Charles

Oh, well, why not? "In any moment of decision, The best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing." --- Theodore Roosevelt "The happiest people seem to be Those who have no particular cause for being happy Except that they are so." --- William Ralph Inge I'm not sure who said this last one, but here goes: "Be nice to those you meet on the way up, because you never know who you'll meet on the way down."

There are a variety of reasons why people do things. I mean, on the most basic levels, there are biological and social needs that motivate people. But, I won't get into all that because I doubt that anyone would really want to read that stuff. I mean, it's information I picked up from psychology class, so it would probably come across as incredibly boring. The reward behavior that you're talking about, where actions are controlled by self rewarding consequences or reinforcements, are due to learned response-outcome associations. Like, there are primary reinforces and secondary reinforces. But, as I said, I could go on and on, and it wouldn't be very interesting. It sounds too scientific. I'll just say that some people put on a false face and do good deeds for their own benefit, but it's usually pretty easy to see through that kind of behavior. Others are genuinely nice. I guess it depends on how people are brought up.

[b][u]Silence[/u][/b] I rest alone with silence With silence as my friend A palpable listener Who's patient until the end I rest alone with silence With silence as my guide A wise oracle, an intent thinker From whom nothing I can hide I rest alone in silence With silence on my tongue Listen now to silence To the silent song that it has sung Now I wake alone in silence Find fiery particles bursting in the air A fusillade of daylight bleeds the sky red An instrument to compliment my silent despair.

[img]http://www.kcscottishgames.org/images/Caber4.jpg[/img] Groundskeeper Thomas was enjoying a normal Saturday afternoon until one of the nymphomaniac log people from outer space mistook his penis for a potential mate.

Yes, I'm sure that he was transported to Earth, but before Bibidi could release him from the ball, he was defeated by Kaioshin. I'm in agreement with the general consensus here. He was thirsty for the ultimate power--and his own arrogance made him believe that he could control it. I'd assume that he wanted to continue his father's legacy and extract revenge on Kaioshin. Logic probably didn't play a large part in his thought process.

This was probably Sandler's best movie since [i]Happy Gilmore[/i](I've not yet seen [i]Punchdrunk Love[/i]). I really enjoyed this one though. Jack Nicholson is great--his physical comedy was a great asset to the movie. His facial expressions were hilarious. And, the plot was a lot better than it was in films like [i]Little Nicky[/i] or [i]Mister Deeds[/i]. The humor was actually [i]funny[/i] and enjoyable. It didn't feel quite as forced--it was more natural. Towards the end, the movie took a turn for the worse and adopted a lot of the ridiculous traits apparent in all of Sandler's films, but it's probably one of the best comedies I've seen in quite a while. It's not worth seeing more than once though, since most of the comedy relies on shock physical stuff, like guys getting hit randomly out of the blue.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by gokents [/i] [B]And frankly, I would like to see an objective study from a reputable source that backs your "fact" that most gun deaths are from fits of rage and accidents... sorry, but I dont buy that.[/B][/QUOTE] How is this source? [quote][b]Guns kept in the home for self-protection are 22 times more likely to kill someone you know than they are to kill in self-defense. Kellermann, New England Journal of Medicine, 1997[/b][/quote] Now, as I said, most burglaries are committed when no one is at home. If the householder is home, and attempts to use a gun, he or she is more likely to get killed or wounded than to kill or deter the criminal. And, the idea I suggested isn't a perfect solution to ending criminal activity--there is no such thing. But, if handguns were more difficult to come by, and stricter laws were enforced on those who possess and use them, I'm sure that fewer criminals would have access to them. So, I'm not saying that the system we have now is perfect, but if the government were to do a nationwide crackdown, I'm sure that the results would be evident.

Well, Schratn9, you shouldn't give much thought to "married tags." They're usually just harmless fun. To my knowledge, very few people who include something like that in their signatures [i]actually[/i] intend to marry someone online. That being said, online dating isn't the best option. It lacks the personal intimacy that only a real relationship can deliver--and that's a big deal. So, I find the concept of someone having a "romantic" relationship with another individual, online, to be silly and dorkish. It's understandable if two people actually know one another and have to live apart for business or personal reasons for a period of time, and need the Internet to keep in touch, but people who've never met one another won't find a worthwhile, lasting relationship over the net. As for E-Dating services, well I've never used one, but I'd say it ranks somewhere near the method of finding a date in the newspaper. It may be a nice way to find others who live nearby with similar interests, but I believe that actually getting out there and meeting people in a social environment is the most healthy thing to do. It's too easy to unwittingly stumble upon weirds, otherwise, I'd imagine.

I suggest taking this up with wrist cutter via private message, youta.

I thought that it was a pretty good movie. The ending was really touching and beautiful. It's what made the film, for me. [spoiler]After seeing David endure so much cruelty and experience so little happiness, the scene where he hugged his mother moved me. When she told him she loved him and the narrator said "It was the one everlasting moment David had been waiting for his entire life," I can't describe it as anything but deeply touching. Great stuff.[/spoiler] I'm not the biggest fan of Spielberg. His greatest attribute is putting out stuff with great special effects. Otherwise, he doesn't seem to trust the audience to make assumptions on their own, so a lot of his direction seems to be over exaggerated and really blatant. But, A.I. was pretty cool nonetheless. It didn't know whether it wanted to be Pinocchio or a play on racism, which was probably its biggest downfall, but the acting, ending and atmosphere made up for its problems. So, yeah, I wouldn't rank it up there with American History X or Field of Dreams, but it's somewhere on my favorites list.

I wonder if anyone even read my initial post. lol Over the course of the last two pages, I've seen people justifying the ownership of handguns via the second amendment. I'll say it again--that argument is moot. The second amendment was drawn during a time of oppression, when the British were trying to disarm the colonists. It's purpose was to keep militias armed for the purpose of protecting democracy. None of you are members or a well regulated militia. Thus, it doesn't apply to you. I have also addressed the fact that most deaths that result from guns aren't committed by criminals or gang members; they result from accidents or fits of rage. [quote][b]Where do you draw the line? After guns, do we go after knives? What size knife? Because knives have common purpose. Especially if you a butcher. I don't know how many uses I've found for my trusty pen-knife.[/b][/quote] No, knives won't be outlawed. That's ridiculous. As has been said, it isn't a tool created for the sole purpose of killing. As I've pointed out before, an individual armed with only a knife, is less likely to rob a store than he is if he's armed with a gun. This reasoning doesn't imply that should handguns be outlawed, all crime will simply disappear. A rapist armed with a knife probably has a sufficient weapon. But, [i]some[/i] violent crime would decrease. And, as I've said, victims have a greater chance of escaping when a criminal is assaulting them with a knife. Also, as I've stated, hunters wouldn't be affected. Handguns are what need to be targeted--not rifles. Because handguns are not accurate beyond ten or fifteen feet, they are not the weapons of sportsmen. Their sole purpose is to kill or disable a person at close range. That should be sufficient grounds enough to end this pointless hunting issue. I will say, however, that animals that attack people aren't destroyed because they're evil. Animals aren't capable of being evil. They can't conceive a murder plot. They act upon instinct, bilogical impulse, or disease. If an animal bites a child, it's destroyed because it's considered dangerous. Furthermore, hunting is necessary to regulate the population level of certain species. If it weren't for hunting, deer would overpopulate areas and spill out onto highways in high numbers--creating a greater potential for motorist fatalities. So, the reasoning behind hunting for sport isn't limited to "fun." [quote][b]If I like the taste of humans, and I kill and eat them for nourishment, which we would give each other, would that be murder? People choose what they want for dinner. I'm craving some nice human spleen, sounds good eh?[/quote][/b] I know that you're only providing an example--but it's rather pointless. I don't even see a need for you to justify your argument with that rubbish. Arguing that it's acceptable to hunt humans for food in our society is ridiculous--even if not meant to be taken seriously. Especially when those who are using that argument are arguing against handguns because of their potential danger towards humanity, lol. That's contradictory, no? Cannibalism isn't even an issue here. So, I'll just drop it. I'll just say that it's against the law to kill people. It's not against the law to hunt animals of a lesser species for sport--because it serves a purpose (the aforementioned prevention of motorist fatalities, among other things). Heh, and most obviously, it's not deemed as morally deplorable by [b]society[/b]. So, here is what I suggest. Handguns should be outlawed. In addition to that, severe mandatory punishments are imposed on a person who uses one while committing a crime. Police will still have handguns and it will be these trained professionals whom we must rely on for protection against criminals. I mean, the efforts of private citizens to try to protect themselves with handguns have chiefly taken the lives not of criminals, but of innocent people.

People who commit suicide want people to feel sorry for them? I find that highly unlikely. Suicide is [i]powerful[/i]. I will say that; it causes a lot of pain, confusion and suffering for those involved with the victim. But, suicide isn't selfish in nature, no sir. It's not pointless or necessarily cowardice either. It's safe to say that most who commit suicide usually suffer from heavy psychological problems, like severe depression. If not, they don't realize the significance of taking their own life. They kill themselves without really [i]wanting[/i] to. In the back of their minds, they think that someone will stop them--or they just don't realize the finality of their actions. That much is common sense. The act of taking one's own life, tends to be the end result of feeling insignificant, though. Or, in some cases, individuals might view themselves as being a nuisance to those around them; they think that they'll be doing their loved ones a justice by taking themselves out of the picture. They probably doubt that they will be missed because they've not been given enough attention or have been wronged by someone they care about. Whatever the case, the future looks too bleak and worthless to pursue and the present is too painful to endure. So, [i]no[/i], people who commit suicide aren't [i]stupid[/i] and they aren't selfish--they're suffering. I'm not saying that suicide is the correct thing to do. But, I can understand where those with suicidal tendencies are coming from. And, I wonder. I wonder who's more selfish: Those who take their own lives, or those who view suicide as unjustifiable because they don't understand kind of pain the suicide victims were dealing with--because it makes them take a step back and look at their own mortality. And, in some cases, they have to look at themselves in the mirror and realize that their own ingorance played a part in the suicide victim's demise. Hm?

I would love to see him feud with Jericho. I would love to see promos with real life bad blood between the two spilling out. Like, how Goldberg refused to work with Jericho in WCW. But, I don't see it happening due to the animosity between the two. Especially after the events that transpired after last week's Raw. Other than Triple H or Jericho, I could only assume that they would turn Steiner heel and put him in a program with Goldberg. I mean, Steiner isn't really going anywhere as a face. And, his wrestling skills and mic skills aren't suitable to someone with a face persona. He's very rough neck. You know? So, turning Steiner heel would be a nice move for the WWE on many levels. He's a big name that they have no intention of pushing to title status, so why not feed him to Goldberg? Plus, Steiner has always worked better as a heel. So, yeah, that's what I would do.

The second amendment is moot. Look at the time in which it was drafted. The founding fathers of the Constitution were simply mindful of the British attempt to disarm the colonists and viewed the presence of a well-armed militia as a safeguard of democracy. Sure, at the time it was justifiable. But are owners of today's handguns members of a well regulated militia? No sir. We have armed forces, we don't require that ordinary citizens pick up arms and fight our wars for us. Now, if you think about it, the majority of murders aren't committed by hardened criminals. For the most part, victims of handguns know their victims well. These victims are people killed by jealous lovers, drinking buddies that get into a violent argument; or they're innocent people who get shot by disgruntled employees or fellow workers who have (or imagine) a grudge. Sometimes, the victims are children who play with their parents gun. I know that the aforementioned ordinary people, such as violent lovers and angry drunks would still attack others with knives or baseball bats, but some of the victims would have a greater opportunity to escape with less injury. That's what I think. Oh, and I'm sure that a teen armed with only a knife would be less likely to try to rob a store than he is if he is armed with a gun. Don't you? Anyway, I'm not trying to say that criminals [i]don't[/i] use guns to kill people--because they do. I'd be foolish to say otherwise. And--people have a right to be afraid when they're living in unsafe city environments. I don't blame them for wanting to buy a gun to protect their families. But, most burglaries are committed when no one is home. So, what does that mean? Handguns kept in a drawer of a bedside table or something, can get lifted right alongside jewelry and such, adding one more gun to the robber's possession. So, you know, I'm inclined to think that handguns in particular should be outlawed. The way I see it, homicide rates would decrease substantially if they were made so. Of course, people might obtain 'em nonetheless, but I'll bet that fewer petty criminals would have guns. I don't have a problem with rifles or large guns. They can't be concealed easily. So, it's not as if those who hunt for sport would be deprived of all their rights or anything.

Gosh, what can I say that these somewhat frightened responses don't? I'm very touched that I'm still able to thoroughly freak all of you out. This is the first one I've put up that most people don't even want to touch with a rating, so that's pretty cool. And yes, it is the 'dirty' dancing baby. I've decided to adopt it for my banner.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by sage [/i] [B]. And now, as I said, another Unofficial OB Survivor is starting at the recruitment section. (Funnily I get a feeling that nobody's listening to me... :therock: ) [/B][/QUOTE] If no one was listening to you, I wouldn't have commented on OB Survivor in my above post. ~_^

Before I change banners, I'd like to get everyone's opinion on my newest banner. I know that it's a bit rough around the edges, but I feel that it's as creative as anything else I've ever included in the ol' siggy. It's an animated gif, so you might have to wait a few moments for it to load all the way. [img]http://therob578.250free.com/Images/Babysing2.gif[/img] My boy Rob animated it, so it's not such a bad job overall, I'd say.

...boy named Mark who returned to Otakuboards and created another pointless topic. The mighty Charles rebanned him soon thereafter and he returned no more. -The end. [If you do create another account, I will ban your IP address. So, I advise you to find another forum to post at.]

I would love to get another event organized in the near future. One of our staff members was working on an event, but I haven't received any updates concerning it in the past month, so I don't know if that particular project is actually going to happen or not. The floor is basically open. That being said, I'm not sure if a reality role-playing game in the same vein as Big Brother is really desirable at this moment. I don't see how an rpg full of spam constitutes and event that the community cares about. That's just my own opinion, so I'm not discounting anyone's ideas entirely. If a Survivor style event were to ever take place, a lot of effort would have to go into creating different tasks, assigning members to unbiased tribes and devising a voting system that includes the entire community. Would each tribe role-play in a different thread until the tribes merge? These are all issues that would need to be ironed out. Pesonally, I'd love to get some kind of writing or poetry contest going. Perhaps it could be multifacted and we could include visual arts or exercises similar to the caption contest thread. And--there would be two judges and the community could act as the third judge. In these ways, it would be borrowing elements from a talent show. I don't know how we can reward winners for any event in particular. A temporary custom title could be appointed to a member indicating that they won. So, yeah, who knows. There are a lot of possibilities to work with here.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Desbreko [/i] [B][color=indigo]Then there's the folding design, one of the main reasons why I wanted a GBASP. I love how compact and light this thing is. I'm definitely going to be taking it to class to play during lunch and breaks. It fits right in a pocket, and you barely even notice it's there. If it were any smaller, you could attach it to a keychain, lol.[/color] [/B][/QUOTE] I know what you mean. I took my original GBA with me somewhere and it was a real hassle. Because I needed an external light to see it indoors, it was a bothersome ordeal stuffing everything into my pockets. Having a constant huge bulge in my pocket was a little embarrassing. Plus, the screen easily became smudged and got pocket lint on it. The SP totally rocks. I can take it with my anywhere. It's relaxing to pull it out and use for a study break while I'm in the library. Four face buttons would have been nice, but regardless, it's still my favorite system, period.

Sheesh, there was an original caption for it? lol I had it saved on my computer for a while, so I was oblivious to that. I guess in that case, my choice would be Heaven's Cloud.

There is still a recent thread dedicated to this film floating around. In fact, it's still clinging to the first page, per my configuration. So, before you create new threads about films that have been released for over a week, be sure to look around. ;) Here is the link to the other thread: [URL=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=22281]DreamCatcher[/URL]

I didn't like Tony Hawk 4 as much as I thought I would. Aggressive Inline was a much better game in my opinion. It did almost everything Hawk 4 did, [i]months[/i] before it released. And, it even included the ability to recover from bails in midair, which Hawk 4 promised, but never delivered. Plus, it did a much better job creating open-ended platformer style level designs. The worlds in THPS4 were good, but they didn't seem as creative as I had hoped. Everyone kept on hyping how expansive they were--but they didn't come across as particularly interesting or memorable. Overall, THPS4 was okay. It saw some interesting tweaks in the series. They just weren't implemented as well as I had hoped they would be. In the end, Activision really needs to take a break and lengthen the development cycle of the Tony Hawk series. That's the only way we'll see the series take the evolutionary step is so desperately needs.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Syk3 [/i] [B]What do all you anit-GameCube people say to that? ;)[/B][/QUOTE] I don't know that I've ever found an anit-GameCube person. :whoops: Anyhoot, Metroid Prime is great. It's very atmospheric. Little touches, like the way Samus' weapon transforms after she shoots a missle (in true Super Metroid fashion), do wonders. Plus, I believe that a lot of the incredible atmosphere can be accredited to the visor. It really brings the player into the perspective. The way that it displays ammo and all, is nice. It actually gives the information a credible reason to be there. It's not like "[i]Hey, this is a video game, here are your statistics![/i]" Plus, scanning really added to the experience. Gathering information wasn't tedious, as I initially thought it would be. When I first played the game, and got a grip on the controls, everything felt familiar--and that was refreshing. The developers did an excellent job retaining the feel of the series. I still think that the configuration is a bit awkward, but once I became accustomed to it, it didn't get in my way. Oh, and I know where you're coming from with catching up on Zelda. I haven't played my consoles in a while, so I'm really not progressing in the game as much as I'd like to. I hope I don't lose my rhythm with it. The SP seems to have become my favorite system. So, I've been neglecting to play everything else. I prefer Mario Kart Super Circuit over anything the consoles have to offer.

Jesus Christmas, this is a [i]tough[/i] choice. Everyone has done pretty well with this one. Particularly, after narrowing it down, I had a difficult time deciding between Sara, Transtic Nerve, Endymion, Desbreko, Heaven's Cloud, and Cyke. Pretty long list to be stuck on, eh? My final choice will be Sara. It was short, simple, and I just liked it a lot for some horrifying reason.