u/Reasonable_Day9942

While this is something I have mainly seen from TB, I have also seen it from TG and it’s a bit of a pet peeve

Yes, Rhaenyra had a big claim. She was named heir, and naming heirs has some precedent. She also had a claim large enough to gather support.

Similarly, Aegon had a big claim. He had law, precedent and the Great Council going for him. He also had a claim large enough to gather support, and to have himself legitimately crowned King.

To me this feels like a basic concept, that is why the war happened. Two sides who both had large claims and large nukes.

But there are still many who act like Aegon had no claim and Rhaenyra was rightful heir and oh how evil the greens are. Same with people who act like Rhaenyra had no claim either.

Like I promise, you can still root for your fav even if their enemy isn’t baseless in their cause.

Nate, imo, was always one of the most interesting characters, and was a very complex one at that.

He suffered sexual abuse as a child (yes, what happened to him would be classified as some form of childhood sexual abuse) and grew from a empathetic, kind and gentle young child (as told by his mother, who said his personality rapidly changed, seemingly due to his trauma with Cal) into a rageful, manipulative, violent adult.

And while it is harmful to say that victims of abuse will become violent/abusers, there are unfortunately situations where it happens, and Nate was a very good depiction of that.

His issues with sex for one. Now I fully believe he isn’t gay, maybe bisexual who knows, but he is attracted to women. He is more so afraid of being gay, to the point where he refuses to look as other penises in the locker room, whether because he would be perceived as gay or because he fears he would be attracted to it. We also see this with his hyperfeminine checklist for women, that excludes any trait a women has that might possibly be somewhat related to masculinity. A list that Jules seemingly checks off pretty neatly, and he seems to be pretty attracted to her, but because she is trans he can’t handle it. Probably also cause she slept with his dad. At least this is how I view it.

His relationship with Cal is also one of the most interesting ones. Cal is so ashamed of who he is and what he has done that instead of helping his young son after he found the tapes, he instead forced Nate to internalize everything and keep it a secret, no matter how it affected Nate. This is especially clear during their fight when Nate sees them in the mirror and has a breakdown, and proceeds to repeatedly throw his head against the floor. He genuinely seems to fear his dad to some degree, and in response to that he severely harms himself. Cause while one might not think it, a 6’5 man who is built like a brick house could severely harm himself by beating the back of his head against the floor. I mean that could be a fatal injury.

And what does Cal do?

Does he do the responsible decision any loving parent would do in the face of their child harming themselves to a potentially fatal degree, and call 911 where Nate most likely would be placed on a 72-hour hold due to being a danger to himself?

No. Cal leaves him there to hurt himself because he doesn’t actually care how much he hurts and traumatizes Nate, as long as his secret remains a secret.

Nate seems to use violence in any situation where he feels out of control because that all he knows.

Also let me say that this is not an excusing Nate post. I don’t need him to have a redemption and live happily ever after. But he is imo opinion one of the most interesting and complex characters in the show, and partly a representation of how some victims of csa might act or feel to some degree, and how he might be responding to the environment he was raised in.

I’m not even against Nate becoming less violent, more rational or not the violent asshole he was in the previous seasons. In fact I think it would be interesting too see how his personality was impacted by Cal leaving his life. You know the dad who would rather Nate become a vegetable instead of discussing uncomfortable topics.

But overall I don’t feel like he is living up to the potential or complexity that he had in previous seasons.

Yes, it’s written by multiple sources, and yes they are biased but the argument that that would mean that everything is questionable or everything is propaganda against some other source.

It’s not an actual history book. GRRM didn’t write it with the intention that the reader would get out of it being all “nothing in here was true.” Or well, maybe he did. I don’t know the man, but I highly doubt that he wrote an entire book of in universe history with lore with the intention that a lot of it was just false or straight up propaganda.

One example is the classic “green propaganda.” Which yes, some sources were biased toward the greens, but that doesn’t mean they straight up lied about everything to make the greens look better. That is made more clear by the fact that they are critical of Aegon II.

The book is also quite clear on what is true, what isn’t, and what is muddled (more or less, make your own opinion).

Examples:

Muddled:

The whole Criston and Rhaenyra situation. The book never fully answers it, and sources differentiate while still keeping a similar thread (Rhaenyra seemed to have a crush on Cole, Daemon was kicked out for whatever happened)

Sunfyre going to Dragonstone for Aegon or for his birthplace. We don’t actually know Sunfyre’s thinking process, we simply have to choose between the more sentimental thought (returning to Aegon to help him) or the more logically (as in, no sentimental view on it) that he was simply returning to Dragonstone as his birthplace.

False:

Criston throwing Beesbury out the window and having him land bullseye on spikes. Well for one cause that is a bit over the top, but also cause that source came from Mushroom, who wasn’t even there. Same with pretty much everything that went down during that time since he wasn’t present.

So yes, the book is an in universe history book written by biased sources, but the book is also quite clear on what should be believed, taken with a grain of salt, if you want it to be true, or just straight up false

Yes, it’s written by multiple sources, and yes they are biased but the argument that that would mean that everything is questionable or everything is propaganda against some other source.

It’s not an actual history book. GRRM didn’t write it with the intention that the reader would get out of it being all “nothing in here was true.” Or well, maybe he did. I don’t know the man, but I highly doubt that he wrote an entire book of in universe history with lore with the intention that a lot of it was just false or straight up propaganda.

One example is the classic “green propaganda.” Which yes, some sources were biased toward the greens, but that doesn’t mean they straight up lied about everything to make the greens look better. That is made more clear by the fact that they are critical of Aegon II.

The book is also quite clear on what is true, what isn’t, and what is muddled (more or less, make your own opinion).

Examples:

Muddled:

The whole Criston and Rhaenyra situation. The book never fully answers it, and sources differentiate while still keeping a similar thread (Rhaenyra seemed to have a crush on Cole, Daemon was kicked out for whatever happened)

Sunfyre going to Dragonstone for Aegon or for his birthplace. We don’t actually know Sunfyre’s thinking process, we simply have to choose between the more sentimental thought (returning to Aegon to help him) or the more logically (as in, no sentimental view on it) that he was simply returning to Dragonstone as his birthplace.

False:

Criston throwing Beesbury out the window and having him land bullseye on spikes. Well for one cause that is a bit over the top, but also cause that source came from Mushroom, who wasn’t even there. Same with pretty much everything that went down during that time since he wasn’t present.

So yes, the book is an in universe history book written by biased sources, but the book is also quite clear on what should be believed, taken with a grain of salt, if you want it to be true, or just straight up false

Perhaps this is a popular opinion, but I have never really seen people speak of how talented stand up comedians are compared to singers, actors or artists.

When stand up arguably is one of the hardest things to become good at. A stand up comedian needs to enter a place and make an audience laugh, an audience of strangers whose humor might be different. A known stand up comedian might gain a specific audience, but even then when starting out they simply have to create multiple jokes to entertain a room full of strangers, with full confidence. Like that shit is insanely hard.

This is not to say other forms of art aren’t hard, but ex an actor can be recognized for their skill even if the material they are going of isn’t top notch, and majority of the time they aren’t writing their own stuff either.

But in general I feel like stand up comedy is a very underrated art form that very rarely get universally acknowledged for how hard it really is.

I feel like many people have the opinion that fanfiction is “cringe” or that it is badly written smut for the most part.

In fact, I have read many fics that are on par with published books, and many that are better than some published works.

I just think it has gotten a bad rep in media so people might feel hesitant, but in my opinion it’s a great way to become interested in reading and increase your skill in that area. Especially considering how there is a bit of a literacy crisis. If you are learning another language it could be useful as well (taken from experience here)

For one, it’s free (for the most part) which is perhaps my main benefit when it comes to reading. Books are expensive, and that might just turn away people from reading.

Secondly, fanfiction usually resolves around stories and characters you already know and are attached too. It can be easier to start a story that is already set in a universe you know you enjoy, instead of buying a book and hope you like it. Furthermore, if you don’t like it, you can just close the tab, no money spent.

So yeah, I think fanfiction has gotten a pretty bad rep in media overall and many would enjoy it (and benefit from it) if they tried.

Try before you deny and all that.

Seems like a pretty basic concept, right?

Apparently not.

So many parents just let their kids (even those between 1-5) spend all day on screens, watching content that is not developmentally appropriate (cocomelon for example, which is not meeting the markers for shows children should be watching majority of the time) and instead of letting their kids be bored, which is good for them, they are just put in front of a screen cause the parents can’t be bothered to handle the kid.

And I’m not saying children should never watch tv or something, but children under the age of 6 (at least) should not be sitting with an iPad right in their face all day every day. Especially in public places, like a restaurant, which is a good way for them to learn to handle how to behave outside. And if they get upset, toys or a coloring book are perfectly adequate for them.

But I see so many parents talk about how they thought they wouldn’t let their kids have screentime and then they went and bought their toddler an iPad. Arguing about how “you would understand if you were a parent”. I don’t need to be a parent to understand that children shouldn’t be put in front of an iPad.

It’s also so easy to just not buy an iPad for your kids. Like ridiculously easy. In fact, I do that everyday. That’s how easy it is to simply not buy an iPad. Acting like someone needs to be a parent to understand the concept of not buying expensive technology that will only be bad for your child’s brain development.

Again, I’m not gonna say children shouldn’t watch tv or whatever. In fact, watching tv on a lazy day, before pre school or while their parent is cooking dinner is perfectly fine in my opinion.

Putting your child in front of a iPad as soon as they become a little whiny is not.

There was this commercial in the 80s talking about “do you know where your children are right now” and today there should be one talking about how “do you know what constant screentime does to your child’s development”

Overall I feel like I have seen many believe that Oldtown would be more conservative due to being the home of the faith, but I lowkey think it could be the opposite.

It is also the home of the citadel, so education could be very prevalent even in the poorer communities (not necessarily that they are “free education for all” but they have a lot of Maesters, were at least some seem to be interested in teaching in general), they have an insane amount if trade for Westeros, so the people would encounter different cultures.

It’s like the biggest city (I think, at least one of the biggest) and it’s in good condition, it has a long history, seems to be relatively peaceful.

It might be a very religious city, but it is also home of education, so even if there isn’t exactly religious freedom, there is a high chance they don’t purely relay on religion too answer all their prayers. It has a good economy, there hasn’t really been any evidence of many leaving in extreme poverty or even moderate poverty (at least not on par with Kings Landing), it has a good environment (doesn’t smell like shit), and more.

It could make sense that Oldtown would be one of the most progressive cities, or the most progressive city in Westeros even.

Really interested in the characters and would love any fic from his perspective, or any fic where he is present and playing an important part really

I’m really interested in the lore going on in Oldtown, especially around The Citadel and the Hightowers (and their Hightower).

I am particularly interested in the timeline before the main series, especially Jaehaerys’ era and the Dance (I love Daeron the Daring)

The entire fic, or even most of the fic, doesn’t have to take place in Oldtown, as long as it is included. I’m also not a fan of the Maester Conspiracy, but if it is well written and without bashing I can do anything.

So many people are promoting and taking about their positive experiences regarding homebirths and it’s idiotic at best and harmful at worst.

It doesn’t matter if you have had a wonderful pregnancy with no complications or side effects whatsoever, it’s still so dangerous to have a homebirth. It doesn’t matter if you find it peaceful and a better way to connect with your baby.

There are so many complications that can happen without warning, that can be fatal within minutes. Shoulder dystocia, placental problems and hemorrhage as examples at the top of my head. These are emergencies that can be hard to treat in hospital, and requires an entire team of doctors giving their all trying to save the mother and/or the baby’s life. Again, these things can happen with no warning, and require all hands on deck within minutes

Sure your doula or midwife might be good at what they do, but they don’t have enough resources and probably not the education to actually treat these conditions, and it’s more likely then not that an ambulance will not make it in time in these cases.

It’s selfish and risking your own life and the life of your baby for the sake of having a “better experience”

People are really out here acting like childbirth is such a beautiful thing when people have been dying (and still are) in childbirth regularly for as long as humans have existed

“I want a natural childbirth” well dying in childbirth is also completely natural

Yes, obviously attractiveness plays a part in it, but the amount of people who act like dating is completely shallow is staggering. And it has been on my mind a lot with how popular that Clavicle guy who smashes his face with hammers has become (and still doesn’t have much success in his dating life if I’m getting my facts right)

But overall, I see many ex complain that they don’t get approached/approved in the club, which is like yeah? Most people in the club aren’t there to build long term relationships, and they will usually (and not always) go for who they think is attractive, and even then personality plays a role. Similarly with dating apps.

But looking at it from the bigger picture, there is no question that people date and form long term relationships regardless of their attractiveness, probably because instead of complaining about how unattractive they are or how unfair the world is they actually put themselves out there. Which also brings me to the belief that many of the complainers in these scenarios are also very picky, they don’t actually put themselves out there to find a connection, just to fine what they perceive to be attractive. Of course this isn’t everyone, but I would say there is a sizable amount.

Point being; yes if you aren’t conveniently attractive (and your charisma don’t make up for it, cause trust charisma can go a loooong way) it will be harder to “date” in places that people primarily use for short terms relationships (meaning: getting laid), but when it comes to actually finding a partner, personality is a lot more important. Hell, there have been people I viewed as unattractive, that I eventually became really attracted too because of who they were as people.