GameBoy1023 : Got your summons what would you like? Merry Christmas to all.

Popeye116 : Thank you for letting us know. Merry Christmas to all. This thread is officially closed.

rcarter2 : Thanks for the summon and thanks for the kind words I will move this to the game discussion thread.

TheTrueUlti : Glad we were able to get the question answered for you. This thread is officially closed.

earthwarrior : No bother at all it's our job. Thanks for letting us know. This thread is officially closed.

soxfan849 : I got the notice... Perhaps it has to do with the HTML editor and such. If you use the regular editor to put your text in, there shouldn't be a problem with summoning anyone. Thanks for letting us know.

bombchu link : First I appreciate that thank you. Now in regard to what you said about criminals targeting schools. I have been thinking about what the NRA has recommended that there should be armed guards at every school in the United States. I’m not so sure about that but I did go to a school during my Jr. High years which was kind of like a prison to a degree. There were bars on the windows and there were a lot of administrators and security around at all times. I remember during lunch they would let us go outside if we wanted providing the weather wasn’t too bad and there were security around at all times. This was in the mid 90’s so this was long before any of the notable school shootings that have taken place in the last decade and a half.

I use to joke with people that going to the school was like going to prison for six or seven hours a day and such. Admittedly I was an immature, stupid and in some ways inauthentic kid during that period of my life. In hindsight seeing as this school was in New York, with the crime rate at the time and such and seeing what has happened in the years since with these other schools, I do not blame the school one bit for having those kinds of precautions in place and making sure the students were safe and that the school was safe.

In regard to what the NRA has stated as I said I’m not sure about that but I do agree that something needs to be done to ensure that tragedies like what has happened don’t happen or at least the likelihood of something happening is greatly decreased. I do know where I live that if there is a situation where someone has fled from police or something along those lines or, if there was a robbery or god forbid something worse and it took place in the general area of a school during school hours that the schools go on immediate lockdown and it has been that way for several years. I believe there are schools that are mindful of things like that and are always ready to take the necessary precautions when needed.

I do believe though that in the case of what happened in Connecticut last week that it was an unlikely scenario and one that wasn’t thought of when plans are made should something happen. I also believe that there is more to it then we will probably ever know nor should we know about the kid responsible for what happened. I think at the end of the day it is something that should be looked at as a tragedy but also something that can be used to prevent further things from happening. This also means that maybe that includes not listening to the media who may be well intentioned but at the same time are conflicted because of their desire for things like profits and ratings. At least that’s the way I feel about it.

A good movie to watch in regard to what we’re talking about and particularly the media’s role in things like this is Mad City. It really is a good movie and well worth watching.

play4fun : I have heard people use that phrase also. Myself I consider myself to be semi-religious. I do not go to church physically but I do try and observe mass online on a regular basis and I do believe in god and pray daily.

I think the reason some people choose to say things like that may have to do with their stance on organized religion and such. One of the primary reasons I do not physically go to church is because I do not believe in judging others regardless of what one has been through or, if someone lives differently than I do.

I read an article last week about the Westboro Baptist church which was planning to protest at the funerals of those who were killed at that Connecticut school shooting and such. I was thoroughly disgusted after reading some of the quotes from some of these people saying that they were protesting to among other things “Praise God, for carrying out his judgment” and such.

I believe when people see things like that they get turned off to the idea of church. As for me I don’t as I said believe in judging others and I do not have a tolerance for bigotry on any level. As for that church I hope they can sleep at night. Those children and adults did nothing to deserve what happened so I would really like a rational explanation as to how what happened was in any way God’s Judgment. I don’t get it and I don’t think I ever will but there are better things to do in life than disrespecting those who are gone as a means of garnering publicity for whatever cause they want to push. Just one man’s opinion.

bombchu link : I respect everyone’s opinion on this but I believe there should be no guns although I do understand why those who serve on the police and other agencies need them. There is too much violence in the world and I believe giving everyone guns under some kind of mandate would only increase violence. Some I am close to have said the same things that you have and have told me that they feel although in their words violence would increase initially, that violence would gradually decrease over time. In my opinion the best way to end something like this is to outlaw the distribution of guns to the general public. I am realistic in knowing that you’re not going to totally eliminate the making of guns all together but I do believe that cutting distribution and increasing crack downs on illegal distribution will gradually decrease violence.

I realize and will admit that I am a sentimental person but I just feel that something like that would be a better approach then merely giving everyone guns. It isn’t worth seeing more tragedy to eventually see a decrease in violence. Least that’s how I feel about it.

It is also not as simple as an open, shut issue. No matter what those who are in positions of power and have the ability to make decisions do, there will always be people who will not like things and will want to see things change. Sometimes there is no solid answer to something like this but I do believe if you outlaw distribution and take necessary steps to crack down on illegal distribution things might change.

Bluey5 : This thread is officially closed. Thanks for letting us know.

pokemon x : This thread is officially closed.

Singelli : Thanks for the heads up. This thread is officially closed.

Singelli : It doesn't matter to me. Any day is good for me.

soxfan849 : I’m not sure on this one so I can’t really give a solid answer but I am definitely certain that there is evil in the world and that there are those who profit and may even take pleasure in those who are struggling and or, suffering. It’s sad but I am certain that evil does exist.

I just hope that one day we will see evil disappear and we will see less hatred in the world, more tolerance, kindness and understanding for one another. As I’ve said many times the concept of world peace is closer than any of us or society really realize if we as a society could just stop judging each other and being kind to one another. It may seem a tad sentimental but that’s how I see it.

Singelli : I agree with you. I see no harm whatsoever in doing anything to remember our friends, family and others who are deceased and or to think of those who are going through difficult times. I know that we’ve all been in those shoes at one time or another and I think it would be very good for the community to come together for something like that. I agree with you.

Singelli : I can't see a post similar to this but for now we'll leave this up until we figure it out. Thanks for the heads up.

MegaRevolution1 : Thanks for the heads up. This thread is officially closed.

Singelli : I know the feeling. I had a bit of a hard time yesterday myself. I ended up walking out of a room that had what was going on, on television because I almost started crying. It isn’t an easy thing for me to cry but I was real close yesterday. So senseless, I’ll never be able to understand why some people resort to things like that. Never. I pray for those families who lost loved ones yesterday. Senseless.

thenumberone : Oh they were coming out on stage one of those big entrance type of deals. All I saw was Fred Durst come through the entrance smoke and the next thing I know all hell is breaking loose. The people on the floor in the mosh pits broke down the barrier and all hell broke loose. People were jumping from the upper levels where we were and jumping down to the floor. As I said my friend was in a wheelchair so I had to get her out of there. I’m also disabled but if I were on my own I probably would have stayed. (Was back before I got the wake up call I refer to often. Admittedly I was young and stupid.) It was interesting though to see the police in full riot gear entering the arena as we were going out as quick as we could. The show up to that point was good if memory serves me Godsmack was the lead in for them.

If I could afford to do it I’d go to concerts a lot more often. I’m older now but not old beyond going to a concert every now and then. The stones are on my handful list of bands I want to see live. This might be the closest I get to them watching this concert but I want to see AC/DC, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Genesis and a couple of others. I make no bones about it I’m an 80’s mark through and through but the older I’ve gotten the more appreciation I’ve gained for music before the 80’s very few bands of the 90’s sounded like they belonged in the 80’s. Today’s music by and large to me seems quite generic but I was born into the 80’s era which is what I consider Music’s greatest. I will say though watching Lady Gaga do Gimme’ Shelter with the stones a few minutes ago was quite good and quite disturbing at the same time lol.

earthwarrior : Thanks for letting us know. This thread is officially closed.