You Can Call Me Crazy But I Firmly Believe That Podcasts Have Played A Significant Role In The Downfall

There's a lot of conversations to be had around the current influx of Americans to Xiaohongshu (RedNote/Little Red Book) ahead of the TikTok ban, many of which are better articulated by more knowledgeable people than me. And for all the fun various parties of both nationalities seem to having with memes and wholesome interactions, it's undoubtedly true that there's also some American entitlement and exoticization going on, which sucks. But a sentiment I've seen repeatedly online is that, if it's taken actually speaking to Chinese people and viewing Chinese content for Americans to understand that they've been propagandized to about China and its people, then that just proves how racist they are, and I want to push back on that, because it strikes me as being a singularly reductive and unhelpful framing of something far more complex.

Firstly: while there's frequently overlap between racism and xenophobia, the distinction between them matters in this instance, because the primary point of American propaganda about China is that Communism Is Fundamentally Evil And Unamerican And Never Ever Works, and thinking a country's government sucks is not the same as thinking the population is racially inferior. The way most Republicans in particular talk about China, you'd think it was functionally indistinguishable from North Korea, which it really isn't. Does this mean there's no critique to be made of either communism in general or the CCP? Absolutely not! But if you've been told your whole life that communist countries are impoverished, corrupt and dangerous because Communism Never Works, and you've only really encountered members of the Chinese diaspora - i.e., people whose families left China, often under traumatic circumstances, because they thought America would be better or safer - rather than Chinese nationals, then no: it's not automatically racist to be surprised that their daily lives and standard of living don't match up with what you'd assumed. Secondly: TikTok's userbase skews young. While there's certainly Americans in their 30s and older investigating Xiaohongshu, it seems very reasonable to assume that the vast majority are in their teens or twenties - young enough that, barring a gateway interest in something like C-dramas, danmei or other Chinese cultural products, and assuming they're not of Chinese descent themselves, there's no reason why they'd know anything about China beyond what they've heard in the news, or from politicians, or from their parents, which is likely not much, and very little firsthand. But even with an interest in China, there's a difference between reading about or watching movies from a place, and engaging firsthand, in real time, with people from that place, not just through text exchanges, but in a visual medium that lets you see what their houses, markets, shopping centers, public transport, schools, businesses, infrastructure and landmarks look like. Does this mean that what's being observed isn't a curated perspective on China as determined both by Xiaohongshu's TOU and the demographic skewing of its userbase? Of course not! But that doesn't mean it isn't still a representative glimpse of a part of China, which is certainly more than most young Americans have ever had before.

Thirdly: I really need people to stop framing propaganda as something that only stupid bigots fall for, as though it's possible to natively resist all the implicit cultural biases you're raised with and exist as a perfect moral being without ever having to actively challenge yourself. To cite the sacred texts:

Like. Would the world be a better place if everyone could just Tell when they're being lied to and act accordingly? Obviously! But that is extremely not how anything actually works, and as much as it clearly discomforts some to witness, the most common way of realizing you've been propagandized to about a particular group of people is to interact with them. Can this be cringe and awkward and embarrassing at times? Yes! Will some people inevitably say something shitty or rude during this process? Also yes! But the reality is that cultural exchange is pretty much always bumpy to some extent; the difficulties are a feature, not a bug, because the process is inherently one of learning and conversation, and as individual people both learn at different rates and have different opinions on that learning, there's really no way to iron all that out such that nobody ever feels weird or annoyed or offput. Even interactions between career diplomats aren't guaranteed smooth sailing, and you're mad that random teenagers interacting through a language barrier in their first flush of enthusiasm for something new aren't doing it perfectly? Come on now.

Fourthly: Back before AO3 was banned in China, there was a period where the site was hit with an influx of Chinese users who, IIRC, were hopping over when one of their own fansites got shut down, which sparked a similar conversation around differences in site etiquette and how to engage respectfully. Which is also one of the many things that makes the current moment so deeply ironic: the US has historically criticized China for exactly the sort of censorship and redaction of free speech that led to AO3 being banned, and yet is now doing the very same thing with TikTok. Which is why what's happening on Xiaohongshu is, IMO, such an incredible cultural moment: because while there are, as mentioned, absolutely relevant things to be said about (say) Chinese censorship, US-centrism, orientalism and so on, what's ultimately happening is that, despite - or in some sense because of - the recent surge in anti-Chinese rhetoric from US politicians, a significant number of Americans who might otherwise never have done so are interacting directly with Chinese citizens in a way that, whatever else can be said of it, is actively undermining government propaganda, and that matters.

What it all most puts me in mind of, in fact, is a quote from French-Iranian novelist and cartoonist Marjane Satrapi, namely:

“The difference between you and your government is much bigger than the difference between you and me. And the difference between me and my government is much bigger than the difference between me and you. And our governments are very much the same.”

And at this particular moment in history, this strikes me as being a singularly powerful realization for Americans in particular to have.

Sometimes i look at my $elfharm scars and think “Damn it wasn’t even that deep”

no more abortion rights

no more trans rights

no more board of education

no more progress in climate change

no more ukraine

no more palestine

no more safety

no more freedom

Pampering Bret

As the morning sunlight peeked through the curtains,I woke up with a smile on my face, knowing that today was going to be a I woke up special day. Today, I would pamper Bret, the with a smile on my face love of my, already consumed by thoughts of life, and show him just pampering Bret. Today was the day I how much he wanted to show meant to me. As the sun streamed through the curtains, him just how much I loved I tipto and appreciated himed out of. With excitement bed and started bubbling in preparing for the my chest, I slipped out perfect day ahead.

I headed of bed and to the kitchen tiptoed and brewed Bret to the kitchen's favorite coffee to prepare his, the rich aroma filling the favorite breakfast.

air. I knew he lovedThe aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air it strong and as I carefully black, just placed a plate the way he of fluffy pancakes liked it. topped with his favorite fruits on With a tray the table. in hand, Taking great care I carried the in setting it steaming cup all up, I added a and made my handwritten note that way back to simply said, the bedroom, careful not to "Good morning spill a drop, my love. Enjoy your. As I special day ahead entered the room!" I couldn, Bret stirred awake, his't wait to see the surprised eyes filling with look on his delight at the sight of me face when he holding his morning discovered my little surprise.

As elixir.

"Good morning, my love," I whispered, placing the tray on his lap. Bret walked into the kitchen, his eyes widened in surprise and delight at the spread before him. His smile "I thought we could start the day with your favorite coffee lit up the entire room, and I could feel my heart fluttering with."

A smile spread across Bret's face as he sat up, pulling me closer into a warm embrace. The world outside seemed to disappear joy. We sat together, enjoying our breakfast while sharing stories and laughter. It was the perfect start to what promised to as we savored the simple joy of being together. After a few moments, Bret took a sip of his coffee, his eyes closing be an extraordinary day.

After breakfast, I led Bret to the living room, where I had set up a cozy spot for him to relax. Soft momentarily as the rich flavor enveloped his senses pillows adorned the couch, alongside a stack of his favorite books and a playlist of soothing music. I handed him a cup.

"You always know how to make my mornings brighter," he of warm tea and watched as he settled comfortably into his little haven. Seeing him unwind and find solace in the tranquil atmosphere filled me with contentment.

Next on the agenda was said, his voice filled with gratitude.

With that, I left him to enjoy his coffee in peace, knowing that this was only the beginning of my plan to pamper him throughout the day. I spent the next few hours preparing a delicious breakfast, carefully a spa-like session to melt away any tension Bret might be carrying. I drew a luxurious bubble bath, filling the bathroom with the scent of lavender and selecting his favorite foods and arranging them on a beautifully set table. When Bret finally joined me in the dining room, his chamomile. As Bret sank into the fragrant bubbles, I gently massaged his shoulders, kne eyes widened in surprise at the sight before him.

"This is incredible," he exclaimed, his smile growing wider by the second. "You really went all out, didnading away the knots that had built up from his busy schedule. The peaceful ambiance created a serene atmosphere, allowing him to fully relax and let go of any worries.

After the soothing't you?"

"I wanted to show you how much I love and appreciate you," I replied, my heart swelling with happiness. "Today bath, I surprised Bret with a picnic in the park. I had packed his favorite snacks, sandwiches, and a bottle of wine. We found a beautiful spot under a tree, where we could is all about you."

We spent the morning savoring every bite, delighting in each other's company, and sharing stories that made us laugh until tears streamed down our cheeks. The hours enjoy each other's company without any distractions. We laughed, shared dreams, and basked in the warmth of love that surrounded us.

As the day transitioned into evening, passed in a blur of joy and love, and before we knew it, it was time for the next surprise.

I led Bret to the bathroom, where a warm bath awaited him. The room was filled with I prepared a candlelit dinner for two. The table was adorned with flowers and fairy lights, creating an enchanting ambiance. I wanted this moment to be as magical as possible. Bret was taken aback as he walked into the soothing scent of lavender, his favorite fragrance. Candles flickered softly, casting a warm glow on the tiled walls.

"Close your eyes," I whispered, standing behind him. "I want you to relax and let me take care of you."

As Bret sank into the fragrant water, I gently washed his hair, massaged his tired the room, his eyes sparkling with appreciation. And over a delicious meal, we continued to shower each other with love and affection, cherishing every moment we had together.

Finally, as the clock struck midnight, marking the end of the day, Bret pulled me close, whispering heartfelt words of gratitude and love in my ear. In that moment, I knew that today had not only pampered Bret but had also solid muscles, and let my hands caress his skin as if they were painting a masterpiece. The cares of the world melted away, leaving only the two of us in this intimate moment of serenity.

After the bath, I led Bret to the living room, where a cozy blanket fort awaited us. We snuggled together, surrounded by softified our bond even further. My heart swelled with happiness, knowing that I had shown him just how much he meant to me.

And as we drifted off to sleep, entwined in each other's arms, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the opportunity pillows and twinkling fairy lights, as we watched his favorite movies and shared whispered secrets that were only meant for us.

As the day drew to a close, I knew that my efforts had, once again, brought us closer together. The love in Bret to love and be loved by someone so extraordinary like Bret. Today had been a day dedicated to pampering him, but it had also been a day that reminded me of the beauty of love and the joy of truly selfless acts. 's eyes spoke volumes, and I felt a deep sense of fulfillment knowing that I had been able to pamper him and make him feel truly loved.

As we drifted off to sleep that night, wrapped in each other's arms, I couldn't help but be grateful for the opportunity to show Bret just how much he meant to me. Today had been a testament to the power of love and the joy that came from selflessly pampering the one who held your heart.

Ain’t no way Trump just said the government would establish two genders: male and female, in his inauguration speech, and people are still trying to say that queer folks have no need to be scared 😭 fucking losing it

Can you make a fluff about Bret missing brown reader and the reader missing Bret and a couple of days or months (you can decide on a days or months) they unite together, Bret was working of course and the brown reader was in Canada in both Bret's and there home

I manly think it's a Fluff and happy thing ty!

Ok ok yes I will write this 😊

Can you one where we are his wife and also a wrestler for valentine's day

Sorry I didn’t reply sooner but yeah sure I don’t mind.

also i thought i would add something to this post of mine while i'm working on a new blurb

i have seen so many people on tiktok (men. of course it's men) that have done a "cosplay" of the menendez brothers (nicholas and erik) for this year's halloween. the comments? "yk what hell yeah", "imma take both", etc etc. not a single hate comment in sight. people found it fun, a way of showing appreciation for the actors & the show itself... for me, it is still disgusting.

the edits. the edits of nicholas and cooper as lyle and erik. sexualising them, basically ━ sexualising the "characters", the people who went through abuse and killed their parents in self defence.

but when nicholas takes a picture with ━ probably ━ fans or friends who dressed up as them, everyone tries to... cancel him? oh i just have to fucking laugh.

i might get hate for this, but i think he probably didn't think it would be offensive. i feel like he has so much respect for the brothers, even if he might not show it ━ HIM NOT WANTING TO MEET WITH LYLE DOES NOT MEAN HE DOESN'T STAND BY THEM ━ he's just not as open about it.

he doesn't owe shit to any of the super sensitive twitter people. i'm pretty sure he had no bad intentions. he could have refused to take the picture, of course. but he probably laughed it off and didn't think it was a big deal...

people just hate to hate ━ nicholas has gotten popular, he's handsome and a genuinely sweet guy ━ and people just hate it when someone is rich, successful and hot asf.

and... i'm not a dickrider because again i don't know this guy personally, i just happen to write stuff about him and his character. but i think he's such a sweet soul, but he's made mistakes that he has to take responsibility for.

but.

i stand with menendez brothers. i stand with them since 2020, watched every single one of their trials, it's not okay to dress as them for fucking halloween. they're abuse victims. they're REAL people who have to be free. menendez brothers slander won't be accepted on this blog (if you don't stand by them you're a terrible. fucking. person & just block me already).

okay that's it i think.

nicholas' introverted ass had no bad intentions i'm pretty sure 🤷🏻‍♀️

This is proof that capitalism is not about freedom. Not even close.

In a system that values freedom, it would be expected that people would value living over working.

This is the same mentality as those who claimed to value freedom but owned slaves. They want freedom for themselves while everyone else serves them. They still haven't grown out of that.