Retribution

[font=Arial]I go to Columbia University in NYC, which looks like [url=http://www.columbia.edu/images/slideshow/cu_home_default.jpg][b]this[/b][/url]. It's in a part of uptown Manhattan technically known as Morningside Heights, but we're basically on the western fringe of Harlem. Harlem really isn't scary or dangerous anymore, despite the images it conjures up in many people's heads. We have a subway station right outside our campus gates, which is insanely convenient. It means that we have access to all of NYC without having to trek out of our way. My dorm (Furnald) is awesome. Air-conditioning, heat, cleanest bathrooms on campus, carpet... it's more or less like a Manhattan apartment with more regulations. Comparatively speaking, it's the best freshman housing available. The dorm Carman is more or less the party dorm for freshmen, and it looks hideous. John Jay looks even worse, has no AC, and is quiet... worst of all worlds! Classes here are indescribably difficult. I've been studying about five hours per day without even thinking about it. Yesterday I left the library at 3am, lol. Everyone here is very intelligent and since most of the classes are graded on a curve, you've got a lot of competition for the good grades. Right now I've got two essays due next week, a presentation tomorrow, and I have to read a book by monday. Hooray Ivy League education... My school is also the center of quite a bit of national controversy. We had Ahmadinjad speak on campus a few weeks ago, Sean Hannity is coming to speak soon, and the President of the DNC spoke like last weekend. The campus is very politically active, although much to my surprise, a lot of the campus is also very apathetic. It's about 55% female 45% male, and in addition, Barnard College is right across Broadway, and it's an all girl's school. Paradise! On the whole though, I'm having the most fun of my life. All you seniors, apply plzkthx![/font]

[quote name='Rachmaninoff']I have only one question and that's to wonder if you live in a rural area or something. Only 125 kids to a grade? The high school closest to where I live has over 2,000 students for the three grades attending. There's no way in hell that the teachers have enough time to get to know each kid. That's a bit unrealistic to expect them to do that really. Teachers do have a life besides working for the school.[/QUOTE] [font=Arial]My class had 197 students in it, but I live near an urban center. His point is valid, especially since there's only 125 kids in his grade. If teachers not only teach the students, but form lasting relationships with them and really bond, I think the chances of a shooting are significantly decreased. Not only does school become a positive environment, but the teachers are more able to detect a student who is being bullied or exhibits dangerous signs. In any event, I don't really think it's right that they quarantine a kid based solely off the fact he wore a trench coat to school, although he had to know going in it would arouse some suspicion. Now if America would just get its **** together and ban guns...[/font]

[QUOTE][B]1 - Do you think it is appropriate for political candidates to talk about their religious beliefs as part of their political campaigns, or do you think this is not appropriate?[/B][/QUOTE] [font=Arial]They certainly have the right to talk about their religious beliefs, and it makes sense since most of the time the candidate's religion is a massive part of their life. They base the majority of their beliefs off this system, so it's only logical that they mention it. [QUOTE][B]2 - Do you think it is appropriate for religious leaders to urge people to vote for or against a political candidate, or is that not appropriate?[/B][/QUOTE] I think it has it's place. For instance, Buddhist monks urging the citizens of Burma to vote for Candidate X who will give the country the best future and avoid future violent revolutions, I think that's acceptable. [QUOTE][B]3 - Thinking about your vote for president next year, how important is it that a candidate SHARES your religious beliefs?[/B][/QUOTE] Not at all. So long as they do not impose their religion upon others through policy, I could care less about the candidate's religion. [QUOTE][B]4 - How important is it for a candidate to have STRONG religious beliefs, regardless of whether those beliefs are the same as yours?[/B][/QUOTE] Once again, not at all. It shows nothing about their ability to lead.[/font]

[quote name='Lunox']If it was doomed to be an Amadinejad hate-fest because the US hates him, Bollinger didn't need to push it. Why did Columbia even invite him? If it was to further educate the students, then just let it be what it is. You don't have to humiliate him further; it's not like students at Columbia don't know who Amadinejad is and what he's said. Let the students ask him questions and laugh at his ridiculous answers by themselves.[/QUOTE] [font=Arial]He was invited to provide his defense in what was supposed to be a "rigorous debate" so that we could better understand what he stands for. You're right that it's not mature or civil to toss ad homs at the guy, but let's acknowledge a few things first. - Bollinger is a human, and as such he has very strong emotions. I'll make the dubious statement that when addressing the President of Iran, one's anger at his crimes sort of spills into you. - This is free speech. At the same time, you're absolutely right that ad-hominems are more or less intellectually bankrupt, but don't think for a minute that was all he was doing. [QUOTE]There's a reason why the rest of the world hates America, and this is explains why.[/QUOTE] Not really. The rest of the world hates America because we buck international law and do what we want when we want. Columbia inviting him to speak is a step up from what we're currently doing -- outright ignoring the fellow, even if there were some dirty blows thrown in.[/font]

[font=Arial]I was actually sitting on South Lawn watching the big screen television. After all, I do go to Columbia. :p It was quite a day, I must say. As for Bollinger's statements, I wouldn't say they were unfounded, but at the same time Mahmoud had a point when he said something along the lines of "In Iran, when you invite a guest into your home you offer them respect, not insults" which is absolutely true. [QUOTE]-"[you exhibit] all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator"[/QUOTE] Petty might've crossed the line, but the criticism is valid. [QUOTE]-"either brazenly provocative or astonishingly uneducated"[/QUOTE] What's wrong with this? [QUOTE]-"I doubt that you will have the intellectual courage to answer these questions"[/QUOTE] Alright, this was over the line, but we'll never know if it's true. At the end of the day, the President of Iran is a ridiculous fellow in many respects, so where's the problem when Bollinger calls out his idiocy? To be frank, there's no other way the forum could've unfolded... it was doomed to be an Amadinejad hate-fest from the onset. Things held as holy fact in the West simply carry no weight for him, and so any form of questioning his positions are more or less going to be highly charged. I doubt anyone could've truly stopped things from degenerating into vitrol, no matter how much you preached about "respect" and the like. As for A-man saying "We should let the audience decide" I believe this was in reference to either the Holocaust or flagrant human rights violations. The man is a rhetorical genius, and while he's right, it's also kind of silly. To his credit, if I were an outsider and knew nothing of the fellow I would've thought him a very reasonable and nice guy. On the whole, the day was amazing. I photographed all the protestors and thoroughly enjoyed being under seige for a day.[/font]

[quote name='jigglyness']I'm just wondering, is Retri is still going to participate in this? because I heard about how he's really busy right now.... So yeah. Do we skip and go on to me? or do we wait till we get an answer?[/QUOTE] [font=Arial]My apologies everyone, please skip me. I resigned from my position (obviously) due to heavy workload which has yet to subside. I have no idea why another moderator hasn't filled my place, and I can see how it'll make this difficult to carry on. I hope to get back to OB more frequently in the future, but I can't really make promises at this point.[/font]

[IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/retri_trib/relationshipdiagram-1.jpg[/IMG] [font=Arial]So what if the image is only vaguely applicable to this instance. :p On a more serious note, don't feel compelled to get a boyfriend based on mere principle. I would agree with everyone else in saying that a meaningful relationship is based in a thorough understanding of the other person, as well as an emotional attraction.[/font]

[font=Arial]Hm. Well, everyone here (NYC) smokes it seems, so I'm a bit desensitized to it. I personally really don't care if someone smokes or not. I've tried a few cigarettes and didn't like it, but I definitely think it looks cool. The unparalleled burning feeling really turned me off to them. The smell doesn't bother me so long as I don't have to live with the person. It doesn't matter to me if someone wants to light up in front of me. I'm rather confused as to why people are so adamantly anti-smoking. I understand if you've witnessed the impact of addiction firsthand (either yourself or watching a loved one die), but that aside, bah. And as a random sidenote: let people smoke in bars.[/font]

[font=Arial]I'm not sure how anyone could think Columbus a hero. He's a bad, bad man. I think the word [i]genocide[/i] sums up his actions against the indigenous Americans pretty well.[/font]

[quote name='Matt']I'm not the type of guy to be picky over what type of soap or shampoo I use. If it smells good, I slather it on me. Simple as that.[/QUOTE] [font=Arial]Yeah, I'm more like this as well. My family buys Dove soap, which works well enough for me, and I ninja my mom's shampoo. Usually that's Neutrogena or something, but again it works well. In my experience there's no true blue "standard man's soap" and any product that presents itself as such is a bs advertisement.[/font]

[quote name='Sirius'][COLOR=#35425e][FONT="Palatino Linotype"]In the event that no one's willing to take up the torch, I can only wish you dear artists good luck in the upcoming [B][COLOR="Red"]OB Graphics Tournament[/COLOR][/B]... There will be one, will there? I mean, somebody's gotta rip that crown off Retribution's head. :naughty:[/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE] [font=Arial]Oh come on, where's the love? :p Now that you mention the OBGT, I think I should probably start getting that on the road soon-ish.[/font]

[font=Arial]I wouldn't say language is absolutely necessary to maintain culture, but it is certainly a major part of it. And surprisingly enough, that's all I've really got to say on this.[/font]

[quote name='Andrew'][size=1]I fail to see ignorance being a cause for hatred too. I'm totally ignorant of Homosexuals bedroom behaviour and want nothing to do with that aspect but I never go out of my way to make a point of that, I treat them exactly how I would any other person and I certainly don't hate them.[/size][/QUOTE] [font=Arial]Lack of knowledge breeds misinformation, which can in turn lead people to erroneous conclusions. For instance: John Doe doesn't know the first thing about Arabs or Islam, but he hears that Islam is all about beating women and killing Christians from his buddy. He assumes his friend is correct, since he has no other knowledge to base his judgment against. And this rather shocking information leads him to hate Islam and Arabs. Furthermore, he assumes all Arabs are Muslim. It's happened once, it's happened a million times. A lack of understanding and total unwillingness to see eye to eye has lead to atrocities and injustice in the past.[/font]

[quote name='Tyler Koregaten']Also, Sandy, that alchemist thing was a JOKE. Good Lord, do you think I actually meant that? Anyhow, I do hope that I've proven my point. I do pray that the Lord might enlighten you and certain others to that which you've gotten wrong.[/QUOTE] [font=Arial]But you were so adamant about being an alchemist! I guess I'll take your newfound faith in Jesus Christ the Almighty Lord and Savior as a joke as well. I mean, the entire act is rather funny. Are you trying to bait?[/font]

[font=Arial]I just finished my summer job at the Federal Home Loan Bank, where I worked from 9am to about 6pm, Monday through Friday. It paid pretty well, although giving up my summer wasn't very fun. For pocket change, my buddy and I run a webdesign "business" [size=3]([url=http://idwebdesign.org/][color=red]SHAMELESS PLUG[/color][/url])[/size] that does pretty well despite busy schedules. When I get to campus, there are psychological studies you can participate in that last half an hour, and those pay $5. If it doesn't conflict with any classes, I think I'll look out for those.[/font]

[font=Arial]Out of curiousity, is this a school assignment for you?[/font]

[font=Arial]I'd like to join. I think this is going to be the most competitive tournament in OB history. Exciting![/font]

[font=Arial]I used to listen to the BBC podcast religiously, but I gave it up during the British hostage crisis when I saw the reporting was getting to be really slanted. In general, I don't find [informational] podcasts to be all that convenient. Sure, if you're on your way to work they're great, but you can't listen to them while surfing the internet like you could with music. In the end, I wind up spending more time listening to something I could've read in five minutes. Some podcasts are interesting enough to listen to actively. I found a few on Radiohead and another that played banned cartoons, both of which were pretty cool. I personally can't wait until local radio stations broadcast a live podcast of what is on air. Much more convenient, for me at least.[/font]

[font=Arial]I look for mental strength. I look for reserved confidence. I look for open-mindedness and creativity. I like a girl who isn't afraid to speak her mind, who doesn't shy away from conflict simply to maintain harmony. I like a girl who demands more from me, but at the same time can accept my flaws. In terms of looks, I tend towards dark-haired and petite women. I used to be really into women from the far east, but recently Latinas and Middle Eastern women float the boat. Don't ask me why, I really have no idea.[/font]

[font=Arial]Just so you know, the image you provided is rather small compared to your current banner. Is this alright, or do you want a larger version?[/font]

[font=Arial]Long time no see! :) [quote name='Inuyasha7271']Yes but he isn't saying that your not qualified to tell us Chibi he is saying that when you yourself are in the pain would you truly want to feel that knowing that their is no hope no chance of life the only thing awaiting you is pain.[/QUOTE] Err... I'm not sure that's what Gavin's saying. What I think he meant to say was that we are not qualified to talk on the subject, as we do not understand the situation adequately. To be frank, this is ridiculous. Go ahead and ask these terminally ill patients if they would like to have [b]the option[/b] to take their own life. I almost guarantee you will get a unanimous yes. [QUOTE]Your morality tells you that its wrong but when faced with that pain that situation and you are the one in it are you sure that you would not ask for it to stop. Its one thing to see another person going through it even if its one you love its another when that person crying and begging for the end is you.[/QUOTE] Absolutely right.[/font]

[font=Arial]When I was really young (4 - 8) I was allergic to citric acid. Orange juice was particularly bad for me... whenever I had a cup of it I'd break out in eczema (sp?) all over my legs. Living proof OJ hurts people. But I grew out of it for whatever reason, or my body finally got strong enough to rid the allergy. And since then I've never had allergies.[/font]

[quote name='Lethargy'][SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkGreen]So since you don't believe in a higher power, killing people is okay then, right?[/COLOR][/SIZE][/QUOTE] [font=Arial]Logical fallacy. In any event, I think if the person is in a sound state of mind (i.e. not psychotic/insane) then they should be allowed to take their own life. After all isn't it [i]their[/i] life? Who are we to dictate when someone should die, save for that person? I mean, if I were in excruciating pain and required a morphine drip to prevent myself from going into shock, I would want to have the ability to take my life as well. I'd be livid if some holier-than-thou idiot told me otherwise. It's preaching from a pedestal.[/font]

[quote name='Sirius'][COLOR=#35425e][FONT="Palatino Linotype"]As the list grows longer, so does the waiting time for the members, and the more likely they're going to forget about participating at all. Maybe we should adopt a new system, like the old free-for-all when somebody misses a deadline.[/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE] [font=Arial]This is a possibility, but you run the risk of letting the worm die faster. Unless there is constant and sustained interest, it would languish until someone else pulled it up for a week. I'll give it more thought if it looks like the list system is seriously flawed, and I'll also try to do a better job at reminding people when their turn is. Sorry for the notification(s), Disenchanted! :p[/font]

[quote name='James'][color=#606060]The reason I ask this question is because I don't think the current system is ideal. It's good - possibly better than what we had before - but it can be limiting.[/color][/QUOTE] [font=Arial]The current system isn't ideal, but it's better than franchise-specific threads. If you have broader and more general categories it ultimately allows for more freedom than if you were to limit things to "Xbox 360, Wii, PS3". What if a user has a general question, or a question that includes all three platforms? And could you not continue to create an infinite number of these forums? Imagine if we tried to reinstate anime-specific forums again. It seems like a better idea to maintain general forums with threads that have tags in the title. So for a gaming forum, you could write "[Xbox] Title here" to have things more easily identifiable. Perhaps if you broke the forums up in a different manner it could work, but genre/franchise seems like a bad idea.[/font]