Gavin

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. I don't have an odd last name in any sense of the word, but my mother's maiden name before she married my father was rather odd. Her name was Munday, yes like the day but spelled slightly differently, although most people she tells me spelled it exactly the same as the day. I can just imagine how she and her brother feel about the Boomtown Rats song "[I]I don't like Monday[/I]". [/SIZE]

[quote=Siren]Gavin...you're still missing the point. All of what you said regarding religion here is utterly irrelevant, because as history has shown us time and time again, a theocracy--and truly, any faith-derived government--is going to base its laws off of religion-derived moral values and not from common sense. I'm not saying common sense and religious moral values are mutually exclusive ("be excellent to each other" can be found on both "sides"), but in many ways, religious doctrine and common sense are at opposite ends of the spectrum to an absurd degree.[/quote] [size=1]I'm going to disagree with you here Alex, in my own mind religious moral values and common sense aren't at all on the "opposite ends of the spectrum" and certainly not to an "absurd degree". It could of course depend on someone's view of what is correct morally and their idea of common sense but I don't at all see how someone could claim that they are. In my own case things that are morally correct go hand in hand with what I would call common sense, and I personally think that morals and common sense are very closely linked in most people. Take for example stealing, Seventh Commandment states that "Thou shalt not steal", and most people would hold a very similar view through common sense saying that stealing is wrong. Your own "be excellent to one another" (a very Bill & Ted styled quote) would also apply here. Fifth Commandment states "Thou shalt not kill" and most people would agree that that is simple common sense. In fact Alex I put it to you that there are very, very few instances where what is morally correct (from a religious point of view) and what people would consider common sense are on opposite sides. And in truth much of what we consider to be common sense today, such as our opinions on crime and honourable behaviour (for examples) comes from religion-derived moral values passed down from generation to generation. Again it all comes down to our own point of view on what is moral and our opinion of what common sense is, so what I consider to be moral as well as typical common sense might not be the same as what you would consider to be moral and common sense. But I also think most people would disagree with you on your view that common sense and religiously derived moral values are at the opposite end of the spectrum over what is right. Homosexual behaviour just happens to be one of a few areas where it does come into contention, but for the most part I think they are very similar in what's right and wrong. Again it's all down to your own point of view on the subject. In regard to theocracies, I can only accept that yes they more than likely base what they consider to be right and wrong off their religious beliefs, but as I've stated in the above paragraphs that doesn't mean that it's mutually exclusive to common sense.[/size] [quote name='Siren']You've expressed a view that attempts to be compassionate yet true to your religious upbringing. You condemn homosexuality. You condemn executing someone for being homosexual. You condemn execution in general. And then to close it you express how it still doesn't give anyone the right to tell Iran and other Muslims to "Grow Up" because they don't agree with their laws?[/quote] [size=1]Alex what you must understand here is that I am as appalled at the execution of these two youths as anyone else here, and perhaps I haven't been as vocal in that respect as I have with other parts of the issue but that doesn't change the fact that I am appalled at their execution. Simply put Alex there are many things I disagree with about many governments across the world, many of which I've already given, but in my mind it all comes down to the simple statement from Christ "let he who is without sin cast the first stone." Yes some of the practices in Iran and other theocracies are very wrong, but there are plenty of practices by other non-theocracies and parts of the civilised world that are just as wrong, but we seem to be content to ignore them because it's convenient or we don't consider them to be as wrong as they are. It's a case of the slightly burned pot calling the incinerated kettle black, there's black on both of them, one far more so than the other but the slightly burned kettle can't ignore that it's got a little black on it too. I'm not saying that people shouldn't condemn this act, but they must first look at the wrongs going on in their own country before they can point at Iran's wrongdoings. I hope that explains it, it's nothing to do with letting Iran get away with this kind of brutal and excessive justice, it's merely that people need to look at their own sins before getting all high and mighty. [/size] [quote=Siren]It's almost as if you're hiding behind religious doctrine (or perhaps moral relativity) so you don't have to come to terms with what the truth of the matter is: They don't agree with their laws because their laws are unjust...[i]even from a theocratic perspective.[/i][/quote] [size=1]And I agree with you one-hundred percent Alex, it is unjust to execute someone because they're different, whether that be a physical/gender/sexually oriented/physically or mentally handicapped/age/race or any other kind of difference. Actually it's not just "unjust", it's utterly wrong. It's wrong to cut off someone's hand because they steal, it's wrong to kill someone because they've committed a sin, regardless of how grievous. But as I've said before people looking in at the situation must first accept that they're not exactly the pinnacle of moral authority, and must accept their own wrongdoings as well. I'm not hiding behind my religious beliefs or doctrine, I'm just saying what I believe, just as others are, though perhaps now I've expanded it enough to make proper sense. I don't in any way support such acts but I don't agree with people lording their so called civilised beliefs when in their own country felons are executed with poison or electricity and a woman who doesn?t want to keep the child she?s carrying can just have it killed. I hope now people understand what I was getting at.[/size] [quote name='Siren']Some of the only times in the history of the human race where we've seen this type of judicial proceedings are things like the Inquisition. People love bringing up the Crusades here...but I don't think people realize just how insane the Inquisition was. One side of my ancestoral tree ends at the Inquisition. There's no other history before that.[/quote] [size=1]I?m not denying that the Spanish Inquisition was wrong, I shudder to think how Catholic dogma could be twisted so far as to allowed people to break the Fifth Command, go against all the teaching of Christ and still feel like they were doing his work. But I can offer you similar circumstances throughout political history where acts mass murder and near genocide were considered right, in Ireland the Famine killed over 2.5 million people and forced that same number to emigrate or die as well. What most people don?t know is that there was no real famine, the potato crop failed yes, but Ireland produced far more than just potatoes in terms of agricultural produce. Unfortunately the British government at the time saw fit to export everything but the potato crop from Ireland and leave the people starve to death. An entirely economic and political decision which resulting in the death and mass emigration of over 5 million people, part of my ancestral tree ends at the famine, quite a large part in fact but the Famine isn?t considered an act of genocide, because it was covered over with the excuse of a famine. How many Japanese people?s family line ended at Hiroshima and Nagasaki ? Over one hundred and fifty thousand people killed with two bombs, how many more irradiated and left sterile ? How many more would give birth to disabled children because of that same fall-out ? I know it's slightly off what you were talking about, but we can all pick out events in history where the decision at the time was considered right and we now look back on it and see it as being so wrong.[/size] [quote=Siren]You seem to be treating this Iran thing as the norm when it comes to religious doctrine/theocracy, because that's simply what their religion says. Things like that are not the norm and largely, have never been the norm. After hearing about stuff like this, people tell Iran to grow up for a very valid reason: because the law is childish and infantile and represents a rather naive worldview one would find in a three-year-old. Nobody here is insulting Iran for the sake of insulting Iran, and nobody here is insulting Chabichou for the sake of insulting her. People are insulting them because what they're saying and doing are downright absurd and echo more elementary schoolyard sentiments than respectable political governance.[/quote] [size=1]I'm not treating Iran as though it were the norm when it comes to theocracies or religious doctrine, because there are other theocracies like Vatican City for instance where law is derived from religious-based morals and the worst you hear about is some women complaining they have to cover themselves a little more, in Vatican City or more precisely the Vatican itself clothing must cover down to the calves and to elbows, which you have to admit isn't a huge request. As for the "grow up" statement, well Alex I could easily turn round and tell the Americans to "grow up" and stop executing their felons for crimes, that they should have a more civilised way of dealing with their worst offenders rather than just poisoning or electrocuting them to death. I could turn round and tell them to grow up and stop killing their unborn children by allowing women to have abortions, because regardless of impinging their much vaunted right to choose it's murder, plain and simple and just as horrific as the murders in Iran. I could turn round and tell them to grow up and actually implement some decent laws regarding firearms when so many people are killed every year through gun violence. I could label more than few American laws as being childish and infantile in their nature Alex, and really childish and infantile would be the polite way to put it as there are much stronger and more accurate words that could be used. I'm more than well aware that America has executed murders judged to be mentally disabled with only the mental age of a child, as I recall the last case took place under "the Governator" in California and Texas is one of the few states that executed minors. So really there are more than few instances of disrepute in the American justice system. Yes Alex it may be downright absurd to agree with the murder of people who have a different sexual orientation, but is it not also downright absurd to agree with the execution of criminals with the mental age of a seven year old ? Is it not also downright absurd to agree with the execution of minors ? Is it not also downright absurd to agree with the murder of an unborn child simply because the mother doesn't want it ? Again I'm not agreeing with what happened and continues to happen in Iran, but I don't agree with people lording their own set of principles over someone else where there are plenty of instances where the law is not so civilised in their own nation and may be better compared with elementary schoolyard sentiments than respectable political governance. Chabichou believes that the law in Iran is correct because it's Islamic law, thus God's law and cannot be wrong, this is her opinion and even if it sounds to you Alex like something said by a child in elementary school it's her right to believe it's correct. [/size] [quote name='Siren']I don't want to point out the irony there, but...you've been telling us we have no right to criticize a clearly twisted government that's violating all sorts of human rights, seemingly because we have no place there, because it isn't our place to judge. Gavin, you're a smart guy, so you know where I'm going with this.[/quote] [size=1]Yes, I do appear to have gone an contradicted myself here, though that single quote was taken slightly out of context it does still hold it's own relevance. I never meant, despite what I said that people have no right to criticize what happens in Iran, if they disagree with a system of government or the laws of another country they have the right to disagree with them, but do they have the right to demand that Iran and other countries with Islamic Law to change because they do not accommodate their personal beliefs on morals, right, wrong and common sense ? Do I have the right to demand the Britain and America and all other countries that allow abortion to make it illegal simply because I and people of the same opinion consider it to be wrong ? I have the right to disagree with the law, I have the right to call the law a hundred discourteous names, but do I have the right to demand it be changed simply because I disagree with the law when other, and perhaps even the vast majority of those in the country itself agree with it ?[/size]

[SIZE=1]I'll give you a semi-complete sign up Corey as I'm still working what would be an acceptable power to take. [B]Name:[/B] John Edward Griffin [B]Age:[/B] 29 [B]Appearence:[/B] [url=http://adventkane.250free.com/Fraser.jpg]Jack[/url] [[i]Will Add more[/i]] [B]Abilities:[/B] [[i]Will Edit[/i]][/SIZE]

[QUOTE=Ilium][COLOR=DarkRed] There's one big flaw with your logic. You said it yourself, to CHRISTIANS, Hell is real. To the rest of us (That is to say, to Athiests) Hell may be nothing but an old childrens tale. But no one, NO ONE, (Ok, except maybe Scientologists. But they're nuts) can deny that cancer exists. And what if, perhaps, your religion was wrong. What if your metaphorical 'Cure for cancer' was infact just a a plesebo (SP?) drug that did nothing to stop cancer, and that the Cure for Cancer was on the path that you lead them away from. People can decide for themselves without missionaries kicking down their doors. (And I would know. 10 times a month those buggers show up, practically kick in my door, and make me listen to their boring lectures. I called the police a couple of times.) [/COLOR][/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]Again Ilium it's all down to faith, those Christians trying to convert you believe that they are right, that by converting you to Christianity they're saving you from an eternity in Hell. Until we actually die none of us can ever be sure, and then when we're dead we're not going to be able to tell anyone whether we were wrong or right. Again it's all down to faith. [/SIZE]

[quote name='Sage']I know it's wrong to generalize all Christians into one (and again I apologize if it seems I've done that) because Christiany has divided into so many parts: Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Baptist, Anglican and all the sects that have separated theirselves from it, like the Mormons and Adventist etc. I reckon that not even all Christians realize how divided their own religion is...[/quote] [SIZE=1]That's one of the truest statements I've read in a while, most Christians don't even consider themselves primarily as Christian, rather they go by which Church they are part of. I refer to myself as being Roman Catholic because there are inherent differences between the different Church dogmas, which is really why you can't accurately generalise with Christians unless you're talking about specific things common to [B]all[/B] Christians. I'm not saying differentiating between each sect, for the lack of a better word is a good thing but better to be accurate in what you're debating I suppose.[/SIZE] [quote name='Ilium][COLOR=DarkRed']Than, by definition, all Christians (True Christians) are Facists. They are all guilty of 'Gentle Genocide.' Even if the intentions are good, that's notihng but imposing one's will on others. [/COLOR][/quote] [size=1]Ilium I really wish you'd use the correct term to describe someone, rather than just a derogatary insult because you disagree with their beliefs. In the other thread you called Chabichou a "[I]fundamentalist[/I]" because of her position, and now you've called all Christians "[I]fascists[/I]" because they believe they are helping people by trying to ensure they don't go to Hell. Again it's all down to faith, which is why this argument can't be won, I don't agree with trying to convert people if they don't want to be converted. I may hold the position that I'd be helping them if I do, but I'm not going to ignore their free will if they don't want to. But really how many people could be labelled as Fascists for trying to change the will of others ? How many people here could be labelled as Fascists under Ilium's grasp of the word because they've tried to change people's minds on issues. Here's the actual meaning of Fascist Ilium, as well as the actual meaning of Fascism.[/size] [QUOTE=http://dictionary.cambridge.org][SIZE=1][B]fascist [/B] noun [C] 1 someone who supports fascism 2 a person of the far right in politics 3 DISAPPROVING someone who does not allow any opposition: [I]He reckons all policemen are fascists and bullies.[/I][/SIZE][/QUOTE] [quote=http://dictionary.cambridge.org][SIZE=1][B]Fascism[/B] noun [U] a political system based on a very powerful leader, state control and extreme pride in country and race, and in which political opposition is not allowed[/SIZE][/quote] [quote=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism][SIZE=1]The term fascism has come to mean any system of government resembling Mussolini's, that in various combinations: [list]exalts the nation, (and in some cases the race, culture, or religion) above the [*]individual, with the state apparatus being supreme. [*]stresses loyalty to a single leader. [*]uses violence and modern techniques of propaganda and censorship to forcibly [*]suppress political opposition. [*]engages in severe economic and social regimentation. [*]engages in syndicalist corporatism. [*]implements totalitarian systems. [*]As a populist social movement prior to gaining government power, fascism displays different characteristics.[/list] In an article in the 1932 Enciclopedia Italiana, written by Giovanni Gentile and attributed to Benito Mussolini, fascism is described as a system in which "The State not only is authority which governs and molds individual wills with laws and values of spiritual life, but it is also power which makes its will prevail abroad... For the Fascist, everything is within the State and... neither individuals nor groups are outside the State... For Fascism, the State is an absolute, before which individuals or groups are only relative..."[/SIZE][/quote]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. Even though cyber-sex doesn't actually count as cheating, because there's not physical intercourse it does break the spirit of the rule because you are engaging in a sexual act with another person. Of course this only counts if you are in a relationship with someone and then go have cyber-sex with somebody else, if you're not in a relationship then this could be counted as a sexual act a step above pleasuring yourself while reading/watching pornography but a step below real intimacy. Is it wrong ? I don't really know, yes if you're dating somebody, maybe not if you're single. Again I don't really know. [/SIZE]

[QUOTE=Dagger]To draw an analogy, I don't think that adultery (heterosexual or otherwise) is okay, but this doesn't mean I necessarily want it to be punishable by torture and/or death. Siren's post about what constitutes a just law is perhaps the clearest and most relevant argument which has appeared in this thread so far, I think. From a religious perspective, wouldn't it be better to treat "wayward" sexual tendencies with attempts at rehabilitation? ~Dagger~[/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]Unfortunately Dagger those who actively pursue homosexual relationships aren't just wayward sheep in need of being returned to the flock, homosexuality is considered quite a grievous sin against God because it goes against His plan. I know it sounds like a trite answer and you'll probably have heard it before, but from my point of view God created Male [Adam] and Female [Eve] in order to create the human race. Now that's something from Genesis which has to be taken figuratively because such incest would result in genetic breakdown after a few generations, but if we look at it from a purely scientific point of view only males and females are capable of natural reproduction together. And as reproduction is the core of any bonding pair (such as a couple) then it could be said that homosexuality is an abnormality because it cannot render offspring, trite yes but the crux of the matter. Religious people see homosexuality as a [B]perversion[/B] of His work, which is why someone who actively pursues homosexuality can't be considered just wayward, though rehabilitation would be the welcomed outcome. I don't particularly enjoy debating the rights and wrongs of homosexuality, no scratch that, I don't at all enjoy it because all it does is raise hassle between the religious members and those who disagree with our position. I believe this would be a very appropriate time to agree to disagree.[/size] [quote name='Ilium][COLOR=DarkRed']Oh Fundimentalist Islam... when will thee learn... Islam (Along with Catholisism and a few others Religions) never made the big great leap out of the Middle Ages. Why is it so damned hard for you to just say "Ya, well, I don't particularily like that, but they can do whatever they want?" Also, just because it's a Sin is the eyes of the Islamic world, does that mean it should be punishable by death? I mean eating Pork is a sin, do people get hanged for that? Grow up Islam. Grow up Iran. [/COLOR][/quote] [SIZE=1]Ilium there's a huge difference between a "[I]fundamentalist[/I]" and someone who is just expressing their opinion based on their religious beliefs. And for you to just label Chabichou as a fundamentalist because you don't agree with her opinion is ignorance of the highest calibre. I also take offence to you claiming that Catholicism has "[i]never made the big great leap out of the Middle Ages[/i]", again just because the dogma of the Catholic Church doesn't mirror your beliefs, such as a young person suffering from depression should turn to drugs to help get them through it. It's not hard to say "[i]Ya, well, I don't particularily like that, but they can do whatever they want?[/i]", I could say it but then I'd be lying because I don't believe it. And if I disagree with it then I'm perfectly within my rights to say I disagree with it, I disagree with homosexuality because it goes against my religious beliefs, and those who practice it are committing terrible sins. Now it's not the I like complaining about it or I get some kind of kick out of it, but that fact is I'm worried about the souls of those who practice it, because whether or not you believe in or care about God, He believes in and cares for you. So taking the position of "[i]Ya, well, I don't particularily like that, but they can do whatever they want?[/i]" isn't acceptable. At the beginning of this thread I gave my reasons for disagreeing with their execution, as well as execution in all forms. I don't believe that someone should die for committing a sin, regardless of how serious it is, because sinning is breaking God's law and only God has the right to judge for that. Just as for breaking the laws of a nation, we punish them according to our judicial system. But that doesn't give you the right to tell the people of Iran and other Muslims to "[I]Grow Up[/I]" because you disagree with their laws, traditions and customs. [/SIZE]

[quote name='Docbatman']nexus huh? Sound's interesting considering all i have so far is it's name. I've heard the word before and I think that it's a flashy word for a board but does it remind anyone else of star trek?[/quote] [SIZE=1]That was the first that hit me when I saw the forum, which proves my love of Star Trek has some use in the outside world. The movie itself was alright, though I didn't particularly like the way they messed around with Data's character. I'm wondering if the Moderator for The Nexus will have to change their username to Guinan or Soran, or one of the others who at one stage resided in the Nexus ? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. A story with potential, the characters aren't reminiscent of the television show or at least not similar enough to irritate me in the way the series does so often. Like the other's have said the level of detail needs to be upped, even if it is only your character's house I'd like to hear a bit about it, where's the TV ? Does your character's mother do much cooking ? Is she a good cook ? You know hear a bit about what might be some of the main character's influences. It's just a thought though, take it as you please[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. I have to admit the splash graphic is a small bit bright for my tastes, the character and text don't really blend in well either but again that's just my opinion, once you're happy with it that's all that really counts. I'm with the others in regard to [b]Ichigo Swirl[/b] and [b]Fight Nights[/b], the background of Ichigo Swirl just doesn't blend in well with the sword, and Fight Nights motion effect doesn't really gel well with the rest of the image. I love [B]Anethesia Touch[/B] however, it looks like the sun just kind of peeking through the leaves in a tropical jungle, the colours themselves aren't too bright but still have a vibrancy to them that seems to scream life. I really do like this image, it's very natural and soothing. [b]Music[/b[ has a kind of retro feel to it, at least that's what sticks out to me. The colours themselves are kind of reminiscent to a disco ball, though the light and dark would seem to do more so with modern clubs with strobe lights and the like. The text seems slightly out of place however, thought that's really the only problem with it. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting If you're looking for background images and the like poli7777777 I suggest you use the [B]Art by Request[/B] sub-forum, and once you upload the image it should tile itself. Hope I've been on some help.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. Most of what can be said has been said already, getting out and getting some new hobbies can work wonders when you're feeling depressed, however unless the root of the depression is dealt then you'll be fighting an up-hill battle of the worst kind. My advice is to go see someone qualified to help you, councillors can really help you through some bad times if you're willing to give it a shot, I was sceptical myself when I first went, but nearly a year on I can really see the value. If you haven't already duStAnDteArS explain your problem to your parents and get help from them to get in touch with someone who can help.[/SIZE] [QUOTE=Ilium][COLOR=DarkRed]Personally, I'd suggest Shrooms or Weed. I know all that hubub about how Drugs are bad and such, but if you stay away from coke, heroin, and PCP, you should be fine. Shrooms and weed. They do wonders for the immagination. But if you live in the US drugs are punishable by a hefty fine (In Canada they just make you share) so if you want to avoid that, try looking into new music or reading some new genre books. Or don't. Shrooms and Weed. Pick up some Pink Floyd and let the bells ring n' ring n' ring n' ring... If you need somthing new that is the way to go. [/COLOR][/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]Ilium even minor substance abuse is enough to get people that think that drugs are OK, and when they think that weed is OK it's only a matter of time before they move onto something stronger. Ecstasy, heroin and cocaine are just the next step on a very short ladder, a ladder that often leads to overdose and death. I'm just glad that duStAnDteArS has enough sense to see that drug abuse isn't the answer to his/her problems. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. People have really gone over most of what could be said, WW1 was a war just waiting to happen, Franz Ferdinand merely offered the match to the fuse. [FONT=Trebuchet MS][B]Base Details[/B] - Siegfriend Sassoon IF I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath, I?d live with scarlet Majors at the Base, And speed glum heroes up the line to death. You?d see me with my puffy petulant face, Guzzling and gulping in the best hotels, Reading the Roll of Honour. ?Poor young chap,? I?d say??I used to know his father well; Yes, we?ve lost heavily in this last scrap.? And when the war is done and youth stone dead, I?d toddle safely home and die?in bed. [/FONT] This is a poem I first learned back in First Year for my Junior Cert, the poem was written by Siegfried Sassoon an ex-officer turned satirical poet. It does really represent the officer class back in the Great War was saw the infantry as little more than cannon fodder for victory. [/SIZE] [QUOTE=Sean][SIZE=1]It's strange to think that if Adolf Hitler had been killed during the first World War then things could have been completley different, same if Churchill had been killed, maybe we would all be speaking German. But even though both wars have been played through, would have technology and medical science increased so much if the Wars didn't take place. I'm not saying that the wars were essentially a good thing, but we would be able to cure things today if we didn't have the medical research provided by the Germans. What else is horrible to think that children/teenagers younger than 17 were in the war, they faked there age, and signed-up with a new name, they were that much of patriots that they wanted to fight for King and Country at the age of 14.[/SIZE][/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]Indeed, the computer we all take for granted today made it?s first appearance in World War One to crack enemy codes, though it?s not surprising as science and technological development seems to spurred on much quicker during wartime than it is during times of peace. It does strike me how easily history might have changed if Hitler had been killed on World War One as he very nearly was, or if Winston Churchill hadn?t survived the war, makes you wonder what the world might be like today. The fact that children so young were willing to die is an admirable trait, though no less tragic when you consider how many youths may have died for such patriotism. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]I've already given a few here, so why not add a we more. [b]1] The Last Samurai:[/b] What can I say, this is very possibly Tom Cruise's best film, alright so it's not factually or historically accurate but really how many people who watch the film and enjoy it are really going to nit-pick that. The score to the film was something that really stuck out at me, it was just so moving and just perfectly set the tone throughout the film. Though Tom played his part admirably, my personal favourite cast member was Ken Watanabe as Katsumoto as he just had that whole "wise, brave, noble warrior" effect. A magnificent film, worth the watch even for Billy Connelly claiming he's Irish. [b]2] Batman Begins:[/b] This is the film that every Batman fan has been waiting to see, we've lived through Arnie and his horrific Mr Freeze as well as several other high profile but terrible castings and come out stronger for it. Having seen the other "attempts" and I use the word loosely to make a Batman film Chris Nolan succeeds where everyone else fails, the film is excellent, the cast is superb and there's very few flaws to the film, though I think the Batmobile was taken slightly out of proportion, still it was very cool. The Batman film we've wanted for so long. [b]3] Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith[/b] Alright so the New Trilogy wasn't what we all hoped for, the dialogue was at times horrifically bad, and there was Jar-Jar, but the lightsaber fights were really something to watch. Episode III makes it here for several reasons, the space battle at the beginning when easily outdoes anything in the Old Trilogy, we get to see Darth Sidious use a lightsaber not once but twice and he proves exactly why he is Dark Lord of the Sith. We get to watch Yoda fight as well all knew he could after Episode II, and let's not forget that utterly unforgettable lightsaber duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan. And after all that we get see the most brilliant bad guy ever make his official entrance, by which I refer to the "birth" of Darth Vader.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. For me there's absolutely no contest between Coke and Pepsi, Coke has a much fuller and sharper taste where as Pepsi is just a black, sugary, carbonated water with an awful after-taste. That said however that's the case in Ireland, because when I visited my aunt in London a few years back, must be about eight at this stage, Pepsi had a much better taste than it did back home, and between the two I couldn't really taste a big difference. Overall though I'm a Coke man through and through, and that's full Coke, no diet and definitely none of this Vanilla or Lemon stuff.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. I was baptised a Roman Catholic a few weeks after being born, most of my family are practicing Roman Catholics and we go to Mass every Sunday morning/Saturday evening in the local parish church. I've always been a Roman Catholic and my faith has always meant a huge amount to me, as anyone who knows me well is aware. Having faith is something that at least to me, transcends meaning, it's something that only those who have faith can understand, which is why those who don't often have trouble understanding where the value in it lies. I respect all religions and those who practice them, as well as those who practice none at all, it is their right to believe in what they believe just as I believe in what I believe, having faith is a personal thing, you can pray for other people but it's your faith that gives you a connection to something greater, in my case God. I may not have made that very clear because it's not something I find easy to explain. [/SIZE] [QUOTE=Killer7]OKay this might get a little controversial: Personally I used to be a Christian. I quit recently when I realized what God really was. God is just an excuse for somebody to have meaning in thier life, when in reality thier is no meaning in thier life. He is their to make people feel special about thier religion, and feel like they are better then Muslims, Jews, or whatever other religion you are. I was never really a big, Christian, I only went to Church on holidays, and an occasional Sunday..[/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]Killer7 you are aware that the God Muslims, Jews and Christians pray to is in fact the same God. So the fact that I'm Roman Catholic doesn't mean I go off to Muslims or Jews and say that my religion is better than theirs because I believe in God. Nor Killer7 is faith a way for people to have meaning in their lives, but as said before faith is something you have to experience before you can understand, but suffice to say while God does give meaning to my life he is not the be-all and end-all to it.[/SIZE] [QUOTE=Killer7]THe Bible: Come on, how can you listen to this? First off, their is a good chance everything was taken out of proportion. Also alot of Christians say that alot of the Old Testament is supposed be taken figuretively. Couldn't the same be true for the rest of the bible? For people who actually believed Genesis happened, I have one word: dinosaur, or did they not happen, just like Galileo's theries. So if you are still Christian, think about it. DOes a simple 2000 year old book mean a entire religion is true? NO, just like Aesop's fables don'tmean the Grim Reaper exists.[/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]Genesis is to be taken figuratively because it is something to allow people to comprehend it back then, just as we know understand how the planet and solar system was formed scientists are still arguing over why the most logical explanation of how the Universe was created "The Big Bang" actually happened, they think they can prove it happened but not why. As for the rest of the Old Testament it is pretty much historical documentation as Retri pointed out, the difference between the New and Old Testaments is that the New Testament was written in the last two thousand years and whether or not you believe it's true only matters in your own mind. I do believe it's true, where as fables are just fables.[/SIZE]

[quote name='Hack Helba][COLOR=RoyalBlue][FONT=Trebuchet MS]What'd I'd like to see is the defualt reply button to look that way and perhaps when you bring the cursor over it the arrows in would flash. Other than that I find everything to be well done and it all to be an enjoyable change.[/FONT'][/COLOR][/quote] [SIZE=1]That's exactly what I was thinking, only instead of flashing the arrows would build up one after another going from just a single to all five, like the Reply with Quote button but going from left to right. The animation just seems a bit quick to me, but hell that's just my opinion. [/SIZE]

[QUOTE=Rasetsutaisho]i still say if anyone wants to kill themselve seriously let them do it... they want it let them have it... ppl just arnt as important as everyone makes them[/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]Rasetsutaisho how are you to judge the value someone's life ? All life is important, as a life is something that is unique and irreplaceable, once a person dies that's it, they're gone (hopefully on to somewhere better) and there's nothing anyone can do to bring them back. If a member of your family wanted to die or someone you cared deeply for I'm sure you would consider their life important enough to try and convince them that suicide is not an answer to their problems.[/SIZE] [quote name='Charles][CENTER][IMG]http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/8608/youlose16kl.gif[/IMG'][/CENTER][/quote] [SIZE=1]Gene Wilder, the man with all the answers.[/SIZE]

[QUOTE=Dagger]I'm still having trouble wrapping my mind around this. I wish I could formulate a better argument, but my reaction to what he said is a little more on the visceral side. The first thing I don't understand is why what we think doesn't matter. To me it seems like you and others are saying that we as outsiders cannot judge this situation as being wrong. Or, to put it differently, I feel as though if everyone throughout history had the type of attitude being presented here, no progress would have ever been made. The main sense I got from Gavin's post was "Well, it's an unfair law, but for their own sake they just shouldn't have done it in the first place." I submit that there are times when defying the law is the right thing to do. Gay sex may not seem to be as noble a cause as, say, the Underground Railroad, but loving who you want to love without getting killed for it is in my opinion just as valid a thing to fight for as women's suffrage and other inherently personal rights. That's why reducing it to a matter of breaking the law and being punished for it really rubs me the wrong way. It's not an incorrect way of looking at the situation, but to me it seems rather callous. Traditions & customs are all very well, but they can't be used to excuse everything. I feel that it's perfectly within my rights to look at their law, whatever it stems from, and say flat-out that I think it's morally abhorrent. ~Dagger~[/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]Let me give you an example Dagger, in the Republic of Ireland abortion in all forms is illegal, there are no abortion clinics and abortion in this country is a crime with severe repercussions. Any women who wants a to have a legal abortion is then forced to travel to Northern Ireland or the UK to have one, which as you might guess adds extra financial cost to the whole affair. I disagree with abortion on the grounds that it is murder, plain and simple, the fact that the child cannot even defend itself makes this crime even more vile, and I believe that any woman who goes to the UK for an abortion and then comes back should face criminal charges. However I am not the law in my country, and they don't. Now in America and other parts of the civilised world, as we like to call it, abortion is an accepted norm, and those who practice such a profession are not considered murderers by the law because plain and simple it's legal. Now as vehemently as I disagree with such a practice being legal, it is, it's your "[B]custom[/B]" and your right to have one if you want to even if I disagree with it on a fundamental basis. But does the fact that abortion is illegal in my country and legal in yours give me the right to condemn it as "[B]morally abhorrent[/B]" ? No it doesn't, because you have your rights and I must respect them just as I would your laws. It is a sad fact that someone can be executed for being different, it's wrong, it is and I have no problem in saying that. But I don't have the right and neither to you or anyone to say that the laws of another nation are wrong or barbaric simply because we don't agree with them, how backward or offensive do you think a normal Iranian would find the murder of a child ? Probably horrendous, and how much more offensive and backward do you think that same Iranian would find it if he knew it was legal in some countries ? No county or person has the right to push his/her/their political, social or moral beliefs on other person or country, it's a fundamental right, regardless of how repulsive we find another cultures laws to be. I'm not excusing what happened to those two boys, I think it was wrong to execute them because I don't believe in capital punishment, but it's the law and they broke it. We all consider the law to be the basis of a civilised society, those who keep to the law are considered up-standing citizens and held in high regard, and those who break it are considered criminals and punished. We have complex systems of legislation to amend laws or make things that were illegal legal and vice-versa and to keep the very fabric of society together. In Iran it is believed that these laws are what is right and I have no place saying otherwise and neither does anyone else. It is unfortunate that two people died for breaking the law to be with one another, it is but that doesn't change the fact it's illegal. [/SIZE]

[QUOTE=Baron Samedi][size=1]No sweat, lol. :) And Gavin, as far as I'm aware, this was just a little freshen up, and v8 is till the goal at this point. I'm pretty sure of that, anyway.[/size][/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]Yeah I guess you're right, since Version 7.5 was meant to be implemented back in March or April wasn't it ? I does seem far more likely now if this is just a little "face lift" that Version 8 will be the next big revamp, though round here you can never really be one-hundred percent sure that'll be the case. James has a habit of just unveiling things and surprising people, kind of like Santa and Christmas.[/SIZE]

[QUOTE=Dagger]Gavin, I think you may need to sit back for a moment and consider what you just wrote. From what I can tell, you are implying that they decided to break the law and that what happened was simply the inevitable and unfortunate consequence of what they did. This perspective on the issue sort of staggers me, frankly, so I'll just leave off here for the time being. I'm not really sure what else to say. ~Dagger~[/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]Perhaps that didn't come out as clear as I would have liked it to, but what I was saying in essence was that if four-thousand people have been murdered for being homosexual then the two young men couldn't really plead that they were not aware it was illegal. I wasn't referring to anything anyone here had said, but to something in the article itself, I'll quote it to so it makes more sense.[/SIZE] [QUOTE]According to Iranian human rights campaigners, over 4000 lesbians and gay men have been executed since the Ayatollahs seized power in 1979. They admitted having gay sex (probably under torture) but claimed in their defense that most young boys had sex with each other and that they were not aware that homosexuality was punishable by death,"[/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]I'm just saying that if four-thousand people were killed for being homosexual then it is unlikely that these two young men were unaware it was illegal. I'm not saying it's impossible there weren't aware, but such a large number of murders for one reason would in my mind disseminate the knowledge that such acts were in fact illegal. If they were truly unaware it was illegal then the loss of life is ever more saddening.[/SIZE]

[quote name='Baron Samedi][size=1']To expand on Petie's post, there have already been calls for new themes, but James, our resident Site Director is a busy fellow. Not only that, but there are several updates planned for OB that are in the works, and themes'll be broken if you make them now. So, after the update, there may be more themes released, or public availability of a skin designing kit, but that'll happen when that happens.[/size][/quote] [SIZE=1]I'd been wondering about the fate of Version 7.5, I had thought it'd been abandoned in favour of just overhauling the site again for Version 8, as it was supposed to have been implemented back before the beginning of the summer. Still this new lot of updated graphics and tweaks would seem to indicate it's not as dead as I thought it to have been.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. A fascinating lot to say the least, this is the first time I've ever seen anyone incorporate quotes into their thread. One thing I'll say for having a thread for all your work is that you never misplace any of it, however you are then reliant on other people posting so that you can add new stuff without it double posting or just having to continuously edit and add. Still onto the material. I have to admit that poetry is slightly morbid for my taste, although you have it written in such a way that it almost masks the morose nature of the poetry so that you can actually read through it and admire the style. [B]"Me and You"[/b] is undoubtedly about relationships, though I'm wondering what aspect, it is a new couple ? A pair of newlyweds ? Or a pair just about to take the plunge and get married ? Still, a well written poem. [b]"Reality"[/b], another poem on the theme of relationships, "[I]reality is so overrated[/I]" there are times when that statement is very true. The style in which the poem is written allows the lines to flow very easily as you read them, something which poems on the theme of relationships often lack, you need only visit an English class and listen to the depressed drivel some people produce to enjoy this. With the songs, I have to admit I'd need to here the beat to them before I could make a definitive comment on them. They seem to follow the same theme of relationships as the poetry did, though the material seems to read faster than the poetry did, although that might be down to the fact that I'm listening to music while I read them and trying to work out a beat. No, I'd definitely need to know the beat or what song to hum to in order to make an accurate judgement. The quotes are interesting, some of them do have wisdom to them, "[I]A life alone is no life at all.[/I]" being the most pertinent, though others like "[i]The permanent solution to a temporary problem.[/I]" escape me at the moment, though will seem all too obvious when someone explains it to me. The quote "[I]If you love her then go for it, if not, then what are we talking for?[/I]" goes damn near ignored today, as some people seem content to stay in a relationship with someone they don't love because it's easier than having to tell them they don't love them. I look forward to the next instalment of poems, songs and quotes. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. I read over the article with a mixture of sadness and disbelief, sadness at the loss of two young lives and disbelief that such an act would be carried out and considered an appropriate punishment. I disagree with homosexuality on a fundamental level, I do this not because I'm a homophobe but because my faith requires me to. But by that same token I do not regard the life of a person who is homosexual as being any less precious and sacred than anyone else's, because my faith also stipulates I do. I oppose capital punishment vehemently, because life is something that nobody has the right to take from another, regardless of whether or not it's sanctioned by law. But the customs and laws of Iran are the customs and laws of Iran, and I have no right to say that they are wrong because I disagree with them, the fact is that I must respect their customs as I would anyone else's because it is a basic right of all people. It saddens me to no end that two young men lost their lives because they chose to break the law with their relationship, but they chose to pursue such a relationship when they more than likely knew it was against the law. I say this because it was stated that [B]four-thousand[/B] homosexual people have been executed in Iran for being homosexual, so it is more than likely that they were aware that it was a crime. Still it is a sad loss when a country murders it's own people and uses the law to justify it. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. I personally don't see how listing ways we've hurt other people through cruelty is funny, in fact I'd say it reflects badly on anyone who has posted their own acts here. Lumpy3922 had the right idea, anyway who causes hurt to another person through callous acts deserves to be chastised for it, it's not funny and certainly not fair on the person who it's done to. [/SIZE]