Allamorph

[FONT=Arial]Hey. Right. I am quite pleased to be up here with you guys, especially you, [COLOR=Blue]Kathy[/COLOR], ma'am. Good to be back with you. Perhaps our good fortune will continue. Aaaaaalll [I]RIGHT[/I]-y, then. I am (as of now) Shade, though if you prefer 'Shades', go right ahead. I was raised in the South (South Carolina, where the food is second to none) by a Yankee, and thus, combined with my love of reading, I was gifted with the ability to alter my accent on a whim. I am as insufferably British as an American can possibly be (no offense, [COLOR=Blue]Zeke[/COLOR]), and I have been informed that I have an incredibly dry sene of humor. Personally, I am glad I actually [I]possess[/I] said sense, as I have found people without one, and they are always terribly depressing to hang with. Because I find the process of learning fascinating, I am good at a variety of things. I am currently a music major, but I enjoy higher level mathematics, science, literature, baseball, Ultimate Frisbee, anime (obviously, else I probably wouldn't have come here), video games, and generally doing diddley-squat. I also fancy myself a writer, and I find talking about myself somewhat rather odd, so forgive me for being squirrelly. No doubt other of my characteristics will come to light as time progresses, so I shall move onwardly. Oh, yes. This is random, but I have learned how to sleep with my ears turned on. I am gratified to have been nominated for captain, and should I be appointed, I will do everything in my power to fulfill the position's requirements, but I would prefer the role to go to someone who's had a little more time here. I will second [COLOR=Blue]Kathy[/COLOR]'s nomination, as she is most definitely my elder and thus worthy of the position, and we shall see what we shall see. As for a color, I'm open. I am in favor of either [COLOR=DArkGreen]Green[/COLOR] or [COLOR=DarkOrange]Dark Orange[/COLOR], since I would rather not make us any more morbid-looking than necessary. (My personal favorites are black, white, silver, and deep blue.) [COLOR=DarkOrange]Dark Orange[/COLOR] would be just fine, since, as [COLOR=Blue]Shy[/COLOR] put it, it is definitely more exciting. [center]------------------------[/center][/FONT] [SIZE=1][B]What do you do for fun outside the internet?[/B][/SIZE] [FONT=Arial] See above listing. I read, write fiction, hike, play trombone (orchestral, symphonic, and jazz), play video games, Ultimate Frisbee, and participate in the occasional Nerf Wars in our dorm. I also like to just think sometimes; it can be very relaxing. [B][strike]What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?[/strike][/B] Just kidding. [B]What is your favorite season, and why?[/B][/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]I?m back. In light of recent actions, I felt it would be prudent if I took a short hiatus and screwed my head back on straight, so that when I post I actually sound like a human being. I would like to start off by offering a formal apology, especially to [COLOR=DarkRed]Adahn[/COLOR]. I'm sorry. Apparently, I failed to reread what I wrote with the right perspective in mind, and missed a couple of things that I either should have reworded or not said at all. I also apparently read some things that weren?t actually there. I will watch myself better from now on. [center]-------------------[/center] Thank you, [COLOR=DarkRed]indifference[/COLOR], for saying what I was attempting to get across with the disease bit. Sometimes, things just need to come out of someone else's mouth to be heard the right way. I've had that happen to me before, too. And thank [I]you[/I], [COLOR=DarkRed]Adahn[/COLOR], for the brief genetics lesson. I understand more of what you're trying to say now. You're right, of course; I am weak in the genetics area. But I don?t believe you?ve entirely closed the issue for me just yet. I still have some items I?d like you to clear up, but not here; it?d be a waste of everyone else?s time. As far as the whole breast bud thing goes, there is a major difference in the pains inherent there and the arm/leg pains you?re bringing up. First, when you?ve done the bumping and banging that you described, how many times did you cause serious injury or extremely prolonged pain to yourself? More importantly, how much force were you using when you [I]did[/I] break something? I had a friend that broke his hand two years ago playing Ultimate Frisbee. His team had just scored and he called the launch; we gave it to him because he can throw stinkin? deep (aside from the fact that he called it. :) ) Unfortunately, another, shorter friend of mine happened to anticipate the launch and took off early. My first friend backhanded him across the forehead with the launch follow-through with enough force to knock the poor guy down and cause him to see stars. My launching friend only broke the metatarsals connected to his fourth and fifth fingers with the impact. He was out of his cast in a week, and out of the sling in three. (He liked the sling?said it got him more chicks.) My point is this: nine year old Ashley can kick her legs and arms (how she can kick her arms is slightly beyond me?); I have yet to see a three month old child learning to move flail wildly about. (Ashley?s mental age is three months old). I do not believe, with her partially developed gross motor skills (what else, if she can move somewhat?), she can muster the force required to break a bone. Her caregivers must be more cautious when handling her, since the side effects of a hysterectomy include a decrease in bone-density, but only serious mishandling (such as accidentally dropping her so that she falls down a flight of stairs, which is entirely possible) might give her the pain you so describe. I realize the point behind your argument is of course not so much the pain itself as the definition of ?mutilation?. I also noticed this: [QUOTE=Adahn] I truly hope someone can see what I'm getting at, as it would open the discussion to new and different directions that would be very interesting to explore (and all very related to what was done to the girl, and thus the topic in itself). Please, someone humor me.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Adahn] If I weren't here to oppose those arguments, there would be no discussion at all. There would only be the observation that an operation was performed 2 and a half years ago, and nobody has anything wrong with it. Booooring.[/QUOTE] This implies to me that, personal stance aside, you?re only replying here to play Devil?s Advocate, aggravating the issue for the sheer sake of argument. Is this true? And if it is, then why? (In retrospect, this is probably one of the things that was agitating me earlier.) [quote name='Adahn'] Thirdly, she will not always have an underdeveloped vagina. I don't know exactly what effect the hormones will have on her, but won't the estrogen treatment speed up her vagina's maturation?[/quote] It doesn?t matter. Incidentally, I looked up the hormone aspect, and it was specifically purposed for growth attenuation. [quote name='Wikipedia][FONT=Arial'] Growth attenuation is a medical treatment which involves adminstering estrogen to cause closure of the bone plates, resulting in stunted growth. This is usually done on people who wish not to grow any taller beyond a desired height. At one time, growth attenuation was practiced on girls who were expected to reach an above average height, due to a cultural bias against tall women. More recently, growth attenuation was administered to a developmentally disabled girl as part of the controversial Ashley Treatment.[/FONT][/quote] Also, I?ll link you to the [URL=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hysterectomy#Potential_risks][U]the potential risks[/U][/URL] section of Wikipedia?s hysterectomy article. I think you?ll find it quite interesting.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial][I]*sigh*[/I] You don't get it. You really don't get it. I just ... I .... I don't know what to say to you. :animesigh Okay, okay, look. You're talking to a Christian guy who's read a majority of [I]Leviticus[/I] for the sheer, explicit purpose of getting background information on law sources. I know what you're referring to. And, like I said, yes, menstruation is a dirty process. On that we agree. The [U]issue[/U] everyone is having is the [U]disease[/U] part of your assertion. You're misunderstanding our points, and you're getting uppity about it for no reason. [quote name='Adahn']You want genetics?[/quote] Yes. I do. Remember, the women on [I]both sides of Ashley's family[/I] have a history of this trait. Now, the Y chromosome is the dominant one in the male genes, suppressing the female alleles on the X chromosome that would express/trigger feminine characteristics/body parts. The man still has the alleles from his mother that contain that trait, and, by virtue of Ashley being a girl (XX necessary), he passed those feminine traits on to his daughter. If they had stated that the women on only [I]one[/I] side of her family had a buxom history, then I would agree with you. But the genes were present on [I]both[/I] sides, and so what have we. [quote name='Adahn']I refuse to take a completely logical stance on what was done.[/quote] Nor should you. However, you're letting your emotional discharges fuel and direct your logic. That is what I pointed out. [quote name='Adahn']I'll tell you what they don't want to say.[/quote] That's not your place, nor do you have the experience to do so. [quote name='The Parents (who for some reason are nameless, though their daughter is not)']She's going to be our baby forever....[/quote] I understand how this seems possessive to you, but it's actually rather fatalistic. I return you to the issue of [I]the mind[/I]. Her mind is permanently halted at the stage of development equivalent to a three month old baby. She cannot progress mentally. At all. Therefore, for all intents and purposes, and despite the age of her body, she is still three months old. She'll be a three month old forever. She is also [I]their[/I] three month old. Thus: [quote name='The Parents]She's going to be [U]our baby[/U] [our three month old'] forever....[/quote] Also, the thought of a guy looking at a woman with that context is just a little disturbing, no? [quote name='Adahn']Oh yes, I've put myself in their shoes. Perhaps you should really try them on.[/quote] If you insist on continually demonstrating your level of maturity to us.... [quote name='Adahn']I don't have time to get to you now, Allamorph, but I must ask one thing. How old are you to be calling me a child?[/quote] You continue to amuse me. Your question is once again irrelevant. This is the internet. I could very well say I'm six. I could just as easily say eightteen, twenty-five, or forty-two. I have, however, made the information you request readily available. Two locations. Look for them. And if you want to make smart remarks to me, may I suggest two things: [list=1][*]I am the king of smart remarks. As I said before, don't challenge me. I don't want to get into a words war with you, because you are completely outgunned. And I don't mean in the "Uzi vs. P90" sense. I mean in the "Popgun vs. The World" sense. I was schooled by the Old Guard. I know how to destroy people. And I hate doing it, so please, I'm begging you, don't force my hand. Please. [*]Smart remarks do not serve to improve your image in the eyes of those watching you. And I don't mean "improve your image" as in people will side with you more readily. I mean as in people will way [I]"Wow. He knows what the devil he's talking about. He's good."[/I] I know I've said this before, but you just sound juvenile and inexperienced, like you haven't spent hours thinking about your arguments, analyzing them, looking for flaws/fallacies, determining whether they came from human error or lack of information or otherwise.[/list] Again, I really don't want to be trashing you, but you're asking for it. I'm sorry. -A[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]I am not going to be quite so cynical as [COLOR=DarkRed]2007Digital Boy[/COLOR]. [quote name='2007DigitalBoy][COLOR=DarkOrange']In any event, it's going to suck, especially since you'll never have a lifelong friend again.[/COLOR][/quote] This most certainly not true for everyone. If you want to look at it as the option for a lifelong friend has been taken away since your life is partly over, then I'm sorry. You can keep up correspondence with your old friends, if indeed you are losing them, and you can visit, but that's about all I can tell you. Of course, if you're looking at it from the standpoint that you have to start completely over with new people, then you'll be fine. Just don't be reclusive. Being shy is fine, because that's actually rather endearing to some people, but don't avoid your peers. I am the only person I've seen that was able to be a social recluse without losing their positive attitude or part of their sanity. But then, I'm neurotic anyway. (^_^) Don't jump all over people, either. That's just creepy, and don't change who you are for easy acceptance. I know you're thinking [I]"Well, duh, stoopid."[/I] right now, but I'm serious, and I'm not just talking about getting involved with gangs or drug-users or cheerleaders or what have you. I'm talking about changing yourself [U]at[/U] [U]all[/U]. People will make friend with you as you make friends with them. Its not entirely your job. Aaaaaaanyway, enough with the Disney sappiness. As far as the actual move goes, organize your stuff. Your clothes in one box, your personal stuff in another, etc. And try to get your own box. Its easier if you don't have to worry about your things suddenly disappearing because your sisters shared your box and went [I]"Ooh, shiny!"[/I] during the unload process. And keep a bare minimum of stuff for ready access, say in a backpack or something carryable. You'll probably want some extra clothes if your trip is longer than a day (since you're moving in-state, I highly doubt that it will be, unless you live in Montana), but an uncluttered car makes everyone happier, including the parents, which is rather important on extended drives. Less crashes that way. *Ahem.* Other than that, help your parents out as much as possible. Not only will it get you brownie points for later, but it'll save on a whole bunch of screaming. Again, happy car. I've moved a few times?three in-state and one out of state?and it's going to be a little rough. But don't stress about it. You'll end up fine. Unless you don't. That rarely happens, but if it does, don't blame me. Please?[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Okay, before I start ranting, Let me just reiterate something that everyone seems to be missing over and over and over and over. [I]The girl is [U]nine years old[/U]. Her [B]mind[/B] is stuck at [U]three months old[/U].[/I] Right. [COLOR=DarkRed]Adahn[/COLOR], I really hate to just bust people like I'm going to do to you, but you need it, and I apologize in advance. Stop calling foul on misunderstandings, because you yourself have barely any idea what you're talking about. Weak arguments first (mine, I mean). [quote name='Adahn']Actually, not knowing the cause to the disease makes it much more likely there could be a cure. Why? Because if you know the cause of the disease and you have no idea how to cure it, it is that much more hopeless. If the cause were to be found, it's just as likely that a cure will be easy to find as it will be difficult.[/quote] Not necessarily. At any rate, your logic is flawed. As has been said before, in order to find a cure, one must know the cause. As to the hopelessness aspect, your point is almost valid. However, let me propose an innate human characteristic to you called [I]stubbornness[/I]. And one called [I]will[/I]. And another called [I]tenacity[/I]. I could go on. If necessary, I will, so don't challenge me. Point is, if the cause of a disease is known and nothing else in that field is known, don't you think that instead of giving in to hopelessness, those in the position to do so would begin working tirelessly until more was known so a cure could be found? Humans do not give up easily, boy. Ever. Use your head. [quote name='Adahn']I've just read up on static encephalopathy, and all it really means is brain damage, and the cause is usually unknown. It seems to me that people are sprouting up left and right trying to learn about brains, and if any area of medicine is due for a breakthrough, it's that.[/quote] Those sentences there are enough to provide me with hope. [quote name='Adahn']With the cause of static encephalopathy as yet unknown, there is the chance that the cure exists (or would be easy to find), because the true cause to the disease is in someway related to some other disease we have already extensively studied.[/quote] With the cause of cancer known (it is a malfunction of the growth limitation mechanism at the cellular level, causing the cell to grow beyond normal perameters and destroy/consume anything in its path), there is the chance a cure exists. We have as of now not found a cure to it yet, despite years of study. All we have are procedures that are significantly more excruciating than the surgury Ashley has gone through, and there is no garuntee that any of them will work from person to person. I understand what you're trying to say here, but you're not doing a good job of it. [quote name='Adahn']You want statistics? I'm sorry, but I've only got personal experience.[/quote] Not good enough. You want to hold your own in debates like this? Find yourself some d*** statistics. And don't act so bloody offended. 'Only being in college' is no excuse. Ask your professors or the people around you for help. [quote name='Adahn']Statistics can be played with to give weight to someone's efforts, and so I trust my own experience more.[/quote] Quite possibly one of the only good points you've made yet. However, in this scenario it's irrelevant. There is no reason for anyone to alter/misuse statistics about percentage of those devoted to the study of the brain, and even if there were, they are required to provide the numbers as well. A little background work can quickly clear up fraudulent statistics. [quote name='Adahn']When the Human Genome Project was started, it was estimated to take a significant amount of time, 250 years being a reasonable idea.[/quote] What was the purpose behind the Human Genome Project, again? [QUOTE=Wikipedia][FONT=Arial]The Human Genome Project (HGP) is a project to code the 3 billion nucleotides contained in the human genome and to identify all the genes present in it. There are currently two human genome projects: the first is the international HGP which is being produced by a group of international government bodies and organizations, and the second by a private company Celera Genomics. The "genome" of any given individual (except for identical twins, and cloned animals, though no human has ever been cloned) is unique; mapping "the human genome" involves sequencing multiple variations of each gene. Initiation of the Project was the culmination of several years of work supported by the US Department of Energy, in particular a feasibility workshop in 1986 and a subsequent initiative by the Department of Energy. This 1987 report stated boldly, "The ultimate goal of this initiative is to understand the human genome" and "Knowledge of the human genome is as necessary to the continuing progress of medicine and other health sciences as knowledge of human anatomy has been for the present state of medicine." . . . . . . The work on interpretation of genome data is still in its initial stages. It is anticipated that detailed knowledge of the human genome will provide new avenues for advances in medicine and biotechnology. Clear practical results of the project emerged even before the work was finished. For example, a number of companies, such as Myriad Genetics started offering easy ways to administer genetic tests that can show predisposition to a variety of illnesses, including breast cancer, disorders of hemostasis, cystic fibrosis, liver diseases and many others. Also, the etiologies for cancers, Alzheimer's disease and other areas of clinical interest are considered likely to benefit from genome information and possibly may lead in the long term to significant advances in their management. There are also many tangible benefits for biological scientists. For example, a researcher investigating a certain form of cancer may have narrowed down his/her search to a particular gene. By visiting the human genome database on the worldwide web, this researcher can examine what other scientists have written about this gene, including (potentially) the three-dimensional structure of its product, its function(s), its evolutionary relationships to other human genes, or to genes in mice or yeast or fruit flies, possible detrimental mutations, interactions with other genes, body tissues in which this gene is activated, diseases associated with this gene or other datatypes. Further, deeper understanding of the disease processes at the level of molecular biology may determine new therapeutic procedures. Given the established importance of DNA in molecular biology and its central role in determining the fundamental operation of cellular processes, it is likely that expanded knowledge in this area will facilitate medical advances in numerous areas of clinical interest that may not have been possible without them. The analysis of similarities between DNA sequences from different organisms is also opening new avenues in the study of the theory of evolution. In many cases, evolutionary questions can now be framed in terms of molecular biology; indeed, many major evolutionary milestones (the emergence of the ribosome and organelles, the development of embryos with body plans, the vertebrate immune system) can be related to the molecular level. Many questions about the similarities and differences between humans and our closest relatives (the primates, and indeed the other mammals) are expected to be illuminated by the data from this project. The Human Genome Diversity Project, spinoff research aimed at mapping the DNA that varies between human ethnic groups, which was rumored to have been halted, actually did continue and to date has yielded new conclusions. In the future, HGDP could possibly expose new data in disease surveillance, human development and anthropology. HGDP could unlock secrets behind and create new strategies for managing the vulnerability of ethnic groups to certain diseases (see race in biomedicine). It could also show how human populations have adapted to these vulnerabilities.[/FONT][/QUOTE] First, a note. If you will notice, the [I]entire behefits section of the article[/I] (occuring after the dots) was written in statistical language. Interpretation: there is [I]no garuntee[/I] that the HGP will actually benefit anything. At best, it can provide [U]possibilities[/U] about information that was unknowable before, but even then, more study must occur before anything can be pulled out with any degree of certainty. If I recall correctly, and I almost always do, the HGP allowed us to [I]diagnose[/I] certain genetic-related illnesses, like Down's Syndrome (trisomy 21). Not treat, [I]diagnose[/I]. That's it. That's all. There is no cure for trisomy 21, despite the extensive research in that field. Now the big one. Boy ? and when I say 'boy', I mean as in key word [I]male[/I] ? you need to lay off the female body bit, 'cause you haven't got a clue. You haven't got a single, bloody, godforsaken clue. To start off, I am utterly baffled at where you came up with the 'menstruation = disease' bit. There is nothing, [I][U][B]nothing[/B][/U][/I], in our culture that insinuates menstuation as a disease. [quote name='Adahn']If you have, then you've seen commercials for 'feminine hygiene products'. This seemingly innocuous name implies that during menstruation, a woman is dirty.[/quote] Yes. [I]Dirty.[/I] Not diseased. Dirty. And there's nothing implied about it. If something is not clean, then it's dirty. End of story. Now, if a female were to abandon the use of hygiene for herself during menstruation, then diseases may develop from the resulting uncleanliness, just as gingivitis can develop if oral hygiene is abandoned. But that's the only link between the two. Uncleanliness [I]can promote[/I] disease?it itself is [I]not[/I] disease, and I see nothing that says otherwise. Oh, and you were speaking earlier about twisted statistics? Information and meaning can be twisted just as easily. [quote name='Adahn']You cannot successfully predict breast size before breasts grow. I can't even believe you're arguing for this![/quote] [quote name='Retribution][SIZE=1']Genetic inheritance, anyone? It's safe to assume you can estimate within a reasonable margin of error.[/SIZE][/quote] All your talk about research and you miss the genetics. Bravo. Okay, bucko. If the women [U][I]on both sides[/I][/U] of Ashley's family have a [I][U]history of large breasts[/U][/I], then guess what? Odds are incredibly high that Ashley will inherit said size. Seventh grade science class could come up with that. [quote name='Adahn']Are her breasts going to blow up overnight like a peep heated up in a microwave?[/quote] Great analogy. It goes to show your level of discussion maturity. Lashing out at another's argument with a completely ridiculous one of your own is not the best way to get listened to. And I fully expect you to try and turn that statement back on me. Go ahead. [quote name='Adahn']If they become too large, one can get breast reduction surgery.[/quote] I echo [COLOR=DarkRed]Retribution[/COLOR], here. Don't be a fool. You talk about monstrous parents having a painful, desensitizing operation performed, yet suggest another painful, desensitizing operation as an alternative. And also, [I]she's freakin' nine years old.[/I] They'd already stunted her growth. So now we have a nine year old with large, adult breasts. Yippee. She'll be so thankful and proud of them. She can't even appreciate them. [quote name='Adahn']They didn't want their child, who THEY want to always be a child, to develop breasts, ever.[/quote] This just demonstrated to me how much you yourself just don't understand. She will always be a child, no matter if she grows into a woman or not. Her mind cannot develop past the equivalent of that of a three month old baby. She can learn nothing, can comprehend nothing. In the words of Morpheus: [I]"The body cannot live without the mind."[/I] Having the body of a woman does not a woman make. What good are breasts if the one who has them doesn't even realize what they are or what they do? [QUOTE=Adahn]The parents were ashamed of their daughter becoming a woman, so they sought scientific and moral support for their decision to permanently keep her from doing so. ... The only part the girl's physical discomfort plays into the parents' decision is as an excuse for them to avoid their own discomfort with their brain-damaged daughter developing secondary sexual characterisitcs. Disgusting. [/QUOTE] Unsupported inference. You saw a scenario, made your condemnation, and sought rationale to prove it to yourself. Completely bass-ackwards. Again, bravo. [quote name='Adahn']I have my own personal values, and they are subject to as much change as a mountain. Sure, an earthquake could shake them, but it's very likely that they will remain largely unchanged.[/quote] Wonderful. I am honestly glad for you. No sarcasm, no snideness, just honesty from me there. I really laud you. :) However, you made that statement defiantly. Which brings me back to stubbornness. It is a good quality to have, but only in certain situations. And here, coupled with defiance, you remind me of a mule digging its hooves into the ground. (I wanted to use ***, but as you can see, the censors can't distinguish between animal and obscenity.) Your statement screams [I]"Try and move me! I dare you! I don't care if I'm wrong! I'm staying right here, and you can't do anything about it!"[/I] And that depresses me. I can deal with arguments where my opponent can't see that they're wrong. But when I run into someone that [I]won't[/I] see that they're wrong, and they continue to fight, then what am I supposed to do? That's what each of your replies to [COLOR=DarkRed]Retribution[/COLOR] has said to me. And if you won't listen, then there's nothing else anyone can do. This doesn't mean I disapprove of your having an opinion. You're going to have an opinion. If you don't have one, then there's something wrong with you. I just disapprove of defending an opinion with nothing legitimate at all at the top of your lungs. And I hate saying this stuff. I hate being demeaning, insulting, harsh. But you need it, boy. Use your head and your emotions together. Head first. -A[/FONT]

[QUOTE=kalon]Second of all, I always assumed the same rules applying to the use of commas separating unneeded phrases also applied to dashes. If you take out, for instance, an appositive set off by comas, and your sentence is a run-on, then it's not correct grammar. Say you had the following sentence: [i]I talked to John, a British man, John spoke in a fake Russian accent.[/i] You could, if desired, set off "a British man" using hyphens, but the sentence would still be a run-on. Joseph Conrad might have been using them for style, and really, I suppose there's no reason why you [i]can't[/i]. I just think it breaks the dash norm. (But I also copy some of my hyphen usage from Anne McCaffrey, and I'm only getting more confused about what you can and can't do with dashes as I type, [B]and Wikipedia isn't helping.[/B] Ask your mom?)[/QUOTE] [FONT=Arial]Okay, I'll play decipherer for you. [QUOTE=Wikipedia: Dashes][FONT=Arial]Em dash The [B]em dash (?)[/B], also known as the [B]em rule[/B], indicates a [COLOR=DarkRed]sudden break in thought[/COLOR]?a parenthetical statement like this one?or an open range (such as "John Doe, 1987?"). [COLOR=DarkRed]The em dash is used in much the way a colon or set of parentheses is used: it can show an abrupt change in thought or be used where a period is too strong and a comma too weak.[/COLOR] Em dashes are sometimes used in lists or definitions, but that is a style guide issue: a colon should be used instead.[/FONT][/QUOTE] Coloring is mine. Bold is Wikipedia's. Anyway, the article here actually supports both of us. Dashes can be used for parenthetical statements, but they're also used, as I told [COLOR=DarkRed]Vicky[/COLOR] earlier, as a jump track. Here?I'll repost my little list for you. [list][*]comma - pause [*]ellipsis - long pause [*]dash - thought pause, or a 'track jump', if you will [*]semicolon - thought stop; 'almost a period' [*]period - full stop[/list] However, my format was wrong, and what I was [I]actually[/I] using was an [B]en dash[/B], which is intended to be read as [blank] [U][B]to/through/and[/B][/U] [blank], or as just a word?connector, like "pre?WWII". I shall correct that. Oh, and before I forget: [quote name='kalon']But I also copy some of my hyphen usage from Anne McCaffrey....[/quote] Which is why, although it was a terribly dry and uninteresting read, I am glad I was assigned [I]Heart of Darkness[/I]. I like having multiple teachers. Great author, by the way. [quote name='kalon']Go to an oxygen bar?[/quote] Ha, ha. *rolls eyes uber-dramatically* [quote name='kalon']...because I am easily befuddled.[/quote] Well don't do that. [quote name='kalon']Jazz is power.[/quote] Then we understand each other. [quote name='kalon']Best simile ever.[/quote] [I]Grazie.[/I] [quote name='kalon']As long as you work, I won't have to get out m' beatin' stick.[/quote] :animeswea [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Hmm. Perhaps I shall (attempt to) jump in as well. [B][COLOR=DarkGreen]1. What name would you like to be used for you during this competition?[/COLOR][/B] [B]Shade[/B]. Or [B]Shades[/B]. One's my own, the other was given to me afterwards for entirely different reasons. [B][COLOR=DarkGreen]2. What is your age and gender?[/COLOR][/B] I am a nineteen year old male. At least, I think I'm nineteen. I'm sure I'm a male. [B][COLOR=DarkGreen]3. What country do you come from?[/COLOR][/B] I was born and raised in the States ? the Great South, to be specific. (Not that I'm in any way a Confederate, mind you.) [B][COLOR=DarkGreen]4. What areas of OtakuBoards you consider to be your strengths and weaknesses?[/COLOR][/B] Well, I can talk and I can write, so obvious strengths (in my opinion) would be Discussion/Debates and Creative writing/Literature. I'm passable in most everything else, though, excepting my major Art/Graphics weakness and my limited Anime/Manga experience. [B][COLOR=DarkGreen]5. Name one member of OtakuBoards that you consider your friend here.[/COLOR][/B] Why? One friend is rather limiting. Instead, I shall see your one friend and raise you one more. I met [COLOR=DarkRed]Tekkaman[/COLOR] in Mafia, and we seem to have hit it off fairly well; I enjoy bouncing ideas off of him, and he's a generally good guy. My friendship with [COLOR=DarkRed]kalon[/COLOR] started in our little banters from her [I][U]Ever Unmistakable[/U][/I] postings (shameless plug). We both appear to enjoy thinking out in left field, so what have you. [B][COLOR=DarkGreen]6. What one thing would you take with you to a deserted island?[/COLOR][/B] A machete. Just in case. (^_^) [B][COLOR=DarkGreen]7. Why do you want to participate to OtakuBoards Survivor 4?[/COLOR][/B] Because every other RP here in the Arena that I've signed up for has died miserably, and I'm starting to wonder if I'm cursed. I also want to get to know people, seeing as I've only been here for four months. This seems as good an opportunity as any.[/FONT]

[quote name='kalon][QUOTE=Allamorph][FONT=Arial]After a few years spent as an enlisted man, with the higher-ups watching his every move, Jason?s application to the South Guard Military Academy had finally been accepted ? by this point Jason had grown mildly accustomed to being under constant surveillance [COLOR=Purple]? given[/COLOR'] the circumstances of his citizenship, which had been granted somewhat dubiously, he understood the government?s unease, but it still rankled him a little.[/FONT][/quote] I think, starting where it's highlighted in dark orchid (random color), it needs to be a separate sentence. If you read the whole thing without the hyphens, it doesn't make sense and is a run-on.[/QUOTE] [FONT=Arial]That's why you read hyphenated sentences [U]with[/U] the hyphens. Snideness aside, I'm using the hyphens there as a thought-chain; each sentence can almost stand alone, but they make just a hair more sense tied together. Honestly, I'm pretty much just copy-catting Joseph Conrad's style from [I]Heart of Darkness[/I]. He taught me how to use them just like Conan Doyle taught me how to think. If I'm wrong, though, please tell me. I like to provide reasons for my more complex irregularities, but that doesn't mean I won't change them. [quote name='kalon']... maybe if you added a comma after "Cirran Orbital Military Platform" it would pace it a little more slowly and be less to take in all at once.[/quote] Yeah, in retrospect it seems a bit much. However, I kind of want everything up until "Fleet" connected, so I'll see how commas will fit in. If it still feels like I'm running out of breath, I'll ... I'll do something. (^_^) [quote name='kalon][QUOTE=Allamorph][FONT=Arial']He had a duty shift, which ended.[/FONT][/quote] That sentence feels abrupt to me.[/QUOTE] Exactly. I actually wanted that flat, "so, is there more?" feel to it. It's such a simple concept, and at the same time incredibly important. The original structure was this: [I]"He had a duty shift. The shift ended."[/I] I just didn't like it, so I altered it. Of course, there's always: [I]"His duty shift ended."[/I] If anyone can see something else better, I'm open to suggestion. [quote name='kalon']This is probably the most insignificant thing I could ever point out, but you don't need quotation marks around the T in this case.[/quote] Thank you. I did wonder.... [quote name='kalon']Again, pot to kettle, but maybe add a comma after "he had needed to prove."[/quote] Yeah, that's probably right. [quote name='Allamorph][FONT=Arial']And he still spent most of his free tim on the station anyway.[/FONT][/quote] Heh. Oops. Well, in the year 3260, the Galactic Planetary Council of Andromeda passed a bill that laid down certain provisions regarding monetary units.... Yeah. I'm not even going to try. I'd have to spend way too much time watching the GPCA work, and I'm not up on my government yet. I will be.... [quote name='kalon']I'm not certain, but I'm inclined to think the planet's nickname should be in quotation marks, especially since it's after "Called by."[/quote] Yeah. You're right. [quote name='kalon']Does there need to be a "black" after that "jet"?[/quote] No. From what I have been able to reference, jet is a mineral formed under more pressure than coal but less than diamond, is the source of the phrase "jet-black", and can be polished to look like black glass. But I still don't like the structure of that sentence, so I'll do something with it, too. [quote name='kalon']I think where I've colored it dark orchid you need to start it as an entirely new sentence.[/quote] Yeah, I think I'll agree with you on that one. [quote name='kalon']Tiny, tiny thing: Change "From" to "from." Unless it's the beginning word, you don't capitalize preopsitions in titles. Lovely song, though.[/quote] Actually, if this weren't jazz you'd be right. However, in jazz, capitalization is the composer's discretion; if they capitalize everything, then everything is capitalized. Weird, I know. I just got over that fact myself last semester. [center]-------------------------------[/center] I had a lot of fun creating Cirra. I'm pretty sure it's going to end up being a haven for the entirety of Veridan III, since it's so well protected (the Cirran fleets are among the best in the galaxy, and the Second Fleet has Colonel Owen Marcus and the AMS Guardian). This sentence was extermely important and uplifting to me: [quote name='kalon']I can picture everything in my mind pretty well....[/quote] That means the world to me. Really. I can't tell you how permanently afraid I am of not communicating images to the audience, since I have the distinct advantage of having everything already in my head and am therefore able to immediately see it. Speaking of seeing things, I actually included Mistfloor on a whim. I was looking over the planet in my mind and suddenly had this vision of an entire forest, calm, cool, quiet, with fog swirling constantly around my legs and shadowy creatures moving off to my left and right, just out of clear visual range, and I absolutely [I]had[/I] to put it in. [quote name='kalon']Plus, I can relate to just sitting and people-watching, since I do that a lot.[/quote] As do I. (^_^) It's quite relaxing, no? [quote name='kalon']And then the way you break into the woman's testimony, how it's jut so matter-of-fact until you get to where Jason actually remembers some of it, is excellent.[/quote] Thank you. [quote name='kalon']Even after the seriousness there, the media and the "vigilante" rumors made almost giggle (mainly because my mind jumped to Jason in a cowl with a butler and a Boy Wonder sidekick).[/quote] Wow. That's really funny. [quote name='kalon']It seems that even almost 2000 years later, the media still goes after the exact same subjects. It just shows that humanity, for better or worse, never really changes. It just gets more advanced ways of gossiping.[/quote] Who was it that said [I]"The more things change, the more they stay the same"[/I] ? But yeah. I hate the media. More or less. [quote name='kalon']On a less random note, I'm thinking the things in the back of his mind have something to do with the three speakers at the end of the second segment, but that's just a guess.[/quote] [spoiler]Not directly, no. When I get around to posting the beginning to [I]4157[/I], you'll understand a little more of why. You remember that Jason has no memory, right? Well ... [/spoiler] ... the PM system will have to satisfy that. [quote name='kalon']My absolute favorite part of this was, oddly enough, the scattered words towarsd the end. To me, they feel like they're falling, scattered like debris or dust or ash. And I'm pretty certain they're about the Massacre of Kestrel Prime.[/quote] Yes, they are. I'm making that a little obvious with the fire references. About the words. With the formatting here on the boards, I'm forced to accept the extra lines between the words; I had actually intended them to impart more of a intense, jerked feel. You know, the kind that makes you inhale sharply, the kind that makes your heart jump, the kind that forces you to support yourself on someting close by. Kind of like the scene in LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring when Gandalf bends down and touches The Ring and there's that flash of Sauron's eye that made [U]everyone[/U] jump. Fromwhat I've seen, these flashes will haunt Jason until about a third of the way through [I]Black Fire[/I], the fourth in Veridan III. And the source will almost literally tear his soul apart. His body gets a bit banged up in the process, too, but that's his own fault. Ironic, that. Thank you for your feedback, though that statement sounds rather cold. I'm absolutely elated that you can see what I'm writing, so I'm a good deal encouraged. Now, back to work....[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Wow. I've been nominated? That's ... wow. That's truly humbling, given the amount of time I've been here. I did not expect that. Thanks. [center]--------------------------------------------[/center] [QUOTE=Ozymandius Jones][SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkOrange][B]What is it? [/B] [url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=52603&page=1&pp=15]Threads[/url] like [url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?p=741364]these[/url] [Or, as a blanket, the fun-loving-members-in-general] [B]Why is it nifty?[/B] Because they show OB members at their best - being obnoxious and silly without really being mean. =D[/COLOR][/SIZE][/QUOTE] I second that. I also enjoyed how [COLOR=DarkRed]Retribution[/COLOR]'s current sig goes with her last words in Post #4 from the second thread: [QUOTE][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][CENTER][B]WAR IS PEACE FREEDOM IS SLAVERY IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH[/B][/CENTER][/SIZE] [RIGHT][SIZE=2]Sensory deprivation is standard[/SIZE][/RIGHT][/FONT][/QUOTE] It made me smile. [center]--------------------------------------------[/center] [B]What is is?[/B] [thread] [I]Gifts and Curses[/I] [B]Why is is nifty?[/B] Well, it hasn't died yet. The whole thing started back in September and was a thread I had actually considered applying to, if I hadn't had so much crud to worry about. Aside from that, [COLOR=DarkRed]Vicky[/COLOR] seems to be doing a masterful job of controlling the plot without actually controlling much at all. I've been watching it the whole time, and I've seen two real storylines evolving: one with most of the members and another centered around Charles [[COLOR=DarkRed]Ozy J.[/COLOR]], Dani [[COLOR=DarkRed]Vicky[/COLOR]], and Juliet [[COLOR=DarkRed]Revalation[/COLOR]]. Reading the underground is fun as well because it gives me insight on what and how the big names are thinking as they're writing. [B]What is it?[/B] [thread] [I][U]Ever Unmistakable[/U][/I] [B]Why is it nifty?[/B] Read for yourself. Every time the author ([COLOR=DarkRed]kalon[/COLOR]) has posted another segment, I get another twenty minutes of absolute bliss. I'm not able to get to a library much anymore, so to have found reading material this good makes my day.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Sure. I'd be up for it. Actually, what about playing God? You know, get your cast of characters and kind of guide them where you see the story going (because things are more fun when there's a purpose), but don't actually give yourself a character, or if you do, make it someone who sits outside and watches but won't actively participate. Of course, my opinion means about squat, given I'm still rather young here. ...and since every RP I've tried for has died miserably. :( [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]I'm not sure that that's what [COLOR=DarkRed]Doublehex[/COLOR] meant. I know that it's not what I would have meant. But that's cool. Anyway, what I want to know is: [list][*]Do you have personalities set for these characters yet? [*]Have you been playing around with the minor (and I hope major) characters inside your head to see what they'll do in certain situations? [*]Do you want their names to reflect something specific, like their personality or a particular item/mood/thing?[/list] I ask these because it'll be much easier for people to help give you names if you kind of lay out what you want or need in a little more detail. In a separate issue, look at your story carefully. Anytime you write something, listen to it in your head, reread it, and think [I]"Does this sound sappy? Can other people see what I see with what I wrote? How can I make this work?"[/I] And always: [I]"Is my grammar/syntax good?"[/I] Please, please, [I]please[/I] don't ever belittle yourself by telling yourself that it's okay to sound dumb because you're young and inexperienced. I know. I was there. You do that just once and you consign yourself to being inferior, and that's never a good compromise. I say this because because I don't want you to be another person who just throws down words and says "Wah-lah! Story!" (Incidentally, that's [U]voila[/U]. It's French. (^_^) Just so you know.) I don't know how I can say this without endlessly stumbling over myself. Make it real. And yes, I know its fantasy. I have characters (allamorphs) who can shift into other animals (only one each), and can go halfway to become nastie-looking beast warriors (only under certain conditions). I have a character (a druid) who has milky eyes and cobalt-blue hair (all of his hair, everywhere) and can destroy your mind by looking you in the eye in just the right way. I even have cyborgs, but they're all real people with real emotions and real flaws and real limitations ([B]I[/B] think, anyway), and if anything starts to feel contrived about someone I've created I get nervous. Don't mistake me; I support you in your endeavor. I want you to write if you want to write. I just want to see you do it well. And just so you know, I'm stuck on a Japanese name, too. :p [/FONT]

[quote name='kalon']I like vague sentences on some occasions except for the times when I am not fond of vague sentences which may or may not be every once in a while.[/quote] [FONT=Arial]... [indent][indent]...[/indent][/indent] [center]...maybe.[/center] [quote name='kalon']When you create a character, I think he/she/it is automtically a part of you (or your multiple personalities, which is where I got Hilde from). Even if you create someone with no resemblance to yourself whatsoever, you still had to put thought into the creation.[/quote] Elementary, my dear Watson. [quote name='kalon']As for villains (and non-villains), I like having the moral gray area.[/quote] I actually find it more emulates reality. [quote name='kalon']I have to say it. Faerie molester.[/quote] Takes one to know one. [quote name='kalon']They slit their wrists for fear of Mary Sue ever liking them.[/quote] [center][size=3]O.O[/size][/center] [quote name='kalon']You can have excellent, well-rounded characters who score extremely high on Mary Sue tests. It mainly depends upon the writer on whether or not they are annoying. I wouldn't worry about it too much, since, from what I've been able to read, you are definitely a good writer.[/quote] You can understand how good that is to hear. (Yay!) [quote name='kalon']Closer with the first part.[/quote] Really. I was honestly going with the one that seemed just as traumatic but easier to deadpan. (You know, the whole Caduceus deal.) It seemed to fit your style. (^_^) I will grant that you played that bit out rather well. I just didn't see it coming. But then, neither did Azoth. [quote name='kalon']Yeah, it's pretty much my favorite pillows song. I plan to use one of the lyrics (translated to English) as a chapter title. I loved the series, too. The ending was one of those rare times where things didn't go the way I wanted, but I was still happy with everything.[/quote] Whatever do you mean? I found the ending quite fine; it was like the Tornado of Randomness had finally finished rampaging through everything in Naota's life and things were back to normal again. If you recall, the last thing he says is [I]"Nothing exciting ever happens around here."[/I] Just like how he started. [quote name='kalon']The shame![/quote] I think that went over your head. No offense. [quote name='kalon]The last sentence was partly there because I wanted a shorter sentence for once. [size=1](14 words)[/size] I think that's one of my worst problems, because I can't seem to write a sentence without adding a ton of appositives, participles, gerunds, conjunctions, and everything else under the literary sun. [size=1'](32 words, give or take)[/size][/quote] Well don't do that. [quote name='kalon']I look forward to your fight sequence. (Cyborgs are very fun.) Who knows? You might be an excellent controller of time. Writers usually have to be time mages, after all.[/quote] If I write it, they will come. (heehee) [quote name='kalon']You have know idea how much I apprecaite that last comment.[/quote] Yes, I do. And I don't ever complement unless I believe what I'm saying is true. [quote name='kalon']And you're not the only one upset by the death, either.[/quote] Upset?! Come on. I just stepped off ? I mean, Dominick just stepped off of a clock tower acting very much like me! (Dominick, I mean. I have yet to see any buildings acting anything like me at all.) I feel dead inside. [quote name='kalon']What is Hyaptia's (Dominick and Mikasi's older sister's) occupation? (Does not include being put to death.)[/quote] No, that was Dominick's job. (V_V) Either she's an asteroid or an astrologer/philosopher. Those is my final answer. (Okay ? that sentence hurt.) [center]---------------------------------------------[/center] [QUOTE]There were colors that were not colors and people who were things and things which were people and characters that [COLOR=Red][strike]that[/strike][/COLOR] morphed on a moment?s notice.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]?I don?t think he gets the ghost thing,? said Arisa. She glanced at Virgil, who broke into another bout [B]of[/B] peculiar laughter.[/QUOTE] Short excerpt, so.... [center]---------------------------------------------[/center] Yep, that sounds like me ... er, Dominick. "Hi. I'll miss ya, here's what happened, here's why it happened, chill now, TTFN." Yepper. I like the way this all tied up. Except perhaps the cling-y Hilde. That bothers me. But it still felt like real closure, and not some garbage you think you get from a funeral. Bravo. As far as the entirety of the posted material goes, you did a great job at emulating a six-year-old. She kind of understands, but not really. I hope this all gets published someday. Keep writing (as I shall endeavor to). -A[/FONT]

[FONt=Arial]So, I'm finally up and running mentally again, and, as I promised [COLOR=DarkRed]kalon[/COLOR], here is another bit involving my weirdo. (You know, if it wasn't for events and friends and procrastination and random necessary stuff, and life in general, I'd actually be able to get some stuff done.[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma]_^_[/FONT] [FONT=Arial]) And since I seem to be fond of introductory notes, let me say that there will definitely be some material between where I left off in Movement Two and Movement Three below. "Farther up and farther in!" [center]-------------------------------------------------------[/center] [center][size=3][B]III. [U][I]Tranquillo, solo interruzioni sporadicamente.[/I][/U][/B][/size][/center] What Jason enjoyed most about his military career was the personal freedom. BT had been strenuous, but what had made it chafe to the point of being unbearable was that there had been no pauses or breaks, aside from the all-too-few hours spent in the mess hall and the bunkhouse. Every day the recruits had gone through the same back-breaking physical routine morning, noon, and night, with the few hours between devoted to intensive combat-related training. After a few years spent as an enlisted man, with the higher-ups watching his every move, Jason?s application to the South Guard Military Academy had finally been accepted ? by this point Jason had grown mildly accustomed to being under constant surveillance ? given the circumstances of his citizenship, which had been granted somewhat dubiously, he understood the government?s unease, but it still rankled him a little. The next two years had been spent in more comprehensive, but no less exhaustive, training. There had been command simulations run every day, it seemed, and every class he took required hours of outside work, leaving aside almost nothing. True, none of the assignments had been that difficult for him, excepting maybe Battlefield Statistics, which was just weird, but the courses were still time consuming. But things were different now. After graduation (second in his class), Jason had been assigned to the Cirran Orbital Military Platform as a squadron leader for the fighters of the Andromeda Third Fleet under Brigadier General Ritya Loren, and it was here that he discovered two things about the military that made the whole six years worthwhile. He had a duty shift, which ended. Every day, at 1630 hours Universal Military Space Time, 1st Lieutenant Jason Sterling went off duty. Never mind that he had to start another shift again at 0730 hours the next morning, and never mind that he?d spend six hours sleeping, he still had nine whole hours to himself, to do whatever he wanted. Whatever. No more endless studying, no more days scheduled to a ?T?, he could do what he felt like doing when he felt like doing it. That was the first thing. The second thing just made the first even better. He was not confined to the station. Apparently the government had decided that six years was enough time to prove whatever it was that he had needed to prove and he no longer needed to be babysat everywhere he went. The sudden lack of surveillance on his person caused Jason to realize exactly how much he had hated it, regardless of whether or not he understood the reasons behind it. And he still spent most of his free tim on the station anyway. COMP had an excellent gym and training facility, which included three state-of-the-art virtual simulation rooms along with the regular simulators, a dojo for the martially inclined (Jason among them), and a very nice coffee lounge. So he?d work out some, he?d take part in the inter-wing skirmishes and the weekly one-on-one squad leader dogfights, or he?d just hang out with his squadron, but he spent as much time as he could planetside. Cirra was a gorgeous planet to live on. Called by many the Blue Planet of Andromeda, it?s land-to-water ratio was identical to Earth?s; it had a little less ocean than the home planet, but more and deeper freshwater bodies, and the large, intelligent Cirran dolphins were one of its many natural attractions. There was even a Lake Placid in the North Atlantean continent that spanned several miles, fortunately devoid of the twentieth-century horror creatures. Its waters were crystal clear ? you could see down thirty feet like it was the length of your forearm ? a couple of scuba-diving operations had set up shop there shortly after the discovery of its subterranean caverns, and there was always someone out hydrosailing. The waters weren?t Cirra?s only attractive feature. Its forests provided the opportunity for wonderful backpacking expeditions; Jason?s personal favorites were the trails in Mistfloor Forest, unimaginatively but alluringly named for the perpetual layer of fog that covered the forest floor. Jason found the mist and the permanent dim light of the forest to be rather soothing ? his pals found it creepy, especially given the eerie sound of the native Redwing Owl?s call, and so Jason wandered the forest alone whenever he came. The Mistfloor Rangers did not like this, but after repeated excursions that Jason unfailingly returned from, they grudgingly accepted his solo hikes. Mistfloor covered a section of the Black Mountains, which ran southeast across the Narnian continent (Jason didn?t understand the reason for [I]that[/I] name until he read the Chronicles that had inspired it). The Black Mountains had been mined considerably for coal, which was processed in diamond refineries for medical and technological equipment. The stranglehold on the diamond industry had been broken centuries ago after vast coal deposits had been discovered on dozens of uninhabitable planets, and diamond had quickly replaced glass as a common commodity because of its cheapness and superior strength. However, coal miners in the Black Mountains had inadvertently broken into a deep, extensive system of caverns composed almost entirely of jet, and solid and red-, blue-, and white-streaked obsidian, and so the name stuck. The caverns became an instant tourist attraction, with the Black Glass Waterfall as the highlight of the tour. Naturally, around a third of the planet?s land mass was occupied by cities. There were a few suburban conglomerations inland which had sprung up around various industrial centers, but most of the cities, because of and to facilitate planet-wide commerce, had developed along Cirra?s many coasts. In addition, Cirra had a couple of expensive resorts of floating sea platforms, and more on the seafloor; no one wanted to live surrounded by water for extended periods of time (it was too boring), but they made excellent escape havens. The city fascinated Jason. Anytime he was planetside he?d pick a different one to visit ? he felt he could walk their streets for hours, and often did, passing through the residential districts and marveling at the unique constructions; roaming the downtown shopping centers and side-streets, where some of the best restaurants could be found; wandering the ?uncomfortable? sections, where people clung to each other for survival. Governments, societies, institutions, and (non-profit) organizations had been trying to eliminate the need for these showcases of depravity, but lazy people and those struck by Murphy?s Law bred unemployed people, and unemployed people bred homeless, slums, and ghettos, and on and on. There would always be those who would and could rise from their depression and/or oppression and become successful, driven icons to their communities, but most would not. It wasn?t that they were any less fortunate or less motivated ? nobody really wanted to live there, and if they could have left, they would have in a heartbeat. They were just less, less ? well, they were [I]hope-[/I]less, really. That was the one thing Jason missed seeing in every face he looked at. They had been trod on so many times that they couldn?t or wouldn?t try anymore. But Jason couldn?t ever fully appreciate or understand their situation. His solid career saw to that. So the best he could do was walk through, talking, laughing, joining in the games ? which he was finally allowed to do on his third trip through Ridgeport ? it had been understandably hard for the locals to grant him, the outsider, their trust, but he had not given up, and it had paid off. He didn?t really know why he tried, either; he just did it. At the moment, Jason was seated on the second-story terrace of a nice coffeehouse in downtown Dahlia, watching the pedestrian traffic, his empty mug resting on the nearby table. Through the open terrace doors he could hear a jazz combo playing some classic chart or other; he absently noted that the trombone and tenor sax had remarkably good blend with each other. His attention was on the street below, though, busy noticing things. Like the dating couple a few blocks to his left who appeared to be a little lost, or the amateur pickpocket across the street who had almost bungled a lift, or the harried businessman striding down the sidewalk who kept glancing at his watch, and who was obviously late, probably for a lunch meeting. Jason had a habit of noticing things. His eyes were always active, and when he looked away from someone during a conversation with them, it typically wasn?t out of disinterest. He navigated a lot by sight, and he had found several hole-in-the-wall diners that his squadron would end up frequenting by just looking down the right alley. Unfortunately, his trait had also accidentally garnered him some unexpected and unwanted attention. About four months ago Jason had been out strolling, per the norm, and had happened to glance down a particular back street to see a woman of thirty-something being ushered by two burly-looking men around the corner at the far end. This had given Jason a bad feeling in his gut, and he had instinctively followed. Because he wasn?t an idiot, Jason had peered cautiously around the corner; he preferred not to draw attention to himself prematurely in such situations, and he had had his comm in case he had needed to use it. He hadn?t been able to hear what any of the three had said, but he had noticed the woman growing more and more distressed, and Jason had thought he had seen her start pleading. He had turned to reach for his comm when he had heard the woman shriek; snapping his head around, he had seen one of the men level a gun at the woman?s forehead. And then? According to the woman?s testimony, she had been begging for her life when a black boot had abruptly knocked the gunman?s hand skyward. The boot had been attached to a man?s jean-covered right leg, and the stranger had spun and used the same leg to knock the gunman into the wall. The gunman?s associate had thrown a vicious hook at the stranger, but he had blocked it and had responded by planting his palm solidly in the center of the man?s chest. The thug had immediately crumpled to the ground. The gunman, who had now recovered and stood up, had tried to shoot the interrupting assailant, but the stranger had sidestepped, grabbed his wrist, struck him sharply in the elbow twice, and had then rained blows upon the unfortunate brute, finally pinning him to the wall by the throat. The stranger had frozen there, with his right arm cocked and aimed at the gunman?s face. That last statement was what Jason had remembered, anyway: standing in front of a brick wall, holding the terrified gunman by the neck, poised to strike. A glance to the side had shown him the body of the second man, eyes glassed over and blood oozing from his mouth ? Jason had almost knocked the poor woman down in jumping backwards in fear and apprehension. The gunman had taken the opportunity to flee without a moment?s hesitation, leaving a startled, grateful mother and a very confused first lieutenant. The police had arrested the gunman later based on the woman?s description, and he had been transferred to the hospital under police custody. Jason had broken his nose, wrist, four of his ribs, had shattered his elbow backwards, and had caused a good deal of internal organ damage. The other man hadn?t been so lucky; Jason's single blow had ruptured his heart, and he had died on impact. The media had jumped on the story instantly. They had interviewed the woman and her surviving tormentor relentlessly, and Jason had barely kept his sanity intact when they had found access to him. He was too camera shy to be a ?real hero?, though, so hopeful, misguided rumors of a new vigilante had sprung up everywhere. Jason blamed the media for this; naturally they denied all accusations about it. To escape, Jason had secluded himself on board COMP (which was blessedly an Authorized Personnel Only facility) for the better part of three months ? this was his first trip planetside since. No one seemed to be reacting to his presence yet, so he hoped the ridiculous storm had blown over. What had baffled the media and his superiors (and Jason, as it were) was that Jason couldn?t really recall what he had done. On every interview he had had to grant and on the report he had been required to file, he had always been asked to describe what had happened or what had been going through his mind, and each time he had been forced to answer ?I don?t know.? He had stuttered this lacking, inept response in each interview, and, being the one thing the media couldn?t understand, it was quite naturally the aspect they had harped on the most, much to Jason?s embarrassment. The Powers That Be hadn?t liked the answer either, and Jason had been ordered in for psychiatric evaluation, which had of course turned up nothing not already known ? his lack of memory prior to or during the Massacre of Kestrel Prime, for one. The band had now switched to an old twentieth-century classic, ?The Girl From Ipanema?. The fact that Jazz had survived this long was simply amazing. It had had its difficulties, of course; it had been forced underground for a most of the twenty-second and twenty-third centuries, and had almost died out completely in the twenty-ninth. But it had stubbornly persisted, for which Jason was very glad. And this band was good, he decided. Maybe if he stuck around longer they?d play some Miles Davis. Any self-respecting combo always had Miles somewhere in their repertoire, even if there wasn?t a trumpet around to play. He hadn?t been completely honest, though. He knew he had felt something right before he went fuzzy in the head. He had thought about telling someone, but since he wasn?t sure exactly what it was himself, he kept it to himself. It might have been sounds or scattered images, or emotions, but it had felt like something in the back of his mind had been doing ? had been doing [I]something[/I]. He didn?t know, though. He just wasn?t sure; all he knew was that he?d seen that first thug pull the gun on the woman. And then? [I][indent][indent]Fear[/indent][/indent] [right][indent][indent][indent][indent]Shock[/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/right] [center][indent]Fire[/indent][/center] [indent][indent][indent][indent]Anguish[/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent] [right][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent]Burning[/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/right] [indent][indent][indent]Rage[/indent][/indent][/indent] [right][indent][indent]Pain[/indent][/indent][/right] [indent][indent][indent][indent][indent]Fire[/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent] [right][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent]Death[/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/right][/I] Jason suddenly realized he was gripping the arms of his chair rather fiercely. He forced himself to relax and sighed. He really needed to stop thinking about the whole ordeal. Maybe his wing commander would be up for a quick duel. He left the coffeehouse and headed for the shuttle back to COMP.[/FONT]

[QUOTE=Lunox][COLOR=DimGray] I wrote already that I recognized and realized the pains the baby would go through while growing up with a three-month old mind. I'm saying that despite it, I still feel that something is wrong with the procedure the parents are taking. Heh, and don't think I'm trying to make a valid argument. I know it's a weak counterargument, but I just wanted to get it out there. I'm more worried about how the gradual acceptance of these kinds of procedures will affect our future.[/COLOR][/QUOTE] [FONT=Arial]I understand exactly what you mean; my parents and I actually disagreed for once on this issue, and for this exact reason. It just doesn't seem right. Even though I support them, it still just kind of bothers me in that one spot in my chest that reacts to this kind of thing. (Wow. That was nebulous.) And no, it shouldn't become standard procedure, because that would completely rule out the chance that something in the afflicted person's mind could suddenly click and enable learning again. It needs to stay a special case scenario. [quote name='Peanut][FONT=Franklin Gothic Medium']What I find funny, is why is sex the most important complaint brought up in this? Isn't there more to adult life then just sex? ... It just kills me that people bring up sex like its the most important factor.[/FONT][/quote] [quote name='indifference][COLOR=DarkRed']... honestly, why are people getting in arms over whether or not she can have sex? That's so stupid that it's painful.[/COLOR][/quote] I actually hadn't planned on commenting on the boards at all today because I have other work to do, but I read these statements and I have to say this: [center][SIZE=4][B][I]Thank you so freakin' much![/I][/B][/SIZE][/center] You guys hit something that's been bugging me since I first read the article and comments. Honestly (and this is from a [I][U]guy[/U][/I] talking), sex really would have been the absolute lowest item on my concern chart when making that decision. I find it stupidly laughable that people would hold the loss of sex higher than the loss of recreation, friendships, ability to work, ability to even [I]learn anything[/I]; ya know? It's dumb. And here's the kicker: despite the fact that her ... important ... organs are gone, she's locked in the body of a freakin' nine year old! If her parents hadn't had the hysterectomy and breast-bud removal performed and had just frozen her growth, would the sex issue be gone? And if so, what kind of moronic, perverse idiot would want to have sex with a nine year old? Honestly, it just seems to me to be a showcase of the depravity of some people's minds that this is the first issue that comes up. Thank you, you two, for saying that.[/FONT]

[COLOR=DarkRed](quote deleted)[/COLOR] [FONT=Arial][strike]Ditto, only mine will probably come later tonight, or tomorrow morning at the latest.[/strike] Yes, I'm incredibly late, but there were ... circumstances involved. Anyway, here he is. Never let it be said that I failed to finish a profile. ----------------------- [B]Name:[/B] Darius Sorél [B]Appearance:[/B] A dark complexioned man, Darius Sorél stands at about 6?2? with slightly unruly black hair and deep blue eyes. His features are cool and refined, but retain an air of friendliness. Though his gaze can be piercing at times, his eyes are usually a little less than half-lidded, giving him an unsurprised look, and they tend to sweep over his surroundings at random intervals. His frame, while not slim, is not exactly powerful either ? rather, he would be more aptly described as lithe. Darius carries himself with a sort of calm gracefulness, and none of his movements ever seem without purpose; he does not control his emotions so much as effortlessly commands them. He generally wears comfortable black pants with a silver-buckled black leather belt, a dark blue short-sleeve dress shirt, an elongated black blazer, and black leather boots. [B]Age:[/B] 30 [B]Gender:[/B] Male [B]Continent of birth:[/B] Middle - Gondare Town [B]Current Job:[/B] Government Intelligence / Swordmaster [B]Personality:[/B] To all but the incredibly perceptive, upon first encounter Darius seems like an aloof and distant person who wouldn?t waste his time with ?unnecessary fraternization?. Actually, for most of his life this would have been an accurate assumption, but after one of his coworkers from a previous job died while on a business trip to Darius? hometown (they were caught in the crossfire of a gang turf war), he realized that he was incapable of mourning a person whom he had never know. The guilt from this realization inspired Darius to become more outgoing and to begin build relationships with those he saw frequently. Now he makes friends somewhat easily, despite his propensity to under-express himself. Along with the ability to command his emotions, Darius was gifted with a quick mind and an above average intellect. This can be irritating every now and then, since he can usually figure out what his companions are going to say before they get halfway through saying it, but he would not have his current job without them. He can analyze a situation rapidly and will not hesitate to provide several alternatives, and he is incredibly quick to adapt to surprises in combat. He also tends to be a bit sardonic, wry, irreverent, and occasionally condescending, due to his rather dry sense of humor, but he always means well. Darius is very tough to anger, although he will feign irritation for the sake of humor. Because of this trait, he will never seriously insult someone unless they really deserve it, and then he will be merciless, tearing their self-esteem and pride to shreds. [B]History:[/B] Darius grew up in a relatively stable middle-class home, where he was home-tutored until high school. He became enamored with the martial style of combat and convinced his parents to allow him to train in various forms. After it became evident that he was uniquely suited to short sword techniques, his mentor began instructing the young man (then in college) in basic magic/melee combination techniques, of which Darius favored the speed and precision of the ice-based forms. Darius? education, combined with his intellect, eventually landed him his current position. He handles a little over two-thirds of all the classified material brought in by field agents, and has been sent every now and then to deal with possible double agents and defectors, which he does quite efficiently. Recently he has begun uncovering truths about Zangra?s operations and true intentions, making his job very uncomfortable; he does not agree with Zangra?s actions, purposes, or methods, and is starting to look for a safe but active way out. He has also been intercepting information and burying sources about Requiem in an attempt to hide its existence as long as possible. [B]Weapon:[/B] Winter Wind (see attachment), carried in a sheath on Darius? back. [B]Abilities and spells:[/B] [indent][B]Parry:[/B] A fluid strike in which Darius blocks an enemy?s attack and immediately counterattacks with two rapid slashes. Darius must be attacked to use this move. [B]Cold Snap:[/B] Darius shoots past his enemy, striking them in the process. Though his scimitar passes through the target without leaving a wound, the target?s body freezes along the sword?s path. Darius is vulnerable for a half-second after this move. [B]Winter Solstice Dance:[/B] A graceful, dance-like series of up to twelve attacks that flow seamlessly together with increasing speed. While each individual strike is blockable, odds are very low that Darius? target can avoid them all. This move can also allow Darius to fend off multiple assailants, and combined with [B][I]Parry[/I][/B] is potentially devastating.[/indent] [B]Gigantic Ability:[/B] [indent][B]Whirlwind Rage:[/B] Darius steps into a focused stance: blade down beside him, off arm across his body and down, his weight on his forward left leg. He abruptly leans forward and appears to hold motionless; however, he is moving so fast that he creates five false images of himself surrounding his target. Darius strikes his opponent four times from five different directions, again increasing the tempo of his attack with each hit. This move is almost always fatal, and is moderately taxing on Darius; he is completely vulnerable for seven seconds after executing the move and cannot fight at 100% for another three minutes. Darius can shorten his recovery time if he prepares for the move in advance.[/indent] [B]Notes:[/B] Though he knows some basic magic, Darius? primarily uses his sword in combat, and never uses magic by itself, instead saving it to augment his own techniques. In all instances when he does make use of magic, his scimitar acts as the focus, and the move performed requires a prior moment of concentration or a short period of recovery. As stated above, Darius? command of his emotions may make him seem distant and uncaring, but that is only because he must exert a conscious effort to display any emotional changes, and this simply does not occur to him most of the time. In a specific example, Darius tends to take loss of a teammate, be it temporary or permanent, very hard, and his wrath in such cases has been likened to a gatlin gun instead of the more conventional bomb, since he starts slowly and gradually builds up in intensity and fury. [/FONT]

[quote name='Katana][size=1][color=royalblue]Seriously Alla, you should've let old wounds heal. Mmk?[/color'][/size][/quote] [FONT=Arial]I am sorry if I ticked you off. I'm just callin' it like it is. I'll be more tactful in the future. Pax? Please? [QUOTE=Katana][size=1][color=RoyalBlue][b]Boo and I picked our targets by drawing names from a hat.[/b] Despite the difference of America (myself) and Netherlands (him), he put names in a hat and just drew them out. Delta was the unfortunate first victim. =P[/color][/size][/QUOTE] Yeah, I gathered that after [COLOR=DarkRed]Boo[/COLOR] told us. And like I said, good tactic. (At least, I think that's what I said.) You had me completely flummoxed on who to bless, making me completely useless. I said that [COLOR=DarkRed]Delta[/COLOR]'s death was unfortunate for [COLOR=DarkRed]Boo[/COLOR] because it got me thinking about him more than anyone else. Just coincidence. :p [quote name='Katana][size=1']PS: Allamoroph = typo. Got it memorized?[/size][/quote] My dear girl, that was just me picking at you. I like making fun of typos. ;) Feel free to make fun of any of mine. [/FONT]

[QUOTE=Andrew][SIZE=1][B]4) Does the description of your zodiac actually describe you? Why?[/B] Naturally. It fits me because I want it to. Anyone of us could pick aspects from another sign that fits our personality, that's just the way the human mind works. If certain things fit, we purposely work to fit the rest of the details.[/SIZE][/QUOTE] [FONT=Arial]Mmm. Good point. Which is why I haven't ever placed any stock in astrology/horoscopes.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]This is indeed a unique situation. And, while I am take the opposite stance in most every other situation where a person's future rights have been diregarded, I also will support the decision of Ashley's parents. The deal about her rights is this: since she is completely unable to develop mentally past her current state, she will never be able to understand anything that would involve her exercising any of her possible rights, nor will she even be able to grasp the concept of 'rights' period. Arguing that her rights have been abridged is useless, pointless, and slightly ludicrous ? since she'll never be capable of understanding them, she will never be able to exercise them, meaning she'll be totally dependent on her parents to decide everything for her. The human rights people who are getting up in arms about this decision are missing this point. Rights are only relevant if the person in question has the ability to understand and use them, providing that they have not previously forfeited their actual [I]right[/I] to use their rights (here I speak of criminals). Saying that Ashley's parents are horrible people for making this awkward, difficult decision, [U]about[/U] [U]their[/U] [U]own[/U] [U]daughter[/U] whom they most likely love very much, is a fine opinion to have (being an [I]opinion[/I]), but no one can ever truly praise or condemn the parents unless they have been placed in the [I][U]exact[/U][/I] same situation. [quote name='DeadSeraphim][SIZE=1][COLOR=indigo]Did they even read? This girl can't even ROLL OVER, let alone ever consider sex.[/COLOR'][/SIZE][/quote] Exactly. Not only that, but she will never even be able to understand the significance of the act, let alone the emotions involved in any such intimate relationship.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Okay, I'm going to answer this, but I'll be honest ? I'm a tad nervous right now. This is a little wierd. [B]1.) What is your birthday?[/B] Nov. 18 [B]2.) What is your zodiac sign?[/B] Scorpio. [B]3.) How does your sign desribe your personality?[/B] Okay, this is where things get wierd: [quote name='Wikipedia']Scorpio is the eighth sign of the Zodiac and associated with intensity, passion, and power. Individuals born under this sign are thought to have a complex, emotional, analytical, keenly perceptive, inquisitive, focused, determined, hypnotic, and self-contained character, but one which is also prone to extremity, jealousy, secretiveness, possessiveness, stubbornness, cruelty and cunning.[/quote] Almost all of these apply. I'll have to ask my friends about the hypnotic and jealous bits, but yeah. [quote name='Wikipedia']In terms of anatomy, Scorpio is said to rule the pelvis, reproductive system and urinary system.[/quote] Lord God Almighty help me. [I]The Loins?!?![/I] O.O Here's some more stuff: [URL=http://www.astrology-online.com/scorpio.htm][U]Astrology Online[/U][/URL] [URL=http://mizian.com.ne.kr/englishwiz/library/names/zodiac/scorpio.htm][U]English Wiz[/U][/URL] [B]4.) Does the description atcually describe you? Why?[/B] I'll just take a few sections from English Wiz. [QUOTE][SIZE=1]People often draw back visibly when someone says he or she was born in November, murmuring, "Oh, you're a Scorpio!" either in frank fear, or in awe and respect. Sometimes there's also a giggle that obviously refers to the legendary Scorpio passion. Scorpios are fed up with these reactions to their Sun sign, and who can blame them? But they are ruthless and dangerous, right? Wrong. It depends. First, you'd better learn how to recognize the sign. In self-defense perhaps-or because you seek a really superior human being. Scorpio likes to travel incognito. Thanks to his well-controlled nature, he usually succeeds, but there are a couple of short cuts which will make it easier to penetrate his disguise at midnight or at noon. Look at the eyes. They can be green, blue, brown or black, but they'll be piercing with hypnotic intensity. Most people feel nervous and ill at ease under Scorpio's steady gaze. You'll have to break the spell and look away first. He'll outstare you every time. It's a foolproof identification of the Pluto personality. Scorpio eyes bore deeply into you, mercilessly, as if they're penetrating your very soul They are. Next, listen to him speak. The tone can be velvety soft, husky or sharply cutting, the speech slow and measured or clipped and staccato, but what he says will never be self-effacing. Scorpio has total ego. He knows what he is and he knows what he is not, and nothing anyone else thinks will change this knowledge. Insults roll right off his back, and compliments don't move him a fraction of an inch. He needs no one to tell him his vices or his virtues. At best, he'll calmly agree with your appraisal; at worst, he'll suspect your motives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Such mastery of the personality has to be envied. No matter how his emotions are stirred, you'll rarely see them reflected on Scorpio's frozen, immobile face. These people proudly and consciously practice a blank expression. They command their features to remain firm, and their features obey. (They wouldn't dare disobey a Scorpio.) You'll sel*dom see Scorpio give himself away by blushing or flushing, frowning or grinning. Smiles are rare, but genuine. The body follows the same orders as the face. There will rarely be any jumping, sudden starts or nervous mannerisms. He'll never flinch with embarrassment or swell up with pride. Reaction is always kept at a bare minimum, because Scorpio's art is to probe your nature and motives relentlessly, while remaining inscrutable himself, and he's an expert at it. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Remark to a Scorpio that he has a great talent which will someday be recognized, and he smoothly, casually replies, "Yes. I know." Ask him if he'll do you a favor, and (he answer will be equally simple. "Yes, of course I will," or "No, I can't do that." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scorpio is intensely loyal to friends. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Some of them do this literally, for friends, relatives or loved ones ? in battle or in a civilian crisis. The Scorpio soldier leaps instantly, instinctively, to brave the bullets and drag his buddy to safety. The Scorpio fireman gives his life to rescue the child in the burning building. Sometimes it seems Pluto people unconsciously seek violence deliberately, as a challenge to their strength.[/SIZE][/QUOTE] Yeah. You decide. I've posted here enough already. [B]5.) How does your zodiac sign PWN over the rest?[/B] Apparently because we are the most powerful among you. Interesting. Most interesting. (Do I hear [COLOR=DarkRed]Gavin[/COLOR] running to eat me? :cool: ) Oh, and ninjas pwn pirates. We're faster. Period.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial][U]Ichigo[/U]: (through clenched teeth) Kon. When did you get my MySpace password? [I]And where did you get those [B]pictures??!!![/B][/I] -------------------- Hmm. That stinks about [COLOR=DarkRed]KW[/COLOR]. Oh, well.[/FONT]

[QUOTE=Tekkaman][font=Arial] [font=Palatino Linotype][size=2]Oh, and as for my colors, I don't even know what colors i'm going to use next, unpredictable to the max degree. I think i'm ok though, because I finally found an Akuma banner that I so desperately wanted. :D So, for now, i'm stickin' with black.[/size][/font] [/font][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2]Hopefully...[/size][/font][/QUOTE] [FONT=Arial]Really? Darn, I kind of liked it. I mean, that's who you are to me now. Why go and bugger up a good thing?[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]So, us four just so happened to have played before. Good. That's what I thought you did. That's one wierd coincidence, though. (^_^)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Hey. I'm back, an' I've got a few final words. [quote name='MistressRoxie][COLOR=#9933ff']Congrats to my living teammates, Allamorph and Aaryanna_Mom. We did it![/COLOR][/quote] Yes. We did. And in the immortal words of Slippy Toad: [center][I]We did it! ...I was worried for a moment.[/I][/center] And let me just say that when you told me [/FONT][I][FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=Indigo][B]"Enough with the mysterious sh**. I'm a freakin' townsperson. I can't do sh**."[/B][/COLOR][/FONT][/I][FONT=Arial], and candidly no less, that you immediately won my sympathy. [QUOTE=Katana][size=1][color=RoyalBlue]Here's the problem, my dear Allamorph: I'm going to be accused as guilty as it is. Why? Simply because there are merely four players left in the game - myself, yourself, Mom, and Roxie. Two of them are already against me, and I can't vote for or against myself, so thus, what should I do? I'm pleading innocence, but even if I managed to sway your mind, it wouldn't matter because I have two of three against me.[/color][/size][/QUOTE] Oh, I know. I was merely being courteous to the accused, since you couldn't possibly have changed my mind anyway. Besides, by killing [COLOR=DarkRed]T-Man[/COLOR], you nailed the lid in your own coffin. I'd been examining the deaths you'd caused to find a relevan pattern ? obviously there was none, but it kept me on my toes. Still, last [COLOR=Blue]Night[/COLOR] you had four options and I examined them carefully. [QUOTE=Me, since I can't do those nifty PM quotes like Tekkaman, who seems to pwn, can.][FONT=Arial]As I've said before, I firmly believe I am going to die at this [COLOR=Blue]Night[/COLOR]'s end, and since I cannot bless myself, I must now examine any possible contingencies. If, and I say again [I]IF[/I], [COLOR=DarkRed]MistressRoxie[/COLOR] is actually Mafia, then I have no clue how she'll act. If we're all right about things and [COLOR=DarkRed]Katana[/COLOR]'s our target, which I still believe she is, then I see four options. [list][*][COLOR=DarkRed]Katana[/COLOR] will kill [COLOR=DarkRed]Tekkaman[/COLOR] because he's a dangerous loudmouth who's unfortunately right, and she wants him out of the way. This is not to her advantage, because it immediately incriminates her. She will fall because [COLOR=DarkRed]A_M[/COLOR] and I are allies and I believe I have swayed [COLOR=DarkRed]Roxie[/COLOR] to me, neither of which [COLOR=DarkRed]Katana[/COLOR] is currently aware. [*][COLOR=DarkRed]Katana[/COLOR] will kill [COLOR=DarkRed]Aaryanna_Mom[/COLOR] because she's a reliable souce of aged wisdom (and I always mean aged as a complement), and knocking her out might give her [COLOR=DarkRed]Roxie[/COLOR]'s vote; she'll want allies against [COLOR=DarkRed]T-Man[/COLOR] since she really can't kill him. [*][COLOR=DarkRed]Katana[/COLOR] will kill me because I have controlled the [COLOR=DarkGreen]Town[/COLOR]'s sympathy from my statement in [url="http://www.otakuboards.com/showpost.php?p=758147&postcount=50"][b] Post #37[/b][/url] (at least, that's where [I]I[/I] think it happened at), and removing me will in her mind remove a large portion of the remaining [COLOR=DarkGreen]Town[/COLOR]'s unity as well as align with my theory about eliminating all the veteran players. From her perspective, I see this option as the most advantageous to her position ? remember, she doesn't know of the Post John alliance forming, so she may be counting on the resulting dis-unity to save her. [*][COLOR=DarkRed]Katana[/COLOR] will kill [COLOR=DarkRed]MistressRoxie[/COLOR]. The only possible reason she would do this would be just for the confusion "WTF?!?!" aspect. I see no way it would help her now, though.[/list][/FONT][/QUOTE] Keep in mind, I wrote this from the standpoint that the Mafia are allowed to vote for themselves, and in no way was I attepting to be arrogant (referencing point three). I just happened to notice that for some strange reason everyone kinda liked me. I was rather thankful for this, but it was still unexpected. Point being, your only real option was to either take out me or [COLOR=DarkRed]A_M[/COLOR]. I was not that important any longer (not that I was all that useful during the game anyway), and I had [COLOR=DarkRed]Aaryanna_Mom[/COLOR] protected, so you really couldn't win. And let me just say that picking names out of a hat was a rather admirable way to keep covered. Unfortunate that I was able to connect [COLOR=DarkRed]Delta[/COLOR] to [COLOR=DarkRed]Boo[/COLOR] through sheer coincidence. (^_^) I also want to take a second to thank [COLOR=DarkRed]Tekkaman[/COLOR] for pulling together the ally network and generally being a fantastic leader. Without him sticking his neck out, you guys might have won. I only did analysis; he made the decisions. Major uppage to the [COLOR=indigo]Purple[/COLOR] and [COLOR=Gray]Gray[/COLOR]!!! Speaking of revealing our roles, I honestly see no problem with it. Think of it this way: When you play Mafia with people you're in the same room with, you have the distinct advantage of being able to read expressions, but you're hampered by the fact that you can't tell anyone privately that you're innocent, Priest, Detective, whatever, since there is no privacy. And, obviously, everyone can lie. In [COLOR=DarkRed]White[/COLOR]'s game, only the four players with specific responsibilities/liabilities are allowed to lie for their own protection. Also, there are no faces to read, only words. It seems equitable that if you want to risk your station to trust someone with your role, you can, since you can do so without completely compromising yourself, and you have to take the other player at their word that they are who they say they are. E.g., if I had begun trusting [COLOR=DarkRed]Katana[/COLOR] with my innermost thoughts, she would have be enunder no obligation to tell me [I]"Hey, guess what! I'm Mafia!"[/I], and she would also have been completely within her rights to take advantage of everything I might have told her. [COLOR=DarkRed]Boo[/COLOR], [COLOR=DarkRed]Katana[/COLOR], you did yourself a disservice by not attepting to make alllies. You were told you were allowed to lie. Period. Anywhere. If it regarded the game, the you were entitled to [U]Lie[/U] [U]Your[/U] [U]Butt[/U] [U]Off[/U]. Why did you keep to yourself? [quote name='Katana][SIZE=1][COLOR=RoyalBlue][I]Father Allamoroph[/I][/COLOR'][/SIZE][/quote] [I]Qúe pasó?[/I] [quote name='John']You skipped the part where the priest buys out a gun store and goes on a cigarette-smoking, justice-dealing rampage.[/quote] Thank you muchly, but I'm no [URL=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Trinity_Blood_characters#AX_Agents][B]Father Tres Iqus[/B] (scroll for a little bit)[/URL]. I have two questions for [COLOR=DarkRed]White[/COLOR]. [list=1][*]Is the [COLOR=DarkGreen]Priest[/COLOR] ever of any use? (From my standpoint, I can't say that it is.) [*]Did you issue roles by random assignment? I ask this because [COLOR=DarkRed]Boo[/COLOR], [COLOR=DarkRed]Katana[/COLOR], [COLOR=DarkRed]John[/COLOR], and [COLOR=DarkRed]I[/COLOR] all said in our sign-up that we had played before, and because of this little exhange: [indent]Me: After I saw your cast list, I started wondering why you only had one detective out there. When I played last, there were two detectives, since when anyone accuses a Mafia hitman for too long they usually end up dead, and once the detective is deep-sixin' it the rest of the townspeople are left at a huge disadvantage. [B][I]I see why you had the Priest in the mix, but his bonus is iffy at best[/I][/B], so from what I can see the game favors the Mafia just a little bit. Of course, I trust you have a good reason for your setup, and I'm not here to tell you how to run your event. I'm just making an observation. White: [COLOR=DimGray]You obviously didn't have a very "deep" group then. I don't know about you, but when my friends play we are really into it. One of my older friends was the Mafia once and he pinned the blame on his pregnant wife, calling her the devil (he's a youth pastor, by the way) just so he wouldn't get killed off. If someone is constantly accusing Mafia, chances are they're either the Detective or the Mafia. So, if they would have said they were the detective before they died then they actually did die, obviously they were the detective and you now know who the Mafia is. [U]EDIT[/U]: [B][I]As for the Priest, his/her skills will start becoming useful when there are less people in the game (a better chance they bless someone being killed).[/I][/B][/COLOR] Me: [B][I]Ah, an endgame player. I see.[/I][/B][/indent] And then you hand me the [COLOR=DarkGreen]Priest[/COLOR] card. Or did this all just happen by accident?[/list] I don't want to be a jerk, but I just think that the game might have been much different if the important players (role-wise, of course) were a mix of veterans and novices. Anyway, good game all! (Sorry, [COLOR=DarkRed]Delta[/COLOR]. I would have loved to play with you.)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]In all honesty I generally like to be able to play both sides of the field in this game, both to keep my options fresh in my head and to logically examine either a flawed attack or defense, but in this case, my dear [COLOR=DarkRed]Katana[/COLOR], I'm afraid there's not much I can do for you. Here's the deal. The three players that bothered me from the beginning were you, [COLOR=DarkRed]Ikillion[/COLOR], and [COLOR=DarkRed]Boo[/COLOR]. Obviously [COLOR=DarkRed]Ikillion[/COLOR] wasn't an issue, and I saw that shortly before he was hanged. Or hung. Whichever you prefer. Then we nailed [COLOR=DarkRed]Boo[/COLOR], leaving only you. True, there had already been some discussion about you, but unfortunately nothing I constitute as decent evidence ever came up, to say nothing of data I would have been able to use in public. However, it strikes me that, both in the [COLOR=DarkGreen]Underground[/COLOR]/[COLOR=DarkGreen]Town[/COLOR] and in our terse little communiqué, your statements were always rather insubstantial ? fluffy, if you will. You really never said anything pertinent to the game except to restate another's agruments in slightly different words (with no added original thoughts) or to mention something completely irrelevant, like [COLOR=DarkRed]Delta[/COLOR] being the [COLOR=DakGreen]Detective[/COLOR], when obviously we would have known if that role had been killed. Point being, you're just not giving me enough originality to be convinced. I see more of your personality in your [U]theOtaku[/U] posts than I do here. And I've been watching those.... So, girlie, if you're going to convince me you're clean, you'd better be able to pull one devil of a bang-up job, and preferrably before I'm gone for most of this week. Which'll be by about 10:00 tomorrow morning. Hop hop.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Yo, guys! What's goin' on? Are we going to finish this chapter or just let something with such a lot of entertaining potential die off before it even really gets going? I realize that this is right after Christmas and right before New Year's, but I see several other RPs/events that are still going despite the dates. (The fact that I'm unable to actually participate yet has nothing to do with my question; I just want to see some good action.) I also realize a few of you are waiting for your opponent to post, but I see no activity from anyone here, concerned or otherwise, and I'm getting a little worried. [COLOR=DarkRed]BK[/COLOR], heard anything?[/FONT]