I agree with there being underconsidered significant risks related to consolidation of power. Do you think there are also potentials for ability for properly modeled and implemented AI with empathetic and caregiving capacities to also lead to positive cultural shifts?

I'd also be curious about hearing about men's experiences of growth from a place of emotional repression and what aided or hindered them in that journey.

#bellhooks #mentalhealth #emotionalilteracy #socialemotionallearning #patriarchy #feminism #fandom #fandomculture #fandomdiscourse

I wonder how my thoughts about this will evolve as I continue to read through the book. As someone who tends to socialize in fandom spaces, I'd also be particularly curious to hear about other people's experience with friendship with men and their emotional availability within fandom spaces.

This typically happens when they already have began to do the work of deconstructing patriarchy in their life and happen to have good interpersonal chemistry and flow with me. On the other hand I've also had months of draining mutual stress with men who do not have either.

I've had a very polarized experience with men who believe they're not good at emotions. About one half I've seen emotionally open up and start to soften.

I think the sadder thing is that for many men emotional disconnection and lack of reciprocity is actually what makes the most sense in terms of their overall life needs, social life, and trauma.

Its sad and frustrating but sometimes the only thing you can do is try to model such things yourself and limit emotional investment if there isn't reciprocal engagement.

I've wondered how much of this is especially true for autistic men who frequent chronically online fandom spaces who I've tended to befriend. There's only so much you can do when other people are not willing to engage from their side.

As a man I've been around a lot of other men who were not modeled how to have healthy mutually emotionally nurturing friendship as a boy and go into shutdown from terror when faced with emotional vulnerability.

I believe one of the hardest parts of healthy relational leadership in this arena is discernment and resultant grief and boundariedness with men who are not willing or able to grow into an emotionally liberated life along side you.

Oncoming rant about emotional repression in male friendship in fandom spaces:

I've been thinking a lot about relational leadership in friendships with men recently while I read through bell hooks' The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love.

I'm still working thru the digimon series now but I'm curious to see how their depictions of masculinity are like in the other series. I'm hoping for more friendships like what Guilmon has with bread and Takato for myself and the people who see this post :3

I didn't grow up with Tamers, though I highly suspect it would have been a positive influence on my development in a household where masculinity was often equated to a stiff upper lip and angry detachment.

I made this drawing as a way to celebrate Guilmon's relatable simple love for carbs and friendships. I know digimon means a lot to a lot of people, and I'd be curious to hear how other people feel like it's depictions of masculinity have impacted other people.

I appreciate how they're both positive depictions of well rounded masculinity, Takato being a big sensitive imaginative crybaby but still a protagonist hero, and Guilmon being a sweetie ferocious big ol cozy teddy bear.

Dino boyo thoughts owo

I've been watching thru digimon shows as a form of nostalgic comfort and am a good chunk thru Tamers right now. Guilmon and Takato are soo cute! Inspired me to make this art.

#nostalgia #digimonfanart #digimon #guilmon #furryart #scalie #digimontamers #kidcore

Happy 25th Anniversary of Hamtaro's TV premiere. For now adult fans of Hamtaro. I'm hoping this drawing can be a reminder to to take care of tender parts of ourselves that can be so easily buried under adult responsibilities and ideas of what we're supposed to be as adults!

#hamtaro #kawaii #furry