Horendithas

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Halloween is several things for me. First of all it?s my birthday so I always have some type of celebration along those lines. Then because I?ve always loved that holiday, I always dress up and I always end up doing the scary movie marathon sometime during the month. My friends and I also check out any haunted houses in the area and if there isn?t a costume party, we organize one and have fun. I don?t go trick or treating as I?m too old for that. And I don?t hand out candy as I?m not home during the evening as I?m always at a Halloween party. This year I play on dressing up as a type of sorceresses as the party I?m attending this year is doing a bit of a medieval theme. I understand they even have games set up that will fit that era. Now I just need to finish decorating my apartment. I may not host a party or give out candy, but I love covering the place with fake spider webs and all sorts of fun creepy decorations. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue][quote name='DarkFactor]If you like lots of words and simple combat I guess this game is for you. [/QUOTE]That?s exactly how I like my games. ;) The biggest turn off in games for me is the fighting ones as I hate having tons of different moves that require exact timing for them to work. Or going through a lot of different button sequences to execute a single move. Where the games that have at least a good variety of moves that are simple to execute are far more fun. At least for me that is. I guess it just comes down to personal preference in the end. [QUOTE=DarkFactor']It's true the voice acting isnt bad though, that's often a major gripe... plus the character's personalities and costuming are strikingly familiar to friends of mine... which should lead you to the conclusion that I have strange friends. :p[/quote]You must have quite the interesting friends for their personalities to be similar to this game. Just imagining someone like Albel the Wicked is enough to make my head explode. ;) Anyway back to attempting to beat the hardest level of the game. I think you challenged me to play that Aaryanna, just to drive me nuts. I?m not that far into the game and I?m totally getting clobbered. I can?t recall the last time I had my party wiped out completely. And the sad part is it isn't the first time.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue][QUOTE=Aaryanna_Mom]I think I?m beginning to see more of why the others were referring to Jared as being mean. Definitely quite the stalker that one. I think it would be terrible in real life, but it?s interesting to read about in a fictional story. Creepy but interesting. Makes me glad your story is rated PG-13, though considering that most PG-13 movies are far worse than rated R ones use to be I?m not sure if I?m comforted by that fact. :animesigh Anyway, keep up the good work, it definitely is starting to get more interesting. I'm tempted to demand the other source as now you have me curious as to how Jason reacts to Jared's return. ;)[/QUOTE] If you knew what she had in mind you might not be curious anymore. As later on in the story it gets more interesting. I assure you, we aren?t referring to Jared as a mean little shit for nothing. SunfallE may not give every little detail when it comes down to it, but she definitely makes sure you know exactly what is going on. If she gave all the details this would definitely be rated mature instead of just PG-13. Even though I want to play his character when she does the RPG I know I for one will be glad to see Jared [spoiler]die a slow and painful death. Even though she probably won?t write it like that, he still needs to die. [/spoiler] Anyway, you know it?s about to get more interesting SunfallE so get cracking on the modifications and keep posting! ;) Also, unless I?m mistaken, did you add a few sentences in this? It just seems to flow a little better than I remember it. But without actually comparing the two I?m not sure. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue][quote name='DeadSeraphim][COLOR=Indigo][SIZE=1][FONT=Arial]If he killed so many people while driving drunk, he should've been in jail for manslaughter. Either he had a really good lawyer or your system really is ******.[/FONT][/SIZE'][/COLOR][/quote]The laws here are way to lenient on drunk driving, even if it results in someone dying. For example: [INDENT][SIZE=1]In a majority of cases, judges across Minnesota break with state sentencing guidelines when it comes time to lock up drunken drivers convicted of criminal vehicular homicide. Five years after a Pioneer Press investigative report highlighted the pattern, courts continue to give most defendants hefty breaks from their presumptive prison terms. The courts opt instead for shorter jail or workhouse sentences and lengthier periods of probation. That trend holds true even in some cases where the defendant fled the scene of a fatal accident or has a history of drunken driving.[/SIZE][/INDENT] Another point: [SIZE=1][INDENT] Last year, 16,885 people died nationwide as a result of alcohol-related accidents.[/INDENT][/SIZE]And yet in spite of the terrible numbers, they keep letting repeat offenders back out onto the streets. It does no good to suspend driving privileges as often they will drive anyway. Or once they have finished their sentence they go back to doing what they did before. It sounds to me like countries that have done away with the death penalty have also made sure their laws are better at dealing with those who cause a problem. Sounds like we need to overhaul our own justice system and then start doing away with things like the death penalty since at that point it won't be needed anymore. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue][quote name='DeadSeraphim][size=1][color=indigo][font=arial]It seems you and a lot of people in this thread can't think of how society would run without the death penalty killing dangerous criminals and closing the tiny window that they'd be released on parole if they were held for life. I invite you to live in a country like Australia, or Britain, and see how we get along just fine without it - you'd be surprised how [i]few[/i] released murderers are running rampant in the streets killing every other person, really you would.[/font][/color'][/size][/quote]I honestly wish our country would be more firm in not releasing the criminals back into the streets. If they were to improve that system so that those who truly shouldn't be back among society were kept behind bars, then I would have no problem with the death penalty being removed. I suspect it's hard to imagine because we keep seeing criminals who have killed escape the life without parole sentence and ending back on the streets to hurt others. On some level my feelings come from personal experience. The person who killed my brother had killed before. And since it was his first offense they let him plea bargain and he only spent a short time in jail. Then shortly upon being release he went back to the gang he had belonged to and in less than a year he was involved in a drive by shooting that took the life of my brother and another innocent person when one of the bullets they fired went between two homes, entered the window of someone else's living room and killed one of their sons. I am sorry if I seem a bit melodramatic, but the memory of realizing that the blood splatter on me was from my brother being shot in the head is something I will never forget. Nor the moment when I realized that he was dead. All because we were walking down the street and the person shooting did not care that there were two innocent people on the sidewalk in front of the house they wanted to shoot at. They could have easily waited a mere minute or two for us to pass by the house before driving by and shooting. But they didn't care at all. My family did not press for the death penalty as my parents did not wish it, but he did receive a life sentence without parole and I sincerely hope that he never gets out again. It just seems to me that someone like that doesn't intend to change their ways and if we aren't going to keep them locked up then we need to make sure they never hurt anyone again. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Perhaps you could post some of what you've done so far? Then others could give you feed back and tips on how you could improve. Also have you tried looking online for tutorials? Try searching using google for photoshop tutorials, or if you have a little money you could go to the bookstore and get a manual for your program. I got one for my photoshop program as the book is over 400 pages and it tells you how to use everything in your program. Part of your problem might be that you want to get a certain effect but don't know how and learning all that your program can do would help with that. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Perhaps I should just quote Aaryanna_Mom, SunfallE and Aaryanna as their opinion matches mine. I don?t feel sorry for them one bit as they got what they deserved by trying to take advantage of a minor. As for this:[QUOTE=Lunox][color=dimgray]I can't help but think that the minors these guys would be preying on are just as stupid, if not stupider. Let's make a show where we pretend to be pedophiles and then nationally humiliate the dumb tweens who agree to meet them! Do you see what I'm trying to say?[/color][/QUOTE][QUOTE=Lunox][color=dimgray] Obviously I don't really mean we should make a show where we pretend to be online predators. [/color][/QUOTE]I can see where you are going with this. A lot of minors, in spite of being told how dangerous it is, still go and met potential predators. If they didn?t, they wouldn?t bother trying to get them to. The predator knows that if they just keep looking online, eventually they will find someone naive enough to actually come and meet them. As for making a show, I wouldn?t put it on mainstream television, but it would make a powerful tool to show teenagers just how easy it is for a predator to find them. Though I?m sure it would completely enrage the parents as it would make them look stupid as well. As for the actual show, I need to find out when it is on as it sounds like I have been missing out. I deal with rape and domestic abuse victims all the time due to my job and believe me, it?s always great to know that another sicko has been taken off the streets, even if it?s only for a short time. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue][quote name='Gavin][SIZE=1']Yes... because we all know that no criminal has ever felt remorse for their crimes, or why it is the case that so many criminals before their execution ask for the forgiveness of the family of their victim/s. You've basically stated plainly there that all murderers invariably go out and murder again on their release, typically however, those criminals who do represent a continued threat to society do not make parole, thus keeping them off the streets. In fact I've noticed that nobody has even made reference to parole boards yet.[/SIZE][/quote]Actually, many criminals who do post a threat do get back on the streets, and they do kill again. The percentage is small, but it does happen. Even though some of them were originally sentenced to life with out parole. And for the record I was not intending to imply that no criminal felt remorse, some do and some do not. To set things straight, I?m referring to the more hard core vicious criminals not those who given a chance would never harm anyone again. [QUOTE=Gavin][SIZE=1]There is no illusion of civilisation, most people generally strive to become better and that's civilisation in it's purest form. And we do care plenty when someone kills someone else, if we didn't, there'd be no punishment for the murderer, instead they face lengthy prison sentences, or even as the case you're pushing remains, the death penalty. In fact the illusion of civilisation will only be maintained as long as we actively put down our fallen members of society like some kind of rabid animal Of course it's far easier to look at someone who's killed as less than human, they're shed whatever right they had to be treated with some semblance of mercy, because you know civilisation is just a facade and behind it we're still the frightened primitives we were a hundred thousand years ago. We punish people for killing, and yet on the other hand say that if someone commits a grievous enough crime, then we're legally entitled as a group to have them executed, that smacks of hypocrisy whatever way you look at it.[/SIZE][/QUOTE]Then I guess we differ on our opinion as to what we considered civilized. To me being civilized means that we do not take the stand that we are better somehow by not going to their level and killing in return. To me it means we have the courage to make sure those who truly are vicious are dealt with in a manner that insures they will never harm another person again. I suspect that you and I will not agree on this point so I?ll just leave it at that. [QUOTE=Gavin][SIZE=1]So what, you're saying that effectively because the criminal didn't care about his victims that we should just put him down in case some fancy lawyer might be able to cut a deal with the police and have him freed after a short stay in one of our more pleasant maximum security prisons ? You do realise indifference that it is often poorer, less educated individuals who end up on death row, as the rich can generally buy their way to a lower sentence, and if these same people can't even get a decent lawyer to defend them, there's a far less significant chance they'll be able to cut a deal with the police for a shorter or commuted sentence. Maybe we should just allow the family to set the sentence, or better yet, let them carry it out as well. I'm pretty sure we could find new depths to plumb with that option. [/SIZE][/QUOTE]Actually that?s not correct either, being rich doesn?t mean you can?t cut a deal. Often criminals will get a deal by providing information to the police that they want to know. You don?t need money or a fancy lawyer for something like that. As for the other, yes I do know that the rich often get away with stuff that others do not due to money. A fact that is sad as it just shows even more how uncivilized we really are. Or rather how far we have yet to go to become more civilized. As for allowing the family to set the sentence, you are misunderstanding me at this point. Though a family can request it, I do not think they should have the right to choose the sentence and carry it out. Just because I support the death penalty does not mean I think we should skip following the legal procedures, everyone is entitled to a trial by peers. [QUOTE=Gavin][SIZE=1]Again we're back to the treating them like an animal, because they can't possibly learn from what they've done, after all they're savage creatures who's only purpose is to continue to perpetrate a system so draconian and uncivilised that no truly civilised country in the world continues it, and on that note I'll add this dandy little hyperlink to illustrate my point. [url]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Death_Penalty_World_Map.png[/url] [[b]Edit[/b]] Another useful hyperlink. [URL]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use_of_capital_punishment_worldwide[/URL] As for whether the death penalty has any effect on crime rates, the tackling of the source of crime, poverty and a lack of education would have a far greater effect, as opposed to us debating the morality of putting our criminals "to sleep".[/SIZE][/QUOTE]Not once did I say they can?t learn from their mistakes, and that is my mistake in not being more clear. People who are sentenced to the death penalty have often committed more vicious crimes than others and often a psychological evaluation will show that they should not be back among the regular population. And those are the type of people who will kill again if given a chance. As for your colorful chart, so nice of you to take the moral high ground of others are more [I] civilized [/I] just because they do not use the death penalty. I could say the same, thank you for giving those wonderful members of society an incentive to come and live in your country as they know they can escape being punished for their heinous crimes. You?ll clothe them, feed them and provide them a nice comfortable little cell so they can live the rest of their lives knowing that on some level they got away with what they did. You along with so many others are misunderstanding the reason the death penalty is even used. It has never been a tool to reduce crime rates. It is a tool to keep murderers from killing again. And contrary to popular belief, lots of things are being done to help reduce poverty and improve education. But as you already pointed out, many of the more richer members of society just use their money to buy their way out of getting in trouble, so even though they were educated and not poor, they still murdered others. Sounds like a contradiction to me to say that more education and less poverty would help when those who are not poor and have an education murder as well. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue][quote name='SunfallE][COLOR=RoyalBlue']Also I just realized that Crispin Freeman does the voice of Albel! It?s ever so delicious to have the voice of a character done by one of your favorite voice actors. :catgirl: And you were right indifference, he does have the funniest sayings in battle. [/COLOR][/quote]I didn't know that he was one of your favorite voice actors. If I had I would have told you that he was the one who does the voice of Albel the Wicked! ;) Which brings me to my reason for posting. If you enjoy that voice actor, then it might be worth your time to pay attention to the Personal Events section of the game. If you follow the guide and choose the answers where Albel likes your character more, then some of the things he says changes. It's only a few but if you really like his voice then you would enjoy taking the time to hear them. Or you could follow the path where you end up recruiting [spoiler]him later in the game as the things he says are quite different than if he joins you before you go to 4D space. [/spoiler] If you are like me I always like to follow all the different paths when it's a voice actor that I like in a game. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue][QUOTE=White][COLOR=DimGray][FONT=Tahoma]True, but the way she said it made it seem like she wanted it immediately, no matter the cost. I guess I pinned her as a major zelda fan (like someone else on the staff *cough*) who would get the Wii just to play it a month earlier. Though, I guess if that were the case she might get the GCN version because of the right-hand thing. Who knows?[/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE]I do want it immediately. :p But since the only reason I would be buying the Wii is for Zelda I don't want to spend $250 just to get a game that can be played on my already exisiting GameCube. And though I'd rather not wait at all, I'm not planning on getting the Wii any time soon so a month is a reasonable wait say compared to a year. Which is probably how long it will be before I get the Wii. Especially since I've been saving up to get a new laptop as my current one is rather old. So I just can't see spending that much money when it will pay for a good chunk of my new computer once I've saved enough. Also I've never been a big nintendo fan and in all honesty the only reason I got the GameCube was so I could get The Wind Waker when it was released. So right now the only reason I will be getting the Wii is for Twilight Princess. Though if I wasn't saving for a computer, I probably would get the Wii just so I could play it a month sooner. And even then I would still get the GameCube version as Zelda is one of my favorite games and I would enjoy seeing the differences between the two. ;)[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue][quote name='Aaryanna][COLOR=SeaGreen']Yeah, I am. I'd like to say I got busy with school and stuff, but the truth is I've been addicted to some of my new video games. >_< [/COLOR][/quote]Video games will get ya every time if you let them. ;) Good to see you working on this again. I really enjoyed this chapter as the way you had them arguing really fit how their personalities come across. Don?t take too long to post the next chapter as I?m looking forward to seeing how Alan gets dragged into the whole affair. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]I think it?s a pity that the Death Penalty isn?t use more than it already is. If you murder someone then what right do you have to continue living? Especially when criminals who murder can and will murder again given the chance. I hear all the same old arguments about how it?s revenge about how it?s savage and yet it?s like people are so concerned with their personal image that they don?t care of others end up dead just so we can maintain the illusion that the human race is more civilized. If we were really [I]civilized[/I] then people wouldn?t murder others in the first place. If someone kills another human being I see no point in turning around and giving them another chance to do it again. It?s like saying here I?m a door mat come and walk all over me again because you missed a spot! It?s easy to think that the families of loved ones are only after revenge when you yourself have never experienced the horror of realizing that the blood splattered all over your clothes are not yours but the blood of your loved one. That the one pulling the trigger didn?t care if you got in the way of their attempt to kill another person. Wanting the death penalty is about wanting to make sure no one else has to go through what you did, that another life is not ended. That another family does not have to suffer as you did when your loved one was murdered. It?s easy to think life without parole is the answer, but the justice system is horrible flawed in that criminals often make deals to lesson their charges, or often end up being paroled anyway. And many end up back on the streets and kill yet again. The death penalty isn?t a deterrent against keeping it from happening in the first place, it?s a deterrent to stop the murderer from killing again. How many innocent people have died because we were too soft and unwilling to deal with those who will kill if given a chance? Our world isn?t perfect and doing away with the death penalty won?t magically make people quit killing. Strengthening the level of prosecution and sentence to keep the killers from getting back on the streets will. And if a murderer is dead, then no one else will die at their hands. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Welcome to OtakuBoards [B]kyandi[/B], It's great that you decided to join the fun, but it's also a good idea to take the time to become more familiar with the Rules and FAQ which are located on the left sidebar of the forum. Also A thread creator?s opening post is what kick starts a discussion, so when creating a thread please be sure you come on to your topic with a decent quality post. For example you could have taken the time to explain a little of what the actual story is. Also don't make a statement without taking the time to back it up. You say you are in love with this series, why? What about it has you liking it so much? Or why do others think it's too dark? Back your statements up as it encourages more in the way of discussion. Putting more efforts into your posts is something that is greatly valued here at OtakuBoards, and we encourage members to exceed with their writing skills. Once you've re-read the rules feel free to recreate this thread, just be sure to put more effort into your begining post. If you have any questions feel free to pm myself or another member of the staff. ~indifference [B]Thread Closed[/B][/COLOR]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue][quote name='James][font=arial']Although I suppose Zelda purists will be buying both versions - I know I'm going to be curious as to how well the GameCube version plays.[/font][/quote]I will be getting the GameCube version for the simple reason that I don't plan on buying the Wii immediately and I'm too impatient to wait for Twilight Princess. I don't think I can wait a year or longer to get the game. And by then it will be fun to get the Wii version and play it just to see what the differences are. ;)[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue][quote name='SunfallE][COLOR=RoyalBlue']Maybe it?s because I like to play games like Diablo II Lord of Destruction or Doom in God mode when I?m feeling frustrated as I enjoy killing all the monsters. By the time I?m done, I?ve had a good time playing and I don?t feel frustrated anymore. Though I?ll play them other times too as I enjoy the games too much. [/COLOR][/quote]I love godmoding when I?m annoyed too. ;) But I don?t really get annoyed that often or all that angry either. I?m fairly calm and for the most part I don?t really get angry. So when I do, it always surprises the heck out of my friends since I just don?t get angry that often. There are plenty of things that are annoying, but after a while of working with victims of abuse I had to learn to quit taking things too personal as you just end up frustrated all the time. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]I think Sandy hit it right on with the statement that it?s not the words but the way they are said. And then once a word is associated with a certain negativity it just spreads until the word carries that meaning even if that isn?t what it originally meant. Or rather people start to see the word as having the negative meaning instead of the orginal meaning. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue][quote name='harukofan']I,personally,think it is utter bullcrap,telling us what we can & cannot hear,say or see.[/quote]Censorship isn?t just about limiting what you can or cannot hear, say or see. It?s more about what you can do in relation to those things in public where others can also hear, say or see. Now if that censorship was happening on a more personal level like in your home where others are not affected then yeah it shouldn?t be that way. What?s nonsense is expecting no censorship at all. Just as you feel things shouldn?t be censored there are those who do, like parents, government, schools, etc. So there has to be some sort of middle ground where things in public are censored but you retain that freedom in your own home so long as you are not infringing on someone else. [QUOTE=harukofan]I just say have a warning on these things other than censoring. for one thing,they are censoring things that needn't be censored(they edited the word 'choking'!), two,they're changing thier rules(you used to be able to say *** in a censored song,now they won't let it through), & three,they have double standards(on 1 CD,they censor 'sodomy',on the other it's okay). so I hate censorship. damn that was a mouthful. :animesigh & I just got censored.[/QUOTE]Perhaps you could clarify who ?they? is as it would certainly help to know just who you think is going overboard with censorship. Anyway as Bláse said I don?t really see an issue here.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Well since I've answered this question before...[quote name='indifference][COLOR=Sienna']Initially when I first started joining online forums I always used my name Crystia as a username. It just seemed odd to use a name that wasn?t me. After several negative experiences I decided to use indifference when joining new places. Most of the places I had trouble with no longer exist, but I was attempting to reflect my attitude that on some level if someone objected to what I liked in anime shows, well I was indifferent to their objection. [/COLOR][/quote]And there you have it. I've thought about switching back to Crystia, but I've grown use to indifference over the last year so I intend to keep it. ;)[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue][quote name='Gavin][SIZE=1']Chalk it up to just another one of our humoured exchanges on the nature of gun-control ;). I have great respect for Americans, just not a lot of faith in the idea that arming one's self to the nines will provide the protection most people are looking for. Better to leave it to the trained professionals, the police to do their jobs.[/SIZE][/quote]I agree. It just makes no sense paying money for an expensive gun that other than warfare really has no use. But then I'm not into guns at all so I've never understood the attraction to them. It's not like most people have to worry about being attacked by a bear or some other large animal, even when you are hunting. And though I do believe people have the right to bear arms and all I have to wonder if making it harder to get the more powerful guns would help to cut down on such shootings. Though I suppose then they would just use the black market. If they knew where to go to get one that way that is. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Well I've gone ahead and beaten some of the monster arena levels and you were right Charles, you do get some nice prizes. I just got one that's suppose to give me the ability to[spoiler] call my team during battle for a few turns so it will be interesting to give that a shot. Though they can only fight for three turns and you have to go back to the arena to get them revived if one of them dies in battle. I'm assuming that it's like the arena where you start the fight but can't control their movies. As for them possibly dying, I wonder if he charges you when that happens.[/spoiler] Only one way to find out I guess. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Well in general I don?t find studying philosophy all that interesting. I tend to think of it as it?s described in the dictionary. [I]A system of principles for guidance in practical affairs or a philosophical attitude, as one of composure and calm in the presence of troubles or annoyances.[/I] I know there is more to it but beyond thinking of it along those lines I don?t have any real interest in it. It may not be accurate but I tend to think of my system of beliefs as being a part of my philosophy towards life, though it?s probably more accurate to refer to that as my ethical system. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue][quote name='Gavin][SIZE=1'] Maybe it's Canada's proximity to the U.S., maybe not, but seriously, semi-automatic weapons, hell any gun bar hunting rifles and shotguns should be police and army-only weapons, this whole "armed and safe" concept is a crock.[/SIZE][/quote] [QUOTE=DeathKnight][color=crimson]I hear public drunkenness is on the rise in the U.K. Maybe it's the U.K.'s proximity to Ireland that's to blame. Oh, sorry. That sounded stupid. I withdraw that statement.[/color][/QUOTE]And here I was all ready to bonk you for that one Gavin. Looks like DeathKnight beat me to it. ;) Though I have to agree on the limiting what people can get gun wise. I can understand hunting, but I just don?t see a need for people to have the more lethal weapons. As for stopping this type of tragedy, I would think that what SunfallE already suggested would be a good start. Even if it didn?t help the shooting issue it would certainly help with others. It reminds me of how teen pregnancies are so prevalent here in Utah, one of the highest in the US. And yet they still won?t teach the kids how to protect themselves. Now I know this is a terrible comparison, but depression like sex ed is often treated like an untouchable topic here in Utah as well, as if there is something wrong with you if you are depressed. And if there is any age group that is not going to understand that they are depressed, I would have to say kids and teens would be the ones. Though I've run into plenty of adults who don't understand it either. So some sort of class along those lines would probably be useful in so many ways.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue][QUOTE=nezzyjean] ANYWAY, this weekend i was sleeping over at one of my friends house, and what do i see on her bedside table? my little glass whale. So I ask her, "Oh hey, is that my whale?" and shes all like: "No, I found this at my house." I remember now that i had slept over at her house a few days after I recieved the whale, and I hadn't seen it since then, so I tell her that I left it at her house, and she says "Well, I just find stuff sometimes," and refuses to give it back to me. This girl happens to have a history of stealing, she just got caught shoplifting at the mall 2 or 3 weeks ago, and I know she had stolen an incredible amount of items before that..but she said that she would never ever steal from a person or one of her friends. I don't know why, but i seem to be unlucky with this kind of stuff. In kindergarten and first grade, my best friend stole stuff from me all the time and even black mailed me into giving her all our mock money we got for good behavior to buy prizes at the end of each semester by saying she wouldn't be my friend anymore. So, my questions are: A) How do i get the whale back? and B) Have you ever had a person you considered a friend or any person you even knew steal things from you?[/QUOTE]Based on what you have said it sounds like getting things is more important to your friend than your friendship. What I don?t understand is if you know she has a history of stealing why you would take something you consider important with you to her house. Saying she would never steal from her friends is just a way to justify in her mind that stealing is okay so long as its not from someone you know. Usually those who steal all the time are not bothered by whether or not the item belongs to a friend. They might be at first but if they continue stealing they pretty much always cross that line. Seeing that she did steal from you is an indication that she enjoys stealing too much to quit. Though I would double check your home to make sure it?s not laying around somewhere as I?m sure the store you spoke of sells more than one. Though it sounds like that isn?t the case here. You can try talking to her parents but chances are they aren?t going to want to hear that their daughter is a thief. Parents tend to either deny that their child has issues or they will make their kid give the stuff back. It just depends on if you want to end your friendship or not as confronting their family is likely to end it. The problem with her stealing all the time is that often its an indication that there are other problems in the family structure. Often it?s a case of the parents being unwilling to face the fact that on some level they have failed to teach their kids good ethics. It reminds me of a case where we had some boys stealing from cars and the mother insisted that her boys would never do such a thing. But then one of the neighbors who was tired of it caught it on tape and her new response was boys will be boys. So you might have the same problem here, even if you can prove it her parents may still act like it?s no big deal. Anyway, it can also be a case of them falling in with bad company and they do it to impress their new friends. Its hard to know. So at this point you have to decide which is more important. The item or your friendship. If it?s the item. Just make a point of going to her house, take it and leave. If it?s her friendship, let it go and make a point of never bringing anything you value over to her place. And try to keep the times she?s at your place down as well. Unless you can somehow hide everything important to you. Though that can be a pain to do. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Well since I don?t have a car I?ll start with what is in my purse/wallet. And even that doesn?t have very much. Just a little bit of makeup I carry around. My inhaler, some protein bars for snacks and a tiny wallet that holds what little money I have along with my student id and drivers license. I also have some pictures of my family in there as well. Now as for my backpack, that?s another story, it?s loaded with books, notepads and all sorts of pens and pencils and it has a section where I can slip my laptop in should I need to carry it with me to school. Though when I take everything it tends be heavy enough to nearly crush me. I swear they keep making books heavier every year. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue][quote name='Sara][color=#b0000b][size=1]Not to get too far off of the world-bettering tangent that everyone seems to be on[/size'][/color][/quote]Well I suppose I could mention the other invention that I?m grateful for that isn?t quite the world-bettering item. ;) And that would be the backscratcher. I love those little things as they do such a wonderful job of really scratching those hard to reach places. I?m pretty flexible anyway, but it does a much better job of scratching a hard to reach itchy spot. They?re also great for snagging your TV remote when you accidentally drop it off the bed and it falls out of reach. Especially when you?re all wrapped up in comfy blankets and don?t want to get up. I just use it to drag the remote back into reach and continue watching my show. [/COLOR]