Charles

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by cloricus [/i] [B]Though your post was very good I believe that fact is wrong. Personally I know someone who "decided" to be gay, and I have heard of others. It is not a purely chemical thing. Though other gay people I know say that it wasn't that way. So I don't think you can make such a broad statement. [/B][/QUOTE] This person did not decide to become homosexual, rather they chose to reveal and adhere to feelings that had previously existed or suddenly surfaced. Homosexuality is inherent. It's neither optional or changeable. People can't choose to be attracted to one another sexually. I [i]choose[/i] what I want to eat for breakfast. I can choose pancakes over cereal. I can't [i]choose[/i] my sexuality in the morning. If we could choose to be gay, everyone would be bisexual. And you have to ask yourself, would all of this ignorance and discrimination exist if that were the case--if homosexuality was a choice? Discrimination stems from difference. Homosexuality wouldn't be different if it were optional. I don't think that Transtic Nerve should just accept discrimination either. Discrimination is the deprivation of rights. Just because people are ignorant, doesn't mean he should be passive and live as a second class citizen. Gokents--I wasn't really disagreeing with everything you said. Your initial definition of discrimination was off, but that wasn't the issue. The main point of my post was to prove that some prejudice exists in everyone, including yourself.

My vote for this round goes to Harelquin. It's not perfect; similar to my own style, it's a bit wordy. There is a bit too much description. Nonetheless, it was my favorite entry this round. It was close. It took me quite a while to decide and I changed my mind numerous times. But, I feel that I should stick with "The H." Lady A. and Sara came close to getting the final vote. But, it was mainly issues with my character that got in the way.

SSJ_WILLIE is probably correct. Gokou's body was destroyed and regenerated in Heaven, so he would most likely accumulate considerable strength. Plus, we must take into account the fact that the tournament lasted seven years. During that seven years Gokou probably fought more battles than what were actually shown in the series. Plus, he probably trained between bouts. Also, it should be noted tha Paikuhan was probably slightly stronger than Gokou during the match. It was Gokou's ability to sense a flaw in his opponent's fighting technique that allowed him to "win."

Actually gokents, I have a slightly different opinion of prejudice and discrimination. As I studied it, prejudice is a prejudgement for or against any person or group. It often reflects political, social, or economic forces in society. Anyone can be prejudice; it's not as cut and dry as people think. For instance, I have a prejudice regarding you. I can automatically assume that you're a DragonBall Z fan and that Gotenks is your favorite character. I could react favorably, negatively, or passively to you based on that. It doesn't mean I'm correct, but it's a prejudgement I can make based on your screen name. If I was a fan of Hitler's genius and I joined Otakuboards under the screen name of "Hitler" people might automatically assume I'm anti-Semitic, just as they assume I'm white and male. So, of course, we all have our own prejudices. You might not like to hang out with people who conduct themselves in a certain way. That's prejudice. It's not evil or anything. Discrimination is much deeper than what you described. It's power plus prejudice. It's when harmful conduct occurs and one group deprives another group of something else. Discriminatory actions aren't quite as common. If anyone has seen the movie [i]Philadelphia[/i], they know how prejudice and discrimination correspond to homosexuality. People automatically make assumptions about the main character and he adopts many of the characteristics of a minority group. He faces prejudice from his lawyer. He experiences discrimination when his job is wrongfully terminated and the librarian tries to force him to sit apart from everyone in the library. [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by sage [/i] [B]How do you know that? I've read somewhere that most men (if they could reply anonymously) have had homo- or bi-sexual fantasies. And also, many men in their youth have masturbated with their male friends (or this is at least what I've heard :blush: ).[/b][/quote] I know it because I am a straight male. I have never had those fantasies or masturbated with my friends, lol. So, I can only speak for myself and those I know. I would like to know how many of these people were intoxicated or under some kind of influence when they decided on having a good round of masturbation with their friends. I know it sure wouldn't be a good father/son activity either. :drunk:

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Tidus_Auroch [/i] [B]ok first of all ffx had one scene that was stupid and funny which beat out all of kingdom hearts funny and that os the laughing scene it was not funny ha ha it was funny stupid [/B][/QUOTE] Please put a little more effort into your posts. Your post is very vague and poorly worded. It's hardly a grounds for a decent comparison because you don't delve into any specifics or support what you're saying. I'd suggest looking at Braidless Baka's post for a good example on presenting your opinions when drawing comparisons between the two games.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Rick Hunter [/i] [B]To them it's just another turn on, in most of their sick perverted minds. So for the most part they pretend to accepted women being gay when in reality they don't except either male or female relationships in general.[/B][/QUOTE] Banner....too...big. Hey man, I find lesbian sex hot, but it's not a perverted or ignorant thing. Then again, I don't view homosexual male relationships in a harsh way either. So, I guess I'm one of the exceptions. Most "straight" males aren't interested in gay male relationships because they don't find them appealing. I'll bet that two straight women would feel the same way about two other women having sex. It just wouldn't do anything for them. That's not to say they anyone should be [i]against[/i] a homosexual relationship. You want to know why lesbian relationships are more widely accepted, though? We live in a male driven society. Marketing, television, films, (the list could go on forever) are mostly geared towards a male audience. This "acceptance" is only superficial. Some men don't respect lesbian relationships--they just see them as a turn on. Because they serve a purpose, they are tolerable. Kevin is very much correct there. Not all societies are the same though. In France, it would be perfectly "normal" for two males to kiss and show public affection for one another. I think that attitude is becoming more widely accepted in the United States too. Overall I'd say that ignorant attitudes towards homosexual relationships (both male and female) are largely based on the media. Sex is really exploited and the meaning behind it is greatly ignored.

Man, that answer is SO simple. Of course, it's "Homer: I Hardly Knew Me." Who doesn't know that? Here is my question. How many children does Apu have?

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Sara [/i] [B][size=1]Calonice drives me nuts; I have no idea how to write for her. But until we see something from CWB, we're the ones defining that character...so I'd guess we'd better start [i]doing[/i] it. [/size] [/B][/QUOTE] Sorry about that. ^^;; Yeah, I'm sorry I didn't crank out something this round. I did put in some effort and had a decent draft, but I just wasn't satisfied with it. I was just a bit confused on how to follow up on last round. The Rosary Knight character was introduced in the winning piece, and looked satisfied. I didn't know quite how to follow up, keeping her identity a secret like that. :nervous: Anyway, I'm sorry I hogged up precious votes. I sure didn't vote for myself or anything. I guess that being the people's otaku, the cat's meow, has some nasty side effects for polls. But, you hang in there kids. Just remind the Crazy White Boy to win next round.

The King of Sony returns! Yeah baby! Well, I never left, but I haven't created a thread here in the good old land of Playstation in many moons. Have I? When I create a thread, it's usually dedicated to something interesting. In this case, that could be both a curse and a blessing. 2D fighters seem to be a dying breed...and Guilty Gear is a quirky title. So, I wouldn't be surprised if I get a big fat zero under replies, lol. Well, unless Semjaza replies....or Vampire Ed (out of pity). Ahem, anyway, I urge you to forget about bloated, overhyped games like Devil May Cry 2 and give Guilty Gear X2 a try so that we can have a discussion based on a [i]great[/i] game in this forum. After all, it would be an infinitely better investment. The main problem I had with the series was the lack of modes. Other than the standard arcade, versus, and practice modes, there was never much to do in past Guilty Gear games. I mean, the variety was just paltry compared to the likes of Street Fighter Alpha 3. Guilty Gear X2 remedies this problem by introducing a story mode, survival mode, mission mode, gallery, and "Medal of Millionaires" mode, alongside the standard arcade and versus options. The story mode is particularly neat; each character has three branching paths. It can be quite a challenge to cover everything for everyone. Plus, the original Japanese voice acting has been retained for the domestic release (with English subtitles). The survival mode is unique. Depending on the skill the player demonstrates in battle, one is able to climb levels. When one reaches a level that is a multiple of ten, a special boss appears (which is a standard character with unlimited overdrive). Once you defeat the character, you unlock their EX move set. For further incentive, players are given the opportunity to unlock some neat hidden characters, including Justice and Kliff, in survival mode. I won't delve into the specifics of the other modes unless there is interest in this thread. It'll be a waste of time to write a whole review--it's not really what I'm out to do, lol. My point is, that there is now tons of replay value. You won't easily run out of things to do. But, anyway, the gameplay is phenomenal--pure gold, baby! The burst attack, dust, and faultless guard aren't just superfluous gimmicks. I find myself using them generously. The burst attack, when it connects, fills up a character's overdrive completely. The dust maneuver launches opponents into the air for big air combo potential. Lastly, faultless guard allows players to block without receiving heavy damage, but at the cost of precious overdrive points. It's all very deep--but simple to grasp and utilize. The EX versions of the characters feature entirely new move sets with the exception of the instant kill. It's almost like doubling the character count. I've even heard that gold versions of the figthers exist. Couple these features with unlockable artwork, gorgeous full motion video, and a completely remixed soundtrack--and boom! Arc System Works and Sammy studios have delivered the king of two dimensional fighters. Admittedly, the game is not without its flaws. Many of the backgrounds have been rehashed albeit with a new coat of paint. And, some of the characters are almost unchanged from Guilty Gear X. It's hardly a big deal though. Are any of you familiar with the Guilty Gear series? By the grace of all that is good, is it even remotely possible that I'm not the only member of OtakuBoards to have played this game? Give me a shout out people!

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Harry [/i] [B]Not really.How do you think mexicans that cross the border get jobs? There's always a surplus of low paying labor jobs. [/B][/QUOTE] Those jobs are bogus, man. They're illegal and they subject people to deplorable conditions. Oftentimes such jobs are filled by children and the wages are laughable.

[i]"Moms, can I go out and play today. I promise, I wo--"[/i] [i]"Honey, we've already been over thi-"[/i] [i]"Pleeeeease--"[/i] [i]"Michael, the answer is no."[/i] [i]"But mom--"[/i] "[i]I don't want to hear anymore about this. Hey, Michael, baby, don't look at me like that. I know it's hard sometimes--but I bought you some new comic books!"[/i] I still remember the sounds of the children playing, their laughter ringing out, a cacophony of happiness. I could feel the wet, freshly cut grass underneath my feet, taste spring on tip of my tongue and feel the blue of the sky on my back. During baseball season, I wanted to be the next, Dave Winfield or Craig Reynolds. Man, I can still remember lying back in my bed, hearing the crack of Louisville sluggers tearing the stitching off dirt-brushed baseballs, outside my bedroom window. After surviving the long, lonely winters, I dreamt about taking a pass from Joe Montana, tearing up the turf with the 49ers. I was young, but I knew my sports. I loved sports. I guess--we love most what we can never have. I know I loved my family, but I loved them the most during the first few days I lost them. I remember the little crawl space in our attic. It was my escape. I would spend hours in that little place. No one could touch me. I felt..safe. Boy, was I mad when dad boarded it up. That's the day I told him that I hated him. The next day my life was over. I died on that day. It's where my memory ends, and my hell begins. I don't even exist anymore. [i]"Wir bildeten Sie. Wir gaben Ihnen alles. Sie waren nichts. Jetzt sind Sie ein Gott. Wir besitzen Sie.[/i]" Now, all I have left are the memories of experiment "God North." A mixture of terror and pain. Fear that the pain would end, and pain knowing [i]how[/i] it would end.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by BlueGender [/i] [B][size=1][color=blue]Lighting was very impotant in the X-Box version and it looks to be taken completely out of the GBA version which means alot of th fun factor is missing.[/size][/color] [/B][/QUOTE] Not necessarily. Remember, this isn't supposed to be a straight port from the next generation Splinter Cell game. I don't think it's pretending to be. The GameBoy Advance version will probably be geared more towards being action, in the vein of a shooter, like Codename: Viper. I'm not quite sure, but I think I even see a grenade indicator in his weapon inventory. It's too small for me to be sure. So yeah, I think that the portable version can be fun. It'll just be a different kind of fun. And thanks for bringing the "P" back Desbreko. ^^

Duuuuuuuuuude, this is a tough one. O.o;; I have to flip the pages of my life back. [I]Back, back, back[/I]. I was probably about seven years old or something. I had chosen not to live with my mom anymore, but had still been able to visit and stuff--then she moved for the first time. Before she came over to say good-bye my grandmother urged me not to be strong in front of her and to not cry. Man, it was tough watching her go, let alone holding back tears. But, hey, I pulled it off and it wasn't so bad. Now no more personal stuff for you! :whoops:

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Blanko [/i] [B] Thridly you cant force someone to work... that would be like turning the homeless people into SLAVES for their own good. [/B][/QUOTE] Exactly! Man, I had to laugh reading this thread. You can't force people to work, lol. I don't even think that forcing work upon someone is "for their own good." A system like that would probably force them to endure grueling manual labor for the lowest salary possible. I mean, five dollars and fifty cents an hour? Give me a break. This reminds me of a sweat shop system that's saddled on foreigners. I don't know where you live, but that's not how things should be in America. We're supposed to be free. I agree with Macaiodh on this one. I actually deal with homeless people on a daily basis. Some of you should read the story I did on George in the poetry forum. The homeless are people too, not worker ants. Factors such as mental retardation, sickness and personal problems contribute to homelessness. It's not an easy life. If there are going to be programs instituted, I think it should be for better shelters. Anyway, most of the people who replied were fairly sympathetic and understanding on some level. I just think it's important to understand the problem before you make solutions. Perhaps if more industrial jobs, community programs and educational funding were available in urban areas, people would experience homelessness and crime on a smaller scale.

This will probably be a totally different animal than the next generation Splinter Cell games (duh). But, what I mean is, judging by the 2-D screen shots that the game will play down the stealth aspects in favor of a more action oriented approach. You will be able to hide in closets or on pipes to conceal yourself obviously, but stealth in the Xbox version was closely tied with lighting. I don't think that it would be such a bad move changing the portable Splinter Cell into an action game. But, who knows? :shrugs: It's sad that Ubi soft had to axe the "P" for the GameBoy Advance version though. It will sorely be missed. But, hey, I'm sure it was sacrificed for much greater things.... [color=indigo]Lol, for a second, I didn't get what you were talking about. *adds the "p" to the title* :) - Desbreko[/color]

[b]Birth Name:[/b] Michael [b]Subject Name:[/b] 662-60d-North [b]Age:[/b] 21 [b]Appearance Prior:[/b] The subject has been subjected to experimentation since the age of four. Prior to treatment, long, curly locks of golden blonde hair spilled to his shoulders. He had yet to receive his first hair cut. His eyes were large and green, radiating with the innocence of new life. Obviously, the boy hadn't reached his full physical potential--he had barely graduated from his days of infancy. Furthermore, had been born prematurely, and was relatively small for his age, had a low body weight. Police reports indicate that he was last seen wearing a "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" T-shirt and denim blue Jean shorts. His white sneakers were nearly spotless--Michael didn't have the energy to play much. [b]Appearance after:[/b] Subject 662-60d-North has made considerable progress under close supervision. He stands approximately 6' 3" tall. His hair is a mess of dirty blonde, no longer touching his shoulders--not quite. Michael's eyes are altered. His stony glare belongs to one who has existed for many years, but lived for none. The pale blue orbs don't twinkle, they almost appear to be gray. 662-60d-North possesses rough skin, engineered to be resilient. But, it appears smooth and soft, as if it belongs to an amphibian. He has been optimized for peek strength and mobility. Thus, Michael's build is muscular, but lean. [b]Bio:[/b] "I can't remember my parents--I can barely remember my own name. It's all so vague, like a dream..my past. It feels so real, but distant. The smell of cotton candy filling my nostrils, mom and dad holding my hands, the memories are at the tips of my fingers, but I can't touch them, can't quite remember. 'Halt die Schnauze. Bewegen Sie nicht. ' Sit down. Shut up. Those were the first German phrases I learned. It's sad that they've become familiar faces in my head, while my family have become distant strangers. I think they motivated me to escape. I want to know what happened. I want to know my last name--a name without numbers attached. Somewhere out there, someone can help me--I know it. And even if I can't find my parents, I'm going to make sure that there aren't any more of me ever again.

Metal Gear Solid Substance isn't very good. It was a sloppy port with a lot of slow down (on the tanker with the rain effects, for instance). I've already seen the game in clearance bins for eleven dollars, lol. It would probably behoove you to wait for the PS2 version.

We have already had a very similar thread. You may find it [URL=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=18897]HERE[/URL]. [center][img]http://cwb.250free.com/Others/thatsfinal.jpg[/img][/center]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Black_Phoenix [/i] [B]I like the line of Turok games.[/B][/QUOTE] I know what you mean. I've only played Turok 1 and Turok 2. I still believe that the second Turok showed a lot of potential. It was really fun up until the level with sprawling underground caverns. At that point the game became too confusing and annoying to endure. I wasn't having fun anymore. I remember someone else telling me that same level ruined it for them too. If save points had been interspersed throughout those huge levels more generously (or had the levels been divided into sub sections), Turok 2 could have been a solid title. It had a lot of things going for it.

I was looking forward to getting this game. Early impressions were fairly good, and I was hearing impressive things, like how Acclaim promised to take the game back to its roots. The Turok games always had serious potential. Usually, a few problems marred an otherwise awesome experience. But, I'm glad I read some reviews before making my decision. I can almost overlook the poor plot because story and character development were never strengths of the series. There is, however, no excuse for the crappy level design (some levels are too long, with unclear objectives), pop up, [b]atrocious[/b] character models, and annoying slowdown. As you mentioned, the flying levels are also a drag. It's a little disappointing that the PS2 version only features two player multiplayer, as opposed to the Xbox version's four player split screen too. With games like Medal of Honor: Frontline out there, I can't see a reason to give Turok the time of day.

See the Devil May Cry 2 thread for opinions on it. The final verdict isn't anything good. If you would like opinions on what other games you should consider picking up, be sure to check out [URL=http://otakuboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=17832]THIS[/URL] thread. It should prove most helpful. [center][img]http://cwb.250free.com/Others/thatsfinal.jpg[/img][/center]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Taikaru [/i] [B]Looks like the first X to me...what a waste. [/B][/QUOTE] How does it look like the first Megaman X? lol That game was a sprite-based sidescroller developed for a 16-bit system. The graphics in X7 are moderately dull from what I've seen, but they aren't [i]that[/i] bad. :rolleyes:

I don't think that your school, itself, should fund an anime club. Anime isn't really relevant to academics or anything. In my schools, we were always free to start our own clubs and the school would gladly provide space for it. Usually teachers are happy to see students get together and do something constructive with their time. As Transtic Nerve said, schools will allow most clubs as long as they don't promote anything harmful. Just find people who share your interest in anime and talk to the principal....

James is looking for his dead wife, Mary, after he receives a mysterious letter, supposedly written by her. Who are the three initial characters you begin with in Suikoden III, and who does tragedy befall in Karaya village and how? A spoiler tag will be necessary for the second portion of the question.

Yeah, it would make a great art project. I can almost see the dark silhouette of a figure with its head bowed, standing beside the silhouettes of two children, holding their hands. The scene would be very somber. When I think about the subject matter I realize how false the ideas of equality and justice can be, even to this day with the "lynching" that still occurs...