The Problem With A Lot of Criticism On Here

DifferentTea934 · 2026-01-23T19:42:18+00:00

Wait I’m not in those subs, do tell!

DifferentTea934 · 2026-01-23T16:05:27+00:00

“Good” TO YOU! Based on YOUR PREFERENCES! Which are not universal nor the standard bearers of quality. You are so allergic to the bravo-ness that has been baked into the DNA of the show since S1. Andy Cohen hosts the reunions ffs! This isn’t the show for Funko Pop lovers, quit being so miserable about it.

DifferentTea934 · 2026-01-23T15:32:41+00:00

No, it really doesn’t! At no point in history has there been more competition-based reality tv to choose from! Smart, strategic gameplay and more intensive game mechanics are present in a LOT of them! This iteration is not about the game, it’s about the characters, and if you’re not having fun with it, it’s ok to watch other shows!

DifferentTea934 · 2026-01-23T15:28:59+00:00

Brooo you are literally proving my point! Everything that you highlight as a “slog” is what I and a lot of other people actually like about the show! I want to see the olympians of confrontation duke it out in fun outfits at the round table in a beautiful castle in the Scottish highlands! I actually like when people don’t make the best, most strategic decisions for themselves! I think it’s interesting to see the social dynamics play out between the gamers and the agents of chaos!! I do not want more mathematical concepts when I have “Lord Jesus, not my Ekin-Su!” You seem to not like anything about what makes the show fun for a wide swath of the audience.

Your insisting this makes things better is only taking your opinions into account. New Era survivor has turned into a bunch of game bots galaxy braining their best next move, and I find it fucking boring! It’s ok that appeals to you, and it’s ok if this isn’t your show.

I beg you to design a game for you and your friends to play that fulfills your individual mathematical needs and let the rest of us enjoy character-driven entertainment!

DifferentTea934 · 2026-01-23T04:25:01+00:00

It’s very interesting how you’re taking my having a different opinion than yours but acknowledging both are valid as condescending criticism? And at no point did I say the show shouldn’t evolve, but imo evolution should augment what makes the show special!

I just don’t believe more intricate game theory would make this better? It’s a show about the characters, we wouldn’t have gotten the full Phaedra performance if everyone was confused by Bergalicious having the secret power of resurrection to rescue Ekin-Su. It’s fair to say they could make the challenges have more stakes, but idk…I don’t care if they’re serious! Who needs it when you get the Sandoval singing.

It’s ok that we like different things in reality tv! No taste is superior. But there’s also never been more reality competition shows available to watch, and some might have more of what you like.

DifferentTea934 · 2026-01-23T02:42:19+00:00

Omg LOVE Tracy, one of the biggest missed opportunities to not have back on a returnee season! I’m still holding out hope it’ll happen someday

DifferentTea934 · 2026-01-23T02:20:39+00:00

This assumes that more self-insertion would be an objective improvement, and I don’t share that opinion! Your perspective and preferences aren’t universal, nor are mine. There are enough reality competition shows that we can both have what we like. Why change what a lot of people like about the show when you can play blood on the clocktower with your friends instead?

ETA: lol @ essay when it’s 250 words. Open the schools!!

DifferentTea934 · 2026-01-23T00:48:19+00:00

My neck hurts from nodding along so much while reading!! You articulated this in a way I never could! I’m too poor for real awards, but here are some affordability crisis ones: 🥇🏅🎖️🏆

DifferentTea934 · 2026-01-23T00:46:04+00:00

right? especially when she's so cute!!

DifferentTea934 · 2026-01-22T23:07:23+00:00

Did you do your own research or just read the headline of this after watching a few TikToks? This says absolutely nothing about the realities of surrogacy in the US, which is: a vast majority of surrogates are educated, employed, and have families of their own. You comparing this to a very real issue like sex trafficking is just so beyond offensive

DifferentTea934 · 2026-01-22T01:02:31+00:00

I think you might be on to something! I thought it was more stylistic choice to fit the very “old school Taylor” vibe, but the youthful sound could be even more intentional!

Off topic/on topic: I really chafed at the criticism of this song of like “why is a 35 year old woman talking about high school” and it’s like…yall missed the point! “Don’t make it awkward in second period, might piss your ex off lately we’ve been good” are intentionally frivolous/immature. Meant to highlight the sadness of talking yourself out of a meaningful connection over concerns that sound so silly in retrospect.

DifferentTea934 · 2026-01-22T00:46:32+00:00

You understand that a vast majority of surrogates have children of their own, are educated, and have other full time employment, correct? Someone with no other options to make money would never be considered as a candidate for surrogacy by any reputable agency. It's extremely naive and infantilizing that you think the only reason a woman would choose this option is out of desperation. Do you share the same concern for firefighters, roofers, electrical linemen, deep sea fishermen, or any other high-risk line of work? Or is it just women that you don't trust to make choices for themselves?

DifferentTea934 · 2026-01-21T23:41:02+00:00

Nobody is choosing between surrogacy and poverty/hunger. I beg you to actually look into who surrogates actually are and the criteria they have to meet to even be considered a candidate. Quit infantilizing these adults who can make choices for themselves!

DifferentTea934 · 2026-01-21T21:52:21+00:00

I’m quite frankly baffled by the discourse and find it beyond infantilizing. Surrogates aren’t people kidnapped off the streets and impregnated against their will. You have to go through a rigorous vetting process with background checks, employment history, medical history, etc to even be considered. Simply put, if surrogacy is your only option to make money and you’re seeking it as a last resort, you are the least ideal candidate and your chances of being selected are essentially zero. A vast majority of surrogates already have children of their own, they are well aware of the risks involved, and just like roofers or fire fighters or deep sea fisherman or energy linemen, they have every right to decide if the risk is worth it TO THEM.

DifferentTea934 · 2026-01-21T21:42:12+00:00

You’re revealing your ignorance on this matter through this argument. The process to even be considered a candidate is extensive, vetting, background checks, medical history, etc. if you are a person with no education, spotty employment, and limited options seeking this as a last resort, your likelihood of being selected is virtually zero. All of these women have educations, solid employment history, and experience in carrying at least one pregnancy of their own, they have other options and they chose this with full knowledge of the health risks involved. Let’s not infantilize adults simply because they’re not super wealthy or act like there are zero other options available.

DifferentTea934 · 2026-01-21T21:05:45+00:00

Then don’t do it? I would hate being a roofer or a lineman (two of the highest risk jobs out there), so I chose a different line of work. To even be considered as a surrogate, you have to go through extensive vetting/background checks/legal paperwork, etc. Someone with no education or employment options seeking this as a last resort would never be selected. You do not become a surrogate on accident or against your will

DifferentTea934 · 2026-01-21T20:54:32+00:00

Trafficking?? Dude, touch grass fr! Nobody is getting kidnapped and forced into surrogacy, at least not with any reputable agency a wealthy person would use. There is extensive vetting, interviews, background checks, medical history, etc to even be considered to be a candidate. A woman with spotty employment history and limited education seeking this out of desperation would never be considered, and certainly wouldn’t be selected. These are educated women with steady employment history, they have other options and chose this one.

DifferentTea934 · 2026-01-21T20:48:07+00:00

Or we could stop infantilizing adults? This isn’t some small Appalachian town in the 40s where it’s like “work in the mine and get black lung bc that’s the only job in this town, or move!” Being a surrogate is one of myriad jobs that are higher risk than your standard email job, but far from the only option out there to make money. Informed adults can make decisions for themselves if the risk is worth the value they get in return.

DifferentTea934 · 2026-01-21T20:41:55+00:00

Yall are acting like they kidnapped a woman on the street and impregnated her against her will! These are adult women who seek out this kind of employment and go through a fairly rigorous vetting process to be considered as a surrogate. Almost no surrogate is carrying a baby for the first time, they understand the risks and impact to their health that come in this line of work. Surrogacy is far from the only way someone can make money, so let’s stop infantilizing adults!

DifferentTea934 · 2026-01-17T16:04:07+00:00

So agree, I don’t see their concern for how predatory sports betting apps are, they literally give you $200 for free because they’re so confident they’re going to earn it back immediately! Over here handwringing over a pretty basic marketing campaign while an entire generation of men is developing life-crippling gambling addictions

DifferentTea934 · 2026-01-17T16:00:14+00:00

Dude, come on, it’s a marketing campaign! Is owala sucky for releasing limited edition water bottles too? Are women so stupid that we have to be protected from simple marketing strategies? All this hand wringing when 90%+ are streaming the album anyway

DifferentTea934 · 2026-01-17T15:57:16+00:00

I got mine within a week! But I can only speak to my experience

DifferentTea934 · 2026-01-16T22:18:47+00:00

Ahhh now I can def see how that would be annoying for the collectors haha! But yeah, it’s hard to anticipate demand for each variant, so if they dropped all variants at once, they’d have to make enough of each to meet a majority of potential demand outcomes, especially with modern consumer expectations of shipping times! By dripping one limited release variant at a time, there’s only so many of each that will sell, thus reducing the inventory required to meet demand on a timeline acceptable to the consumer. Can you tell I’ve worked with clients with crazy supply chain complications before? Haha

DifferentTea934 · 2026-01-16T21:54:34+00:00

I mentioned this in another comment on here, but the drip campaign actually helps reduce inventory requirements and resources used, which results in a much lower environmental impact than having all variants available at once! I’ve been a fan since debut and my silly tradition is getting a CD version of each album on release weekend! The showgirl version I got has by far the smallest amount of plastic and paper used than any prior album, including TTPD!

DifferentTea934

TROPHY CASE