ahatlikethat's recent activity

  1. Comment on Nathan Fillion says 'Firefly' animated series in development in ~tv

  2. Comment on Nathan Fillion says 'Firefly' animated series in development in ~tv

    ahatlikethat
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    To me, maybe being raised in the south, the "Lost Cause" is all about slavery. Folks waxing nostalgic about Dixie are 100% regretting they don't get to treat humans like chattel and dominate women...

    To me, maybe being raised in the south, the "Lost Cause" is all about slavery. Folks waxing nostalgic about Dixie are 100% regretting they don't get to treat humans like chattel and dominate women who are forced into subservience. And many US western movies and TVs may not have explicitly stated that, but they still have their "heroes" acting out fantasies of racial and gender superiority. Whedon was influenced by The Lost Cause, but in Firefly it's just a lost cause. To me that matters.

    That said the points you make about the absence of Asians--that bothered me when I first saw it. And especially in retrospect, Inara. I would love to see Firefly done by someone who wasn't a white straight man. Like even when I thought he was trying, (and maybe he never was) he was always constricted by his own worldview-- I felt like that with Buffy, too. The white male gaze seemed even more out of place because it seemed like he was trying to escape it. So much for what I thought I knew!

    13 votes

  3. Comment on Nathan Fillion says 'Firefly' animated series in development in ~tv

    ahatlikethat
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    I want to believe (wrong show) but I also feel like it is better to let it be what it is, and let what it could have been live in our imaginations.

    I want to believe (wrong show) but I also feel like it is better to let it be what it is, and let what it could have been live in our imaginations.

  4. Comment on Nathan Fillion says 'Firefly' animated series in development in ~tv

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    I totally agree that the lack of real Asian influence and presence is just absurd, even within the story's own logic. But while I can see the reavers as filling the "savage native" slot required...

    I totally agree that the lack of real Asian influence and presence is just absurd, even within the story's own logic. But while I can see the reavers as filling the "savage native" slot required if you are following the western tv show playbook, they are not indigenous or even a particular race or ethnicity, so if anything, I'd call that an improvement on the expected trope.

    18 votes

  5. Comment on Nathan Fillion says 'Firefly' animated series in development in ~tv

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    Honestly I don't think it is even thinly veiled. It starts with Mal as a devoted soldier on the losing side of a civil war, who gets disillusioned with god and country (metaphorically) after his...

    Honestly I don't think it is even thinly veiled. It starts with Mal as a devoted soldier on the losing side of a civil war, who gets disillusioned with god and country (metaphorically) after his leaders capitulate. The civil war obviously references the US civil war especially in the costuming. But the war in Firefly is over about corporate domination and the browncoats aren't defending the dehumanisation and enslavement of others as crucial to their way of life. You could argue that Browncoats being the good guys romanticisizes the US Confederacy. But I think it is more about a guy who was in love with a political ideal and had that pulled out from under him, who is now trying to create something real based on the ideals that he thought he was fighting for.

    Also it seems to me thematically to take from the Star Wars narrative more, even though it visually references the 19th century American west.

    15 votes

  6. Comment on Proton Mail helped US FBI unmask anonymous ‘Stop Cop City’ protester in ~tech

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    I've received and sent birthday cards with cash. I think the only thing is you can't make a claim if it is lost. Maybe large amounts of cash are different, but a Proton subscription is around...

    I've received and sent birthday cards with cash. I think the only thing is you can't make a claim if it is lost. Maybe large amounts of cash are different, but a Proton subscription is around 50-100 usd, so not a fat envelope of cash.

    12 votes

  7. Comment on Weekly thread for casual chat and photos of pets in ~life.pets

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    That's just a beautiful picture. Really nice.

    That's just a beautiful picture. Really nice.

    3 votes

  8. Comment on Weekly thread for casual chat and photos of pets in ~life.pets

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    What beautiful cats! Also look like they take no nonsense. I hope you met their cuddle quota!

    What beautiful cats! Also look like they take no nonsense. I hope you met their cuddle quota!

    2 votes

  9. Comment on I work in a warehouse in ~life

    ahatlikethat
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    Lots of Cake vibes. We need a word for when something would be funny if it weren't so true. Thanks for posting this!

    Lots of Cake vibes. We need a word for when something would be funny if it weren't so true. Thanks for posting this!

  10. Comment on Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra - Techstar (2017) in ~music

    ahatlikethat
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    Mankind has lost the funk. I love Shawn Lee Ping pong Orchestra, thanks for the reminder, its been a minute. Kiss the Sky is one of my favorite songs ever.

    Mankind has lost the funk.
    I love Shawn Lee Ping pong Orchestra, thanks for the reminder, its been a minute.
    Kiss the Sky is one of my favorite songs ever.

    2 votes

  11. Comment on Help me enjoy Baldur's Gate 3 in ~games

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    This is very helpful advice, especially from someone who also likes to stretch games out, thank you!

    This is very helpful advice, especially from someone who also likes to stretch games out, thank you!

    1 vote

  12. Comment on Help me enjoy Baldur's Gate 3 in ~games

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    Honestly I immediately disregarded playing as an origin character, and then I always felt like I needed more room in my party for the origin characters...this might be a solution. Not...

    Honestly I immediately disregarded playing as an origin character, and then I always felt like I needed more room in my party for the origin characters...this might be a solution.

    Not exploring...that might be tough. I am the sort who likes to stretch out a good play-through for as long as possible, but maybe I can try to relax that a bit the first time and then have more to enjoy the next. I

    OMG your berserkers..brilliant.

    2 votes

  13. Comment on Help me enjoy Baldur's Gate 3 in ~games

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    Nail on the head, there. Sounds obviously unfun when you put it that way! I always play easy when I first start a new game, because it takes me a while to remember which key to press, etc, and...

    The way you've been approach it is like reading ahead in a Choose Your Own Adventure book before you make a choice.

    Nail on the head, there. Sounds obviously unfun when you put it that way!

    I always play easy when I first start a new game, because it takes me a while to remember which key to press, etc, and lose the muscle memory of whatever game I played last.

    Thanks for the excellent metaphor, you are so right!

    6 votes

  14. Comment on Help me enjoy Baldur's Gate 3 in ~games

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    Thank you! The companion strategy is something I can use once I get a better idea of the characters, but also your reminder that this is such a replayable game helps reinforce the importance of...

    Thank you! The companion strategy is something I can use once I get a better idea of the characters, but also your reminder that this is such a replayable game helps reinforce the importance of not trying to do it all and be it all the first time.

    2 votes

  15. Comment on Help me enjoy Baldur's Gate 3 in ~games

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    Yeah, I think I've been affected by computer games that are only sorta rpgs, where you are kinda guided into results, with one clear "good" outcome. Playing tabletop RPGs, I never worried about...

    Yeah, I think I've been affected by computer games that are only sorta rpgs, where you are kinda guided into results, with one clear "good" outcome. Playing tabletop RPGs, I never worried about the long term outcome. I think I need to channel that more.

    2 votes

  16. Comment on Help me enjoy Baldur's Gate 3 in ~games

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    Thank you for the helpful mod suggestions!

    Thank you for the helpful mod suggestions!

    2 votes

  17. Comment on Help me enjoy Baldur's Gate 3 in ~games

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    Well, this seems to be a theme, and definitely what I was missing in my last attempt. It's good to hear that you didn't really miss what you didn't find, in the end, that's encouraging!

    Well, this seems to be a theme, and definitely what I was missing in my last attempt. It's good to hear that you didn't really miss what you didn't find, in the end, that's encouraging!

    2 votes

  18. Comment on Help me enjoy Baldur's Gate 3 in ~games

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    Thank you, I think you are right. Especially embracing failure. (At least now that I know where the most important companions are...) It's a lot easier to dive into a character when you've got a...

    Thank you, I think you are right. Especially embracing failure. (At least now that I know where the most important companions are...) It's a lot easier to dive into a character when you've got a DM there enforcing things, maybe I need to create an imaginary DM to keep me honest!

    1 vote

  19. Comment on Help me enjoy Baldur's Gate 3 in ~games

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    Thanks, I think you are right. Unfortunately I think I have been following your #3, except my character type is "the one who always makes the right choice and says the right thing and chooses the...

    Thanks, I think you are right. Unfortunately I think I have been following your #3, except my character type is "the one who always makes the right choice and says the right thing and chooses the right fork in the road." I think I will try making a character that has some flaws and force myself to play through those. And not try to get it all in one play-through. Because, honestly I never finish a game I love anyway--I always stop just short because I can't bear the finality.

    3 votes

  20. Comment on Help me enjoy Baldur's Gate 3 in ~games

    ahatlikethat
    Link Parent
    Wow this is such a lovely and generous and thorough reply! Thank you! The rest thing is very helpful, and the not needing to feel rushed--I think that was part of my stress last time. Also about...

    Wow this is such a lovely and generous and thorough reply! Thank you!
    The rest thing is very helpful, and the not needing to feel rushed--I think that was part of my stress last time. Also about the dialogue being forgiving.

    I love mods in Cyberpunk for maximizing my game-play style and such, and modding made Skyrim worth playing, but I never felt like I needed to mod Witcher 3, or Dragon Age, or Divinity-- if a game doesn't need it, that's one level of possible technical failure avoided.

    Thank you for the offer of co-op! I think I'd feel better mucking around alone, but if I ever get to the point where I feel comfortable trying coop, I will see how things stand with you! Thanks again, your enthusiasm is inspiring!

    6 votes