farwing
@farwing.bsky.social
cheerful pessimist fandom lurker who paints abstract watercolor cityscapes. Jewish, red haired, left handed, fake extrovert, she/her.
Reposted by farwing
i get it, have you seen the size of the fuckin' cats in iceland?
In Icelandic folklore Jólakötturinn, the Yule Cat, comes to eat those who do not wear their new clothes for Christmas. In this image, you can see somebody did not put on their new Christmas sweater. Or perhaps even more unfortunately, no one got them one!
More ... 👇
More ... 👇
December 24, 2025 at 5:05 PM
i get it, have you seen the size of the fuckin' cats in iceland?
Reposted by farwing
Also, those pagan origins are often exaggerated!
Christmas wreaths? They may recall Greco-Roman practices, but they actually started with Lutherans in the 16th century. Same with Christmas trees.
Yule logs? There's basically no evidence that they have to do with Yule. That theory started in 1725.
Christmas wreaths? They may recall Greco-Roman practices, but they actually started with Lutherans in the 16th century. Same with Christmas trees.
Yule logs? There's basically no evidence that they have to do with Yule. That theory started in 1725.
December 24, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Also, those pagan origins are often exaggerated!
Christmas wreaths? They may recall Greco-Roman practices, but they actually started with Lutherans in the 16th century. Same with Christmas trees.
Yule logs? There's basically no evidence that they have to do with Yule. That theory started in 1725.
Christmas wreaths? They may recall Greco-Roman practices, but they actually started with Lutherans in the 16th century. Same with Christmas trees.
Yule logs? There's basically no evidence that they have to do with Yule. That theory started in 1725.
Reposted by farwing
"Christmas traditions have pagan origins"
The origin of Christmas traditions is interesting, but it doesn't actually make the holiday a pagan holiday. After all, it was Christians who kept those traditions alive, after modifying them to fit in better with Christianity, of course.
The origin of Christmas traditions is interesting, but it doesn't actually make the holiday a pagan holiday. After all, it was Christians who kept those traditions alive, after modifying them to fit in better with Christianity, of course.
December 24, 2025 at 4:41 PM
"Christmas traditions have pagan origins"
The origin of Christmas traditions is interesting, but it doesn't actually make the holiday a pagan holiday. After all, it was Christians who kept those traditions alive, after modifying them to fit in better with Christianity, of course.
The origin of Christmas traditions is interesting, but it doesn't actually make the holiday a pagan holiday. After all, it was Christians who kept those traditions alive, after modifying them to fit in better with Christianity, of course.
Reposted by farwing
"Christmas was actually pagan originally"
No, it wasn't. There were a number of pre-Christian winter holidays. None of them is Christmas. Most of them weren't even on the same day. And they had other things they were actually about, which contradict Christianity. Saturnalia was about Saturn.
No, it wasn't. There were a number of pre-Christian winter holidays. None of them is Christmas. Most of them weren't even on the same day. And they had other things they were actually about, which contradict Christianity. Saturnalia was about Saturn.
December 24, 2025 at 4:32 PM
"Christmas was actually pagan originally"
No, it wasn't. There were a number of pre-Christian winter holidays. None of them is Christmas. Most of them weren't even on the same day. And they had other things they were actually about, which contradict Christianity. Saturnalia was about Saturn.
No, it wasn't. There were a number of pre-Christian winter holidays. None of them is Christmas. Most of them weren't even on the same day. And they had other things they were actually about, which contradict Christianity. Saturnalia was about Saturn.
Reposted by farwing
When non-Christians celebrate Christmas, it's always because they were raised or live in a culture (regardless of whether they personally believe in Christianity), or because it was introduced to their culture by Christians (like in Japan).
December 24, 2025 at 4:29 PM
When non-Christians celebrate Christmas, it's always because they were raised or live in a culture (regardless of whether they personally believe in Christianity), or because it was introduced to their culture by Christians (like in Japan).
Reposted by farwing
"Non-Christians celebrate Christmas"
This doesn't make Christmas not a Christian holiday. It's normal for people to partake in traditions that aren't theirs. Non-Mexicans may love eating tacos, but it's still Mexican food. Westerners may geek out over anime, but it's still uniquely Japanese.
This doesn't make Christmas not a Christian holiday. It's normal for people to partake in traditions that aren't theirs. Non-Mexicans may love eating tacos, but it's still Mexican food. Westerners may geek out over anime, but it's still uniquely Japanese.
December 24, 2025 at 4:29 PM
"Non-Christians celebrate Christmas"
This doesn't make Christmas not a Christian holiday. It's normal for people to partake in traditions that aren't theirs. Non-Mexicans may love eating tacos, but it's still Mexican food. Westerners may geek out over anime, but it's still uniquely Japanese.
This doesn't make Christmas not a Christian holiday. It's normal for people to partake in traditions that aren't theirs. Non-Mexicans may love eating tacos, but it's still Mexican food. Westerners may geek out over anime, but it's still uniquely Japanese.
Reposted by farwing
"Many people don't do any religious practices for Christmas"
Yes, but the religious practices that they're not doing are Christian ones! Secular holidays don't have their own religious practices to not do.
Anyway, just because some don't go to church doesn't change the fact that many people do go.
Yes, but the religious practices that they're not doing are Christian ones! Secular holidays don't have their own religious practices to not do.
Anyway, just because some don't go to church doesn't change the fact that many people do go.
December 24, 2025 at 4:23 PM
"Many people don't do any religious practices for Christmas"
Yes, but the religious practices that they're not doing are Christian ones! Secular holidays don't have their own religious practices to not do.
Anyway, just because some don't go to church doesn't change the fact that many people do go.
Yes, but the religious practices that they're not doing are Christian ones! Secular holidays don't have their own religious practices to not do.
Anyway, just because some don't go to church doesn't change the fact that many people do go.
Reposted by farwing
This is setting aside the fact that it's a corruption of "Saint Nicholas" by way of Dutch. I don't even need to bring that up to make this point.
Besides, Christmas is a lot older than Santa Claus. There's a reason it's not called Santa Claus Day. He's a later addition.
Besides, Christmas is a lot older than Santa Claus. There's a reason it's not called Santa Claus Day. He's a later addition.
December 24, 2025 at 4:19 PM
This is setting aside the fact that it's a corruption of "Saint Nicholas" by way of Dutch. I don't even need to bring that up to make this point.
Besides, Christmas is a lot older than Santa Claus. There's a reason it's not called Santa Claus Day. He's a later addition.
Besides, Christmas is a lot older than Santa Claus. There's a reason it's not called Santa Claus Day. He's a later addition.
Reposted by farwing
"Modern Christmas is more about Santa Claus than Jesus"
And what is Santa Claus? He's a functionally omniscient being who divides people into Nice and Naughty, supernaturally giving rewards only to Nice people. In other words, he's just a fairy tale version of Christianity.
And what is Santa Claus? He's a functionally omniscient being who divides people into Nice and Naughty, supernaturally giving rewards only to Nice people. In other words, he's just a fairy tale version of Christianity.
December 24, 2025 at 4:19 PM
"Modern Christmas is more about Santa Claus than Jesus"
And what is Santa Claus? He's a functionally omniscient being who divides people into Nice and Naughty, supernaturally giving rewards only to Nice people. In other words, he's just a fairy tale version of Christianity.
And what is Santa Claus? He's a functionally omniscient being who divides people into Nice and Naughty, supernaturally giving rewards only to Nice people. In other words, he's just a fairy tale version of Christianity.
Reposted by farwing
It just means that non-Christians might justly feel excluded if you act like everyone is celebrating Christmas, so keep that in mind.
The rest of this thread will be me responding to common counterarguments.
The rest of this thread will be me responding to common counterarguments.
December 24, 2025 at 4:17 PM
It just means that non-Christians might justly feel excluded if you act like everyone is celebrating Christmas, so keep that in mind.
The rest of this thread will be me responding to common counterarguments.
The rest of this thread will be me responding to common counterarguments.
Reposted by farwing
That's basically my case. It's about Christianity, part of Christianity, from Christianity.
And an important disclaimer: There's nothing wrong with this! It doesn't mean you have to be Christian to celebrate it, or that you're doing it wrong if you don't make a big fuss about baby Jesus.
And an important disclaimer: There's nothing wrong with this! It doesn't mean you have to be Christian to celebrate it, or that you're doing it wrong if you don't make a big fuss about baby Jesus.
December 24, 2025 at 4:14 PM
That's basically my case. It's about Christianity, part of Christianity, from Christianity.
And an important disclaimer: There's nothing wrong with this! It doesn't mean you have to be Christian to celebrate it, or that you're doing it wrong if you don't make a big fuss about baby Jesus.
And an important disclaimer: There's nothing wrong with this! It doesn't mean you have to be Christian to celebrate it, or that you're doing it wrong if you don't make a big fuss about baby Jesus.
Reposted by farwing
What is "Christmas"? A shortened from of "Christ's Mass".
What does it celebrate? Specifically, the birth of Jesus Christ.
Who came up with it? Christians. It wouldn't exist without them.
Which prayers and rituals does it have? Ones made by Christians, for Christians. Most of whom still do them.
What does it celebrate? Specifically, the birth of Jesus Christ.
Who came up with it? Christians. It wouldn't exist without them.
Which prayers and rituals does it have? Ones made by Christians, for Christians. Most of whom still do them.
December 24, 2025 at 4:11 PM
What is "Christmas"? A shortened from of "Christ's Mass".
What does it celebrate? Specifically, the birth of Jesus Christ.
Who came up with it? Christians. It wouldn't exist without them.
Which prayers and rituals does it have? Ones made by Christians, for Christians. Most of whom still do them.
What does it celebrate? Specifically, the birth of Jesus Christ.
Who came up with it? Christians. It wouldn't exist without them.
Which prayers and rituals does it have? Ones made by Christians, for Christians. Most of whom still do them.
Reposted by farwing
Why Christmas is a Christian Holiday
A thread for Nittel Nacht ♟️
A thread for Nittel Nacht ♟️
December 24, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Why Christmas is a Christian Holiday
A thread for Nittel Nacht ♟️
A thread for Nittel Nacht ♟️
Reposted by farwing
And that's on period. Whites wanna be leftist without relinquishing whiteness. They're fucking up the game & that's why they'll always be stuck. They're poor leftists. Discard them.
WHITE leftist
WHITE communist
WHITE socialist
WHITE anarchist
Are WHITE first and the political and social ideology is fed through that.
I don’t fuck with any supposed radical that puts WHITE at the beginning of their political and social understanding.
You’re either a SOCIALIST or RACIST.
WHITE communist
WHITE socialist
WHITE anarchist
Are WHITE first and the political and social ideology is fed through that.
I don’t fuck with any supposed radical that puts WHITE at the beginning of their political and social understanding.
You’re either a SOCIALIST or RACIST.
December 24, 2025 at 1:58 PM
And that's on period. Whites wanna be leftist without relinquishing whiteness. They're fucking up the game & that's why they'll always be stuck. They're poor leftists. Discard them.
Reposted by farwing
WHOLE THREAD but this right here
People will lie.
People will be confused .
We can’t determine whose who but setting base expectations and consequences shifts the burden on to the deceiver not the decipherer
People will lie.
People will be confused .
We can’t determine whose who but setting base expectations and consequences shifts the burden on to the deceiver not the decipherer
The only real way is to formally require divulging any degree of AI usage, in much the same way that we all already declare in contracts that out work is original. Plagiarists will simply lie here, but at least there are consequences when they're caught later. Establish those consequences as norms.
December 24, 2025 at 2:18 PM
WHOLE THREAD but this right here
People will lie.
People will be confused .
We can’t determine whose who but setting base expectations and consequences shifts the burden on to the deceiver not the decipherer
People will lie.
People will be confused .
We can’t determine whose who but setting base expectations and consequences shifts the burden on to the deceiver not the decipherer
Reposted by farwing
Like plagiarists, slopmongers will continue to exist—and they're worse. Adjust your level of contempt accordingly.
December 23, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Like plagiarists, slopmongers will continue to exist—and they're worse. Adjust your level of contempt accordingly.
Reposted by farwing
Treat a published work that was later divulged to be AI-generated the same way you would if you found out it was manually plagiarized from a different book. Same situation, just the plagiarism has been automated and averaged out a bit, and the plagiarist is also a scab and a cultural arsonist.
December 23, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Treat a published work that was later divulged to be AI-generated the same way you would if you found out it was manually plagiarized from a different book. Same situation, just the plagiarism has been automated and averaged out a bit, and the plagiarist is also a scab and a cultural arsonist.
Reposted by farwing
The only real way is to formally require divulging any degree of AI usage, in much the same way that we all already declare in contracts that out work is original. Plagiarists will simply lie here, but at least there are consequences when they're caught later. Establish those consequences as norms.
December 23, 2025 at 4:58 PM
The only real way is to formally require divulging any degree of AI usage, in much the same way that we all already declare in contracts that out work is original. Plagiarists will simply lie here, but at least there are consequences when they're caught later. Establish those consequences as norms.
Reposted by farwing
A reasonable question here is: how do you *identify* slop consistently? At some level, you really can't—certainly not if someone has already fixed it. I don't propose a whole new infrastructure of policing here. It would be pointless. The answer is to back up the question a level.
December 23, 2025 at 4:57 PM
A reasonable question here is: how do you *identify* slop consistently? At some level, you really can't—certainly not if someone has already fixed it. I don't propose a whole new infrastructure of policing here. It would be pointless. The answer is to back up the question a level.
Reposted by farwing
The only reasonable position is zero tolerance: the AI industry must end sooner rather than later. It is culturally, socially, environmentally, and economically destructive, and all the Silicon Valley marketing in the world isn't going to make it otherwise.
December 23, 2025 at 4:57 PM
The only reasonable position is zero tolerance: the AI industry must end sooner rather than later. It is culturally, socially, environmentally, and economically destructive, and all the Silicon Valley marketing in the world isn't going to make it otherwise.
Reposted by farwing
E.g. If writers are being forced by employers or publishers to use AI, then entities representing the interests of writers should expose and protest that coercion.
December 23, 2025 at 4:57 PM
E.g. If writers are being forced by employers or publishers to use AI, then entities representing the interests of writers should expose and protest that coercion.
Reposted by farwing
The AI bubble will pop at some point, sure, but this is about limiting the damage it does to working writers. This is about protecting the field from the industry in the meantime.
December 23, 2025 at 4:56 PM
The AI bubble will pop at some point, sure, but this is about limiting the damage it does to working writers. This is about protecting the field from the industry in the meantime.
Reposted by farwing
We will get paid less, many of us will be forced out of the field and/or the industry, generations of new writers will find their development stunted and their early-career opportunities limited, and ultimately, the quality of the work available to readers will suffer.
December 23, 2025 at 4:56 PM
We will get paid less, many of us will be forced out of the field and/or the industry, generations of new writers will find their development stunted and their early-career opportunities limited, and ultimately, the quality of the work available to readers will suffer.
Reposted by farwing
AI is a direct threat to our livelihoods as well as the future of our professions, not because AI is capable of doing any of the work, but because our industries will use the threat of AI to make us all increasingly precarious. Uncertain futures and worse working conditions.
December 23, 2025 at 4:56 PM
AI is a direct threat to our livelihoods as well as the future of our professions, not because AI is capable of doing any of the work, but because our industries will use the threat of AI to make us all increasingly precarious. Uncertain futures and worse working conditions.
Reposted by farwing
Translators, illustrators, researchers and editors all do creative, human work that is important and cannot be reproduced in part or in whole by AI any more than writers. Their interests are our interests. To legitimize the use of AI to replace them is a failure of principle as much as strategy.
December 23, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Translators, illustrators, researchers and editors all do creative, human work that is important and cannot be reproduced in part or in whole by AI any more than writers. Their interests are our interests. To legitimize the use of AI to replace them is a failure of principle as much as strategy.