Baron Samedi

[size=1]I am deeply apologetic that I skipped every post bar the first, but I'm not really too big on getting bogged into this discussion. [quote=Adahn]What if your life didn't begin when you were born? Maybe it began when your soul was born. "My soul was born with my body, both were created at the same time, and those two things make me what I am today!" Hmm, so your soul had a beginning, then? Well, let me introduce you to one of the laws that everything follows. Everything that has a beginning has an end. It is indisputable, and applicable to everything. How can you say your soul had a beginning and be so confident that it will not end? [/quote] If you're going to entertain the possiblity of a soul, how can you then say that everything that has a beginning has an end? You can't have your cake and eat it too. By openly acknowledging the possibility of something that you cannot tell exists, you would be hypocritical not to accept that normal rules might not apply to it. [quote]The way I see it, you have two choices. Either your soul was born and your soul will die, or your soul always was and always will be.[/quote] Everything has a beginning. But not everything ends. That is the third option; your soul was created, and will go on. I'd love to know how this applies to people who aren't Christians. We cannot be 'punishing ourselves with death', because we aren't begging for this forgiveness which has 'already been given'. So, where does that leave us?[/size]

[size=1][quote]"But they don't have any of our genes and we don't have any of their genes," he said.[/quote] [quote name='Moi']I study biology, different genes could just mean that they were a different "form" of human.[/quote] Hhmm. *taps chin* But, still, that would mean that it is a new species, and that it is not merely a dwarf human. Correct?[/size]

[size=1]Also, Moi [synonymous for..well, I'll leave that alone >_>], they said that we share none of their genes. If you pulled your head out of...the sand, then you'd realise this means that this specimen was not merely a dwarf. And the skull structure is completely different. Please, stop the spouting of useless crap. Personally, I think this is really interesting. The more we learn about our past, the better. [b]Edit[/b]: Also, most scientists become neither rich, nor famous.[/size]

[size=1] I can see that despite my very best intentions, I am going to be drawn into this through the stubborn-mindedness of others. [quote name='Drix'] Try a bit of empathy here, James. I?m not telling gay people what they ?can?t? do. They just demand me to agree with what their personal views understand they ?can? do.[/quote] That?s crap Drix. And I think you know that ~_^ They couldn?t care what you think about gay marriage, or their: [quote name='Drix'] sexual abhorrence[/quote] They just want the right to be married. And by the way, does the term ?sexual abhorrence? sound like one coming from the mouth of a fair and un-biased person? [quote] If marriage in this nation began heterosexually it should be understand that the original rights are being imposed upon by the views of OTHERS![/quote] It staggers me how you can say that your rights are being imposed on me. [i]It absolutely blows me away[/i] that you can say that. Gays right to marriage is being imposed upon. There is no curbing of rights involved here. There is an expansion. Your damn ?original rights? are not being imposed upon. Since when is expansion, imposition? [quote] James, distinguish between the state and the personal recognition of marriage. Nothing?s stopping a homosexual couple from getting married. Before everyone starts typing the ?wtfwtfwtf!!?, observe what I mean. Anyone can live together with consent, and consider themselves ?married? without us telling them to. Churches can issue religious decrees that the homosexual couples have been married with their blessing. Nothing is stopping this. Even if I disagree, I won?t try to stop these, that is a matter of religious freedom and personal choice.[/quote] Is it just me, or is the Government [i]banning gay marriage[/i]? And is merely living with someone that equal of marriage? If so, abolish marriage. Why do we need a dated institution such as this, when Drix says that by merely living together with consent, we can all experience marriage. And be married? It?s a miracle! [quote] That?s not a very nice thing to say to the 50-60% of the people who actually may regard their marriage as SACRED. You can be for marriage and against frivolous divorce/marriage at the same time. The problem is that no one can legislate anything concerning ?frivolous divorce?? it?s too complicated between the individual members of marriage.[/quote] What about the 100% of homosexuals who would regard their chance to be married as sacred? [quote] Let?s look at marriage from a social perspective. Why would we regard marriage with benefits?? Because of kids! Surprise, gay people can?t make babies.[/quote] You?re quite right there Drix. But they can adopt thousands of children that don?t have any heterosexual parents left. Or were taken away from their despicably unsuitable parents. Or isn?t that a good enough cause for you? [quote] Think about this? why should gay couples be the only ones to get the benefits of marriage? Why not a pair of buddies living together, why shouldn?t they put each other on their health insurance? Why not a single parent and child? Why shouldn?t they get a ?legal civil union? to help with the tax break? Sounds like circular reasoning.[/quote] Is it just me, or are you wearing blinkers? You cannot compare gay couples and ?room mates? or indeed, any group of people that are not in a ******* relationship. I mean, come on. Take off the blinkers, and at least have a look around before you spout useless crap onto the page. I like you as a person Drix, but your views on some things are dated and foolish.[/size]

[size=1]I swear, less than two weeks have gone since we had another one of these. And about four weeks since the one before that. Catch the old driftola? Anyway, I support gay marriage. I'll give you the short version of why. a) It's none of my business what other people do, as long as they don't interfere with me. b) It isn't Government's business to do that, either. If homosexuals can find a Church or other... group that will marry them legally, then so be it. If they can't, they should be allowed civil unions. And thats really all there is to the matter. If someone interferes with me, I have by inference, a right to interfere with them. If someone is interfering with the Government, then they have a right to intervene too. But, if they don't, then the Government shouldn't. And frankly, it's none of the Government's business who is allowed to get married. Provided all parties are human. Anyone who wants to perform gay marriages should be allowed to. I think that this up-and-coming generation will be a helluva lot more tolerant of homosexuality than the last. I hope, anyway. Nobody that I know [as far as I'm aware] has a problem with homosexuality. I think that view will spread, as homosexuality becomes a bigger and more widespread thing.[/size]

[size=1]I actually had to read the article, because although I have a vague idea of what Prozac is, I don't actually know, lol. To respond to your question, I don't know anyone who takes Prozac, but my mother is on anti-depressants [Zoloft] for... depression, funnily enough. Anyway, I think that if teenagers are getting really depressed...then we need to be looking at why they are, rather than just pumping them full of drugs. Maybe they should try another anti-depressant. I mean, whats the point of combatting depression with drugs that are likely to create more depression? Also, injecting the mice over that period that they mentioned [4-21 days after birth] might not be equal to teenage years, in regards to growth of synapses and whatnot. All that brain stuff, lol.[/size]

[size=1]It may well have been a trend back then. I wasn't here, you couldn't tell. I forgive you. lol.[/size]

[size=1]Name-changing trend? What name-changing trend. I've never once changed my name the whole time I've been here. Yep, for 1 and a half years [1 week until the anniversary] I have kept the same name. I feel so pure. Actually, one time I was thinking of changing my name to either Orenje or Onion Trance. Glad I stayed 'me' o_O Aren't you, too? Oh, and in case you've forgotten...If I'm not doing it, it's not a trend [i]and it's not cool[/i].[/size]

[size=1]Anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I do know that some forums did not add to your post count. And I do believe that two of them were Newbie Lounge and Your Picture. Or maybe it was NL and Art Request...oh, I dunno. But post-counts can be disabled.[/size]

[size=1]You can cheat the system? Oohoohoo. So what, I'd just Google for traffic generators? I'll be right back... ... ... Anyway, yeah. It is just a [i]tad[/i] stupid to do that. It means nothing essentially. One thing is though, that it is...impossible to get onto the first page if you're new now. Beleive me, I was at 46, but now I'm...I dunno. It'd help if I hadn't 'resigned' from mO. Anyway, it takes a helluva lot of visits to overtake anyone these days. Perhaps if you had a secondary one which is updated weekly to show the truly most popular sites? That could be useful...more useful than the current system anyway.[/size]

[size=1]That'd be cool. Anyway, I'm looking forward to 7.1 as it is, so no worries there ;)[/size]

[size=1]If you're looking for dark and fast you could always try Coal Chamber. They're pretty good. However, what you have there is a pretty eclectic mix of music...so, I don't know. Have you listened to the Foo Fighters? Some good solid rock there.[/size]

[size=1]I had an idea in regards to Otakuboard 7.1: just a little tweak that'd be nice. When v7 was implemented, there was somewhat of a...fuss over the position of the forums i.e. Anime at the top. James explained that this was due to the fact that OB is primarily an Anime based forum. Fair enough. And the minimisation of the various areas is great, but could there be an additional feature wherebye you could choose the order of the forums yourself? I just think that'd be cool. And useful. Thanks. -Josh[/size]

[size=1]When it comes out, I'll be begging my dad to upgrade my computer >_>[/size]

[size=1]I'd agree with you on it's kick-arse-ness, but still...why U2 I wonder? Is there any particular reason they chose them?[/size]

[size=1][quote name='Kippky']Hmmm...very plasable...because now a dayz video games make violence look so real that it feels like you're actually killing[/quote] Sorry to break your dear sweet heart, but no, video games and actually killing someone is [i]in no way similar[/i]. If someone ever killed someone, and [i]in no way reflected upon their actions[/i] then that person obviously has a problem, be it psychotic tendencies, or even an inability to construe others as human beings. Hate, as James said, is a very extreme...emotion. Sadly, the term is used unconsciously. I hate broccoli. I hate school. I hate weeding. Is it just me or does that sound immature? You can certainly say that you 'hate' that stuff, but really...you dislike it. Or it annoys you. Whatever- it's not hate. Also Chaos, I am...unsure as to what you're referring to when you suggest I read up on reports. Reports which deny the link between violent videogames and violence, or reports which confirm the link? Because, there isn't really a link. If you are going to be violent, then you probably have some problems. And therefore, violent videogames are not to blame. Anyway, in regards to my last post, as I mentioned above, if someone felt [i]nothing[/i] about killing someone [no matter the cause] then they do have problems. Justification is fine. I was not suggesting [Deathknight] that you fall down and pray when put in that situation. All that I was referring to, and it is very plain, is that people will be burdened by what they have done. Even if you have justification for killing someone, you [should] still feel something. It was the general feeling of "Yeah, I'd kill someone, no worries. Yeah, thats right. The guy had it coming" that got to me. Because it's not like that.[/size]

[size=1]There are actually custom-mods out there that give you the horseback facility, but I'm not sure what other mods are required for it.[/size]

[size=1]For some reason, I have the idea that Newbie Lounge didn't actually count towards your post-count.[/size]

[size=1]The more I read of this, the more worried I become. All this gung-ho **** about "I'd feel no remorse about killing someone" "They'd get whats coming to them" etc. is ********. I doubt that for one moment, any one of you could truly know what it would be like to have killed someone. It is not a movie, or a game, where you shoot them in the head and then spit on them. It [i]doesn't work that way.[/i] It's not something you do, and then forget about. You live with it the rest of your life. It doesn't matter what your reasons for killing them are... reasons can console, but not heal. And all that **** about violent video-games helping? Thats exactly what it is- ****.[/size]

[size=1]I love the idea. It is excellent. I think some minor aesthetic improvements are called for though...in keeping with the B-Grade movie feel of course ~_^ I think that the title should be a different font, and the outer glow.. I dunno, a different kind of style. The title should be more bold, and more prominent, and maybe a greenish outer glow- reminiscent of radiation. The adjectives are a great font and colour for the subject, but get rid of the [bizarrely] straight line underneath the bottom one, and relocate them both so that they are over the planet. And get rid of the top 2 or 3 Shinmaru's which are behind the title, because it...detracts from it in a way. Sorry for my pickiness, lol. But, overall, I think this is great. Thumbs up.[/size]

[size=1]Sciros beat me to it...what I was gonna say was that it's best to get in all the jollies you can, before martial law is set down, and you need to apply to do it >_> Heh. Anyway, I saw a party invitation today, which said 'Justin only turns 18 once'. And you'll only ever have one first time. If you're lucky you'll have lots afterwards, but there'll only be one first time. And you shouldn't throw it away just because everyone else is. I think 16 is about the right age for sex. Any younger than that and...well, yeah o_O If your friends are [i]really[/i] sexually active, well... what can I say?[/size]

[size=1]What about the [i]hundreds of years[/i] humankind lacked videogames? Obviously, they just went around bashing people they were pissed off with. Right? I mean...what would they have done if they didn't have violent videogames? Like...Pacman? And is it just me...or are punching bags for exercise?[/size]

[size=1]Alan's right ~_^ Newbie Lounge was...what could well be called a...cesspit. Of spam. Non-nutritious massacre for your eyeballs.[/size]

[size=1]I'll be drooling over this game. I got a bit tired of Morrowind recently [I defeated all 7 Dagoths, but can't be bothered going to Dagoth Ur] but still...Oblivion is looking nice. If you have the Boots of Blinding Speed, you can get to most places fairly easily. Using all the systems...Strider, Boat, Propylon [I have all or most of the indexes] etc. there isn't much of a problem, I found. But still...looking forward to it.[/size]

[size=1]In regards to the [b]Where[/b], could you not argue that if a person believes with all their heart that they are in a specific location, then it may as well be true? The reality of the thing doesn't matter...if I [was slightly deluded] and believed that at this moment I was having tea with the Queen, and there was no way you could convince me otherwise...then my own reality would be altered. As everyone sees things from their own unique perspective, everyone has an individual truth. And then, to me, wouldn't that be the truth? I would not, according to you, be having tea with the Queen. But if I 'knew' that I was, then I'd be doing it. But only to me, and my own truth. You are where you believe you are. If you are going to split mind and body, you have to assume that 'you' is the mind. And, it doesn't matter where your actual brain is, if your mind thinks that it's somewhere else. Reality matters very little in someone's view of the world, I've often found ~_^ Belief is the answer, but only to each person as an individual. To people who aren't the individual, then it's obviously wherever the brain is, because thats where it originates from. In regards to [b]Who[/b], I think Solo hit the nail on the head. If you have the mind of another person, you must still be another person. Unless we get into the delusional part of it, where they may actually do everything he does, then they cannot be physically doing the same thing. They must become two different people. It's like a forked path I suppose: Where it diverges, new things happen. They have a shared heritage, but from that fork their 'lives' are different. With both of these questions, it depends if you are the subject or an outside viewer. To the subject though, who/where you think you are is the ultimate reality, though that may not be the case in reality. But then you can go into that whole 'What is reality?' thing. Maybe later, lol.[/size]