(no subject)
Basics
Name: James Michael Robertson
Age: 17
Location: Naylor, Georgia, U.S.
Birthday(DD/MM/YYYY): 16/03/1987
Nickname: Light Rocket or Mand
Up closer
Name a quality you like about yourself: My honesty.
Name a quality you hate about yourself: My usual shyness.
What motivates you?: Life? What motivates me changes from day to day, experience to experience. I could answer for the moment, but that won't be the same soon. Such a question is rather useless except for gauging the depth at which one takes in questions, so gauge away. At the moment, I feel motivated by the thought of not disappointing my parents, but living through my own choices, not an easy task, and by the thought of getting done with this and posting it.
What do you fear?: That I won't succeed. I don't care about actual life for me, since I'm generally pretty happy even when poor. Succeeding in the manner I'm referring to means that I fear not being able to live up to people's wishes of me, and thoughts of me. I could push that aside as insignifigent like some, since, "It's my life!" but the reality of things is that it's not. "No man is an island." ~ John Donne.
Who/What influences you the most?: Books I read, the friends I have, and my daily and long term goals. Generally, the things in my life. I regard this question with the same look as I did the motivation question.
How did you come across this group?: CTG told me about it about a month back, and then I saw it when he was posting this in Drafting class.
Obligatory Favorites
Favorite Color: Red
Favorite Bands/Musical Genre: Too varied to say, but I mainly prefer Rock, Folk, and Techno.
Favorite Book(s): Shogun by James Clavell, How Precious Was That While by Piers Anthony, and Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings. But, since I don't really read that many single books, this is more a way of showing my favorite authors. Also, it's sort of based on the moment. I'm reading HPWTW, and Piers Anthony is my favorite author, so I just stated that book. I just got done reading Shogun a week ago, and loved it, so it makes it here as well though its glamour may fade in the long run.
Favorite Movie(s): Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Favorite Quote: Another at the moment question for me... So, from How Precious Was That While, on the subject of writing, "A writer who waits for inspiration may wait forever. A real writer writes when he has time, his inspiration on tap when he needs it."
Now for some opinions
Organized religion: In itself, it's not a bad or good idea. It gives people a chance to meet at least, but it can lead to the average hates, biases, and brain-washings that come with organized anything. I could pile a list of things that, because of it, have happened and ruined the lives of men, women, children, whole families or nations. But, generally, it's just an excuse. The Holy Roman Empire would have fought the good fight, taking over the area around it, and such even if it hadn't been 'Holy', and the Crusades would have happened anyway as well. Just as the people who go around, preaching Christianity or Hebrewism or Islam, etc., and helping people would still help those people without it. It just gives them a name to evoke whatever they happen to be doing in.
Minority rights: When I saw this, my first thought was, "'Dude, minorities rock, I pet them as I go to work, and throw them birdfeed!' What do they expect me to put?!" I hope that gives everyone who reads this a good idea of what I think of this question, and just the general way these were written. It would have been nice if you asked an actual question, rather than handing out an issue and letting me play field day. My mind comes up with too many answers for a mental field day. Now to the actual question. I'm assuming you mean in the U.S. Minorities are given generally what they can be given, they're thrown a bone and generally that's it. I wish it could be different, but we can't appease everyone and yet not give special treatment. Generally, it seems to me that we try to make it easy for the minorities in decisions, but we can't give them the major choice because we feel sorry not as many people are on their side as on the majority's side. I wish with all my soul that we could just sort of put every single idea on the table (as long as the idea doesn't impose on or hurt others) and somehow use them all at once. But, by the very nature of most decisions, they HAVE to impose on others, or we end up making a double standard.
War in Iraq: It's foolish and stupid. We're committed now, and we've given people hope, so I don't feel we should pull out until we think the new government can at least put up a decent fight against the waves of terrorists that will swarm it after we leave. I do believe, however, that any 'liberation' such as this that causes such a large terrorist operation against it is ultimately doomed to failure. You can't fight terrorism. I also think it's quite moronic that we started out with lies and misinformation (and I think we're making the same mistakes with Iran), to take down the painted antichrist we set up in Iraq in the first place.
Human cloning: For use to repair damaged or faulty genes, I have mixed feelings about it. It can save developed lives at the cost of undeveloped lives and at the same time unleashes the danger of harmful genetic altering (Brave New World, anyone?). It's like one of those annoying questions in ethics, such as, "Would you kill one innocent person to save one hundred?" I'm not exactly sure how far (meaning, how long alive) the clones would have to go for this use, and I'm not sure if anyone actually does. If used in the, "Oooh, I want a clone! Then he can do my homework and do this and we can hang out and he can be like my brother!" (I take the child viewpoint in this for a reason you'll see soon), then I believe it is a moronic thing to do or even think of, with the exception of a couple (or single person, though both would be regulated, which is a good/bad thing in itself) that cannot have a natural child. Population is growing at an enormous rate. It's foolish to do something of this nature just because you think a clone is cool, and want someone "just like" you. (Forgive me if any of my first half to this answer was incorrect in what would actually happen; I'm just guessing from very badly reported news on cloning, as no one seems to ever want to touch on what the actual procedures of it would be.)
Space exploration: The human race's only true lasting chance is in space exploration, though after reading Out of the Silent Planet, I'm not so sure of that goal's greatness. At any rate, such a course does let us learn more about the universe around us, and though that serves no true practical interest other than the one mentioned above, it seems to interest some. Besides. As long as we keep this field open, we always have a great plethora of mental supplies for starry-eyed Trekkies and for Science Fiction writers to work with, and that's never a bad thing.
Abortion: I don't like it, just as I don't like the idea of cloning, generally for the same reasons. I believe that using abortion because you were too stupid or drunk or forgetful to use protection and birth control is utterly insane and backs up the new world's idea that no matter how bad you mess up (as in accidentally having a child and not wanting one, not as in all children are mistakes, though I'm sure some parents might take that side), there is always a surgery out there to 'fix' you. But, I understand cases such as when a woman is raped and wants an abortion. Since there's no real way to separate and enforce the cases, however, I can't really think that anyone should be denied on reason. I do, however, support the current "Only up until this point in time," however heartless I actually view it.
Gun control: I support the freedom to bear arms, though not expressly stated in the constitution, but I disagree with letting all sorts of assault weapons roam the streets. If they'll allow that, can I have a nuclear weapon in my garage for hunting deer or self defense? It's just as impractical as using an Uzi for either of those purposes, but I WANT to have one, so it's alright? Right?
Influence of mass media on society: We need news at this point. The world around us is too large, too involved, too dangerous and potentially great to ignore. Mass media can influence us in horrible ways, but it has to. It's information, and there is no way to eliminate tone completely from information. And, if one does, it's hard to divine exactly what that information's use is. It is sad when we get misinformed or our opinions get changed because of a favorable light alone on something, but it happens to be one of the risks that we have to accept to get information.
Your philosophy
Do you believe in a higher power?: I'm an agnostic. I don't say nay or yea here, because I believe anyone who goes, "Yes, there is a great God in heaven, and our priests talk to him! I KNOW!" is an presumptuous bastard. I usually leave that last part out, though, to avoid a stoning.
What is your outlook on life?: Life is life. It's not good, it's not bad. It's the natural stasis of a human until that human dies. Life is, in the end, what one makes of it. So, for this question, my own outlook on life is fun. Hard, challenging, maddening and saddening at times, but overall, for me, it is a good, fun, 100 years or so before I might croak. This assuming that, since it is what I make of it, and I plan on making a good life out of it, I will succeed.
What is love?: Love is love. I tend to believe that there is a spectrum of good feelings, and of bad. Love, and hate. Friendship comes at a point, our conception brotherly love at another, and endearment, and the sort of love you marry for, also known as true love, at another, with various other names and degrees spread around as is our wont. "True" love itself can be great, or horrible. We shouldn't let it consume us completely, but we should give it a good ear when it comes into our lives.
Tell us more
I love to read, mainly Sci Fi and Fantasy, but some other things are nice for me as well, including philosophy, and I also love debating. It's said that I'm a bitch about winning arguments by some, but I believe this is just a natural extension of rarely if ever winning any arguments due to people saying I'm a bitch about winning arguments. ^.- I enjoy comics (or did, when my brother and his collection were here) and manga, along with anime of a number of forms. I watch a couple shows, and try to stay sort of up to date in news, but that's always a hard task.
I enjoy writing a lot, but rarely find the time due to all the stuff I tend to get yelled at if I don't do, such as passing pesky high school classes. I also try to balance physical work with mental, though my early life started physical/mental, putting me a bit behind in each respectively, so that now my mind is sharp but my body needs work. Generally, in most views, I tend to take a moderate stance, but some things I'm fiercely liberal in, and in monetary matters, I'm a good bit conservative in.
My mood and bearing depend on the time, place, and emotions I'm dealing with at the time, but usually I'm quite weird and humorous online and silent offline. I've got a quick mind, so quick I often hate not being given specifics, since my mind returns things with the same amount of responses as a Google search when not given enough information. I hope this is enough, but I really have no clue on generally what you're expecting with this for what are now hopefully obvious reasons.
Superfluous Section
Couldn't manage to find the pictures.
The Bitter End
Why do you want to join, and would you be a worthwhile member?: I want to join partially to meet new people, partially to give me a new forum to interact in, and finally to allow me to better interact with two of my current friends. Plus, I'm hoping there will be debates. Or fights with broken bottles. Either way, I'm betting my pants. I'm not stating an actual answer to the second question. That's for you to decide, since you're judging me.
Name: James Michael Robertson
Age: 17
Location: Naylor, Georgia, U.S.
Birthday(DD/MM/YYYY): 16/03/1987
Nickname: Light Rocket or Mand
Up closer
Name a quality you like about yourself: My honesty.
Name a quality you hate about yourself: My usual shyness.
What motivates you?: Life? What motivates me changes from day to day, experience to experience. I could answer for the moment, but that won't be the same soon. Such a question is rather useless except for gauging the depth at which one takes in questions, so gauge away. At the moment, I feel motivated by the thought of not disappointing my parents, but living through my own choices, not an easy task, and by the thought of getting done with this and posting it.
What do you fear?: That I won't succeed. I don't care about actual life for me, since I'm generally pretty happy even when poor. Succeeding in the manner I'm referring to means that I fear not being able to live up to people's wishes of me, and thoughts of me. I could push that aside as insignifigent like some, since, "It's my life!" but the reality of things is that it's not. "No man is an island." ~ John Donne.
Who/What influences you the most?: Books I read, the friends I have, and my daily and long term goals. Generally, the things in my life. I regard this question with the same look as I did the motivation question.
How did you come across this group?: CTG told me about it about a month back, and then I saw it when he was posting this in Drafting class.
Obligatory Favorites
Favorite Color: Red
Favorite Bands/Musical Genre: Too varied to say, but I mainly prefer Rock, Folk, and Techno.
Favorite Book(s): Shogun by James Clavell, How Precious Was That While by Piers Anthony, and Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings. But, since I don't really read that many single books, this is more a way of showing my favorite authors. Also, it's sort of based on the moment. I'm reading HPWTW, and Piers Anthony is my favorite author, so I just stated that book. I just got done reading Shogun a week ago, and loved it, so it makes it here as well though its glamour may fade in the long run.
Favorite Movie(s): Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Favorite Quote: Another at the moment question for me... So, from How Precious Was That While, on the subject of writing, "A writer who waits for inspiration may wait forever. A real writer writes when he has time, his inspiration on tap when he needs it."
Now for some opinions
Organized religion: In itself, it's not a bad or good idea. It gives people a chance to meet at least, but it can lead to the average hates, biases, and brain-washings that come with organized anything. I could pile a list of things that, because of it, have happened and ruined the lives of men, women, children, whole families or nations. But, generally, it's just an excuse. The Holy Roman Empire would have fought the good fight, taking over the area around it, and such even if it hadn't been 'Holy', and the Crusades would have happened anyway as well. Just as the people who go around, preaching Christianity or Hebrewism or Islam, etc., and helping people would still help those people without it. It just gives them a name to evoke whatever they happen to be doing in.
Minority rights: When I saw this, my first thought was, "'Dude, minorities rock, I pet them as I go to work, and throw them birdfeed!' What do they expect me to put?!" I hope that gives everyone who reads this a good idea of what I think of this question, and just the general way these were written. It would have been nice if you asked an actual question, rather than handing out an issue and letting me play field day. My mind comes up with too many answers for a mental field day. Now to the actual question. I'm assuming you mean in the U.S. Minorities are given generally what they can be given, they're thrown a bone and generally that's it. I wish it could be different, but we can't appease everyone and yet not give special treatment. Generally, it seems to me that we try to make it easy for the minorities in decisions, but we can't give them the major choice because we feel sorry not as many people are on their side as on the majority's side. I wish with all my soul that we could just sort of put every single idea on the table (as long as the idea doesn't impose on or hurt others) and somehow use them all at once. But, by the very nature of most decisions, they HAVE to impose on others, or we end up making a double standard.
War in Iraq: It's foolish and stupid. We're committed now, and we've given people hope, so I don't feel we should pull out until we think the new government can at least put up a decent fight against the waves of terrorists that will swarm it after we leave. I do believe, however, that any 'liberation' such as this that causes such a large terrorist operation against it is ultimately doomed to failure. You can't fight terrorism. I also think it's quite moronic that we started out with lies and misinformation (and I think we're making the same mistakes with Iran), to take down the painted antichrist we set up in Iraq in the first place.
Human cloning: For use to repair damaged or faulty genes, I have mixed feelings about it. It can save developed lives at the cost of undeveloped lives and at the same time unleashes the danger of harmful genetic altering (Brave New World, anyone?). It's like one of those annoying questions in ethics, such as, "Would you kill one innocent person to save one hundred?" I'm not exactly sure how far (meaning, how long alive) the clones would have to go for this use, and I'm not sure if anyone actually does. If used in the, "Oooh, I want a clone! Then he can do my homework and do this and we can hang out and he can be like my brother!" (I take the child viewpoint in this for a reason you'll see soon), then I believe it is a moronic thing to do or even think of, with the exception of a couple (or single person, though both would be regulated, which is a good/bad thing in itself) that cannot have a natural child. Population is growing at an enormous rate. It's foolish to do something of this nature just because you think a clone is cool, and want someone "just like" you. (Forgive me if any of my first half to this answer was incorrect in what would actually happen; I'm just guessing from very badly reported news on cloning, as no one seems to ever want to touch on what the actual procedures of it would be.)
Space exploration: The human race's only true lasting chance is in space exploration, though after reading Out of the Silent Planet, I'm not so sure of that goal's greatness. At any rate, such a course does let us learn more about the universe around us, and though that serves no true practical interest other than the one mentioned above, it seems to interest some. Besides. As long as we keep this field open, we always have a great plethora of mental supplies for starry-eyed Trekkies and for Science Fiction writers to work with, and that's never a bad thing.
Abortion: I don't like it, just as I don't like the idea of cloning, generally for the same reasons. I believe that using abortion because you were too stupid or drunk or forgetful to use protection and birth control is utterly insane and backs up the new world's idea that no matter how bad you mess up (as in accidentally having a child and not wanting one, not as in all children are mistakes, though I'm sure some parents might take that side), there is always a surgery out there to 'fix' you. But, I understand cases such as when a woman is raped and wants an abortion. Since there's no real way to separate and enforce the cases, however, I can't really think that anyone should be denied on reason. I do, however, support the current "Only up until this point in time," however heartless I actually view it.
Gun control: I support the freedom to bear arms, though not expressly stated in the constitution, but I disagree with letting all sorts of assault weapons roam the streets. If they'll allow that, can I have a nuclear weapon in my garage for hunting deer or self defense? It's just as impractical as using an Uzi for either of those purposes, but I WANT to have one, so it's alright? Right?
Influence of mass media on society: We need news at this point. The world around us is too large, too involved, too dangerous and potentially great to ignore. Mass media can influence us in horrible ways, but it has to. It's information, and there is no way to eliminate tone completely from information. And, if one does, it's hard to divine exactly what that information's use is. It is sad when we get misinformed or our opinions get changed because of a favorable light alone on something, but it happens to be one of the risks that we have to accept to get information.
Your philosophy
Do you believe in a higher power?: I'm an agnostic. I don't say nay or yea here, because I believe anyone who goes, "Yes, there is a great God in heaven, and our priests talk to him! I KNOW!" is an presumptuous bastard. I usually leave that last part out, though, to avoid a stoning.
What is your outlook on life?: Life is life. It's not good, it's not bad. It's the natural stasis of a human until that human dies. Life is, in the end, what one makes of it. So, for this question, my own outlook on life is fun. Hard, challenging, maddening and saddening at times, but overall, for me, it is a good, fun, 100 years or so before I might croak. This assuming that, since it is what I make of it, and I plan on making a good life out of it, I will succeed.
What is love?: Love is love. I tend to believe that there is a spectrum of good feelings, and of bad. Love, and hate. Friendship comes at a point, our conception brotherly love at another, and endearment, and the sort of love you marry for, also known as true love, at another, with various other names and degrees spread around as is our wont. "True" love itself can be great, or horrible. We shouldn't let it consume us completely, but we should give it a good ear when it comes into our lives.
Tell us more
I love to read, mainly Sci Fi and Fantasy, but some other things are nice for me as well, including philosophy, and I also love debating. It's said that I'm a bitch about winning arguments by some, but I believe this is just a natural extension of rarely if ever winning any arguments due to people saying I'm a bitch about winning arguments. ^.- I enjoy comics (or did, when my brother and his collection were here) and manga, along with anime of a number of forms. I watch a couple shows, and try to stay sort of up to date in news, but that's always a hard task.
I enjoy writing a lot, but rarely find the time due to all the stuff I tend to get yelled at if I don't do, such as passing pesky high school classes. I also try to balance physical work with mental, though my early life started physical/mental, putting me a bit behind in each respectively, so that now my mind is sharp but my body needs work. Generally, in most views, I tend to take a moderate stance, but some things I'm fiercely liberal in, and in monetary matters, I'm a good bit conservative in.
My mood and bearing depend on the time, place, and emotions I'm dealing with at the time, but usually I'm quite weird and humorous online and silent offline. I've got a quick mind, so quick I often hate not being given specifics, since my mind returns things with the same amount of responses as a Google search when not given enough information. I hope this is enough, but I really have no clue on generally what you're expecting with this for what are now hopefully obvious reasons.
Superfluous Section
Couldn't manage to find the pictures.
The Bitter End
Why do you want to join, and would you be a worthwhile member?: I want to join partially to meet new people, partially to give me a new forum to interact in, and finally to allow me to better interact with two of my current friends. Plus, I'm hoping there will be debates. Or fights with broken bottles. Either way, I'm betting my pants. I'm not stating an actual answer to the second question. That's for you to decide, since you're judging me.