Your conflict

[2010DigitalBoy]

[COLOR=DarkOrange]Everyone is the protagonist of their own story. My question is, who's your antagonist, or what are you trying to accomplish? Is it internal or external? Let's hear about it.

I hate that I have to go first, cuz mine is so lame, but it's an internal conflict. My antagonist is my own self and I'm trying to figure out what I'm supposed to be doing. Nothing I'm doing now is satisfying, so I need to figure out what is.[/COLOR]

[Cicatrice Du Adieu]

Ok. My antagonist is a ***** named lesslie I know from school. She won't stop labeling me and currently hates me since I stood up to her witch encouraged others to do the same. Another one is myself since I limit what I do. In other words, I have alot of potential but never use it. :animedepr Kind of depressing.

[The13thMan]

[COLOR=DarkOrange][FONT=Century Gothic]I'm going to guess that most people are going to say their own antagonist are themselves. I know i'm my own worst enemy. My fears, my reservations, my doubts. I have to get over myself or i'll never get anything done. Shoot, if only i could control myself like in the Sims. I would just click on my book and do my homework, then i'd press 3 and fast forward time till i were done. Easy easy. Then i would also probably work out for 7 hours in the same fashion, and practice guitar till my skill level were 10. ^L^ Life would be much easier.

[/FONT][/COLOR]

[DeadSeraphim]

[size=1][color=indigo][font=arial]I'm trying to rid Gotham City of crime, and my antagonists are many. The Joker, Penguin, Two Face... they all quest endlessly to stop me. But I will prevail. Because I'm Batman.[/font][/color][/size]

[Ol' Fighter]

My conflict is inside me...I feel I'm not doing enough and I feel like I'm supposed to be doing something completly diffrent from what I'm doing right now.

I honestly feel a little empty inside but at the same time I have a natural high and I'm a very positive person so it contradicts my emptiness.

Wow I actually defined myself....a glass that's always half empty, that's me.

[Albert Flasher]

[COLOR=Sienna]The usuals... Vampires, Dr. Moriarti, Ninjas, bird flu, Death Metal, nothing unusual...

I don't really have any arch nemisis... I mean there are people out there I can't stand (My math teacher, for one...) but no one who is my true antithesis. If I had to go with one, it'd probably be myself, but not for the normal reason; my problem is that I am so happy with my life and myself right now that I have no desire to improve myself, and thus my life as stagnated to the point where I've become completely and miserably content with everything. That's pretty much the only thing that's preventing me from going forward... complete and total happyness.[/COLOR]

[Guest Phaedrus]

I am no antagonist or protagonist. . .I am a formless being who shapes itself into the smacking of the moment.

It's when people perceive me as an object within their subjective boundaries that I become whatever they want me to be, and generally I try to assert myself as something which will be of help to them.

I am a synergist, rather.

I work to improve the effects of the good.

My problem, to an extent, is the fact that we have not maximized our potentials, and I am a dynamic entity, desiring change above all; and I have a hatred for this [i]status quo[/i] and those which cling to so many ephemeral things. . .

My problem used to be, and is still somewhat, the fact that I had been programmed to operate as a certain protocol within this system. However, I became aware of this, and underwent metacognition, until I was able to fundamentally alter myself so that now I am a positive entity. Now I expouse the good within all beings, and constantly strive to improve myself--and hope, that by doing so, others are willed into change as well.

Because, you see, the greater problem is that people are very hard to CHANGE. I have tried to help many people--but alas, each time I found I was only worsening these peoples' situations. I realized that by maximizing my self-actualization, being kind, non-judgemental, and WHOLLY me, independent of variables of programming----

Well, then I realized I can change people, simply by my actions, and the greatness others perceive in me. And thus, in my own small way, I am improving the human existence.

[kalon]

My antagonist is writer's block, which usually takes the form of an adorable kitten. It claws into me, spilling my creative blood. Then, when it has finished cleaning its paws with its rough pink tongue, it curls up and sleeps on the fluffy pillow that is the remaining lump of my brain.

My climax will come when I go crazy from having to go through the industry known as publishing.

My resolution will be after I have died in a fiery, Hollywood blockbuster style car crash, with the pages of my novel flutering in the background. The next day my obituary will be in the paper, and my novel will be #1 on The New York Times best seller list.

[Sojiro47]

Mine's kinda like Dead's. I'm trying to rid my town of all the crap-jerks who mistreat, use, and/or hurt people. No joke. And my antagonists are any who stand in my way.

[Mythologicly]

Mine would be my past cause I've reformed and redeamed myself and alot of people from my past cant deal with that and they constatly try to convence my to go back to my old ways. That is what i belive to be my arch enimie not myself but what i've done in the past.

[Derald]

[quote name='Phaedrus']I work to improve the effects of the good..... I am improving the human existence.[/quote]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS][SIZE=1][COLOR=RoyalBlue]Really? Despite your drawn out explanation of how you operate, you failed to establish what "good" is to us. Would you care to explain how your dynamic changes for the "better" would benefit us overall?

When you maximize everything's potential, then, theoretically, there is perfection. That is my antagonist. Perfection. When something becomes perfect, there is no obstacle to overcome, and, thus, there is no reason to continue if there is nothing left for it to perform. Flaws allow us to continue. Flaws allow us to specialize. Flaws allow for identification of one's self and others.

I am flawed, and I am happy. I am perfect, and I am without purpose.

Oh, and please do not take offense to my comments.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[Imp]

Mine is...

THE DARNED FOUR OF SWORDS.

--Heh, sorry about the tarot reference... but the following are in fact characteristics of that card... My constant enemies are tiredness and depression, and/or shyness. I have a hard time demanding things from people, or asking favours, and that is one of my most common reasons why I procrastinate on things. Also, I have very low energy, so often times I just don't feel like doing the things I feel I need to do in life. It's like I'm just lying in bed, unable to get up, but I know I really want to get out and face the outside world. I want to, but I feel like I can't...

[Horendithas]

[COLOR=DarkRed][QUOTE=2006DigitalBoy][COLOR=DarkOrange]Everyone is the protagonist of their own story. My question is, who's your antagonist, or what are you trying to accomplish? Is it internal or external? Let's hear about it.

I hate that I have to go first, cuz mine is so lame, but it's an internal conflict. My antagonist is my own self and I'm trying to figure out what I'm supposed to be doing. Nothing I'm doing now is satisfying, so I need to figure out what is.[/COLOR][/QUOTE]Well besides the obvious one of myself, I would have to say mine is a girl who lives close to one of my friends. Apparently she is determined to save him from my wicked influence (since she is religious and I am not) and she literally stalks both me and him when ever we get together to do stuff, whether it?s homework or going out with a whole group of my friends to see a movie.

And given a chance she?ll butt in and then spend the whole time bad mouthing me. It?s kind of entertaining and yet annoying at the same time. And the rest of the group finds her pretty annoying for it as well. She behaves more like a jealous ex girlfriend even though she?s never dated my friend and he and I have never dated either.

The only good thing is that recently his parents pretty much got tired of her antics and her showing up at their home when ever she knew I was visiting and gave her the option of staying away or having legal action taken against her. Though whether or not that will really keep her away is yet to be seen. [/COLOR]

[Guest Phaedrus]

[quote name='Derald][FONT=Trebuchet MS][SIZE=1][COLOR=RoyalBlue]Really? Despite your drawn out explanation of how you operate, you failed to establish what "good" is to us. Would you care to explain how your dynamic changes for the "better" would benefit us overall?[/COLOR][/SIZE'][/FONT][/quote]

If you have to ask such a question, then you obviously do not know, and I cannot show you what is good by mere explanation. You must find it for yourself.

And also, your final question is absolutely ridiculous. The benefits of change are readily apparent. . . If you want examples of "dynamic changes for the 'better'," simply look at this thing you're typing at right now, or the house you live in, the car you drive, the stove you cook on--these are all IDEAS actualized into REALITY.

Even, perhaps, look at yourself. You are an organism which has reached its current level of consciousness via CHANGES. In fact, I would go so far as to call you "technology" just like we call what we create "technology."

What I seek is NOT perfection, though that's one possible actuality to seek. What I seek is what man has been given--WISDOM--and the product of wisdom, which is love and adoration of all things.

Eventually, we shall be able to be individual yet multiple. That is, we will still live our individual existences, but at that same moment we will have the trust in each other and all things which allows us to be all connected to an intimate degree. This internet, right here, is a hint at something like that; like a prototype of the possibilities.

Anyway, nevermind. I have nothing more to say, and never did, anyway, because this language is like trying to transfer my understanding into you by using such primitive tools.

If you truly want to understand what's good, and what the point of change is, then you will find your answers.

[Aaryanna_Mom]

[QUOTE=Phaedrus]If you have to ask such a question, then you obviously do not know, and I cannot show you what is good by mere explanation. You must find it for yourself.

And also, your final question is absolutely ridiculous. The benefits of change are readily apparent. . . If you want examples of "dynamic changes for the 'better'," simply look at this thing you're typing at right now, or the house you live in, the car you drive, the stove you cook on--these are all IDEAS actualized into REALITY.

Even, perhaps, look at yourself. You are an organism which has reached its current level of consciousness via CHANGES. In fact, I would go so far as to call you "technology" just like we call what we create "technology.".[/QUOTE]Your talking in circles, first you tell them that you cannot show them what is good and yet then you turn around and show an example of things that can be seen as good depending on your own point of view. [QUOTE=Phaedrus]What I seek is NOT perfection, though that's one possible actuality to seek. What I seek is what man has been given--WISDOM--and the product of wisdom, which is love and adoration of all things.

Eventually, we shall be able to be individual yet multiple. That is, we will still live our individual existences, but at that same moment we will have the trust in each other and all things which allows us to be all connected to an intimate degree. This internet, right here, is a hint at something like that; like a prototype of the possibilities. [/QUOTE]Wisdom? Man has not been given anything. He has taken his environment and interpreted things and then declared them to be wise. Your talking about the love of learning not wisdom as an absolute. What you may consider wise another would not, and depending on the surrounding environment, both of you would be right.

There is no denying that we are dependant on each other to a certain degree, but the Internet connection is far from being what you described. It is connection but far from intimate. Saying it?s a prototype is accurate, even if that prototype is full of holes. [QUOTE=Phaedrus] Anyway, nevermind. I have nothing more to say, and never did, anyway, because this language is like trying to transfer my understanding into you by using such primitive tools.

If you truly want to understand what's good, and what the point of change is, then you will find your answers.[/QUOTE]For someone who supposedly has nothing to say, you?re not only long winded but confusing as well. There is no point in dragging out a few points or in implying that others don?t truly want to understand what good is. In the end we all see things from our own viewpoint and unless we change radically, I nor anyone else will ever truly be intimately connected to another person.

And what the point of change is? Usually it?s because you are not satisfied with what you have, like your home, if a window is broken you want to fix it to keep the rain out, and often when problems occur someone starts to wonder if there is a more efficient or better way of dealing with it. Thus the never-ending change, on some level mankind is almost driven to change things even if the change isn?t good.

Now as for the actual topic, yes its clichéd but it?s all too true, my biggest conflict is the process of improving myself. And if you want to get worldlier, then it?s my health issues as they limit my physical activities.

[Guest Phaedrus]

[quote name='Aaryanna_Mom']Your talking in circles, first you tell them that you cannot show them what is good and yet then you turn around and show an example of things that can be seen as good depending on your own point of view. [/quote]

No, I did not. You inferred as such. In the first paragraph I begin by saying "I cannot tell you what is good," then I begin delving into his second question, which involves "why is change a good thing?" (to encompass it quickly).

[quote]Wisdom? Man has not been given anything. He has taken his environment and interpreted things and then declared them to be wise. Your talking about the love of learning not wisdom as an absolute. What you may consider wise another would not, and depending on the surrounding environment, both of you would be right. [/quote]

When did I say wisdom was absolute? When did I say wisdom is not subjective, or say it was objective either? Is it fun pulling out my own text and then claiming I said things when I didn't even say them?

[quote]For someone who supposedly has nothing to say, you?re not only long winded but confusing as well. There is no point in dragging out a few points or in implying that others don?t truly want to understand what good is. In the end we all see things from our own viewpoint and unless we change radically, I nor anyone else will ever truly be intimately connected to another person.[/quote]

The reason I had nothing to say is because no one would understand, which you're doing a gracious job of proving right to me. Anyway, WHERE DID I SAY NO ONE COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT GOOD IS? I never said this. YOU'RE the one who is saying it. And no one can be intimately connected to another? What is love, then?

Believe what you want to, but love is possible; basically, what I'm talking about is love on a larger scale than just two individuals.

[quote]And what the point of change is? Usually it?s because you are not satisfied with what you have, like your home, if a window is broken you want to fix it to keep the rain out, and often when problems occur someone starts to wonder if there is a more efficient or better way of dealing with it. Thus the never-ending change, on some level mankind is almost driven to change things even if the change isn?t good. [/quote]

And what the point of change is? Usually it's because you do some mundane task for someone for oh-so-many hours, then you get this "change" that jingles in your pocket, which you earn just to give away again. The change I speak of is not this, however.

This change cannot be pocketed; it is earned so that it can be kept. This change is not a coin, and it cannot be encompassed into some material deliquacy or some material object of avaricial design.

Change. . .change. Your atoms are going into different spatial areas, and bonding on so many levels; your cells are dying and your cells are multiplying; your organs are beating and your brain cells are thundering with the electricity of alacrity; a baby was just born into his mother's arm, naked and warm and wailing at what he has just seen; a man is in the throes of death, and in a compressed moment of consciousness, he knows what he has sought to understand his whole life, but then his consciousness is gone; a star was just born, a star just died in a large supernova blast; a meteor just hit another planet, 343343 lightyears away from our current location; someone just had a revelation in a dream, and now they will live their life differently; a man just ran a marathon and has collapsed onto the ground; a rock was thrown into a lake and has created waves of movement in the glass-smooth water; a woman was just kind to her fellow co-workers at work, and has created waves of movement in the lakes of everyone and the sea of it all; the universe is multiplying; the earth is multiplying; nothing is ever the same; sameness is just an illusion; this status quo is just a moment of mockery, bemoaning right into the universe's face and going against all that we are and it is; it's all changing and going on so much more than our relative perspectives can tell; everything is in constant change! It is quite beautiful.

The change I speak of for mankind involves this: mankind has reached a point where he is self-aware, to a different extent than he was in past centuries. It basically involves the humanism, or post-Enlightenment reason we're still in. The greatest creation of this reason, science, allows us to create interesting technology. This technology will eventually be utilized for the improvement of life for all. If you want a picture of the future, DON'T imagine a boot stamping on a human face forever--contrary to Papa Orwell's belief--but no, you must imagine a man, who is subsumed in leaves of steams and then entwined by wires of cities of silicon, and imagine if you will as this man's form fades and the stems and wires kiss like lovers, and a new being is birthed into existence!

That is the greatest meaning of change; to improve, and push the limits to the point of being beyond the limits.

[IceRose]

Well the antagonist of my story is myself, I keep putting barriers to what I want, besides me the people at my school, most of them are snobby and stuck up. My purpose is to try to live but I guess is hard enough as it is...my main conflict is to try to show the self I show online to the people outside, no one gets to know me therefore I can't make any friends here. My conflict is internal, I battle with my conscience and myself daily. :animesigh

[Aaryanna_Mom]

[quote name='Phaedrus]No, I did not. You inferred as such. In the first paragraph I begin by saying "I cannot tell you what is good," then I begin delving into his second question, which involves "why is change a good thing?" (to encompass it quickly).[/quote]I think you missed what I was saying, by explaining why change is a good thing you answered the question from your point of view. You are saying that change is good, so in that respect you just explained one thing that is good, from your point of view that is. [QUOTE=Phaedrus']When did I say wisdom was absolute? When did I say wisdom is not subjective, or say it was objective either? Is it fun pulling out my own text and then claiming I said things when I didn't even say them? [/quote]No you implied that it is what you believe. You may not have said it, but that was the impression I got. Is it fun? I was trying to understand what you meant, isn?t that the whole point of discussing things here online? [QUOTE=Phaedrus]The reason I had nothing to say is because no one would understand, which you're doing a gracious job of proving right to me. Anyway, WHERE DID I SAY NO ONE COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT GOOD IS? I never said this. YOU'RE the one who is saying it. And no one can be intimately connected to another? What is love, then?

Believe what you want to, but love is possible; basically, what I'm talking about is love on a larger scale than just two individuals.[/quote]This is why I said you are talking in circles, instead of trying to meet people on equal footing, you are setting yourself up in a position of ?[I]why bother talking when none of them can understand me[/I]? It comes across as arrogant and self-important. Also, there is no need to shout, the person who said they can?t show someone what good is was you in this quote here: [quote name='Phaedrus']If you have to ask such a question, then you obviously do not know, and I cannot show you what is good by mere explanation. [/quote]You are misquoting me as well all I did was point out that you said you couldn't show them what good was even though your example of change was something you consider to be good. I didn't say[I] no one[/I] could understand what good is. Or that you said they couldn't; only that I got the impression that you were taking the stance that others weren't interested in understanding what good is.

As for the being connected part, you didn?t explain that you were referring to love. I can?t read your mind.

As for the last part in regards to change, it was easier to understand this time around. You can think I?m slow witted or what ever you wish, but I?m not going to sit back and pretend I understand you when before I did not. :animesigh

[Guest Phaedrus]

[QUOTE=Aaryanna_Mom]

I said you are talking in circles, instead of trying to meet people on equal footing, you are setting yourself up in a position of ?[I]why bother talking when none of them can understand me[/I]? It comes across as arrogant and self-important.[/quote]

Well, I don't mean it in an arrogant way. I don't expect everyone to have the exact same "perspective" as I do (my perspective is to actually have as many different perspectives as possible, finding what's worth in each, and creating an amalgamation out of this, but anyway. . .) Though I might sound like some mean-spirited pompous prick, I am actually saying this all in a kind, sincere way, because so many people are not aware of their own potentials, the ways their minds work, and many things of this nature. . .so I guess this "frustration" manifests itself into this rat-tat-tat gunfire of random words, which outpour like falling rain trying to land on the right spot and hopefuly insight change into someone.

It's basically better I didn't say anything at all at this point, because the only one I can change is myself, and the only way to change others is via this means (as I already discussed at the beginning of this thread).

Basically, take everything I say as THEORY. I am principally a theorist, and don't really go any further than that. I like to view everything as some large unknowable something, and mess with differing perspectives and so on in order to see what kind of mastery of this unknowable that allows. What I've been spouting in this thread are just some theories, which are DEFINITELY anything but my own, which will maybe incite something worthwhile in the people who read and seek to understand them.

Maybe.

[Aaryanna_Mom]

[quote name='Phaedrus']Well, I don't mean it in an arrogant way. I don't expect everyone to have the exact same "perspective" as I do (my perspective is to actually have as many different perspectives as possible, finding what's worth in each, and creating an amalgamation out of this, but anyway. . .) Though I might sound like some mean-spirited pompous prick, I am actually saying this all in a kind, sincere way, because so many people are not aware of their own potentials, the ways their minds work, and many things of this nature. . .so I guess this "frustration" manifests itself into this rat-tat-tat gunfire of random words, which outpour like falling rain trying to land on the right spot and hopefuly insight change into someone. [/quote]I didn't think you did and in all honesty it?s so easy to misunderstand someone online because all you have are the words, no body language or facial expressions or tone of voice to help you determine the person's intent.

So in retrospect it sounds like you are trying to explain something that really needs a book instead of a few paragraphs in a thread. ;) And if I came across as rude and abrasive as well.. I'm sorry.

[Rachmaninoff]

*looks at the previous posts* Seems that the human race still has the conflict of struggling to understand one another, though it looks like you two are at least trying.

But for myself, I can kind of relate to what Phaedrus is getting at. I don?t completely understand it and yet at the same time it?s rather fascinating to realize just how little we really understand.

As for this Crystia: [quote name='indifference][COLOR=DarkRed']The only good thing is that recently his parents pretty much got tired of her antics and her showing up at their home when ever she knew I was visiting and gave her the option of staying away or having legal action taken against her. Though whether or not that will really keep her away is yet to be seen. [/COLOR][/quote]I feel the same way and it sure surprised the hell out of me when my parents actually told that pain in the butt to get lost. I was leaning more towards giving her the spanking she deserved for being such an immature brat.

Anyway, I also agree with what Aaryanna_Mom said and pretty much everyone else in the thread. In the end I think one of our greatest conflicts is to overcome the darkness within our own souls. Those little whispers of greed and stupidity that drive us to do things we later regret.