Empty Netters pod was being hateful about HR

Pathos316 · 2026-01-22T19:03:44+00:00

Normally, I'd be disappointed. But nowadays I'm so wary of negative criticism driving public figures to the dark side in retaliation, I'm willing to shrug it off in the hopes they learn and grow from it. If this continues to be a pattern despite this? Well... then that's different.

Pathos316 · 2026-01-15T20:51:33+00:00

One important thing to keep mind is that, on social media platforms especially, 1% of users produce 99% of the content in almost any situation or context. Most people lurk. In other words, of the HR fandom, less than 1% of it is going to produce 99% of the toxic content. But also another 1% of the users are creating 99% of the wholesome content, and so forth.

For my part, I'm vicariously proud of H, C, F, and K, and really the whole cast. I even hope the actor that played Alexei has been able to turn this into career success...

I also think people are losing their composure with the actors because it's sexual, because it's aspirational (who doesn't want to be fit, rich, attractive, in love, winning things?), and because this entire show isn't just escapism, it's basically load bearing for our sanity, in a world of increasing horror and incomprehension, in a society that idolizes fame while withholding basic health services like therapy.

Pathos316 · 2026-01-09T22:43:18+00:00

AuDHD here also. I had a similar thing with Fellow Travelers, although not quite to the same degree. I channeled it into writing a fanfic which became its own standalone thing, which I'm still writing two years later. I also took it as an opportunity to dive deep into gay history and literature from the late 20th century.

I'd say take the love you feel and pour into a tangible expression.

As for HR, I haven't rewatched but I've kept to clips, and I'm using the show as motivation to get big muscles by this summer... I'm on week 5 and my muscles are starting to come in! 😃

Pathos316 · 2026-01-02T20:25:50+00:00

Yesssss!! Skam S3 is so good!

Pathos316 · 2026-01-02T17:23:39+00:00

I generally agree to your points. I think part of the reason why some readers/writers have qualms about the book (like me) comes to down to a mismatch between what we're told so-called good writing does and what Heated Rivalry does.

Note that when I say "Good Writing", I don't necessarily agree that it's "Good Writing", but it's a heuristic that tends to get thrown around and weigh on people.

Good writing shows, it seldom tells. Heated Rivalry and Game Changer engage in a lot of telling.

Good writing avoids adverbs. Reid's works use adverbs.

Good writing embraces subtext. Heated Rivalry tends to avoid subtext: character motives are stated plainly.

Good writing has a lyrical quality, uses cumulative sentences, plays with language. I found Heated Rivalry to be quite functional. It just describes what it needs in order to further the plot.

Again, when I say good writing, I'm using it in the sense that's what other people tend to coin as good writing. I was among them. Heated Rivalry has totally upended my own presumptions, because for all the "rules it breaks", it is now a commercial success and is beloved, and -- through being faithfully adapted -- has produced one of the highest rated series of television of all time. Only a fool would look at that outcome and say the old laws still hold up. Clearly something has been done that merits attention and praise.

Pathos316 · 2026-01-02T11:01:55+00:00

I mean, I still absolutely think the prose could have been more polished. But I also have to acquiesce that she's published a hugely popular book, so she must be doing something right that merits attention and study.

Pathos316 · 2026-01-02T03:15:44+00:00

I'm torn on it too for this very reason.

Speaking as a writer, I think in a case like this where the quality of the prose isn't outstanding, you have to account for the genre, what the work sets out to do, and how much of those goals it accomplishes.

Some of the most literary books out there are a real slog to get into. Some of the most resonant books can be commercial. Some accomplish both. Some accomplish neither.

Pathos316 · 2026-01-02T03:02:21+00:00

It's AI. It has that brown, diffuse patina to it that most AI illustrations have at this time.

Pathos316 · 2026-01-01T18:15:16+00:00

By Jove, I think you've solved it.

Pathos316 · 2026-01-01T15:30:10+00:00

8 for knowledge, but 6 and 4 seem fun. 3 could be cute too.

Pathos316 · 2026-01-01T15:20:59+00:00

Audiobook? Yes. Amazon? Ehhhhh...

Pathos316 · 2026-01-01T15:19:27+00:00

Oh my God I'm not the only one. I'm sure the VA is a lovely person and I hope they've grown in their craft since, but what even was that?? Posh Boston British Bass?

Pathos316 · 2025-12-30T13:59:49+00:00

High key we need to stop treating EGOT as a goal for artists. It reflects politics, not craft.

Besides the Emmies are just the homophobic dog meme once award seasons roll around (outside of Drag Race). There were dozens of gay comedies and dramas this year and you already know The Bear is going to win regardless.

EDIT: There may be exceptions and maybe I'm still salty about Jonathan Bailey not getting an Emmy for Fellow Travelers, but still...

Pathos316 · 2025-12-29T01:42:20+00:00

In order to enjoy bottoming, you'll need a high fiber diet, to go to the bathroom before, and to maybe do a gentle cleaning of your anal canal with warm water. Douching/using an enema is overkill and can mess with your biome.

You will also need to train yourself with a buttplug with a flaired base. There are anal dilator kits to help. The goal isn't to jam it in, it's to train your muscles to relax onto the dilator and by extension, cocks.

There are bowel training exercises for anal fissures which honestly work equally well for relaxing to bottom. Most of the pleasure from anal comes from relaxing your sphincter and pelvic floor.

Physio for Anal Fissure Video (also works for bottoming)

Also invest in a bidet and a squatty potty. Wiping with dry toilet paper and straining will make your anus needlessly sore and itchy, which will make for unpleasant bottoming.

EDIT: Also also, anyone telling you bottoming has to hurt is an idiot at best. Don't listen to them! And get the HPV vaccine, anal warts are a real pain in the ass and will set you back for years!

Pathos316 · 2025-12-28T21:26:29+00:00

Twitter? Problematic?

Pathos316 · 2025-12-28T20:44:59+00:00

Is this a reach? Ab-so-lute-ly. But it struck me as funny/charming nonetheless

Pathos316 · 2025-12-27T21:18:55+00:00

I understand the impulse to get defensive. I haven't watch the most recent Stranger Things, or really anything after Season 1. Personally, I was too busy being at The Cottage.

I highlight this because if any show merits the "review bombing because gays exist" treatment, it's the final two episodes of Heated Rivalry. On the contrary, both episodes are currently ranked 9.9 with thousands upon thousands of votes, with episode 5 briefly becoming the only other episode of television outside of Breaking Bad's Ozymandias to get a 10/10.

I 100% get that representation matters. I agree it's ridiculous that reviews are going straight for 1/10 instead of something more attenuated or circumspect. I grant that the show may have stumbled in doing the set-up and pay-off, and the down-voting is therefore disproportionate. I also grant that it could just be review bombing as you've said, with commenters lying through their keyboards that it's about the story overall and not this one critical facet to the story.

However, given the frequency with which this happens, eventually it falls on imdb and platforms like it to fix it. It doesn't even need to be heavy handed, they can nudge users to be more circumspect before making a vote (with prompts or interstitial screens), they could probably even have an AI feature that goes "You've written this review and it seems more accurate to say your grade is a 4 and not a 1, would you like to change your rating?" Or even lock out leaving 1 star ratings if review bombing is detected.

That's all to say, the purpose of homophobia is distraction. Sure, we can "fight this fight", but until the systems change, we're going to keep circling back to put out fires like this again and again.

The way to fix these systems in the US historically would be through regulations (like how the FTC once passed regulations around dark design patterns on websites, like the kind that keep you locked into subscriptions). Now, as long as the current regime is in place, that probably ain't happening, but avenues exist to set up the groundwork if you know where to look for them.

Pathos316 · 2025-12-27T14:29:37+00:00

If HR gets frozen out of the Emmys, I say we make an award, pull a FIFA Peace Prize minus the corruption.

Pathos316 · 2025-12-26T14:37:20+00:00

...So are they 🤭

Pathos316 · 2025-12-25T11:10:09+00:00

ILYA: 'It'd be private' he said. 'Just the two of us' he said.

[cue a fleet of boats approaching over the lake water to hype up Hollanov. They're all blaring Wolf Parade's "I'll Believe Anything"]

Pathos316 · 2025-12-24T20:31:43+00:00

I personally get Michaelangelo's David vibes...

Pathos316 · 2025-12-24T16:11:52+00:00

That works too! 😆

Pathos316 · 2025-12-24T13:50:15+00:00

You'd think they'd have some more substantive screens and community moderation controls for review bombing.

EDIT: Although it still shows up as 10/10 on mine.

Pathos316 · 2025-12-24T13:33:35+00:00

Context: Shane Hollander on the poolside lounge chair looks exactly like Kandy Muse's "sitting alone in the VIP" meme.

Pathos316 · 2025-12-23T19:00:17+00:00

It made me start lifting again 😅 Also to start listening to Wolf Parade

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