@Crypty Scribbles Of course! I've shared this appreciation for the character across other platforms, and I get similar gratitude for highlighting the character, and how I feel many of us can relate to her and how she initially seems snide or disinterested, but this is simply her personality, and she doesn't know any other way to be. I just love the show didn't have Pinkie and/or the rest of the Mane Six "teach" her how to liven up, how to be more interesting, etc. I love they simply come to accept her, and her mannerisms cease to be acknowledged, and instead, she's explored as a pony and not a fixer-upper. @Dawnshine Wonder What you said at the end of your comment is the denouement of my argument for Maud Pie as a strong character and strong exploration of such a character's qualities and dynamics. This is my point, and good comparison to Mandy from Grim Adventures. The Mandy caricature is what I thought Maud was going to be, but she wasn't, and I don't think she accepts her sister out of annoyance. She simply accepts her. Both ponies accept each other to a point where other ponies obviously notice the contrast in personalities, but the sisters seem to be best friends who love each other. This is why Maud Pie is so important to me and others such as @Crypty Scribbles. What we see on the surface creates an unfair assumption there's something to be "fixed" about the character, and that was intentional. Instead, there's nothing to be "fixed" about Maud Pie, it's other ponies who need to "fix" themselves and accept Maud Pie's personality type. Simply allow her to exist in their space and trust and connect with her despite a uniquely resolved personality. @Rafa Stary For the longest time, and I think she's still listed on my profile, Starlight was my favorite secondary character. Now, I'm thinking it might just be Maud Pie for these reasons explained in the post...Fluttershy still takes number 1 overall though, lol.

I wish I had this when I first joined MLPF. This is very thorough. Thank you so much!

I have to express my appreciation for Maud Pie. While Pinkie Pie is a constant ball of energy and expressiveness, all of the mane six have expressive and unique personalities. Even reserved Fluttershy is expressive with her face and her adorably low-volume voice, but when Maud was introduced I was concerned, and initially, my eyes rolled. I thought, “Let me guess. We have a problem pony. Low-energy, disinterested, introverted (and presented as though introversion is inherently a bad thing), and I predicted a negative attitude and general mean-spiritedness. I thought her introductory episode was going to be a matter of Maud learning the error of her ways and becoming more expressive and extroverted because that’s the only way you’ll make friends. Instead, it’s only her expressivity which distinguishes her from Pinkie and the others. She comes across as low-energy and disinterested, but she’s powerfully passionate about geology, she’s kind and even verbally expresses a fondness for ponies. She loves her sister and has no problems or annoyance with her opposing personality. When it comes to acceptance and tolerance, the show chose to include those whose reservation, introversion, and ways of expressivity as acceptable. Worthy of friendship without changing a thing. Being a kind and genuine pony (who we even learn later feels ousted as a result of her behavior and mannerisms when she says to Pinkie, and I’m paraphrasing, “It’s best I live alone like I’ve always been”) despite her personality being a caricature which one, including myself, would unfairly assume of a callous teenager with an attitude is very heart-warming. The show really does exemplify not only friendship but true connection and acceptance of various personalities. Sometimes, I’m unfairly assumed to be disinterested, unapproachable, etc because I often have a low-energy personality at work and school, and I also love to be alone and am very introverted. Someone gets to know me and they like me and find me interesting, but still ask “Why don’t you show this part of yourself more? Why do you hide who you are?” I don’t? If I did, I wouldn’t be talking to you right now. Being reserved and introverted is a part of myself, and attempting to be expressive and extroverted (which I used to do) would be the version of me that hides my true nature. Such a lovely secondary character, and such brilliant dynamic between her and the others in terms of friendship and someone I and I’m sure plenty others in the fandom and in this group can relate to.

I was contemplating how My Little Pony has quickly become one of my all-time favorite television shows despite watching the show last year. In fact, I threw out "favorite show of all time" when discussing media in general during the early seasons. Amongst all-time favorites, it's rare for me to love a long-running show such as MLP. Amongst my all-time favorites are Breaking Bad (62 episodes), Better Call Saul (63 episodes), Gravity Falls (40 episodes), The Owl House (43 episodes), and so forth. Of course, quantity does not equal quality. When it comes to shows like Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, you can't really just pick out an episode which begins and ends, and when it comes to the stand-alone (or mostly stand-alone) episodes of shows like Gravity Falls and The Owl House, you can only watch them so many times . Of course, amongst my all-time favorites of considerable longevity are shows such as X-Files or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which have plenty of standalone episodes, but then again, those can be mood shows, right? Whether it's the occasionally depraved and unsettling horror of the best X-Files episodes or the difficult and challenging emotions of Buffy (or vice versa, depending on the episode), I do have to be in a certain kind of mood to watch those shows. I don't have "go-to" Buffy or X-Files episodes to watch when I just want to watch something. But, wait, Futurama is easily amongst my favorite shows of all time, and there's rarely dour themes, mostly standalone episodes, and I'm sure the label "comfort show" has been applied times over. There's no dissection or mental process in terms of arriving at an "accurate" or "valid" favorite show, but I'm just walking myself through the thought process of what sets MLP apart from the rest. Well, what do I love about MLP? The setting, the design and style, the writing, the music, the story, the humor, the lore, and, most importantly, the character. The character is the crux of MLP'S qualities. Its not the exclusive standout quality. The other qualities I mentioned are also incredible, but the characters, management thereof, and dynamics between are truly the perfect bow. The Element of Magic amongst the show's Tree of Harmony is character, especially between the Mane Six, and ultimately, I find character is the most important quality amongst any piece of fiction. The narrative, the themes, the style, the storytelling, pacing, all falls apart if you have poor character, and all these elements are improved by good character. MLP, both through effort and thought as well as chance, created a Mane 6 of perfectly characterized ponies who have interesting and energetic dynamics between each other and lives/backgrounds which organically intertwine with the rest of the series' setting and characters to energize the lore. Other shows like Breaking Bad and Gravity Falls also have incredible casts, but My Little Pony's cast and how that cast serves as individual stakes to the series' lore and setting, is what creates the potential for quality longevity (for the most part), and it was executed well. Still, these conceptual positions, these comparisons, these distinctions, even though I'm just scratching the surface, mean next-to-nothing when it comes to the final question, what sets My Little Pony apart from the rest? Does anyone else arrive, in a way distinct from other favorites, at the conclusion, I love the way it makes me feel. I understand the function of specifying, "guilty pleasure," when discussing something one perceives as low quality, but the thing is seemingly tailored to them in a particularized way, but I hate for one to feel as though they must specify its a "guilty pleasure" when they find genuine charm and quality to the thing despite the general consensus. But, what's "This is my guilty pleasure" in a declarative form? Image Source: A.I. Generations I love the way it makes me feel. Something about the show/movie/etc, stimulates you in a way you enjoy despite recognized quality shortcomings. As much as I love these other shows I've mentioned to the extent of rewatching certain scenes over and over, MLP has a unique, "I love the way it makes me feel." All those qualities I mentioned? Style? Writing? Animation? Story? Character? All those elements are presently and consistently of high quality, yet they're all amalgamated into a swift wind blowing over me as an episode begins, and the residual soft breeze overwhelms me as I watch the show. I love it in the way a person loves a "guilty pleasure." The way it makes me feel. I think this is what we're all celebrating. Wow. We've found this show with all the wholesomeness, heart, emotion, and warmth we crave from less challenging media, yet MLP is both engaging and stimulating as well as worthy of genuine praise. So, the distinction between this show and other shows, even in the greatest shows like Breaking Bad or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, is I can pick apart qualities and discuss them as components. My Little Pony? I can't remove one element from the rest. I can look at them individually for moments at a time, and I can force myself to pick apart shot composition, dialogue, etc, but there's the distinction. It all coagulates into one great show, and I say, "I can go into detail, but I love the way it makes me feel." And that, every pony. That is magic.

So, in an offhand interaction between Fluttershy and Hummingway, a bird, I was racking my brain for a minute. "Hm. In what way is a pony pun produced by naming a bird after Ernest Hemmingway?" It took me just a little too long to realize--birds "hum." That's my confession for the day. A good deed. In Furry Friends Fair, Fluttershy's signature pet bunny, Angel, is ostracized and humiliated by Flim and Flam at a show case for pet talents. Flim and Flam basically call Angel unremarkable, so after Angel witnesses Applejack and her furry friend, Winona, herding sheep, Angel wants to develop the necessary skills for herding to compete in the Fine Furry Friends Fair, and prove to himself he is quite the remarkable bunny. After a rough start, Fluttershy's friends join in, problems arise, and, of course, we all learn a lesson about friendship--and the importance of self-worth. @Fluttershutter recommended these chapter books to me months ago because they "read like episodes." I purchased a newer version of the books suggested and let them sit on my shelf for a while, but I've decided to pick them up and begin reading. I began with my favorite pony, Fluttershy's, protagonist book and read through it. Obviously not a long read, but Fluttershutter was right! It reads like an episode, and a good one at that! Rock solid. That's the best I can say about this particular chapter book. I was pleasantly surprised to discover the language and verbosity wasn't quite as sophomoric as I thought they would be considering the target audience being elementary students. Obviously, it didn't infuse the rich but quiet haunt of Cormac McCarthy or the linguistically clinical mayhem of H.P. Lovecraft, but it didn't necessarily read as a "baby book," for lack of a better word, which says something, because as an avid fan of the show, I already knew who these characters were and where these settings were, so the imagery and sounds were already there, yet I was still implored to use my imagination to visualize these scenes and hear these voices and sounds in my head. My favorite line which legitimately made me chuckle was spoken by Pinkie Pie, who says, "We brought you ewes to use!" But then she turns to Rainbow Dash and says, "Or was it, use these ewes so you don't lose?" Not only is that clever and humorous, but it's perfectly in character with Pinkie Pie. Not to mention, I particularly took note of a vividly descriptive sentence: "Rainbow Dash crossed her forelegs across her chest like she was personally offended that her great idea didn't pan out." That is a succinct yet vivid sentence evolving the visual image the language creates for the reader to generate in their imagination rather than simply focusing on the conversation at hand, and, yet again, not only in dialogue but in behavior in mannerisms did the author manage to capture these characters. So, bravo to G.M. Berrow because it's actually something I'd love to write! I mean, if you write literature using characters from an established IP, it's still technically fan fiction if you're being paid. The pacing was genuinely great. It reads like an episode, and it's markedly divided into a three-act story, but there was never a point where I was wondering how this or that would be resolved in any time frame. This really goes into the potential for new appreciation reading these books could have on an MLP fanatic. Although the font is clearly larger than other books, it's still a hundred-and-something pages, and while it reads like an episode, it really puts a pony fan in their place when they realize just how much work goes into these episodes. Sure, we relish and rejoice and gush and spring ourselves at the show's, design, the lore, the characterization, and general effervescence. When reading this book, I realized and thought to myself, "Wow. This much thought goes into this show, and this is just in plain text format." So all that relishing and rejoicing and gushing I do was enhanced by reading this book and realizing how much effort and work goes into this stuff. Friendship is Magic! Friendship is work! And Friendship is Magic is a lot of work. Lastly, I'll mention the resolution. Spoilers ahead. When Fluttershy and Angel finally perform at the Fury Friends Fair, first of all, I'm glad the win still went to Applejack. There was no reason for any competition between Fluttershy and Applejack to be delved into. The book mentioned Rainbow Dash and Applejack's friendly rivalry by mentioning "those two loved to challenge each other over every little thing." I don't remember the context, but I believe the line was mentioned to affirm there's no competitive element between Fluttershy and Applejack in the story at hand. Also, while Fluttershy and Angel won second place, it was still with the help of her friends going to unconventional measures to pull it off, and ultimately, the author managed to infuse a satisfying victory for Fluttershy and her fuzzy bunny while also maintaining the crux of the most important themes, self-worth and self-confidence. The friendship themes are always stronger when it's neatly tied in with a message for the individual. Fun. Heartwarming. Adorable. Fuzzy. Well-written. I don't do ratings of any kind, so all I'll say is I can't compare it to the rest yet, but I definitely recommend it, and there's also a wonderful bonus for Fluttershy fans since it's a Flutter-focused story!

@Bizarre Wizard That’s great! That’s all you need! Hoof to heart! @Starlight Serenade I love you 🥺 You’ve been one of my friends on here since day one and intense a kindred spirit. Happy Holidays, Happy Hearth’s Warming, and please let me know when you’ve finished your emotional piece!

Happy Holidays to all! It's been a difficult, tumultuous, and often unnerving year for everypony. I'm not in the Christmas spirit or a Christmasy person, but I genuinely hope through all the chaos and heartache, those of you who longed for the comfort, feelings of goodwill, and sense of home Christmas brings to you was attained. I hope you all love your gifts, and I hope everypony you've given gifts receive there's. I hope if nothing else, you can find surrender to another year completed and survived, and we can find some presence of peace and hope for the future. Personally, I've come to finally accept certain things about myself this year. I've come to maintain my weight through healthier methods, I'm currently at the thinnest. In fact, I got an early gift from my mother which was a perfectly fitted hoodie, and my eyes when I noticed it was a medium. A medium! I'm a 6'1" man, and I'm at a point where I need a medium shirt. That's a Christmas memory I probably won't forget. I also relapsed this year. Negative experience, but I refuse to allow its taint to wash over the accomplishments and strides I've taken this year. Also, my dad, a conservative baptist, gave me a fairly precious gift, and possibly my favorite gift this year...a copy of the first Equestria Girls movie on DVD! Is it available on YouTube? Yes. Do I already own it on bluray? Obviously. But did my conservative baptist father with whom I've had a troubled past purchase me a DVD after actually asking different stores about My Little Pony stuff, and even mentioned it was for his 26-year-old son? Yes, and that means a lot to me. My favorite gift was a used $5 DVD of a movie I already own, although I'll be honest, that old-fashioned white DVD box with a DVD case cover art? Yes, on a personal, aesthetic, and nostalgic level, I also loved that second part (I found Friendship Games on DVD for $2, and I bought that even though I had it on bluray). I actually began this Happy Holidays entry not sure where I would arrive, but in so writing, I feel I've arrived at an emotionally sensible point. I genuinely hope all your Christmases were precious, fulfilled, and comforting, but regardless, find that one thing. That one thing that meant something to you on a profound and complex level. Whether it was a gift, a gesture, a statement, a decision someone helped you make. That one thing the Christmas spirit brought you which no other spirit can. For me? Equestria Girls on DVD from a dad who accepts my interests, my alternative and quite subversive identity, and neurodivergent difficulties and benefits. I don't quite feel understood, but I feel closer than before. What's that one thing for anypony? I would love to know. I'm sure many of you got things you loved, but what's the one thing that just affected you on multiple levels and possibly even profoundly. Or, if we aren't feeling that deep, how was your Christmas or otherwise holiday celebrations? How are your families? Friends? How was your year? Well, Happy Holidays, and Happy Hearth's Warming!

A Worthy Successor (Spoilers) I thought it would be hard to top Mastermind, especially with a season finale, but while it didn't "top it," it was a worthy successor and an excellent balancing act of making sure to resolve various beats throughout the Blitzo/Stolas storyline and finally see those beats come to fruition, but also leave room for more progress in the following season. I'll say I've seen lots of heat thrown at the show regarding the second season shifting to a story focus. I saw a comment which said, "It was a show about imp assassins...until it wasn't." They're still imp assassins, but has it ever just been about that? I feel like people are uncomfortable with the evolution of adult animated comedy series with the infusion of drama and story arcs. Personally, I'm significantly more invested in the storyline, the character development, and, honestly, that absolutely impeccable animation which we saw in full throttle in the fight against Andrealphus, a full, intense action scene, and people are upset its not a "show about imp assassins" anymore? I love the shift in focus. I love I need more tissues to watch an episode. There are little issues and inconsistencies, sure, but this show is doing what Rick and Morty refused to do, which is allow your adult sitcom to evolve into a comedy-drama and initiate story arcs and follow those arcs throughout episodes rather than resolve it quickly and return to the status quo.. Helluva Boss is experimenting, and it's paying off...big time. I gushed and gushed and gushed at Stolas and Blitzo (pronounced Blitz, so he doesn't kill me) finally engaging an intimate, mutually affectionate relationship, but there's this kinetic two steps forward, one step back infused with the narrative. Lots of moving parts, and any pacing issues are outweighed with what they do with those moving parts and such interesting characters. So, while we got Stolas and Blitzo basically being an item (for now), there's still the issue of Stolas removed from his daughter, and his daughter's disdain. Speaking of which, Via's song? Very emotional for me personally. I started by watching Hazbin, fell in love, but after only one season, I was advised to watch Helluva Boss. I checked out the first episode, "Eh. Seems okay. An alright holdover until Hazbin comes back." Then, the opening song in episode 2 (You Will Be Okay) is what drew me in. Suddenly, there was a small injection of emotion which came full circle with Stolas unable to fulfill his promise. How do I feel? Do I grieve for Stolas whose daughter now detests him? Do I commend Via for taking autonomy over her fate and choosing, "I Will Be Okay," since she now feels she can't trust her dad? The explosive emotions just keep coming. Also, and I've seen this lamented as well, I'm excited for Millie's pregnancy storyline. I noticed in the second half of season 2, the writers have endeared us to Millie, and while we know her history as well as Moxxie's, we still don't quite understand either character on the intimate level we understand Stolas and Blitz. Millie's pregnancy? That finally sets up a subplot where we can explore Millie and Moxxie's character and see some development there as we have with Blitz and Stolas. All over? A great season finale, and I prefer season 2 to season 1 (I guess that's unpopular?) So season 1's finale wasn't as explosive as the ending, and honestly didn't feel like a finale. Nothing wrong with that since the story was still taking its time in season 1, but truly, satisfying finale which leaves me satiated for what I was dying to see resolved in some way which changes the status quo, and it leaves me excited but patient for season 3. Helluva Boss is a Helluva show and this was a Helluva finale.

So, I've been playing the first My Little Pony: Make Your Mark video game (A Maritime Bay Adventure). Don't get me wrong, its as easy as it can be. All fun simply comes from playing as characters you like and the overall charm. That being said, completing tasks, despite everything you need know about being handed to you, is fun and can be rewarding. Such licensed games was once a norm. New Pixar movie? New Disney movie? New Dreamworks movie? Popular cartoon? When does the action-adventure, shooter, and/or platformer come out? And more often than not, they were cash grabs with some diamonds in the rough. I always loved Kung Fu Panda, and even though Futurama isn't a kids' show, there was a platformer/beat em' up/shooter game which came out in the early 2000's during the show's first run, and it makes the most basic choices...yet the ingredients are all infused with thoughtfulness. If you're a fan of Futurama, you'll love the game. It's always nice to strive for more than that. In my opinion, the Attack on Titan games on console hold up if you haven't watched the show because playing the first game got me into the show! I digress. I get we have the Gameloft Friendship is Magic city builder, but I would genuinely give anything for an action-adventure FIM based video game. The aforementioned licensed cash grabs are relics of the past. Now, when licensed games come out, there's an assumption some level of unique craft and concept regardless of whether it works out. For example, Friendship is Magic city builder!...and I hate city builders! I play the game because of the FIM charm, and I get to interact with characters and locations I love, but I don't have the drive to devote too much time to getting those big bits and gems. I'd just assume watch an episode. I'm not saying there's no experimental route an FIM game could take, but I would honestly love a casual game in the spirit of those 2000's licensed games, but upper-tier, preferably. Only a bore if you're a gamer and you don't like My Little Pony. I want some platforming, some casual enemies (Changelings would be a great stock character if you base your story around a Changeling conflict). And, there would often be contrived reasons in these 2000's games where a character who would never fight in the source material is given the ability to fight based on a character trait because they're too important not to include as a playable character. To me, Twilight, Rainbow, and Applejack would have obvious abilities. Twilight's an alicorn. You've got pegasus, unicorn, and earth pony abilities to play around with. Rainbow? An actual hot-headed athlete and pegasus. She could be the go-to for battles in the air or time-sensitive or spatially-sensitive (gauntlet type stuff) missions. Applejack? The go-to Earth pony ground fighter as well as capable of fashioning items to help. Head-butting, kicking, lunging, different brawler-type fighting. I mean, she's not an athlete, but she's a classic manual laborer, so she's going to be stronger. To me, Pinkie Pie would be a little more of a stretch, but still easily doable. Party gags are her weapons! The go-to (or only) shooter, even, with water balloons! And then, of course, the party cannon and other gags can be used to fight. Not to mention, her character could be capable of performing distractions to convene other character's missions or pull enemies away from overwhelming another characters. Fluttershy? More difficult...which sucks because she's easily my favorite! I would say assistance from and ability to speak with animals would obviously come in to play during a battle. It might be the most unconventional (for the time) gameplay where you command animals to attack or defend, and maybe she just has a kick she can use if absolutely need be. I would say sneaking missions make sense for her. Not only is she quiet and light on her feet, but she could use animals to help. Mission for Fluttershy includes obtaining item which turns out to be in a space she can't fit, so she gets Angel to crawl in and it turns into a 2.5D platformer? I think this could work. I would love to hear your thoughts! Rather you relish in just the basic idea, have some creative thoughts on how else it could work, a different modern perspective (like, "We can achieve what you're looking for with modern game designs"), or any amalgamation! Also, I obviously skipped Rarity because I have no idea where to start, and in your comments, I would be open to any suggestions. I got nothin' Photo source: https://www.equestriadaily.com/2012/05/i-heard-you-guys-liked-video-games.html

Thank you so much. I actually needed to hear this, tonight. Thank you. 🥺

Wow has it been a rough past couple months. As I phrased it in my last post, addiction is not magic, but sobering up can feel like a miracle. After I made my last post, my relapse got worse. I was getting high and drinking multiple times as my relapse evolved as per the course. For the most part, because I naturally do well in school, my law school grades have still been B's and a few A's, but one class in particular was neglected and I might fail it. Regardless, I graduate the same year, and it'll be a small inconvenience and hopefully finally learned my lesson. I moved out and moved back in with my parents because of my school payments. I've dealt with anxiety and withdrawals...but putting down the bottle cold turkey was a miraculous step. I went on a 24-hour bender. I began drinking with an ex the night before having too many shots of vodka and two tallboys. I slept there, woke up the next day, and just began drinking again. I'd fall asleep, wake up, drink, fall asleep, wake up, drink, and I repeated that cycle until two days later. It honestly scared me, so I put it down right then and there. Now, I'm off everything but THC, which I'm only using before bed and I'm weening it off to where I can be fully sober, again. I'm back into my fandoms (including this one show with ponies in it), I'm back in the gym, and I will get back into writing.. I'm replacing cigarettes (which I always pick back up during a relapse) with my vape once I get moved back in. MLP (both FIM and finishing MYM), Helluva Boss, Invader Zim, and The Office have helped me get through. I'm finally sobering up and getting back to myself. I wanted to keep this entry short since my last entry was about addiction and I've already run through the emotions and dark thoughts in that post. I'm returning to these forums and intend to engage the community more and continue posting to my blog. Stay Tuned!

@Arrlong28@Finding_Marty @Iforgotmybrain @ComanderZhabikKlavik @Mothra @OverTheStars Thank you to all for your kind comments. I apologize for my reply being over a month later, but my relapse continued. Finally, I put down the bottle and everything else besides THC, which I've used to help with withdrawals and am now weening myself off of. I've come back to the forums where I was only just getting started, and I intend to post another brief entry regarding my addiction and finally sobering up. I'm excited to be back in a place where I can enjoy my fandoms and fixations, lol, especially Pony.

@Arrlong28 Thank you so much for the kind words. I'm sorry you suffer from these ailments. I appreciate the hugs and they are reciprocated, and I certainly hope I can be free one day as well.

I've been completely absent the past few weeks, so I'll just say it. I'm an addict, and I relapsed. It has been very difficult, and had multiple days where the severity of my withdrawals were the devil's claws restraining me to my bed. A few times I tried to crawl out of it early. I put on the episode, "Bridle Gossip," a go-to episode for the sake of having fun with the show while fighting cravings, and I ended up getting high while watching the episode. I've neglected my studies, my interests, my hobbies, and my fitness goals as well as returned to smoking cigarettes like a chimney. I've tried to post on this blog a few times about my THC because I was so ecstatic to get involved with the community, then stress happened, then mental health worsened, then "Just one time" happened, then a full-on relapse kicked in. I see no reason to go into detail what I was relapsing on, it was not good. I was thin and still lost more weight from either a lack of appetite or a desire to fast to intensify the high I get from substances I'll use later. If I wasn't getting high, I was either at work or I was laying around playing on my phone, then I was getting high while doing all those things. Addiction hurts. Yes, to use a substance--To drink it, to snort it, to inject it, to put it under the tongue-is a choice, but its not a choice people make because life is going perfectly even from the first hit. Chasing relief. Needing peace. Desperate for escape. People you love struggle with addiction, and my struggle with addiction is proof people love to refuse compassion for people who, in their eyes, are in a position they put themselves in. I've had people say straight to my face, "You put yourself here. I have no sympathy for you." I've had people assume my substance abuse comes from some place of being spoiled or not being told no while having no knowledge of intense trauma I endured growing up. I have an ex-girlfriend who struggles worse than I do, and she's been very supportive, and I've tried to support her. I know you've heard reflections like this over and over, again, but truthfully, addiction really is a spiral people, not even addicts, can't perceive until one is too far gone to be anything but beyond dependent on the substance they've chosen to return to. Every time I begin, its, "Oh, I can manage this. I'm not even that messed up. Now, I can make this the crux of my day. Go to work/school, get my studies done, work out, see friends, and then get high before I go to bed. It cannot be articulated the strange, blurry area where I forget the moment I fell of the wagon. I'm sorry this blog entry is all over the place and rather inarticulate, but I needed somewhere to share what I go through and what I've been going through. Addiction is such an immense suffering, I would not wish it on anypony. I love you all. Please keep me in your thoughts as I try to recover.

I have no intention of using A.I. whatsoever to generate posts, and I want to actually look into having a person design my O.C., but I've used A.I. to generate a couple images to attach to a new blog I'm working on and I'm workshopping A.I. art for another. Like I said, A.I. won't be used to generate text whatsoever, but since I'm not a visual artist or designer, is it okay to use A.I. art on my blogs?

@Starlight Serenade I guess it's just the pacing. Hazin Hotel was great but I did notice some pacing issues. Helluva Boss is a slower build and the emotional moments feel more explosive. Also, this is a weird critique, but Helluva Boss has more compelling cinematography. I know it's not live-action but the camera has more personality in Helluva Boss.