Baron Samedi

[QUOTE=Retribution][SIZE=1] How can you overestimate what you have faith in (this being God)? This is why Christianity is a [i]faith[/i]. This is putting trust in Him that God actually exists -- so it's only natural for it to look like they're 'overestimating.' To you, they're overestimating something nonexistant, which is quite easy to do. I don't believe there's any [i]underestimation[/i] of those without religion's abilities, but of their spiritual life and afterlives. And since you don't have belief in that, I fail to see your point.[/SIZE][/QUOTE][size=1] I think you missed my point Retribution... I said that I think those who have a religion are overestimating what it gives them, or underestimating the capability of those without religion to survive quite easily without it. You completely missed what I was saying. Often, it seems that religious people think that 'everyone needs spirituality', as Rasetsutaisho said. And that is rubbish. I'm doing fine without it.[/size]

[size=1][quote name='Rasetsutaisho']its human nature to need spirtuality of some sort[/quote] And you can say that with such certainty...why? I am not religious in any aspect of my life. I'm open to the idea that there may be a God, or gods, or an afterlife. Nirvana, whatever you'd like to call it. But I don't practice religion in my life, and I don't feel any less complete without it. I think that people who are religious, perhaps overestimate what it provides them, or underestimate those without religion. Oh, and Zhara...Satanists worship Satan. By not 'believing' in God, they don't worship Him or pay any acknowledgement..[/size]

[size=1]Lunox, what [i]you[/i] need to realise, is that there is a vast difference between advocating the rights of all people to be free, and 'forcing' our ideals and beliefs on another culture. It has nothing to do with that. The notion of 'freedom' is not something that merely applies to one country, or one culture. It is soemething which should be there for everyone.[/size]

[size=1][quote=Patronus]I get what you're saying. But do you blame the boys? It's human nature to long for sexual activity, and who knows- these boys might have been in love.[/quote]Absolutely not. Why would I blame them? [quote=Dagger]I'm still having trouble wrapping my mind around this. I wish I could formulate a better argument, but my reaction to what he said is a little more on the visceral side. The first thing I don't understand is why what we think doesn't matter. To me it seems like you and others are saying that we as outsiders cannot judge this situation as being wrong. Or, to put it differently, I feel as though if everyone throughout history had the type of attitude being presented here, no progress would have ever been made. The main sense I got from Gavin's post was "Well, it's an unfair law, but for their own sake they just shouldn't have done it in the first place."[/quote] Will what we think make any difference to what has happened? This isn't Britain we're talking about. It's Iran. They will not be pressured into changing themselves. Of course we all can, and should, judge this event. This is a terrible event. But it doesn't make any difference what we think about it. In solid reality, the reality that these two boys were hanged, the fact that we are disgusted doesn't change anything. [b]Thats[/b] what I was saying. [quote name='Rasetsutaisho']i didnt actualy bother to read much of the posts here... but i think i gathered enought to know that two kids were hanged for being homosexual? am i right... we'll the only thing i can think of right now is tactics... kinda like ninjas... you dont need to be obvious about everything you do... and if you're aware enough about your suroundings then you can use it like a tool...[/quote] Really? You didn't bother to read the posts? I would never have guessed... [quote name='Rasetsutaisho']i think marylin manson would punch you in the face... honestly laws are only restrictive when you go against them... i belive that country is trying to preserve a more pure and simple way of life... if you know anything about history you'd know that just about every civilization falls apart right after or when their about to reach their peak... just look at the roman empire... and look how much it mirrors our own![/quote]Oh, I suppose you and Manson are on lose terms then? You have no idea what you're talking about...give up now. There is a huge difference between not accepting a brutal, despotic system, and between supporting the right of people to live unoppressed. It is the difference between supporting freedom, and throwing down oppression.[/size]

[size=1]Dagger, when you look at it in an objective light, and remove the fact that this is a brutal, horrific, and thoroughly undeserved punishment for something which deserves no punishment, then Gavin is correct. The boys could not have been unaware of the punishment meted out to those who were homosexual. There is [b]no way[/b] that they could have failed to be aware of that. In our minds, does the punishment fit the 'crime'? Absolutely not. But, what we think doesn't matter. Just because somebody thinks they can fly, doesn't mean they can. The brutal reality of the situation, is that they knowingly broke the law, were caught, and punished according to the tenets of their system, no matter whether it is fair to our minds or not.[/size]

[quote name='Qman1']It was just a suggestion. But, I love the site in general. Sorry...... :([/quote][size=1]No sweat, lol. :) And Gavin, as far as I'm aware, this was just a little freshen up, and v8 is till the goal at this point. I'm pretty sure of that, anyway.[/size]

[size=1]To expand on Petie's post, there have already been calls for new themes, but James, our resident Site Director is a busy fellow. Not only that, but there are several updates planned for OB that are in the works, and themes'll be broken if you make them now. So, after the update, there may be more themes released, or public availability of a skin designing kit, but that'll happen when that happens. And you've only been here a week. Hold your horses ~_^[/size]

[size=1]I imagine you could find all the information that you could possibly want [url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=47552][u]here[/u][/url] ~_^[/size]

[size=1]This revised Jukebox button fits a lot better, I agree. Good work James. I think that, when compared to the prior Liquid banner, there is perhaps too much grey in this one, but it's just because thats a deviation from the previous two banners - practically all blue. This freshened skin will probably grow on us all, I'd imagine. Thanks James.[/size]

[size=1]I [b]do[/b] think that there is an over-eagerness on the part of the doctors to prescribe drugs, and I [b]do[/b] think that, especially with a lot of ADD/ADHD cases, it is merely a case of milksop parents being pushed around by their three year-old child. To put it simply, most ADD 'cases' that are given medication could probably have had their habit nipped in the bud early be a firm, decisive and disciplined parent. Why most parents don't realise this is beyond me. However, whether or not the child is truly sick, children with these ADD symptoms often fail to fit in with society, and can cause damage and/or injury to other's property or self. While there are other ways of curing this 'imaginary' ADD, the drugs do it now, and do it well. But, if you begin to discipline your child, and wean them off the drugs, then you can solve the problem easily. Sadly, most people are looking for a instant fix these days. Why wait when you can have results now? I absolutely advocate and support the use of medication in people with real problems however. My mother was depressed for several months, and then she got Zoloft, and things improved. The benefit of these kinds of medications is undeniable. You can't have people saying "this stuff helps people", and others saying "this stuff doesn't help people". Obviously, the former is correct. If they have proof that it can help people, then even if it isn't the right solution for everyone, it [b]is[/b] a solution.[/size]

[size=1]Well, it sounds really interesting so far, thats for sure. I understand that MMORPGS are what most of OB plays, but I hope a decent FPS group will be found as well.[/size]

[size=1]I'm aware that the new sub-forum [b]The Nexus[/b] will probably be opening soon, but I wondered what the general public thought it could be about, judging from it's title. So, go for it. I'm not really too sure what it could possibly be. Any suggestions?[/size]

[size=1]HHmm. I guess I need to clear my cache. Perhaps you could put in one of those update informers in the header code, to clear cache. Nevermind. It sounds good ;) [b]Edit[/b]: After a couple of refreshes, it seems to have changed most things. But I don't feel that this Launch Jukebox button fits in as well as the previous one did. It just doesn't blend in well. Perhaps if it appeared more embedded?[/size]

[size=1]Steven was the third person in the room. He had been a few minutes before reporting time, but was 'behind' nonetheless. Steven's eyes roamed over a sharp looking woman standing at attention next to one of the stasis pods. What a tightass.....speaking of which. He grinned wickedly in her direction, but she was iron through and though. Ramrod straight she didn't batter an eyelash. He nodded to the other two people in the room, and walked over to the next pod in the room, slouching against the wall. Some few minutes later, he heard the measured pace of what was undoubtedly an officer. Standing up properly, he brushed himself off and stood to attention in his civilianwear. As soon as the officer entered, he gave a terse order about getting into your pod as soon as possible. And some threat about liquidising skulls. Steven's mind had kind of drifted once it became obvious he wasn't going to get a chance to talk with him. Facing forward, so as to get the best view of all the room's occupants..but particularly the female ones, Steven pulled off his shirt and jeans, revealing a pair of racing shorts. He put his clothes in the chute provided, before stepping into his stasis pod. The final thing he saw before the quickly rising gel covered his eyes was a nice piece of arse hopping into a stasis pod almost opposite his...[/size]

[size=1]"Oh, I'm feeling angry at everyone because the world sucks. I'll just start a thread about jellyfish donuts, oh and I'll flame that person for being into videogames what a freak. HAHAHA I feel so much better now." Is anybody following that ~_^ This idea pops up so often that I think there should be a sticky here about it. It's driving me insane. Why would spamming or flaming provide somebody with a 'much needed release'? As Charles said, get a hobby, do something else. Whatever. Anybody who truly feels better after spamming or flaming is not somebody we need at this board. It doesn't take all that long to build up good typing habits and decent post quality when everybody else is doing the same, all of the time. I don't believe post counts are an issue. If they had a Spam forum they could just stop posts in there counting towards the total, as they did in the My Picture forum. But, I still don't support the idea of a spam forum.[/size]

[size=1]It is always acceptable to be a virgin. There is nothing wrong with being a virgin. However, because of some weird notion that everybody these days is a promiscuous whore, we set lower and lower 'acceptable' ages for sex. But I do agree that there is a point when virginity becomes odd. I think that past the age of 30 you'd start to realise that something is up, or to think it a bit strange.[/size]

[size=1]It's not a [b]terrible[/b] idea, but I just don't think that it's all that great of an idea either. I can understand having an avatar gallery: it's one of the first and most basic of all identifying marks of a person. However, you must admit, they all seem to blend into the same person. And I think thats what would happen if there was a banner gallery. Encourage individuality.[/size]

[size=1]One of Western Australia's highest ranking prosecutors is called Richard Cockram. Shorten that to... well, you know. Probably wouldn't escape the censor anyway. We also have a bay called 'Cockburn Sound', pronounced Coe-burn.[/size]

[size=1]I was merely paraphrasing to prove a point Roxie. I know that you only said 'one of the best'. But the point remains. Now, I'm sorry to play devil's advocate, especially with a case as delicate as this, but don't forget that one person's terrorist is another's freedom-fighter. I don't honestly believe that despite all the damage it causes, terrorism actually furthers anything on the side of the terrorists. However, you cannot say that they are evil monsters for doing what they do. They do it because they've been indoctrinated by extremists, who mistake the word of Islam for free leave to kill others. But these people are not monsters. They are people, but they're just on the other side of this particular war. The monsters are not those who have been mislead. The monsters are those who willingly mislead them. It is typical to think of the other side in any war as being evil monsters, capable of horrendous acts. But don't ever assume it to be objectively true, and don't ever forget that they think the same things about [b]you[/b].[/size]

[size=1]So Roxie, you hate France because they come across as being a bunch of idiotic, arrogant jerks, who are incredibly nationalistic, and have a Government that routinely does things that annoy you. Now, if they had the 'greatest army in the world', they'd be another country which I'm sure we all can think of.[/size]

[size=1]Yeah, I agree with Tony. I don't really use the wallpapers, and I rarely submit, but 1024x768, whilst sill being the standard, has now fallen behind somewhat.[/size]

[size=1]In addition to James' comments on the nuclear energy area, I'd like to talk a bit about nuclear fusion. Nuclear fission, which is currently the only productive and feasible method of nuclear energy production only occurs on a very limited number of sites around the world. Due to the inability to recycle the uranium fuel rods once they have been used, and the extremely long period of time [approx. 50,000 years] until they 'cool down', nuclear fission is widely regarded as a dangerous and volatile thing, especially considering the events which occurred at Chernobyl and Long Island. However, there is a new type of technology which they are working on called nuclear fission. It produces a tiny amount of radioactive waste [which has a relatively short half-life] and it is capable of producing a lot of energy. In their experiments they are approaching a break-even point - that is, the reaction can produce as much energy as is needed to sustain it. It requires greater than a million degrees centigrade temperatures, and extreme pressures to sustain and contain the fusion reaction. But the experiments are very fruitful and approaching a usable condition. So, energy production in the future will not be as much of a problem, hopefully.[/size]

[size=1]With elements such as Copper and many other metals, there isn't any incredible shortage. So, I don't see that to be much of an issue I'm afraid. More of a worry is our rate of decimation of forests, and our rampant consumption of fossil fuels. Now [i]there's[/i] a problem. As available oil deposits start to run dry, the price will catapult, and research efforts into alternative methods will be increased a hundred-fold. There is already a lot of good and productive research going into alternative fuels, but not enough of a difference is being made to the average Joe. Is he or she really going to buy a new hybrid car, just to help save the environment? Not likely. Also, as for calling them 'dumb' products... I'd have to disagree with you. That's like saying people should stop producing doorknobs and hinges because "Well, we've made millions of them, there must be enough". Not only do these industries provide employment and necessary products, but the drain on resources by these industries is minimal.[/size]

[size=1]When I first read this, I straight away thought of the classic Australian film [u][url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118826/plotsummary]The Castle[/url][/u]. Click the title for a summary of the plot. In many ways this is a similar case. Maybe it isn't necessarily fair for somebody to stall plans for expansion or new factories etc. But is it fair to be kicked out of your home? If you jeopardise the security of the homeowner, you undermine faith in the judiciary. Like there is a whole tonne of that left to be undermined anyway.[/size]

[size=1]I play hockey [indoor & outdoor, not ice] in a recreational style. I also enjoy playing friendly soccer, but don't play it particularly often. I enjoy rugby as well, both watching and playing. Sports are always enjoyable, and give you a sense of achievement when you do well. More people should be active ~_^[/size]