I'm thinking Western Europe, but every suggestion I have now is not where I would instinctively place you, so you might as well just say.
I think... I can live with that. Let's also say that discussion is a topic that has many aspects you have to take into consideration. That would sum up everything we talked about. I totally agree with you on that. Throughout the week I now play a game on DS in which I can save anytime I like to. =) So it is quite easy for me to save after playing for 10 minutes before going to bed. :3 Especially FF has looong story sections. I never dare to look at my watch before and after a scene, but some really take TOO long. For example in FFVII when you got into Cloud's mind - I was stuck there for 30 minutes, if I remember correctly. x.x You're getting nearer.
Yes complicated thoughts haha, I'm a little lost. Suffice to say that debating is always a form of aggression, and trying to avoid this aggression can be good and bad? Yeah stats has a weird logic, it's not pure, but it's cool how you can find things that don't make sense on the surface, but do eventually, once one understands the processes involved. I never play video games during the week, unless it's a holiday. RPGs especially, I just need to be sitting down for a decent period of time, or it just feels weird. What's the point of playing for 10 minutes when you don't even get a level up? Plus story sections regularly take long, and you can't guarantee when you'll be able to save, and if you can't save, then it was a huge waste of time! Handheld games, with 'anywhere save' functionality are the only things I can play for short periods of time. That's why I'm playing KH on gameboy atm, while I'm busy, because that is one game where short periods of playing actually have a return. Not British, not American or Canadian... so you're some sort of European?
Hm, yeah, I think you're right. Although sometimes it's also losing if you back off. There are many people who back off when they see that they're wrong. So they just shut up and think that they've won. Like for example when someone says that.. hmm... Judas didn't betray Jesus. Bad example, I know, but you can't win against proof. ^^ There are quite a few people who back off when they're at fault and think that they're intelligent doing so. xD" The only situation I can imagine that's a full win is when you let yourself be convinced by something true. But that's hard, because you have to accept that the other person is right. (My thoughts are getting complicated now... O.o) I'm glad you don't see me as a freak just because I like maths. But I must admit that I'm more into analysis than statistics. Actually, I didn't like it. xD" It was pure logic and I know it, yet sometimes it seemed so unlogical... Like, I'm sure you read, the issue of switching doors. It took me a few hours I think to completely understand why you had to switch doors. I know exactly what you mean... When I play RPGs I also have to have enough time. For example, throughout the week I won't play any FF, just because I don't have enough time. Currently I'm just levelling up my characters, but nevertheless I want to take enough time for that. So I only play at weekends. Nope, I'm not from Canada. :3 Although I'd like to be. Then perhaps my French would be WAY better.
That's the reason many people get involved in insult-throwing when they otherwise wouldn't be inclined to it. No one wants to lose. Thing is, knowing when to back off is not losing, it's winning. Still, I see what you're saying, and I agree. Nothing is freaky about learning maths! I loved maths, it was my sole logical pursuit when I dived into the Humanities. I took a Statistics paper last trimester and it was great. I'm still considering taking a Stats degree with Geography, but that's another issue I'm hung up on. And yeah I'm off TV as well. If I do use it, it's for DVDs. I haven't played a games console in ages, but because I like RPGs, it's kind of hard to sit down for half an hour and get much done. Freaking save points lol. And are you Canadian?
That's what I often do. I just don't say anymore when I think that the only thing coming out of my mouth will be insulting comments. Most people think that this means that I give up, though. Or that I'm tired of discussion and don't know what to say next. I hope you didn't get me wrong: Aggression is not the key to a good discussion, but sometimes it's useful. ^^ I think you're right. A person who's actually individual doesn't care about the group, because that persons... kind of lives in his/her own world. I know what you mean. I'm often called a freak because I also like to study. But I'm kind of.. strange about that, too. I don't like to study everything, not even everything that interests me. (Then I would've started to learn Latin XD") I'm totally into learning everything about maths. I was also quite good at school in maths and now I'm going to study maths at the university. That's why I'm a freak. xD And I don't like going to parties, drinking alcohol or watching TV either. I think the last time I watched TV was a few weeks ago... Perhaps at the end of July. ^^" I just use my TV to play FF, to be honest. xD "Christian" is indeed misleading, if we're talking about Protestants only. I think "Christian" is the term for all religions which believe in Jesus Christ. (It has to be, actually.) So it's not only Protestants, but also Catholics. Most of the time I just differentiate between those two. (Because I seldom meet someone who's a Baptist or Orthodox or something else. I only know one Baptist, to be honest. ^^") I'm not American, either, to be honest. And I have to admit that I find it quite amusing that you're guessing where I come from. If you get tired of it, I'll tell you.
Hmm, that is true about aggression, but it can spiral. Allowing the first instance of aggression invites a second, slightly larger one, and so on, until you may have a flame war on your hands. It's better to just shut up if that happens. I think some people just want some level of individual attention, and so try to define themselves as slightly different from everybody else. Personally, I don't see that as individualism anyway. Surely a true individual wouldn't care if something was a group activity/norm or not? Yes, most people I know my age are like that too, but I'm not like most people my age, not at all really, and I don't care too much. I've still got my friends, and I've still got my outlook. It's important to be passionate about something. For me, that's my studies, and I'm passionate because I enjoy them. And I'm good at them because I enjoy them, which makes me more passionate. It's self-feeding in a way haha. So you're American? I've just heard Americans use the term "Christian". Which I think is terribly misleading. Basically a Protestant is anyone who is not a Catholic or an Orthodox (Eastern Church), and possibly some other minor categories that I'm unaware of. Seeing as America is founded by Puritans (effectively just extreme Protestants), then the "Christians" there are just Protestants. This is the Baptists, etc. Though 'New Age' Christianity is just so different, that it probably should be alled "Chritianity". Though I'm inclined to call it Protestant because it is non-institutionalism, and is basically borne out of Protestant liberal values, then become somewhat conservative. You know what, I'm ranting. I feel like I haven't slept in days. I should go try that. Check out my latest in the journal too.
"Aggression is never outright, especially when one is trying to form a convincing argument." I'd say it depends on WHO you want to convince. There are people who are so stucked with their own opinion that they don't accept other opinions. So you have to be at least a BIT aggressive to get the attention of such a person. I don't say that you should shout at people, but you should find a way to be aggressive and nice at the same time. When I'm aggressive, I tend to be write matter-of-factly. This is my personal way of showing my aggression. "(...) we are kind of obsessed with the individual, and forget the community." That's soo~ right. I have noticed that many people tend to want to be an individual so badly that they distance themselves from the community. Like religions: I've seen many people - especially in the last few years - who said that they didn't want to believe in God just because the majority does. They don't listen to the music they think (!) everyone listens to. And even in those communities they try to seperate themselves from all the others. I've noticed that strongly when it comes to music. Some who listen to the same music as I do say that my music "isn't good", although it's based on the same genre. It's the same with everything else. This is a trend I really don't understand. :/ By the way, I think it's great that you're that interested in such things. I wouldn't have thought that young people can be that dedicated to something. Most of the people in my age I know are a bit... lazy, let's say lazy. xD" They just aren't interested in anything other than watching TV or going to parties to drink alcohol. Hm, I must admit I don't know how many people actually use "Protestant" and I haven't used it only a few years ago, either. ^^" I heard it from a classmate about... four years ago. Before that, I've always said that I was "evangelic". (I only used the adjective, I didn't know a noun, so I began to use "Protestant" as a noun. ^^) I searched on wikipedia but I haven't found out where they use this term. I always thought they used it everywhere... but no, I'm not British.
Aggression is never outright, especially when one is trying to form a convincing argument. Aggression sends a message that you are losing, clutching to straws. That's why I always take time with my posts, lest I show aggression. I've used "aggression" three times (now four) haha. But yes, your perception of debate is correct. Now, I'm quite interested in Asia. I'm a geographer-in-training. Don't worry if you don't really now what to make of it, geographers don't either. But I do know that in Asia, apparently it is their Confucian tradition that suggests to them to place limits on free speech. They say it is disrespectful, dangerous, and contributes to an erosion of family and community values. They say we shouldn't argue so much, and should instead focus on what makes us similar. There's signs this is developing in the Middle East too, mainly as a reaction to Western liberal values. I like liberal values, I really do. But I see what these people (namely Mao, Lee Kwan Yew, et al.) are trying to suggest. It almost sounds evil or silly from a Western view, but we are kind of obsessed with the individual, and forget the community. I think you'd find some level of agreement with these people (it is not a bad thing, don't worry ). This is a further part of my 'self-questioning' thing that is keeping me awake -.-, but it is hella-interesting. Non-Western perceptions are like that. Anyway, I was thinking, are you British? You just seem British for some reason. The whole "Protestant" term isn't one thrown around very often in America, as far as I'm aware, and you don't seem like an Australian or a New Zealander, so I thought 'British'.
I haven't read the latest posts of the religion thread, so I haven't seen any aggression yet. Discussing for me IS aggressive. When you state your opinion, you can't do it without saying that another opinion is kind of wrong. Perhaps I learned it in a wrong way, but my definition of discussion is that you argue about opinions. The only thing I don't like about discussions is when you start to insult people. ^^"
Hah, you've really just caught me at a philosophical stage. I just feel a weird need to question things. You know, that may be why I can't sleep. A lot of the stuff in ID is just intelligent mocking - sometimes thinly veiled too. The stuff that is actual thoughts and well-expressed opinions is really great, but I'm getting sick of reading (and arguing with) people who get angry on forums, and hide it behind intelligence. It's fake.
That school seems to be a nice place. Somehow now I can understand where your mentality for religion comes from. And your knowledge. Also, it's great that your grandfather was one of the first pupils there. I'd be proud to follow in his footsteps. Changing your opinion is something that's very very difficult. Most of the people have their opinion and won't change it even if you gave them good arguments as to WHY they have to change it. I've read some of the postings in ID and there was nothing yet that would've changed my opinion. For me it's more important to think about what was written. Most of the postings there are very thoughtful. ^^
I'm not sure about the insulted part, as many have been very respectful (and I repay in kind), but it just feels kind of weird to state my opinion here when it's... not neccessary? Like how many people have actually changed a major opinion just by reading a post in ID? It just brings out the worst in some people.
No, it's really just taken as a given as well. Mum may explain a particular festivity from time to time, but no we don't have debates on doctrine or anything. I suppose that's because we'd all just agree haha. Mum is currently teaching Religious Education at my old school now, so she's sharpened up on many aspects. She's an English teacher by training, but there are fewer jobs, so she just applied around to get something that paid a full time salary, and ended up getting that one. It's especially cool because her dad (my grandfather), was a foundation pupil there, way back in 1931. Here's a link to it, if you're interested: Welcome to St Patrick's College, Silverstream
I just read your journal and... damn, I understand you so perfectly. .,." I don't plan on leaving TFF, but an other forum. I know how you feel. You feel as if you've wasted time and as if you've been insulted all the way by the members. So now I can finally give you some help: Think about it and do what's best for you. If you're, for example, angry every day because you came here, I'd leave. It's better this way. Something like a forum isn't worth being angry. :/
