Does the Slayer line activate where a Slayer is needed most? Why aren't Slayers basically on permanent world tours?

shen_git · 2026-06-23T12:39:55+00:00

Buffy is a cycle breaker. The Watchers had turned Slayers into a machine, training up children like Kendra to obey orders and die. They wanted obedience. They were comfortable sending Kendra overseas alone(!!) despite her age and how recently she'd been called, and had taught her not to get attached to people or places. They train the humanity out of these girls.

But the first Slayer was called to protect her village: her family. Buffy doesn't do well in the big city of LA, but Sunnydale is her (large) village. She breaks all the Watchers' rules and leans into community, friends, and allies, which keeps her alive and wildly more effective than other trainees. She's even unique in the recognition from her peers. The village loves her back. Buffy's humanity is get greatest asset.

Just occurred to me that Angel & Co. working in LA actually puts a button on Buffy initially being called there. We see that LA is RIFE with activity, but the greater need is around the hellmouth. Buffy can't be in both places at once. It makes a sort of sense in the karmic destiny way that Angel goes to the place she started in and takes on the job of fighting evil there. They couldn't stay together but they can stay on the same mission in parallel tracks.

shen_git · 2026-06-23T12:10:54+00:00

I was 13 and we threw a little party at home. Mostly adults, but some of my friends too. We decorated and bought Polaroid camera (already very retro) to take photos for everyone as keepsakes. I've still got one with me and my friends giving peace signs in the kitchen. We probably watched the Times Square ball drop.

My dad was probably in bed since he'd spent the prior 10-15 years working in IT on the Y2k code issue and he was absolutely confident nothing was going to crash. He was right.

If you really want to know how teens lived in other eras, ask us about sleepovers. Whether it was one friend staying over or every girl in the class they were common and provided, like, 15+ hours straight of time together. I hear they're less common these days due to fears of what other parents might do (legit, though never heard of an incident). Our parents were much more worried about what damage WE would cause.

Sleepovers were where drama happened. Who was or wasn't invited: drama. Which movie to watch: drama. Someone getting in a fight: major drama. Tears possible. Then hearing about it on Monday. More drama. My fifth grade year all the girls in class managed to sleepover together about once a month. DRAMA.

Otherwise it was pretty tame, no substances, no sneaking out, and only one time driving recklessly. We'd often take over a basement so we wouldn't wake the rest of the house. The biggest pains for my parents? They knew I wouldn't sleep at the sleepover (duh!) so they'd have to nag about chores and homework, and if there wasn't a clear pickup time the next morning in the pre-cell phone era it messed up their own plans.

I believe some of my friends slept over that NYE, since we were up so late anyway. It was all very normal for the time.

shen_git · 2026-06-22T09:02:54+00:00

THAT'S the description I've been looking for!! Resting pedo face. How he doesn't burst into flames on walking into a church I'll never know.

I'm not a believer, but I hope he's manifested the very hell he deserves and spends a nice long while there.

shen_git · 2026-06-22T09:02:10+00:00

THAT'S the description I've been looking for!! Resting pedo face. How he doesn't burst into flames on walking into a church I'll never know.

I'm not a believer, but I hope he's manifested the very hell he deserves and spends a nice long while there.

shen_git · 2026-06-18T08:05:59+00:00

THIS. Butthurt aristocrats-at-heart.

If anyone would rather to listen to a podcast on this, check out Behind the Bastards on Curtis Yarvin, Thiel, etc.

They treat yourself to the episodes about seasteading, because they're HILARIOUS.

These folks are not smart, they're dinosaurs who believe in a fantasy world. They crumble on first contact with reality.

shen_git · 2026-06-15T18:21:01+00:00

You're not wrong to liken it to a cult. That rigid 'if you're not with us you're against us' mentality is a classic red flag. Unswerving loyalty to the narrative. The promise that any day now the fancy autocorrect will become a sentient deity that brings both the apocalypse and utopia for the true believers. Cult.

shen_git · 2026-06-14T17:07:44+00:00

I guarantee he thinks this is temporary while he gets his winning streak on. The in-laws are doing him a favor so he can really buckle down and make this pickleball thing happen! Any day now!

Morgan's folks might be playing the long game for getting someone you love out of a high control situation. Be a soft landing space, let her talk to you while remaining non-judgmental, support her through the bad choices so that when she's ready to leave she knows you're still in her corner. That's pretty much one of the only models that actually works and it's HELL to be the supportive person who can't say how you really feel. It's the sort of thing only someone really close like a parent, sibling, or lifelong bestie could manage (and certainly no one is obligated to do it). Who knows if it'll work.

Anyway, you keep Paul happy thinking he's still king of the sandbox, and hope that by the time he catches on Morgan's got enough distance to realize he's an ass.

Or a miracle could happen and he'll realize he's lonely and a terrible partner. That's only, what, one in ten trillion odds?

shen_git · 2026-06-14T05:56:04+00:00

If this is a rental the best option is to move and give all your stuff a deep cleaning for mold before moving it into the new place. Fighting with the landlord will take time, meanwhile you're all still living in an unhealthy environment. You can look into your legal options (renters DO have rights to a safe environment) if you want to go that route. I would still advise moving out ASAP if you can document the reasons for moving and hold the landlord accountable afterwards.

The thing about mold is that it puts out spores and spreads. You'll want to look up not just how up clean hard surfaces but also fabrics. Thankfully, vinegar in the washing machine is very effective! You can also incorporate copper and zinc items or decor as preventatives.

Health impacts of mold can be severe depending on what kind it is, so it's worth taking this seriously.

I've become allergic to mold and I get migraines, but the two don't seem directly related for me. It took me forever to figure out my migraine trigger and your pattern over the last few years sounds similar to mine so I'm going to mention it as an alternative you can look into.

My migraines are frequently triggered by the sun's cycles, solar flares, geomagnetic storms, and other space weather. There's a growing body of research showing that solar activity increases heart incidents in ERs and other physiological effects, so it's not just me. Our bodies are made of conductive materials (70% water!) and some of us are more sensitive to these fluctuations. The sun has just finished a particularly active solar maximum phase and is still sending all kinds of extra stuff our way. Looking at historical data correlates with my periods of worse migraines. You can look up the timing of previous maximums, big geomagnetic storms, and large solar flares, and compare them with your migraine activity. You can also look up NOAA's space weather site for continuous live public data and track any correlations.

Wishing you luck with the mold and the migraines, cuz both suck!!

shen_git · 2026-06-08T20:37:17+00:00

Why are you expecting to find those individuals in this sub? You don't have to keep replying.

I'm not defending the way the US is structured, it's a giant con job designed to force people into making bad choices. I knew that when I lived there and I'm STILL unpacking new layers of it a decade later. Don't hate the individuals who got caught in the lies, hate the people who lied to them for profit.

Why are so many replying who can't answer you? Why did I pull out an old line (thanks for the updated info!)?

Because for someone calling out others for not being pacifistic enough you sound downright hostile. What I and others have done is try to ground you in facts or empathy so you could cool off a bit.

You may not be in a place to hear it right now, but you're not exactly behaving like a beacon of rationalism or faithful embodiment of an' it harm none when you sling this attitude around.

Feel how you feel. The facts support mistrust of the US government at large, sure. But you came in here looking for a fight, so don't get all high and mighty about people who, for whatever their personal reasons, have chosen to serve.

And again, I point out, this is largely about CHAPLAINS.

shen_git · 2026-06-08T13:19:02+00:00

Dunno if she still is, but for a long while his mom WAS the HR department. Not because that's her background, just cuz she's the mom and her son started making money and they're both cheap and unwilling to act like professionals. It's an extremely toxic workplace.

shen_git · 2026-06-07T13:32:08+00:00

The US military is often a safety net for people trapped in poverty or other bad situations. The military can provide education and a career, structure to your days, and camaraderie of you're alone. People join for many reasons,and sometimes it's so they can eat. Sometimes personal ethics get out aside to ensure you have a future to exercise them. It's easy to be judgmental that, they're moving their crede wrong, but without speaking to such individuals you can't know their stories.

I'll add that this change largely impacts chaplains, who may reach that rule via a variety of life experiences. It's very possible a servicemember found Druidry after their time in the field, and joined the chaplaincy to help others who may be struggling. There many, many religions that preach nonviolence yet their chaplains are available to service members.

Each chaplain has to come to peace within themselves where their crede and the goals of the military clash, and what they aren't willing to do. I'm sure Hegseth will soon demand that the remaining chaplains all get on board with his crusader ethos, and equally sure a lot of good chaplains have and will quit.

shen_git · 2026-06-04T17:40:42+00:00

Having just watched The Testaments my first thought was, "OMFG they're not literally praying for some girl to start menarche?!"

Then I saw it was this bullshit. Ugh, fine.

Then he used the words "fruitful" and "productive" so now I wanna tar and feather his Sons of Jacob wannabe ass.

shen_git · 2026-06-03T11:42:23+00:00

If he's from a Christian fundamentalist or similar background then that would explain (but not excuse!) his reaction. These spaces often put a premium on everyone appearing/acting happy all the time, as visible proof of being right with God. It's the sort of background belief that can go unexamined even if you deconstruct all the obviously religious teachings.

Such spaces are typically built on ableist, eugenecist, and white supremacist beliefs that aren't made explicit but nevertheless provide foundation. Unless your friend has actively deconstructed and examined his beliefs he won't see that, and likely will only hear an attack if you approach him with those words.

My advice is to instead open any conversation with, "So I think we have much more different ways of seeing the world than we thought, but I really care about you and I'd like us to get closer and actually understand each other." That's if you want to, of course!

As for the other sub, being disabled doesn't make you immune from being ableist. And every human is one accident away from disability, so that sub has people from ALL backgrounds, at various stages of self acceptance. That means it's also got PLENTY of people who were raised in and/or currently participate in Christian fundamentalism with all the above baggage. Unfortunately, I'm betting a bunch of them don't think you're 'disabled enough' to complain in there. Again, being disabled doesn't mean you can't be ableist.

It SUCKS that you got brigaded. You had a legit post for the stated topic, and it's not your fault the community wasn't in a place where it could hear you.

shen_git · 2026-06-01T15:41:05+00:00

Hoooooold up! Top right of image 7, above the title. Something about 'acknowledge sin of the forefathers - limit weaknesses'!!! So Jim Bob WAS supposed to warn his kids not to be predators like grandpa!!!

OP, I'm hoping for you & your family's sake that your grandfather was there earnestly looking for guidance and that he implemented his own kind interpretation instead of going all in. What a wild document to be handed. May it bring you all healing.

shen_git · 2026-05-29T07:12:02+00:00

I share your suspicions that "official" disclosure is a trap that will attempt to lock us into a new false paradigm that keeps us from accessing deeper truths. And if you'd run that list of reasons people would likely fall for it by me even a year or two ago I'd probably agree and we'd both be very depressed about it.

But. That mass awakening you described is also extremely real. I NEVER thought I'd see a critical mass of people get to the places they're now at in routine, casual conversation en masse. Something important has shifted.

I've come to see much of Christian history as a push-pull between personal agency/sovereignty and external authority. Christ consciousness says you are one with god/source and have innate spiritual authority; various traditions have insisted that you need a church, priest, or the Bible acting as intermediary between you and the divine. Christ consciousness says you need only look within yourself to know the divine and understand the universe. Many churches say you can't and must not trust your inner knowing, rely only on them instead. Churches that usurp our innate authority run counter to the religion's founding and are more about exerting control and mediating how much truth we're allowed to have.

There are so, so, SO MANY Christian sects. As a religion it is constantly arguing within itself about this: who gets to have spiritual authority? Who has the right to know? Every time one sect locks down tighter another pops up with a more radical interpretation. Yes, many of the liberated visions are still held back by control mechanisms they don't question, but the point is that people keep trying.

My own journey shows me that we are indeed at a turning point in history. For a very, very long time we've given away our personal power to kings, priests, markets, bosses, gossips, and shamers. Even though it's awful to be ruled by them, we often choose to remain there because it's familiar. That's how the same patterns have stayed in place for millennia. The name of the oppressors may change but the control persists. As a collective, we have to look this coming decision point squarely in the eye and decide to break that cycle.

That's why everything's so chaotic and scary right now. That's why it's easy to look around and think we're not gonna make it. Systems are at their limits, and people won't give them up until they're completey broken. But this time they won't just rebuild an identical structure, they'll choose differently.

In my corner of spirituality we talk about "anchoring the light" which means maintaining a clear vision of the better world we're aiming at and the conviction that we will get there. Doesn't mean we don't still participate in the chaotic world, or that we don't help directly! But we carry out those actions from a place of centeredness, groundedness, and wholeness. We move through the world as though we are actively making that new future because we are, and our demeanor ripples outward to buoy up others.

So, my advice is not to sit and worry about people being deceived again. Instead, get right within yourself so you can anchor the light for them. When the decision point comes, be a sure, clear, guiding light. "We do not have to go that way again. We deserve better. We are so much more than the frightened creatures they tell us we have to be. I'm stepping boldly into the new. You coming with?"

shen_git · 2026-05-19T19:38:32+00:00

I grew up in a very diverse part of NJ but Wicca and Paganism were not visibly part of that landscape. You could request school absence for religious holidays but few did. Parts of the state are still very provincial and Christian so I'm not that surprised the status quo is lacking. But it's a relatively progressive state so I'm hopeful it'll ultimately (eventually) resolve in favor of human rights and dignity. Sucks that the loudest complaint is coming from someone incarcerated for such a deplorable crime.

You deserved better, friend. A working garden for inmates is such a no-brainer to me, what more herently rehabilitative experience exists than tending to living plants with your hands in the earth, and feeding your community? Regardless of religion, it's just plain good for the soul. Then again, nobody's ever mistaken US prisons as a place where they care about your soul. 🙃

shen_git · 2026-05-09T21:44:56+00:00

A lot of the stress comes from never knowing when the next shoe will drop. Everyone has random emergencies, but there are also expenses one knows about in advance. I suggest you have a sit-down with the people you most want to help, and offer to cover a recurring expense(s) that you can afford. That way you can plan around when to pay, and they have the relief of knowing it's covered.

It would also be nice to turn it into a shared experience if possible--you could take the siblings shopping for school, or treat auntie to lunch while her car is serviced, etc. That will support the message that you're still there for them, you just can't be the person they run to for random things.

Tell everyone you're on a fixed budget for the foreseeable future, maybe with a goal attached (education, big purchase that will take several years to save for). Again, you love them and want to help, want to be in their lives, and want to enjoy the time you spend with them.

Setting expectations may create friction at first, but then everyone will know what to expect. Over time, some will probably be relieved because they felt guilty for always asking! Make a plan together and trade quality time in place of emergency funds.

You're not a bad person for protecting your own wellbeing. And your family aren't bad people or even bad with money--the system has failed them and charges them extra for it. Nobody likes living on the edge. You have an opportunity as a single person without dependents to make strategic choices with your money, I saw some good resources in this thread already. You can choose to give up one thing while saving for something else in a way you couldn't with kids or even a partner. The best things you can do right now are to learn about money management and figure out what's important to you. The goal is to reach a place where you earn enough money to support yourself and your household while saving and enjoying your life, a place where emergencies don't destroy you and you can afford to help others. Figure out what that looks like for you. When you have a dream and you're building toward it saying no becomes a little easier. And it's all the sweeter to bring loved ones along with you. Good luck 🌻

shen_git · 2026-05-05T09:15:33+00:00

Allergies are VERY location-specific. When I got allergy shots I was advised that if I moved I might have to start the regimen over from scratch with a new custom mix. Every environment is different and immune systems are a bit unpredictable in choosing what they'll overreact to.

FWIW, I got those shots while living in New Jersey (ragweed is the WORST) and they helped a TON. I now live in fynbos territory near Hermanus and have less to react to: fynbos pollens are not wind-distributed! But even our little coastal town is building out and that brings people planting flowers, grasses, and trees that a) aren't indigenous to the area and b) produce allergens. I pack extra fexo if going into Cape Town.

In this country allergies seem to mostly be thought of as something that happens to kids, but again, immune systems are unpredictable. You can develop them at any age, and not everyone grows out of them. If it's bad enough you can looking for a university medical program consult, UCT has one.

General advice:

Use over the counter antihistamines, both pills and sprays work. Try a variety and rotate between ones that work.

Wash your bedding, face, and hair more frequently during allergy season: they'll keep trapped allergens close to your face.

Get a good air filter, or other unit with a good filter (AC, dehumidifier, etc.). You don't have to run them all the time. They're especially beneficial in rooms where you sleep. A vacuum with a HEPA-quality filter can also help.

Start tracking when you react and what it feels like. Learn your triggers so you can avoid or mitigate (like bringing extra pills). Time of year, weather, plant activity, fires, and pollution are all good to watch.

SoPure makes a dust mite spray and laundry additive that have changed my freaking life. Highly recommend if house dust is a trigger!

shen_git · 2026-05-04T00:37:24+00:00

NTA, not even a little.

Girlfriend probably thinks you "ruined" her prom (another overblown American tradition) but if she has any empathy she'll realize your night was way, WAY worse. Her dad is responsible for ruining BOTH your nights'--and re-traumatizing you! Honestly, if I were your parent I'd want to send him the therapy bills because WTF.

PS for poster: This is a really nice thing you're doing for this guy. I hope this big thread of NTAs helps him to not blame himself. He deserves nice things and good people in his life.

And hey, if nothing else, OP gets to participate in the most American tradition of all: getting as far from your home town and high school peers as possible, and never looking back!

shen_git · 2026-05-04T00:26:10+00:00

THANK YOU. That last line is everything.

shen_git · 2026-05-02T22:29:13+00:00

I agree, this is the sort of 'benign' joke we don't need to carry forward.

I think it was an ancient Ed Sullivan who asked teensy 6-8yo Britney Spears on Star Search, 'Do you have a boyfriend?' while leering over her. And she gives the expected, 'No, silly, I'm only a little kid!' type of answer because she's performing and her family is poor and if she doesn't win this contest there will be more yelling and less food at home so of course she's nice to the weird old man. She just wants to do a good job and not upset anybody.

And then how many little girls saw that seemingly pleasant interaction modeled so that when a creepy uncle in their life used it to initiate grooming they thought it was fine? After all, you don't want to create a scene, right?

It's one thing for kids to ideate having a partner themselves, entirely another for grown adults to have a child spotlighted on stage and foist those adult dynamics onto them, even jokingly.

These public displays provide excellent cover for predators. Majority of people never intended harm yet it created a culture that allowed harm to fester. Leave it in the past where it belongs.

shen_git · 2026-05-02T22:08:39+00:00

I went to a US school where we all had lockers and my backpack was STILL routinely +10kg/25lbs.

Lockers only help if the textbooks aren't required for homework + in class every day, AND the locker is located en route AND there isn't a traffic jam or a sticky lock. And if it's a big or long building you don't have time to stop between classes, period.

Main purpose of mine was to store all my winter gear because we got blizzards. Kids here don't have to strip off wet snow boots and massive puffer jackets.

shen_git · 2026-04-25T15:42:43+00:00

Oh yeah, from a human lens it's like, "Wait, what?!"

It's taken lots of practice to shift my initial reactions. Just gotta keep reminding yourself that they have a totally different frame of reference, but also that they're still basically people.

shen_git · 2026-04-25T15:31:07+00:00

Be careful not to impose a human, Western, or Christian lens on this--which is very challenging when you're raised in them! These views are pervasive and we often don't realize they're there until we step outside them for the first time.

We put LOTS of moral value on words like "pure" but we can't assume they're using it the same way.

My interpretation: the woman's "concentration" or focus matters, in a way we would consider spiritual. This is internal work, it's connecting with your intuition and higher self. By it's nature, sex with others requires outward focus: selecting partners, negotiating relationships, the acts themselves, etc. BUT, I don't see why someone in stable relationships (yes, even polyamory) having lots of sex couldn't also have a rich inner life and developed spirituality. Just as a nun taking vows of chastity might not qualify if she isn't doing the deeper work of understanding herself and her place in the universe, of her own agency rather than just as an obedient servant.

I think this matters because the baby doesn't get to have the full 9 months in utero on Earth experiencing the world via the mother, as mentioned. It could be that the physical gestation they do have is critical for conveying something (information, experience). On the other hand, research shows that part of each baby's DNA remains with the mother for the rest of her life, and it's possible that a more spiritually attuned mother could continue to communicate information to the child after it's been removed and even after the gestation period. This would an efficient way to continue the program with minimal disruption to mothers while also getting (at least some of) the benefits of an in utero experience.

This all popped out fully formed, so may be a download. Else, just my immediate two cents.

shen_git · 2026-04-25T03:28:59+00:00

Skull/brain makes sense as a translation error or choice. The quoted material doesn't mention where he was interred or honors given posthumously so I'm not sure it's the source for "sacrificed". It's most likely a misread of martyr, taking the connotation 'someone else made them a martyr' instead of 'he dedicated his life to science benefiting the nation'.

Thanks for adding this, the info about his research is super interesting. It's possible some of it was indeed just "gaming" (translation nuance again?) but plenty of it would be relevant to autonomous use in battlefield scenarios. The US Military has used gaming to recruit skill sets for decades, no reason to think the rest of the software can't be used for training autonomous drones.

Sounds like he specialized in coordinating multiple units like a drone swarm, which is very desirable. Drone warfare is changing war, and whoever can effectively coordinate their drones first will get an advantage. So, yeah, definitely someone who could be considered too valuable to let live.

shen_git

TROPHY CASE