Retribution

[size=1]I personally think everyone should stop listening to a bunch of self-proclaimed analysts who're actually 15-year-olds in a basement somewhere. I also think that the Nintendo Revolution will be formidable, so long as game developers put the controller design to use. I have a sinking feeling, however, that there'll be alot of growing pains for both Nintendo and the gamers. I don't think Nintendo will rule by 2010 ... sure, it has an innovative controller and cool downloads, but they need games more than anything. Honestly, there wasn't all that much for the GameCube, and if they keep it up with all these kiddie games, they're going to permanently lose the mature audience. PS2/PS3 is a sinking ship, IMO. They're behind the curve in all departments but one -- games. When Microsoft and Nintendo get with it (I'm assuming it'll be by 2010), Sony may as well throw in the towel. I have yet to find a PS3 supporter who's not a fanatical fanboy. I'd personally put my money on the XBOX 360. For starters, (if I'm not mistaken) it's much more powerful than the Revolution or the PS3, which I think will eventually equate with more design freedom in games. Yes, I'm well aware that XBOX doesn't have many games worth playing, but I'm fairly certain things will look up this second time around. I think Microsoft did a superb job jumping into the pool of gaming the first time around, and if they can adapt that quickly, god knows what innovation is around the bend.[/size]

[size=1]It's my obligation to post obscure and embarrasing pictures from artists' pasts. Just to embarrass them. [img]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c307/CloudsOnly189/ff10-2-yuna21copy.jpg[/img] [b]Hint:[/b] This artist has come a LONG way since this banner, and takes requests from time to time.[/size]

[size=1]Everyone, please read my post above -- I don't feel like repeating myself. Everyone should read the [url=http://www.otakuboards.com/rules.php][b]Official OtakuBoards Rules[/b][/url] as well as the [url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=52171][b]Art Studio Rules[/b][/url], more specifically the section on constructive criticism. If this thread keeps getting spammy posts, I will be forced to close it. Let's pick up the quality of the replies here -- it's unfair to AsageKitsune to close her thread because people aren't reading the rules.[/size]

[size=1]Ah, man... I remember good ol' [b]Syn/Kenji/Kasuke[/b]. This is definitely his style -- the soft glows, the semi-abstract, and the horridly mispelled text.[/size]

[QUOTE=Zabuza(NC)]I know it's a big request. ^_^ But I need all of them for my forums.... The specification is: Only writing on it is the name of the character on it. Thanks in advance. ^_^[/QUOTE] [size=1]Please specify the dimensions of the images you're requesting. An artist really has nowhere to start, and if you provided more specifications, more people would step up to help. Try giving information like text, color, dimension, and/or emotion. It'll make everyone happy.[/size]

[quote name='Aaryanna][COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]While I don?t think we should close the border, I do agree with cracking down on illegal immigration. Sometimes I think people tend to overlook the fact that many of the people they are referring to enter the country [I]illegally[/I']. There are plenty of people who take the time to migrate into the country legally. They are not the problem.[/COLOR][/quote] [size=1]Just as there are those who do not have the time to wait several years in line to become a legal immigrant. America only allows in a very small number of immigrants per year, and the impoverished worker in Mexico struggling to feed his family really doesn't have the time to wait in line. Yes, he probably could wait a few years and watch his family starve, maybe lose a child, and then come here legally. It bothers me when people dismiss immigrants as those who were too impatient to wait and let the American immigration process assume them legally. Honestly, there must be a problem when people are willing to walk through a desert with only a canteen of water for a better life. [quote name='renayiiq']I just have a question....if they hate Mexico so much, why don't they all ban together to try to change it? Have a revolution?[/quote] Because the bourgeoisie/upper-class are always needed to lead and coordinate those revolting. Without the wealthy and educated at the helm of the revolution, it'll fizzle and burn out due to lack of coordination, planning, and leadership. The American and French Revolutions both had a group of wealthy and educated men who were discontent with the system, and stood up to change it. Unfortunately, in Mexico, the wealthy and educated are the ones who are profiting from the system that the common worker despises. There will be no change unless there is discontent among a percentage of the upper-class who are willing to stand up and fight.[/size]

[QUOTE=Hanabishi Recca]Sorry sir (miss?), If you commit one of sin, you commit them all. Says it in the Bible.[/QUOTE] [size=1]For the record, it's [B]Mr. Retribution[/B] to you. :p Oh, so a dusty old book says something -- it must be right! Forget questioning -- forget the [i]why?[/i], just swallow whatever the Bible says. It's completely logical. [QUOTE]And people won't go to Heaven because they didn't accept Jesus into thier life. There is a reason in the Bible it talks about being saved. But basicly, people will go to Hell because they didn't accept Jesus into thier life. It doesn't matter if they were nice to everyone, if they didn't accept Jesus.[/QUOTE] So I suppose Gandhi is roasting in Hell because he just wasn't good enough for Jesus to accept into Heaven. And I guess people I know will be going to Heaven, since they've accepted Jesus; no matter that they haven't done even a fraction of the good that Gandhi did -- it's perfectly logical that way. I'm sure God wouldn't want some heathen like [i]Gandhi[/i] defiling his Heaven! [QUOTE]Now God will have mercy on whom he will have mercy, don't hear what I am not saying.[/QUOTE] I'm not exactly sure what you mean. Further clarification would be nice; currently it sounds like circular logic.[/size]

[QUOTE=Hanabishi Recca]CUSSING IS WRONG. Okay, you commit one of the sins you commit the ALL. (Sorry to say, but you should really read the Bible) And the meaning of VAIN is: Without a cause, deceit (-full), false (-ly), vain (thing), liar, lie, wrongfully. That if from the Hebrew (which is what the old testament was written with. So if you wanted the true meaning of what they where saying, you would have to go to the language they where speaking.). Vain isn't only one thing. It isn't only gossip. It is everything that is without a cause, deceitfull, false, vain, a lie, wrongfully.[/QUOTE] [size=1]So since I curse, I may as well go and kill someone, since the sins are equal according to you? I'm sorry, but I don't think that the Bible, much less the Old Testament makes any sense on this issue. And yes, very sorry Justin -- I certainly misunderstood you. Once again, my apologies.[/size]

[QUOTE=Drako]-pets my Alyssa- Very pretty, dearest. Where, precisely, are the ones you did of me...? Hmm? Lol. Love them, lovely.[/QUOTE] [quote name='Zhara][FONT=Garamond']-pokes, prods, and otherwises jostles jammed/broken finger- You have to elaborate on why my art is good on the OtakuBoards, silly. Didn't you read the rules?[/FONT][/quote] [size=1]Haha. You're whipped. But on a more serious note, she's right. It really doesn't help her at all when you say "They look lovely." [i]What about them makes them lovely? Is there anything that could be improved?[/i] These are questions you must ask yourself while critiquing someone's art. So read up on the [url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=52171](Art Studio) [b]rules[/b][/url] she mentioned and we'll be all clear. Have a nice stay.[/size]

[QUOTE=Delta][COLOR=#656446]^ Wins for insanely difficult submission. Truly, thou art the sovereign of this realm. I'd say [b]HZ[/b]. Probably 'cause it's a forum banner and it's pretty dark. *shrugs*[/COLOR][/QUOTE] [size=1]Incorrect, ma'am. Due to its highly difficult nature, I'll just tell the artist. It's [b]Nomad[/b], yo. Go search for his thread -- it's stunning. I'll let someone else go, as I don't feel like finding another artist. Whomever happens to post next gets to pick and artist.[/size]

[size=1]I've only had one recurring dream that's had slight variatin in my mind over the years. It starts out with a bunch of my friends (whomever they are at the moment) walking around in my neighborhood which has alot of windy roads and hills in real life. We walk around joking and stuff until about sundown, which is when the dream has its variation. Sometimes a man will shoot at us and chase us through the streets. Sometimes a man will attack us with a chainsaw. Others we'll get knifed in the back. I never get hit. Instead, I run. Eventually all [or all except one] are dead, and I'm running up a hill. I feel myself put in phenominal effort, but I can only see myself losing ground to the walking man. Sometimes I put on a burst of speed. Other times the dream will end. When I happen to put on the burst of speed, my friend and I (if he's still alive at the moment) run into people's backyards. We obtain arms and kill the person who was attacking us. Very odd.[/size]

[QUOTE=ChibiHorsewoman][color=#9933ff][font=lucida calligraphy]That said I am right now an unemployed un skilled worker who has a child to support and bills to pay. I was born in the United States. Why should I run the risk of losing a chance at a job to someone who's here illegally? Let the flames begin. [/color][/font][/QUOTE] [size=1]Outperform them, and our society will bring itself up. If everyone is trying their hardest to outperform their neighbor, America will have a renewed spark of creativity and progress. I also think that those who leave Mexico leave for a reason -- I don't know, maybe poverty, to save their wife and children from starvation, a hope for a better life. It's not like they wake up one day and say "Hey, I think I'll go to America." And I think that everyone has the right to escape poverty -- if that means illegal immigration, I won't look down on them for it. If I were in their position, I would do the same.[/size]

[size=1]I dunno, I figure the entire United States of America (except for about 5% of Native Americans) is made up of immigrants. To close up our borders just because of xenophobia or racial resentment seems foolish and blind. I also think that immigrants, particularly those from the Latin world, make up the backbone of the blue-collar workforce. They take the jobs everyone else is too high and mighty to do -- construction is the first one that comes to mind. Without them, our nation would stop. So, my stance is to oppose closing the Mexican border.[/size]

[QUOTE=Sara][color=#b0000b][size=1]The "glory of god" thing is a Pass-Fail test where the passing grade is 100%. Even if you miss by half a point, you still miss. You still fail. That's the idea. Definitely, some things have much greater negative impact than others (you could try to argue otherwise, but it would be pretty tiresome), but that's not the point. The point is that, no matter how slight the sin, you fail to attain perfection. In [i]that[/i] sense, all sins are equal. [...] With this in mind, I would counter Retri's "sick child" example by saying that, rather than considering "magnitude" of sin, I would not consider that action a sin at all. It is taken in love for the child, in order to save the child (whom the parent has [b]a responsibility[/b] to care for to the best of his ability). Of course, there are alternative courses of action in such a situation (and alternative interpretions), but I've stated my opinion, and I think I'm going to leave that topic alone now. Of course, no one (least of all, God) is asking me.[/size][/color][/QUOTE] [size=1]Well, it's not a pass-fail test if you're Catholic (Purgatory and all that jazz), but I see your point. My whole point was not that we can attain perfection, but that certain sins make you lose more "points" than others, if we want to run with the test analogy. A murder would certainly be a serious knock on your grade in comparison to cheating on a test. My whole point with the sick child example was to provide an extreme example where deceit was still employed. The purpose of the sick child was to show that there are certainly degrees of sin, in my opinion. Whether that specific example was a sin or not is sort of missing my point. However, you rebutted it beautifully with the Sermon on the Mount.[/size]

[QUOTE=Kam]Whoa, friend, you've taken me far out of context. The opinion I stated is, in fact, a secular one; not a Christian one at all. As I said the humanist view we're discussing is/was a view of [i]Modernism[/i]. This should be seen as a movement begun in some degrees as early as the Enlightenment Period, but primarily in the era that the theory of evolution attained a popular status. More recently, the [i]Post-Modern[/i] attitude has taken hold of modern society. This new social movement is one of disillusionment with society's systems. It's one where culture is seeking spiritual fulfillment, because it recognizes once again its need for something greater than itself. However, my criticism of [i]post-modernism[/i] is this: Why is it that we seek a form of God, but there is no desire to follow in his footsteps? I think you misunderstood my method of communicating a very valid point for ignorance coated with faith. I assure you, I do not expect anyone to stop trying to better themselves or the world. Very much contrary.What I expect(maybe "wish for" is the better term, I do not expect it) is for people to [i]seek[/i] betterness-- not simply comfort; and to realize that we can't find God within our own means. Sorry for the misunderstanding.[/QUOTE] [size=1]I really didn't think you mentioned anything about seeking God for progress, which is what you're saying you've been arguing all along. Anyway, here's the quick answer: Not all people seek a form of God -- Europe's in the decline as far as the believing population is concerned. But I assume you meant those who do actively seek God. To this, I say that people are just lazy; who wants to deal with all the sacrifice and suffering when you can toss up a prayer and be done with it all? However, I don't think this was your original point. Your original point seemed to be that societal progess has been completely evil up to this point, which is ludicrous. [QUOTE]I also want to address the 'degrees of sin debate.' I don't want you to think I'm picking on you Retribution, but yours was the last comment I saw on the subject. Looking at Mosaic Law and the Gospel's effect on it, an individual act of sin is not what Christian doctrine teaches we can be saved from. It is a preexistant condition of the human nature, introduced through the original sin of Adam. The Gospel teaches primarily that Christ(who must be seen as God himself in this instance) submitted to the will of the Father(who must also be seen as God), recieved the Holy Spirit(also the character of God), and as God took the full punishment for ALL of humanity's sin nature. This punishment had to be dealt out for humans--God's most precious creation--to be able to be reconciled to their Creator, King, Father, Mother, Lover, and Friend. The beauty of this portrait is that in Jesus, God gave Himself to take that punishment once and for all time. And that because of Jesus, God gives Himself to us in the form of the Holy Spirit. Now, this does not represent three different Gods, nor one God who takes three different forms. It is one God who is all three at one time, acting seperately and together of one will. This is a difficult concept, but I can't say God would be worth much if we could understand everything about Him. -Justin[/QUOTE] To be honest, Justin, I'm not sure what this has to do with my original point. I was just saying that there are degrees of "sin" -- in society for sure, and (arguable) to God as well. I just don't think a girl who lied to her parents is going to get the same punishment as someone who killed someone.[/size]

[size=1]Well, I lied when I said the server was down temporarily. I think it's down for good this time, folks. I'm working on getting new hosting, and I don't think it should be too much of a problem for me to do it, but if anyone else would like to search for a host (no banners/ads please), I'd be more than happy. So until further notice, the Graphics Worm is down. Thanks for all the patience and cooperation.[/size]

[size=1]DragonWarrior. Pretty easy, I think. Here's a tough one with an obscure piece of art done by the user. Have fun! [url]http://www.otakuboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3984[/url] [B]HINT:[/B] Has the longest/biggest art thread in the Art Studio. Frankly, it's amazing how huge it is.[/size]

[size=1]...What AzureWolf said. Those with agoraphobia and social anxiety aren't going to hurt anyone, so I don't see any potential harm they can cause to society. So I suppose my answer would be that sure, people could be around them. However, I don't think that a person with either of the aforementioned illnesses would be too keen on the social interaction.[/size]

[QUOTE=Boo][size=1]A bit mad examples, if I may say so. You seriously can't compare the saving of a child by putting medicine in food, with murdering jews. The child doesn't know what's best for it, since it hasn't had any life experience yet. The guy with the mustache knew exactly what he was doing, and fully believed in his cause. Retribetty, don't be silly. Come with better examples >: O[/size][/QUOTE] [size=1]Yeah, I know, the example was pretty [B][I]dutch[/I][/B] in retrospect. It works though. I'm saying, there's certainly degrees of wrongness. It's technically wrong to decieve, but it's deception to save a life. Amelia was saying that there's no difference between sins. A sin is a sin, and I don't think that's right at all. How would the given example be equivalent in God's eyes to double homicide for personal gain? Go jump off a tree, Booster.[/size] [B]>: )[/B]

[size=1][img]http://www.otakuboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=23261&stc=1[/img] You're right, and here's the picture -- by the way, you totally fail at surfing. I found it in about twenty seconds - no joke. I guess it's understandable, you being [i]Canadian[/i] and all. :p[/size]

[size=1]The dragons we see in medieval stories certainly never existed. There were, however, dinosaurs that had a similar skeletal structure to those dragons depicted in literature of the Middle Ages and whatnot. So, in a nutshell, the answer is sort of.[/size]

[quote name='Kam']But that aspect of humanism (that man can solve his own problems through progress), as I stated, has been shown to be null and void. Progress in society has only created progressed evil.[/quote] [size=1]So what do you expect to happen? We all stop trying to solve our problems and expect God to take care of the work? Do you honestly think that if we all become God-fearing Christians things will change? You basically just said that progress in society is all evil. The claim is ludicrous. Now, I have nothing against Christians at all -- I'm one myself -- however, the "God will take care of your problems" is a naive way of looking at things. I honestly don't see any societal problems being solved through strictly prayer and a cease to societal progress. [quote name='Amelia][FONT=Arial']The Bible never mentions any degree of sin, though. There aren't seven deadlier ones, and their aren't any lightest ones. Unfortunately, the smallest lie can be just as sinful as murdering someone. There's not a level of cursing that is tolerable and one that is not. I know it doesn't make much since that way, but that's how it goes. There are a lot of things that don't make sense about God, but regardless, it feels right.[/FONT][/quote] Oh, come now, Amelia. How does it feel right that murder is just as wrong as swearing under your breath? Take this (Platonic, I believe) scenario, for example. A child refuses to take medicine that could easily save their life, solely because it tastes bad. You slip it into their food so that they ingest it without knowing. This deceit ends up saving the child's life. How is that as wrong as murdering millions of Jews? How does that feel right to you?[/size]

[QUOTE=Nomura]HHhhhhmmm....No, I don't have a set, but I'd like to just praise K.W's work for a brief moment... Great! Those two look awesome!You're getting good at these... I wish someone would've made the Kai one...I wonder what it'd look like... I like you banner Rurouni922 too. Though...It's not my style. I couldn't see the whole face, so it 's not my taste, but it's still pretty darn good. It threw me off a li'l that you only made a banner and not a whole set... Oh well. Good work, people! :animesmil -Nom[/QUOTE] [size=1][B]This is your second warning, Nomura.[/B] The Art by Request forum [i]is not for praising and/or critiquing work, especially when you have nothing to do with the transaction.[/i] Three strikes and you're out, so they say. Don't do this again, please. If you have any comments or concerns, feel free to PM me about it.[/size]

[quote name='Ziggy Stardust][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=Sienna]EDIT: I'd also like to say I find Christianity, a religion essentially built for the purpose of slandering other religions, hilarious, and I'll leave it at that.[/COLOR'][/FONT][/quote] [size=1]I'm not certain what you're talking about at all. The followers of the religion might slander other religions, but that is not what Jesus' message was, and that is the most important part of it all. Forget what the religion itself says, forget what the followers say. To grasp what is essentially Christian, one must understand Jesus' [i]message.[/i] It's not about going to church, or praying everyday, or getting the sacriments. It's about loving thy neighbor and doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. [quote name='Kam']So, my questions are these: Why have a religion, when you already worship yourself? Why invent something you claim to be bigger than you, but at the same time, it conforms to your wants? Who is this God that you say loves everyone? If he exists and has the power to truly love everyone (a miracle far greater than that of creation or anything else) why then do you expect him to be what you want from him?[/quote] You don't need religion at all. All you need from religion is the message to love your neighbor, to help your neighbor, and to live a good life yourself. What's so wrong in believing that humans can solve their own problems through making progress (which is what humanism boils down to, essentially)? Humanists don't believe in an [i]actual[/i] God that loves everyone -- they believe that a figurative 'God' is within all of us, and that we can all be agents of change. The whole point of humanism is that you shouldn't expect anything, you shouldn't believe in anything outside of what (collectively) you can do.[/size]

[quote name='Stark][SIZE=1']Heaven and Hell mean nothing to me. If God loves everyone, then there should be no reason for Hell. Also, if God loves everyone then there is no reason to convert to another religion.[/SIZE][/quote] [size=1]So you're saying that since God loves everyone, there should be no reason for punishment? I mean, your parents love you and all, but they also punish you. Somehow, I think it works like that. Do you honestly think that someone like Hitler could go to Heaven on the grounds that "God loves everyone"? Sounds ridiculous to me. However, I agree with you on your second point. I think that the religion on a person is completely irrelevant, and that God judges you based on your life and how you lived it.[/size]