Thinking About Will Byers, Who’d Always Been Visibly Different, Forced To Conform At A Young Age By

thinking about will byers, who’d always been visibly different, forced to conform at a young age by his father- but quickly learns that he doesn’t need to like or do something because people think he should. his mother cherishes his sensitivity, nurtures his kindness, encourages his artistry and love of colorful creations and clothes. his brother tells him he can like whatever he wants, that being a freak is cool and conforming is lame, and that he’ll love him no matter what.

will byers doesn’t pretend to be someone he’s not. he is authentic and open about what he enjoys and how he expresses himself - D&D, art, comic books and games, his clothing and style, his nerdiness - he never treats these as bad things or something to “grow out of”. will has a good idea of who he is, what he likes, and how he expresses this to the world. he never tries to conform due to social pressure, especially not when it comes from his closest friends.

thinking about mike wheeler, whose family voted for reagan, whose father is emotionally absent, and who rarely leans on his family members for support. mike wheeler, who has to be told he likes el in s1, and pushed to say he loves her in s3. who believes the root of his relationship problems is social pressure from “mouthbreathers” rather than his own actions. who is deeply insecure about his usefulness to his friends, and believes the only way his girlfriend will stay with him is if he “just said that one thing” and told her what she wanted to hear.

mike wheeler pretends to not like d&d anymore in s3 to try to “grow up” as he begins a relationship with a girl for the first time. he shows up to california in a silly outfit he thinks will help him fit in, one that’s explicitly called “a shitty knock-off” to his face. he lies his way through a love confession that doesn’t magically save the world like he wanted it to. the first person to tell him that it’s okay to be different and that conformity is harmful dies.

which one of these people sound more likely to have a self-acceptance arc in s5?

your 12th emoji is how you'll die

☕️

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i guess ill have to kill you then

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obsessedwithbyler

2 months ago

Inside of every Byler there are two wolves...

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obsessedwithbyler

3 months ago

Not to be a downer on the byler tag but I feel conflicted now that I'm back on st twitter

FIRST I don't want this whole post to be a rehash of the Noah controversy it's always a rinse and repeat of the same points. Yes, Zionism is bad (DUH) but I feel like we can seperate silly little gay characters from the actors, it's commonplace.

BUT I will say that death threats, threats of physical harm, or insults don't help. Those behaviors only cause defensiveness and if you want to change someone's opinion you have to be understanding. Everyone is shaped by their environment and if I was exposed to different influences growing up I'd be a totally different person today, not to say that people can't control their own decisions, but social pressure and ingrained prejudice is very real. Not everyone has the courage to become a social pariah, PLUS everyone believes they are a good person. That they are the one that is morally righteous, in any situation. It can make them blind to the truth, but you can't change that in one day.

EVERYONE WANTS TO BE A GOOD PERSON.

SECOND and the point I actually wanted to make is that I'm sorry but people will always be consumers, and you can't decide how they will spend their money, but do you think going to a con bc you like a tv show and ALL the amazing people in it is the same as openly supporting a genocide?!?? Like why direct all your (valid) frustration with the state of how people view palestinians onto 2 girls who are just there bc they like a ship in fandom??

Also I'll never understand the need to be mean to people online can't we all just be normal 😭

Like even if I know someone has opinions I am vehemently against I'm still cordial with them unless they bring it up, like I don't try to insult anyone but CEO's, billionaires, and those who sustain global war campaigns. Not anybody online who has an incorrect or even sometimes so disgustingly uninformed opinion. OR ARE JUST THERE TO DO SOMETHING THEY ENJOY LIKE????

Idk this was a ramble but I hate this, I understand that more people need to be aware of the horrible inhumane things continuing to occur in gaza, but this almost feels counterproductive, why use it as a reason to call people (who didn't even bring it into the conversation) ugly? The movement is all about SUPPORT and BRINGING AWARENESS is this the kind of awareness we need? where we call anyone ignoring or uncaring towards this massacre ugly when instead we could educate? Not to say we shouldn't call people out but be constructive! Help them understand instead of telling them to kill themselves, this feels like it isn't helping.

Thank you for listening to my tedTALK byler nation

I'm so fed up w these people on Twitter like bffr

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sorry free palestine stranger things byler noah schnapp but im annoyed and fed up cant we all just not attack people on the internet

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