Skip to content

Day: October 19, 2016

The Big Damn Buffy Rewatch S03E11, “Gingerbread”

Posted in Uncategorized

In every generation there is a chosen one. She alone is just about done with the Michigan State Department of Treasury and their shitty, shitty website. She will also recap every episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer with an eye to the following themes:

  1. Sex is the real villain of the Buffy The Vampire Slayer universe.
  2. Giles is totally in love with Buffy.
  3. Joyce is a fucking terrible parent.
  4. Willow’s magic is utterly useless (this one won’t be an issue until season 2, when she gets a chance to become a witch)
  5. Xander is a textbook Nice Guy.
  6. The show isn’t as feminist as people claim.
  7. All the monsters look like wieners.
  8. If ambivalence to possible danger were an Olympic sport, Team Sunnydale would take the gold.
  9. Angel is a dick.
  10. Harmony is the strongest female character on the show.
  11. Team sports are portrayed in an extremely negative light.
  12. Some of this shit is racist as fuck.
  13. Science and technology are not to be trusted.
  14. Mental illness is stigmatized.
  15. Only Willow can use a computer.
  16. Buffy’s strength is flexible at the plot’s convenience.
  17. Cheap laughs and desperate grabs at plot plausibility are made through Xenophobia.
  18. Oz is the Anti-Xander
  19. Spike is capable of love despite his lack of soul
  20. Don’t freaking tell me the vampires don’t need to breathe because they’re constantly out of frickin’ breath.
  21. The foreshadowing on this show is freaking amazing.
  22. Smoking is evil.
  23. Despite praise for its positive portrayal of non-straight sexualities, some of this shit is homophobic as fuck.
  24. How do these kids know all these outdated references, anyway?
  25. Technology is used inconsistently as per its convenience in the script.
  26. Sunnydale residents are no longer shocked by supernatural attacks.
  27. Casual rape dismissal/victim blaming a-go-go
  28. Snyder believes Buffy is a demon or other evil entity.
  29. The Scoobies kind of help turn Jonathan into a bad guy.
  30. This show caters to the straight female gaze like whoa.
  31. Sunnydale General is the worst hospital in the world.
  32. Faith is hyper-sexualized needlessly.
  33. Slut shame!
  34. The Watchers have no fucking clue what they’re doing.
  35. Vampire bites, even very brief ones, are 99.8% fatal.

Have I missed any that were added in past recaps? Let me know in the comments.  Even though I might forget that you mentioned it.

WARNING: Some people have mentioned they’re watching along with me, and that’s awesome, but I’ve seen the entire series already and I’ll probably mention things that happen in later seasons. So… you know, take that under consideration, if you’re a person who can’t enjoy something if you know future details about it.

GUEST POST: Domestic Violence: A Look At The Link To Substance Abuse

Posted in Uncategorized

BE ADVISED: THIS SITE DOES NOT HAVE AN ESCAPE BUTTON.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Caroline from OpenEducators.org asked if she could share some information with Trout Nation. Unlike sponsored posts, I’m not receiving compensation or endorsing anything, just sharing the article and links provided.

Last year, Trout Nation put together a list of domestic violence resources by location. If you or a loved one need help, you may find it helpful. However, that part of the site also does not have an escape button, so please use caution.


 

eye

Photo via Pixabay by Unsplash

Domestic violence affects millions of Americans and destroys families every year. Nearly 3 out of every 10 women and 1 out of every 10 men in the U.S. experience the effects of domestic violence, which include depression, PTSD, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts. In extreme cases, it can even lead to homicide.

The reasons for domestic violence vary, but no matter what they may be, it’s important for the victim to know that there are resources available for help. It’s also important to remember that when domestic violence impacts one person in the home, it impacts everyone else. Children who see and hear abuse and its aftermath are susceptible to their own violent behavior, PTSD, depression, and emotional and mood disorders and often feel powerless and worthless.

Domestic violence and substance abuse have been heavily linked; one study in New York showed that over 90% of IPV cases involved drugs or alcohol. Because substances affect moods and prompt impulsive behavior, they can lead to violence if the conditions are right. Unfortunately, substance abuse can affect the victim, as well, as they use drugs or alcohol to escape the painful reality of their lives.

Because domestic abuse is so varied and can come in so many forms, it’s important to remember that it does not always have symptoms that can be seen. Abuse is a pattern of behaviors that can include physical assault, sexual assault, threatening, emotional and psychological abuse, stalking, keeping the victim isolated from friends and family, and verbal abuse. There is a stigma that surrounds domestic violence that often keeps people from talking about it, but it’s important for loved ones to start a conversation if they are concerned and offer to find help.

Violence is something that can be learned, which means it’s very important not only for the abuser to seek therapy or counseling, but for the victim and any children in the home as well. The damage that abuse can do takes years to heal, and for some the pain never goes away. Kids are especially sensitive to the effects of violence and could potentially begin to decline in their studies at school or in social relationships. Not only that, but seeing abuse play out in the home means children are more likely to become violent themselves, or to turn to substance abuse to cope.

There is never just one victim with abuse; the pattern creates a domino effect that touches many different people throughout various stages of life. If you or a loved one is experiencing abuse, know that help is available, and that there is no room for blame where a victim is concerned.