If You Already Know
By the way, this is inspired by true events (with names and dates obscured like always). Please do not harass anyone alluded to, should you manage to uncover them.
I doubt you’ll ever read this. On the small twinge of a chance that you do, I doubt you’ll even figure out it’s related to you, let alone who’s who. However, I still wish to get my thoughts out a bit.
First of all, this only applies to you if you already know the true extent of what that popular friend of yours in your publishing spaces has done to me.
If you don’t, you’re probably better just clicking off right now and enjoying your time doing something more fulfilling for you. I’m not entirely sure what that could be — not that it’s any of my business — but I’m sure you’d much prefer doing it right now than reading about some random girl you hardly know nowadays. For the rest of this article, I will assume you know the truth.
Anyways, I know you’re very successful in the industry right now. Given the quality of your work, I feel like and hope that your success will go up as you desire — especially given the hell you’ve been through for years. Obviously this doesn’t mean wishing you get away with heinous deeds if you ever end up guilty of those, but you don’t really seem like the kind of person to do so.
With that being said, I’m also aware that you owe a good chunk of your success to the support of, well, your sector connections. In particular, your high-ranking ones are definitely not the kinds you would want to lose unless extreme circumstances occurred (and by extreme, I mean criminal or near-criminal). I have reason to suspect they also include the friend I’m talking about.
I mean, he’s in charge of several major productions right now — some of which you either have starred in or are starring in right now. And it’s not just you who’s in them, either, when it comes to those from your division’s upper echelons. Your other friends, at least a few of which also owe part of their recoveries to him, are also major talents in his shows.
Given how long you’ve been in this particular industry, I feel like you already know what happens to people who double-cross the big guys. They get blacklisted. Exiled. Their sources of fortune crumble — which, if they haven’t built up both a solid ego and network elsewhere, could end up being irreplaceable in some of the worst ways possible.
In extreme cases, some of the most unfortunate targets get mocked for years. They fear for their lives and safety, running to and from in hopes of getting away from the circles which resent them. At one point, one of those dart boards was you — a position which you’ve worked hard to escape from. I can’t imagine you wishing for it to happen again.
Honestly, I don’t think you’ll ever go through the same pain you went through all those years ago once more — should this timeline play out with solid logic, of course. You’re noteworthy, your work is valuable to the productions you’re in, and you have the charisma required to survive attempts at tanking you.
It is also a pretty commonly known fact that you’ve been victimized multiple times in the past in some horrendous ways. How else would I have found out about it? This, however, I feel could be a double edged sword.
On one hand, your section of the industry does theoretically consider it especially scummy to go after someone who’s already been traumatized or victimized before. In practice, this typically applies to people who are A: in its high ranks and B: who haven’t done anything too far out there. That friend of yours who went for my name took advantage of that factor and won.
On the other….it’s not like those in power are completely immune from the consequences of their actions, either.
I’ve heard the campfire stories of the notable secretary girl who went mad from her trauma and made her friends and colleagues suffer as a result. It didn’t even take much to convict her at first — although she had surely made her bed by then. She was also once friends with that now prestigious friend of yours, and they fell out pretty badly. I don’t want that to be you.
So please, don’t get yourself into trouble just because you wish to defend someone like me: powerless within the division, poorly connected, and not the greatest at initially helping their case.
Because I know — I know — that if that friend of yours ever wanted to break you…he absolutely could.
Wishing you well.
Sincerely,
SnarkyLisa
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About the Creator
Snarky Lisa
Analysis/Reviews YouTuber, she/her and female. I’ll try to write long form analysis here. Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SnarkyLisa/featured
Also known as Lisa L on Twitter. Not to be confused with any other Lisa L on Vocal Media.
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The Rise and Fall of the Most Beautiful Ocean Liner Ever Built
Few machines created by human hands have inspired awe quite like the great ocean liners of the early 20th century. Among them, one ship has often been remembered not just as a marvel of engineering, but as the most beautiful ocean liner ever built — a floating palace that symbolized ambition, elegance, and the romance of sea travel. Its story, however, is not only one of triumph but also of decline, reflecting how technology, war, and changing lifestyles reshaped the world. A Floating Work of Art At the height of the golden age of ocean liners, beauty mattered as much as speed. Shipbuilders competed fiercely to design vessels that would impress passengers from the moment they stepped on board. This legendary liner stood apart for its graceful silhouette, sleek hull, and meticulously designed interiors. Every curve was intentional, every detail carefully considered. Inside, the ship felt more like a grand hotel than a means of transport. Marble staircases, crystal chandeliers, hand-carved wood panels, and lavish dining salons created an atmosphere of refinement. Cabins were spacious, elegant, and filled with natural light. Even the third-class accommodations were designed with comfort and dignity in mind, a rare consideration at the time. This liner was not just built to cross oceans; it was designed to make the journey itself unforgettable. Symbol of National Pride Beyond beauty, the ship carried deep symbolic meaning. It represented national pride and technological progress at a time when countries showcased their power through engineering achievements. The liner’s launch was celebrated with fanfare, attended by dignitaries, press, and thousands of spectators. For its home country, the vessel was proof that artistry and innovation could coexist. It demonstrated that ships could be both fast and visually stunning, functional yet luxurious. Newspapers praised it as the pinnacle of maritime design, and travel posters featured its image as a promise of glamour and adventure. Life Onboard: Glamour and Routine During its peak years, the ocean liner transported royalty, celebrities, business magnates, and hopeful immigrants alike. The decks buzzed with life — formal dinners, orchestras playing under starlit skies, and passengers strolling along promenades as the sea rolled gently beside them. For many travelers, a voyage aboard this liner became a defining life experience. Stories of romance, inspiration, and even reinvention unfolded between its steel walls. Crew members, too, spoke of the pride they felt serving on such a magnificent ship, where service was elevated to an art form. Yet beneath the glamour lay a complex operation. Thousands of crew worked tirelessly below deck, managing engines, kitchens, and maintenance systems to keep the floating city alive. War and Changing Times The ship’s decline began when global events reshaped priorities. War changed the purpose of ocean liners almost overnight. Luxury vessels were often repurposed as troopships or hospital ships, stripped of their elegance and exposed to danger. Though this liner survived the turbulence of wartime, it emerged into a world that no longer valued ocean travel in the same way. The rise of commercial aviation transformed long-distance travel, offering speed that ships could not match. What once took days at sea could now be done in hours. Passenger numbers dwindled, and maintaining such a grand vessel became increasingly expensive. From Icon to Burden As the years passed, the liner’s beauty remained, but its relevance faded. Modern travelers sought efficiency rather than experience. Shipping companies struggled to justify the costs of upkeep, crew, and fuel. Despite attempts to modernize interiors and adjust services, the liner could not escape economic reality. Eventually, it was retired from active service, its once-busy decks falling silent. For many admirers, this marked the end of an era — not just of a ship, but of a way of life. A Controversial End The final chapter of the ship’s story remains deeply emotional. Though preservation efforts emerged, financial pressures often won. Like many historic liners, it faced scrapping rather than restoration. As dismantling began, photographs of its broken hull and stripped interiors sparked global sorrow. People mourned not only the loss of steel and wood, but the loss of craftsmanship, imagination, and romance that modern engineering rarely replicates. A Legacy That Endures Even in destruction, the most beautiful ocean liner ever built left behind an enduring legacy. It continues to live on in books, documentaries, paintings, and the collective memory of maritime enthusiasts. Designers still study its proportions, historians analyze its cultural impact, and travelers dream of an age when the journey mattered as much as the destination. Its rise and fall remind us that beauty, no matter how extraordinary, exists within the limits of time and change. Yet its story proves that true elegance never truly disappears — it simply sails into history, leaving ripples that last for generations.
By Fiazahmedbrohi 7 days ago in Humans
Comments (4)
Covers so many people that this could be a yo e any where at anytime. Therefore the reverence of this piece will not and should not go away. Congratulations
This is such a raw and reflective piece. I admire your courage in speaking your truth, even in such a nuanced and complicated situation.
Somebody on Vocal liked it enough to give it a Top Story, and that is why I saw it. A lot to think about in this epistle
Medium version, by the way: https://medium.com/@SnarkyLisa/if-you-already-know-3917d857ebe4