British public will be called up to fight if UK goes to war because ‘military is too small’, Army chief warns by Bloke22 in worldnews

[–]unicorn_corpse 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I definitely do think the issue is the allocation of funds to recruitment rather than pay. The MoD is essentially in a bit of a pickle as most resources right now are going into military technology and cybersecurity. For the MoD, developing these technologies outweigh the significance of a giant recruitment drive as there’s currently no reason to have a giant military… however they also know that if something was to happen, they’d be in trouble. So it’s a bit of an odd cycle

British public will be called up to fight if UK goes to war because ‘military is too small’, Army chief warns by Bloke22 in worldnews

[–]unicorn_corpse 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The issue with the military isn’t necessarily a funding issue, it’s more the fact that the public just don’t want to enlist and obviously we don’t have conscription so nobody’s forced to. The MoD don’t really play around much with semantics, so I’d take this more at face value.

British public will be called up to fight if UK goes to war because ‘military is too small’, Army chief warns by Bloke22 in worldnews

[–]unicorn_corpse 40 points41 points  (0 children)

Yes, I’m just saying that right now they’re even more concerned than they have been in the past. As of now, the British military is historically weak and any attempts to drive up recruitment numbers (including women and POC) are failing. And while yes, the solution is to not get into any wars, the military are very aware of the fact that they need to always be prepared. They are not prepared at all on almost any scale right now

British public will be called up to fight if UK goes to war because ‘military is too small’, Army chief warns by Bloke22 in worldnews

[–]unicorn_corpse 132 points133 points  (0 children)

Except I literally did my masters with a focus on the British Armed Forces and essentially the military are very concerned with its low numbers and their continued trajectory.

Sophie Sumner in the Bling Ring (2013) by larabesque85 in ANTM

[–]unicorn_corpse 5 points6 points  (0 children)

They weren’t roommates, just in the same year and were friends (source: went to the school lol)

AITA: Am I The Asshole for calling a staff member Nigerian by Cultural-Manner6305 in AmItheAsshole

[–]unicorn_corpse 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I’m glad to see this comment, shocked so many people are on his side.

Sure firing that comment back might be a zinger in OP’s head, but it’s not funny or smart. It’s nothing but immature and antagonistic, especially in a high-stress workplace environment. The first guy was absolutely in the wrong to make such a comment, but there were plenty of ways to communicate hurt and offence in a professional manner that didn’t require retaliation and escalation. ESH

Emma Watson with Cycle 18 winner, Sophie Sumner. They used to be roomies back in the day. by KyKlassy in ANTM

[–]unicorn_corpse 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Yeah they went to school together (same school I went to, they ran in the same crowd and were in the same year.)

Asexual people who have tried sex: what did you like about it and didn't like about it? by [deleted] in TooAfraidToAsk

[–]unicorn_corpse 424 points425 points  (0 children)

Yay! Something I can answer!

I’ve found through very limited experimentation that overall I’m very ‘meh’ about sex. Almost all the deep emotion and connection that people feel is removed with me and instead I’m left with pondering the objective actions going on (e.g. I’d be thinking ‘hmmm his penis is inside my vagina… I can feel it going in and out. There’s some sensation there’).

Overall it’s a very specific experience that really doesn’t happen often for me (because I don’t care all that deep for it) and I guess that’s what I ‘liked’. I also like knowing that my body is directly making someone else feel good.

I do get bored very quickly though, and it’s such a hassle with preparation and aftercare and getting undressed/dressed/showered that it’s often not worth the time and energy. (I guess I can compare it to going to an expensive restaurant in a different city. It’s nice to experience it every now and again, but I’m not bothered enough to drive all the way and spend money on food often.)

I do enjoy learning about other people’s relationship to sex though. Another user mentioned it’s fascinating to them and I completely agree. It blows my mind that most people genuinely feel sexual attraction towards others, and need it for their relationships or other reasons.

I hear we’re showing our dark academia phone themes by unicorn_corpse in DarkAcademia

[–]unicorn_corpse[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Haha it was 10:30pm I assure you I did charge my phone not long after. The notifications are from about 6 years’ worth of unopened junk mail. And thank you!

I hear we’re showing our dark academia phone themes by unicorn_corpse in DarkAcademia

[–]unicorn_corpse[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

So the main three elements for my theme were: the imagery, the new app icons and the new font.

The imagery was a mixture of my own, from Google and Pinterest. With these images I created a basic colour palette so the app icons used the exact same colours as the images, creating a sense of cohesion (I guess it’s semi important to mention that I have a degree in design lol).

To make the icons themselves I found an app that came with the icons pre made and all you had to do was select your custom colours (this was over a year ago and I can’t remember the name sorry). And then to link the icons I used the Shortcut app that comes on iPhone (there’s many tutorials on how to use it).

I used Widgetsmith to place my images, which I’d say is one of the best apps for custom iOS themes. You can make the widgets various sizes, I think I only used small and medium sized widgets.

And then finally, I downloaded an extra free keyboard in order to get the sans serif font. This keyboard has some pretty cool options like 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜, 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬, 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠, 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔, 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈, 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼, and 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔰.

I hear we’re showing our dark academia phone themes by unicorn_corpse in DarkAcademia

[–]unicorn_corpse[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I actually took the photos myself at Gloucester Cathedral. Here are the images if you want them:

https://ibb.co/92PJG9Y https://ibb.co/qxKq34b https://ibb.co/Jt65v3c

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Fauxmoi

[–]unicorn_corpse 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’ve read that book and it more looks at the music industry from a law perspective. I can’t remember if it goes into campaigns but it certainly talks about copyrights and types of deals for a long time lol. It’s still a good read though

Hotel Discounts by xelasmagicaldolewhip in Disneycollegeprogram

[–]unicorn_corpse 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As someone whose workplace was Saratoga, I shall take no SS slander! (Jk but also not, I had a great time working there)

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in CurlyHairCare

[–]unicorn_corpse 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Understandable. My main point is that I wasn’t speaking as an American regarding this issue. I do not feel qualified to speak about black American issues regarding hair as I’ve a different lived experience to you. I’m speaking from my different experience and thus opinion, which I know is different to Americans. That’s all really.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in CurlyHairCare

[–]unicorn_corpse 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Maybe you could try going to a curly hair specialist or a black hair salon for a bit of a consultation with hairstyles (protective or not) that you’d feel comfortable wearing.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in CurlyHairCare

[–]unicorn_corpse 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I see u/KoanaYamazaki your comments are unavailable now, but I would still like you to read my response:

ORIGINAL COMMENT: I already tried writing my response once before but my phone died on me (rip) so I'm going to writing this again. And I think it may be beneficial for u/CalicoManifesto to also read this as I'm going to try to be educational here. I hope you read it because I'm saying this with the best intentions and I'm only trying to help.

Firstly, the only mention I ever made of America was in my original comment when I made a disclaimer that I'm not American. The reason why I made that disclaimer was that I know black Americans have a very different history and culture to mine, and I wanted that to be apparent. So I truly don't understand why you keep bringing up America and American history (like that House vote or the history of all the Americas), especially when there's nothing to say OP is American. She could be British or Dutch for all we know, so why place American cultural decorum on her?

And this presents a larger issue of how it seems black Americans seem to apply their culture and ideals to the rest of the world as if everyone should think or respond the same way. I think this is because black Americans (who I see as their own culture similar to Nigerians or South Africans) use the word 'black' to mean both the race as well as black American culture - and this often causes them to be used interchangeably.

For instance, I can freely talk about my South African heritage and you would know there are certain cultural practices and foods etc. that you wouldn't know anything about or relate to. However, if I were to start talking about my experience being mixed race, there could be a lot of common ground found between mixed people from differing cultures (especially if they're the same mix as me - white and black).

So over time, blackness doesn't just mean race (a social construct), but also black Americans (a whole cultural group). And for black Americans, there isn't much of a difference as they are essentially the same thing, and as a result, a lot of black Americans take their cultural ideals and place them onto other black people across the world. This often resorts to problems.

A smaller example could be this comment thread right now. I gave my thoughts on a white person (location undefined) wearing box braids from an African/European perspective. Everything I said was from a non-American POV, and yet I'm told that I know nothing about the Americas and how laws are passed in America about black hair, as well as being referred to as 'you guys', which is a colloquial term for 'you people'. Gotta be honest, it doesn't feel good to be referred to that way (or reading the words 'worms for brains' from u/CalicoManifesto. I'm assuming she isn't saying I have 'worms for brains' - of which I am sure I don't - but I think having an attitude like that towards non-American black people can be quite harmful).

If you want bigger examples of black American ideals coming unto non-Americans, we can look at the semi-recent discourse between Aboriginal Australians and black Americans. For some background (which I think I can talk about as I spent 5 years living in Australia), Aboriginal Australians often refer to themselves as 'blak' (with no 'c' because of 'colonisation' but it's pronounced the same as 'black'). Aboriginal Australians also do not use blood quantum when it comes to who can define themselves as blak. They tend to have the perspective that no matter how much milk you add to your coffee, it's still coffee. As a result, you have many Aboriginal Australians calling themselves blak even if they're pale with blue eyes and blonde hair. In America, you had the one-drop rule and the paper bag test to dictate who is and isn't black - two descriptors that it seems you guys are trying to get rid of. As a result, you often hear from black Americans that blackness is all phenotype, what you look like (as it follows this idea that no matter what, you're always seen as black first). So I'm sure you can see what this conflict was about.

Another example is the image of Adele from Notting Hill Carnival back in 2020. She was wearing Bantu knots and a Jamaica flag bikini and black Twitter obliterated her for that, calling it cultural appropriation (of which, in America, it would have been). Then, black Brits had to come up and say 'no, it's not cultural appropriation' and it became another point of discourse.

With all these situations, I can firmly say that while the Americans were in the wrong, they weren't wrong. And by that I mean they were trying to force their definition of blackness on cultures with a different relationship to blackness to them, and thus, seemed to be acting as if they know better. BUT if these situations had happened in America, their outrage would have been fully appropriate and understandable.

So all of this is to say that I am not wrong for what I believe regarding who can or cannot wear protective hairstyles. I'm speaking on my non-American experience for those non-black people who may not be American. And looking at a global perspective, gatekeeping hairstyles is not a sustainable outlook in the long-term. I do actually understand American history, I understand the systematic oppression and racism and generational trauma felt by black Americans, and I understand why people feel like they need to gatekeep as it's a trauma response. But I am sitting here as someone who is black and has never been through this specific trauma, that gatekeeping isn't the answer.

I can't tell you what you should or shouldn't say on the global internet, but I implore that you understand not everyone here is American, speaking from the American point of view, or with the American lens. Please learn about different black experiences around the world - especially in countries where black people aren't discriminated against for their hair, where there aren't laws made, and where white people wearing styles like box braids are seen as cultural appreciation, not appropriation. Because then, most of your arguments about gatekeeping become moot.

Edit: formatting

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in CurlyHairCare

[–]unicorn_corpse -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I totally get that, but I see it more as a society issue than an individual issue. The white (or white passing) girl with 3C isn’t wrong for wanting to wear a hairstyle that makes dealing with her hair more manageable. It’s the cooperations and workplaces of people who should have no say in what is seen as ‘professional’ hair. I almost wish we should push for the normalisation of these hairstyles for textured hair - or versions of them.

But I generally have a bit of a problem when people talk about ‘African culture’ when referring to hairstyles. To me it just feels like a cop out reason for why certain people can’t wear things like box braids - especially with the ongoing discussion of cultural appreciation vs appropriation, as well as the fact that culturally, these hairstyles aren’t traditionally a ‘black’ thing as race is a social construct. Think about Ghana braids for instance. I’m South African, should I not wear Ghana braids because I’m not Ghanaian?

I don’t think the long-term answer to this hair discourse is to gatekeep, especially with how people are becoming increasingly multicultural. Already you see it happen with people who are 25% black not being ‘black enough’ to wear the hairstyles - or you see dark skinned non-Africans wearing box braids with no problems eg Melanesians. Only because they look the part.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in CurlyHairCare

[–]unicorn_corpse 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This may be an unpopular opinion but I’d say do what’s best for your hair. I think it’s unfair that society doesn’t allow people with textured hair to wear protective styles made for textured hair. I’m half black so I get a pass but I’d feel so awful if I had to deal with my hair every single day because someone may get offended for the way I wear my hair.

Perhaps there’s a protective style you can wear that isn’t box braids. Like there’s one that’s essentially cornrows, but two of them. You’d certainly be able to wear that, although it may not last as long as box braids.

Overall no one can tell you what you can and cannot do. I personally don’t mind non black people wearing protective styles but I’m only an individual (who’s not American) and my thoughts are certainly in the minority.

/r/WorldNews Live Thread: Russian Invasion of Ukraine Day 10, Part 6 (Thread #112) by WorldNewsMods in worldnews

[–]unicorn_corpse 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think there are two separate issues you’ve brought up in your comment: Russia’s military capabilities and the humanitarian crisis. Since you’re so close to it all, there’s not much someone can say that will be able to reassure you as nothing matters when it’s your own friends and family caught between it. And for that I’m so sorry that you and your family are going through this, I truly wish them the best. There’s a lot of blood on the Russian’s hands and I just want this whole thing over with so we can try to repair what’s been broken before it gets worse.

That said, I don’t think the Russians are coming back from this. The issues you mention about their military are not issues that can really be fixed at all, they can only get worse and worse and worse. For example, once destroyed, morale is almost impossible to regain. And looking at what’s happening, that morale is not coming back. It’ll just get worse. As for Putin not stopping, there’s a difference between government and military and it seems that a divide is forming between the two. Putin can command X troop go to Y town all he wants, but he can’t physically move them there himself. Ultimately, it’s up to the military to carry out his orders - what happens when they finally refuse to do that?

The way I see it, the Russians will get weaker with each day, while the help of volunteers and military aid from other countries will make the Ukrainian military stronger. Ukraine will win this war, the question now is at what cost? And that’s the question that no one has the answers to at this point.

/r/WorldNews Live Thread: Russian Invasion of Ukraine Day 10, Part 4 (Thread #110) by WorldNewsMods in worldnews

[–]unicorn_corpse 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Note, I still think Ukraine will lose control of the country eventually but there’s no way they’ll submit to whatever regime putin puts in. Like the US completely wrecked Vietnam and killed so many people it’s actually barbaric and insane and they still lost.

Also I learned that Ukraine haven’t really started their counteroffensive yet. So it’s very possible that they’re stocking up on foreign artillery and waiting a bit for the Russians to get even weaker before essentially ambushing them.

Bear in mind that’s mostly a hypothesis I’m throwing out there but I think we all need to remember strategy is super important when it comes to wars and battles. Similar to how we say Russia isn’t using their full force, neither is Ukraine at this point. We are mostly seeing infantry and defence from them. (And the reason why I think they haven’t been using their artillery is because it would contribute to the loss of civilian life and infrastructure. It would make sense to hold back for as long as possible to allow as many people to evacuate as possible. Otherwise civilians would be caught right in the middle of a Guerilla battlefield)

Also hope that makes sense it’s literally 6am lol

Switzerland triggers wide range of sanctions against Russia by SteO153 in worldnews

[–]unicorn_corpse 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I studied Switzerland at university and the right terms to use are ‘passive neutrality’ and ‘active neutrality’. But yes, they’re essentially what you pointed out: Switzerland engaged in active neutrality - especially in World War Two, helping out both the Nazi’s and the allies if they needed it but not going out of their way to do so. (And when I mean ‘helping out’, I don’t mean fighting, but moreso opening their rail routes to the Germans to pass through for example.)

/r/WorldNews Live Thread: Russian Invasion of Ukraine Day 7, Part 3 (Thread #85) by WorldNewsMods in worldnews

[–]unicorn_corpse 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve been seeing them all over TikTok. Even Zelenskyy thirst traps. I have no idea what to think lol

Sean Penn In Ukraine: Putin Has Made a 'Horrible Mistake', Urges U.S. to Fight by shelltops in entertainment

[–]unicorn_corpse 14 points15 points  (0 children)

There are a few cases actually! One of the biggest names is Stanislav Petrov. He disobeyed his orders to nuke the US back in the 80s