The following is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World. It’s the second video of my ongoing series regarding the prospect of rebooting Ultimate Marvel. Please check out the first video for the full story regarding this effort. There’s also plenty more to come. As always, I welcome feedback and comments. Enjoy!
Sexy Short Story: The Workout
The following is a sexy short story I wrote a while back after working out at the gym. I know it has been a while since I posted a sexy short story. I hope there’s still an audience for them. Please let me know what you think. Leave a comment below and check out my other stories. Enjoy!
“How do you do it? How do you find the time and energy for all this?”
Kelly Lowell got asked that question often and for good reason. Once people learned about her career aspirations, her workload, and her day-to-day schedule, they looked at her as though she were crazy. Even her closest family members thought her ambitions were excessive.
They weren’t wrong, either. Since high school, Kelly had pursued a career in sports medicine. Her father was a former Olympian. Her two younger brothers were aspiring athletes. She tried to be an athlete too, but a fateful injury during a field hockey game in junior high school sent her down another path. In some respects, that path was more rigorous than that of any athlete.
Kelly’s weekly schedule read like a case study for obsessive overachievers. She was a full-time college sophomore taking on a full-time course load. She was a pre-med student pursuing two majors, one in biology and one in pharmacology. She also interned with the university’s athletic department, working closely with the medical staff to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to help her build a career sports medicine.
On top of those jobs, she worked part time at a local gym. Even with loans and scholarships, she needed extra money for textbooks and tuition. Kelly often joked that her day ended and began at sunrise, but for those closest to her, it was no laughing matter.
“I’m worried about you, Kelly,” they would tell her. “You work too hard, but act like it’s no big deal. That’s not healthy.”
She acknowledged and appreciated their concerns. She went to great lengths to reassure her friends and family that she could handle her workload. She always did so with a smile and an energy that shouldn’t have been possible for someone with her schedule.
Kelly suspected that made them even more concerned. Telling them she could manage her workload helped, but telling them with a beaming smile and boundless energy often left them more confused. However, part of that was her fault because she left out a few key details, one of which was about to play out.
“Five a.m. sharp,” said Kelly as she checked her phone. “Right on schedule.”
Sitting behind the front desk of the gym she worked at, she smiled as she checked her phone. That, in and of itself, was an accomplishment.
It was the middle of the week.
It was still pitch-black outside.
It was freezing cold.
The gym wasn’t supposed to open for another half-hour, but Kelly always came in early. She sacrificed a chunk of what little sleep she got to unlock the doors and turn on the lights. She didn’t get paid extra for it, either. However, she was still compensated in a very meaningful way.
“I’m ready when you’re ready, Kelly,” came a deep, masculine voice from the main workout area.
Her smile widened. That voice belonged to Alexander Braxton, an aspiring bodybuilder who worked just as hard she did in pursuit of his dream. He was the reason why she went behind her boss’ back to open the gym early. He was also the one who helped fuel that energy that gave her such passion and drive.
“I’ll be right there,” Kelly called out from the front desk.
She got up from the desk, walked up to the front entrance, and locked it to make sure nobody else entered. At this early hour, only the greatest overachievers dared to hit the gym. By that standard, she and Alex definitely qualified.
After turning off the front lights, she entered the main workout area through the double doors next to the front desk. The gym was large and spacious, stocked with every amenity an athlete needed. Alex made good use of every piece of equipment, but for someone as ambitious as him, free-weights and treadmills only went so far. Kelly understood that more than most.
With the doors behind her closed, she approached the tall, hulking man standing just in front of the weight bench. She could tell he’d just completed his warm-up. He had already worked up a light layer of sweat. It filled the immediate area with his intense, masculine musk. Her morning cup of coffee hadn’t entirely woken her up, but she was certainly alert now.
“And just like that, I’m ready to work harder…among other things,” Kelly said under her breath.
Just being near him got her heart racing for all the right reasons. Even by amateur bodybuilding standards, Alex was an incredible testament to the male physique. His arms were more muscular than most men’s legs. His legs were bigger than most men’s torso. While some men bragged about six-pack abs, Alex could boast an eight-pack and then some. His every muscle was so toned and chiseled, like a work of art from a master artist.
They were not overly bulky. They were not the product of steroids, either. Such a strong, masculine figure could only come from dedicated work and relentless drive. Kelly, being pre-med and having accomplished athletes in her family, knew the difference. That was how she and Alex had connected when she first arrived at college. That connection eventually evolved into something much deeper.
“The regional bodybuilding finals are next week,” Alex said to her with folded arms.
“My mid-terms are in four days,” she replied.
“I haven’t forgotten,” he said with a knowing grin. “Just letting you know I need this as much as you.”
“I don’t doubt that for a second.”
“You still doubt me?”
“Not at all,” Kelly said in a seductive, yet serious demeanor, “but I know you, Alex. I know you as much as well as you know me. People who are as driven as us…we never stop proving ourselves.”
True to that effort, Kelly made the first move. She stripped out of her clothes, removing her tank top and sweatpants. She hadn’t bother with underwear that morning. She never did when she met up with Alex. It only got in the way.
Now, fully naked and very much alert, she stood before the muscular man. With a seductive gaze, she dared him to match her energy. Alex, being both competitive and determined, never failed to measure up.
“I just love how you go about proving yourself,” he said as he admired her nude form.
“Some people need coaching. Some need meditation. You and me…well, we have our preferred methods,” Kelly replied.
“That, we do.”
With the same focus as her, Alex stripped out of his workout clothes. He couldn’t get out of his shirt, shoes, and shorts fast enough. Even under the gym’s poor fluorescent lighting, seeing him in all his glory was a sight to behold at any hour. The muscles his clothes didn’t cover were impressive enough. Seeing everything, including an endowment worthy of his stature, further raised the bar.
“Since we both need this, I’ll be thorough,” Alex told her.
“So will I,” said Kelly.
They both spoke with the determination, dedication, and drive that only a select few could boast. Adding intense sexual arousal to the mix only intensified the mood. Like every other aspiration, Kelly pursued it to the utmost and beyond.
Like a couple of caged animals in heat, she and Alex unleashed their unique passions on one another. Again, she made the first move. She jumped up into his powerful arms, threw her legs around her waist, and latched onto his powerful shoulders. Alex caught her and held her up with ease, grabbing a firm hold of her butt with both hands. The second she felt his naked skin touch hers, the next ambitious push began.
“Your turn to prove yourself,” she whispered into his ear. “Go on. Do it as only you can.”
It wasn’t a dare.
It wasn’t a request, either.
It was a catalyst…a very effective catalyst.
Locked in his arms, clinging to his muscular body, Kelly caressed his unshaven face and saw the fire ignite in his eyes. Every athlete needed that special spark to put them in that special zone. She could tell by his gaze and his touch that he was already there.
“As only I can,” Alex said with a determined tone.
He put those bulging muscles of his to use. With determination worthy of a future champion, he kissed her hard on the lips and laid her down on the weight bench. From there, their special brand of foreplay unfolded.
Alex was so energetic and focused, feeling and caressing his way around her naked body. He knew where and how to apply the passion. He traced his hand up her thigh, skillfully kneaded her breasts, and used extra tongue when kissing her. He made sure to maintain intimate body contact every step of the way, allowing his masculine sinews to press against her feminine flesh. That got her in the zone too and not just in terms of arousal.
Kelly was already wet and ready for more. Alex quickly caught up. She could feel the tip of this throbbing erection press against her thighs. However, as any athlete knew, a warm-up was just as important as the workout. To keep pushing themselves as hard as they did, they couldn’t skip those critical steps.
True to his word, Alex was thorough. He left few parts of her naked skin untouched or uncaressed. When their lips finally parted, she made it clear that she was done with the warm-up.
“I’m ready,” he said intently.
“So am I,” said Kelly.
Needing no further motivation, Alex took the initiative.
He rose into an upright position, grabbed hold of her thighs, and spread her legs apart. Kelly remained flat on her back, holding onto the heavy bar bell hanging right above her, which still had traces of his sweat on it. She kept urging him on with her gaze, watching as he aligned his erect manhood with her wet entrance. Once in position, he delivered a thrust worthy of his imposing stature and entered her.
“Ohhh yes!” Kelly cried out. “This…needed this…more than I thought.”
“Mmm…me too,” Alex said with a determined grunt.
He wasted no time establishing a sexual rhythm. The man humped her the same way he pumped iron. Like the rest of his rigorous workouts, he did motion with perfect form and fervor. Her body rocked in accord with his. His hard, throbbing cock pumped smoothly and rapidly within her womanhood. Hot flesh meshed with hot flesh, slithering and stimulating every intimate area at every step of the way.
Powerful grunts and groans filled the empty gym. However, these were not the sounds of strain. It wasn’t just ecstasy, either. As Kelly locked eyes with Alex, matching the fire in his eyes every step of the way, she felt the true impact of this feeling.
“Alex…so strong,” she said.
“Kelly…even stronger,” he said.
He leaned over and kissed her, but still maintained the vigorous pace of their sex. She eagerly kissed back, matching both the energy and passion he put into this profound act.
It never ceased to amaze her. No matter how often they did it, the power of this uniquely intimate feeling filled her with a special kind of fulfillment. It was a special kind of sex, one born from the distinct drive and ambition that she and Alex shared. Kelly had enjoyed her share of sex with previous lovers, but that was all it had ever been.
For a time, sex was either a distraction or afterthought. Then, in a perfect convergence of fate and luck, her path crossed with Alex. With him, she found a new kind of strength. She uncovered a side of herself that changed her idea of what she could achieve and how hard she could push herself. It became instrumental in handling her extensive workload. It also became an integral part of Alex’s training.
The fact it made for incredibly hot sex in the early hours of the morning wasn’t lost on her either. It wasn’t an afterthought, but it was a hell of a bonus. Through Alex’s skilled, thorough humping, he brought her on the cusp of orgasm. She tried not to make it that easy for him, but when the sex was this good, that was too much work, even for her.
“Yes! Ooh yes! I’m close…so close!” Kelly said through labored pants.
His focus didn’t waiver for a second. He stepped up the pace, thrusting harder and faster to give her that extra push she so loved. When the feeling hit, she didn’t hold back. She clung to the bar bell, curled her toes, and arched her lower back as that special feeling washed over her.
“You got what you needed…and then some,” Alex said.
Kelly barely heard him. She tended to be very vocal during sex. It was one of the reasons they had to do it in an empty gym at the crack of dawn, but it was hardly the biggest.
Alex temporarily slowed the pace of his rhythmic thrusting, giving her time and space to soak in the feeling. He knew how important that feeling was to her. It went beyond good sex and good workouts. It was part of that distinct drive that fueled her lofty ambitions. He had that drive too. As such, he also knew that she was not the kind of girl to make someone else do all the work.
“Now, it’s your turn!” Kelly told him.
His intense focus finally broke. He cracked a smile and she smiled back. She was still catching her breath, her mind and body flooded with orgasmic sensations. That had never stopped her from doing her part as thoroughly as he did his.
“Do what you need to do,” Alex said, his smile and his tone daring her to keep pushing.
As always, Kelly rose to the occasion. She channeled more of that unique strength, grabbing the hulking man’s toned shoulders and repositioning their bodies. It started with a heated kiss, but ended with Alex lying on the bench press, flat on his back. Now, Kelly was the one on top, straddling his waist with his still-erect cock aching for her intimate warmth.
It happened so fast, like a reflex they had trained. It was a testament to just how adept they’d become at tapping this powerful source of intimate strength. She made good use of that strength, grabbing hold of his waist and plunging her hips downward, driving his manhood up into her womanhood.
“My turn, indeed,” said Alex, still grinning as he admired her naked body.
“Don’t get too relaxed,” said Kelly seductively. “The workout has just begun!”
From there, she began riding him.
She rode him hard and fast.
She rode him as hard as he’d humped her.
He showed off his strength. Now, she showed off hers. She was every bit as thorough and fervent, working her hips and rocking her body in a focused outburst of energy. She watched his rugged expression become awash in bliss. He still kept doing his part, exploring her upper body with his powerful hands, giving extra attention to her breasts and butt. He tried to supplement her movements, but she made sure they weren’t necessary to get the job done.
“Harder…faster…stronger,” Kelly panted as she rode him.
She kept repeating it like a mantra, as if to engrain that mentality into his brain and hers. An aspiring bodybuilder needed more motivation than most. The same went for aspiring doctors specializing in athletes. When it took the form of great sex, it was incredibly effective.
Kelly still pushed herself as hard a she pushed her lover. She kept riding Alex’s cock, guiding him towards his ultimate peak. He didn’t make it easy on her. She could tell by his determined look that he wanted to hold out. It was his way of going the extra mile. She didn’t mind the challenge. Like everything else in her life, she embraced it. That only made the final victory more rewarding.
“Almost…there!” Alex grunted. “I’m really…really close!”
Kelly didn’t dare lose focus. She worked her hips harder, grabbing onto his shoulders while he squeezed her butt in anticipation. With her eyes, she made it clear that he’d pushed hard enough. He had earned his prize, just as she’d earned hers.
“Come! You’ve proven yourself,” she told him.
That fateful affirmation did the trick. At that moment, Alex came.
He was every bit as vocal as her, closing his eyes and flexing all the necessary muscles to enjoy his release. Kelly finally broke focus to enjoy the spectacle. Still holding onto his shoulders, she smiled and enjoyed the fruits of her intensive labor.
Alex clearly enjoyed it more. She felt the bulky muscles of his lower body tense and contract in accord with his climax. Within her hot depths, a potent mix of fluids gave form and substance to this powerful feeling. It was intense, intimate, and pleasurable to the utmost. Even for the high bar that she and Alex set, it was another triumph.
“You’re going to succeed next week,” Kelly said to him.
“So will you,” he said, still breathless.
“We work so hard. We push ourselves beyond our limits,” she said, “but when we have something like this…”
Her words trailed off. Alex opened his eyes, rose up, and wrapped him in his muscular arms. Within that sweaty, naked embrace, the breadth of their strength and drive once again revealed itself.
“Like this,” Alex said, “this isn’t just what drive us…or motivates us.
“Then, what is it?” she asked.
“A reminder,” he said, “a reminder of how much further we can go.”
He kissed her. Any shred of doubt or reservation melted away. It was all so clear. Great sex with a wonderful man who shared her ambition was profound, but only covered part of the feeling.
Thinking back to everyone who’d ever asked where she got the energy, the answer became clear. All that work, sacrifice, and struggle took a special kind of strength. In this moment, between her and her lover, she remembered that she was strong enough and so was he. In terms of reminders, they needed it. The fact it felt so good ensured they wouldn’t forget anytime soon.
Filed under Sexy Short Story
Rebooting Ultimate Marvel: Why It Should Be Done
The following is a video from my YouTube channel, Jack’s World. It is the first in a series of videos that I’ve been working on regarding the prospect of rebooting Ultimate Marvel. This series will be at least six videos long and is my most ambitious video series to date. Enjoy!
Filed under Jack's World, Marvel, superhero comics, superhero movies, YouTube
Announcement: Taking A Break From This Site
Every now and then, it’s important to take a step back, look at what you’re doing, and think long and hard about how you want to move forward. The start of a new year is generally a good time to make that effort. Since graduating college, I’ve made it a point to use the beginning of a new year to make important decisions about the near and far future.
Sometimes that means changing something about myself, be it related to my health or my personal relationships.
Sometimes, it means evaluating where and how I apply myself on a day-to-day basis.
Sometimes, it can even mean choosing whether or not to let something go, be it a project, a passion, or a goal.
Make no mistakes, I’ve contemplated many things about how I’ll navigate the new year. Some choices are more mundane than others. A few have larger ramifications. The one I’m sharing today might very well qualify.
Today, I’m officially announcing a change as to how I utilize this website. I’ve been posting daily to this site almost every day since 2017. I originally started it as a way to sell my novels and build an audience for my writing. Aside from the two books I got published and several others I self-published, not much has happened on that front. I still submit manuscripts to publishers, but I’ve yet to garner much attention.
Over time, this site has become less and less linked to those efforts. It doesn’t appear to be helping me further my goals anymore. That’s why I’ve made the following decision.
Moving forward, I will no longer be posting to it daily. If you’re a regular reader of this site, I sincerely apologize. Believe me when I say I appreciate the support, especially the kind that comes from friends and relatives. However, I think the time is right to make a change.
A couple weeks ago, I decided to analyze the overall traffic this site gets. I looked at the stats for the entire year. In doing so, I saw some clear and unavoidable trends.
This site does get a fair bit of traffic. However, over 90 percent of that traffic is to my Sexy Short Stories. Since 2019, that section of my site has been generating more and more traffic. It’s now at a point where the daily posts barely register. I’m lucky if one new post gets more than a dozen hits, whereas one of my older Sexy Short Stories get over a hundred on that same day.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m grateful for that traffic. I’m glad my Sexy Short Stories have found an audience. It has just rendered the time and energy I put into those daily posts less worthwhile. However, there’s another major factor that led me to this decision and that’s my YouTube channel, Jack’s World.
Over the past year, that channel has grown a great deal in terms of content and audience. I have over 400 subscribers at the moment and I’m eager to see that grow even more in the coming years. As such, I’d like to focus more of my energy on making videos rather than daily posts.
I’ve also come to enjoy making these videos. I’m still learning the process, the software, and all the little skills needed to make a quality video. I’d like to channel more energy into that effort and I just can’t do that while also posting regularly to this site.
I’m sorry if this news disappoints some. I know a few friends and family members were regular readers. I still hope to provide content. Some of the content on my YouTube channel is very similar to the kind of stuff I’ve written about on this site. With videos, though, I can add more media elements to make it more engage in.
As such, I feel that’s where I think my time and energy is better spent, at least for now.
Now, that doesn’t mean I’m abandoning this site completely. Like I said, my Sexy Short Stories get quite a bit of traffic. At some point this year, I’m going to go back to writing those. I don’t know how frequent they’ll arrive, but I hope to make it a regular thing that readers can look forward to.
Other than those stories, I’ll also make a post whenever I post a new video to Jack’s World, just to keep that aligned with this site.
Beyond that, there won’t be much else. That means no more weekly comic book picks, no more Sexy Sunday Thoughts, and no more articles about sex robots. Again, I apologize to those who regularly read those posts. I just feel like the time is right to make this change and move forward.
I still haven’t given up on my goals of becoming a published author. I have a number of unpublished manuscripts that I’d like to sell one day. I just don’t think posting to this site is helping me achieve that right now.
To everyone who has followed this site for the past several years, I sincerely thank you.
To the friends and family who have encouraged me every step of the way, I love you all.
Take care and stay safe.
Jack Fisher’s Sexy Sunday Thoughts: New Years 2021 Edition
It’s official now! We made it through another year. After making it through 2020, this might not seem like quite as great a feat. At the same time, this year still came with plenty of unique challenges, some of which aren’t completely resolved. That doesn’t mean we failed. It just means there’s more work to be done.
Despite these frustrating circumstances, I hope everyone had a wonderful New Year’s celebration. Whether it involved a small gathering with friends and family or just a night to yourself with a bottle of cheap champagne, there was plenty of reasons to celebrate. Making it another year in this crazy world, especially after the events of the past two years, is quite a feat.
Now, as we head into 2022, we can look forward to achieving even more. It may seem daunting, but that’s exactly why we shouldn’t shy away from the challenge. Each year is another opportunity to learn, grow, and adapt to an ever-changing world. Sometimes those changes can be pretty harsh, but that only serves to make us stronger in the long run.
It also gives us a better appreciation for everything we hold deer. From the lives we build to the friends we make to the family we cherish, making it through another year helps give us perspective. We need that every now and then to see the bigger picture of our lives and the world around us. It’s often as reassuring as it is necessary.
So, on this first day of 2022, I hope everyone finds a way to celebrate and appreciate this new year in whatever way they see fit. Here’s to making this year better than each one that came before it. As one final gift, here are some Sexy Sunday Thoughts to get us going on the right foot for 2022. Enjoy!
“The difference between flirtation and seduction is how intentional an erection ends up being.”
“Does receiving oral sex from a cannibal counts as thrill sex?”
“If you’re attractive and willing to get naked, you can make any activity seem sexy.”
“True love is genuinely wanting to give your lover an orgasm and make them breakfast the next morning.”
“Like it or not, a non-insignificant part of the population was conceived during an orgy.”
“If someone’s bucket list has a lot of depraved sex acts, then you can usually assume they’re a bit repressed.”
“A man sharing his porn stash with his lover should count as a romantic gesture.”
Filed under Sexy Sunday Thoughts
How To Tell If You’re In A Cult With The B.I.T.E. Model
Like it or not, religion is a big part of many peoples’ lives. Whether you’re an ardent atheist or an impassioned believer, there’s no getting around it. There are still millions of religious people all over the world, living their lives and practicing their faith. Even though religion, in general, has been in decline in recent decades, it’s still a powerful force in many communities.
By and large, most religious people are every bit as ordinary and decent as non-religious people. They live their lives, love their families, and generally go about their business. For some, their religion generally enriches their lives and that’s a good thing. I know plenty of people like that.
However, this is not about them.
This is about those who take religious ideology to a dangerous and damaging extreme.
I’ve talked about this kind of extremism before. It has led to some legitimately harmful trends. In some cases, it has the potential to be an existential threat to the world at large. While any ideology can be taken to a harmful extreme, religion can be uniquely damaging because it deals in abstracts, beliefs, and spirituality.
There are things you can’t touch, measure, or quantify. As a result, they’re incredibly difficult to contest and argue against. You can give someone all the irrefutable evidence in the world. If their preferred holy book or cult leader says the world is made of cheese, that’s what they’ll believe and they’ll cling to that belief with all their might.
This sort of thing manifests most prominently in cults. Now, not every cult is religious in nature, but religion is often a powerful driving force in many. Most of the cults that make the news for all the wrong reasons were religious in nature.
How people end up in these cults varies. You can listen to former cult members from all walks of life and get a different perspective for how they fell into it, how they got out, and why they became so captivated. These stories are quite harrowing and I encourage everyone to seek them out. They have many lessons to offer.
Following these stories may also make you wonder what sets a cult apart from a traditional religion. Like I said before, most religious people don’t conduct themselves in the way cult members do. On top of that, those who are in a cult probably don’t think they are. To them, this is their normal, skewed as it might be.
Given how diverse cults can be, it’s not easy to determine when a certain religion or ideology has crosses that threshold. Some argue that certain Christian denominations and political movements are cults, but usually as a means of insult or denigration.
Thankfully, people far smarter than me have given this subject much more thought and study. There’s one particular model out there that I find to be quite useful in discerning cults from ordinary religious activity.
It’s called the B.I.T.E model. Developed by Steven Hassan, a mental health professional who has studied behavioral control tactics, it’s a handy tool for assessing the cult-like structure of both religious and political ideologies.
The model and the name are an acronym for four general patterns of behavior that tend to manifest in cults. They are as follows:
Behavior Control: Involves regulation and micromanagement of peoples’ behavior from how they dress, how they eat, and what they do with their time.
Information Control: Involves organized efforts to withhold, distort, or manage the information people see in terms of knowledge, news, and education.
Thought Control: Involves organized efforts to shape opinions and worldviews of everything from their moral code to the language they use. The ultimate goal is to instill a warped view of reality.
Emotion Control: Involves manipulating and channeling a wide range of feelings, both positive and negative. The result is often involves instilling fear of outsiders and any differing opinions, as well as a sense of worthlessness that only the organization can help them resolve.
It’s not a perfect model, but it’s one of the simplest and most comprehensive to date. The model is structured in a way to include both religious and non-religious ideologies. If you were to apply this model to organizations like NXVIM or basic personality cults, it would check the same boxes as any religious cult.
At the same time, it also helps highlight how certain religious and political ideologies do not count as cults. Some may fit certain parts of the model, but not all. For something to really be a full-fledged cult, it needs to check all four bases and in a meaningful way. That also helps sift through instances where someone tries to call something a cult as an insult.
With this model in mind, I encourage everyone to use it to evaluate their own religious or political affiliation. That may not be easy. Like I said, people in cults usually don’t think they’re in a cult. Many don’t even realize how deep they were into it until they leave.
That makes self-assessment of your beliefs and affiliations that much more critical. The B.I.T.E model might not be perfect, but it is both useful and insightful. We all need to be critical of our beliefs. Given how dangerous certain cults can be, it’s important we know the signs before it’s too late.
Filed under health, politics, psychology, religion
Why We’ll Never (Fully) Get Rid Of Misinformation
Being informed is important. In some cases, it is literally a matter of life and death. That’s a big reason why I’ve made multiple posts urging people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. It could literally save your life. It’s also free, by the way. How many other things that could save your life are also free?
Seriously, people, get vaccinated. I’ll belabor that as much as I have to.
However, this isn’t only about vaccines or the idiots who refuse to get them. It’s about the “information” that these people are using to justify their choices. I put “information” in quotes because calling some of this stuff information is a poor use of the term.
Information, by definition, is supposed to inform. It’s supposed to make you more aware and educated about the world around you. Lies, propaganda, and misinformation do none of that. That sort of thing makes you dumber, more vulnerable, and more easy to manipulate by those willing to do so.
It happens in politics, religion, pop culture, business, and even shady marketing schemes. Much of these endeavors don’t have facts, truth, or verifiable information on their side. As a result, they require that people buy into whatever misinformation they feed them. It’s dishonest, disgraceful, and should be condemned to the utmost.
The problem is that people still buy into it.
Moreover, some people actively seek for this kind of information.
This is something I think many people have experience with, either directly or indirectly. I also suspect it has become a lot more relevant lately, given the rise of anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theories. This sort of mentality was always present. The problem is that the internet and social media have made it disturbingly easy to spread.
Now, it’s easy and tempting to blame big tech companies for this phenomenon. Make no mistake. Big tech companies are certainly at fault to some degree. Many of these same companies also have done some incredibly shady things, to say the least.
However, I’m still of the opinion that, no matter how disreputable big tech companies can be, it still ultimately falls on the users to control what information they seek. Whether it’s Google, Facebook, or TikTok, these systems don’t operate in a vacuum. They simply respond to user input. We are, to some extent, responsible for the information we seek.
I’m certainly guilty of seeking out information that isn’t exactly reputable. There have been times, including a few very recent instances, where I find myself seeking information that turned out to be less than truthful. Even if it was for something as innocent as comic book news or NFL trade rumors, it’s still misinformation as best and outright lies at worst.
That may not do much harm if the information you’re seeking is only damaging to your Fantasy Football team, but if that information involved politics or your health, then that’s where the real damage can occur. I’ve already seen it manifest with friends who fell down some very dark internet rabbit holes. Some of that might have just been by accident, but I also don’t doubt it was intentional in some cases.
In recent years, I’ve tried to make a more concerted effort to seek accurate, truthful information. I haven’t always succeeded, but I genuinely try to find true and accurate information, even if it’s something I don’t like. The fact it takes so much effort has me worried.
On top of that, it has led me to believe that it might not be possible to avoid misinformation. Even without the internet, it will find you. Propaganda and lies did exist before the digital age. It’ll likely always exist to some extent, so long as human brains are wired a certain way. Since we can’t change that anytime soon, despite the best efforts of Elon Musk, we’re likely stuck with misinformation.
This has me genuinely concerned because, even as some tech companies are making greater efforts to combat misinformation, it’s still relatively easy to find. On top of that, there are people out there working for nefarious organizations who are actively engaged in creating, spreading, and supplementing misinformation. Even if you shut them all down tomorrow, others will just spring up to replace them.
In some respects, it’s a lot like the war on drugs. You could arrest every single drug dealer in the world this morning, but by dusk a bunch of new dealers will emerge to take their place. Like it or not, there’s still a demand and there’s money, influence, and power to be gained.
Misinformation may not be the same as heroin or pot, but is subject to the same incentives. People actively seek it. Taking it in makes them feel special, important, and smarter than their neighbor. Today, it’s misinformation about vaccines, liberals, and gaming culture. Tomorrow, it might be about something else entirely.
It all comes back to how we’re wired. Our brains are not designed to seek truth or accurate information. They’re designed to keep us alive. Misinformation might be damaging in the long run, but it can make us feel better in the short-term, which is sadly more than enough incentive for some, even if it proves deadly in the long run.
I seriously wish I could end this on an uplifting note. I genuinely tried to find some way of putting a positive spin on this struggle. Unfortunately, the best I could come up with is to simply urge everyone to try harder to seek true and accurate information. If these past two years have taught us anything, it’s that bad information can cause a lot of harm.
We can never get rid of it, so long as our brains operate as they do.
We can and should still do our part. Truth and accuracy matters. You may not like it, but it may very well save your life in the long run.
Filed under Current Events, outrage culture, political correctness, politics, psychology, rants, technology
New Comic Book Day December 29, 2021: My Pull List And Pick Of The Week
By now, I think everyone should be fully recovered from their Christmas festivities. Depending on how festive things got, your place might not be entirely clean. Kids and adults alike can make a hell of a mess when they’re excited on Christmas morning. I know this because I’ve made quite a few messes over the years.
Whatever the state of your holiday hangover, today is a momentous day of another kind. It marks the final New Comic Book Day of 2021. For comic book fans, that’s often noteworthy for a number of reasons. The end of the year often coincided with preludes, epilogues, and teasers for what’s to come in the next year. It’s also a chance to look back on everything that happened in the past year and just appreciate it.
Now historically, the last New Comic Book Day of the year has been fairly light in terms of noteworthy releases. You almost never see major milestone issues or the end of major events on this week. More often than no, a lot of filler issues get released this week and that’s perfectly fine. Not every week can be a blockbuster release.
Personally, I’ve often used this week to look back and see which comics or collections are worth adding to my collection before the new year begins. In the same way this week tends to be light on major issues, the first couple months of the new year tend to have major releases that are poised to set the tone. I’m already saving my money accordingly.
For this week, though, I’m content to enjoy the post-holiday afterglow with a simple stack of comics. They don’t have to blow my mind. They just have to help me relax and appreciate the conclusion of another holiday season. For those still recovering from the festivities, I hope this final New Comic Book Day does the same.
Here is my final pull list and pick of 2021. Enjoy and here’s to an awesome 2022.
My Pull List
The Joker Presents: A Puzzlebox #14
My Pick Of The Week
Timeless #1
Filed under Jack's Quick Pick Comic
Why You Should Get A Yearly Flu Shot (And My Worst Experience With The Flu)
For the past year, I’ve gone out of my way to urge people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 while also pointing out why anti-vaxx arguments are ridiculously stupid. Honestly, I’m sick of doing that and I’m sick of talking about this. I wish getting a vaccine didn’t have to be a point of contention, but that’s just the state of the world we live in.
Again, get vaccinated people. You’ll end this pandemic and save lives in the process.
That being said, I’d like to add another layer to this effort. It’s not quite as dire as the current situation with COVID-19, but it’s still relevant, given that it involves our health and ways we can improve it. It has to do flu shots.
Now, let me start by making clear that the flu is not as serious as COVID-19. Despite the claims of certain misinformed pundits, the typical flu is less likely to kill you than COVID-19. You still don’t want to get either because even if it doesn’t kill you, having the flu is an awful experience.
You feel like crap for almost an entire week.
You can barely eat anything and even when you do, it’s hard to keep down.
Your face is flushed all the time, your nose is stuffy, your throat is sore, and your head won’t stop pounding from the inside.
It’s just an all-around bad time for you and your body. If you’re older or happen to be in poor health, it can be even more serious. People do die because of the flu and it’s not a trivial figure, either.
That’s why I encourage everyone to get a yearly flu shot, especially this year. Last year was bad enough, but this year is even more critical. Now that lockdowns are over and people are trying to live life as it was before the COVID-19 pandemic, the flu is likely to make a comeback.
As such, if you can get a flu shot, do what you have to do in order to get it. Do it for yourself and your family. I certainly plan on doing so. If you need information on doing so, the CDC has an entire section of their website dedicated to it.
It’s not a conspiracy.
It’s not an agenda.
It’s just a shot that’ll protect you from another disease you don’t want to get.
To further reinforce that point, I’d like to share a quick story about the worst flu I ever got and how it affected my attitudes towards flu shots. It’s not a very pleasant story, but I hope it gets the point across as to why flu shots are critical.
To set the stage and context, this occurred back when I was in the seventh grade. At this point in my life, I wasn’t in great shape overall. However, aside from bad allergies and acne, I was in generally good health. I hadn’t been seriously sick beyond a common cold in years. As a result, I saw little need for flu shots.
Then, one evening, I started feeling a little ill. I can remember exactly when it happened. It was around 7:00 p.m. one evening. I’d finished dinner and my folks were watching TV. It started with a sore throat and a cough, but it was nothing I hadn’t dealt with before. I thought I’d feel fine after I slept it off.
I was very wrong.
When I woke up the next morning, I felt terrible. My joints hurt, my head hurt, my sinuses were stuffed up, and I was so weak you could knock me over with a feather. I don’t remember looking in the mirror that morning, but I’m pretty sure I looked like hell.
Despite all that, I still thought I could make it to school that day. I thought it was just something that would wear off after I got going. I made an effort to get dressed, get some breakfast, and walk to school. My mother kept encouraging me not to, but I didn’t listen.
In hindsight, this was a terrible decision.
I managed to make it to school. But just as my first class began, my body just gave out. I couldn’t keep my head up and I couldn’t focus. My teacher naturally sent me to the school clinic. Once there, the nurse said I had a 101-degree fever. That’s pretty bad, even for a seventh grader.
My mom had to come and pick me up. To her credit, she didn’t say, “I told you so.” She just took me home, laid me down on the couch, gave me some medicine, and let me sleep.
The next few days sucked, but they weren’t nearly s bad as the first. I was so weak, tired, and sickly that I couldn’t do much aside from watch TV. At one point, I ran out of favorite movies to watch. I tried playing video games, but my head was in such a fog that I didn’t have much fun.
It was just such a terrible experience overall. Even after I got better, I made it a point to take the flu serious from that day forward. I always got a flu shot when it was available. I also took my health a bit more seriously, even though I wouldn’t get in shape until years later. I think that experience helped inform future health habits that have stuck with me to this day.
I still wish I didn’t have to go through that to learn the value of good health and flu shots. I certainly don’t want anyone to have to learn those hard lessons like I did. Even if the flu is not life-threatening, it’s just not an experience you want to have.
So please, if you can, get a flu shot this year.
Get one every year if you can. Take it from someone who learned the hard way. Having the flu sucks. A vaccine can help protect you from it and after living through a pandemic, we should all make the effort.
Filed under health, real stories
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