styrofoamboots : Sounds like your archery skills are to be envied. What's your favorite gun?

lilythetigerkity: Love your layout. I might want to ask for your advice with dogs sometime, though were I to tell you the whole situation with our family pet you'd probably be enraged at me and my family.

List of accomplishments:
- My score on Minesweeper on expert level is 181 seconds.
- I got the highest prizes in Junon in FFVII.
- I know how to manipulate Setzer's slots in FFVI, making him a battle-viable character.
- I once won a spelling bee against the biggest English nerd I know.
- I am the only person I know whose plecostomus fish committed suicide.

...That last one isn't really special, but it's unique.

This should probably be moved to the religion subforum of the debate forum.

I had things to say, but it looks like sop281 and warmaker beat me to it. d: The most vocal members of any sect tend to get the most press, and novelty and controversy likewise get more attention. This means that most every group ends up villainized, but it's especially tough for atheists because they are in the minority.

All that's left is for me is to advocate for people who counter this trend: we need more people on both sides of the equation who are promoting peace, love and tolerance. What's more, we need more people talking about these people. That and a strong effort toward mutual understanding. I look forward to the day where others are no longer villainized for their beliefs.

yoshirulez! : I'm gonna go ahead and disagree with Galacta on the music file and say it should be at the bottom.

pokemon x : I don't know where the image is from, but with no reference, I think it works well with the image. Agreement or disagreement with the quote aside, of course.

supercool22 : I love that layout. It is adorable. :3

Congrations. You done it.

No, but in all seriousness I think you will do great. You and Kimmie are two of my most brainiest friends, so I think you will do fine. I suspect you'll make good marks and find a few really good friends, as well.

Though it might be intimidating, you strike me as a person who would be able to adjust to college life really well, for what it's worth. Go get 'em.

I may not have anything profound to say, but I wanted to let you know that I read this and liked it. Seeing as I am a poetry snob and all. ^^

RavenStar666 : Whoops, I didn't see this here! But you already added me, so it works out. xP I have a confession to make though... as far as MLP goes I am only a sideline fan. I've barely watched any episodes but I like what I saw. I just love Octavia and Vinyl's relationship, though. And Vinyl is my favorite. :3

If you're still looking for MLPers you should check out sonicmcmuffin's pony forum. ^^

Check out this ghost sprite from Final Fantasy VI.


I actually thought the sprite was pretty awesome, but my sis-in-law told me she found it incredibly creepy and wished I hadn't showed it to her.

Other than that, the ending to The Company of Myself is a real creepfest, especially combined with some telling scenes from its prequel, Fixation. I can't really explain more without giving away plot points, though. Let's just say that Fixation is subtle, and the more you think about it the creepier it gets.

Want to have the experience of bunking but lack the supplies? Try this out!
http://rwby.wikia.com/wiki/File:Home_made_Bunk_Beds!.png

I choose top. I have acrophilia, so heights make me feel exhilarated and alive. Back when I lived in a dorm, it was my roommie who had to put up with the creaking and shaking when I would have to get up to use the facilities. It did kinda suck that I couldn't have a night stand, though.

As a rule, I dislike the door-to-door salesmen type. Whether you're selling kitchen utensils or the Mormon faith, it's just bad advertising. Even more so today, people dislike being bothered by strangers in their own home. Unless you're the new neighbors and you're bringing cookies.

Pamphlets also irk me, as I consider them to be outdated forms of evangelism. They worked well for many living in the modern age, but in a postmodern culture people are much more likely to listen to the experiences of their friends, or even to seek out answers themselves, than they are to take the words of a pamphlet as truth.

I believe this kind of press for a religion or sect ends up mainly leaving people with a bad aftertaste of whatever that faith may be. It may bring some to conversion, but alienates many more. There has to be a better way to attract others to a religion.

rcarter2 : Ah, I believe I understand your position a bit better now. But first, that last paragraph wasn't addressed to you; I added it as a disclaimer because if someone really read into my post, they might think that was what I was trying to say. My apologies; I should have made that more obvious.

I agree that fear is a mechanism to keep us from danger. My Christian beliefs make it hard for me to say that fears are just mechanisms regarding life on earth, but I have nothing to base that on other than my own personal conviction, so I'll leave that alone.

So in the end, I actually agree with a lot more of what you were saying than I thought I did. I find your point in your next-to-last paragraph most interesting. I agree with it, but I also think there is another way of looking at it. If I'm reading you right, you're saying that in the case of those you mentioned, they choose not to commit suicide because their self image has been brought back up to the point where their instincts can again take control. I'll give an example of something from my life. Several of my friends have mentioned not fearing death. Not in the sense of not dreading death, but in the sense of, they wouldn't actually mind if they keeled over and died tomorrow. The people I'm mentioning have one mental illness or another, as do I, so I'm not belittling. Were these people to reach a point of more or less perfect mental health, would they then fear death? Well, in the sense that we're talking about I think yes. But these people, in the state that they're in, choose not to commit suicide not due to some active fear of death on their own account, but concern for others. This can still be articulated as a fear; they fear the loss their loved ones will sustain. But in a more colloquial sense, it was not fear that drove them but a sense of concern.

Really, I bring that up because I think that the positive motivators for people - love, a will to experience life, and even a sense of duty (which I recognize is a really complex motivator) are just as important as the fears that keep them from death. I'm not saying that you don't. Just explaining why I'm still talking.

I guess when I was asking if fear should play a role, I was talking about certain types of fear, like fear of the unknown and fear of the pain of death. Because, it seems to me, in an ideal world, that should never have to be what keeps you from death.

(Side note: I haven't been active on the forum lately, but I've enjoyed the excuse to think deeply about things. Good talk.)
(Second side note: I really need to get a new layout; this one is hard to read.)

rcarter2 : In response to your comment, "That instinct is the true reason, everything else is a mechanism that preserves it."

Are you speaking only in terms of the fears that you mentioned? I.e., religious fears, fear of death, etc. If it is only the fears that you are addressing, then your comment would make more sense to me, although I would still have to disagree with it. But if you are talking also about those who believe they would hurt others by committing suicide and those who believe that life holds nothing for them, then it seems that your statement is in direct contradiction to your statement here:

"From what I have experienced, those who end up actually taking that leap into suicide is because at that point, they truly feel that it is the best option. They feel that their own lives not only are complete misery for them, but serves no true benefit to anyone around them, including anyone who might be considered close to them."

I don't want to be insensitive, as you are possibly speaking directly about people who you have lost. But I want to mention that if the case were different, and we were speaking about people who believed that either A) their life still might take a turn for the better or B) their life does have benefit for others around them, then these hypothetical people might change their minds about committing suicide. Their reason for not killing themselves would then not be that instinct of preservation, but hope for a better future or concern for others.

Addressing whether the specific fears you mentioned are a veil to hide that instinct of preservation, I don't believe that is always the case. Religious fear, for example, seems particularly strong. If an individual truly believes that committing suicide will cause them to spend an eternity in misery, all their rationale about a life in misery now and about them being useless wastes of space can pale in comparison to not wanting to burn in hell.

I do think the instinct of preservation plays a strong role in who ends up doing the deed and who doesn't, but I also think it's important to recognize the many cases where this isn't what's going on. If instinct of preservation is the only true reason for not following through, letting a person know that they are wanted and loved when they are nearing the edge becomes a waste of time. Again, I'm not sure that's what you were trying to say, but wanted to address it.

I should also mention that I don't think telling somebody who is thinking about suicide that they might burn in hell for their actions is appropriate. Not only do I think that it's not true, I think that will cause the person to withdraw themselves from you and not accept help from you in the future. But should fear -ever- play a role in the decision to stay alive? I'm really not sure, and I guess it's outside of the scope of this thread to talk about.

iiGrinchii : I'd have to say I agree that a lot of girls appreciate confidence, but there are also those who like the shy guys. If I weren't in such an awkward life position and live in a place where most people have very different opinions on life, I'd probably be the one asking guys out.

That aside, in my tiny little corner of the world, it seems it is more common to just hang out with someone you like with no mention of romance for a while, and then confess your attraction later and possibly start dating, while completely skipping the "going out on dates" step. A part of me hates it, and a part of me knows that dates called as such would be pretty nerve-wracking for me anyway.

Hello and welcome to the site! I see you've managed to refer somebody already, so that's good. We need some new blood around here. Hope to see you around!

It's all right, bro. Take time to take care of you. I know Vizzed can be a stressful place to be around at times. ((hugs))

generalspleen : He was saying that he didn't know either of us, not that he didn't know if were honest.

Some of you may have noticed that generalspleen: is now back on the forums. However, I made a deal with him that I would write this post because he has a crappy phone and doesn't want to type this all up. So this is an update in what's been going on in my bro's life.

About three months back, his parents kicked him out of the house after he found out they were taking his social security checks. Since then, he lived in his car for a portion of the time, though he was able to get into an apartment at one point and was living with a friend at another. He was basically homeless for that time.

About a month ago, his parents offered to put him up in a trailer next to their house, which unfortunately has no central air system. But, it is a place to stay, so that is good. Shawn is still looking for a job so he can move to a proper apartment.

He also has broken up with his fiance after some major issues in the relationship. For the last few days he's been in the hospital after a panic attack caused by stress from the fallout of the relationship, and while he was there the doctor told him his heart is smaller than a normal adult heart. He will be going through physical therapy to help get the heart to a better size, 95% of normal adult hearts.

The doctors tell him to stay away from sugar and eat veggies, but he remains stubborn. :J I'd appreciate it if those who pray would pray for him, and encourage him in whatever way you can. It's been a rough several months and he can use your encouragement, and friendship.

Whelp. It's time I cleared the air a bit. Shawn, brother of mine, I am not actually dead. I have been in deep hiding, and have only recently starting popping surreptitiously into Vizzed chat once again. ((But keep this on the down low! I'm planning a takeover.))

That said, you have no need to avenge my corpse. I am currently on my computer chair, breathing oxygen and rather uncorpsified.

However, if you do end up dueling, I will gladly sit in for my own personal amusement.

On a different note, I'm married now with kids? Cool! Who's my spouse? I *was* trying to get a boyfriend in chat the other night, but I didn't expect it to go that far that soon. Whoa.

GOODBYE HERPES...
I shall cry eternal tears of sadness in your absence.

sonicmcmuffin : ...Everything makes sense now. Thanks for the explanation.

I believe in Nessie. #nessielives

There are few conspiracy theories that I put much stock into. Nevertheless, I feel strangely drawn to them, especially ones that are particularly interesting, like speculations on Area 51.

Also, for people who dig fictitious spoofs, I found Mermaids: The Body Found to be really fascinating and a lot of fun: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mermaids:_The_Body_Found