yourself even alien skin colors (blue, purple, green, orange…) should be 'offensive' one would think because we may be offending an alien somewhere... Just saying.... So consider this in the future folks before you call out you fellow cosplayer for ‘tinting’ themselves to accurately portray a character that is a POC…. ARE THEY TINTING/COLORING THEIR SKIN TO SIMPLY PORTRAY THE CHARACTER AS FAITHFULLY AS POSSIBLE (ACCURACY) WHILE BEING RESPECTFUL OF THE RACE/CULTURE? OR ARE THEY DOING IT TO GET A RISE OUT OF PEOPLE BY DOING IT AND THEN ACTING IN A WAY THAT SHOWS DISREPECT TO THE RACE/CULTURE? If they are simply doing it for accuracy and not doing things while in that character that are rude, disrespectful and hateful, then it is not ‘Black Face’. Each person has a right to portray a character in the way they feel comfortable, so say if I personally for example, wished to cosplay a character whom is darker than me, I may opt to darken myself to match the character. I am not doing it be disrespectful, simply I am one who is choosing to darken myself to be closer to the character I am portraying by being as accurate as I can be within my ability to do so. I, personally am a cosplayer who likes to get as close to the character I am portraying, because for me, I enjoy creating the illusion and magic of becoming that character, if only to light up the eyes of another by seeing their favorite character or hero come to life. But each cosplayer has their comfort zone and level of how far they will portray or bring their favorite character to life. Some enjoy just dressing up as the character and having fun doing it. Some like to go deeper and become the character for a while, usually for clean respectful fun, to make a person’s day (especially if it’s a child) or they choose the character because they represent something they appeal to. Either because they are a reflection of the person and can relate to the character or the character is a reflection of what that person wants to be perhaps mentally and spiritually. For example, Edward Elric and Allen Walker (and his inner battle with Nea) are two I relate to closely, because they are fighters who never give up even in the face of adversity. Both Ed and Allen are paler then me, though Nea is darker in complexion then me. Still I cosplay them with everything I can and for me it’s liberating. If the person is doing it for the second reason, THAN we can say they are doing ‘Black Face’, and that’s when we have a reason to step up and say something. But there a time and place to do so. If you see it in person, then speak up and make it clear, RESPECTFULLY, that you find their action inappropriate or offensive. If the nature of their offensiveness is in a way that could cause physical altercations with others, then have the authorities intervene. When the actions are via social media, that’s a whole new can of worms… but still should be handled with respect and decorum. To quote a part of a favorite ol’ song of Kenny Rodgers known as “The Gambler”… ‘You've got to know when to hold 'em…Know when to fold 'em…Know when to walk away…’ In essence, know when to speak your piece on the matter, when to back off and when to just back away and wash your hands of the matter… It’s time to stop nitpicking at shit like this in the community and bringing ourselves back to remembering that we are all nerds, dorks and geeks in costumes out to have fun and hang out. Popularity is overrated, and being an egotistical jackass only makes you look like a prat and a right bastard, so let’s just stop calling out people for shit that isn’t even relevant. --Peace, love and doughnuts…. Miss Raiji

Sabers Up!! In Memory of Carrie Fisher... http://people.com/movies/carrie-fisher-dies/ ===================================================== From a former Queen and royalty... to Senator and freedom fighter... Padme stands with thee fellow fans as we raise our sabers, blasters and various other otherworldly weapons in honor of the Galaxies princess... who follows unto the Force today to join our equally beloved R2D2 (Kenny Baker) whom left us back in August... Whether ye hail from the Core to the Outer Rims and beyond... whether you are Jedi or Sith...Republic or Empire/Imperial...Rebel and anything between, tonight let us lay down our arms and raise a cease fire for a night of peace in this galaxy. To me she was royalty... a princess, a hero, a fighter and an inspiration. To those, like myself, whom battled and continue to battle with mental illness, depression and related disorders, for some she became a beacon and a reminder that we are not our condition and that we can overcome, and learn to fight back to live a normal life. Tonight the Force welcomes another to its Luminous wisdom... May her Light shine brightly in the Force as a beacon to those who need it, and may the many she inspired and gave hope to spread that Light and honor the memory... Rest now Carrie, our Princess...one with the Force you are. Your wisdom, honor, courage and Light shall shine brightly in the hearts of Star Wars fans always.

A bit of spice and kick with some hints of sweet and citrus notes... A blend of Oriental Spice, Pu Erh Spice, Assam Melody and a kick of Cardamom. This black tea has notes of cinnamon, anise, cardamom, orange, and ginger with a touch of malty richness of other subtle flavors. The Oriental Spice helps bring in a subtle note of citrus which is something attuned to Mandalorian Shig, while the Assam brings a bit of a bite with a pungent, smooth astringency that is rings to the Behot antiseptic feel.

If you have a moment of time to, definatly go check out this GoFundMe. If you can support the cause, go for it, if you cannot donate, then share this out and help this amazing guy get funded to help bring something cool to the convention community, especially if your a Michigan local. Help a dream come true!

The Overload Alchemist's Random Chatter turned 5 today! Yay!! Five years old... -runs around like a toddler who ate a whole load of Pixie Sticks-

https://soundcloud.com/com4jai/glyph-music