Post your random thoughts.

I never played. I'm bad at drawing.

Me too, but I've been playing anyway. Just saw a game go from "phoenix wright" to "bob ross at a weed legalization rally".

Yup, Le Garcon, if someone talked about empathy who really wasn't the person to talk about it, then empathy would still be a real thing shown by people towards others. Also further answering Star Bee's question.

Sometimes discussion progresses. Making it out to be overthinking can abort fruitful discussions and avoid thinking outside the box instead of straw man arguments.

edited 24th Aug '16 1:13:27 PM by MerryMikael

I have 8/8 games going... :(

When Robbie Williams's Angels plays on radio and all that comes to mind is how one man kept playing it so long his neighbor lost it and stabbed him.

Ugh.

The Optimistic tropers, assimilate -thread in Troper Covens has too little activity.

"Help" would be appreciated.

After one person deleted over 55000 posts of a single forum on 19 August, my optimism has been shattered like broken glass…

Though Shane's optimism has been shattered far worse. (He was the founder of said forum and had trusted said person a lot.)

I'm sorry. :( -gently hugs Ellen- I wish Pranky But Saintly was still here. She'd cheer you up good. :)

I remember her!

Yeah. She was like Pinkie Pie.

Some people seem to be skeptical about the whole "positive thinking" -thing.

Is it just a platitude, because it's been overused in self-help literature or something? Opinions?

I personally think it's underrated.

I think positive thinking really can work. It's not embedded in "shallow self-help platitude" -context, even though many people seem to think so.

But if it's forced or not backed up with other things, then it doesn't work.

So I do think some kind of context is necessary for that to work.

My opinion, anyway.

edited 24th Aug '16 11:41:46 AM by MerryMikael

I'm an optimist at heart because human beings have created wonderful, beautiful things, and good has happened since we could write it down. I also believe that human beings can make change to do good in the world.

Are people selfish? Yeah. Are some people only in it to advance their immoral and unsavory goals? Hell yeah. Are people mean/rude/etc? Yes. Freedom of choice is a thing. But people still choose to do good to one another. Many choose to quit their job to be with the ones they love. Many choose to volunteer hours of their week to feed the homeless or aid stray animals. People go out of their way to do good unto others because they want to. That should be enough to hope that change can happen. Because people have the choice to change their minds, turn over a new leaf, repent their mistakes, and just flat-out better themselves in order to help, care, and love one another—I have hope for the world.

It can seem like bad shit overshadows the good, but it's only because media only talks about the dark, violent, and gritty because it's interesting—though perhaps depressing when overexposed. Believe me. I've been overexposed. Realize there is good. Whether it's your cute dog's tail wagging, encouraging words of a teacher, seeing deer roam a forest at twilight, reading a good book, helping a stranger, singing your heart out, reading uplifting stories, or even making a new friend—there is good.

So many people think they're the only ones who feel insignificant, or less well-off than others. Truth is, many people probably have suffered or are suffering the same as you—and yet not all suffering or struggles are the same. Take yours for yourself—do not compare it to others. Please ask for help. you're not Atlas, who carried the world on his shoulders. You're a human being, not a god or titan. Friends, family, and even strangers can help. Many are willing to help; more than you think. Charities and foundations are also there for a reason. You are not alone.

TL;DR I think there is hope for the world because people have the choice of helping, caring, and loving each other. There is good in the world.

I didn't think TL;DR. That's quite an inspirational post. Puts many things in context.

Just because some snake oil salesman may use that in their rhetoric to exploit people doesn't change that people actually do live by their ideals. That's actually a fact, not taking things dishonestly out of context or overthinking, no matter what anyone would have us believe.

Don't be fooled.

Anyone here heard of the social network Imzy? I just joined it today because it seems like a nice alternative to reddit. At least for now. Once it goes public, who knows?

For some reason, I find myself looking up my old friends and my old guild in World of Warcraft.

Using Ubuntu again reminds me how much I love having virtual desktops on a grid. I'm glad that Windows 10 implemented native virtual desktops, but I don't like how they're linear.

I know many guys, who praise Ubuntu.

After coming across this I can't help but feel "Vagenda Of Manocide" would be a wicked name for a punk rock band.

edited 25th Aug '16 8:28:26 AM by carbon-mantis

Nice.

Is it my imagination or is the Hangout Thread most active in the morning (for my timezone, anyway)?

Nah, I'm pretty sure it is. I'm in Eastern time zone and it usually seems that way.

After many years, I finally bought the book that I've always wanted. It was called 'Lab 6'. The (supposedly) horror story had an interesting if somewhat scary plotline about two twin brothers, Hearing Voices, Mind Uploading and artificial intelligence in a secret laboratory... But the ending was so Mind Screw and confusing with a lot of "Freaky Friday" Flip, that I was rather disappointed at the rushed Cosmic Deadline ending that ensured because of it.

Could it be that after so many years, I'm more used to seeing Nightmare Fuel in movies and books? Or is it because what was considered scary back then isn't as scary nowadays?

edited 26th Aug '16 5:08:32 AM by sabrina_diamond

If you want to see a perfect example of "scary back then" not holding up today, watch old horror movies like Them!, and marvel at what people used to be scared by. Even when I was in elementary school, I happened to catch an old horror movie from the 50s or something on TV, and it looked so fake, I found it amusing when my dad "This is what people were scared by back then!"