James

[font=franklin gothic medium]I should point out that posting order [i]can[/i] be a very beneficial thing. If you look at Almagest Legacy, there's only one problem: so much activity and so many different individual plot threads that it can be difficult to follow. Generally this means that you either have to a) only read the parts that are relevant to your character or b) hope that you read what you can and try not to be inconsistent within the context of the story. Yes, there are people who have time to read all of those posts. And there are people who don't. I regularly fall into the latter category. Posting orders can be good for very active RPGs, where you want the story to flow appropriately, without it being all over the place. As an RPG progresses and people's characters end up in many different places within the world, this can become an even more significant problem. So while I wouldn't think most people would want to use post orders, I also think it's unwise to knock them without having used them effectively. They can and do work for certain projects.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Apart from the fact that I think Gwen Stefani has been one of the more innovative pop artists of recent years (objectively speaking - I wouldn't say I like much of her music), I do agree with what many are saying here in that this is really a moot point. Don't forget that many anime producers frequently rip off western ideas/concepts in their art. I don't think Gwen Stefani has actually ripped something off as much as she's used a fairly common typeface. I'm sure you'll find many other examples of it elsewhere. Apart from that, I don't see much of a reason to hate someone I don't even know. I never understood that. Hate is a very strong word.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Welcome, Kasumi. Hope you enjoy the place. More art contributors would definitely be good! Welcome to other recent new members too. :catgirl:[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]So how many stars does everyone have? I just reached the 100 mark last night, after doing a star or two here and there. At this point I'm probably finding the [spoiler]Purple Coin Comets[/spoiler] to be the most difficult part of the game. A couple of these challenges have had me sacrificing multiple lives (and have caused much frustration). Some challenges are easier than others, but overall I'm finding them to be significantly tougher than other parts of the game. One thing I love about these challenges is that the levels themselves accommodate them really well. [spoiler]In Super Mario 64 it'd simply be a matter of locating red coins within the levels. Whereas in Super Mario Galaxy, you're often put in a specific part of the level with a particular challenge...or the level itself is modified specifically for the coin challenge. This is incredibly cool and it makes these challenges more worthwhile than the red coins in Super Mario 64.[/spoiler] I'm really wanting to get [spoiler]Luigi[/spoiler] so I have to make sure I get all of those stars! :catgirl:[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]The only edit I'd add to Sandy is that many of those themes are not done [i]well[/i]. The Almagest Legacy is probably the first solid steampunk RPG that I can think of on OB, but demons/angels/vampires haven't typically been done well on OB. They've been done a lot, but often not in an interesting or quality-focused way. So I think if you do a pre-done genre but you do it in a unique and/or interesting way - with some quality - it will have potential. But yeah, Vikings sounds very unique. I don't know if that's ever been covered here.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]My advice would be to check out other Auditions threads (as well as the sticky threads) before making your own RPG. OtakuBoards RPGs are unique and so it's often better to see what others are doing before you jump in. There's no malice or anything behind that, it's just to help you create a successful RPG that you will enjoy. If your RPG doesn't contain the basic ingredients, people are often a lot less likely to join. If you still have questions or concerns you can always send a PM my way and I'll do what I can to help you. :catgirl: [/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]The only thing I'd say (since everything has been said so far) is that RPGs are a very particular kind of thing - if you create an Auditions thread you really need to make sure you're covering your bases by providing some context for what you're doing. The best way to learn is to read other peoples' Auditions threads. This will give you a strong idea about how OB RPGs work. You can also read the sticky threads for more advice. If you have any other issues, feel free to PM any staff member (including myself) and we'll do our best to help you out. OB isn't like a lot of anime forums, in that we really try to create a quality atmosphere for members. There are very few anime forums that actually do this. So admittedly it's not for everyone, but it works really well for us. :catgirl: [/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Censorship, in my mind, is when you edit content or block content selectively. Ratings don't really fall under that category. I mean, yes, if you put an R rating on a film you are blocking minors from purchasing it. But you aren't actually outright censoring the film - adults can still purchase the uncensored movie. I'm quite comfortable with ratings, especially where they help parents make informed choices. But I don't like the idea of content being edited to make it more palatable, in general - especially where the message of the content is lost. I mean this in reference to adults, not children. [/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I'm fundamentally opposed to censorship (I prefer ratings than outright censorship), but as per usual there are many shades of grey. With OB, my feeling is that we can censor swearing while still allowing people to say whatever they want. After all, you can still express any idea without using swearing. So although specific words are censored, ideas themselves are not. I think that's the main point. In terms of films and religion, I'm just tired of the whole debate honestly. Religious groups really need to get a better hobby than frequently going after films. A film is a film, pure and simple. It is someone's expression. It is an idea. It is not going to hurt people. And if a film changes someone's mind about religion? That probably means they weren't 100% convinced anyway. In reality I don't believe that films present any real threat to religion. Organized religious groups need to focus on their own philosophy rather than regularly attacking pieces of fiction. Besides, I think that people who are truly offended by the ideas presented in a movie will simply choose not to see it. As long as a movie isn't forced on anyone (which I wouldn't say is the case), then I do not see the issue.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]My big issue with classical music is that I regularly forget either the names of pieces or of the composer! Haha. But to get to the point, I like both "classical" and "neo classical" pieces. When I talk about neo classical I'm referring to stuff produced by the likes of Hybrid or the Kronos Quartet as just two examples (also remakes of old themes, such as those produced by Bond or Vanessa Mae). In terms of actual classical pieces, I think my favourite piece is Kanon in D by Pachelbel. Interestingly some of the newer updates to this piece are even better than the original, in my view. I would like Kanon in D to be played at my funeral actually. Other than that, another favourite is Vivaldi. I am a fan of Vivaldi's Four Seasons and I think one of my favourites is Violin Concerto No. 8. I'm also quite a fan of Tchaikovsky's work in general.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Welcome, guys. Good to have you here. I hope you enjoy your stay. As always if you need anything, you can either visit the Information Kiosk or you can send a PM my way any time. :catgirl: [/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I think the one big lesson I've learned here is that there will always be someone who has a problem or a disagreement. You can never be in the business of trying to please everyone, because if that is your goal, you will always fail. All you can do is your best and hope that it pans out. It may seem like a simple lesson, but I think it can be a difficult one to learn depending on the type of person you are. Other than that, I think the simple fact that the site has survived and continued to be relevant for nearly a decade in various forms is noteworthy. That affects me, because sometimes it's kind of weird to think that I have been involved with a single site for so long. When I actually reach the ten year mark, I'm sure that I will be able to comfortably say that OB has been a major part of my life for beter or worse, lol.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]As far as I know, comment layouts on myOtaku can not be edited. Sorry about that. Perhaps in the new version this will be a feature, but I really have no idea. Also perhaps we should edit the introductions part of this thread to link to the introductions thread in Otaku Lounge. That setup really seems to be working very well.[/font]

[center][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/vincentavatar.jpg[/img][/center] A pair of imposing doors, at the end of a seemingly endless hallway, faced Vincent. Audrey stood next to him, with several thick folders under her arm; she was always prepared for every meeting. The doors led directly to the office of Gaul Rosier, Chief Commander of the Royal Police Guard. Today should have been routine; Vincent and Gaul met weekly to discuss the following week and to pour over progress reports from many fronts. Even for Vincent, who had been a military man for years, Gaul Rosier was intimidating. It was hard to say exactly why this was so. Vincent considered that Gaul did not [i]look[/i] particularly powerful, as such. He was shorter than Vincent and he wasn't young. It occurred to Vincent that it might have been the simple fact that Gaul Rosier was one of the most powerful men in Czenovia. He was possibly only a few orders of magnitude less powerful than the King himself. In fact, if Gaul had ever wanted to stage a coup, he most probably could. After all, the Guard was mostly loyal to him and he was the kind of man who could command respect from even the most critical opponents. Of course, Gaul would never question the King; the King was quite possibly the only man who could completely and comfortably control Gaul. Gaul was generally not a man to be controlled by others. In addition to his obvious power, Vincent couldn't help but feel that Gaul was somehow coldly intelligent; he showed few signs of humanity. He ruled his Guard with an iron fist. He demanded results and God help anyone who couldn't deliver. There were all sorts of rumors about Gaul Rosier within the Guard, including the persistent suggestion that he had made several dozen Guards "disappear" over the years for disagreeing with him. It seemed odd to Vincent that he had never personally had a problem with Gaul. Although nobody would dare to admit it to Vincent, it was true that just about everybody disliked Gaul or was afraid of him. Yet Gaul had always treated Vincent with at least a little humanity; in some respects, Gaul seemed to view Vincent as an heir (which was surprising in and of itself, primarily because Gaul seemed to view foreigners with nothing but contempt). Vincent looked at Audrey, who's eyes were fixed on the double doors in front of them. 'Are you ready?' Audrey didn't shift her gaze. 'Of course,' she said in a rather matter-of-fact way. Vincent grabbed the golden doorknob and twisted it. With a heavy click, the doors swung open and revealed an enormous office beyond. Gaul Rosier's office was unlike any Vincent had ever seen. It was a curious place. In one corner, Vincent always noticed a rather odd steam machine, but he could not decide what it was. More than anything, it seemed like a useless trinket that existed purely for curiosity's sake. It was quite unlike Gaul Rosier to own any object purely for aesthetic and impractical reasons, yet there were a number of artifacts around the office that apparently fit into this category. Mostly, the walls of the office were lined with books about politics and military strategy. Or, failing that, Gaul kept many volumes of Royal Police Guard Official Code, which he himself could recite to the letter. The far side of the office was rounded and made entirely of glass; it took up one entire side of the Royal Police Guard Tower, which was the official headquarters of the organization. From here, one could see the entire city of High Czenoble. And in the distance, further down the mountain, New Czenoble was barely visible. A silver telescope sat near the window; Vincent could very much imagine Gaul Rosier spying on the denizens of New Czenoble in a god-like manner. Gaul was sitting at his desk. He had a large book open in the middle and was writing furiously with a black feather quill. The only sounds in the room were the scratching of the quill and the gentle puff of the steam machinery in the corner. Both Vincent and Audrey sat down in chairs opposite Gaul's desk. Audrey judiciously unclipped her folder and took out a pen of her own. Finally, Gaul looked up at the pair. His cold grey eyes peered over the slim silver spectacles on his nose. He attempted a smile, but it looked forced as always. 'Welcome, Vincent. I almost thought you had more important plans this morning,' he said coldly. Vincent had arrived to the meeting almost a minute late. This was Gaul's gentle way of reminding him never to be late again. Vincent knew he should heed the warning. 'I apologize, Sir,' said Vincent quietly, 'it won't happen again.' Gaul placed the quill next to the large book and closed it. As he did so, his eyes moved between both Vincent and Audrey; he almost looked suspicious, as though he didn't want anyone seeing the contents of the book. Finally, he stood up and began pacing back and forth along the glass wall behind his desk. Gaul was always dressed in full Royal Police Guard attire. He wore a simple grey coat and trousers with the RPG emblem on each arm. The shoulders of his jacket contained three silver spikes, which grew larger as they fanned out from his inner-shoulder. He wore a high, red collar and dark red leather gloves. One of Gaul Rosier's most defining features was that he also walked with a cane. He had a very slight limp, which he had always attributed to the Mine War. His cane was made from pure silver, with a large ivory sphere on top. 'I will not take up much of your time today,' said Gaul as he slowly paced, his eyes glued to the floor. 'You have no doubt read this morning's edition of The Chronicle.' Vincent nodded. 'Yes, I have. You are referring to the kidnappings?' Gaul seemed to cringe at the word. 'Yes. It seems we have enemies of the Empire in our midst, as much as it pains me to say it,' said Gaul coldly. Vincent could very much imagine Gaul Rosier being physically sick at the idea of anyone who didn't love the Empire. 'Several prominent Alchemists have been abducted by an unknown group. Although,' Gaul glanced at Vincent over his glasses, 'I do have my suspicions about their identity.' 'I see,' said Vincent. He looked at Audrey who was diligently taking minutes. He did not quite know what to say. 'As you are aware,' continued Gaul, 'many prominent Alchemists in High Czenoble belong to the Almagest family. I am sure that poor Leonhart is worried for his family members and I know that he despises traitors as much as I.' Vincent nodded. 'The Almagests were one of the main groups involved in the Mine War. And of course they created Alchemy. I suppose you could say they almost gave birth to this nation.' Gaul nodded vigorously and grinned - his first real grin for the day. 'Yes, as you know I have great respect for the Almagests. Or at least, I respect the older generation. Some of the younger family members disappoint me.' Gaul paused and turned to face the window. 'But I digress. We have some limited intelligence on the group responsible for these kidnappings. I am afraid that our early information suggests the presence of anti-Imperial forces. We must obviously destroy this group as quickly as possible.' 'I will do what I can,' said Vincent. 'Excellent.' Gaul finally turned to face Vincent directly. 'You are close to the Almagests. I want you to visit Rosengard and speak with Leonhart yourself. He may have some idea about who these people are.' Vincent paused for a moment. Something did not add up. 'Sir, please forgive my ignorance, but why are we not mobilizing the entire Guard to search for this group?' Vincent was sure that he saw Gaul shudder again. 'There is already a great deal of rumor-mongering in the city,' said Gaul sharply, 'and some of the less desirable elements - particularly in New Czenoble - might feel buoyed by the perceived existence of a resistance movement. We do not acknowledge that any formal movement exists. And so, we must deal with this matter privately and without delay.' Gaul returned to his chair and sat down. He clasped his gloved hands together. 'Go to Rosengard and learn what you can. If we are going to defeat these terrorists, we are going to need the support of Leonhart Almagest. He has many links that we can only dream of.' And with that, Gaul gestured for Vincent to leave the office.

[font=franklin gothic medium]We have a special thread for new members in Otaku Lounge if you'd like to introduce yourself to everyone. Other than that, is there anything specific you want help with? I'd recommend checking out the FAQ and Rules on our left navigation menu as a couple of places to start. :catgirl:[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Yes, Australia has a monarch. Haha The Commonwealth of Nations as a group is quite different to what it once was. There are several countries who were admitted to the Commonwealth that were never British colonies. These days it's really a kind of mini-UN, I guess. It's a place for countries to trade and discuss diplomatic issues. Every year (I think it's every year anyway) there's a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which the Queen chairs. All of the Presidents and Prime Ministers of member nations come together for this. If you want to find out more about Australia's monarchy I would recommend looking up "Australian Federation" on Wikipedia. This basically explains how Australia became a nation, when it was originally a series of British colonies. Contrary to popular belief, too, Australia was largely settled by immigrants rather than convicts. Although the First Fleet was primarily made up of convicts, the population only grew throughout the 19th century due to mass immigration (from Europe and China mostly). In terms of the whole monarchy thing...I'll try to summarise it for you. Our Head of State (i.e. our highest national leader) is Queen Elizabeth II. In this role, the Queen does have several powers afforded to her by the constitution. For example, she runs the Federal Council (another thing to look up on Wikipedia) and she has various other constitutional powers. [i]However[/i], she doesn't really use any of them. Instead, her role is largely ceremonial. And since she can't directly govern from England, she appoints a Governor-General. The Governor-General is basically the Queen's representative in Australia. Governors-General are appointed by the Queen, upon recommendation from the Prime Minister. The Queen never rejects a PM's recommendation. Also, all legislation passed by both houses of Parliament must be given Royal Assent. In other words, bills do not become law until the Queen has signed off on them. Although I believe that the Governor-General can do this as her representative. And although the Governor-General never really exercises his constitutional powers (other than in the most basic sense), he does have significant power. And his role is largely to supervise and guide the government of the day. On one occasion the Governor-General dismissed an entire government. This was controversial, but there were reasons for it (search Gough Whitlam on Wikipedia). Since then (and prior to that), I don't believe the Governor-General or the Queen have ever exercised their power to a major extent. Also our constitution has removed several key links to Britain (such as use of the Privy Council - another thing to search on Wikipedia). Having said all of the above, our equivalent to your President is definitely the Prime Minister. He is the head of the executive branch of government and so you would consider him to be our true national political leader. If you have any other questions I'd be happy to answer them, but I would definitely visit some of those Wikipedia articles for more detailed information. :catgirl:[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I'm glad to read the positive comments on this game here. I have read some reviews where they really emphasize the technical problems and I wondered how much of a potential deal-breaker this was. I'm still considering buying Mass Effect, but I really hate major technical glitches. So it has been a little disappointing to read certain reviews. It's good to read that these problems are not deal-breakers form most people though.[/font]

[center][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/vincentavatar.jpg[/img][/center] Vincent sat in the rear seat of his steam car alone, as it pulled out onto the street. His mind was in a vague haze, as it had been for several weeks. So many issues were circling into consciousness; his loyalty to Czenovia, the health of his mother, his relationship with Macey and the strange dream he kept having over and over again. The dreams were all related; this much, Vincent felt he could assume. In all of them, he was either lost and being saved or he was protecting someone far more vulnerable than himself. The object of his dreams was a young man, whom he did not know. How could his dreams be so vivid ? how could he visualize every last detail of another person ? without ever having met them? The meaning of the dreams was, in and of itself, something that occupied his thoughts often. But Vincent was particularly fascinated with the young man. Who was he? What did he want? Was he actually a real person? Vincent doubted this last possibility, but he failed to understand the significance of the man. Nonetheless, he was fascinated by almost every feature of this person who had shared his dreams for months. His long, blonde hair assumed an almost ghostly quality; there was something unquestionably flawless and almost divine about it. And his youth! What was it about the man?s youth that so fascinated Vincent? Perhaps it reminded Vincent of better times, when he had been carefree in Anova. Yet there was something else subtle tugging at his mind. Vincent felt like something was missing from his analysis or from the dreams themselves; some crucial piece of the puzzle was missing. He was yearning to know what it was. The young man?s image seemed to dance around in his mind for days after each dream. It was as though he wanted something, but Vincent didn?t know what. As a true testament to Vincent?s state of mind, he suddenly realized that his car had stopped several minutes ago. He looked out the window and saw the imposing front gates of the Royal Police Guard Headquarters.

[font=franklin gothic medium]I agree with Nerdsy: it's one thing to promote an idea that most people will find reprehensible, but it's another to actually work actively to help people get around the law. I would highly doubt that the latter is protected by free speech provisions.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I think a Law & Order type of situation could work for this, but I personally wouldn't be into it. I think if you go down that route you have to be very careful about complexity. Even simple RPGs become very complex in the end because of all the character histories and relationships. But courtroom proceedings could become difficult to follow unless they're set out a certain way (and I have no idea how that would be done). In any case, if this is the direction it goes in, I do think it has potential. It would be nice to finally see this concept go live in some form.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]When Shy and I talked about this idea ages ago (I forget how many conversations we've had over the years), I didn't really imagine it playing out like this. I imagined it being more literally set in Pallet Town and being well within that universe (rather than a "real city"). However, I imagined Pallet Town being much more gritty and realistic than anything you'd see in a game. I suppose I think of it as being a bit like the Otaku City that's been referenced in a few OB-related RPGs recently. Still being quite surreal and far-out, but grounded in something we know. I imagined that people would still train Pokemon and keep them and they'd still try to catch wild Pokemon. But the wild Pokemon would sometimes attack and kill the less cautious hunters. In addition I imagined that Pokemon battles would be legitimate, but you'd also have underground battles (like dog fights) that were illegal. And this could relate to a broader underworld conspiracy. So yeah. I think I'm still sort of imagining the earlier discussions about this concept. I'm not really very interested in a Law & Order style setup.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Actually I did want to see members' ideas on this issue, because it's something I'm very much open to changing. I can see a lot of benefits with the idea of each new post being a new chapter or something along those lines. But I don't really want to make a decision about that until I've seen some discussion from the members. After all, it's the members who are affected by it.[/font]

[center][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/vincentavatar.jpg[/img][/center] "Please, help me..." "Protect me." "I love you..." Vincent's eyes snapped open. His room was still dark. Thin rays of light slipped through the blinds and danced across the ornate furniture in the bedroom. With a groan, Vincent stood up and flicked a small lever on the wall. Pulleys in the corners of the room came to life and the curtains lazily rolled open, revealing the vast, bustling city beyond. From here, Vincent could see almost everything: the famous Clockwork Lane shopping district, the Chimaera stables and, further in the distance, a grand palace sitting majestically above the city. The party had been better than Vincent had expected. He'd had the chance to speak with Leonhart and, most surprisingly, he had in some small measure found peace with Macey. No doubt it would be a long time before he could feel completely comfortable with his ex-wife again, but they had made a strong beginning. No matter what, she was still important to him and he knew that he would do anything for her. Vincent grabbed the robe from the back of a large armchair near his bed and put it on. And then, his phone rang. The phone sat on the opposite side of the bedroom, atop a small wooden writing desk. The writing desk had been a gift from his father when he moved to Czenovia. And the phone was a classic Anovan model. Its large, circular receiver sat on top of a tall and slender column, with an elaborately decorated base. The entire phone was made from pure silver. Vincent sat at the desk and put the receiver to his ear. It was his father, Olivier. 'Sorry if I've woken you,' were his first words. 'I wanted to make sure you weren't feeling too sorry for yourself after all those drinks!' Vincent grinned to himself. 'I'm fine, thanks. I did not drink much last night.' 'Did you have a good time?' 'Yes,' said Vincent. He paused slightly before continuing. 'Leonhart was sorry you were unable to attend.' 'Ah yes,' said Olivier, 'I have been extremely busy lately. Business is difficult right now.' 'Why?' asked Vincent. The Achard family business had always run exceedingly smoothly under Olivier's presidency. 'Have you checked your newspaper?' Vincent looked over his desk and rummaged through its papers. The newspaper was sitting near the edge. Audrey must have dropped it in earlier in the morning. He lifted it up and glanced over the front page. Sure enough, there he saw it: "Tensions Continue to Rise Between Czenovia and Old Globe Nations" 'What does this have to do with the family business?' Olivier sighed. 'These days, son, we export many products to Czenovia. Didn't you know that Anovan Silver is one of the most sought-after items in Clockwork Lane? It is becoming an increasingly important part of our business.' Vincent nodded, even though Olivier could not see him. 'I see.' 'And,' Olivier continued, 'something has changed recently. There is more security on the border. The Czenovian authorities are quarantining objects all over the place. They are checking everything and slowing down trade. They seem to be worried about something.' 'But that's ridiculous!' cried Vincent. 'Nothing dangerous would come from Anova.' 'Yes, well, we know that, don't we?' said Olivier. He sounded tired. 'I will see about this at work,' said Vincent. 'There must be an explanation. Commander Rosier is sure to know.' 'I don't want you getting yourself into trouble,' said Olivier. 'You are the Assistant Commander now. You are loyal to Czenovia. Do not make trouble.' Vincent grinned to himself again. His father never asked for favors. He knew that somehow his father would deal with the issue the best way he could. He never needed help. 'Okay,' said Vincent finally. 'Business as usual.' 'That's the way,' said Olivier. 'By the way, when are you coming to see me?' Vincent laughed. 'As soon as I get a day off!' Olivier chuckled over the phone. He had a deep, husky laugh that was unmistakable. 'I will see you soon, son. Goodbye.'

[font=franklin gothic medium]This looks great - this new Landmark offers quite a few ways to go. Speaking of which I'll have to think about what to do next. But if anyone wants my character to go with theirs, maybe just send me a PM. I think you were saying I'd have the chance to join up with you and possibly meet Sandy's character at some point soon...I'm not sure what you have planned beyond that though. So yeah, at this point I'm pretty open on where my character will go. [/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]When it comes to white lies (such as complimenting cooking or whatever), I think it can be a mixed bag. For example, a white lie might make the person feel better, but sometimes you can be constructive and honest at the same time. For instance, if I was helping someone with homework and they were doing badly, I might not say "You're doing really badly". I might just say "Have you tried this approach?" or something like that. The same is true with artwork. I will never really say that someone's art is bad (especially because I know there are a million people who are better at art than I am). However if I can see promise in the art I might make some suggestions about how to further improve it, while also focusing on the positives. In terms of lying in general...well, I try to be pretty honest. Again this isn't for some kind of moral reason as such, it's more because lying is often pointless. If I don't like someone and they're bugging me, I'll usually make it clear to them that they're bugging me (at least if it's a significant enough problem). There's no point lying to spare someone's feelings if you're miserable. I mean, sometimes when I tell people that I can apply whatever rules I like on my own site, I get accused of being arrogant. But I don't think it's arrogance, I think I'm just telling the truth. I could sit there and come up with some stupid, convoluted reason for deleting someone's post or blocking something from the site. In the end that's an insult to everyone's intelligence. It's easier - and better - for me to just point out that ultimately I can set the standard for what I expect on the site. And in turn, I would never complain about others doing that on their own sites. So yeah, with a lot of things like that, I just tend to be honest because I think it's the most reasonable way to approach things. As for the more complex moral issues - like covering for a friend or whatever - I think it totally depends on the circumstances. It's very hard for me to make a general statement about that.[/font]