Random Stuff

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

You monster! There were entire halves of those cookies that weren't singed! Do you have any idea how badly I wanted to eat one of those things!?!

 

 

Ahem. Your choice, I suppose.

weak. go eat them.

 

….

 

Should I be mildly insulted by the way you're calling me weak for not wanting to eat food that's burned beyond recognition (when slicing into a steak produces a sound like "vooba vooba vooba," you cooked it too long), or flattered that you think my cookie dough looked so delicious you'd eat the burned cookies? 

 

Kobold, if you ever come by, I'll make cookies with rice flour or something. Just….not burned ones. 

[Kobold King he/him]

….

 

Should I be mildly insulted by the way you're calling me weak for not wanting to eat food that's burned beyond recognition (when slicing into a steak produces a sound like "vooba vooba vooba," you cooked it too long), or flattered that you think my cookie dough looked so delicious you'd eat the burned cookies? 

 

Kobold, if you ever come by, I'll make cookies with rice flour or something. Just….not burned ones. 

 

I think you shouldn't put too much stock into what the wacky people on the Random Stuff thread say about your life choices.  

 

Rice flour cookies sound good. We usually use almond flour, but I bet rice would work too. :ph3r:

[Kestrel she/her]

I think you shouldn't put too much stock into what the wacky people on the Random Stuff thread say about your life choices.  

^^^^

Honestly I'd eat anything. So what I say here has no merit.

I once ate jellyfish.

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

I think you shouldn't put too much stock into what the wacky people on the Random Stuff thread say about your life choices.  

 

Rice flour cookies sound good. We usually use almond flour, but I bet rice would work too. :ph3r:

 

I don't. I don't eat burned cookies and that's that.

 

To be honest, I haven't done a lot of cooking with either. I'm allergic to additives, but not gluten, so I just use wheat flour. (Though I do not understand my mom's insistence on putting whole-wheat flour into everything that doesn't contain chocolate. It's a good bit sweeter than white flour, and while it's definitely healthier, it's probably not the best choice for pizza dough.) I've had muffins with rice flour before, though, so I know the consistency is pretty similar to wheat flour.

 

Edit: What did it taste like, Lark? 

Edited June 13, 2015 by TwiLyghtSansSparkles

[Kobold King he/him]

I once ate jellyfish.

 

I once ate a big pan of home-caught grasshoppers.

[Kestrel she/her]

I hate to say this- but chicken.

It really tasted like chicken.

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

I hate to say this- but chicken.

It really tasted like chicken.

 

 

 

Well, since everything besides pork and steak tastes like chicken, I'll just stick with that.  

 

(I'm kidding. I actually love sushi, and while seafood isn't generally my thing, I'll try just about anything once.) 

[Kestrel she/her]

I don't even know how you cook jellyfish.

It was at a weird little chinese restaurant.

[Kaymyth she/her]

My husband has figured out chopsticks on the piano.

 

Unfortunately, he's got the rhythm wrong.  He's playing it in 4/4 time, when it should be in 6/8.  Every measure, there's two extra notes, and it is breaking my BRAIN.

 

...but I haven't got the heart to go tell him he's doing it wrong.

Edited June 14, 2015 by Kaymyth

[Delightful]

Today I discovered that a Kurdish pop singer has released an anti-ISIS music video. This is......weird and cool and interesting.

edit: I linked it, then decided the beginning (which simulates war) is too violent/graphic for 17s standards. If you're interested PM me though.

Edited June 14, 2015 by Delightful

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

I've been reading the explanations of different House personalities. Not only am I nodding along to the Ravenclaw primary and Slytherin secondary, going "Yep, that's me," but I'm also mentally Sorting different fictional and fanfic characters into the appropriate Houses.  

[DanTheSeamonster he/him]

You have no idea how upset I was when I was sorted into Ravenclaw instead of Gryffindor.  I was crushed.

Edited June 15, 2015 by The Crooked Warden

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

You have no idea how upset I was when I was sorted into Ravenclaw instead of Gryffindor.  I was crushed.

 

Really? I would've been crushed if I'd been Sorted into Gryffindor instead of Ravenclaw. Come to think of it, I would've been happier with Slytherin than I would've with Gryffindor. 

[Kestrel she/her]

They completely emphasize Gryffindor way too much. And overplay the good/evil stereotype between Gryffindor and Sylithern. And Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw have nothing in the way of merch compared to either. Wow.

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

They completely emphasize Gryffindor way too much. And overplay the good/evil stereotype between Gryffindor and Sylithern. And Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw have nothing in the way of merch compared to either. Wow.

Exactly. It's almost as if good and evil are defined by how closely one's ideals align with Gryffindor, with Slytherin being evil because their ideals are the most alien from those of Gryffindor. On the school map, you might as well label Gryffindor with smilies and unicorns, Slytherin with frowns and ABANDON ALL GOODNESS YE WHO ENTER HERE, and Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw with "Almost Gryffindor but not quite as awesome" and "Almost Slytherin but not as evil," respectively.

[Kobold King he/him]

Exactly. It's almost as if good and evil are defined by how closely one's ideals align with Gryffindor, with Slytherin being evil because their ideals are the most alien from those of Gryffindor. On the school map, you might as well label Gryffindor with smilies and unicorns, Slytherin with frowns and ABANDON ALL GOODNESS YE WHO ENTER HERE, and Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw with "Almost Gryffindor but not quite as awesome" and "Almost Slytherin but not as evil," respectively.

 

I think that's just because most of the characters are young, intensely loyalist Gryffindors, and thus see their House as the best. It's the same basic principle as kids declaring their sports team the best, or happy schoolchildren declaring that their school is the best there's ever been. The more childish tendencies of the protagonists color the worldview of the books.

 

The books are also set at a time in wizarding history during which Slytherin House is facing an influx of pureblood fanatics, whose values are twisted but align with the harsher aspects of the House. The representatives of Slytherin we're shown reflect this. It's not necessarily indicative of what the House is under its best qualities; for comparison, imagine taking a random sampling of Christians from the Middle Ages and getting a bunch of Spanish Inquisitors. Christianity isn't predicated upon burning heretics at the stake, but looking at the world of medieval Europe you might very well get the idea that Christians were an inherently "evil" group.

 

 

By the way, I'm totally imagining Starlight Glimmer as a Hufflepuff with a Slytherin Secondary now.

[Quiver he/him]

By the way, I'm totally imagining Starlight Glimmer as a Hufflepuff with a Slytherin Secondary now.

 

I'd agree with you, if not for Umbridge. For years, I thought she was the perfect example of a bad Hufflepuff... and then J.K released information confirming that Umbridge had been in Slytherin at Hogwarts.

 

It's kind of frustrating that every villain and their pet dog seems to have gone through that house.

[Kobold King he/him]

I'd agree with you, if not for Umbridge. For years, I thought she was the perfect example of a bad Hufflepuff... and then J.K released information confirming that Umbridge had been in Slytherin at Hogwarts.

 

It's kind of frustrating that every villain and their pet dog seems to have gone through that house.

 

Perhaps this is wrong of me... but when authors who aren't Brandon Sanderson release out-of-narrative information, I refuse to accept it as canon unless it fits with my headcanon.

Edited June 15, 2015 by Kobold King

[Kestrel she/her]

There are good Gryffindors, there are bad Gryffindors. It doesn't have to do with good/neutral/evil alignment, it has to deal with your personality. Brave people can be evil, cunning people can be good.

I do agree with you Kobald, but that doesn't really excuse the stereotypes in the fandom. It is kinda sad when kids retake and retake the tests, trying to get Gryffindor. Of course the characters would see their house as the best, but that doesn't mean the fandom can't have respect for all houses!

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

See, I would argue that the pro-Gryffindor/anti-Slytherin bias is even exhibited by the author, which is why we get such a skewed view of things. The moment when Dumbledore takes the House Cup from the Slytherins and gives it to Gryffindor based on last-minute points is portrayed as a happy ending. The only Slytherin reaction we are shown is on the part of Malfoy. If there were good Slytherins who cried themselves to sleep that night, we are given no indication that they even exist. If they do exist, they aren't worthy of note; it isn't a loss for Slytherin but a win for Gryffindor, and that is what matters.

Throughout the series, the main Slytherin perspective we are given is Malfoy's. Others in his House are either shown or implied to fall in line with his ideology, and even he is denied a happy ending. One may argue that he brought his misfortune upon himself--and they would be right in that assessment. However, it is telling that the only other Slytherins with similar stories are redeemed through death, whereas Malfoy lives, to put it in Wesley's words, a long life with is cowardice. He lacked the courage to die for the Gryffindor cause and as a result lives the rest of his life without that courage; when I would argue that he had no reason NOT to renounce Voldemort and change his ways.

Other Slytherins do fight for the right side, but they are deconstructions of good while Gryffindor good is played straight. Slughorn's casual racism is worlds better than pro-pureblood rhetoric, but it is worthy of note that no Gryffindor exhibits this attitude. Racism in Gryffindor is more likely to be toward goblins and house elves, which (in a very telling twist) is shown not to be entirely unfounded. House elves DO like being enslaved. Goblins ARE greedy by human standards, and likely to betray. Furthermore, this racism is only examined in detail in latter books, whereas Slytherin racism is introduced in book two.

If a Gryffindor suffers, it is because they were too righteous or the innocent victim of evil. The Weasleys are poor because Arthur loves Muggles and the Ministry has been bought out by Lucius Malfoy. Harry's suffering is a result of his standing up to Voldemort. Katie Bell, Neville Longbottom and his parents, Hermione Granger--all of these Gryffindors suffer as a result of standing up to evil or getting in its way. Snape, Regulus, and Draco, on the other hand, bring their suffering upon themselves. Snap rejects his chance at making things right with Lily. Regulus and Draco both take the Mark. Furthermore, while it is made clear that both Draco and James Potter were bullies in their day, James the Gryffindor changes his ways while Draco the Slytherin does not. Why? Why does one clearly prejudiced bully mend while the other--who arguably has more reason, given his deep depression and nervous breakdown--never does?

Finally, in the final battle, we see the Slytherins given one last shot to redeem themselves when offered a chance to fight for Hogwarts. To a man, they choose to evacuate rather than stay and fight--self preservation over right and wrong. By sharp contrast, over half the Gryffindors, many of them underage, stay. This, more than anything, exhibits the author's bias: She assumes that, given the chance, Slytherins will choose themselves over the cause of right and wrong, while Gryffindors will choose the opposite.

[Kobold King he/him]

See, I would argue that the pro-Gryffindor/anti-Slytherin bias is even exhibited by the author, which is why we get such a skewed view of things. The moment when Dumbledore takes the House Cup from the Slytherins and gives it to Gryffindor based on last-minute points is portrayed as a happy ending. The only Slytherin reaction we are shown is on the part of Malfoy. If there were good Slytherins who cried themselves to sleep that night, we are given no indication that they even exist. If they do exist, they aren't worthy of note; it isn't a loss for Slytherin but a win for Gryffindor, and that is what matters.

Throughout the series, the main Slytherin perspective we are given is Malfoy's. Others in his House are either shown or implied to fall in line with his ideology, and even he is denied a happy ending. One may argue that he brought his misfortune upon himself--and they would be right in that assessment. However, it is telling that the only other Slytherins with similar stories are redeemed through death, whereas Malfoy lives, to put it in Wesley's words, a long life with is cowardice. He lacked the courage to die for the Gryffindor cause and as a result lives the rest of his life without that courage; when I would argue that he had no reason NOT to renounce Voldemort and change his ways.

Other Slytherins do fight for the right side, but they are deconstructions of good while Gryffindor good is played straight. Slughorn's casual racism is worlds better than pro-pureblood rhetoric, but it is worthy of note that no Gryffindor exhibits this attitude. Racism in Gryffindor is more likely to be toward goblins and house elves, which (in a very telling twist) is shown not to be entirely unfounded. House elves DO like being enslaved. Goblins ARE greedy by human standards, and likely to betray. Furthermore, this racism is only examined in detail in latter books, whereas Slytherin racism is introduced in book two.

If a Gryffindor suffers, it is because they were too righteous or the innocent victim of evil. The Weasleys are poor because Arthur loves Muggles and the Ministry has been bought out by Lucius Malfoy. Harry's suffering is a result of his standing up to Voldemort. Katie Bell, Neville Longbottom and his parents, Hermione Granger--all of these Gryffindors suffer as a result of standing up to evil or getting in its way. Snape, Regulus, and Draco, on the other hand, bring their suffering upon themselves. Snap rejects his chance at making things right with Lily. Regulus and Draco both take the Mark. Furthermore, while it is made clear that both Draco and James Potter were bullies in their day, James the Gryffindor changes his ways while Draco the Slytherin does not. Why? Why does one clearly prejudiced bully mend while the other--who arguably has more reason, given his deep depression and nervous breakdown--never does?

Finally, in the final battle, we see the Slytherins given one last shot to redeem themselves when offered a chance to fight for Hogwarts. To a man, they choose to evacuate rather than stay and fight--self preservation over right and wrong. By sharp contrast, over half the Gryffindors, many of them underage, stay. This, more than anything, exhibits the author's bias: She assumes that, given the chance, Slytherins will choose themselves over the cause of right and wrong, while Gryffindors will choose the opposite.

 

...

 

Yeesh. They should call you TwiLyght the Hammer, because your logic is heavy, swift, and unstoppable.

 

You're absolutely right--while I have a tendency to chalk up biases to Unreliable Narrators, there's a lot of objective evidence that J. K. Rowling sees Slytherin as inherently evil and Gryffindor as the best House.

 

Which raises the question: is J. K. Rowling wrong in her assessment, or are we attempting to justify the existence of a House that actively corrupts the youth? Does Slytherin actually possess the admirable characteristics some fans have assigned to it, or did Ms. Rowling conceive of it as a House that has encouraged the nastiest of attitudes since its very beginning?

 

I guess what I'm trying to say is: Slytherins as people aren't inherently bad, but is the Slytherin House an organization that deliberately fosters thugs and racists? Or is it merely an unfortunate coincidence that we as the readers see the House only in its darkest hour, with J. K. Rowling describing it accordingly?

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

...

Yeesh. They should call you TwiLyght the Hammer, because your logic is heavy, swift, and unstoppable.

You're absolutely right--while I have a tendency to chalk up biases to Unreliable Narrators, there's a lot of objective evidence that J. K. Rowling sees Slytherin as inherently evil and Gryffindor as the best House.

Which raises the question: is J. K. Rowling wrong in her assessment, or are we attempting to justify the existence of a House that actively corrupts the youth? Does Slytherin actually possess the admirable characteristics some fans have assigned to it, or did Ms. Rowling conceive of it as a House that has encouraged the nastiest of attitudes since its very beginning?

I guess what I'm trying to say is: Slytherins as people aren't inherently bad, but is the Slytherin House an organization that deliberately fosters thugs and racists? Or is it merely an unfortunate coincidence that we as the readers see the House only in its darkest hour, with J. K. Rowling describing it accordingly?

Can I get a hammer like Thor's?!

I tend to think Slytherin began as a decent, if not outright good, organization. Although we get very little information on the Founders, what we do get portrays Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Helga Hufflepuff as altruistic witches and wizards of pure intent. Godric wishes to foster bravery; Rowena, cleverness; and Helga, understanding and acceptance. Although Rowena's daughter does steal her mother's Diadem, she expresses horror and revulsion that Voldemort would corrupt it with dark magic. Salazar Slytherin was friends with these people. Why would they befriend a man who was every shade of evil--and if they were hoping to redeem him through friendship, why would they give him charge over a quarter of their students? Good people do make mistakes, but giving an obviously evil man control over the education of a quarter of their students isn't a mistake; it's idiotic.

My thinking is that Salazar wanted to teach those "whose ancestry is purest" because of prevalent Muggle racism against witches and wizards. Those attitudes are confirmed to exist in-universe both through Harry's history textbooks and through the nonviolent but nonetheless strong prejudice of the Dursleys. I think Salazar's preference was due less to racism and more to a misguided commitment to the safety of the school. If this was before the Statute of Secrecy (and it was; the Statute came along in the 1700s and Hogwarts was founded in the 1100s) then there would be no reason why a Muggle spy with low magic couldn't infiltrate Hogwarts and spill her secrets to those who wanted it destroyed. In light of that possibility, requiring all applicants to have at least one wizard ancestor seems almost reasonable. However, as we can see in the series, this regulation was horribly corrupted over the years, to the point where its original intent was all but forgotten.

[Axies he/him]

...

 

Yeesh. They should call you TwiLyght the Hammer, because your logic is heavy, swift, and unstoppable.

 

And now I can see the Evil Pony fighting for the end of times on Azeroth, leading the Twilight's Hammer clan...

http://wowwiki.wikia.com/Twilight%27s_Hammer_clan

[Kaymyth she/her]

I've been reading the explanations of different House personalities. Not only am I nodding along to the Ravenclaw primary and Slytherin secondary, going "Yep, that's me," but I'm also mentally Sorting different fictional and fanfic characters into the appropriate Houses.

 

Interestly, I'm the other way 'round - Slytherin primary and Ravenclaw secondary. 

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

Interestly, I'm the other way 'round - Slytherin primary and Ravenclaw secondary.

I'm still clinging to the long-lost-sisters theory.

Here's a few Sanderson characters, as I've Sorted them so far:

David Charleston: Gryffindor primary, Ravenclaw secondary

Megan Tarash: Gryffindor primary, Slytherin secondary

Vin: Slytherin primary, Gryffindor secondary

Shallan Davar: Ravenclaw primary, Slytherin secondary

Kaladin: Gryffindor primary, Hufflepuff secondary

I'm not sure on Dalinar or Adolin, though I'm almost certain Dalinar is a Gryffindor primary. Jasnah is definitely a Ravenclaw primary, though I'm not sure on her secondary, I'm leaning toward Gryffindor.