The most dangerous phrase in the language is, “we’ve always done it this way.”
“Come on, let’s mix it up!” The heart surgeon says.
“B-but we’ve always done it this way!” The other replies, “this is how you replace a heart valve.”
“That’s the most dangerous phrase in the human language!” The first surgeon replies haughtily as he inputs a fruit loop into the patient’s heart. “This will be his valve. He will be a fruit loop in a world of Cheerios.”
(taken from this post on the experiments of Harry Harlow)
This is serious business, because this is a large part of how sexism, racism, homophobia, rape culture, ethnocentrism, etc. continue to happen.
The reason we do heart surgeries the way we do is not “because that’s what we’ve always done.” It’s because that’s how year of scientific research says will give the best results. One of the best uses of the scientific method is to test common practice, and either eliminate it or give it legitimacy. Don’t do things because “that’s what we’ve always done,” do them because that is what evidence and research say we should do.
Saying “we’ve always done it this way” justifying maintaining a harmful societal norm is dangerous. We can do better.
Heart surgery is very very new. The first successful heart transplant was in 1967. That’s only 51 years ago. Out of 200,000 years of human history.
Heart surgery IS the “let’s try it differently” because “That’s how we always did it” was just letting people die.
The Sword of Old Wounds Weapon (Shortsword), Legendary. Requires Attunement. A battered old weapon covered in nicks and scuffs. It behaves as a degraded weapon with -4 to hit and damage until it is attuned. Once attuned, it behaves as a +2 magic weapon. Enemies stabbed by the blade experience no physical wounds or signs of trauma, but are dealt 2d8 Psychic damage as the sword’s magic drags up painful memories.
Same Hat Wondrous Item, Very Rare A fetching cloth hat adorned with a single rose blossom in its band. The hat may be left unobserved and undisturbed within 5 feet of another hat for the duration of a Long Rest. At the end of the Long Rest, roll 1d20. On a 20, a third hat is magically spawned into existence, appearing as a stylish combination of the two “parent” hats.
The Goldmonger’s Piece Wondrous Item, Very Rare A single coin that appears to be solid gold but with only a fraction of the weight. A successful Perception (Wisdom) check DC 10 reveals it to be obviously counterfeit, featuring the image of a Rust Monster on its face. If placed within 5 feet of any coinage worth at least 1 Copper, the Goldmonger’s Piece will animate into a Tiny-sized Golem and voraciously devour all currency it can get its jaws on. It will consume up to 100 GP of money before returning to an inanimate state.
The Terraformer’s Map Wondrous Item, Legendary. Requires Attunement and Cartography Tools Proficiency A well-preserved scroll that, when unfurled, magically displays the terrain and major landmarks within 5 miles centered on its current location. Using Cartographer’s Tools, the map can be edited to add, remove, or alter features of the landscape once per day. Doing so allows the cartographer to cast one of the following spells as a 9th level Druid anywhere within the map’s displayed vicinity: Creation, Transmute Rock, Druid Grove, Move Earth, or Earthquake.
Ugh Boots Wondrous Item, Rare. Requires Attunement. A pair of tacky fur-lined leather boots that oddly seem out of fashion no matter when or where they’re worn. These boots grant a bonus to AC inverse to the wearer’s Charisma modifier. For example, a -2 Charisma modifier grants a +2 bonus to AC while a +5 Charisma Modifier inflicts a -5 to AC.
Clockwork Critter Wondrous item, Very Rare A small, silver pocket watch of remarkable Gnomish construction. It is a beautiful time piece that never requires winding or oiling, never tarnishes, and always tells the exact date and time down to the second. Twice a day – precisely at sunrise and sunset – the watch animates for one hour and bounces around excitedly, making clicking noises and flapping its cover like a hungry mouth. It must be fed at least 1 pound of fresh, raw meat at these times immediately; the bloodier, the better. If promptly fed, the watch will remain animated for the remainder of the hour and behave toward its owner similarly as a playful, affectionate puppy would. If denied one meal, the watch will loudly ring an alarm chime for an hour before returning to its normal, functional state. If denied two meals in a row, the Clockwork Critter will die, becoming a non-functioning, non-magical bit of scrap as it melodramatically flops over and burst into a spray of springs and sprockets.
Goggles of Mental Protection Wondrous Item, Uncommon A pair of nondescript brass goggles with slightly tinted lenses which fit snugly over the user’s eyes. Any creature of the Aberration type viewed through the goggles appears vaguely blurry and with floating black bars superimposed over their more unappealing features. The wearer has Advantage on saving throws versus magical or psychic effects from Aberration type creatures.
The Duckinomicon Wondrous Item, Legendary A lurid tome bound in the flesh and feathers most fowl… er… foul. Those who dare to scour its secrets must spend 4 consecutive Long Rests to fully read the book from cover to cover. Completing the book in this manner permanently grants the reader the ability to communicate with ducks and other similar waterfowl as per the “Speak with Animals” spell. Once this effect is gained, the reader also has Advantage on all Charisma checks when conversing with ducks in their malevolent native tongue. Attempting and failing to complete a full reading of the book curses the reader, leaving them only able to speak in loud quacking and honking until a “Remove Curse” or similar spell is cast upon them.
Gonk’s Lost Shiv Weapon (Dagger), Legendary An unremarkable dagger that faintly resonates with Divination magic. When within 20 feet of its creator – a mischievous Goblin assassin named Gonk – the blade will subtly glow blue and emit a subtle humming sound. The glow and hum can be halted with a command word. She had that enchantment put on it because she kept losing it, usually under the sofa cushions.
Boots of Rage Wondrous Item, Rare. Requires Attunement. When worn, these rugged leather boots cause their wearer to be irrationally grumpy and short-tempered with everyone and everything. Their snappy attitude inflicts them with a -2 to Persuasion and Deception rolls, but a +2 to Intimidate rolls. If Attuned by a Barbarian, the boots’ aggressive rumblings grant 1 additional use of Rage per Long Rest.
Someone: “I want a cat/rabbit/other animal that will be super openly affectionate, go for walks, play fetch, not mind being handled rough, never be shy, and also I don’t want it to claw me or the furniture(so I’ll probably get it declawed) and I don’t want to ever clean a litter box or cage.”
Me: “Hey there’s this great new type of animal you might be interested in:”
Someone: “I want a dog but I don’t ever want to take it for walks or exercise it very much or let it outside and I want it to be fine with being left alone for longer periods of time and also never bark.”
Me:
Someone: “I want a cat or dog but I want to only feed it a vegan diet.”
Me:
Someone: “I want to have a pet but I basically never want to interact with it.”
Me:
Someone: “I want to get my kid a cute pet for Easter/Christmas!”
Me:
Get a pet that fits your needs. Don’t get a pet then try to force it to fit your lifestyle. Just because you saw a person walking a rabbit once doesn’t mean you can expect a rabbit to just be a dog. Just get a dog!
pasta, lasagna, and pizza were actually brought to Italy from China by Marco Polo during the 13th century but okay.
This armour is late 16th century. That gives my mother of Italian origin 3 centuries to develop her pasta in order for me to vomit it on myself. This meme is historically accurate.
As a trans person, airport security is always weird, but I had an especially tough time today 😔
Edit: someone shared this helpful link that explains the TSA’s policies for trans travelers. The policies aren’t great but there’s some info on what your options are! https://www.tsa.gov/transgender-passengers
Motherfucking Cowboy Meowchow 