and an average woman peered over your shoulder, I think they would think ‘oh, it’s a gross little horny weaboo’. Perhaps take it a step further, what if it was your screensaver, or a poster in your room? People would assume the worst, because images like this are generally created and consumed in such a way.
Speaking from a handful of personal experiences — not that I am an average woman — I reckon that my first thought would probably be, “…Sorry— Sorry, BRICS…? As in the intergovernmental organization…? That BRICS, personified in yonder picture perhaps a bit problematically, as women in an anime-esque style that evokes a non-binary lesbian who knows what they like yet also aims to cater to the virality-inducing gaze of terminally online cishet male weebs? My eyes do not deceive me, do they? What a peculiar thing! kininarimasu.mp4”
And thus — should the angels bestow upon me the strength to do so — I would ask that person, “Hey, your phone’s lock screen— that’s, that’s BRICS as in the intergovernmental organization, right?”
Should they respond, “Huh? Oh, uh, maybe.” or alternatively, “I don’t… I don’t know what that is, sorry?” or even, “No.”
—Then the conversation is terminated.
Should they respond, “Yup: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.”
—Then follow up with, “Do you have any particular thoughts on those countries, their governments, about BRICS or anything like that?”
Should they respond, “No, not really.” or alternatively, “Dae CCP 1984 and also Putler bad?” or even, “Brazilian chicks are soooo hot.”
—Then the conversation is terminated.
Should they respond instead, “I don’t like to talk about politics with strangers.”
—Then make a mental note that this might be an interesting person, or might be a nincompoop. Further investigation required.
And lastly, should they respond instead, “Hey BRICS is helping dedollarize the world isn’t it, and NATO provoked that war, too. Indeed, as the situation in Ukraine brings us closer to a Third World War, I am reminded of the wise words of Chairman Mao in his 1957 essay On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the Peo—”
Speaking from a handful of personal experiences — not that I am an average woman — I reckon that my first thought would probably be, “…Sorry— Sorry, BRICS…? As in the intergovernmental organization…? That BRICS, personified in yonder picture perhaps a bit problematically, as women in an anime-esque style that evokes a non-binary lesbian who knows what they like yet also aims to cater to the virality-inducing gaze of terminally online cishet male weebs? My eyes do not deceive me, do they? What a peculiar thing! kininarimasu.mp4”
And thus — should the angels bestow upon me the strength to do so — I would ask that person, “Hey, your phone’s lock screen— that’s, that’s BRICS as in the intergovernmental organization, right?”
Should they respond, “Huh? Oh, uh, maybe.” or alternatively, “I don’t… I don’t know what that is, sorry?” or even, “No.”
—Then the conversation is terminated.
Should they respond, “Yup: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.”
—Then follow up with, “Do you have any particular thoughts on those countries, their governments, about BRICS or anything like that?”
Should they respond, “No, not really.” or alternatively, “Dae CCP 1984 and also Putler bad?” or even, “Brazilian chicks are soooo hot.”
—Then the conversation is terminated.
Should they respond instead, “I don’t like to talk about politics with strangers.”
—Then make a mental note that this might be an interesting person, or might be a nincompoop. Further investigation required.
And lastly, should they respond instead, “Hey BRICS is helping dedollarize the world isn’t it, and NATO provoked that war, too. Indeed, as the situation in Ukraine brings us closer to a Third World War, I am reminded of the wise words of Chairman Mao in his 1957 essay On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the Peo—”
—“Marry me.” would be my interruption.