This is another video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World. This video is me making the case for Mr. Sinister to being the X-Men’s primary antagonist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He was only teased briefly in the Fox movies. And we’ve already had over a decade of Magneto being the X-Men’s main villain on the big screen. The time is right for Mr. Sinister to show just how devious he can be. And given the current state of the MCU, the timing couldn’t be better. Enjoy!
Why Mr. Sinister Should Be The X-Men’s Main Villain In The MCU
Filed under Jack's World, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe, movies, superhero comics, superhero movies, X-men, YouTube
Bracing/Preparing For The End Of Comixology
Just a few years ago, Comixology was the center of the world for comic fans like myself. It was the primary hub through which we accessed the comics we know, love, and consume on a weekly basis. It made Wednesday mornings the best day of our week. Instead of trying to figure out how you’d get to a comic book store, you just rolled out of bed, turned on your computer, and purchased the books you wanted for the week.
I started waking up at 4:30 a.m. every Wednesday morning, just to get a head start on new books. Once Comixology started publishing new comics the same day they came out in stores, the floodgates opened for me. I suddenly had the perfect avenue to enjoy comics as I saw fit. And I genuinely loved it. Comixology had a special place in my heart.
Then, February 2022, that all changed. And years from now when we’re looking back on the history of comics, we might look at this moment as the beginning of the end for Comixology. Because that was the day that once-iconic website that we came to know and trust over the course of a decade disappeared. Instead, it was folded into Amazon’s Kindle store, a hub that was not designed for comics and not at all equipped to provide the same experience.
I remember that moment well. I just kept constantly trying to get back to the old site, only to be redirected to Amazon at every turn. I kept saying “I hate this!” again and again. I reached out to Comixology support, who have always been so responsive. They didn’t respond this time. They made public statements claiming they were committed to improving the interface. Absolutely none of those promises have been kept and it’s been over a fucking year.
Now, the story of how Comixology got folded into Amazon is a long one that I won’t recount. Amazon has actually owned Comixology since 2014. But that really wasn’t an issue because it didn’t change the site, the experience, or the service. If you didn’t see the Amazon logo on the front page, you probably wouldn’t have known that Comixology was an Amazon-owned company.
But for reasons that probably have to do with greed, arrogance, callousness, and cost-cutting, Amazon decided Comixlogy had to be completely integrated with their Kindle store. In addition, over half the staff working at Comixology was fired. And even though Amazon is a trillion-dollar company, the experience still sucks. The web reader still sucks. And I’ve yet to find a single person who prefers to the new site over the old Comixology site.
It’s now at a point where the future of Comixology, as a whole, is very much in doubt. Amazon didn’t care enough to keep the workers who made Comixology great, nor do they seem to care about providing the same experience that past customers grew to love. And once big corporations stop caring, you can assume things will never get better.
It’s at a point now where major publishers are taking notice. For years, Comixology was the perfect middleman for publishing companies. They provided the digital storefront while the publishers provided the comics. They share in some of the profits and everyone is happy, including the customers. Now, that dynamic is all screwed up and unhappy customers are not good for business.
Now, Marvel and DC Comics are investing heavily in their own digital comics services. I’ve sung the praises before of Marvel Unlimited, the Netflix-like service that essentially allows fans to binge Marvel’s vast catalog of comics. DC Comics is developing a similar service called DC Infinite. At the moment, these services don’t offer the newest issues. You usually have to wait 30 days for them to come out on the site.
But with these publishers shutting down applications that once integrated with Comixology, I think the stage is set. Publishers now have an incentive to cut ties with Comixology completely and develop their own apps. That will be quite devastating to the many smaller publishers and indie comics that once relied on Comixology’s brand to get their work out there. But I fear it’s already too late for them.
This likely means that if you’re a Marvel or DC fan, getting your favorite comics every week will eventually require you go through them instead of Comixology. That means learning how to use Marvel Unlimited and DC Infinite fast. It also means looking at your current collection and gauging which comics you’ll be able to keep and which will be at risk. That’s going to be tedious and you may lose some stuff you legitimately paid for. But don’t expect Amazon to care enough to fix it for you.
I’m already preparing. As soon as Marvel Unlimited starts offering some way of getting new comics the date of publication, I’ll have a very good reason to ditch Comixology. I still rely on it for a number of non-Marvel and non-DC titles I follow. But alternatives are already popping up. Hopefully, they get to a point where they offer a better value than Comixology/Amazon.
This transition is going to suck. There’s no way around it.
Chances are it’s also going to mean more money than we’d be spending if Comixology had remained unchanged. There’s no way around that, either.
But that’s the world we live in. It sucks and it will get worse before it even begins to get better. I take no pleasure in saying this, but this is where we are right now.
Sexy Short Story: The Love Pod
The following is a sexy short story about a couple in the not-so-distant future enjoying a little high tech intimacy. Enjoy!
“Please enter the staging area. And please be sure to turn off any electronic devices. By policy, this is a private space in the highest degree.”
“That sounds like a script from a lawyer and read by an unpaid intern,” noted Kyle Elder as he and his wife entered the area, hand-in-hand.
“Spoken like a man who deals with both too often,” replied Daniella “Dina” Dillon, his ever-radiant wife of three years.
“I’d plead the fifth. But I know that would just prove your point.”
“All the more reason to shut up. Besides, we didn’t come here to talk.”
“No. We certainly did not.”
Kyle gave his wife’s hand a firm squeeze and grinned widely. It was painfully clear how much they needed this. It had been clear before Dina pitched the idea the other day after dinner. They’d both been working overtime for two straight weeks. That was to be expected, with him working at a law firm and her working at an investment bank. Having graduated college four years ago, they were in the early stages of their burgeoning careers.
As a result, he and Dina had less time for each other. That was a new, but unfamiliar situation. Having known one another since childhood, falling deeply in love at a young age, they were used to sharing their lives with one another. Having full-time jobs that kept them apart for most of the day proved difficult. And working so hard left them with less energy than usual to be intimate.
That meant when they did have an opportunity, like a stormy Saturday morning, they had to make it count. That led Kyle to splurge for some quality time in a Love Pod. It was a relatively new practice for lovers, couples, and casual partners of all kinds. But it had quickly become an integral service to anyone who desired a special intimacy.
“I’m so glad we’re doing this,” Dina said as she admired the pod-like structure before them. “I can only imagine how many couples need it as much as us.”
“Kind of makes me feel bad for our ancestors. They had to build meaningful sex lives without them,” Kyle commented while looking on with similar awe.
“They seemed to manage. We’re here, after all,” she quipped.
“True. But for a love like ours, I want to do more than manage.”
“Me too.”
They shared a warm smile as they approached the Love Pod. Behind them, the door had already closed and locked itself, ensuring there would be no unwanted disturbances. They had also turned off their phones completely, not even wanting an emergency text to distract them from one another. For once, this was all about being together in a private, intimate space.
The room itself certainly accommodated that. Most Love Pods were built within premium spas. And most of those spas were located in small, unremarkable office structures that most wouldn’t recognize even if they walked by them. Even the high-end facilities often kept a low profile.
As for the pod, it didn’t look like much from the outside. It was just this large, egg-shaped structure that had been built into the corner of the room. The exterior was smooth and polished, giving off a glossy sheen. There were some lights built into the top and base, indicating it required electricity. It also gave off a low, radiating a unique energy that beckoned couples towards it like moths to a flame.
Kyle found himself reaching out and touching the surface. Through it, he felt the distinct heat that only Love Pods ever generated. It was enough to evoke excitement and passion in any couple, even those who had been grossly overworked.
“Thank you. Your session is about to begin,” said the same robotic voice from earlier. “Please remove all clothing. Storage compartments are available if desired.”
“Finally! We can ditch these itchy clothes,” Dina said as she loosened her shirt.
“Speak for yourself. You’re not the one who has to wear suits and ties during a summer heat wave,” Kyle said as he did the same.
“Less talking. More stripping,” his wife quipped.
Kyle just grinned and shook his head as he disrobed. He couldn’t help but be somewhat distracted by his beautiful wife eagerly taking off her clothes, abandoning her usual modesty with such glee.
Dina was downright playful in how she wiggled out of her pants, unclasped her bra, and slipped out of her panties. Kyle swore she was tempting him, like a stripper at one of the clubs his older brother kept trying to drag him to. Once fully nude, she even bent down a bit, showing off her bare butt as she picked up her clothes and stored them neatly in a nearby cupboard.
“Damn, you look good naked,” Kyle said under his breath.
She giggled slightly, sounding like the playful schoolgirl she’d been when they started dating in high school. He was so fixated on her heart-shaped butt that he almost forgot his pants were only halfway off. When Dina turned around, giving him a full-frontal view of her breasts and vagina, it helped him refocus. And he couldn’t get his pants and boxers off fast enough.
“I missed seeing you and all your manly glory,” Dina said to him.
“You saw me in the shower two nights ago,” he pointed out.
“I was too tired to enjoy it. But trust me. I’m very rested right now.”
There was an erotic undertone to her voice. That tone always got Kyle’s blood flowing to the right parts of his body. But he refused to get too far ahead of himself. He had to save the bulk of his passion for the Love Pod.
He and Dina had discovered the joys of Love Pods shortly after their honeymoon. Dina’s older sister, who worked for a popular chain of day spas that specialized in their use, had even provided them with a special voucher. That allowed them to make an appointment at some of the best spas in the region. And for the next several hours, it was theirs to enjoy.
Eager to lose track of time with the woman he loved, Kyle stuffed his clothes into another cupboard. He then joined his wife at the entrance to the pod, taking her hand in his and standing together as naked as the day they were born.
“Are you ready for this, my love?” he asked her.
“As ready as any naked woman can be for her handsome hubby,” Dina answered with a grin.
His heart raced with anticipation. Dina leaned in close, the warmth of her body mixing with his. She had that glint in her eyes – the one that told him she yearned for his loving, sensual touch. Kyle delighted in giving that to her as often as possible. Using a Love Pod just made it easier, as well as more satisfying.
The robot voice within the room must have sensed their anticipation. The front doors to the pod opened, revealing the enticing interior to the both of them. It was like an elevator opening to take them to Heaven. And they were ready to ascend.
“Thanks again for your cooperation. Please enter the pod and enjoy your time together,” the voice instructed.
“Oh we will,” said Kyle with the utmost confidents. “We definitely will!”
Like a couple of newlyweds entering a honeymoon suite, Kyle led Dina into the pod. As soon as they were inside, they felt its unique ambience. And it supplemented their blossoming passion perfectly.
Entering a Love Pod was like entering a small sliver of Eden. It consisted mostly of a large, circular shaped bed. But it was no regular king-sized bed that anyone could buy at a mattress store. This thing had a unique cushion. And crawling atop it with his wife felt like getting on top of a magical cloud – one that lovingly supported their naked bodies to the utmost.
In addition to the uniquely shaped mattress, there were also sheets and comforters consisting of an exotic, dark red fabric. Nobody knew what the fabric consisted of. That was a closely guarded secret within the Love Pod industry. Kyle once heard a rumor that the fabric was laced with some kind of special chemical that stimulated skin in a unique way. It would explain why everyone was encouraged to enter Love Pods naked. But the rumors didn’t stop there.
“I swear this place looks much bigger from the inside,” Dina commented.
“Probably some sort of optical illusion,” Kyle said as he admired it himself.
“Do you really believe that?” she said skeptically.
“Does it matter? More so than just being here…together…and increasingly horny?”
“Not in the slightest!” she said curtly.
As Kyle and Dina followed one another atop the mattress and to the center of the pod, they kissed and embraced. That quickly escalated into heated foreplay. Within any Love Pod, the foreplay always seemed more intimate.
A big part of it was the ambience. All along the interior surface of the pod was this silverish surface that resembled a high-definition TV screen. When the chamber door closed behind them, parts of that screen lit up to illuminate the interior in this soft reddish light. It was so warm and radiant. It made Kyle and his love feel so hot from the inside, as though their respective libidos were being ignited from the outside.
On top of that, the unique lighting coincided with this unique aroma that quickly filled the chamber. It was so thick and heavy, like an invisible cloud surrounding them. It did not at all resemble anything most couples smelled, even during their hottest, sweatiest rounds of lovemaking. Many believed it was some kind of synthetic pheromone developed by Love Pod companies – designed specifically to evoke passion, lust, and a level of horiness that could not be achieved naturally. It wasn’t so much a rumor as it was a poorly kept secret within the industry.
Kyle always figured the truth lay somewhere between the craziest rumors and harshest truths. Whatever it entailed, he and Dina could care less about the specifics. All that mattered was that they were alone, sealed in this Love Pod, and deeply in need of one another’s sex. And once the effects of the pod took hold, neither of them held back.
“Touch…kiss me…taste me,” Dina gasped, every word a blend of cries and whispers.
Kyle answered with a series of masculine grunts that sounded like something right out of a nature show. He had already followed Dina to the center of the pod where the mattress was its most comforting. Once there, he serenaded her with his soft lips and loving touch. And before long, they were making out like a couple of restless prom dates.
As Dina lay on her back, her arms wrapped around his neck, he hovered over her – hungrily kissing her lips, trailing his eager hands along her feminine curves, and letting the sinews of his upper body mesh with her naked skin. Kyle was gentle where he needed to be, especially when kissing her lips or nibbling on her ear lobe – something that always drove her wild. He was also a bit more overt when necessary, such as when he squeezed her thighs or cupped her breasts.
“Mmm…Dina,” Kyle said under his breath, “you taste so good…feel so good. God, I want you!”
They were already working up quite a sweat together. All that touching and body contact supplemented the heat, as well as the uniquely sensual aroma. It also intensified their growing sexual arousal, which had begun the second they got naked, but accelerated from their foreplay.
Kyle felt his heart race as blood rushed to his lower body, causing his penis to stiffen to a state rarely achieved outside the most sensual of situations. And as the veins in his manhood throbbed, he reached between Dina’s thighs to feel the outer contours of her vulva. She was already so hot with arousal. And when he sneakily slipped a couple fingers into her vagina, he confirmed she was just as aroused.
“Please…I can’t wait any longer!” Dina said, breaking the kiss and already short of breath. “Do me, Kyle! Make love to me now!”
It wasn’t a command as much as it was a desperate plea. Kyle, never one to deny the woman he loved, acted quickly. Like a soldier springing into action, he pushed her legs apart and got between them. He then aligned his rigid cock with his wife’s moist outer folds, their bodies aching for their fleshly union.
Dina locked eyes with him, grabbing onto his arms and beckoning him with her intense gaze. There was so much she could’ve said to him in that moment. He could’ve said just as much to her. But after being together and being in love for so long, words simply didn’t cut it. A simple, affectionate act was all they needed.
“Dina…” was all Kyle said before thrusting his hips forward and entering her.
They each let out an impassioned gasp as their sex commenced. That sweet feeling of hard, masculine flesh penetrating soft, feminine depths washed over them. They knew this feeling well, but the Love Pod seemed to amplify it. That might have been another secret function that nobody understood. But neither Kyle nor Dina cared for the specifics.
Their flesh now entwined, they began moving their bodies in that special lover’s dance. Kyle was slow at first, just letting his love’s flesh embrace his. But the movements intensified quickly. With great passion and urgency, he worked his body with hers – their flesh rocking, grinding, and slithering with perfect harmony. Hands roamed and lips followed chaotic whims, tasting and tantalizing each other’s flesh with growing delight.
“That’s it, Kyle! Ooh that’s it!” Dina panted. “Like that! Just like that!”
It was sweet music to his ears, hearing his wife’s joyous words. He soon fell into a daze, burying his face in his wife’s neck as their naked bodies rocked and writhed.
Kyle wasn’t doing anything special. He was just making love to his wife in variation of the missionary position, aligning his body with hers in just such a way to maximize their union. It might have just been another byproduct of being too busy or having not enjoyed unhindered lovemaking in a while. The ambience of the Love Pod probably had something to do with it as well, even without all the wild rumors of how it functioned.
At this point, only one thing was clear.
They needed this.
They wanted this.
They loved this.
It ultimately showed when Dina’s moans took on that distinctly orgasmic undertone.
“Ooh I’m close! I’m close! I’m so…so close!” she panted.
“Mmm…me too, Dina,” Kyle said into her ear, making sure to sound extra masculine.
His voice didn’t do justice to just how close he was. Dina was so hot and tight, her womanhood squeezing his member with its moist flesh. He longed for his release, but not before his love could join him in the ecstasy. Through several more focused movements, they carried one to the edge of that special threshold.
Then, they leapt off together.
“Ohhhh Kyle!”
“Dina!”
The rush of orgasmic bliss washed over them. It wasn’t simultaneous, but it was pretty damn close.
It hit Dina first. She closed her eyes, curled her toes, bent her knees, and raked her nails over his back before contorting to the onslaught of sensations. That extra throbbing in her vagina got Kyle past the point of no return, as well. His face still buried in her neck, he grasped her hips, dug his knees into the bed, and thrust extra deep into her depths. Within those depths, his seminal fluid mixed with her juices, their sex taking form and substance. But the feeling went beyond the sex.
When the rush coursed through him, it was like a warm blanket composed of raw pleasure wrapped around them. It made every breath, every heartbeat, and every touch feel more meaningful – and every emotion behind it more profound.
“Wow,” said Kyle through his breathless state.
“I know…wow,” Dina said, still swimming in a sea of bliss.
“Even after all this year…you still amaze me, Dina,” he said.
“So do you…and not just with sex.”
“Well…it helps get the point across.”
“That, it does!” she said lovingly.
Still in the throughs of orgasmic delight, they met in a loving kiss. Even the joys of a near-simultaneous climax couldn’t keep Kyle from sharing a simple gesture of affection with his wife. The interior of the Love Pod even seemed to react to it, the ambient lighting on the surface shifting to become more vibrant.
It was tempting to just lay with Dina and enjoy the afterglow. Given how stressed they’d been lately, it might have been the most prudent. But after one shared trip to this sensual paradise, Kyle wasn’t feeling too prudent at the moment. When their lips parted and he saw that seductive glint in her eyes, he knew Dina felt the same.
“We still have plenty of time left in this pod,” Kyle reminded her.
“Is it enough time to catch up on all the sexy things we’ve been meaning to do?” she asked curtly.
“Don’t know. Wanna try anyway?”
“Shut up and kiss me again!”
Never one to deny his wife’s loving desire, they kissed again. Just like before, that kiss turned into heated foreplay. And from there, an impassioned chaos ensued.
He and Dina rolled around together in the Love Pod, enjoying the soft feel of the exotic fabric on their naked skin. They were a bit less urgent than before, just making out for the simple enjoyment of one another’s bodies. But eventually, the desire returned, as did the arousal.
It never ceased to amaze Kyle. His penis almost fully erect, despite being somewhat sensitive after his release. Within these Love Pods, it was as though the limits of the male body had been briefly nullified. More than a few men wondered how that was possible. But Kyle was content to attribute it to a greater desire to make love to Dina. The pod just gave him the perfect domain in which to realize that desire.
And after taking such a direct approach before, he and Dina dared to mix things up a bit. They took turns giving each other oral, which resulted in Dina having another orgasm. He then had Dina lead them into various positions – some of which involved her on top, riding him like a sex goddess – some of which involved him pinning her up against the wall of the pod, bouncing her up and down his cock.
One moment it was slow, sensual, and romantic.
The next it was rough, raw, and energetic.
The full breadth of their passion was on full display within this tiny structure. And they refused to leave until every last bit of desire was spent, shared, and exhausted. That made it easy to lose track of time, as well as how many orgasm they had. Kyle didn’t bother tracking how he and Dina had. They might be very sore tomorrow, but it was so worth it.
And once their last round of ravenous lovemaking concluded, they found themselves back in the center of the pod. Lying side-by-side, still as naked as they day they were born, they just cuddled in a gentle embrace.
“I love you,” said Kyle through his breathless state.
“I love you too,” Dina said, still swimming in a sea of bliss.
“We needed this…so much,” he said.
“More than usual. Good thing these pods making overdue lovemaking so damn satisfying!”
“That’s for sure. I’m already looking forward to our next trip. Maybe next time, we won’t wait so damn long to enjoy it.”
“But even if we do,” Dina said curtly, “I’ll make sure it’s worth the wait.
“Me too, my love. Me too.”
Filed under Sexy Short Story
Hey Arnold! | Helga And Arnold: A Tragic, But Genuine Love Story
This is another video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World. This video explores the tragic, but unique love story between Helga and Arnold in the classic 90s animated series, Hey Arnold! It’s a story that started off as a strange obsession between a girl and a boy with a football-shaped head. But over the course of the series, it became so much more. Enjoy!
Filed under Current Events, Jack's World, television, YouTube
Thought Experiment: Contemplating (Viable) Alternatives To Capitalism
This is another video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World. This video is a thought experiment about capitalism. Specifically, it challenges us to contemplate alternatives that we could actually implement in the real world. Given the current trends in politics, which either glorify or villainize capitalism, I think this sort of idea is increasingly relevant. And it’s something we should contemplate seriously as technology, society, and the world continues to change. Enjoy!
Filed under Current Events, human nature, Jack's World, philosophy, politics, Thought Experiment, YouTube
Real Politicians Are Talking Like X-Men Villains (And That’s Concerning)
I’ve been reading comic books all my life. A good chunk of those comics are superhero comics. And a good chunk of those superhero comics are X-Men comics. I’ve made no secret of this on this website or my YouTube channel. So, I hope my love of comics, superheroes, and X-Men should be beyond dispute.
That’s why I find it so disturbing when something happens in the real world that is dangerously similar to what I’ve read in so many comics. I used to think in my youthful innocence that people in the real world could never be as evil, heartless, or cruel as the villains I saw in comics. In general, I had a high opinion of people in the real world. Sure, there were assholes here and there. But most were good and most at least try to do good.
That opinion has since been shattered on multiple occasions, but nothing has shattered it more than the current state of politics.
Now, I don’t want to go off on a long rant about how divided people are politically and how toxic political discussions have become. I already did enough of that during major elections. I’ll just note that most of the political figures, be they elected officials or media personalities, who sound like villains are coming from one particular part of the political spectrum.
I won’t even bother being tactful. That villainous rhetoric is coming almost exclusively from conservative republicans in the United States, especially those who identify as being religious or sympathetic to the causes of Christian Nationalists.
These are the people who are pushing for laws and policies that do the sorts of things that X-Men villains seek to do. They actively try to marginalize vulnerable minorities, especially those within the LGBTQ+ community. They spew hate, bigotry, and ignorance of these people. They call them horrible names and constantly accuse them of grooming children, despite the fact that children are far more vulnerable to abuses in churches. They haven’t yet unleashed killer robot sentinels against these communities, but I don’t doubt for a second that they would if they had access to them.
It’s been especially bad for the transgender community. They’ve become some of the biggest targets of this particular wing of villainous politics. A decade ago, conservative republicans at least tried to cloak their opposition. They didn’t show outward hatred to people they hated or didn’t agree with. But after 2016, the masks are coming off.
They don’t seem to be trying to hide it anymore. They hate transgender people. They hate the LGBTQ+ community. They hate anyone who isn’t on their team and will do anything they can to marginalize, hurt, or denigrate them. In Florida, which has become immersed in petty right-wing political discourse, it has gotten especially bad. It’s gotten to the point where a real-life republican has actually cited X-Men to justify his bigotry in support of an anti-trans bill.
I wish this were a side-plot in an X-Men comic. But unfortunately, this is real. Here’s what Vice reported.
Vice: Republican Calls Trans People ‘Mutants,’ Totally Misses the Point of X-Men
A Republican lawmaker in Florida called transgender people “mutants and imps” on Monday in an anti-trans rant that appeared to almost imitate vitriolic lines from X-Men movies.
Florida Rep. Webster Barnaby shared anti-trans views at the state capitol while lawmakers deliberated House Bill 1521, a piece of legislation that would criminalize trans people for using public bathrooms that don’t correspond to their sex assigned at birth.
“I’m looking at society today and it’s like I’m watching an X-Men movie,” Barnaby said at the start of his speech.
“It’s like we have mutants living among us on planet earth,” Barnaby continued. “That’s a fact: we have people that live among us today on Planet Earth that are happy to display themselves as if they were mutants from another planet.”
Now, to be fair, Representative Barnaby has come out and apologized for his remarks. In general, I try to be a forgiving and understanding guy.
However, I can only be so forgiving to people who talk like supervillains.
Seriously, fuck this guy. Fuck you, Representative Webster.
In case you don’t understand why his sentiments were so villainous, here’s a quick reminder of what the X-Men stand for.
They are outcasts.
They are freaks.
They are subject to hate, fear, discrimination, and mistrust.
Despite all this, they try to be heroes. But the villains they often face involve humans who either want to wipe them out completely or make their lives objectively worse on every level.
This asshole, who clearly knows what the X-Men are, didn’t seem to grasp that. He might have seen the first X-Men movie and thought it was a tragedy about a brave senator who tried to pass Draconian laws on an entire class of people. Now, he wants to do the same to transgender people, but it will not stop with them.
We’ve already seen this script play out before. It’s happening as we speak with abortion. It’ll keep happening as long as the people in power believe they can get away with it, keep their jobs, and earn money from their doners, who are often villains in their own right.
People like Representative Webster aren’t going to stop with bullshit policies like this. They won’t stop for the same reason the X-Men’s villains never stop. They believe they can get away with it. They believe they’ll get more power, money, and prestige out of it. Some may very well just be hateful assholes who just want to make people they don’t like suffer.
Those people exist.
I’ve had to deal with them.
But unlike the X-Men’s villains, these people are real. They’ll continue doing whatever they think they can get away with, either out of malice, spite, or just plain ignorance. And we can’t expect superheroes to come along and save us. These are villains we’ll have to deal with.
It’s not as easy or cinematic as Wolverine cutting up a Sentinel attacking the Xavier Institute. But it’s something we all need to be aware of. Because the alternative is letting the villains win in the long run. And take it from someone who has read enough comics about dark timelines and dystopian futures.
We must not let the villains to win.
Filed under Current Events, politics, superhero comics, superhero movies, X-men
What Is (And Isn’t) Orwellian And Why That Matters
This is another video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World. This video essay is an exploration of what makes something truly Orwellian. It’s a term that gets thrown around a lot in political circles these days. But those who use it have likely not read any of Orwell’s work and don’t fully understand the larger message of 1984. I attempt to break down that message and apply it to the larger idea of what makes something truly Orwellian. Enjoy!
Filed under Current Events, Jack's World, YouTube
A Brief Note/Rant On The Definition Of “Woke”
As a general rule, I never argue semantics with people. I find those debates to be the least productive conversations in existence. Because when people just argue about the words they’re using, there’s no room for anything of substance. It just devolves into a shouting match between whose definitions are more valid.
This happens a lot in comments sections, political debates, and arguments that get completely derailed. But lately, I feel like it’s happening for even dumber reasons than usual.
One reason, in particular, that keeps coming up has to do with the definition of a very particular word. Now, brace yourself because the word I’m about to use is bound to invite all sorts of anger, vitriol, controversy, and disdain. It’s a word I’ve heard well-meaning people use as often as trolls and grifters. But it’s a word we can’t seem to escape, let alone define.
That word is “woke.”
I know. I just alienated 95 percent of the internet by typing it out. I understand that I just invited the most hateful/idiotic/misguided assholes to endlessly whine about how I’m some sort of agent of a secret cabal bent on destroying Western civilization.
To all those people, go fuck yourselves.
Seriously, fuck off to the end of the multiverse and stay there. You’ll be doing the human race a favor.
But I’m still going to talk about the word “woke” because it’s been thrown around more than empty condom wrappers at a brothel. It’s said at least 100 times a day on right-wing news outlets, usually as an insult or something meant to discredit a certain position. It’s often used by politicians, grifters, trolls, and many other objectively terrible human beings who seek only to harass, demean, and denigrate anyone who commits the high crime of disagreeing with them.
It’s also used by a lot of people who really don’t understand it. Some of those people are entirely well-meaning. I’ve heard my own parents use the word, often with a sense of exasperation and frustration. Now, I love my parents to no end. I even know they visit this website.
But seriously, they do not know what the word means and the way they’re using it is not that different from how asshole trolls use it. So, to that non-asshole contingent that includes parents, friends, and other well-meaning people, I’m here to clear up the definition of woke.
Since nobody will believe me if I cite a dictionary or some other source on the web, I’ll just keep it simple. Brace yourself again because I’m about to reveal the true meaning of woke and it might just make you uncomfortable.
Woke: To be aware of the political, economic, and social injustices within a system and to advocate efforts to rectify those injustices.
Seriously, that’s it. That’s what the word means. That’s what the concept has historically entailed, long before Fox News began using it to bemoan every single policy that dares help someone who isn’t a straight white male billionaire.
It’s just a way of denoting a real understanding about the injustices in the world. Those injustices cut across many walks of life, extending to race, religion, sexuality, gender, and so many other distinctions.
And those injustices are real. You can prove it. You need only look at census data and history books to find it.
Most decent human beings understand that such injustice is wrong. Most also understand that in a fair, just, and civilized society, we should work towards righting those injustices and preserving whatever mechanisms ensure such justice. That helps everyone at every level.
People against such an idea are usually people tend to not want to change things, mostly because the current situation benefits them in some way. Sometimes, they’re just people who want an excuse to not change anything they’re doing, either out of laziness, apathy, or spite. I’m sure there are other distinctions, but I won’t speculate on the particulars.
So, with this in mind, I ask this next question honestly and sincerely.
Are you going to change how you use the word “woke” and how you react to it?
And if not, why?
Seriously, why is it wrong or controversial to be aware of the various injustices in this world?
Why is it wrong to want to try and fix those injustices in some meaningful way?
I don’t deny that some people go about it the wrong way. There’s a time and a place to argue the gender and sexuality of video game characters, but this isn’t it. This is about real injustice in the real world.
And if you understand this concept and still think woke is a bad thing, then I don’t know what else to say other than think hard about what you’re protesting. And if that’s still too much for you, then just fuck off.
Filed under political correctness, politics, rants
Thought Experiment: How Would You Punish Your Worst Enemy?
This is another video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World. This video is a thought experiment about enemies, justice, and punishment. Specifically, it asks how we would punish our worst enemies and what we are willing to do to those who have legitimately wronged us. I welcome further comments and discussion on this. Enjoy!
Filed under Jack's World, Thought Experiment, YouTube
Jack Fisher's Official Publishing Blog 