James

[color=#707875]Randleman, I only [i]just[/i] finished telling you that you are on your final warning for violating the rules. Now you post a banner about masturbation? Geeze. Don't say I didn't warn you.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Ravenstorture [/i] [B][color=darkgreen][font=gothic] I love it, and can't wait until I'm old enough to go clubbing in Australia. [/color][/font] [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]It doesn't surprise me that Queenslanders dislike techno. They are ten years behind everyone else, afterall. ~_^ *crowd goes "oooo!"* Ahem, anyway. You should come to Melbourne for that sort of stuff. Lots of big clubs down 'ere. And the attitude toward the music is far more liberal, too. In fact, there are some speciality stores down here that cater exclusively to electronic music. I'm glad that it's relatively popular in this city. lol[/color]

[color=#707875]Clavat removed the sword from its hiding place in his room and held it up to the light. It shimmered a brilliant silver. Its handle was carved from treated oak, like so much else in the world. Clavat had originally owned a steel-handled sword, which had been given to him by his father as a gift for his fencing triumphs in the Empire. But it was the one posession that Clavat didn't want to take on this journey. He still owned it, but not because he had any affection for it. Rather, Clavat owned it as a way of remembering his father, or more accurately, to remember his misdeeds. Clavat didn't have much time to collect his thoughts that morning. The entire HQ was rumbling with talk of the upcoming battles. Clavat was excited about the journey, but he was disappointed that he had to leave the HQ so soon. He desperately wanted to experience some genuine peace and quiet. But of course, such things are rare during a time of war. By the time Clavat had finished packing, a large group of warriors had already left. They had travelled out on the first two caravans, with heavier weaponry. Clavat and his comrades were up next. Their caravans had been packed, their Chocobos fed and their weapons prepared. Clavat took one last look at his cosy little room and shut the door. He wouldn't be seeing it again for a while.[/color]

[color=#707875]"Techno" is definitely a term that a lot of people misinterpret. I prefer to say "electronic music". It's a bit wider...it encompasses things like Aphex Twin and Orbital. There are many, many, [i]many[/i] kinds of electronic music. And I would say that most of them don't include the stuff you hear on the radio or in a rave. Really, most of the music you hear in a rave is designed simply for the very bassy, physical effect. But if you go deeper into electronic music sub-genres, you'll find a lot of unique stuff. As I said though, my tastes go all over the spectrum. Sometimes I like listening to the silly mainstream trancy stuff. Other times, I like to listen to the really hard, bassy stuff (the kind of bass that other types of music just can't achieve lol) and other times, more peaceful/slow stuff. There's just so much out there. If you want to sample some of my favourite electronic music tracks, I recommend sampling a few of the following: GBI - Towa Tei Windowlicker - Aphex Twin (I always recommend this one lol) Nothing But You - Paul van Dyk (a new one by PvD...pretty good rhythm as usual with his stuff, but more maintream than the other stuff) Mama Sweet - Da Hool (kinda weird...but funky) Disco Science - Mirwais Dirt - Death in Vegas ([i]awesome[/i] video clip for this one) Southern Sun - Paul Oakenfold (still a favourite, but I don't listen to it much these days) For an Angel - Paul van Dyk (I had to recommend this one...it's still a classic) So yeah, there you go. A little sample from my playlist. There are a couple of different kinds of electronic music there. But, there's definitely a whole lot more if you look for it. ~_^[/color]

[color=#707875]Square and Enix are both different in various respects. Square is [i]very[/i] hit-and-miss. They can produce a masterpiece one day, and an utter pile of rubbish the next. I agree with Tony to the point where too many people idolize Square as being some pedestal of great quality in the game industry. It's just not the case. But, the same can be said about Enix in some respects. Although I'd say that Enix is probably a more consistent company, in terms of its record (particularly in Japan). In any case, I think that Enix benefits in a major way here. Two reasons for that. First, it now has total access to Square's art capabilities. That's a big plus. Second, Enix has a much greater access to worldwide distribution, thanks to Square. Square is more experienced on the world stage and I think that can really help Enix games to be more successful globally, too. In any case, there's more to say here...but I'm tired and so I'll stop here. ~_^[/color]

[color=#707875]I don't see much logic to your arguments here, MillieFan. I mean, I'm a fan of The Simpsons, yet you're probably aware of some of the gross "Simpsons fan comics/images" that they have out there. The question is, does it really matter to me? The answer is simply "no". Why? Because, quite simply, these are [i]works of fan fiction[/i]. They bear absolutely no reflection on the original creator. People who view that stuff know that it's fan fiction. They know, in most cases, that these characters [i]aren't intended[/i] to have certain relationships. But don't you see? That's not the point. Few people would say or imply that these relationships exist in the original series. That's totally beside the point. People are merely taking existing characters and using them to construct their own fan stories. It's no different if I take a FFX character and put them in a battle with a FFIX character. You could say "that makes no sense!", but it doesn't [i]need[/i] to make sense. It's my work of fan fiction. I'm not using it to seek money, and I'm not claiming that it's official or anything like that. And my fan work certainly don't change the original work or anything. By your standards, we shouldn't allow half the RPGs in Adventure Arena -- because often, they are using characters from established series and those characters are being played out of their original context. See what I mean? [/color]

[color=#707875]Actually, I was behind the ball on this one. Our chat was [i]already[/i] closed. The Otaku Chat that exists now has nothing to do with theOtaku.com. It's completely unofficial. Thank god for that. lol But yeah, as I said, we're looking at building our own chat system that will be integrated with the boards. I've talked to Justin about it a little, but if it happens it won't happen until after the v7 launch.[/color]

[color=#707875]Ryan...if you don't want to be lectured, don't post idle chit-chat in here. ~_^ If you're going to quit, I recommend PMing the creator. That way people won't get confused when they read this thread. And Randleman...I cut you some slack by allowing you to return to OtakuBoards. Now you put a massive spoiler as your location? I'm going to remove it for you. But you need to understand that you shouldn't be pushing things at this point. You're here because I'm allowing you to be here. Remember that.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Semjaza Azazel [/i] [B] You have to remember that you might not even see half the problem, considering posts might be removed or whatever else. [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]Exactly. When people tell me "So-and-so did nothing to get banned", I know that they haven't seen what I have. And that's okay; I don't expect them to. It's just something I notice. Obviously, staff are not going to ban someone based on some random thing. We're not going to sit there and say "let's have fun and ban this person". It doesn't work that way. Generally, people are banned for one of three reasons. Either they break the rules frequently (regardless of post quality), their post quality is almost too hard to read or they are a mass spammer. The second case is the most subjective, but Category Moderators are allowed the discretion in those cases. And for the most part, they make the right decision. So, I'm satisfied with that. Also, you have to realize that you don't see most of the bans that occur. People are usually caught out well before they have the chance to stick around longterm. A relatively large number of people are banned (maybe a handful every couple of weeks) due to the sheer size of the membership. When you reach a certain point of growth, you know that a certain number of people will inevitably be banned for whatever reason. In most cases, people are either warned or told to clean up their act before a ban. We used to get very involved in this process (a PM warning before a ban), but we no longer do that unless the time is available for it. As our membership grows, we'll be less and less able to have that kind of detailed interaction. The same can be said about some kind of custom title. Banning members is enough of a chore (some people slip past being banned because the senior staff simply don't have the time...and they get caught up with later on), but adding custom titles to every banned member would take forever. It's generally unnecessary and it's something that needlessly slows down the work. Fundamentally though, myself or Adam can ban members based on any of our own criteria. I mean, the bottom line is that we own/run the boards and due to that, we have the right to choose who participates and who doesn't. It's like inviting people into your house; yes, you want to be fair to everyone. But you also want to keep things running smoothly. Of course, we have [i]chosen[/i] to create a set of rules that we use as criteria for banning. In almost every single case of banning, a member has "broken rules". Either because of constant swearing/double posting/etc, or because of sloppy post quality. 99% of the time, it's a result of that. Or, as Semjaza said, an accumulation of minor "offences". The other 1% encompasses either mass spammers, or people who we (the staff) simply don't want on the site (past cases have included impersonation of other staff, or harrassment of members/staff over AIM or PM). We don't have specific rules for every little case, so sometimes we have to use pure discretion to make a decision. So, yeah. I hope that goes into a bit more detail for you.[/color]

[color=#707875]Version Next is finished, apart from a single bug. Unfortunately, Adam will be in Italy before the PHP programmer returns to work on it. X_X So, I hope it can be fixed on time.[/color]

[color=#707875]Gah. I really want that new NES-styled GBA SP. lol It's so awesome. ^_^; Onyx and Flame have been out in Australia for a short while already, and they seem to be doing very well. SP is really Nintendo's bread and butter down here at the moment.[/color]

[color=#707875]I am planning to permanently close theOtaku.com's chat function, preferably by the launch of v7. Right now, we're looking at alternatives which will allow for a greater degree of Moderation.[/color]

[color=#707875]If both gay and straight people are allowed to enrol, doesn't it make this entire discussion moot? o_O[/color]

[color=#707875]Pikmin 2 is going to be awesome. I can't wait. I had heard that FF:CC's delay was due largely to translation issues. But it hasn't been confirmed by anyone at this point. As far as these releases...there are a few titles that I'm looking forward to. Primarily, some of the awesome third party stuff. In fact, I'm [i]really[/i] looking forward to some of the upcoming RPGs for GameCube (never thought I'd be saying that lol). There are more upcoming RPGs for GCN that I'm interested in, than for any other console. Phew. My poor wallet. lol[/color]

[color=#707875]I used to exercise a lot more than I do now. At the moment, I do a few things before I go to bed (sit-ups, push-ups and weights, mostly). But that's about it. I've never had any problem when it comes to diet. That is, I don't put on weight easily at all. And it doesn't take me very long to build up muscular strength. My dad's like that too...he doesn't exercise [i]at all[/i], and his diet isn't great, but he's never had a weight problem. I'd like to start going to the gym regularly (there's one right down the end of my street), but I just don't have the time or the money for it. Maybe one day I'll do it. lol[/color]

[color=#707875]Thanks guys. Stay off topic -- that's okay. lol[/color]

[color=#707875]Welcome, Aceboy21. First, to upload a Custom Avatar, you'll need to click on your Profile link at the top of the page. Then, click Edit Options. If you scroll down, you'll see the option to upload your own avatar. Avatars must be a maximum of 80x80 pixels in size. As for sigs, we recommend keeping signatures to about 8 lines or so. If you want to know about banner restrictions, please visit the rules page ([url]http://www.theotaku.com/rules.shtml[/url]). You'll find that banners are limited to 500 pixels width, 100 pixels height. Finally, we don't actually allow Intro threads at OB. You'll find more information about our rules on the rules page, which I linked to above. In any case, I hope I've been helpful. If you have further questions or comments, I recommend using the Suggestions & Feedback forum. You may also find that others have asked the same questions as you, so you might find some other answers in there as well. Once again, welcome to the boards. I hope you enjoy your stay here. ^_^[/color] [quote][i]Originally posted by wrist cutter:[/i][b] You say that now :D [/b][/quote] [color=#707875]Ah, but you're still here my friend. So we can't be [i]that[/i] bad. :smirk: [/color]

[color=#707875]Double_B...[i]please[/i]. Work with me here. lol Your post is completely off topic. It has nothing to do with the question posted by the thread's creator. Remain on topic, please.[/color]

[color=#707875]Yep, I hope that there is some kind of covery here, Taylor. My grandfather died last year and it's definitely very difficult to see a family member suffering like that. When he died, I was sad...but I was also glad that his pain had stopped. I hope that things turn out for him, and I hope that you can spend a lot more time with him. :)[/color]

[color=#707875]Clavat and Leo exited the busy hall together. They walked through the entrance corridor (past a group of giggling recruits) and stood in the large clearing in front of the HQ. Leo noticed that Clavat seemed to be a little nervous. "Is something the matter?" he asked. "Nah, I'm okay," said Clavat. "It's just that this whole mission is kinda sudden, you know? I only just got here, and in a few hours, I'll be setting off again." Leo smiled. "Such is the life of a Batallion member," he said. Clavat nodded absently. He looked around them and noticed that there were two large carriages sitting near the HQ entrance. Each carriage was elaborately carved from oak and covered in steel armor shards. A gruff-looking man was standing nearby, presiding over the whole operation. Several other staff were leading Chocobos out of an underground bunker, to attach them to the carriages. This was to be the Batallion's transport to Bankai. "When we get there, to Bankai, do you think we'll face much opposition?" asked Clavat as he turned to Leo once more. Leo rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "It's hard to say. The Empire posesses very powerful armies, but I doubt they'll have committed huge resources to Bankai. It's a small village, afterall." Clavat felt somewhat reassured by this. "You know...we'll be passing my loft on the way there. Maybe I can host a little party for you guys on the way?" Leo winked. "Yeah, that sounds like fun. It'll keep the troops' nerves calm, for sure." It hadn't seemed like Clavat had been at the HQ for a long time. But already, the sun was beginning to set. Torches around the HQ were being lit and Batallion staff were beginning to make their way back inside the underground tunnels, for a final dinner before the big operation. Clavat wandered through the hallway rather slowly. He wasn't keen on joining the rowdy dining hall too quickly. Before going there, he wanted to check on his room. The room was always used by Clavat when he stayed at the HQ. It was his second home. And when he finally came upon it, it looked no different to how he'd left it only a few short weeks ago. In one corner sat a small bed with a little clock on the headboard. A small dresser stood at the other end of the little room and a little table with a chair sat between the bed and the dresser. On the wall, a painting of Ramza Beoulve. It was only a small painting, but it was unique. It had been signed by Ramza himself. And years later, it was given to Clavat as a gift for his promotion. It was the single most valuable object that he owned and some of the younger recruits took time out of their schedules to visit his room and look upon it, whilst he was there. Clavat walked over to the little ensuite that sat by his room and used [i]Fire[/i] to light a small torch on the wall. He removed his gloves and washed his hands in the oak basin. He stared at himself in the mirror momentarily and was somewhat surprised to see a young man staring back. Clavat didn't feel young anymore. He didn't have time to ponder the issue though, as the ensuite door creaked open slightly. It was Leo. He looked at Clavat earnestly. "Are you okay?" he asked quietly. Clavat smiled. "I'm fine. Just...you know...sometimes you need to take a moment to absorb things," he said as he refitted his gloves. Leo nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's always like that. We're locked in a very difficult struggle right now. It's only going to get more difficult...but I know we'll pull through." "Yeah, we don't have much choice," said Clavat as he walked past Leo and sat on the bed in the corner. Leo sat on the small wooden chair nearby and leant forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "That's right, Clavat. We don't have much choice." Clavat looked away. He didn't meet Leo's gaze. Instead, he focused his attention on the portrait of Ramza. "It's easy to think that we're fighting for a dead soldier sometimes," said Leo, gesturing toward the portrait. "But that's not really the case. We're fighting for our families here. We're fighting for freedom. I know [i]I[/i] don't want to live under the Empire's thumb until I die." Leo's voice contained a sense of determination when he said this. Even when talking to a friend, Leo couldn't help letting his leadership qualities ebb through. Clavat finally turned to Leo once more. He smiled a weak smile. "I know, Leo. And it's okay, really. It's just that sometimes I miss certain things. I miss the life I once had..." Leo sat down next to Clavat and put an arm around his shoulder. "Hey, it's alright," he said softly, "we all feel that way sometimes. It's not wrong to miss having the finer things in life, or to miss a more comfortable existence. I don't know of anyone here who wouldn't rather be somewhere else." "No, I'd rather be here," said Clavat. "I'd rather be here with my friends. I just wish that things could be different...I wish that I could see my family again." Leo smiled broadly. "Oh, you will see them again one day, comrade. I know you will." Clavat stood up and shook Leo's hand. They both laughed heartily and walked out of the room together. Leo always knew what to say. And Clavat was eternally thankful.[/color]

[color=#707875]I'm simply saying that it's possible to post your opinion and make it both relevant and not inflammatory. That's all. I am not offended by what you said (believe me, I've seen more preachy people in my time), but I have an interest in making sure that threads remain on-topic and don't get bogged down by arguments between members. I have that responsibility, whether it's convenient for others or not. Anyway, that's that. Let's let this thread continue, before it gets bogged down further. If you want to discuss the issue with me, you're welcome to use the PM system.[/color]

[color=#707875]No, no. Hold on a second. Firstly, nobody's chasing you off for your beliefs. You can have whatever beliefs you like. However, the question is essentially "are people born bad?" Your posts bear little relevance to this question. I can see what you're trying to say, but it would be better for you to answer the question without simply condemning people to hell (which is what your previous post did, in effect). The point is to ensure that you express your opinion without being unnecessarily provocative. If you think your post wasn't provocative, then there isn't much I can say. lol It's not hard. You can definitely answer the question without making a sweeping and inflammatory statement. I'm not an unreasonable request.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by wrist cutter [/i] [B]His post was as valuable as anyone else's, he was sharing his thoughts on whether we're good or bad. Apparently he thinks we're born bad. [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]For one thing, he didn't really address the question. He simply posted one sentence saying that unless you accept Jesus, you're going to hell. He could have answered the question without the inflammatory comment. You should know that condemning people to hell isn't a very pleasant thing to be doing. ;) [/color]

[color=#707875]Let's just try to keep the discussion civil. noraa_boy, unless you have something more valuable (and less inflammatory) to say, I'd recommend that you simply don't post.[/color]

[color=#707875]Well, we already seperate schools based on gender. Why not sexuality or something else? I actually don't agree with schools that are based on one gender or one sexuality. But if you agree with schools that segregate based on gender, then you wouldn't be very consistent if you disagreed with a school that is exclusively for homosexuals. Having said that, I'm not aware of whether or not girls/boys schools receive public money. If they are private, then who cares? If you're a private school, you can do what you like pretty much. You can allow people of only one religion, sexuality, gender, etc... But if you're a public school, I think you are obligated to treat everyone in the same way. So, schools need to open their doors to everybody and not be exclusive to one group. Well, public schools, anyway. I agree with HC about it feeding more hate. You don't just seperate people into their own schools because of discrimination that has existed previously. Putting gay kids in their own school isn't going to stop them being picked on by other kids -- it'll probably make things worse. The key is to put both groups [i]together[/i] and to encourage understanding and tolerance. You can't do that with segregation.[/color]