Random return
It has been a long while hasn't it? I've created other blogs once more, ones I didn't attach to this one in any way so I could keep the… I guess the vibe of this blog a lot cleaner, if that makes sense. … There are parts of me I don't like to show. Parts that I feel will taint this blog because I could get backlash for how strange and intense I am… for, at times, having opinions — fandom opinions, I want to make that clear— that would cause me harassment on this blog. I don't want that. I don't know anyone who would. As such, I've kept my head down by using other blogs.
… Right, that explanation out of the way, I'd like to discuss a different opinion that… well, I feel will sit somewhat safely here. While I hate J.K. Rowling, and wholeheartedly support trans rights — my best friend that I've known since I was a literal toddler (like, genuinely, we met in preschool) is trans and I could never do anything that would make his life harder — I still… appreciate the world she created. I can't stand by her views, and I can't entirely allow myself to buy things related to her franchise. But I'd be lying if I said I don't still plan to go to Universal Studios one day to have some sort of Wizarding World experience. The world J.K. Rowling created — while insanely derivative of actual things that existed in the U.K. at the time she wrote it — still holds a place in my heart. Especially since I've taken the Hogwarts quiz — back when the website was still called Pottermore — and got Slytherin. I was so proud of that, especially since I had taken it truthfully.
… thinking about it… it makes sense. I was… well, growing up, my family was a "tricky house*, where the abuse wasn't cut and dry, so myself and my brothers… we were trapped there. A lot went down in my house, and to say our family was dysfunctional would be the understatement of this millennium, and the last. So to be put in Slytherin… while I have the impulse of a Gryffindor… it makes sense. My childhood was filled with manipulation — on *my* part — in order to survive. I always looked for the underhanded way to get what I needed in that house. And now it's biting me in the ass. And not only did I do that, but I did all I could — in the worst way possible honestly — to protect my brothers. I had planned to go out and get a job, without a college degree, in order to earn up money to move in to a place with enough room for both my brothers. That way, the one that was already an adult could move in with me and get away from our parents' influence, and the one that was still in high school, could hopefully have a place to stay at when he wanted to get away from home. So brave, yet calculated, and protective of those we call our own.
But that's not what I started out with, is it? Well… The first part was meant as a disclaimer. Look, every trans person is different, and what one will accept, another will not. Just like how some on here will find the word "retarded" unacceptable unless you are mentally disabled — like me, I'm officially diagnosed, have been since first grade, with more diagnoses in later grades (I'm AuDHD and have Bipolar Disorder II) — or have "the pass", and others will say there's no such thing as "a pass" for the word, and still others will see no problem with using the word, regardless of mental diagnoses or lack thereof, and yet more will say that no one should use the word, regardless of mental diagnoses or lack thereof. I'm of the mind that the word is not derogatory, and hasn't been since the early 2000's, when I saw a bunch of students at my elementary school do "the retardation song and dance." I, to this day, remember the first and last part of the dance, and the last part of the dance. The first part you were meant to put your hand to your chest twice in a clearly derogatory way to those without full control of their arms, then the last part you would say "the world is round" while drawing a triangle in the air with both of your pointer fingers. It was horrific, and even as a child it made me uncomfortable, and I didn't even yet fully grasp that I was a special ed. student, nor that I technically fell under that "retard" label — that label was, in our understanding and based on the song, reserved for those severely disabled. Still, it was a horrible song, but eventually, everyone stopped doing it, and the word "retard" was slowly… I guess it was never associated with those that were severely disabled. We were children, not even teens yet, and none of us really understood the implications. We also didn't understand why those students were severely disabled. But, as I said, we grew out of that, and retard was never associated with them. When I hear the word "retard" these days, I don't associate it with severely disabled people. I recognize that's the origin of the word, but also understand that, not only is that not how the word is used today, but the connotation of the word isn't associated with that original meaning. It just means "not smart", but in a like… I don't know, we usually say it when someone does something… not wrong, but I guess when someone makes a mistake, or when something is just… terribly designed or something like that. And the word isn't even used with malice! It's exclusively used in jest unless it's a descriptor for something poorly designed, like a game, or a horrible situation that makes no sense to us. I'm getting off topic again… basically, I can't please everyone when it comes to enjoying Harry Potter, and I honestly don't want to. The only person I truly care about not harming, is my best friend. And if he says it's okay to like Harry Potter and indulge in the franchise, then I feel comfortable in indulging in it a little bit. I'd probably only go to Universal Studios once to say I've done so.
… God I'm terrible at trying to write a short disclaimer before the actual reason I wanted to post… This post was basically meant to just be about how I thought of something that heavily applies to Slytherins… I guess I can still put that though, huh?
Though, I might make a second post with *just* this piece of information. Anyway, the reason I wanted to post is because I was writing this fanfic, and I remembered something that was said by Senku in an episode of the anime "Dr. Stone".
In episode 5 of the anime, there's a flashback to a scene where a random student asks this psychology question from a book: (I'm using the sub translation, with a little added from me) "Suppose there's an accident, and only you, your friend, or your lover can be saved. What would you do?" Senku's best friend, Yuzuriha, responds "Eh… I think I'd get stuck trying to decide between my friend and my lover…" and the random student asks "Wouldn't you obviously choose yourself?" Senku's other friend, Taiju responds "How could you ever choose?! What kind of nasty quiz *is* that?!" Then, Senku randomly responds "I'd save everyone." Everyone turns to him surprised and he continues "I'd look for a fundamental rule that lets us all be saved."
I remembered that scene after looking for a specific quote from the Harry Potter books (which I knew of from the movie bc I never actually read all the books) "We Slytherins are brave, yes, but not stupid. For instance, given the choice, we will always choose to save our own necks." I found it through the AI summarization tool that's just kinda… *there* on google now. The overview then had a section where it said "Key aspects of this Slytherin rule include:" "Calculated risk" where it's noted that this trait isn't cowardly but rather a calculated decision to survive, "Loyalty to Their Own", where Slytherins aren't selfish, but rather value the safety of those they care about most over anyone else,
"Contrast with Other Houses", where it says "While Gryffindors are often associated with self-sacrificial bravery, Slytherins focus on ensuring they live to fight another day." Then it adds another point that isn't all that relevant to what I want to make note of. Slytherin's will make a calculated decision to save themselves *and those closest to them*. And when put next to Senku's answer, something clicked in my head. Slytherin's look for "the third option." I can't remember when I heard that term, I'm almost positive it was from a fanfic, but it might've been something else, but "the third option" is where you don't choose either option, but look for the path that allows you to do both. In Senku's words, Slytherins would "look for a fundamental rule that lets us all be saved." And then I came up with this amazing line in the fic I'm writing that says "We look for the path less traveled over the path of least resistance." We're resourceful, we use any advantage we can get to protect those we love, and we will look for "the third option" or, in Senku's case the "fourth option" that allows *everyone* to be saved.
