WizardOfAtlantis
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Posts posted by WizardOfAtlantis
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I apologize right off for the length of this one!
Although I understand and to some extent can agree with your second paragraph, I still hold onto the belief that their may be hope for even the lowliest among us, and maybe simply listening to them could be a start.
So do I. There is always hope, for everybody, as long as people somewhere are willing to pitch in and lend a helping hand. We're all on the same cosmic ship, even if we each have our own helm.
I vehemently disagree that "voting doesn't count". You practically said so in your next sentence. Since half the population doesn't bother, how do we know. Maybe if they took the time to "bother", it would count. Maybe if they just took the time to care enough about how this country is governed. And spent even that much effort (it is called thinking) in the whole process, maybe, just maybe we could work our way into some better governance at least. As for the rest of that paragraph, yes doing is important. But let us look at what the "average American" is doing. Most of us are living on low to modest incomes. Some with families to support. Many with multiple jobs, children in school, etc. I've been there and know the time that all of that takes. In my opinion, that is all part of the business of "doing". It is what keeps the Country running. There are many of those people and others among us who do have the time to involve themselves in other activites which can more benefit society as a whole. Many do. Many more don't. I agree that we would be a much better society and human race if more did. However, the operative word there was "human". We are all human. None of us is perfect. We continue to struggle to improve ourselves, and these discussions convey ideas and the means by which we can suggest to one another what it is that is necessary for us to get a handle on what is wrong with our society and what needs to be done. Everyone has a place at the table; even those with whom we disagree.
What I was getting at with the "voting doesn't count" is that I'm not sure it is enough in and of itself to really consider yourself a working piece of the mechanism. The paradox, which I do realize, is that if you vote, you literally are a piece of the mechanism. And an effective (in theory if not always in practice) part of the Republic. As for the rest of what you said, I completely agree. I would rank raising a good family very high on the list of what's important in life, and it does feed back into the systems that made you yourself. Beyond that, the balance between pragmatic and idealistic is difficult, at best.
I cannot agree that opinions by themselves are nothingness. We have to start with a thought process, and with the expression of same. Then we follow with the deeds and those deeds become substantive. Without starting off with the thought and the expression of same we all live in insular little vacuums.
As I have come to experience it, in the vast multiverse, thought certainly is one of the beginnings of manifestation. However, without any power put into it, it will blow away on the aetherial winds and go back into the nothingness from which it arose. Only concrete action of some sort can materialize the thought-form into a more concrete level of reality. It is an important step, thinking...often overrated in the modern world, but many don't even get to that level...howver, without fuel and continuation, it won't go anywhere by itself. How many great novels go unwritten? Beautiful sculptures unsculpted? Who knows? They don't exist because they were never made to exist.
In America, people have the freedom to be do-nothings, and to voice opinions without even a suggested course of action (or with, whatever). This simple lazy-bum attitude does not mean they are subject to forced civic duty. The bulk of your argument for civic duty is red herring material. Furthermore, one must come to agreement about what ought to be done to fix a situation before actually doing it, which is what threads like these (for example) are trying to ascertain.
You're right. People do have that freedom, and I think the world's a better place for it. Certainly more enjoyable. If everyone were fighting and hunting and gathering for a living (or under a truly oppressive regime), we wouldn't be accomplishing nearly as much as a species.
Like I said, I'm of two minds. One slightly leans towards it, but neither is fully for enforced civic duty. I wasn't really arguing for it. I was only speaking of some things that annoy me. There are meritable arguments that could be made for it, I think, quite easily. However, in the grandest sense, like I said, true wisdom comes from within. "What does that mean?" you might ask. Maybe you already know.http://www.thenexusforums.com/public/style_emoticons/dark/tongue.gif But for those who don't, some of what it means, I think, is this:
You cannot force someone to do the right thing. If you force them, it is no longer the right thing, even if they're then doing it. Justice arises from within, from being in-tune with the moment in which one is living. The right responses must arise from personal will, can only arise from personal will. All else is an imposition, and therefore false because by definition it is a layer between one's self and reality. Wisdom, truth, come from union, not division.
However, we live in the "real world", and some level of pragmatism must come into play because those "grand levels" are at times as reachable as the clouds. So how does that help? It helps because if people can't be truly made to do the right thing, we see that they have to be motivated to do it themselves. So what's motivating about being a citizen these days? What do we value and where are the rewards? Why would we want to become part of something we disagree with? Where are the real leaders in the world?
The answer is that there's very little motivating people to do the right thing. Making lots of money isn't enough, and for most everyone, that's a lie of a dream, anyway. People need examples of correct behavior so that they can become more fulfilled, greater. Where are they? Politicians are for the most part corrupt liars. The bigger they are, the worse they are. Banks devour lives. Corporations have all the privileges of a human being and yet none of the responsibility. Sports figures make ridiculous amounts of money for hitting a ball with a stick, whereas a research scientist might be well off if he/she's a genius, teachers the same if they get into a wealthy school district, and a working, single mother...! Let's not even go there. She's only taking care of the future, after all.
Society's emphasis is placed on manipulation and distraction. It's obvious, and it's working quite well, for the most part. Things are going to plan. If anyone is to change that, those mechanisms have to be replaced, preferably without bloodshed. Banks, corporations, politicians that aren't doing what they're supposed to be doing. That is the Unholy Triad. Most of the real problems arise from them.
People can change it, peacefully. But they will have to be motivated to do the right thing, and they'll have to have a lot of support, because the Unholy Triad won't go down without some sort of a fight.
*should probably stop now before I fill the whole page*
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Granted, but the genetic engineering used to accomplish that feat went out of control and you become half-man, half-plant.
I wish there was a thousand-foot tall statue of Homer Simpson somewhere near Washington, D.C.
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As for civic duty and its bearing on decision making, I am personally of two minds. There's an idea I would introduce (probably in another thread) but this is part of the here-and-now of it.
There certainly is a part of me that doesn't like forcing people to do anything because true knowledge comes from within. However, that is tempered by the inarguable fact that a great many people, especially in the West, are do-nothings for their entire lives and give back little to nothing, and I mean to include not only to their government in this but also to their neighborhood, community and/or society in general. The human race, even.
This is especially painful when this do-nothing thinks he or she has some "right" to criticize a situation that he or she hasn't helped to better (and usually doesn't have any plans to in the future, either). And don't anyone bring up Free Speech, because what I'm talking about goes beyond that caveat. There are things that go beyond even the pen-on-paper glory that is the Bill of Rights, things in today's world that are too often ephemeral (at best), like honor, human/personal dignity, etc. People can say whatever they want, sure, but it doesn't mean that what they say has any real weight or change the fact that they might very well have been better off keeping their traps shut in the first place (but more on that later).
A LOT of people want to criticize the US for what it's become, but how many are actually and actively doing anything about it? Voting doesn't count, either, imo, in and of itself. That takes nothing *and yet it is still more than what half of the US population is willing to give*. If you've put in your time or done your deeds, then talk away, I say. If not, then your lack of doing had better be accompanied by one helluva grand idea (because *real thinking* is doing) or else I can't honestly say that what you say is worth too much.
*I do recognize the ordering of consensus in the modern world, for our societal structure gives this consensus the possibility of throwing its weight around* Hence, the utility of talking on this forum, for example, or electronic political group-gathering to show politicians amassed consensus. However, opinions by themselves are nothingness. I think they should be accompanied by something...deeds, the grand merit of the idea itself, something, to give them weight, substance, because in and of themselves they are worthless and it doesn't matter if you're free to speak them. Not having real substance to what they say, most people would be better off keeping their mouths closed.
As the All-Father (Odin) instructed in the "The Sayings of Hár":
"For the unwise man who comes among men,
it is best that be he silent.
None know
that he knows nothing,
unless he should speak too much.
The man does not know it,
he who knows nothing,
whether he speaks too much."
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kitsch
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Let's read that again, shall we?
Furthermore, the great plethora of laws must be repealed, because they restrict rightful freedoms. "Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual." -- Thomas Jefferson. Any laws designed to "keep us safe" (seatbelt laws being a good example), that restrict our actions, but do not encroach on the limits Mr. Jefferson mentioned, do nothing but infringe on our freedom.
In addition to this, which would facilitate and make more efficient life in general, we have to understand just how banks and banking are ruining the world. Banks are often at the root of modern evils. Subprime lending-caused housing crash economic upheaval? Hmm...caused by bankers, bankers who, I might add, haven't been held responsible in the slightest for their actions. They've even been bailed out! Bailed out?!
This was the tactic that was used when the last financial crisis was orchestrated some eighty years ago. The bankers are warring and dividing the spoils of the planet between them...between who's left after the latest "financial crisis" and the subsequent buyouts. "All Hail, J.P. Morgan". It will keep happening again and again, until enough of the right necks are stretched.
Corporations are people. In the eyes of the law, I mean, I don't know if you know that. The rights that were supposedly fought over in the Civil War (the 14th amendment, unless I'm mistaken) were appropriated by corporations soon after, and in the 40 following years after said war, some 30-ish times, cases were brought to federal courts over said rights, and I think the number was 4 times that said rights were fought over when it had to do with black people's rights. The rest of the cases were brought up over a corporation's rights.
So I say, if a corporation breaks a law, put it in jail. If it leads to the killing of people, give it the axe. And start including some of these bankers and CEO's in the deal, too.
All this goes back to the very first thing I reiterated in this post, too.http://www.thenexusforums.com/public/style_emoticons/dark/pirate.gif
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Superman
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brains
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Chinatown
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hahahaa, fantastic recipes! Thanks, guys
*oh and thumbs-up for the...descriptive names*
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grammaphone
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Such varied and interesting replies!
Wizard (is it ok if I call you that?), this is a very intriguing subject for me. I have been playing RPG's for so long I cannot even count. And more often than not I play my character through to the bitter end. However, I do tend to play most games that I like over again many times. I almost always change to a completely different character each time. Race, gender, class, whatever. I do generally play rogue types though or at least stealth types. Rarely play warrior types, as I cannot fight very well.
However, I started playing Oblivion in the last year, and I don't know why, but I have started over several times and changed my character every time. I absolutely love this game, but cannot decide who to be. I have liked all my characters, but each one gets better. It may be because I am learning the game as I go along. I knew nothing about it when I started. I learned new mods, etc., so I keep adding new dimension to my game. In any event I'm having fun with it. Don't know if I will settle on one character or not.
Hope that answers your question, at least for me. Great thread.
It's a long username, so shorten away! That's exactly what I was looking for, thanks! Glimpses of the "person behind the persona" and what we think's important.
I myself try to stick with the same character but like everyone else I too constantly change my mod list and start new files with new characters each time I install a few new mods to my list. The highest I've ever leveled up was to level 240 on Oblivion using my 360 version. That however was me trying to see how high I could possibly go, on the other hand however I usually stick close to level 25 or so, seeing as how if you level up too high the enemies get too strong.
That all being said I'm sure I'm the only one dumb enough to take the time to level up to 240. This is not worth it for so many reasons, I really only did it so I could have a sense of accomplishment.
http://www.thenexusforums.com/public/style_emoticons/dark/blink.gif ...240...http://www.thenexusforums.com/public/style_emoticons/dark/woot.gif !
... with mods, 1194.
...maniac http://www.thenexusforums.com/public/style_emoticons/dark/laugh.gif
My only personal regret about generally playing lower-level characters (once I have a play-through and get twenty-ish level that first time) is then with mods like MMM, I know I'm missing out on some really spectacular beasties that you only see higher-up.
I remember seeing a hill giant, I think it was, the first time outside of Skingrad...must have been some kind of random encounter, because he wiped the grass with everybody! But it was...epic.
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Gate
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So here's the thing. I'm a chonic chargen maniac. I constantly end up making new characters, as in starting new games with new characters from scratch...although I have to add that I generally use the same face(s), so they are continuations in a very specific sense. But if I change my mod list enough, or something changes the perceptions I have on a game in progress, whatever...boom! Time to make a new character. I'm terrible.
I am totally prey to Alternate Start-type mods, and fall right into that varying background thing (even if the girl/guy is going to have one of my "stock" faces).
So I wonder, how often do you guys restart your characters? How often do you start a new game from scratch? How hard do you keep at it with the exact same character before starting a "new" one?
And why do you do, whatever it is that you do, if I may add?
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reindeer
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Seventies ('70's).
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It's strange, but it looks like you can't. :blink:
Of course, we're talking about a country that's forced to run women-only passenger cars in their subways, because apparently Japanese men can't keep their hands to themselves.
If that's the case then, it looks like in rape laws, Japan is very pro-female, since they're the only ones that are actually protected in any way. If you're a man, you're SOL.
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Lady Gaga is pretty much revolutionizing modern pop as a huge throwback to the 80s. She's the first real pop artist to emerge on the scene since Madonna and it shows through her music. She's pretty much the only one that does not lip sync at all, writes her own music (and I don't mean just the lyrics, she writes her songs and the melodies too), and can actually play an instrument very well. People can dislike Gaga all they want, but to call her generic and untalented is plain ignorant.
oh, don't get me wrong! I love Gaga.http://www.thenexusforums.com/public/style_emoticons/dark/biggrin.gif She's chosen her namesake well, and she lives up to the charge that she's taken upon her.
The true Pioneers of electronic music ( without them Depeche Mode would never have gotten oout of theire backjards )
Tangerine Dream - Stratosfear (1976)
You gotta love Tangerine Dream. Their soundtrack to Legend was...ah! http://www.thenexusforums.com/public/style_emoticons/dark/woot.gifThe only soundtrack to Legend...
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It seems to me that at one time, popular music evolved, for a great many reasons(times change, etc). Each decade was known for specific types of music
Now, it seems to me, that for the last twenty years almost nothing's changed at all in the popular music scene. There are new artists, of course, but it all sounds alike, as if there are now adopted molds that music fits into and that's that. Last time I listened to a US radio station a few years ago, it sounded just like what I'd heard some fifteen years previously. And that's just ridiculous.
Thanks for those clips, guys!
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There are things to be worried about, though, and I don't know how far you have to be away not to worry or if you even can be far enough away.
I've been trying to bone up on these things too in these days. The radioactive Iodine-131, which everybody likes to tout only has a half-life of 8 days, does cause cancer and specifically lodges in the thyroid gland. Now, iodine-131 tainted milk has been found from Japan to the US (already, my mother called the other day telling me they'd found it in the milk there; she lives in Chicago but who knows where they found it), plus they've found the I-131 in Northern European countries (can't remember which) as well as all the way down to Italy...
So, I'd be very careful of drinking fresh milk and fresh milk products, wherever you are in the whole damn world, for a little while. Make the judgment call yourself, but if they found that crap here in Italy (in the north), then some of it will get on the grass, eaten by the cows, and quite likely get into the milk/cheese supply here, too. In Italy. That's a long damn way from Fukushima.
I don't know if you know, but in Italy, after Chernobyl, there was/is an epidemic of thyroid problems. Don't know if you'll find internet data on it, but I know it from people and doctors here as fact.
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I saw a mod that makes the dialogue box when speaking with NPC's larger so you do not have to scroll down a couple days ago and passed it up thinking that i wouldn't need it, and now i regret that. If anyone has a link to it because i'm having trouble finding it, i don't know if im wording it wrong, or what but thanks in advance.
You may be looking for MTUI.
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hhmmm, thanks for the info, guys. My hand has been stayed, for the now, at least.
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Tilting
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I collect marbles, though my collection is not with me. I've got several hundred and used to play with them in my childhood.
...yes, I know how that all sounded.
At least you haven't lost them...your childhood marbles, I mean...http://www.thenexusforums.com/public/style_emoticons/dark/whistling.gif
I don't collect much, but I do try to have a copy of every Stephen King book around, and I have a complete set of Berserk manga.
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Yeah I'm creepy and evil, I can't help it. I cannot connect with god. All my effects to have failed, I just feel miserable in christianity. I guess I just aren't one that belongs to god.
Don't be so hard on yourself. The multiverse is more inclusive than the beliefs of small group of its inhabitants.
The officers of that particular group tend to exclude a lot of fun and interesting things in the perceptual field, too, I might add. So, keep going your own way. Protect yourself as you can (*get technique that works for you*) and then keep doing your own thing. Don't go to miserable places. Who wants to do that?! Just make sure you take yourself somewhere where that you yourself would describe as a "good" place.
to everyone else, great stories, people! Tales that Widen your Eyes, if you know what I mean. http://www.thenexusforums.com/public/style_emoticons/dark/thumbsup.gif
Corrupt a Wish(game)
in Forum Games
Posted
Granted, because it was decided that you have to clean a thousand toilets to shininess with a toothbrush instead.
I wish that it would rain frogs.