James

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by KnightOfTheRose [/i] [B]No, James, I'm not using an OB link. [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]Yes, you were using OB as a host. In one of the gaming forums - I actually deleted the erroneous attachment in your post. So it doesn't matter at this point anyway. I was just clarifying the rules with you, so as to ensure that it doesn't happen again.[/color]

[color=#707875]I guess my feelings on this subject are predictable, because I'm always defending human/civil rights. And I think that if you are going to defend human/civil rights, you have to also defend the idea that we should all have [i]equal[/i] rights. Let's not have any illusions here. Marriage is probably pretty different to everybody. For some, it's purely about expressing love. For others, it's more of a legal question. And for others still, it has a stronger religious connotation. In terms of gay people having "Christian" marriages...I don't think there should be any issue there. The idea that people can't claim their marriage valid in front of "YOUR God" annoys me. It's not [i]your[/i] God. I think it's highly arrogant to take that attitude. If people want to have a Christian marriage...so be it. Let God decided the legitimacy; not you. From my point of view, this argument has a far more practical level. Forget the religious aspects for a moment...and think about this from a purely civil rights point of view. I saw a news report a long time ago about a couple who had been together for 50 some years. The parents of one member of the couple hadn't been in contact with either of them for many years. And then...that member of the couple died. So what happened? All of his posessions went to his family (some people who he hadn't even had contact with for years). And his partner got nothing. Also, what happens if one member of the relationship has a car accident and goes to an intensive care ward? His partner (or her partner) would not be able to see him. He'd be classified only as a friend...not an immediate relative or a marital partner. Is that fair? Hell no. I don't think anybody in good conscience could consider it fair. So, those are the issues I think about when I hear this discussion. I don't [i]care[/i] about the religious issues. The reason I don't care is because I think the whole thing is simply ridiculous. If I am Christian...and someone on the other side of the country wants to get a "Christian marriage", why the hell should I care? How does it affect me? How does it infringe on my rights? It doesn't. It's none of my damn business. I would not sit there and presume to tell those people that they [i]can't[/i] do it. Maybe I can complain. Maybe I can say "No, you shouldn't do it". Maybe I can disagree. But I have no right to say that they [i]can't[/i] do it. I'm not actually pointing to anyone in this thread with that comment; it's more of a general sentiment towards those who are more hard-line on the issue. It's simply wrong to oppose someone's basic civil rights because you disagree with their beliefs, their genetics or whatever else. It's just fundamentally wrong. I mean...I disagree with people over any variety of issues. But do I, as an equal citizen of my country...and as an equal human being...have the right to decide that what they are doing is wrong? Not only that it's wrong, but that they actually can't do it? No. If you disagree with that, you simply can't believe in true equality. It's impossible. And that's why I will never understand racism, or sexism, or homophobia. They are [i]all[/i] the same. And my feeling is that this is what the discussion ultimately comes down to. Just give people their civil rights (gay marriage or whatever else) and go home. Don't worry your little head about it; it doesn't affect your personal freedom or liberty. So shut up and put up. Blah. Sorry for the semi-rant. I guess I needed to put a fine point on it or something. ~_^[/color]

[color=#707875]Yeah, you used OB as a host incorrectly, by using an erroneous attachment (an attachment unrelated to the thread). That's against the rules. I don't know why this error appears. But I've fixed it in my sig (where it did appear initially). Try changing the filename around after you've uploaded it. Or, try re-uploading it (to somewhere other than OB, if you're going to upload multiple versions). I renamed my file on the server and then changed it in my profile...and it worked. I have no idea what the cause of this error is though.[/color]

[color=#707875]Alrighty. Everyone's in. No cuts on this list. ~_^ Sign ups are still open though. So, anyone else who wishes to join, please feel free to do so. Here I go...[/color]

[color=#707875]The thread creator's post isn't flamebait, but I think saying that certain pairings are "revolting" is probably going to inspire more flaming than anything else. Anyway... I think that there's a pretty simple explanation here. In any anime I've ever watched, I notice that the main male protagonist (assuming it's a male) [i]often[/i] has an obvious female pairing. But, quite often, it seems to me that this pairing is never explored until near the end of the series. In fact, in the beginning, it often seems that the two are cold toward each other. The two most likely to make a heterosexual couple are often at complete odds with one another throughout the series, until [i]finally[/i] their love is really brought into the open (by way of both sides admitting it, or what have you). So, I think it's actually a situation where two characters can seem to hate each other (or not be very close) when in fact, the intention is that they are actually the perfect pairing. Does that make sense? You know, it's like if you tease a girl at school you apparently like her. lol I've definitely discovered that mentality across the board; not just in anime. It's also prevalent in movies and novels, I find. But, that's just my take on it. Obviously, the close friendships between two characters of the same sex are going to increase the likelihood of a same-sex pairing by somebody else. And that pairing may even be entirely logical and appropriate, in a fan story situation. When people get intensely offended over certain "pairings", I find it ridiculous. Whether or not you accept homosexuality is utterly irrelevant; you have to bear in mind that these characters are merely ink on a page. They aren't real people. So I think it's reasonable to expect people to take existing characters and fit them into whatever mould suits them for their own fan fiction. *shrug*[/color]

[color=#707875]Ahh cool. Lookin' good. I like the first one mainly; the second one runs a bit too quickly for me. I just realized that I haven't actually had a wedding. I'm "married" to a few people, but no wedding yet. :bawl: Oh well. I'll find someone... I hope. ^_^;;[/color]

[color=#707875]One word posts are against the rules. Remember that. ~_^ Anyway. Your very first image...I like it, but the text is a bit hard to see. But a change of font might fix that. The second image looks good. The yellow blends with the orange. Don't be afraid to use yellow. And, I also like the border. Third image...I prefer it to your second. But it's got nothing to do with a change in technique; I simply prefer the colours. It looks more "electric". Nice stuff. Fourth image is looking pretty good; I like the photographic effects you've used. It's a more simple banner (technically speaking), but I think it's effective. The borders are nice too; I like the fact that you're using unconventional borders. That gets a big plus from me. The fifth image is also pretty cool. It has a very fiberous look to it. And the blend between the two layers is pretty nice also. And the fifth...I don't really like that one. It seems a bit awkward to me. And some of the edges aren't very defined. But it's still quite interesting. I don't like the black version though. The sixth image is really nice. Very cool. It's more outgoing...it plays around with colour and shape a lot more too. And it really puts a bigger emphasis on contrast. I like it. ^_^ As for your last three... The first one's nice, but a bit confusing. The second is okay...but I don't like the text (though the cross hatching effect is nice). And the final one...nope. I don't like it. It looks too washed out. It's not just because you've used the same colour as the woman's hair; it actually seems a bit too light and faded. And my personal preference is always for something to be very powerful and vibrant, rather than faded away. And the text on that one doesn't really add to it, I don't think. It's kind of a counterbalance to the woman's face, but the text itself looks somewhat blurry (probably due to font choice/size). In any case, you've really improved since you first came here. Your very first art seemed very amateurish compared to what you're producing now. So, you definitely need to pat yourself on the back for all that great improvement. You've definitely got some artistic flair, which is great to see. ^_^[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Fall [/i] [B]All fireworks are banned here, aswell as buying them. Yet in the ACT, the state [i]inside[/i] NSW, you can buy firworks, as they're not illegal to buy there. You can't use them though. [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]ACT is a Territory, not a State. You're Aussie, you should know that. :blush: Hehe Anyway, it doesn't surprise me that you can buy fireworks in the ACT. You can also buy X-rated movies in Canberra and nowhere else. Another example of politicians saving the best for themselves? lol I'm not sure if they're legal in Victoria or not...but I've certainly heard/seen people use them in the country areas. Although I personally think it's insane in some areas, because bushfires are a MAJOR problem in Australia generally. They can be highly devistating...and considering that one of our worst fires was merely caused by someone throwing a cigarette out of their car window...well, you get the idea. But I'm not really against people using them generally. Only in the bush/country areas, where there's a huge firehazard. So I wouldn't be surprised if they're illegal in this state, but I really don't know. o_O[/color]

[color=#707875]Ahh, I remember reading about PS2's levels (one of the levels is on a pirate ship or something isn't it?) and I always thought that it sounded like a lot of fun. The first Power Stone had some wonderful levels. One of them was a kind of restaurant...with chairs and tables and rafters to grab onto. lol It was [i]so[/i] much fun. The level was like some kind of silly anime bar fight. o_O[/color]

[color=#707875]Guh. Power Stone is sublime. ^_^ I don't know if I ever played PS2...I only played the first. But geeze. It was wonderful. So much fun. That reminds me -- I saw a used version at a gaming store a few days ago. I must buy it. O_O[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Ryo the Tamer [/i] [B] Ignore Attachment [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]Using OtakuBoards as a host is strictly forbidden. You can only attach files if they are relevant to the thread. If I see you doing this again, you'll be banned. Please keep the rules in mind.[/color]

[color=#707875]What can I say? This is another example of taking something nonexistent (a rivalry) and blowing it up to epic proportions. Lumi and Roxie, you're both doing little but gossip mongering at this point. And I don't appreciate it. Both of you are making a mild situation unnecessarily annoying. As far as the avatar, I think it's been explained. PoisonTongue has been appropriately warned, Charles has (needlessly) apologised and OtakuBoards hasn't been drawn into anything needless. Now, let's actually get on with our lives and spend time on more important things. And Lumi/Roxie...I can't fully express my disappointment. You only have one side of the story, if it can even be called a story. Neither of you have the experience in this matter that Charles does and as such, I think he has the right to be angry at both of you as well as Kevin. If anything, Charles is the victim here. If you don't agree, that's fine. But don't waste OB's time by posting stuff like this. As you appropriately say; keep it off the boards.[/color]

[color=#707875]I think you're misinterpreting our rules, REVENGE2. ~_^ If you post a link to another site withing your post, that's fine. However, you cannot create a thread with the sole purpose of advertising your own site. That's definitely explicitly against the rules. Sorry 'bout that.[/color]

[color=#707875]Yeah, you're free to use our logo or anything to link to us. So don't worry about that. I'm getting the feeling that we should make a button of some kind, considering the number of requests we've been getting lately.[/color]

[color=#707875]I really like that idea. That's very inventive thinking, Shy. I'll take it into consideration. ^_^[/color]

[color=#707875]Bjork's a little crazy (and a little liberal with her fists), but hey, it adds to the charm. ^_^ I'm not a fan of her music in general, but some of her music videos are very captivating. And there are certain songs that can really grab your interest, if only because they sound so different to other stuff out there. But generally, I don't find Bjork to be as talented as many suggest. Sometimes her songs are kind of like the answer to a question that nobody asked. o_O[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by wrist cutter [/i] [B]That's just sick. You need a vacation or something. [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]Yes, I do. Thank you. *knits an OB-themed jump suit for baby C*[/color]

[color=#707875]Congrats to Lady M! ^_^ I'd ask her to use "OtakuBoards" as the baby's middle name, but that might be too much. ~_^ I can't wait to see pictures, too.[/color]

[color=#707875]Exactly. Sonic Advance wasn't very good; it wasn't [i]Sonic[/i]. And that's precisely why you should look into Sonic Advance 2. ^_^ SA2 is what SA [i]should[/i] have been.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by MaxSonic [/i] [B]I liked the classic type of bosses! They were fine the way they were! That makes me angry! (Turns into Hulk and kills eggman) I can't believe they ruined it. But I have to say it's better than Sonic Advance. [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]Oh come on. They didn't [i]ruin[/i] the bosses. I mean, the only real difference is that the screen is scrolling now. Big deal. There are no fundamental changes to the way the boss acts, basically. And you still essentially go through the same process to kill the boss. SA2 is a lot better than SA. The bosses are nice, but they aren't the be-all and end-all feature of the game, I'd say. This game is worth buying if only for the lovely level design. ^_^[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by KnightOfTheRose [/i] [B] One person shouldn't have absolute power on issues as important as banning. [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]I'd say that about 50% of the bans that take place are discussed by the Moderators. The others are usually done autocratically by myself or Charles, with limited discussion/consultation on most occasions. It's fair to say that most web forums deal with banning in a pretty autocratic way. If we were to discuss [i]every[/i] ban on OtakuBoards, we'd never get anything done. So, there's a good balance. Though, there is nothing wrong with banning someone autocratically. I think it's fair to say that most online forums take this approach; especially very large forums. I mean, basically, we are the ones who set the rules and provide the services in the first place. So, we also have the right to decide who can participate in our community. And we choose to decide that based on a set of public rules. So I can't say that I see much of a problem in that sense.[/color]

[color=#707875]I don't know what to say about this, other than echo what everyone else here has said. I guess I should just leave you with a quick thought. This movement is no different to the idea of banning Harry Potter in schools. It's about dealing with symptoms and not causes. It's about scapegoating. And it's about ignoring one's responsibilities. Unfortunately, a lot of people sometimes buy into this rubbish. I don't like it, but I'm kind of resigned to it...these days, I expect no different. And that's a shame.[/color]

[color=#707875]Well, obviously you're not necessarily going to buy the SP if you already own a GBA. But if you don't own a GBA, what are you going to do? Buy a GBA and then the perhipherals, or buy a GBA SP? I don't see the point in comparing GBA and GBA SP in that sense. GBA SP is obviously superior, for the reasons mentioned above. If you've got a GBA and a light attachment, you simply wouldn't buy a GBA SP. It would be a waste of time. So I see that as being a non-issue.[/color]

[color=#707875]Uh...well, that last post is kind of irrelevant considering the intent of the thread. But anyway.. ^_^; Music is really an amazing thing. It can affect us in ways that no other medium can. In terms of the music reflecting me as a person...I don't know how to answer that. I don't have a specific music taste, in the sense that I'm not necessarily a huge fan of one genre and only one genre. So in other words, almost any song can interest me, regardless of genre. But, yeah. I think that each type of music can do something different. So, if I listen to classical music...it often makes me feel relaxed. But not just relaxed. Classical music is maybe the one kind of music that can [i]really[/i] make me feel emotional. Usually either very happy, or very sad. I like electronic music also, for many reasons. And of course, there are many, many different kinds of electronic music. Lately I've been listening to Disco Science by Mirwais. And it's a track that inspires certain feelings in me, because it makes me remember the time I originally heard it. So, I like different styles for different reasons...and different styles can invoke different emotions, I guess. I like the raw precision and "mathematical" (for lack of a better word) perfection of electronic music. And I like the emotion and power of classical music. *shrug* I don't konw how well I've explained it, but I guess I could go on forever about how music affects my thoughts/feelings/etc..[/color]

[color=#707875]Hm, the memories come flooding back. ~_^ I saw this movie a few times years ago, and my opinion on it is mixed. I guess that I never really fell in love with it, because even as a kid, I kind of saw it as being too camp and silly. But on the other hand, I certainly never hated it or anything. I'm not a David Bowie fan at all, but I don't think that fact alone changed my opinion of the movie. Though if you are a fan, I can see why it'd raise the movie's profile. ^_^[/color]