u/Better-Winter553

The Onix / Onyx Mandela effect is messing with my head

Okay so I was reading online about Pokemon Mandela effects and now my brain is annoyed lol.

Obviously everyone knows the Pikachu black tail thing. I also remember that. Like I know people say it was never there, but in my head Pikachu 100% had that black tip on the tail.

But there are other weird ones too. Like Machop having a tail? That feels wrong to me. I remember Machop not having a tail at all.

Then there’s Lotad. Apparently Lotad has six legs?? I always remembered it with four. Like four legs just feels correct in my memory. Six looks so weird to me.

But the one that actually got me the most is Onix.

I swear to God I remember it being spelled Onyx. O-N-Y-X.

When I saw someone say it has always been Onix, my brain just rejected it immediately. Like no, that looks wrong. I played Pokemon Red and Blue a lot as a kid and I very strongly remember Onyx. That spelling is burned into my head.

I know people will say “you’re just thinking of the gemstone onyx” and yeah maybe, but still. The Pokemon itself in my memory was always spelled Onyx. Seeing Onix feels like one of those things where your brain just goes, “nope, that is not the timeline I remember.”

There are a lot of Pokemon Mandela effects, but this one bugs me the most because it feels so obvious to me. Like I can accept misremembering some small sprite detail, but the name spelling? Man, I really remember Onyx.

What the hell is going on?

I’ve been reading more about Gnosticism, simulation theory, archons, the Demiurge, and how different religions might connect to that whole idea.

One thing I keep seeing in Gnostic discussions is the idea that Yahweh is sometimes interpreted as the Demiurge, or Yaldabaoth, basically a lower creator/ruler figure who claims to be the highest God and demands worship, obedience, fear, submission, and control, rather than being the true Source beyond this material world.

So I started wondering how this applies to Islam.

In Islam, Allah is presented as the supreme God. But from a Gnostic or matrix/simulation perspective, could Allah also be interpreted as the Demiurge/Yaldabaoth in the same way some people interpret Yahweh? Or would Allah be understood differently?

I’m also curious because Islam has a lot of symbolism that people connect to Saturn, the black cube, the Kaaba, ritual circling, submission, and also sometimes moon symbolism. I’ve also seen people connect older deities like Nanna/Sin, the Sumerian moon god, to later religious symbolism, though I’m not sure how strong that connection actually is.

Another question I have is about Muhammad’s role in this kind of interpretation. If Allah were viewed through a Gnostic/Demiurge lens, then what would Muhammad be considered? A prophet of the Demiurge? A channel of that system? A sincere messenger who believed he was receiving divine revelation? Or something else entirely?

So my main question is:

From a Gnostic perspective, would Allah be considered the Demiurge/Yaldabaoth, or is that too simplistic? And if Islam is viewed as an archonic control system, what role would Muhammad play within that framework?

I’m not asking this to insult ordinary Muslims. I’m more interested in the metaphysical/theological angle, the Demiurge, archons, Saturn/moon symbolism, and whether Abrahamic religions are pointing to the same lower creator figure under different names.

Hey everyone,

Way of the Samurai 1 has always been one of those games I grew up with, and even after all these years, I still feel the need to replay it every couple of years. It’s short, beautiful, and incredibly memorable. Honestly, it remains one of the most phenomenal games I’ve ever played.

What made it so special to me was how much freedom it gave you in such a small setting. At the time, there weren’t many games that offered that kind of choice-based structure with multiple endings, at least not in the way Way of the Samurai did. It didn’t need a massive open world or a huge runtime. It gave you one compact area, a tense situation, interesting characters, and let you shape the outcome through your actions.

I recently replayed it on a PS2 emulator after what feels like ages, and the strange thing is, I still remembered so much of it. The routes, the atmosphere, the characters, the choices, it all came back naturally. That’s when you know a game really stayed with you.

I also enjoyed Way of the Samurai 2, 3, and what I played of 4. Each game had its own identity. Way of the Samurai 2 was very memorable, 3 expanded things nicely with a more open structure, and 4 had its own charm too. But for me, the first game is still the one that feels the most special. It was small, focused, and unbelievably fun.

I really wish the series had continued with Way of the Samurai 5. There are plenty of choice-based games in other genres now, but when it comes to pure samurai games with that same kind of branching structure, there still doesn’t seem to be anything quite like it.

I’ve recently started Rise of the Ronin, and I’ll probably play Like a Dragon: Ishin later as well, since I already enjoy the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series and Ishin has that samurai setting. But even with newer games around, there’s still something about Way of the Samurai 1 that feels completely unique.

It’s one of those games that proves a game doesn’t have to be huge to be unforgettable.

Hey everyone,

I wanted to ask a genuine question about starseeds, channeling, and people claiming contact with higher-dimensional or extraterrestrial beings.

I’m asking this respectfully, because I’m already very interested in these subjects. I’ve spent a lot of time reading about Gnosticism, the Matrix/simulation theory, the Demiurge, Archons, the Monad, fourth and fifth dimensional reality, reincarnation traps, the idea that this physical world may be a false or controlled system, and how many mainstream religions may have been influenced by the Demiurge or lower control structures.

I’ve also looked into the Anunnaki and the theory that they engineered or modified early humans, possibly operating from a higher-dimensional or fourth-dimensional level rather than simply being physical beings in the normal sense. Alongside that, I’ve read about other groups people often describe as benevolent interdimensional or extraterrestrial beings, such as Lyrans, Andromedans, Pleiadians, Nordic-type beings, and similar groups.

From what I understand, many people believe these beings do not directly interfere with humanity in an obvious way, but instead try to help raise frequency, guide people toward awakening, and help us see through the false reality or simulation. I’m also aware of ideas involving reptilians, greys, alien abductions, the 13 bloodline families, elite control structures, and the idea that certain powerful families or institutions may be influenced by nonhuman or interdimensional forces.

So I’m not coming at this from a mocking or closed-minded perspective. I’m open to these topics, and I do think there is far more going on behind reality than what mainstream society admits. I also watch shows like The X-Files and pay attention to symbolic disclosure, soft disclosure, and hidden messages in media.

However, the area I still struggle with is the starseed/contactee side of things.

I often see people say things like they received a message from the Galactic Federation, or that they are a starseed from a specific civilization, or that they were told they have a special mission here. I’m not saying this is impossible. I’m also not calling anyone delusional. But I do wonder how people know for sure that the source is genuine.

For example, if someone says they received a message from the Galactic Federation, how do they personally verify that? How do they know it is not imagination, ego, emotional projection, subconscious desire, astral interference, or even a lower-dimensional entity pretending to be benevolent?

This is the part that makes me cautious.

To me, genuinely benevolent higher-dimensional beings probably would not behave like saviors, celebrities, or authority figures. They would not come in a way that makes someone feel superior, chosen, or spiritually above others. I would expect them to help people develop awareness, discernment, inner sovereignty, and the ability to see through the illusion of this world. They may guide, but they would not create dependency. They may help awaken people, but they would not demand worship or special status.

That is why some of the starseed language online feels questionable to me. Sometimes it starts to sound less like awakening and more like spiritual identity-building. It can become “I am special because I am from this race” or “I have a mission because I was contacted by this group.” But if we are all consciousness trapped in or experiencing this reality, then the real goal should be awakening, not creating another hierarchy where some people are more “chosen” than others.

Again, I’m not saying all starseed claims are fake. I’m not denying that genuine contact, memories, downloads, dreams, synchronicities, or higher-dimensional experiences may happen. I’m simply asking about discernment.

Because if this reality really is layered with deception, Archonic influence, false light systems, ego traps, and manipulation, then we should probably be very careful about accepting every “message” or “contact” at face value.

So my questions are:

How do you personally know when a message or contact is genuine?

What has your own experience been like?

How do you tell the difference between a true higher-dimensional connection and imagination or ego?

Do you think some starseed claims are genuine while others may be distorted by ego, fantasy, or outside interference?

Do you think lower-dimensional or deceptive beings can pretend to be benevolent guides?

And do you think the starseed community sometimes risks turning awakening into another identity or status system?

I’m asking this with respect. I’m open-minded, but I also think open-mindedness should not mean accepting everything without questioning it. Discernment matters, especially in a reality where deception may be part of the system itself.

I’d really like to hear people’s honest thoughts and personal experiences on this.

So I finally got around to finishing Attack on Titan.

I had already watched most of the final season before, but for some reason I never finished the remaining episodes until now. And after finally seeing the ending, I honestly feel really conflicted. Not just conflicted in a “wow, that was deep” way, but more like… irritated, disappointed, and kind of empty.

This series was a long ride. I still remember when Attack on Titan felt like a story about humanity desperately fighting against Titans. That was the whole feeling of the early seasons: horror, survival, mystery, desperation. Humans trapped behind walls, Titans outside, and this constant question of what the world really was.

Then over time, the story became something completely different. Eldians, Marleyans, inherited hatred, war, propaganda, history repeating itself, and eventually Eren becoming the biggest threat in the entire story. I understand that the plot had to expand, and honestly, I don’t hate the fact that it became bigger and more political. In some ways, that was one of the strongest parts of the series.

But the ending itself? I don’t think it was handled well.

My biggest issue is Eren.

I understand the basic idea: Eren wanted his friends to stop him so they would be seen as heroes. He wanted to protect them. He wanted Paradis to have some kind of future. He had seen parts of the future. The Founding Titan’s power messed with his perception of past, present, and future. He was trapped by fate, trauma, rage, and his own childish idea of freedom.

Fine. I get the general direction.

But the execution felt so weak to me.

When Eren tells Armin something like he did it because he was an idiot, or because he doesn’t really know why, I honestly hated that. I know some people interpret it as Eren finally admitting that he was never some grand mastermind and that deep down he was still just a broken, angry, impulsive person. I understand that reading.

But even then, it felt unsatisfying.

This guy had the Founding Titan. He had future memories. He had people who would have listened to him if he had actually explained things. He had Armin, Mikasa, Historia, the Scouts, and others who could have at least tried to find another path. But instead he just kept everything to himself, pushed everyone away, committed mass genocide, got many people killed, indirectly hurt even his own allies, and then the explanation is basically, “I’m an idiot”?

That just doesn’t sit right with me.

There were so many possible directions the story could have taken. Eren could have tried to destroy Marley’s military leadership instead of wiping out most of the world. He could have used the Rumbling as a threat rather than actually going through with it on such a massive scale. He could have shared what he saw. He could have worked with the others. Maybe it still would have failed, but at least the story could have shown why every other option was truly impossible.

Instead, it felt like the story wanted to force Eren into the villain role, but didn’t fully convince me that this was the only possible outcome.

And I know some people will say, “That’s the point. Eren was always like this. He was never truly free. He was a slave to his idea of freedom.” I get that. I’m not saying the theme makes no sense. The idea itself is interesting.

But an idea being interesting doesn’t automatically mean the ending was satisfying.

Another thing that bothered me was Eren dying.

I don’t think Eren had to survive as some happy hero. Obviously, after what he did, there was no normal happy ending waiting for him. But killing him felt too rushed and too final in a way that didn’t really satisfy me emotionally. It felt like the story just needed him gone so it could close the book.

Personally, I think there were other ways to end his character. He could have lived with the consequences. He could have been imprisoned, exiled, broken, hated by the world, or forced to watch the aftermath of what he caused. That might have been more painful and more interesting than just killing him.

Because with his death, it felt like everything just ended too abruptly.

Then we get the grave scene with Mikasa, the passage of time, civilization advancing, war returning, bombs falling, and eventually everything being destroyed again. I understand the message: hatred doesn’t disappear forever, humans keep repeating cycles of violence, and Eren’s actions didn’t create eternal peace.

But honestly, that sequence made the entire journey feel even more bitter.

Not tragic in a powerful way. Just bitter.

It made me think, “So all of that happened, and in the end, humans still destroyed each other anyway?” I know that is probably the point, but it left a bad taste in my mouth. It made the whole emotional investment feel kind of ruined.

And maybe that was intentional. Maybe Isayama wanted the audience to feel uncomfortable. Maybe he didn’t want a clean heroic ending where Eren saves everyone and becomes the legend. Maybe the discomfort is part of the point.

But there is a difference between an uncomfortable ending and an ending that feels badly handled.

For me, this leaned more toward badly handled.

What also felt strange was seeing so many former enemies suddenly fighting together. Annie, Reiner, the Warriors, the Scouts — characters who once felt like monsters or traitors ended up standing together against Eren. In theory, I actually like that. It shows how the world became more complicated than “good guys versus bad guys.”

But emotionally, it was still weird. Reiner and Annie caused so much pain in the earlier seasons, and then by the end, Eren is the enemy everyone has to stop. I understand the narrative logic, but I don’t think the emotional transition fully worked for me.

Maybe deep down I just wasn’t ready to see Eren become that.

I’m not saying Eren should have stayed a simple hero. That would probably have been boring. If the story had ended with Eren just defeating Marley and everyone living happily ever after, that might have been too easy. I do respect that Attack on Titan tried to do something darker and more complicated.

But I still think the ending damaged the overall feeling of the series.

After finishing it, I don’t even feel like going back and watching old clips, openings, or scenes the same way. Even the music kind of irritates me now because I keep thinking about where the story eventually went. The early seasons had such a strong identity and atmosphere, and now when I look back at them, the ending hangs over everything.

It almost feels like the show changed into something else by the end.

Again, I’m not saying the whole series is bad. The show was still incredible in many ways. The mystery, the worldbuilding, the reveals, the action, the music, the tension — all of that was amazing. But the ending really hurt my overall feeling toward it.

I guess my main problem is this:

Eren seeing the future should have made him smarter, or at least more desperate to find a different path. Instead, he basically followed the worst possible path and then the story tried to frame it as tragic inevitability. But to me, it didn’t feel inevitable enough. It felt like he made stupid choices, refused to communicate, caused unbelievable destruction, and then gave an explanation that didn’t fully justify the scale of what happened.

So yeah, I finished Attack on Titan, and I’m honestly disappointed.

Not because I needed a perfect happy ending.

Not because I needed Eren to be a flawless hero.

But because the ending made me feel like the story lost something important near the finish line. It left me irritated more than satisfied. It didn’t feel like a powerful final statement to me. It felt rushed, messy, and emotionally unsatisfying.

Maybe that was the intention. Maybe the ending is supposed to feel ugly, uncomfortable, and unresolved.

But even if that was the intention, I still don’t think it fully worked.

What do you guys think? Did the ending work for you, or did it also leave a bad taste in your mouth?