Honestly this is good for the psychology field. We are not furries but there's a lot of discussion amongst therapists and psychologists on how to treat without pathologizing.

I think these two different situations reveal how often self-sacrifice is expected before asking anyone what they truly want or need. Or asking what someone is capable of giving.

Lemonhope is a loner, he's a dreamer, he's got trauma. But his biggest crime to viewers is he's not a hero bc of it

In a completely different way we talk about responsibility for others a lot in chosen family and non-monogamy.

Relationship anarchists get a bad name bc they're viewed as selfish for not wanting to meet others expectations. In these very different circumstances are these people purely selfish?

He wants to be free from guilt, but also doesn't want people to hurt if he can do something to stop their suffering

But he also knows his own limits, he isn't nurturing or kind. He doesn't want to pretend he's different. What viewers mistake does pure selfishness is more complex

This creates a situation where the systems to uplift those kids becomes the thing pushing them away

The moment Princess Bubblegum reminds him of his father he runs bc he's being put in a prison of expectations. It isn't until he meets someone who lets him live authentically that he can be selfless

The princess didn't educate him to make him better or because he wanted it, or bc it suited him she educated him to benefit his ppl.

In the system, we expect older/neurotypical siblings to choose selflessness regardless of their nature, trauma, or value system.

Both Princess Bubblegum and viewers complain that he doesn't want to be hero or responsible for his family. He didn't create the problem, but they expect him to put himself aside to fix it

He does care about people, but he wants his own freedom & that is "unacceptable" to Princess Bubblegum & us.

Lemonhope ultimately was a child. He wasn't completely selfless & he was raised by selfish parents. But why do we expect, or demand, heroes be made because they suffered?

No one asked him what he wanted because they assumed what he wanted was what they wanted.

I have seen numerous situations where people felt a child should be willing to take on the roles and responsibilities that their parents don't.

Adults who resent their older sibling who ran away when they were 16-18 or ppl who feel an 18 year is responsible for keeping siblings out of Foster care

One of the biggest criticisms of Lemonhope as a character is that he's a brat and selfish which is true.

But I think that hides a deeper part of what his character represents...a desire to experience freedom after imprisonment versus society saying he should want to choose responsibility

I think this is an interesting point depending on the community you want to reach bc it also becomes an accessibility thing too.

We started with video essays. We've moved to doing more posting because it's quicker and tbh so many ppl around us have audio processing issues and share advice scrnshots

Starring Troy McClure and produced under duress by Lindsey Naegle