Chrissy Stroop

It’s an uphill struggle getting people to accept that Christians can be bad people. But the even harder truth that people urgently need to grasp in this time of Christofascism is that for some understandings of Christianity, to be a GOOD Christian is to be a BAD person. Denial makes things worse

Anything that combines gameplay with a storyline that actually progresses. I played Stardew Valley for awhile but eventually found it repetitive. Really enjoying Starbrew Cafe right now (it's plotlines are also LGBT+ friendly.)

I like making friends with the NPCs and helping them

I dunno if Spiritfarer qualifies as a cozy game but the presentation definitely fills the cozy game niche for me - some tranquil music, a very inviting art style, and the excellent sound design all help to create and maintain a cozy experience. I gotta revisit that one again.

Are you a cozy gamer? What themes and features draw you in?

Pets. Give me a cat or dog, not with pet ownership as the function of the game, just incidentally there. Examples: Pikmin Coral Island Little to the Left

Low stakes, warm lighting, and a tiny creature who acts like you're doing great even on a bad day. A good soundtrack does the rest.

I like to collect all the things. No combat, no pressure, just looking for all the different fish and fruits and whatever so I can complete my collection and get a badge.

Your Harry Potter dollars funded this.

Are you a cozy gamer? What themes and features draw you in?

Favorite Games Series is the My Time games. Terrific storylines, great voice acting and a gameplay loop that hits just right for me.

One that probably doesn't get sorted into "cozy game" lists but I think counts: Citizen Sleeper. It's not the typical genre elements, but finding community and solidarity on a distressed post-capitalist space station has stuck with me.

Graveyard Keeper is a charmingly morbid Stardew-like.

I am currently playing Caravan Sandwitch and enjoying it. story and characters are good. lots of queer rep. fun to play without being too grindy. Little Rocket Lab is great but I haven't finished it yet. lots of women scientist rep; I bought it *because* dudes complained about the DEI.

NEW this week: It's cozy (gaming) season, and @thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social is here for it! 🍁🍂🎮 🍁🍂🎮 🍁🍂🎮 🍁🍂🎮

bsky.app/profile/theb...

Last I'll post about this, but Elon Musk disagrees with me. This means I am onto something, and I feel more valid in my opinion than ever.

Very micro game project called A Bewitching Revolution that my friend Averie rec'd to me is so cozy. And communist/socialist. Its low poly cuteness and general low impact on the sensories is very nice to me. Also, Stardew Valley, and Hanafuda Koi Koi for steam.

What are your favorite cozy games and why?

Thanks for this! My favorite cozy games are the ones around grief and dying, like Spiritfarer and Cozy Grove.

For @theflytrapmedia.com, I wrote about cozy gaming! It's this month's free post, so give it a read: www.theflytrapmedia.com/tis-the-cozy...

Right around kindergarten I think. Couldn't place exactly what made me weird, but I was already becoming a kid who lived in their head

After a couple of days of emailing with Ghost support, www.bugbeardispatch.com is back up! I still have no idea why or how it broke in the first place, but expect a new newsletter soon

By the way, I know I've neglected it for way too long, and to all my readers and subscribers, I am sorry. I've been working on some health issues, both physical and mental. Today I wanted to get back to writing, and now my website is borked. I hope I can get this sorted soon

So, The Bugbear Dispatch seems to be down, and I'm not at all sure why. The domain www.bugbeardispatch.com is active and paid for. I bought it and maintain it via WordPress. Other sites on Ghost seem to be working. Wondering if anyone can help me with this problem? I'd be grateful!

Feel free to browse our back catalogue for more!!! www.theflytrapmedia.com

And here's @thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social on why the founding fathers just... sucked: www.theflytrapmedia.com/the-founding...

Looking for something to read while you procrastinate? 👀 We got you. Here's a thread of what we've published recently. 🧵

Was listening a bit to the @hartmannreport.com on the radio enroute to my psyche appointment and the amount of middle aged men calling in to disparage the accuser against Platner, saying "it's fishy" "why didn't she lock the door"(???) Etc is sickening but unsurprising.

ICYMI I wholeheartedly agree, as I laid out in my latest for @theflytrapmedia.com The Founding Fathers Sucked share.google/x0uVsFJq9rtP...

5. The Faith-Based Militia: When is Terrorism ‘Christian’? by @fredclarkson.bsky.social — bit.ly/4p8OSkE 6. The Patriot and Armed Militia Movements by Chip Berlet and @matthewnlyons.bsky.social — bit.ly/4vhJjBQ

Articles mentioned: 1. County Capture by @cgallaher.bsky.social and Priya Dixit — bit.ly/PEW24CountyC... 2. In a Disturbing Trend, Far-Right Candidates are Getting Crucial Support from Militia Groups and Churches by @thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social — bit.ly/4wv9QN5

Thread 👇

For years, PRA has examined how far-right militias advance a White nationalist authoritarian agenda. Assembled here are several articles to help you better understand how these militias are deepening authoritarianism in the U.S. Learn more here: politicalresearch.org/research/law....

I have been in touch with Scarlettah this week. This is part of what she told me this morning that she wants people to know, besides the fact that she is surrounded by love and support:

This is all to say that rich people are both creepy and bad at science.

Anyway, if you want a good basic grounding in what evangelicals do/believe, especially as it pertains to politics, I would recommend three books: Jesus and John Wayne by @kkdumez.bsky.social , Wild Faith by @swordsjew.bsky.social and Empty the Pews edited by @thebugbeardispatch.bsky.social

Grieving the loss of Ryan Stollar—a kind, brave & deeply intelligent advocate for the overlooked children of fundamentalism, who I met reporting on the movement he helped begin. As the right re-embraces the harmful ideologies Ryan did so much to deconstruct, I'll miss his clear moral voice.