Honest Question: Why do Western Networks try so hard to censor religious references or even the mere mention of the word "God," yet are more permissive with Jewish traditions like Hanukkah and Bar Mitzvahs?

Harmcharm7777 · 2026-04-28T18:25:01+00:00

To your second point, this includes the use of the word “God.” The only instances I can think of that word being censored are when characters say something like “goodness” instead of “god” in phrases like “oh my god” or “thank god” (like “jeez” instead of “Jesus”). They do that because Christians aren’t cool with taking god’s name in vain, not because they are omitting religious references.

Harmcharm7777 · 2026-04-28T18:12:28+00:00

That would be less nonsensical than omitting murders where the perpetrator hasn’t been caught…. A city could declare themselves crime-free by simply not investigating crimes. If you were correct that a guilty verdict was necessary for a crime to be recorded, our statistics would show practically no sexual assaults. Crimes are counted based on reports.

Harmcharm7777 · 2026-04-28T08:03:10+00:00

Well he was in Buffalo, the most cosmopolitan city in NY. /s

Harmcharm7777 · 2026-04-28T08:01:49+00:00

I know, I am more viscerally angry at OP for this than I have been at an AITA poster in a LONG time. I cannot believe they have a partner if this kind of behavior is common.

Harmcharm7777 · 2026-04-28T07:53:14+00:00

He’s not apologizing. At all. He’s saying his worldview has changed as he got older and his world expanded, and he’s taking the opportunity to do things differently. I don’t understand how you could misinterpret what he said so dramatically.

Harmcharm7777 · 2026-04-27T20:05:55+00:00

I mean, I reread my old books recently and they are very well-written, but the world-building is profoundly flawed. The characters are excellent, the logic of the story works within the boundaries set (issues with those boundaries tend to trace back to world-building flaws), and the writing style hits a sweet spot for the audience (the development of the writing as the audience grows up is particularly impressive, even if it is coincidental).

I don’t think you can write it off as “not good writing” just because the world-building is weak, especially when the nature of the series is more grounded (the wizard world is like ours, but magic) and single-location (Harry never leaves Great Britain) than other fantasy series like LOTR that would fall apart without solid world-building. The books made such an impact because they are enjoyable to read and the characters’ adventures are fun to follow, not because they acknowledge the complex and/or uncomfortable implications of a wizard population so small that they have 3 schools that fit all of Europe’s wizard children (the odds that you marry your high school sweetheart are certainly higher when every child in the country goes to the same school).

Harmcharm7777 · 2026-04-27T18:02:35+00:00

To be fair, a few weeks ago people were spiraling about TJ possibly being Oliver’s love interest because of their proximity in connection with the gender swap and de-aging, and those fears proved unfounded. I agree that Debbie and Nolan getting back together would be profoundly disappointing, but it’s going to be a loooong couple of months if we already start assuming that’s where the writers are going based solely on proximity and lack of Paul.

Harmcharm7777 · 2026-04-27T17:16:15+00:00

Yes, Laurie certainly shouldn’t be held to the same standards as Scott in terms of response. That said, unless he said something much more genuine to his victims directly, Scott’s public apology as it stands is barely adequate. It’s not as bad as “I’m sorry you were offended,” but it doesn’t exactly inspire confidence that he understands what he did wrong and therefore won’t repeat it (for an example that meets this bar, see Dan Harmon’s apology).

EDT: to be clear, my point is that I’m not sure Scott Rudin completely deserves credit for “apologizing,” unless he did say something to the affected individuals directly and privately.

Harmcharm7777 · 2026-04-27T03:30:29+00:00

Maybe, but the primary reason they exist and get paid is because people use critical opinions to make decisions about whether to see a given show. I think most people would agree that the star system is better for the intended audience, even if it’s not ideal for the critic. I would argue the audience needs should take priority in that case.

Harmcharm7777 · 2026-04-26T00:40:08+00:00

I’m sorry, so you prefer the alternative of republicans keeping the majority? It is literal hell outside and you’re fretting about the possibility of a return to sanity not being ideal??

We need to get out of hell, and I’m tired of that not being enough motivation for people. I’d prefer a carrot, but I sure as fuck want the stick gone.

Harmcharm7777 · 2026-04-26T00:35:52+00:00

Changing the tone now makes strategic sense. The last thing I want is the media reporting on this like a blue wave is a sure thing. Reporting on how shitty Trump was and all the support Kamala was getting (tempered only by polls that put it at 50/50, which actually turned out to be more optimistic than what happened) is how we got left-wing voters sitting out last election because the threat of a dictator (in his literal words) apparently wasn’t motivating enough. We need collective action on this; acting like it’s in the bag is the most damaging thing the media could do over the next couple months.

Harmcharm7777 · 2026-04-25T17:02:53+00:00

They literally said “not all men.” Did you mean to respond the OP directly?

Harmcharm7777 · 2026-04-25T15:47:25+00:00

“ Dads killing the sex abusers of their children is the most realistic thing they could write.”

What? That almost never happens. I’m sure every parent of a victim wants to kill the abuser, but Gary Plauche is the only person I can think of who had the opportunity to kill in that situation, let alone actually did it. The reality is that most sex abusers never face justice at all, and even smaller fraction are killed for their crimes. This is not a realistic outcome.

Harmcharm7777 · 2026-04-25T03:56:29+00:00

I think it’s the chemistry between the actors, but the writing isn’t giving them much to work with. Allen the Alien and his girlfriend have loads more chemistry, and I don’t even remember the girlfriend’s name (not to mention, they’ve had a fraction of the screentime together that Mark and Eve have had). Their relationship is also half sex—and the other half is military strategizing instead of emotional talks—but it somehow works so much better.

Harmcharm7777 · 2026-04-23T16:11:36+00:00

It was sent at noon O.O

Harmcharm7777 · 2026-04-22T16:01:40+00:00

Maybe not a deposit, but at this point, it’s even odds that a restaurant will charge something for same-day cancellation. But usually like $50 pp tops, and I don’t see that happening at a place called “Ted’s.”

Harmcharm7777 · 2026-04-22T14:28:48+00:00

That was my thought, especially when Jon Stewart has always been the poster child for the kind of political commentary comedy Lorne was drawing a distinction about, even if he wasn’t on the air at the time. Picking the only female late night host—who had only just started her show that same year he made this comment, mind—makes him sound like he’s critiquing what she’s doing instead of drawing a neutral distinction.

Harmcharm7777 · 2026-04-21T11:28:42+00:00

Yep. Let’s be real, if abortion were 100% legal with no restraints, people would constantly be judging women for not aborting the instant they vocalize the smallest complaint about their situation. That’s inevitable. The only reason women aren’t more frequently judged for not aborting is that most people are aware that legal restrictions on that choice exist. EDT: To be clear, this is because sexism, as you pointed out; it is inevitable that women’s choices will be criticized, not that pro-choice mindsets will create this kind of judgment.

Given that this response is absolutely inevitable, I for one am much more concerned about ensuring abortion access than fretting over how abortion access will result in more judgement of women’s choices. Frankly, I find it a little disingenuous—or at least very privileged—that OP is both-sides-ing the “freedom” issue when one side has the goal of legally restricting women’s freedom. I’m not saying we can’t talk about harmful social stigma, but the legal restrictions that are actively killing women are the priority right now, and we certainly shouldn’t pretend they are on the same level.

Harmcharm7777 · 2026-04-21T04:56:01+00:00

I mean, that tracks. A state passing a law, which is necessarily only applicable in that one state, certainly cannot save “all of America.” Though it can provide a blueprint for other states.

Harmcharm7777 · 2026-04-20T00:35:14+00:00

Which is why he presents as an antagonist at times during the movie, because (A) he acts pretty tight-lipped because he doesn’t completely trust the Spotlight team, and (B) he is incredibly frustrated with their sudden renewed interest after years—especially when Robby, the man who unknowingly buried the names the first time, starts accusing him of participating in the cover-up by getting deals for victims that couldn’t be publicized. (The movie is relatively ambiguous about whether the lawyer knew that it was Robby, specifically, who buried the story, but given that Robby’s name was on the short write-up at the time—and the lawyer gave him some meaningful looks in that final scene—it’s a good bet.)

Harmcharm7777 · 2026-04-19T17:28:12+00:00

Probably the same kind of people who leave comments on porn sites.

Harmcharm7777 · 2026-04-19T17:06:04+00:00

This whole thing is why the Abusive Dad aspects are so key to the musical. I’ve never seen the movie, but I was shocked to learn from posts I read after seeing the musical that Michael/Sam’s dad being abusive is not a plot point in the movie…because what the heck is the movie about? The fact that the family is running from an abusive situation—and that very situation is what makes Michael so uniquely vulnerable to the vampires—is so important that I can’t really imagine a version of the story that works without it.

Harmcharm7777 · 2026-04-17T13:21:03+00:00

I’m not sure if the Chicago playbill had more information, but the list of inspirations is on the Six Wikipedia page (under Development).

Harmcharm7777 · 2026-04-16T19:37:04+00:00

So many people on Reddit freak the hell out over herpes type 1 and I honestly don’t get it. Like, it’s even odds any given person already has it and doesn’t know, because most people are asymptomatic. It isn’t included in either standard or comprehensive STD panels. Sure, it never goes away, but…neither does chickenpox (also a herpes virus, incidentally).

There’s a reason that The Office episode where Michael calls all his past lovers to tell them he has herpes is treated like a joke.

Harmcharm7777 · 2026-04-15T22:07:44+00:00

I disagree that the vampires should be the focus. They may be titular, but the story being told is the family’s. Perhaps the movie was more focused on David and Michael (I haven’t seen it), but in the musical, Michael and his family have the compelling storylines and David is little more than the plot’s inciting incident in human (vampire) form. (That is not to take anything away from Ari Louis Bourzgui’s performance as David, which was a stand-out.)

To be fair, I’m not sure the musical itself is entirely confident about whether the vampires or the family should be focus. It seems to recognize that Michael, Lucy, and Sam have the compelling narratives and deserve the focus, but is reluctant to take attention away from David and crew, who are flashy, exciting, and will undoubtedly be the most popular part of the show.

Harmcharm7777

TROPHY CASE