WordWolf

I think people familiar with the characteristics of ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS would find the twi experience to be startlingly familiar.

If he can't handle a little bloody nose, he's in the wrong line of work. God rarely calls the cowardly. To post here doesn't even expose him to physical danger-just people disagreeing with him- most of it quite civilly. Meanwhile, there's Christians in other countries who are beaten with sticks, who are killed, and don't recant their faith. http://www.persecution.com/ http://www.persecution.org/suffering/index.php http://www.persecution.net/ Based on the fact that there's ANY recidivism to twi or its framework- despite it being exposed to have been based on a sham, lies and deception- I'd say some people are responding to "conditioning" by playing along.

IMHO, that's PART of it. When I finished high school, the saludatorian was seen as an extreme geek, with no room in his life for anything but classes. A little over a year later, I heard from someone who'd seen him in college, in his first year. He had turned into a party animal, who partied more in a week than I did all semester, at the time. Having left his hermetic seal of "nothing but studying", he burned out quickly and all he DID was party. If I were to hazard a guess, this is similar. Someone's been kept under the thumb of a situation where they haven't been allowed to think for themself- and then, suddenly, ALL their decisions were their own. The result? They don't have the maturity-or the PRACTICE- of making sound decisions, so they just turned into a party animal. Perhaps I am wrong, and this is temporary. After all, I know very little about this person, about their situation. Somewhere between "thou shalt not even use the name "Balzac" in discussing philosophy" and "do whatever thou wilt shall be the whole of the law" is a lot of room, including space for an expletive or two. Perhaps it is improper to use them. Perhaps this is not a formal setting and it doesn't matter if they're used a little.

One of those impressions is correct.

Or, you know, there might be something else memorable about the battle at Wolf 359 other than the Borg were involved.... Or, you know...oh, heck, yes it is. Yet.

"Sounds like Wolf 359 all over again." "Home, I want to go home!" "And you will, as soon as this is over I promise I will take you back to Deep Space 9." "No, not the station."

I don't remember the episode's name. However, I remember the episode pretty well. Julian Bashir-like Khan Singh ("KHANNN!!!!"), was genetically-enhanced. Sometimes those "enhancements" cause more genetic harm than good. There's a group of genetically-altered patients who aren't able to function as regular members of society. Julian had made friends with them. They visited him on DS9 later. They dressed one of them in an Admiral's uniform, faked whatever ID they use, and he just gave orders. Whenever anyone questioned him-as would be expected- he responded, angrily, "That's a stupid question!" and they'd stop annoying the "Admiral." The episode, IIRC, had Julian helping one of them, the autistic one, try to correct her most severe problems so she could assimilate into society the way Julian did.

That first quote definitely rings a bell, but I'm on the run for the next few days, so forgive me if I don't crack in to this round. I wouldn't have time to post a movie in response.

CORRECT! "Q-less." Here's how the quotes went.... "By the time they docked, power levels were near zero." "There's not even enough juice left in the ship to release the servos." "Life support's down and oxygen levels have dropped dangerously low." "We'll have to burn through." The Ganges returned from the Gamma Quadrant, unaware of what drained their energy. "Will I live?" "You're fine. In fact, you're in remarkable shape." "Thank you, Doctor. I try." "I'd say you've managed quite well for someone who's been out of contact with civilization for over two years." Vash was "missing" for 2 years, in the Gamma Quadrant and elsewhere. "You're sure this place is safe?" "The Assay office is the most secure area on the station." There's maybe 2 episodes we saw the Assay office. This was the first. "Computer, begin inventory for cubicle nineteen. One statue, stone, thirty-odd centimeters tall, approximately twenty kilograms... Assorted gems... Gold necklace... One dagger, bronze and gold, about twenty-five centimeters. Beautiful. I've never seen anything quite like it. Some kind of Promethean Quartz?" That's what I thought at first, but its molecular density and refraction index are much higher." That's what was draining the power in the Ganges. "I should have listened to him when he warned me about you..." "You're hurt, so you lash out. I understand. But be of good cheer. I bring wonderful news. I'm back. I can see now it was cruel of me to leave you." "That's very touching. But you didn't leave me, I left you." "You left me, I left you... Details, mere details. The important thing is we're back together again... a team... joined at the hip..." "Not a chance." "Come now, you know you missed me." "Don't flatter yourself." Vash and Q. Picard had warned her about Q. "I figure she must be a special woman... to be friends with the Captain and all." "Somehow she doesn't seem to be his type." "The Captain likes a good challenge, sir." Sisko and O'Brien discussing Vash and Picard. "Chief, are you reading any graviton flux around the transfer systems?" "I AM detecting a low level graviton disturbance... How did you know? "That's exactly what happened when we lost power on the Ganges." Now the station's power was draining.... I'll be out of reach for a few days. Carry on, everyone!

Is that really how you see your fellow Christians, for whom Christ died? As praying to an "oil-can"? How about at least considering them mistaken in doctrine but attempting to serve God and live love? Is it that important to be "one who knows" that one can't even consider the position of "one who cares"? Jesus himself said his disciples would be recognized by their LOVE, not their DOCTRINE.

"By the time they docked, power levels were near zero." "There's not even enough juice left in the ship to release the servos." "Life support's down and oxygen levels have dropped dangerously low." "We'll have to burn through." "Will I live?" "You're fine. In fact, you're in remarkable shape." "Thank you, Doctor. I try." "I'd say you've managed quite well for someone who's been out of contact with civilization for over two years." "You're sure this place is safe?" "The Assay office is the most secure area on the station." "Computer, begin inventory for cubicle nineteen. One statue, stone, thirty-odd centimeters tall, approximately twenty kilograms... Assorted gems... Gold necklace... One dagger, bronze and gold, about twenty-five centimeters. Beautiful. I've never seen anything quite like it. Some kind of Promethean Quartz?" That's what I thought at first, but its molecular density and refraction index are much higher." "I should have listened to him when he warned me about you..." "You're hurt, so you lash out. I understand. But be of good cheer. I bring wonderful news. I'm back. I can see now it was cruel of me to leave you." "That's very touching. But you didn't leave me, I left you." "You left me, I left you... Details, mere details. The important thing is we're back together again... a team... joined at the hip..." "Not a chance." "Come now, you know you missed me." "Don't flatter yourself." "I figure she must be a special woman... to be friends with the Captain and all." "Somehow she doesn't seem to be his type." "The Captain likes a good challenge, sir." "Chief, are you reading any graviton flux around the transfer systems?" "I AM detecting a low level graviton disturbance... How did you know? "That's exactly what happened when we lost power on the Ganges."

*slaps forehead* You're right. But this episode is not named after either station.

Technically, it's on the station Empok Nor, aka Deep Space 9, but that's not the name of this episode.

"By the time they docked, power levels were near zero." "There's not even enough juice left in the ship to release the servos." "Life support's down and oxygen levels have dropped dangerously low." "We'll have to burn through." "Will I live?" "You're fine. In fact, you're in remarkable shape." "Thank you, Doctor. I try." "I'd say you've managed quite well for someone who's been out of contact with civilization for over two years." "You're sure this place is safe?" "The Assay office is the most secure area on the station." "I should have listened to him when he warned me about you..." "You're hurt, so you lash out. I understand. But be of good cheer. I bring wonderful news. I'm back. I can see now it was cruel of me to leave you." "That's very touching. But you didn't leave me, I left you." "You left me, I left you... Details, mere details. The important thing is we're back together again... a team... joined at the hip..." "Not a chance." "Come now, you know you missed me." "Don't flatter yourself."

You're tracking correctly so far...

"By the time they docked, power levels were near zero." "There's not even enough juice left in the ship to release the servos." "Life support's down and oxygen levels have dropped dangerously low." "We'll have to burn through." "Will I live?" "You're fine. In fact, you're in remarkable shape." "Thank you, Doctor. I try." "I'd say you've managed quite well for someone who's been out of contact with civilization for over two years."

"Monsters Ball"?

"Will I live?" "You're fine. In fact, you're in remarkable shape." "Thank you, Doctor. I try." "I'd say you've managed quite well for someone who's been out of contact with civilization for over two years."

*thinks* This is one of the early ones with the Ferengi and Worf recommending attack. That gives a few possibilities to me, depending on which episodes had Ferengi. Is it "the Last Outpost"?

So much for the idea that they take care of that in the woods...

By that logic, Flat Earthers who refuse to educate themselves and see that they were basing their beliefs on incorrect information should be applauded for sticking to their convictions, and racists should be applauded for thinking that skin color makes a difference in the quality of a person-and "sticking to their guns." The "roleplaying games are evil" nonsense is fueled by urban myths, misinformation, lies, and outright fabrications. Nowadays, a little looking around the internet can give you the whole story in excruciating detail, including what was distorted, who distorted it, and so on. Me, I favor education and correcting misinformation. Cowering from legends and fairy tails should have been ended back when they ended the witch hunts.

Most of you have no idea who Gary Gygax was. Gary Gygax was one of the main designers of the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game. (Along with D@ve Arnes0n, a twi survivor.) The number of people who've played one version or another of that game must number into the hundreds of thousands by now. Nearly all of them have gone on to productive lives since then. A few still play that game, or other games. (A number of posters here, past and present, have played it and other RPGs.) Increased interest in the setting caused by Dungeons and Dragons increased sales of Lord of the Rings, and an increased interest in books in that setting. So, all the movies in the past decade with that sort of story owe a debt to D&D gaming, as do sales of all the books they were based on. In addition, many games have been made as a result of interest in gaming which D&D began- games about secret agents, Science Fiction, superheroes, cartoons, just about anything you can imagine- including a game specifically marketed for Christians. (Dragonraid, which is still sold.) For those who wonder, yes, I'm one of the people who played it back in the 1980s. I RAN a campaign with up to 7-8 players, all of whom happened to have been Christian. AFAIK, all of them are still Christians to this day. I've also played a number of other RPGs which are not D&D based. Now then, March 4, 2008, Gary Gygax passed away. One famous convention for roleplaying gamers is GenCon. It's run since 1968. (It started with devotees of tabletop strategy and miniatures, and expanded into RPGs over the decades.) Like many long-standing conventions, GenCon raises money for charity during its convention. Since Gary Gygax's favorite charity was Christian Children's Fund, they raised money in 2008 for Christian Children's Fund. I'll let someone who is more familiar with the events explain the rest.... http://www.giantitp.com/index.html#MZvsP18xmNXpVDwvCRQ "As has been reported by a few other gaming blogs and news sites, the Charity Auction at this year's GenCon Indianapolis was held to benefit Gary Gygax's favorite charity, which I will not name here for reasons that will soon become obvious. The fine folks at GenCon raised over $17,000 for this charity, which helps starving children in impoverished areas of the world--only to have that money actually turned down by the charity. The charity refused due to the fact that the money was raised partly by the sales of Dungeons and Dragons materials, which as we all know, puts an irrevocable taint of evil on the filthy lucre that us demon-worshipping gamers might want to use to, say, donate to starving children. Not only is this a slap in the face to every gamer, but it is especially insulting to Mr. Gygax himself, who I understand donated to their cause many times over the years. Plus, I'm sure the children who would have gotten food or clean drinking water with that money would be sort of upset, too. I bring this story to your attention not simply so that you might let the people at this charity know how you feel (especially if you have donated to it before, as many did in the wake of Mr. Gygax's passing), but so that you would be aware that there is an alternative charity that I would personally recommend (based on our own charitable giving) if you have a desire to donate money to help starving children. Plan USA is a worldwide charity aimed at helping those who live in poverty and/or have suffered from a natural disaster, particularly with monthly sponsorships of individual children. Since the money of D&D players is clearly not welcome at this other charity, I can't recommend Plan USA highly enough to those interested in giving anyway. At least if you choose to donate through them, there's no chance your generous gifts to the starving children of the world will be rejected due to your weekend hobby. (Incidentally, GenCon was also able to find another worthy charity with an entirely different focus, the Fisher House Foundation, that was willing to accept the money given in good faith by GenCon attendees.)" =============== Yes, Christian Children's Fund's management refused a donation, a no-strings-attached amount of money, over $17,000, because it came from "those evil roleplaying gamers." I used to think that Christian Children's Fund was a superior charity organization for giving to the needy, since it supposedly uses little of its donations for infrastructure and upkeep. However, if their management can MISmanage this badly as to turn this down, I have no confidence they are handling other matters any better.

Yes. "Just tell him, 'Something suddenly came up.'" Greg explained how Marsha should cancel a date. "His name is George. George Glass." Jan's imaginary boyfriend. "I'm not a snitcher. I just tell the truth." "Why don't we just put it off until you decide which doctor?" "At this point I'd SETTLE for a witch doctor." "Pork chops, and appleshauche. Isn't that just shwell?" Peter practicing an accent, or something. "Why should I be nervous? What makes you think I’m nervous?" "It’s the first time I ever saw you take twenty-one spoons of sugar." "I like it sweet." Mike Brady just before the wedding. "I can't take you to the dance." "Why not?" "Well, my parents are going out of town." "So what?" "I have to go with them." "I don't believe you. You just don't want to be seen with a girl who has braces, like I do now. I hate you, Alan Anthony. I hate EVERYBODY!" "Mom, Dad, my parakeet's loose! Tiger, stop scaring my parakeet!" Tiger was the name of the family dog.

No.

Thank you! I also would have accepted the artist as "Alien Ant Farm". Those of you who've seen the video of "Alien Ant Farm's cover of this song probably recognized a few of the Michael Jackson references all across the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cJB2Z_aTEQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxeNZOLNh4c Go, dooj!