The Off Topic Topic

[Josquius]

I can only guess its due to the convenience of not having to go with trite pizza delivery scenarios.
Nobody cares about the plot. So just have them already semi naked around each other and deciding to get it on.

[Razgovory]

Theory:  The younger generation doesn't get out as much (even before Covid), and is fixating on people in their own homes.

Maybe, but research indicates that growing up closely with folks generally makes it less likely to be attracted to each other. Counter suggestion: maybe with more patchwork families, the scenario is just a lot more common?

Possibly.  I have a harder time explaining granny porn

Raz, how did you find out about such a thing? 

Cause it clogs up porn websites.

[Admiral Yi]

I can't say I've followed trends in the adult entertainment industry much in recent years, but why is is that porn sites seem to be completely awash with content about (step-)relatives (step-mom/dad, step-brother/sister, step-son/daughter etc.) banging each other?

I mean, I get that taboo = exciting, but it seems a bit much at the moment (I was abbreviating this as "atm", but realized it could be read differently in a porn context ).

Taboo but not *too* taboo, like straight up incest.

I would think it's a common life experience for a lot of viewers.

Plus the step mom role gives work to aging porn stars. 

[Admiral Yi]

By common life experience, I mean fantasizing about a step sibling.

Though with the way hook up culture works these days, it's possible they're banging each other too.

[Sheilbh]

You've got me curious about Power of the Dog, because I didn't think there was any twist in it... is it the [spoiler]anthrax-laced hide business?[/spoiler] that's telegraphed a mile away, if that's the case. Loved the film, too.

Maybe. As I say I kind of struggle with it because these are film critics who are paid to watch films saying they had to watch it twice to understand the twist - and I am confused.

Regarding the larger issue, I broadly agree with you, but I'm going to play a little devil's advocate, because there's been a tendence of losing oneself in the artistry/entertainment/whatever of your piece, and never stepping back and wonder what kind of story are you telling. One of David W. Griffith's producers famously defended him from accusations of racism saying that Griffith never cared about the politics of his stories, he just made stuff that he thought would thrill audiences. That's been everpresent.

Yeah absolutely - and I did a lot of my degree on modernism and they are all problematic af. I'm fully behind the death of the author and not reading biography or the writer into their work (as a gay man who likes reading and watching films, I've had to ignore that for years - I also have issues with the whole queerbaiting discourse but that's another issue ). Unrelatedly but I also have a soft spot for Pasolini - and speaking of problematic

I think you should address the person and the life to the extent it affects what they've produced - I don't see how you can get around Eliot's anti-semitism, for example, or the allegations about Woody Allen given almost all of his films. I also think you should still have political criticism and, maybe that goes to the author if they keep doing it. And I doin't think formal experments or whatever is enough of an excuse, but I don't agree that we should want or expect morality tales, or moral tellers. I think, ironically given the never-ending Rowling discourse, that it's maybe the young-adultification of everything.

[Josquius]

Out walking today I just noticed something Switzerland does better than the UK that hadn't really dawned on me before.
Pedestrian prioritisation where roads and paths meet
In the UK you are walking on the path then you get a sharp break where you must step down onto the road to cross.
Here you barely notice there's a road crossing. It's cars who hit a slight bump as they come onto the slightly lowered pavement to get through.
It makes so much sense. Wonder why this isn't the way everywhere.

[Iormlund]

We do that in Spain sometimes when the road goes through a village. Crosswalks will be raised, so you have to slow down significantly or wreck your suspension.

I prefer it to a speed camera, both as pedestrian and driver.

[Duque de Bragança]

I can't say I've followed trends in the adult entertainment industry much in recent years, but why is is that porn sites seem to be completely awash with content about (step-)relatives (step-mom/dad, step-brother/sister, step-son/daughter etc.) banging each other?

I mean, I get that taboo = exciting, but it seems a bit much at the moment (I was abbreviating this as "atm", but realized it could be read differently in a porn context ).

Theory:  The younger generation doesn't get out as much (even before Covid), and is fixating on people in their own homes.

Maybe, but research indicates that growing up closely with folks generally makes it less likely to be attracted to each other. Counter suggestion: maybe with more patchwork families, the scenario is just a lot more common?

Possibly.  I have a harder time explaining granny porn

I blame Macro(n).

[Eddie Teach]

What are you doing, step-grandma?

[mongers]

I can't say I've followed trends in the adult entertainment industry much in recent years, but why is is that porn sites seem to be completely awash with content about (step-)relatives (step-mom/dad, step-brother/sister, step-son/daughter etc.) banging each other?

I mean, I get that taboo = exciting, but it seems a bit much at the moment (I was abbreviating this as "atm", but realized it could be read differently in a porn context ).

Theory:  The younger generation doesn't get out as much (even before Covid), and is fixating on people in their own homes.

Maybe, but research indicates that growing up closely with folks generally makes it less likely to be attracted to each other. Counter suggestion: maybe with more patchwork families, the scenario is just a lot more common?

Possibly.  I have a harder time explaining granny porn

I blame Macro(n).

[Syt]

Sebastian Kurz has confirmed that he has a new job. He has been hired as "Global Strategist" at Thiel Capital, an investment company owned by Peter Thiel, founder of PayPal and leaning heavily libertarian/conservative: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Thiel

They've known each other for a while, so I guess that was an easy job interview (during an awards ceremony for Thiel he specifically requested Kurz hold the honorific speech which the then chancellor gladly did).

[mongers]

Sebastian Kurz has confirmed that he has a new job. He has been hired as "Global Strategist" at Thiel Capital, an investment company owned by Peter Thiel, founder of PayPal and leaning heavily libertarian/conservative: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Thiel

They've known each other for a while, so I guess that was an easy job interview (during an awards ceremony for Thiel he specifically requested Kurz hold the honorific speech which the then chancellor gladly did).

Thiel is an 'interesting' character.

Also wasn't his dad a champion Danish tennis player, or was that the Metalica guy?

edit:
Yes Thiel if the right-wing stanford review guy with dodgy friends from back then, don't know why I mixed him up with Lars Ulrich, the joke about which is he used to complain about his father making a terrible racket. 

[Zanza]

One asshole working for another asshole. Fitting.

What about that family time he wanted to spend?

[Josquius]

The name thiel does ring stupid bells for some reason.

[Syt]

One asshole working for another asshole. Fitting.

What about that family time he wanted to spend?

I mean, I guess it remains to be seen how much time he will actually have to spend on that job, and how much of the job is providing his network of contacts from his time as chancellor.