Discussion SuiTWT/988TWT & Aestheticization of CTB

[Unsure and Useless]

As a chronically online person who browses Twitter a lot, I found a post that was really relatable, but after I refreshed my TL, I found a lot of posts from CTB Twitter. A lot of the posts were your classic "life sucks lol" and "are you winning son?" memes; however, actually checking the top posts in the hashtag are just SH and gore vids with cutesy editing, or if there wasn't editing, the user and/or the post itself was very aestheticized. Occasionally, you'd find some people (didn't check their profiles for age) outright asking for methods, and in one of them, someone was planning to attempt via insulin. There was also a predictable overlap between 988twt and EDtwt, SHtwt, and Goretwt

While I'm very aware that there are suicidal users on Twitter, I didn't think they'd be so... outspoken about it? I can't eloquently describe everything about what I find wrong with how these people—who are likely children/teens—approach their suicidal ideation aside from the practical aspect of it all: these kids are recommending, or even glamorizing, painful and risky methods to each other

Being on the forum for a while, especially while looking for guides on how to execute my method, I'm no stranger to seeing gore vids, and they're often varied in who is CTB since the intent is to learn. However, these edits typically use the same people: cute/attractive women (typically Japanese or East Asian) who often engage in youthful aesthetics—think lolita or the classic sailor school uniform

I don't think CTB has to be seen as this exclusively grayscale, rainy, and edgy act, but at the same time, it feels disingenuous to exclusively/heavily depict it as something that cute people do. What do you guys think about our younger "siblings"? Do you guys find it irresponsible for depict CTB in a "cutesy" and "Japanese" way?

 

[X-sanguinate86]

Yeah this all sounds pretty messed up.

 

[leoneliona]

This has been an issue since I first got into online spaces around 2012. Tumblr was a pretty big hotspot for this kind of thing back then (still is, just less so) but a lot of those people moved to Twitter.

 

[Unsure and Useless]

This has been an issue since I first got into online spaces around 2012. Tumblr was a pretty big hotspot for this kind of thing back then (still is, just less so) but a lot of those people moved to Twitter.

Yeah, I was going to point out how very Tumblr-like the posts were, but I refrained from doing so lol

 

[Dumbass]

It's definitely irresponsible, yeah. I've even come across people linking SaSu under posts that ask for methods

 

[scary]

The romanticization of things like suicide and self harm is dangerous, especially if younger/more impressionable people come across it. Some people might use it as a coping mechanism sure, but I think things like that should be kept privately instead of posted online where children are able to come across it. Children can still bypass most things on the internet regardless of an 18+ warning and its irresponsible to post on easier to access sites like Twitter or Tumblr. I've made vent art when I was younger but I always kept it to myself.

 

[U. A.]

Next up for debate: the degree of culpability of SS for letting multiple long-time members who have been in possession of their method(s) of choice for years freely spam the same "existence is the worst/government is evil for not killing me" gobbledygook as nauseam for nearly or just as many years, inevitably influencing those minors who make their way past the ironclad age check in registration.

 

[Unsure and Useless]

the degree of culpability of SS for letting multiple long-time members who have been in possession of their method(s) of choice for years freely spam the same "existence is the worst/government is evil for not killing me" gobbledygook as nauseam for nearly or just as many years, inevitably influencing those minors who make their way past the ironclad age check in registration.

Wouldn't a single megathread fix that? Think FuneralCry's self-made venting thread, except for users doomerposting

 

[X-sanguinate86]

Next up for debate: the degree of culpability of SS for letting multiple long-time members who have been in possession of their method(s) of choice for years freely spam the same "existence is the worst/government is evil for not killing me" gobbledygook as nauseam for nearly or just as many years, inevitably influencing those minors who make their way past the ironclad age check in registration.

I don't think it's necessarily gobbledygook nor do I think it is anywhere nearly as bad as what OP is talking about. One is designed to capture people on an emotional and even sexualized level, the others are words forming an argument. You might not like or agree with those words but it's not nearly as sensational and devoid of valid content as cute girls in schoolgirl outfits glamourizing it.

 

[Forveleth]

This is the internet being the internet. When 13 Reasons Why came out, it was all the rage. Tweens thought it was so deep and edgy and made killing yourself look cool. These kids are not really capable of comprehending the gravity of the subject of killing yourself. You also have to remember, this is the same age group that ate laundry detergent at one point. They are not known for critical thinking.

 

[U. A.]

I don't think it's necessarily gobbledygook nor do I think it is anywhere nearly as bad as what OP is talking about. One is designed to capture people on an emotional and even sexualized level, the others are words forming an argument. You might not like or agree with those words but it's not nearly as sensational and devoid of valid content as cute girls in schoolgirl outfits glamourizing it.

Note my use of the word "next". But hey, maybe you're right—maybe someone regularly posting long-winded pseudo-intellectual thinkpieces on how morally reprehensible it is that gov'ts don't make death easy despite owning and preferring to die by gun, or else repeatedly replying in other's threads with near-carbon copies of the same complaint about the atrocity of criminalising the Sarco because existence is the worst thing ever that must be avoided at all costs – despite owning both N and SN – isn't so bad.

Wouldn't a single megathread fix that? Think FuneralCry's self-made venting thread, except for users doomerposting

Simple problems often have simple solutions, but where there is no will, there is no way.

 

[X-sanguinate86]

Note my use of the word "next". But hey, maybe you're right—maybe someone regularly posting long-winded pseudo-intellectual thinkpieces on how morally reprehensible it is that gov'ts don't make death easy despite owning and preferring to die by gun, or else repeatedly replying in other's threads with near-carbon copies of the same complaint about the atrocity of criminalising the Sarco because existence is the worst thing ever that must be avoided at all costs – despite owning both N and SN – isn't so bad.


Simple problems often have simple solutions, but where there is no will, there is no way.

Not really sure how you're replying to what I said but no, I don't think it's so bad.

 

[Unsure and Useless]

When 13 Reasons Why came out, it was all the rage. Tweens thought it was so deep and edgy and made killing yourself look cool. These kids are not really capable of comprehending the gravity of the subject of killing yourself.

I don't remember much of the show, but based on some research on what those reasons were, I wonder how anyone could find being slandered, stalked, and left to rot by the institution meant to protect you cool and meant to be emulated. Plus, wasn't the show glamorizing CTB as a way of revenge? I dunno, but CTB to own people isn't the gotcha people think it is

 

[violetforever]

im so glad someone brought this up, i was just thinking about this yesterday. i cant really put into words how i feel about it either??? ive always had an aversion and kept a distance from these types of communities though. edtwt is like this so i never joined despite being anorexic. the cutesy editing and aesthetic displays and details are strange and cringey to me.

However, these edits typically use the same people: cute/attractive women (typically Japanese or East Asian) who often engage in youthful aesthetics—think lolita or the classic sailor school uniform

its so fucking weird lol. apparently even being suicidal has been invaded by the male gaze. is that it? is that why it feels so gross?

 

[leoneliona]

im so glad someone brought this up, i was just thinking about this yesterday. i cant really put into words how i feel about it either??? ive always had an aversion and kept a distance from these types of communities though. edtwt is like this so i never joined despite being anorexic. the cutesy editing and aesthetic displays and details are strange and cringey to me.

its so fucking weird lol. apparently even being suicidal has been invaded by the male gaze. is that it? is that why it feels so gross?

Yup. It's pretty obvious on most, if not all gore sites listed here when discussing pictures of women who've committed suicide. It's dehumanization no matter what angle you look at it from.

 

[violetforever]

Yup. It's pretty obvious on most, if not all gore sites listed here when discussing pictures of women who've committed suicide. It's dehumanization no matter what angle you look at it from.

i avoid those sites too. the comments are so disgusting and misogynistic.

 

[leoneliona]

i avoid those sites too. the comments are so disgusting and misogynistic.

Honestly not surprising though, considering the demographic. If someone's got an account and regularly watches gore for the fun of it there's already a sense of detachment that's concerning.

 

[iveseenfootage]

I think it's extremely weird. I'm a pro choicer, (obviously lol, I am suicidal) but I don't think it should be encouraged or glamorized. It's a very sad and very final solution, it should only be underwent after serious thought. I already think most kids are too immature to make a decision like this, and these sorts of posts only prove it to me.

 

[violetforever]

Honestly not surprising though, considering the demographic. If someone's got an account and regularly watches gore for the fun of it there's already a sense of detachment that's concerning

yeah i fully agree

 

[Unsure and Useless]

its so fucking weird lol. apparently even being suicidal has been invaded by the male gaze. is that it? is that why it feels so gross?

Looking into these accounts, I don't think the users making these CTB edits are men. Oftentimes, they're just young girls with eating disorders, unfortunately. (I saw far too many of them show off their sunken in stomachs with their ribs clearly visible)

 

[violetforever]

Looking into these accounts, I don't think the users making these CTB edits are men. Oftentimes, they're just young girls with eating disorders, unfortunately. (I saw far too many of them show off their sunken in stomachs with their ribs clearly visible)

girls and women can portray themselves through the male gaze. i feel like the desire to assign pretty faces and aesthetics to suicidal and self harm content caters to that. edtwt does this a lot with those couple thinspo photos.

 

[owo]

cringe attention seekers

 

[Unsure and Useless]

girls and women can portray themselves through the male gaze. i feel like the desire to assign pretty faces and aesthetics to suicidal and self harm content caters to that. edtwt does this a lot with those couple thinspo photos.

Oh, I thought you meant these edits were made by men, my bad

Yeah, girls and women can pander to the male gaze, but I don't think these CTB were meant to do that at all since they seemed to place a lot of emphasis on innocence. I don't think they meant to do so in a sexy way either. A lot of it felt like young teens trying to revert back to a simpler time where they weren't experiencing depression, hence why their aesthetics try to portray youth and innocence

These are similar to the aesthetics 988twt uses:

Delicate Sweet

Delicate Sweet is an aesthetic characterized by its "handmade" and "homelike" appearance with washed out colors of pink, white, and beige, lace motifs, ribbons, fabric textures, indoor environments/activities and everyday items related to comfort such as stuffed animals, baked goods, pillows...

aesthetics.fandom.com

Soft Girl

Soft Girl is an internet aesthetic that gained prominence in 2019 via TikTok. The style is characterized by an exaggerated, hyper-feminine presentation that is both a celebration and a subversive reclamation of "girly" tropes. It utilizes a palette of high-chroma pastels (primarily pink...

aesthetics.fandom.com

Yume Kawaii

Yume Kawaii (ゆめかわいい) is a Japanese aesthetic that centers around fantasy themes in pastel colors. It appears like the embodiment of a “girl's dream” and you can find many illustrations, clothing, and goods, which incorporate this aesthetic. Due to the nature of dreams, it can also feature...

aesthetics.fandom.com