Gavin

[quote name='ShadO MagE][color=silver'] The reason they stay the religion they were raised once they can choose their own relegion? you answered it you self, they were raised that way. I'm not saying they don't choose to be the relegion they were raised, or that people raised one relegion never change to another. But what I am trying to say is that humans fear change, and if they were raised one way they tend to stay that way. Lets, for example, replace relegion with rascism, why is it that people who are raised as rascist stay rascist, and people who arn't raised as rascist are rarely rascist? (this is an example, and I know there are people who were raised rascist and now arn't and people who wern't and now are). But again this isn't ment to offend, just to explain my view of what BasouKazuma is saying.[/color][/quote] [SIZE=1]I'm not sure where to begin addressing that statement ShadO MagE, in one fell swoop you've compared racism to religion and echoed Basou in claiming that those who share the same faith as their parents are brainwashed and too afraid to go and change their faith because it's easier to stick the the one they were raised on. That may not have been your intention but it is basically what you have said. I don't change my religion for the simple fact that I believe it's the correct one, just as those who believe in a different religion to mine believe that their's is the correct one. Again the operative word is belief, but fear and faith are very, very far from being the same thing, I can't explain faith properly because it's something that has to be experienced. I can't say any more than that because there isn't really anything more can be said about it, faith is faith and it's not something that can be defined. [/SIZE]

[quote name='Kamuro][SIZE=1']I don't know. Maybe I'm simply upset at the fact that someone I've never met, and knows nothing about me, is choosing what "appropriate" is for someone my age. Generalizing obviously isn't the way to go concerning such serious matters. So one mentally disturbed person go's out and kills someone because they "saw it in a video game," in turn decreasing the government's estimation of kids' maturity. They go purely on assumption.[/SIZE][/quote] [SIZE=1]The unfortunate problem Kamuro is that for the most part age ratings work, they're designed to prevent younger people from accessing materials or seeing things that they shouldn't see until they're deemed ready once they hit an age. If the group responsible for giving the rating able to give an appropriate rating, or the company that created the game doesn't submit the proper information for the rater to give a proper rating, or a store sells the game to those under the age then it's only natural that problems are going to occur. As much as a dislike the idea, ratings work because as mature as some children consider themselves to be, they may not be ready to see everything they're going to see if they get games that are rated for ages above them. Imagine if you will if a Grand Theft Auto game, or GTA clone is ever created is such realism that the violence and criminal offences in it are reproduced in life-like detail, watching some poor bastards brains splatter all over a wall in grotesque detail after a bullet. Or watching the blood spray from an open knife wound, while listening to the person scream in pain and terror, or taking a baseball bat to the skull of an old women for a few dollars and seeing her head turn to pulp, you get the idea. Though I have said that videogame or movie violence doesn't influence people, a twelve or fourteen year old shouldn't see such things as I have described above at such an age, hell at any age. Grand Theft Auto is fortunate it's violence has always had a cartoonish side to it, it doesn't look real, which is why Manhunt is regarded with a sense of horror and GTA with a sense of "it's just a game". Ratings are there to give people an idea of what to expect, and if the government make an assumption about how mature fifteen/sixteen/seventeen or eighteen year olds are then that's their prerogative. I agree that politicians shouldn't use Grand Theft Auto or games like it to generalise all games, but certain games do need to be rated in order to keep them away from those who shouldn't see the content of it. I agree also that ID should be required for people to buy 18s rated games, just as they would for movies or videos, but laziness on the behalf of some just stokes the fury of over-zealous parents and politicians. [/SIZE] [quote name='Bio][font=Trebuchet MS]The whole thing is ludicrous. The previous generation will [b]always[/b] have problems with the current generation -- it's always been that way. People seem to easily forget that [b]they[/b] were once called a bad generation by [b]their[/b'] parents.[/font][/quote] [SIZE=1]Exactly, but it's not something you're going to hear, because as soon as a parent gets the opportunity to condemn something they see their child enjoying, all their (the parent's) acts as a young adult disappear from memory. My father for instance had long hair at my age, longer than mine and yet he feels it's appropriate to demand I get a hair cut because he dislikes it.[/SIZE]

[QUOTE=James][font=franklin gothic medium]Bingo. That's why it's there. ^_^ However, I have an idea for a button that will contain animation with greater subtlety (but still be animated). Hopefully you'll see that quite soon, among a few other little fixes.[/font][/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]That new Jukebox button is nothing short of excellent, the little waves are just too cool, though if James says he has something better on the way then there's something better on the way. One other little fix I might suggest James is for PMs, just to make the "[b]Forward[/b]" button the same as the "[b]Reply[/b]" so that they match properly. Other than that I await with held breath to see what new tweaks, fixes and graphics you'll add.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting.[/SIZE] [QUOTE=James][font=franklin gothic medium]I think it's important in any discussion about suicide (or anything of this nature), not to make general, sweeping statements. Or at least, not to make assumptions. Many of us probably know someone who has committed suicide, or someone who has actually been suicidal. My uncle on my dad's side committed suicide for example. What's my opinion on suicide? Well, it's a mixture of things. It's tragic, it's selfish, it's heartbreaking, it's pathetic, it's sometimes inevitable, it's sometimes easily-preventable, it's sometimes image-related and sometimes highly genuine, it's a last resort, etc etc... I don't think I could ever apply one particular view to it. This is because each circumstance is quite different. Sometimes - and quite often, it seems - suicide is about revenge on the living, about attention-seeking. When I say this, I think I do risk being misinterpreted. When I say that, I don't mean that it's some hollow thing and that people who take their lives are normal human beings who are simply being bratty. No, not at all. Actually, attetion-seeking can still be the [i]symptom[/i] of very serious problems. And that's important to remember. People can commit suicide over relatively trivial things (like a partner leaving them - trivial in terms of overall existence) and their reasons for doing so might be to get back at that person. Does this mean that their feelings of emptiness or betrayal are any less severe? No. It's just that they are having an extreme reaction to the situation. Of course, there are many other reasons for suicide. Sometimes suicide is somewhat accidental (in the case of many drug overdoses - perhaps it's almost inevitable in some of those cases, but also slightly unintentional). Sometimes suicide is the result of a failed "failed attempt", which is ironic but true at times. So yeah, I do think that as with anything, it's important to appreciate the many circumstances that can be in play here. Is suicide preventable? In many cases, it probably is. But sometimes people are built a certain way, I think - they are less able to cope and perhaps they are inherently unable to acquire the tools to do so. As a result, it is presumably much more difficult to prevent something like this. So yes, you can [i]try[/i] to help someone. But they have to [i]want[/i] to make a change, just as with drug addiction or anything else. No amount of talking or preaching or whatever is going to make an iota of difference if that person has no desire whatsoever to get assistance. The main thing that annoys me about suicide is the people who wear it on their sleeve like some kind of badge of honor. You know, constantly telling us about their millions of suicide attempts, or always talking in suicidal terms - but without having any intention to carry it out and without being truly suicidal. Not only do such people do a tremendous disservice to those with real problems, but they also cynically attract attention/admiration/sympathy from those around them. [i]That[/i] kind of fakeness is the sort of thing that I really despise.[/font][/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]James has summed up many of my thoughts on suicide, it's always a tragic thing, regardless of the circumstance, but most especially when that suicide is a young person. I suppose I'm lucky to have only ever known one person who committed suicide, his name was Peter and I went to High School with him. His suicide was an accident, though it was motivated by problems at home, he took a concoction of tablets in an effort to frighten his mother whom he'd had a bad row with. When he was brought to hospital he was told that his "stunt" for the lack of a better word was not reversible and that he was going to die. When I first heard about it I was angry, angry at Peter for pulling such a stupid stunt that would result in such pain for his family. Peter was eighteen when he died, just after celebrating his 18th birthday a few nights before, he was preparing for his last set of State exams before going on to college. Here was a person who had his whole life ahead of him, and he threw it all away over a stupid argument. Other than Peter, back when I was in primary school the brother of a classmate of mine committed suicide, he'd been going through bad depression and saw suicide as the one way he could end his suffering. Darragh was only eleven or twelve when his brother killed himself, and to this day more than seven years later I can still see the effects his brother's suicide inflicted on him. Darragh went from being a happy, normal boy to being so quiet it was hard to get more than a few words out of him at any given time. Suicide is a tragic thing, because it can't be undone no matter how much you wish it could be. The pain of the person who commits suicide is over, but the pain it causes the family and friends is only beginning, and that pain sometimes never goes away. Life is a gift, unlike how many people treat it, because nobody knows exactly how long they have. And I'm not talking as some Roman Catholic who's just spurting my dogmatic view of the situation, I've known terrible depression, and at times during that depression I wanted to kill myself because I felt to inadequate and I didn't want to go on feeling that way. I got through it because I know what suicide does to the people you know, and I didn't want to put my family though the pain suicide causes. As James said in the majority of cases depression and suicide are treatable, but that person has to want to be treated and all the dogma spewed and heartfelt pleas will not make one damn bit of difference if they don't. Suicide is wrong for so many reasons, it cheapens life, the life of the person and those around them. It's never the answer that people think it will be, because once you're dead that's it, either you're a believer like me and you think the person goes to Hell or you're an non-believer and you mourn the fact that such a precious thing as life has been wasted. I'm not going to try and change anybody's mind because in the end suicide is what you make of it.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. I recall the last time this topic came up on Otaku[B]boards[/B], or was it someone's MyOtaku ? Never mind it doesn't really matter, I remember posting that I thought that there has been a decline in the overall quality of the boards, or at least the sections of the boards I visit as I stay the heck away from the Anime forums. However since then my opinion has done a one-eighty and I think that the quality as a whole on the boards have improved steadily, and have always been improving (nostalgia may have cause me to believe otherwise last time) for as long as I've been here. Generally people who are new to boards aren't very sure of themselves and as a result their posts can be somewhat spammy, however given enough time and encouragement they get more comfortable here and their post quality improves in leaps and bounds. As with any boards you will get the odd few people who post like n00bs and will continue to do so because it suits them, however as Des has said they usually either get bored and go of their own accord or are banned by our excellent Moderators. [/SIZE] [quote name='Kamuro][SIZE=1']As James said, there?s been plenty of threads concerning post quality. We can all come to our own conclusion on the matter. For some reason the little lock symbol seems to attract people's eyes away from the 9687586 posts without it lol. The boards are even more attractive now cause of James' new skin ;) , and there?s new people all over. It's only natural to have posts of ill-nature or lacking of substance, but once they find their "groove" around the forum everything works out fine and we're better off for it.[/SIZE][/quote] [SIZE=1]My thought exactly Kamuro, it seems that that little lock causes so much interest in the thread, perhaps it should be changed to a rather bland icon and people won't take any notice.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. The simple fact is that Otakuboards is a continuously growing and expanding board, it?s been around since it?s V1 incarnation back in 2000 and now with V7 in 2005 we have over seventeen thousand members. It?s only natural in that space of time that threads are going to be repeated over a few times, new members have a look around the different forums and post threads about topics they want to talk about, just because that thread came up before that new member arrived doesn?t make it any less worthy of discussion. Now if the same thread comes up twice on the same page, or is brought up twice or three times in a month it?s a different story and the creator can be redirected by a Moderator to a similar thread. But it?s hardly fair to expect every new member to look over every thread since the beginning of V3 (as that?s the first incarnation of these particular forums) just because a thread might have occurred once or twice since before then. Debate topics like abortion or homosexual marriage tend to come up two or three or four times a year, and people continue to post their opinions in them because they want to, or because their opinions have changed since the last thread was created, or because new members want to have their say on the matter. It?s that simple, so long as we get new members, and Otakuboards continue to exist we will have the same threads coming up. It?s not wrong, and it?s certainly not fair to complain about it just because you don?t want to post in those threads or are a little miffed that they come up so often. New members, or existing members for that matter have just as much right as you do to post about what they want to post about (so long as it?s no offensive and doesn?t break any rules) regardless of whether it?s come up before, and that?s the simple truth. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. Most of the one's I'm familiar with have already been said, Biggs, Wedge and Cid from the Final Fantasy Series, Zelda and Link from Legend of Zelda, Grand Theft Auto vs. Driver as well as series jokes in GTA, and the posters/magazines in Metal Gear Solid. One MGS one that nobody has mentioned so far is "Raiden's" appearance in Snake Eater, [spoiler]it was beyond satisfying to kick the ever loving crap out of that androgynous being, bury a bullet in his skull, take his things and then stuff him in a locker. Then of course the game goes on the reveal that " Ivan Raidenovitch Raikov" was in fact Thunderbolt's personal you-know-what,[/spoiler] giving us further reason to chortle at his expense. Worms has always had buckets of series jokes ranging from firm favourite weapons the Banana Bombs and Concrete Donkey, to the names of characters within the missions, which are often named after those who helped create the games.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. This really is some excellent stuff Jamie, although I feel slightly left out that you didn't do a little graphic for me, just kidding. I use Paint Shop Pro whenever I have it, and by have it I mean when I have a Trial Version that still works, as it's the only program that I've really gotten used to using. Still there's some really great stuff here Jamie, and I look forward to seeing more of it over the coming weeks and months.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. I don't have much experience with the subject, as no one in my family has ever been diagnosed with an illness, physical or otherwise that requires consistent medication. I do feel however in this modern "sixty second society", to quote one of English teachers that medication is being handed out far to easily, everything needs to have a quick cure because the world just keeps going, at least that's just my take on it. There are of course those who will require medication to overcome illnesses, and I don't in any way begrudge them needing it, however it seems that doctors and specialists are very quick to diagnose people with ADD or other such problems. I mean how many children really could suffer from ADD or a sister illnesses, in my old high school there were 350 students and I don't recall a single one of them being diagnosed with ADD. Many cases of ADD seem to be just used as an excuse to give a child medication rather than finding out the root of the problem.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. I think this is definitely an improvement on the old Liquid style, which I've had OB set to for as long as I can recall. Elegant is certainly one way that it could be described, though it has a kind of futuristic edge to it that Liquid has always had. Those Edit and Reply buttons really do fit the bill, like Neil said there's something oddly hypnotic about them, the Jukebox needs work to make it blend in better with the rest of the side bar, though I have no doubt that James will fix it up rightly. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. Alex sounds as if he's right on the money with this one, though until The Nexus actually opens we won't know for sure. If it does deal with MMORPGS or other Online Games specifically then it could be a breath of fresh air for those who start online gaming but then quit after a while because they know nobody and aren?t having a good time. The idea that we could nearly have our choice of clans to join is a very exciting prospect, and one that makes me want to get broadband all the sooner, though with SOE after turning SW: Galaxies into a clone of any other online RPG I?m probably going to stick with Guild Wars.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. I'm not one for madness in great proportions, so I'd almost certainly pick a few people who I consider good friends and just spend the six months getting to know them better. Corey, D'Ann, Annie, Jamie, Bill, Sean and Jordan, with that crew I reckon we'd probably spend most of the day sitting around chilling, and talking about RPG ideas, though there'd probably be a bit of silliness too as we all have our goofy sides. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. I have to agree with Gavin and Petie, if we did introduce a forum specifically for spamming then the quality on the rest of the boards would suffer as a whole. It would only be a matter of time before that spam would start to seep out of the designated forum and into others, because he if we have one part of the forum dedicated to it then why should be just open the flood gates and let everyone flame and spam when they're feeling a bit miffed. Another problem with that is that people might just start making ridiculously small threads and replies in that forum just to build up their post count, since the abolition of the other user titles it's not so much of a goal but would still be a problem with some people given the opportunity. Long story short, if people feel like ranting and spamming, use MyO, it's your own little section of TheOtaku and Otakubaords where you can swear your head off or spam without feeling guilty over it. There's no need to have the same over on OB.[/SIZE] [quote name='Siren']Not spamming...but for ranting, check out OL. ~_^[/quote] [SIZE=1]My thoughts exactly.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. I have to agree with Annie's first statement, that picture is very, very disturbing, going from Gene Wilder to [i]that[/i] would really take an odd imagination of Dahl's character. That said however I do think the picture is rather good, and has me wondering what Walken would be like as the Chocolate Maker, I think the glasses do suit Walken's face as it takes away from that edge that he always has. An interesting picture to be sure, and I think Walken could have made a very creepy and yet psychologically fascinating Wonka. Perhaps they could do a sequel with Walken featuring one of Wonka's competitors, Slugworth perhaps.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. Well well, this is a fascinating little thread if I do say so myself. Still it feels somewhat like jury duty having to make a choice between the two pictures, as they both express the theme of life so well, yet so differently. [b]Retribution:[/b] A beautiful, colourful piece of art that sum up early childhood to a tee. The curiosity and innocent open-eyed wonder of the child, the two dinky cars and the pair of ice-pops, all things we think of if we were to truly think of life, when is life so pure and good as it is when we are children. A beautiful, if finite view of life. [b]Sean:[/b] A different take on life, the mortality of it, to compare life to the blink of an eye, and in the span of time itself perhaps an accurate comparison. They skin tones are vivid and yet peaceful, though the open eye bears something in the colour of the iris that I can't quite put my finger on, fear perhaps ? The finality of all things, that life is something to be views as precious and never squandered, because in the end even the stars themselves will wink out of existence. A rather hard choice between two excellent representations, but my vote goes to [B]Sean[/B], his piece represents life more fully in my mind. Retribution's piece was excellent too, but that kind of life for such a short length of time that it's almost tragic. [/SIZE]

[quote name='Kitty][color=blue][size=1]No offense Gavin, but your post confused me.. >_>;; Conflicting could's and could-not's.[/size'][/color][/quote] [SIZE=1]Some people do find it confusing, but very often in my posts I argue both sides of an idea because I'm typing as I'm thinking, as though I were actually talking with someone about it. The simple reason is when I outline an ideas merits and it's drawbacks I can compare both and formulate an opinion on whether or not I agree with the idea from there. Confusing yes, but that's just how I am.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. I have to admit I find the premise to the film to be rather humorous, damn my gammy internet connection for not being fast enough to allow me to see that trailer, although not seeing the trailer doesn't spoil any scenes of the film such as Episode III's trailer did, pretending the whole "[I]Lord Vader... [Vader's line] ...Rise[/I]" bit came a near the end. Still the premise sounds good, and Depp is an actor I regard as being highly competent, it sounds like a very decent little film.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. Well I don't ever recall having an imaginary friend, although that's just talking to yourself taken one step further. I did however talk to myself quite a bit, and still do, something which I refuse to admit is a sign of mental instability, I'm as sane as any man who puts a sock on his hand and pretends it's a talking snake. I suppose one of the major reasons what I never developed an imaginary friend (apart from not being mad, just kidding) is the fact the I always had my brother to play with growing up, which is why I never needed to create an imaginary friend.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. How did I miss this before now ? A rather splendid little RPG idea Gavin, it's very similar to one you did before, who's name I simply cannot recall at this moment in time. I'm going to give you a partial sign up as I'm still working out some of the nuances to the character. [b]Your OtakuBoards Username:[/b] Gavin [b]Your Alias:[/b] The Quiet but Amiable Academic [b]Image:[/b] Need to find one. [b]Writing Piece:[/b] Need to write this.[/size]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. I don't recall this idea every being brought up before, but that doesn't take away from the fact that it is a rather intriguing idea. I suppose one of the reasons it hasn't be done before it the storage capacity it would need to do something like this, as well as the fact that banners are by nature like avatars something person made by the user. Still given the opportunity I don't see any reason why people couldn't submit fairly generic banners that others could go through and pick if they liked the look of them. I personally don't see any reason why it could be done.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]A truly intriguing RPG Neil, mind saving me a spot until I've worked out which side I'm going to play in ? Just a quick question Neil, as it relates directly to my sign up, are all the characters going to be Angels/Fallen Angels/Demons or can we have mortal characters who have to choose sides in the on coming war ?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1][b]The Force is strong with this one.[/b] All that can be really said about this next one, last week a friend of my uncle Colin became a father for the first time, to a healthy baby boy. The friend who was born on the day Star Wars was released in the cinema has always had a devout love of the series, including naming his dog [B]Chewbacca[/B]. Last week he took it on step further, giving his first born son the [B]Anakin O'Sullivan[/B], naturally enough his wife was less than happy with the name demanding he be called something else. When my uncle first called and told me about it three days ago I didn't think he was serious, but eventually I realised that he was and offered the name [B]Ben[/B] as a solution to the naming problem, seeing as how it was both a normal name but had a Star Wars side to it. Yesterday morning my uncle called me back saying that the couple liked the name Ben and had agreed to give him that name, [I]as his middle name[/I]. Seemingly Gerry [the father] wouldn't be swayed from calling the boy Anakin, but accepted [readily I might add] giving him Ben as his middle name, having previously dismissed Obi-Wan as a potential Christian name. So in the end the child will be named [b]Anakin Ben O'Sullivan[/b], and will be referred to by his middle name by his family [except maybe his father] and everyone else. I kid you not with this one folks, ask Annie as I was telling her yesterday on AIM.[/SIZE]

[quote name='Dragon Warrior]A very old online pal of mine named Desert Shadow (some of you may remember him... silly buckets!) showed it to me. This was when Otaku[b]Boards[/b] was first starting, so I've been here since Version One. Sadly, Desert Shadow isn't on here anymore, but I have spoken with him on Yahoo now and then. But yes, that is how Otaku[b]Boards[/b']' greatest super villain arrived >:^D[/quote] [SIZE=1]And so the mystery of how the uber-evil, yet devilishly "sexah" Black Mage of Otaku[B]Boards[/B] arrived is finally solved, though not so much solved as confessed. Without Gavin [DW] OtakuBoards would probably be a mirthless place, devoid of sexy tea-parties and other such highly entertaining events. Desert Shadow, you have our thanks. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. I don't personally believe in "[I]Love at First Sight[/I]", love in my opinion anyway is something that takes time to develop and blossom after truly getting to know and care about someone. Most cases at "Love at First Sight" are simply infatuation with the other person, a good female friend of mine has gone through at least three cases of "Love at First Sight" that have turned out to be nothing more than simple infatuation. I'm not saying it couldn't happen, but I don't think it would be that same kind of undying love that most people think of when the think of the word.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting. The only instance of a stray wandering into our house was earlier this summer, I was sitting out back reading, watching the cats when all of a sudden this big flash of white darts across my field of view. At first I thought it was a very large stray cat that wandered in, we do get them from time to time but they never interact with us which is what this was different. When it stopped, and the cats had all climbed up trees I saw that it was in fact a dog, a white mongrel terrier of some description. He sat there looking at me for a moment, wagging his tail and doing that thing with his tongue that dogs do when they're happy. He seemed very friendly, even jumping up on my leg looking for a bit of attention, so I patted him on the head and rubbed his back and sat there playing with him for a while. Eventually I got up a bit of a stick and started to play fetch with him, which he was remarkably good at, I wondered where he might have been from seeing as how we live out in the countryside and dogs tend to roam a little. I spend a good three hours out in the sun just messing around with him, had more fun that day than in a long time before that. He stayed in the garden for much of the day, going off to explore other parts of the farm and sheds around the house. I've lost dogs before, and so felt obligated to place a message on the local radio station asking if he was anyone's dog. I got no response from the radio message and when I woke up the next morning he was gone, probably either gone home or roaming off somewhere else. [/SIZE]