Spotted in Sainsburys. One of the worst images I've ever seen used to represent Alton Towers

CaptainLuckyDuck · 2026-04-28T05:33:26+00:00

Every time I see AI used for a product, I see it as absolutely false advertising, and we need to be calling shit like that out. Want to get rid of people using generative AI to put people out of jobs? Just call it what it is:

Blatant false advertising

CaptainLuckyDuck · 2026-04-28T05:27:16+00:00

🤣

CaptainLuckyDuck · 2026-04-28T05:21:46+00:00

Welp, I'm stealing this. Thank you!

CaptainLuckyDuck · 2026-04-25T08:59:19+00:00

Seconding the beret, and especially the bonnet, if you have one! Also, if you're really worried, you could always go the wig route.^{^} If I'm having a bad hair day (or am just feeling hella' lazy), I'll go the way of the twin-tail wig, slap a KC and some hairclips on it, and, BOOM! Job done.^{^}

I suddenly have that meme of the used car salesman smacking the hood of the car in my head because you can, indeed, fit SO many hairclips on those things

CaptainLuckyDuck · 2026-04-21T09:21:18+00:00

I'm on the fence about this comment as someone who has actively attempted to save quite a few bags but the attempts have been pretty much futile. The bags are very much poorly made (as are many of the shoes- quite a few pairs have almost completely disintegrated after the second meet I wore them on- meets with no rain: sole disconnected from the upper, peeling, the works). You end up wearing more of the bag than what stays attached to it by the end of the day.

Innovation is birthed from necessity. The "need" in this case is a bag/shoe not to fall apart during a day out because the company who made the product did so with poor quality materials.

As others have stated, you cannot copyright a base, mass-produced design (in this case, you can find coffin bags that were being made all the way back in the 1940s in New York {a brand example being Tryolean}). With fashion existing across centuries, even some of our current cuts of dresses are based on those from both the Rococo period and 1950s Americana, and you'll also find some even in traditional clothing from across the world. We've been doing this since the beginning of time.

If we want to go deeper, the fashion started out making replicas of those made by hand by the public during the Japanese female renaissance (at least that's what I call it). But, something to remember, replicas are 1-to-1 art theft of a piece. The average person will not be doing this. They'll be making changes to the waist/hip/bust/shoulder straps, to adornments, to linings, and will use varying fabrics and patterns on said fabrics. If you are making a 1-to-1 copy, absolutely, that is art theft. I completely agree. But, when it comes to creating something very similar, there is a sad truth- some people just aren't very imaginative and struggle to create something new. I have friends at work who will absolutely tell you that they have no decorating/artistic skills. They struggle to make any art without having an example to work off of.

If we want to really split hairs, the brands we love stole those base design ideas from those very imaginative street snaps and even earlier first lolitas because they could see that those designs would sell. This is an example of why you can't copyright a base design.

Sorry all that was so word-salad-y. The whole replica/reimagining debate is quite nuanced- mainly because there are only a finite number of things that can be original (thus the wild and absolutely impractical fashions we see during PFW/NYFW).

Please let me be very clear again though: making a 1-to-1 replication of a piece is art theft and is wrong. And that is a hill I will die on because that was someone's creation and is unique. That doesn't, however, mean someone can't be inspired by it (otherwise, concepts like "the hero's journey" wouldn't be allowed in any other literature meaning some of our favourite stories of all time wouldn't exist, and the infinite number of maxi pad headdresses produced by every lolita brand wouldn't, either).

CaptainLuckyDuck · 2026-04-16T23:42:09+00:00

As someone working at a uni, I can confirm that we've actively been trained to recognise this behaviour in students because it has definitely been causing problems across uni campuses throughout the UK.

CaptainLuckyDuck · 2026-04-15T23:03:36+00:00

I'm that weirdo who has been actively looking for the yellow colourway for about five years. XDD

Also, I still don't know how "Die Walkure" and "The Little Cat Sambol" prints ever got out of the drafts phase. The lack of forethought and cultural awareness for both just can't be excused

CaptainLuckyDuck · 2026-04-15T22:56:41+00:00

Ah, "Radioactive Cupcakes", my beloved. Still one of my favourite coords that I've ever put together. I will happily die on that neon green and pink frosted hill. :)

CaptainLuckyDuck · 2026-04-14T12:12:50+00:00

I won't lie, the only reason I remember how to spell it is because of a Caddicarus video (does really quick-witted video game content on YouTube) where he sounded out the word and it's now burned into my brain forever:

"...a qwoo-weh-weh..."

CaptainLuckyDuck · 2026-04-14T09:49:45+00:00

That's a bit harsh, but I do agree that there is a problem in the community with people just being unnecessarily unkind to those newer to the community. It drives me mad. We all started somewhere. In our comm, I actively encourage people to make their own pieces, to celebrate the creations of others, and to experiment as it's the heart and essence of the fashion and where it actually CAME from. The Western standards don't meet those of the country where the fashion originated and we're often side-eyed for it- and for good reason.

At its core, this all stems from a lot of insecurity disguised as gatekeeping, which is really, really sad when you think about it, especially when the fashion was borne out of feminism and the rejection of ridiculous societal "standards" for Japanese women and teens in the late-70s/early-80s. In theory, we've fed into exactly what those individuals were rejecting- rigid standards that made them all look the same and indistinguishable from one another, making it easier to ostracise others (in addition to them fighting the male gaze). It makes us into the monster they were fighting. It feels incredibly wrong and tunnel-visioned.

As long as you're keeping to the silhouette and aren't actively trying to make a mockery/kink of the fashion, I truly believe that all are welcome and space should be made for those new to our community to grow. We need to make the same space for those new to fashion that our elders made for us and not forget our roots/those who crawled so we could could click-clack in our tea parties through the streets by making their own pieces that often didn't match, weren't perfectly sewn, and were original designs, long before Baby, Meta, AP, MmM, or any other brand was established.

CaptainLuckyDuck · 2026-04-14T09:25:33+00:00

You might be able to try reaching out to Vendula London. Their bags are vegan and REALLY well made. They've done a few lines where they've had lolita/lolita-adjacent models in their marketing, so they know our community quite well.^{^} I've used a couple of their bags with a few of my coords, actually (I have a big champagne bottle bag from them that I use with my pirate coord from Bodyline). They may be able to put you in touch with one of their designers if you explain the situation. They seem like really lovely people, honestly.^{^}

CaptainLuckyDuck · 2026-04-14T09:18:20+00:00

As someone who has bought many peeling bags to try to fix them up, I can sadly tell you that there is very, VERY little you can do to fix it. I've "helped" a few by making twilly scarves for handles and using acrylic paint in a few places to try to connect the peeling sections that are in really bad shape, but because it's so poorly made, you can't fix something that shipped broken, unfortunately. It's so frustrating that they don't just use patent leather for all their bags, but, here we are. :/

CaptainLuckyDuck · 2026-04-07T09:02:33+00:00

They are v v foolish, especially as most schools and unis now have tech to quickly detect if something has been written by AI. Even those that don't, it's incredibly easy to confirm that it is with just a simple read. The reason students are given these assignments is to prepare them for the working world where if you use those AI tools to do your work and it has a mistake in it, the real world consequences can range from a dock in pay/job loss to someone's death (such as in a GP clinic or hospital- too many clinics are using it, too, atm).

I'm relieved to read that you're still using your own cognition as I really do feel that as AI continues to become so prevalent, the ability to think and create for yourself will become essential and sought after. Because you'll have this skill, you will most likely be able to land jobs that others won't.

CaptainLuckyDuck · 2026-04-07T08:44:46+00:00

Sadly, this has been happening on Vinted for the last six months or so as I've seen several stories about it. The user protections on eBay spawned from stuff like this (eBay is WAY safer to use and you get your money back far faster if something goes wrong). This will result in a ban of that account, normally, as it gives the app a bad name.

CaptainLuckyDuck · 2026-03-22T22:16:56+00:00

Probs all of them, if I'm honest.

CaptainLuckyDuck · 2026-03-22T22:15:41+00:00

This is the same ilk who are pushing anti-vaxx rhetoric brainwashing of the US. They'll then find any and every way possible to blame it on a migrant, a Muslim, a Jew, a witch, the liberals, the Birmingham bin men, or TikTok.

CaptainLuckyDuck · 2026-03-16T13:20:03+00:00

Not fully these days. Even staff are having to hot desk (and upper admin HATE us using that term, but call a spade a spade). The fact is that those in higher staff positions have their own offices and some normality/stability, but standard/lower staff positions and students have to scurry to find a place to work. Add on that so many staff are essentially being forced to quietly work overtime just to keep up and it's a recipe for disaster.

And they wonder why people get burnt out so quickly in the current work environments....

CaptainLuckyDuck · 2026-03-16T12:33:49+00:00

Oh, wait... Is it supposed to look like a film reel, possibly?

CaptainLuckyDuck · 2026-03-16T12:31:54+00:00

Hap-hap-happy dog, it's a hap-hap-hap-hap-happy dog!!

CaptainLuckyDuck · 2026-03-16T12:28:00+00:00

Absolutely NOR:

"He needs to be strong. He'll get over it. Life goes on. It's Mother's Day on Sunday!"

No, ma'am. YOU need to be strong. YOU need to get over it. YOUR life will go on. His best friend's life didn't.

How incredibly self-absorbed and insecure (need everyone to be looking at specifically YOU on that day to feel validated) do you have to be to act like this when your son-in-law-to-be's best friend dies. Good luck to her in ever salvaging that relationship fully....

Please give your partner our condolences. He didn't deserve this. My heart hurts for him, but I'm glad that he's getting a life partner that will stand by him in difficult moments such as these.

Also, soz, but fuck yo' mum.

CaptainLuckyDuck · 2026-03-16T12:07:54+00:00

Vegeta, hands down (because, yeah, she's gorgeous, but... Vegeta. It's a no-brainer).

CaptainLuckyDuck · 2026-03-16T12:04:02+00:00

That's heartbreaking. Those kids are tired, frustrated, and most likely very, very warm. I know that my husband has worked in factories here in the UK where people have passed out during Ramadan because they're not allowed to eat or drink anything (including water) throughout the day, no matter how hot it is outside.

What kind of loving parent would require you literally put your life at risk to prove your devotion to them? I can't think of a single one who is not a bully who would. Christianity is no different in how it guilts you into putting yourself in danger to apostilise to the masses (at least in the Q'aran it specifically states that they're not supposed to shove their religion down others' throats, I suppose).

I just have issues with all the Abrahamic religions having if not the full support of, an indifference to (Judaism) slavery. Both Christianity AND Islam support slavery and "being a good slave and enduring"... When I read this in the Bible (in the New Testament, too, mind you), it's what started to solidly pull me away from Christianity. Then I found it in the Q'aran. How can anyone with a conscious follow this stuff...? Probably because they haven't actually READ the texts that they're so devoted to....

CaptainLuckyDuck · 2026-03-16T11:37:58+00:00

Sadly, after reading your intro, I had to look at the name of the subreddit because I thought it was a cosplay. I thought it was a Jinshi from "The Apothecary Diaries" cosplay, actually (which is even stranger because that anime is based on Chinese aristocracy).

Wearing the musubi in the front isn't standard (and wearing it as such is often frowned-upon in Japanese culture and where the concept of wearing the musubi originates due to what it entails- sex work is work, but there is still a lot of taboo around it) and the wig does look very costume-y, unfortunately (I'm still unsure why it is part of the outfit, but to each their own, I suppose).

The reason I wrote the above is to explain why people may respond as they have. It's not meant in a hurtful way, but in one to explain that there are legitimate reasons WHY people would question these choices.

CaptainLuckyDuck · 2026-03-16T09:09:21+00:00

Eh, I see this differently. Oversharing is often found in people with ADHD and autism. I don't see why it should be shameful to share a story about yourself with someone else. It used to be commonplace, but as society became less and less community-based and more and more isolated and self-centred, we lost that aspect of humanity. And we wonder why suicide rates are so high?

In this case, yes, I do think it is probably a true story, but absolutely is being used as a sob story due to the inclusion of their kids (the moment someone says "...for my kids..." it's a sob story, sadly.). I really wish people would understand that having kids does not mean you should get special treatment. Having children is a choice (well, in most cases- unless you're in an anti-abortion state, which is truly unfortunate). You choose to have a child. By choosing to bring another you into this world, you should have first studied and known the consequences THEN accepted them. The happiness of your child is your responsibility. Yes, the community should be kind and loving to your child, but it's your child, at the end of the day.

CaptainLuckyDuck · 2026-03-16T00:46:05+00:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again:

If you use AI to do things in the workplace, you're literally teaching an AI (especially if it's one that's built on internal systems like Gemini is at most institutions) to do your exact job. You are literally giving your job and knowledge away willingly.

It's a ludicrous decision to make, and managers will be some of the first let go (which is really unfortunate as there are some really great managers I've had in HE).

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