James

[color=#707875]Yeah, TN is correct. There isn't a whole lot we can do about it. There are lots of other boards out there who are younger than us and who "borrow" some ideas on some level. But generally I'm not too concerned about it, because it doesn't really disturb our community here. So, best of luck to OtakuBoard. ^_^[/color]

[color=#707875]At the moment, our signature controls are disabled. And so we do not have any specific length rules. However, we do [b]recommend[/b] a maximum of 8-10 lines or so. In other words, common sense must be used. If you want to place something very long in your signature, I recommend signing up for myOtaku and linking to that instead. Then, you can post all of the stuff you want...whether it's song lyrics, buddy lists or something else. [/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Die Krähe [/i] [B]Errr...James, trying to see where you're coming from. You can't contradict yourself when you hate a nationality when you have friends from it too...plus, he never said he hated Africans. He just said he hated how the typical black acts. Which I totally agree with him on. I hate gangsters, whether chinese, or white, or black, or mexican. So there, my other half of the cents. 1 cent per post. Therefore you all have my 2 cents. Go ahead, start arguing. I'm ready. Anti-racists contradict themselves. :demon: [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]Firstly, I advise you not to double post. It's against the rules. Secondly...let me address your points here. If you say that you hate a nationality of people, you can't then say that you [i]like[/i] one or two of them. That means that you actually [i]don't[/i] hate the entire nationality of people. He didn't make any specific comments to that effect. He didn't quantify his statements. So I'm only going by what he said. I [i]know[/i] what he means, but I'm pointing out that he isn't actually racist against an entire group of people if he likes some of those said people. It's more a question of him not understanding what racism is...or what generalizations are, in any case. Anti-racists aren't contradicting themselves here. You're either racist or you're not. The guy who I quoted earlier possibly isn't as racist as he thinks, based on what he said. The problem is that he wasn't terribly clear about it. If you hate gangsters...fine. But that obviously doesn't make you racist. Because obviously, not all black/chinese/white/etc people are gangsters. lol Oh and..."smarter racists"? Since when are racists smart? Racism is a direct result of ignorance. Therefore, racism is not a sign of intelligence or wisdom.[/color]

[color=#707875]And it was an Australian scientist who was instrumental in the creation of the atom bomb (though I can't remember his name, even though I should -- my brother wrote an essay on him last year). That's quite a bittersweet thing, because the atomic bomb was both bad and good. Bad in terms of its unwanted affects, good in the sense that it provided a powerful deterrant for many years during the cold war. My feeling is that the A-Bomb's use was necessary, although painful. It must have been a painful decision to drop it. But, as Raiha said...look at what Japan was doing at the time. Japan had conquered large parts of asia during WWII. Japan systematically attacked Papua New Guinea and then Australia (with attacks on both Darwin and Sydney Harbour). Without the A-Bomb, I have to wonder how the war would have ended. I'm not so sure that Australia would be a free nation right now. So I guess I have to mirror what Raiha has said to an extent. The A-Bomb did cause a lot of unwanted suffering. But it was also the action that effectively ended the war with Japan. Japan would never have stopped if the A-Bomb had not been deployed. [/color]

[center][img]http://www.otakuboards.com/maverickhunterstts.gif[/img][/center] [size=1][b][ NOTE ][/b][/size] This RPG is based on the [b]Maverick Hunter[/b] series of RPGs, which was originally created by Warlock and Final Flash. Due to the fact that this is the third in the series, it is my hope that any of you who are new to the series will take a glance at the two previous RPGs before joining. I know that this requires extra effort, but it is pretty important. The Maverick Hunter series has a great story, with characters that have really taken on strong personalities. I want to maintain that here. Moreover, Final Flash isn't on OtakuBoards as much anymore. He recently retired from OtakuBoards (and I have yet to decide on his successor). He was integral to the series, particularly the second story. I know he probably won't be here to participate in this third story, but I'm going to try and contact him about it anyway. I miss seeing him around as much and I would hate for him to miss out on this story. Anyone who was a part of the previous two stories is, of course, welcome to join in. However, you may not use your original character. The Third Succession takes place approximately 260 years after the end of Maverick Hunters: Personification. If you're new, once again, I recommend taking a look at the older RPGs. And knowing a [i]little[/i] about Mega Man would be very useful here (as this story is very loosely based on Mega Man). Knowledge of that game is not terribly important though, as our series is mostly pretty different; it just retains a few names and character design styles. Also, if you have no intention of sticking around for a while in this RPG, please do not sign up. My own time is as limited as yours, but I'm going to try my best. This RPG series has a lot of history on OtakuBoards and I'd hate to see it die without having at least a few hundred posts under its belt. And more specifically, I want us to be able to establish our new characters in this overall series. Finally, I want to mention that this series is very fleshed out. There are many, many historical details here. Myself, Warlock, Flash and Medra created a very expansive historical timeline for Maverick Hunters. I don't have that with me now (due to my computer being formatted), but I'll get it soon and put it up here for you. It will give you a [i]very[/i] good idea of how this story is fleshed out. For the moment though, I'm going to use this thread to fill you in on The Third Succession. From there, you'll have a stronger idea about how to proceed. For those who know the series, please excuse me if my dates on here are a bit messed up. I'll fix them when I have a copy of the timeline. If, for any reason, this RPG crumbles...I'm going to close this thread and leave it here. If Flash and Warlock are ever on regularly in the future, I fully intend to resurrect it with their support, regardless of its age. [url="http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9810&highlight=Maverick+Hunters"]Maverick Hunters: Replimasters[/url] [url="http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16550&highlight=Maverick+Hunters"]Maverick Hunters: Personification[/url] [color=#707875][size=1][b][ A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR HISTORY ][/B] 2000 - 2250 A.D.[/size] The 21st century unfolded on turbulent times in mankind's history. Terrorism and war were paramount in the minds of many. And yet, at the same time, great advances in technology were becoming apparent. These advances, as time would demonstrate, were both positive and negative in nature. Indeed, the key to the story of man's history during the 21st century can be found within the creations of one man: [b]Dr. William Light[/b]. Dr. Light was a scientist who bucked the trend of many in his field during the early 21st century. While many were focusing their work on the development of weaponry and security systems, Light's work was focused on one passionate goal; to create. That is, to create rather than destroy. It so happened that Dr. Light's work led him invariably to the development of highly advanced artificial intelligence, or A.I. This intelligence, combined with Light's work on advanced robotic systems, led to the creation of the [b]Reploid[/b]. The Reploid's life during the first half of the 21st century had an undeniably positive impact on the human race. Despite the fact that several models had become uncontrollable and dangerous (and subsequently destroyed), the vast majority of Dr. Light's reploids provided important services in human society. Reploids were used as field surgeons during war, relief workers in war-torn countries and even mine clearers. And, eventually, reploids took their place in mankind's everyday life. While they were too intelligent to be used as home servants or anything of the sort, they were often employed for physical labor purposes. As it turned out, most Reploids who posessed free will ended up joining military service or civil police forces. Despite the few bumps along the road, the 21st century heralded a new world order for mankind. It was an order where man and machine lived happily side-by-side. And, toward the middle of the century, world peace seemed to be an achievable goal. But, as with many things, the good times and prosperity were not to last. Sometime during the 21st century, a [b]terrible disaster[/b] occurred. To this day, we do not know the exact nature of the disaster. Nor are we aware of the exact year that the disaster struck. However, we do know that it destroyed much of the earth's population. Approximately 4.8 billion people were killed as a result. Out of the ashes emerged a new sense of hope. Although mankind's worst tragedy had occurred, the human spirit endured. The nation states that were spared (or what was left of them) came together to reform the United Nations. However, the UN's purpose was now far more real -- it effectively became a new [b]World Government[/b], with responsibility for all of the territories on Earth. And, in keeping with the concept of a SGN (Single Global Nation) policy, a [b]World Capital City[/b] was established. It was named [b]Novus Concordia[/b]. The city was constructed on what was left of the Commonwealth of Australia, which had suffered the brunt of the worldwide disaster. Novus Concordia was man's finest achievement. It sprawled over the entire continent and at its peak, was home to approximately 1 billion people (or, almost half of the world's population at the time). And, as the decades passed, mankind was somehow able to grow anew. Novus Concordia's economy boomed and the remaining nations of the world shared in global prosperity. Poverty and famine were virtually nonexistant during this period. And, once more, the Reploid began to enjoy an increasingly prominent position in society. But even so, mankind was unable to avoid tragedy. A computer virus known as the [b]Maverick Virus[/b] began to infect reploids across the planet. Reploids infected by the virus became known, simply, as [b]Mavericks[/b]. Mankind's conventional military forces were unequipped to handle such powerful beings. Reploids are, by nature, far more physically powerful than human beings. The Maverick Virus' spread lead to what is known as the [b]Maverick War[/b]. The Maverick War was fought on a global basis, with millions of human troops. The war lasted for several years and during the latter half of the war, mankind began to rely even more heavily on Reploids for assistance. Reploids were recuited into regular army units and were used as a way of evening the playing field between Maverick and human. Finally, the war ended. But man did not forget the negative effects of the Mavericks and was afraid that they may someday return. And so, the United Nations established its own defence force, known as the [b]Maverick Hunters[/b]. This new force was housed within a massive complex, known as [b]Maverick Hunter Headquarters[/b]. MHHQ was located within Novus Concordia, but was marked as its own territory. It was the size of a large city and was surrounded by expansive titanium barriers. MHHQ developed a powerful Reploid Army, as well as an [b]Elite Squad[/b], who were responsible for fighting Maverick outbreaks around the world. The years following the MHHQ's establishment were turbulent to say the least. The Mavericks rose again, though in more limited numbers. An attempt was made to infiltrate the leadership of MHHQ and last but not least, a terrorist organization known as [b]Red Alert[/b] launched a war against the organization. You will find more information about the war in the next historical file. [size=1][b][ A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR HISTORY ][/B] 2250 - 2510 A.D.[/size] The second major war involving the Maverick Hunters is known as the [b]Protogen War[/b]. The Protogen War lasted for approximately 15 years. To understand the Protogen War, one must first understand the organization that perpetuated it. And, perhaps more importantly, the leader of that organization must be explored. The Protogen War involved the Maverick Hunters and a terrorist organization known as Red Alert. The terrorist organization was headed by [b]Dr. Lucia Karman[/b]. Dr. Karman had worked as an associate to Dr. Light in the early 21st century. And initially, the arrangement had worked well. However, unlike Light, Karman was interested in the concept of moulding both human and robotic parts together to create living organisms. These organisms are known as [b]Cyborgs[/b]. The Cyborg, a creation of Dr. Karman, was roundly rejected by the scientific establishment. It was considered to be inferior to the Reploid, but on a broader level, Dr. Karman's use of human organs was considered crude and unethical. Dr. Karman engaged in illegal actions in order to obtain many of the organs used in her experiments. When Dr. Light made this discovery, he disassociated himself with Dr. Karman and her research. In the years that followed, Dr. Karman continued to pursue the development of Cyborg technology. And even more disturbing, she began to develop military-grade units that were capable of operating firearms and heavy military machinery. Her research culminated with the development of [b]PS-100[/b], a Cyborg created to look like a small boy. Karman became obsessive over her creations and labelled PS-100 as her very own son. At this point, Dr. Karman's life took a dramatic turn for the worst. An airstrike that had been ordered on a sector of Novus Concordia (on the very block that Karman's laboritory was located), completely destroyed most of her research. The strike also destroyed PS-100. It is important to note that the airstrike was ordered by [b]Warlock[/b], a former member of the Elite Squad within the Maverick Hunters. As a result of the airstrike, the Maverick Hunters dismissed Warlock. The specific circumstances surrounding the strike are sketchy as of this time. Nevertheless, Dr. Karman barely escaped the attack. She was horribly injured and fled to North America. In an effort to repair herself, Dr. Karman employed her own Cyborg technologies. She charged a group of her very own Cyborgs with the task of operating on her damaged body -- they transplanted synthetic body parts for her own damaged ones. It could be said that Dr. Karman's very soul was destroyed as a result of this operation. Her appearance was much younger (she was around 50 when the operation occurred) and she was at least 50% machine. The next few years are, as with the rest of our history, somewhat blurry. Just after her operation, the terrible disaster occurred. Dr. Karman managed to survive, by housing herself in a bunker deep underground. Despite the personal losses that she had suffered as a result of the disaster, Dr. Karman primarily had the Maverick Hunters in her crosshairs. She held them responsible for the airstrike that killed her "son". And so, she commenced a compaign to destroy the organization. It began with the establishment of Red Alert, a terrorist organization with five primary locations around the world. Dr. Karman used the organization to research and develop new Cyborg beings. Some of them were sold commercially, through a front organization known as Black Thorn Inc., a company created ostensibly as a defence contractor. The sales of Cyborg units boomed, all while the subversive Red Alert festered in the shadows. Finally, Dr. Karman developed a very unique unit. Not a Cyborg, but a Reploid. It was named P-180, or, [b]Proteus[/b]. [center][img]http://fanart.theotaku.com/imgs/1016-20030805091538.jpg[/img][/center] Proteus was sold to the Maverick Hunters by Black Thorn. He was considered important, because he was the first Reploid of his kind. Proteus featured a unique technology called ACM, or, Active Cellular Modulation. In other words, Proteus was able to reform the titanium in his limbs, which enabled him to form a wide variety of weaponry (as opposed to the regular buster weapon that most Reploids were equipped with). Dr. Karman expected Proteus to be activated as soon as he was shipped to the HQ. But that wasn't the case. The Maverick Hunters placed Proteus in storage for several months before activating him. He was activated by [b]Flash[/b], a member of the Elite Squad. Dr. Karman had hoped to remotely control Proteus and use his ACM capabilities to destroy the Maverick Hunters. But her attempts were unsuccessful. To this day, nobody is entirely sure as to why Dr. Karman was unable to manipulate Proteus. This failure resulted in further desperate measures. Dr. Karman began constructing Reploids known as [b]Protogen[/b]. The Protogen were similar to Proteus in physical appearance, but they were manufactured on a large assembly line. And they were, for all intents and purposes, a mere shell with which high explosives could be housed. The Protogen were mindless, brainless machines. They were, in effect, suicide bombers. Dr. Karman used them to launch a series of attacks on MHHQ over several years. This is what led to the Protogen War. The Protogen War ended when Dr. Karman herself was killed in battle. She was confronted by Proteus and it was he who destroyed her. At the time of her death, Dr. Karman was approximately 285 years old. Those who saw her true form (her form without an elaborate body-cloak) were mostly committed to mental care institutions. Karman was said to have become a horrific mutation beneath her unassuming disguise. With the Maverick Hunter Headquarters almost completely destroyed and with much of the Elite Squad killed in battle, the future of the Reploid was uncertain. The world changed greatly over the next two centuries. Reploids were no longer relegated to military service. And, by virtue of their increasing technological sophistication (and increasing similarity to human beings), Reploids began to take their place alongside man as equals. And, ironically, Cyborg technologies became far more safe and commonplace. The average life expectancy for human beings rose from 80 to 120 as a result of cybernetic implants. The oldest living human was recorded to have died in 2478, at the age of 146. Proteus was beginning to reach the end of his natural lifespan. Reploids were able to live longer than humans, but they were not invulnerable to the ravages of time. After the Protogen war, Proteus travelled around the world. Eventually, he decided to take up University study. And after only two years of education, Proteus received his degree in Advanced Robotics. Proteus also studied medicine for several years, eventually becoming a doctor in the Novus Concordia Institute of Neurosurgery. Proteus died in his home, in the Nebula Heights district of Novus Concordia, on November 10, 2499. He was almost 400 years old. [size=1][b][ THE PRESENT DAY ][/B][/SIZE] Today, the world is at peace. Reploids are now very much like human beings. Their skin is organic, as is their hair. Although they are still fundamentally a machine underneath. Reploids continue to be born with human emotions, as they always were. And today, with advances in micro-robotics, Reploids are able to reproduce. Reploids are divided into male and female sexes and reproduce sexually. A female reploid would be able to give birth to an adult Reploid if she were appropriately sized, but because of body size limitations, female Reploids give birth to infant offspring. And so, Reploids exist as humans do. Though there are noteable exceptions, particularly with regard to physical strength, lifespan and various other abilities (such as various in-built site displays, satellite-based navigation and self defense systems). Despite the peace that exists in the world today, recent threats have arisen. Two years ago, a powerful new computer virus appeared on the scene. The virus is received only by Reploids. It attacks the Reploid's NeuroSyntronic brain whilst he or she sleeps. Currently, we do not know how the virus attaches itself to the host. Nor do we know where the virus originated. However, upon analyzing deceased Reploids who carried the virus, we find a single email file that includes the following:[/color] [center][color=red]"Welcome to our new world. Paint the streets with their blood and you will live in eternal peace as one of us."[/color][/center] [color=#707875]The virus is known as [b]Sygnosis 40[/b]. Sygnosis 40 has various effects on an adult Reploid. Most Reploids who are infected simply become violent, though they do not attack other Reploids. Instead, they attack human beings exclusively. In response to the virus, a special task force has been set up by the Novus Concordia Defense Department. It is known simply as Sygnosis X. "X" denotes the rank of the Reploids involved in the force, as it is considered an elite rank within the human army. Unlike Maverick Hunters, Sygnosis X is a relatively small group. It consists of around 20 individuals, who are responsible for investigation as much as physical combat. Most importantly, Sygnosis X is responsible for discovering the truth about the Sygnosis 40 virus and its origins. It is believed that a new force is at work behind the scenes -- one with familiar links. [/color][size=1][b][ SIGN UP ][/b][/size] Remember, your character will be a Reploid if you are in Sygnosis X. You can be "freelance" or "neutral" if you like. And you can also be human. If you choose to be a Reploid, please bear in mind that ACM does not exist in current generation Reploids. That is, you will need to choose firearms and body attachments. You can be creative though -- remember, this story takes place in the distant future. But please, nothing "invincible" and so on. And finally, bear in mind that current generation Reploids look exactly like human beings. The only difference is in the internal physical structure and the advantages that it brings (as mentioned above). [b]Name:[/b] (If you're a Reploid, you'll have a "traditional" human name, but you will also have a compulsory callsign). [b]Callsign:[/b] (ie: Proteus, Warlock, Flash, Demos, et al). [b]Age:[/b] (Be realistic, in keeping with the history). [b]Appearance:[/b] [b]Personality:[/b] [b]Biography:[/b] [b]Affiliation:[/b] (If applicable). [b]Primary Weapon:[/b] (Laser gun, arm-mounted buster, beam sabre, etc). [b]Secondary Weapon:[/b] (Grenades, Remote Mine, Proximity Mine, etc). [b]Defensive Capability:[/b] (If you are a reploid, you can choose one defensive ability -- ie: a collapsable shield, a force field, etc etc...but please try to avoid making it invincible). And that's it. If you have any questions, please ask them within the thread. That way everyone can see, incase they have the same question as you. I encourage members who joined in on the former stories to sign up, but I also encourage new players who have read the history. I'll post my sign up in a bit. I've done enough writing for now. ~_^

[color=#707875]I think one thing we need to emphasize here is post quality. Charlie, you really need to think about paragraphs and punctuation. I think you're a person who has something valid to contribute. So I'm not being nasty to you or anything, I just think that you could get your messages across more clearly. If you have something valid to say, it's disappointing when that message is scrambled by poor post quality. And Double_B...I understood what you meant, but it's important to slow down and take more care with your posts. Try to be careful with grammar and punctuation, so that your message gets across more clearly. If your post quality is higher, it's more difficult for people to misinterpret you. So that's something to remember. And yes, of course, what we have to say here is based largely on our own cultural experiences. Fiasco is racist and homophobic. He's the polar opposite of me. But was he born that way? No. He's a result of his own cultural experience, or lack thereof. I think Double_B was trying to make a valid point, he just didn't get it across effectively.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by pbfrontmanvdp [/i] [B]I wouldnt consider myself a racist...i just dont necessarily like certain black people. Yes i know most people will hate me for that, but a lot of them get rather annoying. Like when a table of them are talking together they will make more noise then any of the other tables....combined.[/quote][/b] [color=#707875]What has that got to do with their skin colour? My god. I've met plenty of black people (there is a large African Australian community near where my school is) and I've never noticed anything like that. In fact, I've only ever met intelligent, reserved and kind black people. So, I don't know where you get the notion that their noise relates to their skin colour.[/color][quote][b] Plus i totally hate rap....i dont see how its music when they dont even use a guitar in basically every song. Basically its just the ones that act like that that i despise.[/quote][/b] [color=#707875]Okay, well, there are [i]many[/i] problems with this. Firstly, how can you possibly say that a dislike for rap equates to a dislike for black people? That's like me saying that I hate Americans because I dislike country music. Please. That's just ridiculous. Secondly, your point about not using a guitar...is horribly, horribly ignorant. lol What about classical music? Classical music might be one of the major elements in history that led to the birth of all modern music. And you're now telling me it's [i]not[/i] music? I'm sorry, but that's really, really foolish. Guitars are one instrument used in music. "Music" can be almost anything that follows a particular mathematical rhythm.[/color][quote][b] Now even though i said i dont like some black people, there are some i do get along with. I have a few friends that are black and when i talk to them about it they agree with me on most parts. Besides this group i dont dislike any other type of nationality. Hopefully some people will understand. [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]You're contradicting yourself. You're now saying that you like [i]some[/i] black people. Yet you are also saying that you don't like that "nationality". Firstly, these black people that you speak of are probably the same nationality as you. In other words, they're American. And secondly, you can't say that you dislike all black people and then say that some are your friends. That doesn't make any sense whatsoever. Please...let's just maintain some intelligence here.[/color]

[color=#707875]We have a size limit for cards so that they are appropriate for display on our site and so that they keep a relatively uniform look. In regard to Original Anime...I've mentioned before that it's a section [b]only[/b] for Original Anime. So no, you can't make a picture from a show that we don't list and put it there. I guarantee that it won't be approved if you do that. Rather, I want people to come in here and suggest new categories. Then we'll look through your suggestions and add the desired sections. It's no problem; most suggestions, if reasonable, will be added. You just have to put in the effort to put 'em down in here.[/color]

[color=#707875]Name it...Papua New Guinea. Or, you could name it [b]Spam[/b]. I think there are enough name suggestions here. Let's try to raise the bar for threads in Otaku Lounge in future, shall we? ^_^[/color]

[color=#707875]I'm enjoying college (I've been in industry for two years and now I'm starting tertiary study "late"). I'm not studying at a University though, I'm studying at a private college. It's very expensive (no HECS) and just about killing me financially. But it's very worthwhile. I now have strong and broad access to various elements of the design industry through my school, as it is very well placed within the industry itself. My class is small (about 12 people) and I have really immediate and easy access to each tutor. And we're now getting various designers involved with my class. I mean, only yesterday we had the EIC of Design Graphics magazine give a talk in our class. It was great, because we have such a small group that we can chat about anything. It's not like some huge lecture hall where it's very impersonal. So I enjoy that aspect. I still live in the same place and I do have to travel pretty far to get to school, which I really hate. But other than that, I like it. I also have access to the RMIT Library in the city, which is fantastic. It really opens up a huge world, full of people who are interested in the same area of industry. And, the work is very challenging...which I like. My work this semester is infinitely better than what I was doing last semester. So I'm happy about that; it's given me the opportunity to expand my skills very rapidly.[/color]

[color=#707875]I guess that most of these people have never lived in an oppressive nation themselves. You know? It's really easy to say "don't do this or that" when you yourself live in a free society. I remember that Mohammed Al Dhouri, Iraq's former ambassador to the UN, commented that "America should not have done it [free Iraq], the Iraqi people should have done it themselves". Is it just me, or is this a really stupid comment? The Iraqis [i]tried[/i] to free themselves on two seperate occasions after Gulf War I. And I'm critical of the US for not helping those uprisings at the time. However, we can't now turn around and say "Oh, they don't need you to do it for them." Please. If they didn't want to be free, they wouldn't have tried to free themselves twice within the space of a couple of years. Yet, these very simple pieces of historical evidence escape the anti-war zealots. I'm not asking for them to be pro-war or whatever. I'm just asking them to be reasonable and to at least consider the opposing side.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Drix D'Zanth [/i] [B] Your reply is like a soothing wind in my macabre-ridden cave of a mentality. [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]I should use that as a testimonial in my blog. lol The fact that I even replied at all is based on all the anti-war stuff I see around RMIT Library in my city. Some of it is so misinformed. There are posters up along one corridor with "THE TRUTH ABOUT THE IRAQ OCCUPATION". Give me a [i]break![/i] These people are, by and large, [b]so[/b] ignorant about war and history that they are the last people who should be making any claims about it. It just annoys me. It's so blind...it's like jumping on a cause because it inflates your sense of self importance. I just don't like the whole thing. And believe me, there are wars/conflicts that I felt were unnecessary. But I'm not going to sit there and tilt everything so that it fits my tight little world view. Gah. I could go on forever about it, but if you're in college and you see that sort of stuff all the time, you already know what I mean. It has a greater brainwashing effect than the mass media, which is very ironic.[/color]

[color=#707875]I don't think anyone [i]likes[/i] war. Who actually wants to get into a violent situation? Very few people, I'd say. It's not a question of liking war, or wanting war. It's a question of when you feel that war is appropriate. People who say that war is [i]never[/i] justified are really ignoring history. Look at World War II. It was a case of either fighting for freedom or becoming enslaved under a Nazi world. I tend to liken war to having a tooth pulled at the dentist. If you leave the tooth there and do nothing about the minor pain, it will one day explode into an infection. But if you undergo the temporary pain of having it removed, the area will heal much more quickly and you'll never have to experience that horrible infection. So, the idea that you can't fight for peace is ridiculous and unfounded. Yes, some wars are ill-conceived and unjustified. And some "wars" are merely nothing but genocide. But war isn't always unnecessary. Sometimes you do need to use force to defend peace and freedom around the world. That's just how it is. It's not fun or happy or bright...but it's a reality. [/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by AutoKill [/i] [B] ok you lost me their. I was talking about the story line of the anime, and also the depth of thinking involved (character drama,ect.) i wasent talking about thinking about how the quality of the anime is. I mean the quality of the issues are in the plot. I think you read it wrong or somthing. [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]Nope, I read it right. How do you measure the quality of anime? Forgetting visuals for a moment, you would normally measure it by plot and character development. That's what Semjaza's doing. His main points of criticism relate to plot and character issues. You just said earlier on that he shouldn't think too much about it...that he shouldn't be overly-analytical. And yet, you then said that Trigun is an anime that makes you think. It encourages you to think about its story. So, you can't have it both ways. Semjaza [i]is[/i] thinking about its story, that's what he's analysing here. And that's the element that he takes issue with. He's not simply saying "the animation is ugly so I hate it". He's trying to critique the fundamentals of the series.[/color]

[color=#707875]I agree. If you guys are swapping recipes or something like that, I don't see a problem. It's actually quite an innovative idea. lol[/color]

[color=#707875]I have deliberately avoided Arthur Golden's book. It's full of distortions and inaccuracies. Did you know that Mineko Iwasaki was one of his primariy sources of information, but she ended the relationship because she was dissatisfied with the way his story represented Geisha? For instance, Mr. Golden apparently implies that Geisha are prostitutes or something similar, when this could not be further from the truth. I recommend that you read Iwasaki's book even moreso now. ^_^ EDIT: I just realized that I was thinking of Golden's book in the first place. *slaps forehead* Mineko Iwasaki's book is called [b]Geisha of Gion[/b]. I'll fix my first post.[/color]

[color=#707875]None of the above have been proven. And cameras that take pictures of aura are not [i]actually[/i] taking a picture of your aura. lol Once again, I point to the little documentary I was watching. I think it was a New Zealand-based TV show. Very interesting stuff. I don't even remember the name, so I can't really give you any recommendation to see it...but, it definitely explains quite a few things. And surprisingly, it attempts to look at both sides seriously. Of course, reason ends up coming out on top.[/color]

[color=#707875]I don't know what's so unhygenic about hankies. Sure, you get your goobies all over them, but they're [i]your[/i] goobies. If you have a cold, it's not like you're going to catch your own cold a second time. o_O; It's more a question of whether you want to dispose of your goobies immediately (with less comfort) or keep them hanging around a bit longer (with more comfort).[/color]

[color=#707875]*shrug* I only got involved in this conversation for the entertainment value. lol I wouldn't even waste my time to seriously debate over something like telekenesis. I wish I could remember the name of the show I was talking about earlier. It's something that everyone should watch if they get the chance. It's very interesting.[/color]

[color=#707875]I think that the ability to understand where stereotypes come from may also be part of the solution in terms of racism. The more you understand about the origins of these things, the less ignorant you are about them. And that in turn allows for some level of understanding. [/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Ben [/i] [B]I had some small hope that you wouldn't point that out. :p [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]Bleh-heh. :D Yeah, what can I say. Hehe. This whole discussion reminds me of a TV show I was watching, which investigated psychics. They spoke to a woman who could see auras...and she explained how man used to have a third eye (ie: cyclops) and how it was linked to the ability to see auras and so on. Very similar to what is being spouted here. You know, the whole "altenrate universes that you can't see and that nobody can explain but that exist regardless" trick. And yet, predictably enough, an optometrist could explain the optical illusions that make up an "aura". It was quite simple, and quite logical. And, bear in mind that Harry Houdini disproved spirit mediums just after World War II ended. The only reason they rose to prominence again during WWII and later was because Houdini died. He wasn't there to push the case against tricksters who preyed on the grief of ignorant people.[/color]

[color=#707875]Oh man...I really don't think I can go down this path. lol Different planes? Alternate Universes? I would sit here and discuss the theories of alternate Universes with you...but I fear that it might lead to discussions of people jumping through a vortex in their fridge and appearing outside Papa Smurf's house.[/color]

[color=#707875]Yes, I did consider that. lol But I could use her point of view to tell you, with all seriousness, that pink elephants fly around in the clouds each day. Would you believe it? No, probably not. We do live in a world based on certain natural rules/laws. It's very easy to shrug something off and say "Oh well, you just don't get it because you're thinking in a three dimensional way". It's easy because it requires no effort, no logic and no reason. And no evidence. With that standard, I could create dozens of threads about all sorts of things that I could claim to be true, but which I most likely have zero evidence of. I could go on, but I'm sure you know what I mean here. ^_^[/color]

[color=#707875]But, Semjaza is only mentioning the visuals as a passing thing. He himself mentioned that it wasn't his focus. He seems more concerned about the story and character depth than anything else. I don't know why I even posted that really...I think I just want to make sure that Semji isn't misinterpreted for some reason. ~_^[/color]

[color=#707875]O_O That still doesn't make sense. lol Firstly, this whole 10% figure is a myth. I don't even know where it came from. You have to remember that your brain is divided into different areas for different functions. Part of your brain is responsible for conscious thought. Yes, not all of it is responsible for that. But that doesn't mean that the rest of your brain is doing nothing; the rest of your brain is responsible for motor functions, sensory, digestion and dozens of other things. Nobody has yet explained any justification for this idea that a muscle inside your skull can cause objects to move. You can sit there and say "well, there's potential" or "you simply can't accept it because you think it's impossible"...but there's no justification or rationalization there. I can use the same type of argument with those who believe in telekinesis. I can say that those people are disregarding physics simply because it is inconvient and clashes with their romantic thoughts about the supernatural. [/color]