Retribution

[quote name='FLCLrules']Haveing 2 parents that were raised in the same neighborhood in Baltimore[/QUOTE] [size=1]Baltimore's no joke. Damn. In any event, most people will agree that drug addition is a terrible thing, and that experimenting with addictive drugs is a bad idea. If you know someone who is addicted, consider contacting a help hotline. Trying to deal with it alone could lead to their financial ruin and dissolution of family life, to say nothing of their health.[/size]

[quote name='silpheedpilot'][SIZE="1"][COLOR="SlateGray"]Screw your repeat threads, they are not good for you.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/QUOTE] [size=1]Oh boo hoo. My username was originally AltronWing. It was rather simple, in that I chose it because those were my two favorite Gundams (Altron was piloted by Wufei, Wing Zero by Heero). I realized how noob it sounded, though, and switched it up. My name is Retribution because I'm obsessed with punishing people and crushing the fun out of life. [B][I][U]ESPECIALLY ON OTAKUBOARDS.[/U][/I][/B][/size]

[quote name='The Boss'][color=darkred][size=1]It is known, however, that the Catholic Church took the Book of Enoch (I believe it is) out of the Bible after it's inclusion in the Bible due to it's 'freakish' descriptions of angels.[/color][/size][/QUOTE] [size=1]More books than just Enoch were removed. These omitted books are referred to as the Gnostic Gospels. The Gospel of Mary, Thomas, Truth, Philip, and Judas aren't canon.[/size]

[size=1]My apologies, everyone. I've been kind of busy (this weekend especially), so my edit on the main list was late. But it's updated! I really appreciate everyone sticking with this and helping to move it forward in my absense. You members are the Worm's driving force![/size]

[quote name='Gavin'][SIZE="1"]Agreed... _> Yeah, I agree with Alex on something, so what ? :p[/SIZE][/QUOTE] [size=1]O M F G Z As for my stereotype, I assume it'd be the black guy who "acts white" and "dresses white". I shop at places like H&M / Old Navy / uniqlo / AE, and wear shoes that were probably made for indoor soccer (i.e. Adidas Sambas or Pumas). I own a pair of slim cut jeans, which definitely got me some puzzled looks when I wore them to school. Apparently the tight-jeans look isn't popular in DC/MD. Attire aside, my behavior used to distance me from most black people. Well, not necessarily behavior, but the fact that I was in classes that other black folk weren't in sort of set me as an outsider. I had different slang, a different accent, and occassionally different values. Recently, though, these differences between me and other black people have been reconciled. Now it's hip for black guys to wear stuff from the shops I mentnioned earlier. I've seen an uncountable number of guys wearing a tight AE shirt and torn jeans, which is new and cool to me. And in general, I've learned how to assimilate into most social circles. While I'm still sort of an outsider in some instances, people don't really judge me like they used to. If I had to toss myself into a label, it'd probably be "black-guy-who-acts-white" and "liberal-communist-hipster". As for the stereotype I least like associating myself with, it'd probably be the goths. I don't really like the immensely baggy black pants, the chains and mesh clothing, piercings/tattoos, or metal music. I won't lie; I feel rather uncomfortable around them, but I don't let it show. I try to let everyone have a fair shot by influencing me with their personality. But being honest, it's tough to not prejudge people based on appearance.[/size]

[quote name='Metalcore501']I used an electro razor!!!![/QUOTE] [size=1]Jeez. Alright, try scissors then. It's not the same as a shave, but not nearly as dangerous. Just be sure you don't sneeze. ;)[/size]

[size=1]An intro forum wouldn't be too useful, to be honest. A new member registers, says "Hello" and we say "Welcome!". Nine times out of ten, nothing new or original will be brought by the new member. I could see it getting pretty repetitious. As for "goodbye" threads, I don't think they merit a forum of their own. But I do think introductory and farewell threads should be allowed in general. We could certainly make an exception for an original new member who enters with a bang, or a returning Oldie. Likewise, I think it'd be fine if we let people post their goodbyes if they intended on leaving for an indefinite [perhaps even permanent] period of time. I think this is especially important if the member is a significant part of our community. They shouldn't have to put it in their signature and fade away. But really, I don't see the usefulness of a Newbie Lounge at this point in time, but I'm always open to hear new ideas.[/size]

[size=1]Electric razor? Say it with me -- manual razors are bad.[/size]

[size=3][b]December 3, 2007[/b][/size] [size=1][i]11:34 PM EST[/i] My body aches from the past two day's of labor. My group walked to 36th street yesterday, where we found a fortified group of perhaps 200 people. They barricaded the surrounding streets (the perimeter has a two block radius), which leaves us with a fair sized square to carry on our lives. I spent most of yesterday and a portion of today carrying furniture out of high rises and into the street to finish up our crude defenses. We have a very limited number of guns and ammo, so shooting at the zombies is not an option most of the time. Guards patrol the area in groups of fifteen and wield weapons such as baseball bats, golf clubs, lead pipes, knives, and hand-saws? hand to hand combat is necessary to defend our location. We rotate in one-hour shifts, with most of the able-bodied people such as myself shouldering the majority of that burden. My group set out yesterday with eleven and arrived at this defended zone with nine. In our swift flight south, we encountered an unspoken number of zombies. As we saw these hulking corpses in the distance, we quickly divided ourselves into two groups for greater mobility, and we agreed to rendezvous ten blocks south of our current location (approximately 40th street, at that point). My group took a right turn and continued south, while the other group decided to run past the zombies. Their assumption was that since they had greater speed and agility, they would be able to outpace them safely. I voiced my concern over this idea and urged my half of the group to run through the subway tunnel. We did. We entered the 50th street subway station, and were immediately met by a zombified stationmaster and woman, both of whom had just begun digging into a teenage girl. The blood flew up from her squirming corpse in sporadic jets, forming crimson puddles on the platform. More or less, here's how the group deliberation went. Me: ?We need to keep moving. Jump onto the tracks and run to the Port Authority station. Cesar: That's so fucked up dude. Me: She's already lost, let's go. (general group silence) (general group acknowledgement that I'm right) Moving quickly by the maimed woman, we hopped onto the tracks and started running. For almost 100 yards, we could hear that woman's tortured cries for mercy, echoing through the concrete tunnel. It became pitch black. Cellphones were turned on for light and we proceeded to Port Authority without incident. Reader's note: Port Authority is a bus terminal owned by the transit authority. It's almost always heavily traveled. It's also a subway station, and in order to reach the street you have to go through the bus terminal. We climbed onto the platform and entered the terminal. The place was a bloodbath; it looked as if NYPD had fought tooth and nail to kill the zombies within it. No one from the struggle was left alive. All we heard was another set of screams, and ascending a flight of stairs we saw the origin of them. This time, a woman was being gang raped by a set of three men. In surprise, they pointed their guns at us. "If you move closer, we kill you all." Without another word, the group sprinted away. The girls in the group were sobbing uncontrollably. I clenched my fists in silent fury. After a few of the girls had stopped crying (for fear the zombies would hear them and be attracted), we stepped onto the street. Bullets slammed into the concrete wall we stood against. I dropped to the ground instinctively and rolled under a car. I leaned out to look at who was shooting, and it appeared to be stray bullets from a vicious battle in Times Square. Thousands lay dead, with hundreds more civilians cutting into the advancing zombie ranks with semi-automatic weapons [I assume] they seized from the local police precinct. In a lull in the battle, we rose and assessed the damage. One wounded, not seriously, no casualties. We had been immensely lucky. Someone used their scarf as a tourniquet to stem the bleeding in his lower leg. The trek continued two more blocks, and we waited inside a bank to evade Manhattan's bitter cold. The second group rounded the corner in full sprint, with looks of abject horror in their eyes. They dove into the bank, and began quickly stammering to us. "A hundred, following, lost two? they tripped and we kept moving? keep going." "OH FUCKING GOD THEY'RE STILL COMING, RUN GODDAMNIT." In absolute awe, we looked to the girl who had never raised her hand in literature class. Then her outburst finally registered with us. In a totally disorganized manner, we left the bank. The pace was heavily reduced by a few stragglers who could not keep up. My lungs screamed within me, choking on the frigid winds I forced down it. We could no longer slow down. The zombies were gaining. Those who could not keep up would be governed by the absolute rule of natural selection, courtesy of Charles Darwin. Even the weakest began to have their adrenaline come into their system, and we pressed southward even further, zigzagging where we could to confuse the zombies. Gazing down the avenue, I saw the street was totally barricaded. I hoped for the best and began yelling to them. "CLEAN. OH GOD WE'RE NOT ZOMBIES SAVE US PLEASE." There was no response. Desperately, we moved towards the wall. Our deaths were eminent if it did not accept us in. We were trapped between a horde of perhaps 80 zombies and an insurmountable wall. All hope was lost. My muscles began to break down. Then, a miracle. I heard it from on high. "On three? one, two, THREE." Immediately, a group of children began throwing books from the high rises into the group of zombies. They were momentarily stunned, more so in confusion that pain. Seconds later, perhaps 50 humans poured onto the street behind the zombies and began mincing them apart. They sustained only one casualty. In this street skirmish, I killed my first using my own foot. A sickening story cut short, I tripped it and smashed its skull in. The first is always the hardest. I wonder how long I'll stay here. We're an unsustainable population. At night we go through the subway tunnels to travel the city covertly in search of food. During the day, we stay indoors as much as possible.[/size]

[size=1]Quick note: [b]thread repeats are inevitable. Stop complaining about them.[/b] kthx :p [quote name='silpheedpilot'][SIZE="1"][COLOR="SlateGray"]Then go ahead and look at the other side of the spectrum and think about a stereotype you really just can't stand. The way they dress, the way they act, the way they are. Then...Dress like them for a day, act like them for a day, and generally be that stereotype for a day. Make sure you go out in public so you can see peoples reactions that you'd normally not see from them. Go to your friends and see how they act, be like that around your parents or significant other but don't break character![/COLOR][/SIZE][/QUOTE] This is a really good idea for a thread, but this portion of it is heavily impractical. It requires buying an entirely new outfit, assuming the stereotype you are and the stereotype you hate are polar opposites (which logically, they would be), which isn't gonna happen. I could still stereotype myself and post a picture of it though.[/size]

[quote name='Japan_86'][COLOR="DarkRed"]I guess I post because I am bored? To me, my philosophy makes perfect sense. The Bible says to not accept homosexuality and I don't. But, regardless what life choices that people make, I'm still their friend and care for them. I do not accept what they do, but I love them anyways. And, how can I be homophobic if I have friends who are homosexual?[/COLOR][/QUOTE] [size=1]But again this is an invalid point. Why do you get to choose to follow one verse in Leviticus that says "homosexuality is bad" and yet you don't follow the one that says "you can stone disobedient children"? If you're going to start picking and choosing which laws you follow [i]which are presented in the same book[/i], what does that say about all those laws? Essentially that you can decide what you want to follow and what you don't. And if I remember correctly, Jesus' entire message was to forsake the literal meaning of the law and follow the spirit of it. If you discriminate against homosexuals simply because your holy book tells you so, you are the same as the Pharisees Jesus denounced. The biggest point of Christianity is total love, nonjudgment, and treating everyone with respect and equality.[/size]

[quote name='DeathKnight'][color=crimson]I am against homosexuality. I do fear for the state of our society when homosexuality is so allowed as it is. What will children think when people are allowed freedom to love as they wish? The impression of an accepting and open society could seriously compromise their morality. I'm unsure of what kind of a future they would mold if their impressionable minds were showed such acceptance. Ungodly and sincerely horrid. I am aware that societies in Japan, China, Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, Persia and Native America allowed or embraced homosexuality to varying degrees without any dire effects but remain adamantly certain that, inexplicably, after over a thousand years of homosexuality having a presence on Earth it is suddenly harmful. My reasoning for this is primarily attained from the Christian spiritual text where it says thus: "And God looked down upon the Earth and said, 'By the way dude, do not **** another man. I will seriously come down there. You don't want that.' Thus Jeremiah looked up to the LORD awkwardly and said, 'King of Kings, Almighty One, dost thou not knock?'" Now knowing this to be the same God who, when his prophet was mocked by little children, sent out two she bears to [url=http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%202:23-2:25;&version=31;]kill over forty of them[/url] you do not want to mess with him. Such a loving, wise and kind God must have reason to not want love to be as such. Questioning that would remove me from believing and apply critical reasoning to that which, I believe, is also a sin elsewhere. To add to the Sodom and Gomorrah discussion, all sardonic text aside, no. It is not a definite thing as to what it is that caused the city to be destroyed. It was either inhospitality (A very big thing to Judiasm at the time), sodomy or a combination of several of these kinds of sins. The interpretation of the "Why" of the cities' destruction has been tailored and pieced together depending upon whom you listen to.[/color][/QUOTE] [size=1]For a second, I thought you were being serious. What a terrifying second that was, lol.[/size]

[quote name='Break']Don't be so silly. Following the rules against homosexuality makes a lot more sense than stoning children and you know it :animesigh God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for rampant homosexuality, I am certain (not that He did, but that it says that was the reason in the Bible). Where do you think the word "sodomy" comes from? And I'm pretty sure God didn't destroy a city full of disobedient children.[/QUOTE] [size=1]All I'm saying is if you're going to quote the Old Testament as justification for something, the street is two ways. You can't pick and choose what is convenient by our modern standard and distance yourself from the inconvenient. I'm not sure [i]why[/i] they'd stone disobedient children, but I'm assuming it's serious if it's in Leviticus. And of course homosexuality was outlawed because Israel needed to keep their population up. Antiquated, anyone?[/size]

[quote name='Tombstone'][font=comic sans ms][color=blue][i]Leviticus 18:22. (Laws of Sexual Morality) You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.[/i] And if you flip ahead to 1st Corinthians 6:18 (Principles of Married Life), it says [i]Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.[/i] I'm not going to like I know all, but that really speaks for itself.[/font][/color][/QUOTE] [size=1]Do you also follow the passage that says you can stone disobedient children?[/size]

[quote name='AzureWolf'][COLOR=maroon]I think, AT THE LEAST, the aversion to homosexuality is understandable. If you're straight, and you're completely ignorant of homosexuality, then seeing two guys holding hands and kissing just gives you a weird vibe. It's ignorance that drives the fuel for hatred, but you have to understand, just like how gay people just "feel" like there's something "off" about a girl and a guy kissing, it's no different than how straight people feel about seeing them. I'm not justifying either, mind you, but I'm explaining that the phenomenon is understandable and not a "OMG?! WTF IS WRONG WITH EVERYONE?!" sort of situation. If you can be tolerant of different sexual preferences, why can't you be tolerant of ignorance?[/COLOR][/QUOTE] [size=1]I absolutely agree with this. I don't care if you like people of the same gender, but I also feel uncomfortable when two guys start making out. At least moreso than if the couple were a straight one. I won't lie about that, but that's natural. [quote name='Japan_86'][COLOR="DarkRed"]I hate thread repeats.[/COLOR][/QUOTE] Then why do you still post? lol[/size]

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-7poVS5kko][size=3][b]December 1, 2007[/b][/size][/url] [size=1]Audio log. Click above for link.[/size]

[quote name='Rachmaninoff']Gods, you really are annoying you know that right?[/QUOTE] [size=1]I beg your pardon? All this time I've been trying to rephrase my points so that they're less annoying, less abrasive, and less offensive to everyone. I've conceded a number of my points for the simple fact they were pissing people off a lot, and I'm [i]still[/i] annoying. [QUOTE]Yes you didn't exactly start your point of in a clear manner, and you've since then clarified it.[/QUOTE] I'm glad you think so. [QUOTE]What I don't understand is why any time someone points out how it's abrasive you insist on demanding some sort of concession that we '[I]should[/I]' be grateful and feel for others less fortunate. :animesigh[/QUOTE] What in my last post was abrasive? Look, I offered my opinion on what you should do. Take it for what you will. Feel completely free to hit that handy-dandy ignore button for my posts if they're so annoying. [QUOTE]We do not need to make a huge cry for solidarity every time something happens. It's tiring, draining and annoying as hell. We don't need to say, [I]oh I'm so grateful that others have it worse than I do[/I], since it's [I]obvious[/I] that others do have it worse.[/QUOTE] I didn't think it was a tall order to count your blessings when a tornado doesn't destroy your house. But apparently so. [QUOTE]I lack the capacity to constantly feel grateful that I have it better than others.[/QUOTE] That's understandable. You seem to think I'm sneering at you because you're human or something. Hell, I feel the same way as you. But I'm talking about the ideal. [QUOTE]The more you keep calling for it the more I find the whole attitude irritating since it seems like you're expecting people to be vocal when it's not necessary.[/QUOTE] You've got to be kidding me. I mean, not to get off the beaten path, but failing to be vocal about human suffering is a serious, serious shortcoming. Again, I'm not going to accuse anyone of being a bad person because I'm guilty of it as well. But under no circumstance should you think it's okay to be silent about things like Darfur. [QUOTE]How about we leave the '[I]political correctness[/I]' BS behind for once?[/QUOTE] Sure, but realize that I wasn't being PC at the beginning of this thread, which is why everyone got mad at me. Point blank, folks, this is my last post in this thread. I'm going to leave you my points in condensed format so that I'm abundantly clear. - [b]I'm not talking about tragedies that are long past. I'm talking about ongoing tragedy[/b]. - I'm not criticizing anyone of being a bad person. I'm human too, I do the same things as you all. - By and large, all I'm asking for is some global solidarity. Counting your blessings. All that jazz. Yeah, it's uncomfortable. Yeah, it's tiring. But this it's an ideal standard that we're all [of course] going to fall short of. I apologize if you took me to be offensive or otherwise misinterpreted my points. I understand that the miscommunication is my fault.[/size]

[quote name='James'][color=#606060]Here is the current work in progress: [center][img]http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/965/ladiesoflondonfl7.jpg[/img][/center] [/color][/QUOTE] [size=1]But brother, you nailed it. That's as good as it gets. Georgia is the ideal font, all-upper cased letters is the best variant, and that's all there is to it. I was about to post something up my own version when I realized it was almost identical to the one you have right now. I mean, you could try making "Ladies of" all lower case just to see how that looks, but in general you've done a great job already.[/size]

[quote name='Rachmaninoff']I do find the concept that remembering other past tragedies while this one is occurring is a bit insensitive and pointless. Or rather the implication that someone has to keep it in prospective is. Not that we shouldn't remember them, but rather the timing of said call for remembrance was in poor taste.[/QUOTE] [size=1]Perhaps the timing was in poor taste, but I think I'm being misunderstood in a big way. That's probably my fault. I'm not talking about remembering tragedies long past, I'm talking about remembering current and ongoing matters where people's lives are horribly effected. It's not trying to belittle those who are impacted by tragedy-x, but [i]rather this is a call to solidarity with others who are suffering.[/i] So when that tornado didn't damage or hurt anyone, yes, be glad for your good fortune. But also acknowledge, understand, and feel for those who were not as fortunate as yourself.[/size]

[quote name='BKstyles'][FONT="Tahoma"]=Don't live your life thinking about all the mass murders in history and lamenting for the sake of a point, you are right...people get on with their lives, as should you.[/FONT][/QUOTE] [size=1]I'm only quoting this because this is the center of what I'm trying to say. Aside from this though, I think I've clarified my point enough. I'm not really saying we should only pay attention to the hugest catastrophes, or that what happens is some how lessened because something larger has happened. At the heart of it, what I meant to say was that we should never forget human suffering just because it falls off the front page. I also urge people to constantly understand the scope of it all, and I know that's basically impossible, but we should at least try to know that humans all over the world feel the exact feeling of loss. And I disagree that I should move on with my life... when the tragedy is ongoing. Alright, that's my two copper.[/size]

[quote name='Sandy']You want everyone to carry the weight of the [I]whole[/I] world on their shoulders constantly? When people's private lives are oftentimes unbearably tragic on their own? People just aren't that strong.[/QUOTE] [size=1]Alright, I guess I came on too strong and my point was lost. I'll try again. No, I don't want others to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. If this tragedy touched you, I want you to remember that you're not alone, and that thousands, perhaps millions around the world feel the same as you. [QUOTE]Anyway, I don't get you. Japan posted about the recent earthquake, something that touched her closely through her friend. So she didn't list every catastrophe that has taken place previously. So what? How is that forgetting or disrespecting anything?[/QUOTE] She didn't necessarily forget any of the previous tragedies. I admit, I misread her first post. [QUOTE]On the contrary, I think it's very rude to come to a thread where someone's worried about people who they care about, and say "Yeah, but think about all the people who died back then! This is nothing compared to that! Why aren't you saying anything about that, huh?"[/QUOTE] Granted, I went about this in the wrong way, but I wanted to call to mind the greater picture. I understand it sounds absolutely terrible when I say that, but let me say this real quick. For Americans, 9/11 was hell on earth. Something like three thousand people died in the World Trade Centers. And while I'm not trying to criticize anyone directly involved with a said tragic event, we must also keep in mind (speaking in broader terms) that that number of people who died on 9/11 isn't even a tenth of the number of civilians dead in Iraq. Conflict and loss are relative locally speaking, so again it's understandable to be distraught, but at the same time... forget it. [QUOTE]This thread isn't about catastrophes in general, or comparison of them, thus Japan didn't even bring them up. This thread was about this particular case.[/QUOTE] I won't be an idiot and play semantics [I've already gotten enough people heated here], but this thread really had no direction from the get-go aside from "here's a news article". Who knows, is it possible that this conversation is valid? [QUOTE]I know your rant was meant to be more about the general state of things, but you've got to think of the emotions of other members sometimes as well. People react to things that happened close to them (or someone they know), and soon forget more distant events. That's completely natural, and no one should be made feel bad about it.[/QUOTE] Right, and that's valid to say as well. Perhaps that's the crux of the problem. I guess I'm seen as pointing a finger at those currently affected versus speaking in broader terms. Sorry for confusion, and sorry if I sounded like a jerk.[/size]

[quote name='sakurasuka'][SIZE="1"][FONT="Arial"]There are only two viable opinions here. Either it becomes human at conception, or birth. If the latter, all forms of abortion are brutal murder in your eyes. There is absolutely no reason to debate this, as people who believe conception is the pivotal moment are NOT going to say that murder is morally right.[/FONT][/SIZE][/QUOTE] [size=1]Those are two pretty binary and extreme views of the topic, and I'm not sure it's fair to portray it in those terms. If you believe life begins at conception, then contraception is only a cut above abortion. This seems like an extreme point of view to me, but perhaps you still ascribe to it. If you believe life begins at birth, then you support partial-birth abortion. And furthermore, you're saying that the only difference between human and not human is moving from inside to outside of a mother. And I don't think many pro-lifers support that view. All I'm saying is that there is some validity to the "Where does live begin?" debate. There's certainly shades of grey... does it become human after a fetus develops a brain? What makes a human? It's kinda tough to relegate these complex questions to an either-or scenario.[/size]

[quote name='SunfallE'][COLOR="goldenrod"]Aren't you making the assumption that others are 'forgetting' about other human suffering?[/COLOR][/QUOTE] [size=1]But isn't that assumption correct? Where is the outrage? Where is the outpouring of charity to these previously popular causes? It was once there, and now is gone. [QUOTE][COLOR="goldenrod"]Honestly I am at a loss as to why people can't be upset over a tragedy without being expected to remember every other one that has 'fallen' off the front page. [/COLOR][/QUOTE] You can be upset over this tragedy, but keep it in perspective. Remember that there are thousands still in the same condition they were in two years ago immediately after the tsunami. New Orleans is in the same condition as immediately after Katrina. [QUOTE][COLOR="goldenrod"]I understand what you're getting at but it comes across as [I]I think the rest of you are heartless for not mentioning this or that tragedy[/I]. Personally, I wish people could say, hey this happened to me, get some much needed feedback without having past tragedies tossed into their faces for once.[/COLOR][/QUOTE] And I'm truly sorry if you think I'm saying that. Generally, what I'm calling for is keeping these previous tragedies in the back of your mind. I'm certainly not accusing anyone of being heartless for not remembering other things, because I'm just as guilty of it as the next person. [QUOTE][COLOR="goldenrod"]We don't need to openly mention other stories to remember them. Nor do we need to tell people who are currently going through one. Oh by the way, remember this? In this case I think a simple, I hope your friends are alright is more than enough. As well as the relief that it seems very few were killed.[/COLOR][/QUOTE] You're absolutely right here. And I truly can't believe I'm saying this, but this is an exercise in relativity. This earthquake was bad, with 600 injured and 9 killed. I'm truly sympathetic for those who lost someone. But let's be frank here... that's a drop in the bucket when compared to the previous tsunami. I guess what I'm saying is, people always pour out their sympathy for a week, maybe a month to the cause. And then it's on the next cause. And the next. The true scope of human suffering on this planet is not grasped by any of us. Like I said, that's sort of to be expected since we're so far removed from it all. I guess seeing all this sympathy to this earthquake that only claimed 9 lives makes me wonder about how we feel [or do we even remember?] about previous tragedies. Is it all a facade of sympathy that lasts a week? Are we truly sorry for these people? Sorry for rambling.[/size]

[quote name='Japan_86'][COLOR="DarkRed"]So you think that since it doesn't concern you, who cares? You are selfish. Bad things happen yes, but I have a right to hear when something happens to my friends. I'm sure that is the case for everyone. [/COLOR][/QUOTE] [size=1]Thank you for making a hasty generalization without understanding my point. My point was that we should be attentive to all human suffering, not just that which is most published. We shouldn't forget a story just because it falls off the front page. As it stands now, we have hipster-causes people like to join. Save New Orleans! Save Darfur! But as soon as it falls out of print, people get on with their lives and start worrying about much smaller issues. I mean, I understand it's only natural to forget about unpublished stories. Out of sight, out of mind so the saying goes. But I'm saying we should resist this and remember that which is forgotten by the mainstream media.[/size]

[quote name='Break']Other things [i]do[/i] happen you know. People could still claim to not have recovered from the Holocaust, it doesn't stop the world.[/QUOTE] [size=1]Yeah, but I find it odd/disturbing/sadly predictable we've totally forgot about such a greater tragedy [i]that still causes human suffering[/i] and some earthquake that's taken relatively few lives is getting this press. Sort of like Katrina. When's the last you read a story on New Orleans?[/size]