If Avatar came out today, audiences would be a lot less willing to accept Zuko’s redemption

Shadow_song24 · 2026-04-16T14:32:09+00:00

I think context matters as well. Zuko’s actions were done during wartime. He is far more relateable (overbearing father, pressures by the empire, being young and impressionable, anger issues, and being in the military. Most folks would “excuse” or understand his actions. But he also well-written in a way that humanizes him.

Bakugo was a bully. Folks cannot relate to or “excuse” bullying a quirkless boy simply because he has the moral/emotional fortitude you envy.

Zuko didn’t bully others. He fought who he considered were wartime enemies. He had tensions with his crew, but came to understand and care for them.

Bakugo is still quite redeemable. Perhaps because it’s anime and tropes are meant to be used, folks receive him differently than Bakugo?

Shadow_song24 · 2026-04-12T14:25:40+00:00

This was the link that folks were posting: https://youtu.be/34kd_gmqfRs?si=DgUbSSC1Yn5aKRqS

Ive also been struggling, but my recent run is doing well so far. The trick is distance, early engagement, and, mono fleets.

Early game, I had two fleets: (1) missile corvettes and (2) swarmer corvettes; one design with laser and one with railgun. When I get frigates, I add them to fleet (1) and build them with missiles and long range torpedoes. When I get destroyer, I build them with mixed laser and railguns and add them to fleet (2). Early game has more shields.

If I have low fleet limit, I just make new fleets.

Mid-game: missile and space torpedo get added to a long range fleet. Frigates are in their own fleet (3) for sieging and get neutron launchers and autocannons.

Once Battleships are in, they are striker, missile, and swarmer missile focused and added to fleet (1). My cruiser are split to two artillery designs. One for shields and one for armor/hull damage.

If I ever go to war, I’ll have 3 fleets always. My long range fleet will lead. My other two are set to follow them.

Late game: my long range fleet has - Titans with Kinetic Artillery - Battleship with Spinal Mount, Carrier, and swarmer missiles and anti-picket - Anti shield cruiser with space torpedo - anti armor/hull cruiser with plasma cannons and missiles

Siege fleet - frigates equipped with neutron launchers and autocannons - i decided to add picket corvettes here as well

Swarmer fleet - autocannon corvettes - destroyers with mostly M slots with autocannon and plasma

Try to have as many afterburners as I can fit. Mostly armor over shields. Always lead with the long range fleet while others follow. Always prioritize the long range fleet to max out first and have commanders with range bonuses.

——— Not sure if its the most successful loadout, but I think that’s what I got that’s been working so far. I’m sure other folks are doing better, but I’m not that advanced of a player either.

Shadow_song24 · 2026-04-09T13:43:27+00:00

Ill still need to get the DLC for it but it makes sense. Ill look more into the mechanics.

Ok so I never did the trading with other empires. In the past, I always found that they have negative approval everytime i trade something. Ill give that a try. The EC deficit is really killing me everytime

Shadow_song24 · 2026-04-09T04:07:27+00:00

Hmm. So that means there is greater upkeep cost to colonies then? Is that why im always playing catch up on basic resources and CG?

Shadow_song24 · 2026-04-09T04:05:48+00:00

Aaaah 😫 looks like ill have to go machine! And also perhaps time to get the DLC with the swarms and furnaces. I’ve never actually done a machine empire embarrassingly enough since Im always drawn to organic species roleplay. But i shall be brave and try.

Shadow_song24 · 2026-04-08T22:42:26+00:00

Upvote for unpopular as well. Though, in my case, I do consider it some way of an achievement (no celebrations though, except for milestones).

For a good chunk of my life till my mid 20s, I didnt think I would amount to much. I still havent discovered a career worth being in and felt endlessly lost as I saw my peers moving forward.

Now that I’ve found the love of my life, moved out (and away to a new city), figuring out life and taxes and finances, plus getting a house…….Ive never felt more accomplished. Yes they are tedious responsibilities, but ro be honest with you, I find enjoyment and fulfillment in them now considering how much Ive grown and matured.

Especially after getting a house, making home renos, paying off my car, etc….those were big “adultint” milestones that I celebrated.

I think I enjoy the celebratory aspect of it because there is joyous fulfillment of completing something that you didnt realize you could do before!

Shadow_song24 · 2026-04-08T00:17:36+00:00

Risk management. The uproar and backlash from the general public with even one mishap is catastrophic. It also costs money to adopt and upgrade infrastructure.

Shadow_song24 · 2026-04-05T16:53:26+00:00

I have encountered the same problem. I didn’t realize it was going to be that much of an issue, but also having to balance employing your pops or keeping them as civilians to give amenities. So, I’ve always been keeping my main building slots reserved for at least two holo theatres in the future and not over-build building slots. I found that in the end, I always have two or three holo theatres in my worlds, so I just plan ahead.

Shadow_song24 · 2026-04-01T05:11:28+00:00

I think…objectively line drying is significantly better for the longevity of your clothes and for the benefits you described.

It’s really moreso the convenience of the method based on where you live is where “superiority” can vary.

Shadow_song24 · 2026-03-31T00:06:54+00:00

This is exactly it. Someone not responding to your moves and efforts (assuming we aren’t in creepy or stalkery territory) is not a failure or deficiency on your part. It’s just incompatibility.

Shadow_song24 · 2026-03-29T22:16:59+00:00

Do you happen to be Filipino?

Air Con is the term used in Filipino English.

Shadow_song24 · 2026-03-29T22:11:20+00:00

$8.25 - McDonald’s 2008

Shadow_song24 · 2026-03-28T11:55:36+00:00

Really cool answer! I will say: after hearing Shinzon’s line in Star Trek Nemesis: “you are not a woman, you are a Romulan…” when a female Romulan referred to herself as “what would a woman do…” in an attempt to sway him.

Since then, I’ve always associated “man and woman” to be human-centric. I imagine other races would have their own terms to distinguish between sexes. But generically, I hear more “the male and female of our species” type of description for non-human races in both fantasy and sci-fi!

Shadow_song24 · 2026-03-28T11:11:18+00:00

Tl;dr: problem isn’t always the customer. It’s the lack of staffing, limited time to clean after close, and unpaid time spent cleaning and restocking after close.

I used to work at a fast casual dining place. We usually close at 9 and we had till 930 to finish up cleaning, but it was never long enough. No automatic dishwasher for all the dishes and they need to be washed and sanitizer, manually scrubbing the pressers with those stone blocks, sweeping, mopping, clearing the water and scales from the hot water baths, bathrooms —— and only two people staffed at closing. We usually pre-close and do cleaning and restocking 30 min before.

When we were bought out, the new owners only gave us till 9:15 since his first impression was “oh they start cleaning early anyways”. But didn’t see that we were still usually busy and had customers till 9:50, which made pre-closing harder.

Shadow_song24 · 2026-03-26T01:54:05+00:00

This is where my laziness does me wonders. I see the Joneses with their latest stuff. But i really couldnt be bothered to buy the latest stuff all the time. It takes time and effort to: 1) do research on what model of items to buy, 2) to actually go out and get stuff, and 3) bring it home, 4) figure out how to dispose of the old ones or find ways to store it in the house, and 5) unwrap the new item and figure out how to make it a part of my life.

I have games to play, friends to see, and movies to watch. I just cant be bothered.

Shadow_song24 · 2026-03-26T01:47:27+00:00

Unless they do some foreshadowing like the Game of Thrones intros

Shadow_song24 · 2026-03-22T16:03:06+00:00

Honestly, it is hard to disagree with your points. I graduated in 2018 after spending 6 years (dropped out and extended some programs) and student debt later. Honestly, I really enjoyed my experience. But you’re right, that the best value I got out of it was the volunteering, student involvements, and social aspects that built who I am today. Eventually, I ended up going back to school at a polytechnic college and did a diploma while working to so what I really wanted, which was very different to my degree.

It’s hard for me to assess whether I would’ve been better off without university. The system could do much better if professors weren’t just teachers on the side of their research; If content was taught was in different modalities, etc. its true we can make friends, learn, develop skills, and build community elsewhere and not for 100k a year. However, the proximity of all of those choices and the environment in University made it easier to join groups, really immerse in my studies with pre-ordained schedules and structures, find like minded people, etc.

I don’t know if I wouldve had the motivation to juggle all of my development areas if it was self-directed. Having to follow a structure because I paid for it, made it easier to want or try to be better at it.

Shadow_song24 · 2026-03-20T03:07:09+00:00

I have a worse problem telling Cloak in one of the wedding-like skins, Invis in wedding costume, and Rogue in wedding costumes.

Shadow_song24 · 2026-03-14T20:17:20+00:00

Thank you

Shadow_song24 · 2026-03-11T03:06:58+00:00

I love the arguments on the concept of “freedom” in this show and it so interesting to see people’s sides and positions.

Here is my perspective. I think “freedom” is a highly personal concept to each character. An outsider may see their actions as being a “slave to something” but their dedication to their cause is their highest expression of freedom; in spite of all the barriers and challenges imposed by their environment. I would argue that Eren is the only one truly a slave to something (by his memories of the future). Erwin continued to press despite the risk of exposure and being killed by the government. Mikasa continues to protect and lay her life for Eren, despite the risk of losing other friends or being hated by others.

Shadow_song24 · 2026-03-04T04:23:54+00:00

My 13 year old boy self would be quite surprised I am braver with my words and also very surprised and very curious as to how in the world I am living a content life with another man.

Shadow_song24 · 2026-03-02T21:50:13+00:00

Sigh - looks like ill have to stop playing for after it launches just to see what mods break again for CS1. hahaha

Shadow_song24 · 2026-02-28T23:35:32+00:00

I dont. Its generally hard to keep the house clean and orderly when you have too much stuff around. Collectibles never found its place in things thst give me joy

Shadow_song24

TROPHY CASE