The Seekers of Illumination

[Furore]

1) Have you been in a situation with a person you thought was close-minded? If so, how did you handle it? If not, how do you think you would take it if you were to meet someone like that?

I have. Me being me, I rush in blindly most of the time. Sometimes I can help someone see another side, sometimes they seem beyond it. Regardless it's almost like I feel I have to try to get them to see things may not be so well defined.

2) Do you think people like that are that way based on personal experiences or on how they were raised?

Some people, mayhaps. Others just have a closed view of the world. But not being open to new possibilities is a major part of it. It most likely can be the result of any number of things.

3) Would you consider yourself open-minded or close-minded? Or a bit both?

Open-minded to an extent. I'm relatively close-minded in some of my ways of thinking. I just find that I believe some things to be utter shite. But then I am the one who questions most things that are supposedly set in stone. Like scientific evidence for example. What does it prove?

4) Would you consider someone being open-minded a bad or good thing?

Good thing. The more open-minded the better. More dice on the table, less major differences of opinion.... Me likey.

[Sinister]

1) Have you been in a situation with a person you thought was close-minded? If so, how did you handle it? If not, how do you think you would take it if you were to meet someone like that?

I have. I try not to mess with the ethos of others unless they are friends and I think that I owe them my consideration and that I owe them my opinion. Generally, it's a disappointing thing to see, but I do not actively participate with people on such a level.

2) Do you think people like that are that way based on personal experiences or on how they were raised?

Ah...that is a term paper and a half, and I am far too lazy. But in essence you are asking the same question twice. Personal Experiences or how they were raised. Both are personal experiences, I think your question could be answered along those lines.

3) Would you consider yourself open-minded or close-minded? Or a bit both?

Certainly, I aim for balance in all things. But I cannot observe my own actions as well as those who know me can. I.E. You people would be a better judge of this than I would. I would hope a bit of both.

4) Would you consider someone being open-minded a bad or good thing?

Govinda said I put it excellently . I don't know if that's true, but I stand by what I said:

"We must always remember and balance the difference between being so open-minded we let our minds fall out, or so closed-minded it never gets any air."


-Sin

[Imposter]

Ah quite right T.G, I checked that ole rpb out after you mentioned it. Which lead to me trying to decide whether or not I should try to create a character specifically for the club. Has everyone else done so? If so I will create a new one, after that consider me to be challenging anyone who's up to sharpen this old rusty mind.

Hmm...so the discussion is about presenting religious views to others? And the line between presentation and intimidation? Or do I have to go back further?

A few times the idea has been presented that most people who evangelize in the Christian faith are kinda like people that witness someone's house burning while the owner is asleep. The witness isn't going to casually whisper and be calm about the situation because the other person is in danger.

I think most people have this concept or one close to it and therefore preach fear and intimidation to make their point and stand their ground. Sure it's messy and doesn't always work but that is the only way they think it will leave a mark on another person. I don't really agree with that. I have no problem talking to people about my faith and such but I don't think it is our place to decide what another believes you know?

I guess the other side of the coin is that people should look at the intentions of others and not just at their methods.

Ok folks Abel Tafiti is primed and ready now. Here's a link if you'd like to give him a look over.

[T.G. Oskar]

Well, time to make a brief clarification before I go on: Nate, I liked your ol' sig. It was cool. But, it would have been better with pals, and I certainly didn't mind seeing myself in there with everyone-knows-whom. Just in case I caused you to change sig.

Not that I mind the "yo-ho-hooo-ho!!!" every now and then, Cap'n Silver.

Alright, down to programmed broadcasting:

@Atma: most of the people around have a character that's from the faction, but if you want to affiliate a former character into the faction, that's fine with me.

I'm also seeking someone to face with, so if anyone wants to duke it out with me, contact me first and get the dibs. I'll tell who gets the dibs. Anyone from the guild, it doesn't matter, though I wouldn't mind either Nates or Noah. Your call, tho.

Also, that last bit of your response stirred a bit of further discussion, to whomever is up to it, Noah. So, I'll post it in question form:

What is most important when delivering a message: the intention, the method, or the message? Perhaps a combination of all three? Perhaps another one not mentioned?

[Anomaly]

I'm also seeking someone to face with, so if anyone wants to duke it out with me, contact me first and get the dibs. I'll tell who gets the dibs. Anyone from the guild, it doesn't matter, though I wouldn't mind either Nates or Noah. Your call, tho.

Why confine yourself to fighting your own, when there are so many battle starved fighters out there? Last time we fought it was to a draw, but I truly enjoyed that introduction to this realm. That character that you fought may be 'dead' now, but I wouldn't mind another round with you.

BTW - Before any of your new members get bent out of shape about this I will remind them that I was a guest in this clubs last incarnation. I hope I am still welcome in this newer incarnation...even if I disagree in general with the concept of altruism. A person of a more mercenary frame of mind would.

What is most important when delivering a message: the intention, the method, or the message? Perhaps a combination of all three? Perhaps another one not mentioned?

The intention of any message is important, but can often be over shadowed by the methods employed. Trying to teach a child not to hit their sibling by spanking them, for example, sends something of a mixed message at best. The message itself is all important but can be lost thanks to the method, rendering ones intentions pointless and hollow. Who was it that said, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions"?

The most important thing when delivering a message is to capture your audiences attention. I suppose in that regard the method employed is vital, but it would be more precise to say that your over all presentation is everything. If you present your message in a manner that is too assertive...too much like your message is the only one that matters and is the only one that is important, that can turn people off. Conversely, if you are too lax and don't seem to be interested in what you yourself have to say, no one else is likely to be interested either. It's important to strike a balance while avoiding being either pedantic or lackadaisical. If you can capture your audiences attention, then their hearts and minds will follow.

Wars are won and lost not by a governments intentions, the methods employed, or even the goal that is archived, but by history's presentation of their victory or defeat in the years to come. A good example would be our own Iraq war.

One more thing in closing.

Now that the BoD is finished forever, I imagine that we could use this club to dominate. Their place is still vacant and a vacuum of power must be filled. We've just yet to step up and claim it.

You seem to discount The Masters. We gutted the Soldiers of the Moderate. We destroyed the Brotherhood of Doom. To the victor go the spoils. There is indeed a degree of Salvation in Domination...but if domination is your goal, you can either join us, or perish.

[Sinister]

You seem to discount The Masters. We gutted the Soldiers of the Moderate. We destroyed the Brotherhood of Doom. To the victor go the spoils. There is indeed a degree of Salvation in Domination...but if domination is your goal, you can either join us, or perish.

You are, of course, still welcome here. I imagine our club wishes nothing more than to keep inter-club dialog available.

I was not including you and yours because I was talking about the hole that the defeated BoD created. I made no mention of supplanting you. If and when we do choose to engage you, we shall do so at a time of our choosing and not before. I promise that you shall be among the first to know.

I can't expect for us to beat such a reputation with what we have here, without training up a bit. And I, for one, am not prepared to sacrifice our club so stupidly as the BoD. Consider your hinted-at-offer, respectfully declined for the moment.

[Anomaly]

You are, of course, still welcome here. I imagine our club wishes nothing more than to keep inter-club dialog available.

Thank you.

I was not including you and yours because I was talking about the hole that the defeated BoD created. I made no mention of supplanting you. If and when we do choose to engage you, we shall do so at a time of our choosing and not before. I promise that you shall be among the first to know.

I can't expect for us to beat such a reputation with what we have here, without training up a bit. And I, for one, am not prepared to sacrifice our club so stupidly as the BoD. Consider your hinted-at-offer, respectfully declined for the moment.

Hmm...I wasn't talking about warring with your club. I was talking to you, directly. It's not that I do not think the Seekers are capable of such a thing as domination on these forums, rather than I see no reason for them to seek it. Thus if that is what you want, it would make more sense to join with those who are like minded, rather than watch your ambition wither by the way side. Sorry if I came off a little aggressive...it's just how I am.

haha, it was directed more to Sin, rather then you Anomaly. But it was a joke none the less.
Forum influence isn't something that particularly has much power outside the forum. Most branch forums die off after a short time.

I was just making an observation of human emotions in the form of sort of joke.
No harm, no foul.

No worries, I just like to toss around my own observations now and then and yours opened up an amusing line of thought. Forum 'influence', like most forms of self delusion, can be a fun thing to play around with.

And hello there Anomaly. I don't think I've had the fortune of seeing your posts very often outside of an RPB. Tis an honour.

Ditto and likewise. I tend to keep to the RPB section...conflict and the expression of it (purely for entertainment purposes) is something that I truly relish in life. Yet my profile says I post the most in the FFVII sub forum. Who knew?

[Sinister]

I see, then. I doubt the Masters would take me if I came on my knees with a billion dollars, however, I am still an altruist, if a somewhat ambitious one. I shall stay with this club, and perhaps the future will allow us to test these two clubs against each other. We'll see, then.

-Sin