Alban, the Removed and Foreign<p>Dear good people of Aethy, and perhaps also related communities,</p>
<p>I hope you have a great day. I have a public confession to make, and I wish not to ruin your day. I want be vulnerable and share about my feelings as an Aethy member for roughly six weeks, and may discuss sensitive sociopolitical topics.</p>
<p>If you aren’t emotionally available, you’re free to ignore this post, and I hope to share fond moments with you at other times. Acknowledging my presence and desire to belong is more than enough.</p>
<p>In case you’re wondering, yea, I feel most comfortable expressing myself in this elegant, somewhat formal tone, albeit with less performance. I’ll try to meet you in the middle, and feedback on my style is welcomed.</p>
<p>Simply put, I, as a relatively sociopolitically centrist, heterosexual cisgender young man, am sharply conscious of my presence in this community. I intently observe Aethy’s philosophy and community rules, but still I feel like an outsider. I don’t know the appropriate boundaries for content warnings, I’m sometimes afraid to interact with people with different preferences, hobbies, or attitudes from mine, and I can’t relate to struggles that many, often marginalized groups, have and share.</p>
<p>I do <em>not</em> believe that we’ve become too sensitive, as commonly believed in conservative thoughts. I believe that we’re rolling back the traditions that champion hierarchies and obedience, which naturally demand certain insensitive practices and beliefs. However, I often find myself struggling to process or keep up with the sheer diversity of our community, which sometimes are at odds with the comfort of what I’m familiar with. Neopronouns and certain LGBTQ+ topics, certain kinks or fetishes, as well as ways to express one’s liking thereof, and self-shipping practices are some of the topics I find myself astounded by but having hard times connecting with. I admit that I still come from a traditional, heteronormative background, and consume mostly more “mainstream” content and presentation, which may have shaped and “centered” my worldview.</p>
<p>Still, I believe in diversity and changes for the better, and I’ll continue to support communities like this. Joining Aethy and experiencing the less mainstream, more stigmatized arts have been eye-opening and healing. I anticipate some time for me to accustom myself with these ideas, and I may have to rely on your help. I understand that many come from places of distrust of norms or perceived out-groups, and won’t push if you aren’t available to help me with this.</p>
<p>I’m still growing as a person, and I hope to go on this journey with all of you.</p>
<p>With love,<br>
Alban.<br>
(Albānus Abjūnctus Aliēnus)</p><p>
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