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| Real-life Rants; Vent here. | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 9 2008, 03:44 PM (22,193 Views) | |
| ~Alkarii~ | May 11 2014, 01:31 PM Post #611 |
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Soul Eater
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Thankfully I'm not kind of drunk. Also, I don't typically drink at bars. Also, what the hell is it with drivers on sundays? Some asshole cut me off twice and was taunting me about it, then later some asshole pulls out in front of me and STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FUCKING ROAD. I can tell today's gonna be a shitty day at work. |
| Since my liver is larger than my heart, does that mean I'm designed to drink more and care less? | |
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| +CEMP+ | Jul 2 2014, 03:24 PM Post #612 |
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Clockwork Master
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WHAT!? |
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"I believe that the human spirit is indomitable. If you endeavor to achieve, it will happen given enough resolve. It may not be immediate, and often your greater dreams is something you will not achieve within your own lifetime. The effort you put forth to anything transcends yourself, for there is no futility even in death." — Monty Oum | |
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| ~Deadly Aim~ | Jul 2 2014, 03:45 PM Post #613 |
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Deadeye '17, eager to move on from the slow-motion train wreck that was last year.
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Not the Finns' policies, from what I read; the tournament is apparently in Azerbaijan. IE: where women are treated are at risk to being treated as second class due to there being an islamic majority in that country. Personally, I think hosting the tournament there is poor planning. Edited by Deadly Aim, Jul 2 2014, 03:46 PM.
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| ~Alkarii~ | Jul 4 2014, 03:43 PM Post #614 |
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Soul Eater
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Okay, I know this makes me sound like I live under a rock, but what the hell are e-sports? Video game tournaments? Why the hell would they need to be segregated based on gender? The only reason they do that with physical sports is because women tend to be physically weaker, due to the fact that testosterone tends to boost muscle growth. There shouldn't be any reason to do that with e-sports. (Didn't have time to read the whole article.) |
| Since my liver is larger than my heart, does that mean I'm designed to drink more and care less? | |
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| ~Deadly Aim~ | Jul 4 2014, 06:09 PM Post #615 |
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Deadeye '17, eager to move on from the slow-motion train wreck that was last year.
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Basically, competitive gaming has really taken off in the last ten years or so, giving rise to the term "e-sports" as a colloquialism. Games such as Halo, League of Legends, Starcraft, Hearthstone and World of Warcraft are prominent examples because of the multiplayer facets of their gameplay. There's some serious money wrapped in e-sports; if you win a Starcraft tourney you could be going home tens of thousands of dollars richer.
Edited by Deadly Aim, Jul 4 2014, 06:09 PM.
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| ~Alissa~ | Jul 7 2014, 02:26 PM Post #616 |
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fun fact about this particular "league". the payouts for the women's competitions are exactly half what they are for the men for the same games. I could understand (not agree) with the gender separation if there was some major difference in the player ability because of gender but these are video games. the whole thing is insulting to all gamers not just the women. if you are hosting an "e-sports" turnament then you should maybe hold it in a part of the world that does not exclude half its population. Personally not only will I not be paying any attention to this event, but I'll not be giving any money to any developers that support it. |
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| ~Alkarii~ | Jul 12 2014, 11:36 AM Post #617 |
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Soul Eater
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I went to the bank a while ago, and one of the ever-present protesters at the nearby clinic (apparently the do abortions there) had walked out into the street to harass someone in their car who had just left said clinic. Here's the thing: regardless of whether you think abortion is wrong, if you go and harass someone like that, it makes you and everyone who agrees with you look like an asshole, which does more harm than good to your cause. Being a male, I have never been pregnant and can't ever be pregnant, so it really isn't up to me. I think it's bad to resort to abortion bcause you can't use condoms, pills, or whatever, but if it can kill the would-be mother or if she was raped, or if there was anyother reason why she couldn't raise the kid or put it up for adoption, then it's her choice, and let her be. Right now, we're at least a couple decades away from embryo transplants, or solving the issues that come with a rapidly growing population (from 6 to 7 billion people in the past ten years), so we don't actually need EVERYONE producing children. I know it's a cold thing to say, but that's how it is. |
| Since my liver is larger than my heart, does that mean I'm designed to drink more and care less? | |
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| ~Deadly Aim~ | Jul 12 2014, 06:12 PM Post #618 |
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Deadeye '17, eager to move on from the slow-motion train wreck that was last year.
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Brace yourselves, what I may say could be seen as inflammatory; I assure you that it is not. The respective beliefs and opinions are my own. I personally do not agree with or support abortion; I think it is wrong, and a brutal practice best left in earlier ages. The brutality of this child-ending procedure has not changed; it has simply become more sophisticated and sterile, with daggers and pointed rocks being replaced with chemicals, vacuum hoses and saw-blades. I am of the belief through academic study and faith that life starts at the moment of conception, and the act of creating or taking life is not something to be taken lightly. I think it far better that the child be born into the world and placed up for adoption than to have their lives so tragically ended when they have no say. That being said, I will not condemn a woman who has an abortion so much as practically beg her not to; Alk, you are correct in saying legalistic harassment such as this will not help and will likely only make her feel driven away by those who should be trying to uplift her. She alone can legally make that decision in this country, and much as I may not wish her to go through with it, I cannot challenge the act if she does, short of the law being changed. If anything, I feel that women who were to consider the act of abortion should hear that God loves their miracle, regardless of the circumstances that life was created in. We have no control over who our blood relatives are. For example, say a person who has a father who was a notorious mass murderer during their pregnancy; should we then condemn this person for the sins of the father? Or the mother? That being said, I also believe that any woman who chooses to have one is making a terrible mistake that will cause them a lot of pain; but, I feel again that what they need more than anything is to hear God's love for them and their child over any condemnation of the act. We are all sinners in this world, and we all go six feet under regardless of gender, ethnicity and wealth. As a result, I think more than anything that pregnant women in this situation need love for both themselves and for their child. We all make mistakes and bad choices; I would be a hypocrite to condemn these women for theirs when I've made my own. |
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| ~The Boss~ | Jul 13 2014, 09:05 AM Post #619 |
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Native Son
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First of all, I would like to commend both of you. Wading into the abortion debate and nary a personal attack to be found? Intelligence? Maturity? Poise? Gentlemen, I do believe you have just made internet history. Now then, allow me to retort: The notion that all unwanted children should have a loving home is a wonderful one, and I mean that in the least condescending way possible. Despite my tendency towards dark cynicism in my writing, I am in fact a big ol' softie. I embrace and encourage the warm and fuzzy (one of the reasons why despite being a lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan, I love Michael Strahan). However, as nice as that idea might be, it's just not realistic, and sadly one of the biggest reasons for that is the beliefs of pro-lifers themselves. Now obviously, many people who consider themselves pro-life are also conservative Christians. And in addition to their views on abortion, they also tend to be staunchly anti-gay, and therefore oppose efforts to allow gay and lesbian couples to adopt children. Michigan, Mississippi, and Florida all ban same-sex adoption. Wisconsin, Kentucky, Ohio, North Carolina, and Nebraska do not allow gay people to legally adopt their partner's biological children. Utah does not allow unmarried people to adopt period, gay or straight. As of September 2010 (I couldn't find any more recent stats, and it's already late and I don't wanna spent all night with the Google) there were 107,011 children waiting to be adopted in the United States. 21% of them were 2 years old or younger. There's been a backlog forever. And yet, in some parts of the country, prospective parents who want to give these children a loving home are prevented from doing so for no other reason than a certain segment of America hasn't matured past "fags are gross." And you know, that's something you can look past if you're in 7th grade. It's absolutely indefensible when you're a grown adult in charge of making public policy. (Utah... there's just no excuse for that. None at all. LDS Church, you obviously can do whatever the hell you want. Naturally, we'll make fun of you for it, but we won't stop you. On the other hand, STATE OF UTAH, get your shit together. Seriously.) And then there's economics. I can recall during my college years seeing this political cartoon posted up on campus. It was three panels of a woman with her belly growing, and around her gathered an ever increasing crowd of people carrying signs that read "save this baby." But in the fourth panel, the woman is carrying her newborn baby in one arm and holding a bunch of papers in her other hand that say things like "prenatal care," "hospital bills," vaccination," "daycare," etc... and all the people gathered around her drop their "save this baby" signs and walk away. American conservatives are opposed to food stamps and welfare. They're opposed to WIC clinics. They don't like giving maternity leave, nor are they big fans of public schools. They hate unemployment benefits. They hate Medicaid. They hate S-CHIP, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (hey there, Mr. Limbaugh!). They reeeeeeeealy hate Obamacare (although it turns out if you just tell them what it does and don't call it "Obamacare," they like it just fine). In short, the very people who want to save every child are typically the same people who fight tooth and nail against anything and everything that would help that woman actually feed, clothe, and educate that child. Thus, dramatically increasing the chances that said child ends up on the streets, in prison, or simply repeating the cycle. Or perhaps all three. And then probably receiving even more government aid (Coming out of your pocket, Joe Sixpack! And probably going to a black person! Or even worse *gasp* a Mexican!). Most tellingly, however, conservatives are vehemently opposed to sex education and, increasingly, contraception. In fact, those two issues go hand in hand. Sex ed, after all, is where teenagers learn about condoms and the pill, not to mention STDs. And personal hygiene. However, conservatives prefer - insist upon, in fact - abstinence only sex ed. Which basically amounts to telling teenagers not to have sex. Cause, you know, telling teenagers not to do something always works. And of course, between Rick Santorum and Hobby Lobby, we now have an anti-pill movement. In America. In 2014. Feels like just a matter of time before a candidate comes out against dancing. Now, in a vacuum, opposition to the practice of abortion itself is entirely reasonable. I honestly can't find much about that basic position to object to. The problem is that it's usually connected - indeed, often inseparable - from these other issues. And so it's not about the babies anymore. It's about controlling peoples' sexual behavior. And by people, I mean women. You don't want a woman to have an abortion, but you also don't want her to have condoms or birth control pills, the very things that would prevent her from getting pregnant in the first place. And if she does have the child, if she's a single mom and just a teenager and poor to begin with and in no way in any position to support her child, you then don't want her to have access to anything that might help, because socialism or something. But then, the answer of course is abstinence. When you take everything into account, the ultimate message is you shouldn't have been having sex in the first place, you filthy Jezebel. But don't take my word for it. Ask Mike Huckabee about Uncle Sugar. Ask Foster Fries what to do with aspirin. Ask the aforementioned Rush Limbaugh just about anything having to do with women. Those men were not speaking of the unborn. Not at all. They were straight-up slut shaming, and not even trying to deny it. They were in fact, quite proud of it. It is here, right here, RIGHT FUCKING HERE where the disconnect between the pro-life and pro-choice movements lies. Men have sexual freedom, women do not. This isn't about the law or culture, it's a matter of biology. Women would like to have sexual freedom, but religious conservatives seek to deny them at every turn. They don't want women to have abortions, but they also don't want for there to be any other alternatives apart from, as Bill Maher (I think) said, only having sex when their husband gives them permission. Pro-lifers say it's all about the babies, and I don't doubt their sincerity. But the messages that pro-choice women hear are all about sex. (This, by the way, is exactly what is meant by a War on Women. Men passing laws pertaining to lady parts without women having a say.) Look, the plain and simple fact is this: people are horny. It's the whole purpose of life itself. Perpetuate the species. We're programmed for it (some peoples' programming is a bit different, but I'm not gonna have that argument right now). And it just so happens that that programming kicks in while we're still living with our parents and way too confused to know what it all means and too immature to possibly know how to make the right choices. And all of the praying and preaching ever done is not gonna contain Mother Nature. It's just not. However, there are ways to be responsible even while you're being irresponsible. The smart thing to do is to provide as much education and resources as possible to prevent unwanted pregnancies. The stupid thing to do is to wag your finger at a room full of hormonally-charged teenagers and hope for the best. (Actually, now that I think about it, if you wanna keep teenagers from getting it on, teach Dungeons & Dragons in school. That'll stop anyone from getting laid.) Here in my home state of Texas, most of what I just described is official public policy (except the gay adoption part, but they way things are going, I'm sure that'll change soon). And it's an absolute, total fucking public health disaster. Planned Parenthood clinics are vanishing all over the state. But what Rick Perry and company don't realize (or perhaps just don't care about) is that many women, particularly poor women, and particularly in the heavily Hispanic and heavily impoverished Rio Grande Valley where I'm from, depend on Planned Parenthood for basic OB/GYN services that all women need regardless of the amount of sex they're having, or not having. There's literally no other clinic within miles of these little Mexican towns. So yeah, you can't get an abortion or birth control. But you also can't get mammograms, can't get sonograms, can't get cervical cancer screenings, can't get prenatal care, can't even get the kind of basic fucking checkup that most men don't even understand that women need. And you know what the worst part is? Self-induced abortions have skyrocketed in Texas. And they're crossing the border to get the meds, which is a whole other issue in and of itself. So not only did you not solve the problem, you made it worse, infinitely more dangerous, and created a whole host of other problems that you were given plenty of warning about but chose to flat-out ignore. (Oh hey, what's this picture of Dick Cheney doing here?) Now, one final point before I turn things over to the Master. I didn't want to do this, but given the seriousness of the subject matter, I feel it's very important that I tell this story. When I was in college, I got a girl pregnant. We weren't dating, not really, but she meant way more to me than to dismiss her as a fuck buddy (as she once during an argument we had about the nature of our relationship), or even a friend with benefits. But I didn't love her, and she knew that. She also had gone back to West Virginia, and it had happened during a brief visit. By the time she told me she was pregnant, she had already made up her mind what she was gonna do. She wanted to me know, and to raise any objections if I had any. I copped out, told her I wouldn't stand in her way, and she had an abortion. The truth is, I was scared. I wasn't ready, and neither was she. We weren't a couple, and we weren't gonna be. She didn't want her parents to find out, and I sure as hell ain't gonna even give mine a hint. Did she make the right decision? Perhaps at the time. Some people just should not have children. At that time, we were most definitely those people. Do I have regrets? You're goddamn right I do. But I had no right to tell her what to do. She is not my property. She should not have to pay for my stupidity. I'm not proud of it, but I can live with myself at least, and I'd like to think that I've learned a few lessons along the way. Am I a better person today? Well, that's debatable. I've grown up some since then, but not by much. But I've gone on long enough. So in conclusion, let me just say that, as with most things in life, nobody said it better than George Carlin. Edited by The Boss, Jul 14 2014, 04:46 AM.
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| ~Alkarii~ | Jul 13 2014, 12:38 PM Post #620 |
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Soul Eater
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You know, this is a much better reaction than I expected. That could be because here, people can read the whole thing instead of cutting someone off after two sentences. It could also be because we're all writers (mostly amatuers at the moment, but still writers). I read that writers are some of the most tolerant people, and that may be because they (or we, I suppose) have this curious ability: putting ourselves in someone else's shoes, or, to put it differently, see imagine ourselves in the same situation/positon. Now, on an unrelated note, but still from yesterday... someone I work with said a girl he knows wants to speak with me, and I've seen her before. We were supposed to meet up yesterday, and he told me to call. Long story short, I wasted two hours and never met her because someone doesn't answer his phone, which went straight to voicemail. I'm going to show him that I called him when I see him next. |
| Since my liver is larger than my heart, does that mean I'm designed to drink more and care less? | |
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4:40 AM Jul 11