February 28, 2015

The Game That Let Me Mourn My Lost Faith

[div class="excerpt" style="background-color:#dcdcdc; padding-bottom:5px; border:1px solid #bfbfbf; border-bottom:none; border-radius:0.4615em 0.4615em 0em 0em; box-shadow:3px 3px 3px #999999;"]The Game That Let Me Mourn My Lost Faith[div class="excerpt" style="background-color:#f0f0f0; border:1px solid #bfbfbf; border-top:none; border-radius:0em 0em 0.4615em 0.4615em; box-shadow:3px 3px 3px #999999;"][center]

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...

Weirdly, I think Dragon Age: Origins—the first game in BioWare's fantasy RPG mega-series—represented the final, rasping coughs of my Christianity. While the sprawling RPG was certainly critical of religion (albeit by way of a fictitious religion that involved wizards and dragons, which my real world one sadly did not), it was surprisingly even-handed about the topic. I was drawn to that.10

Leliana, one of the game's many possible party members, was a devout member of the Chantry. I ended up having my character romance her. There was no contest. For me, at the time, she felt like the only "correct" option. I spoke with her every chance I got. Our voices cut through chilly midnight air as we discussed faith, the nature of it, how much good it had done for her. I was sold. I believed her. I felt like I was part of something, even if only in a video game.

The Game That Let Me Mourn My Lost Faith

Around that time I ended up dating a girl in real life who was openly Christian, who told me on multiple occasions how much she appreciated that I was too. We had long, romantic talks about saving sex for marriage and how conservative politics weren't that bad. All that time, though, tiny voices were at war in my head. "Is this really what you want? Is this really how you feel? Why are you doing this? Who are you trying to fool?" After a little less than a year, we broke up. It was messy. I haven't spoken to her since.1112

When it came time to make Dragon Age's end-of-game Ultimate Sacrifice, I couldn't do it. I'd promised Leliana we were gonna go adventuring together after we shut down the underground dragon apocalypse, and that mattered more to me than the notion of some nebulous afterlife. Regular life, here-and-now life, mattered more. Not long after, I decided I was kinda done with the whole religion thing. There were other contributing factors, certainly, but that was a turning point.

...

[font style="font-family:'Georgia','Baskerville Old Face','Helvetica',fantasy;" size=4 color=teal] More at link

I thought this was an interesting concept. Anti-religious themes in videogames. In particular RPGs like the final fantasy series.

For those not familar with the series, almost every final fantasy game have a pantheon of gods, aeons, and mythological beings you interact, ally with, or even fight. Yet, many of their games have very vibrant anti-religious themes.

In final fantasy VI, the final boss has pretty much made himself into a god and you have to kill him. Final fantasy VII makes allusions to Jehova via one of the main antagonist Jenova. In final fantasy X one of the major themes is whether to obey religious authority or to embrace technology and rebel against the church of Yevon.

I noticed similar themes in other RPG's that I have played. The games are placed in worlds that are unquestionably polytheistic but show a strong distrust of religion itself. The Church is nothing more than a tool for the main antagonist in the game Tale of Symphonia, and the game Ogre battle 64 features many religions outright fighting each other and trampling on the lives of the average person in the process. Fire Emblem: Path of Raidance and it's sequel Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn feature a church that is behind multiple wars and trying to bring about the end of the world.

In many of these games, the gods are deconstructed to the point where mortals are able to "kill" these gods. They are not as almighty as one would think, and often have weakness and flaws. Meanwhile, mere mortals at times achieve so much power and strength it as if they become gods themselves.

Are there any good games that any of you have enjoyed that featured similar anti-religious themes or at least a strong distrust of religion? Or ones that influenced you in your disbelief?[/font]

February 3, 2015

What is your opinion of Rational wiki

[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','Infindel B',fantasy;" size=4 color=teal]Was having an offsite discussion about this site and I was wondering what all the skeptics of DU think of Rationalwiki.[/font]

http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/RationalWiki:History

[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','Infindel B',fantasy;" size=4 color=teal]It has some rather dubious history and connections to Conservapedia, but it seems that the two site have nothing but an undying hatred of each other now. In their new incarnation they have even removed all editors that ever contributed to conservapeon. Further, I have never seen any articles there that seem to have an right wing libertarian or conservative bent to them...or if they do it is a bias that is parallel to our own as liberal skeptics.

In fact, I would say the only bias there is a pro-science and pro-skeptic one.

What do all of you think? Is this a RW Libertarian site that we as liberals should avoid linking to on DU?

Or is it simply pro-skeptic and a good place to use as a source as we combat the forces of Woo here on DU?[/font]

January 30, 2015

Illinois Pastafarian Wants to Wear a Colander on his Head for His Driver’s License Picture

[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','Infindel B',fantasy;" size=4 color=teal]Old article but a relevant one.[/font]



[div class="excerpt" style="background-color:#dcdcdc; padding-bottom:5px; border:1px solid #bfbfbf; border-bottom:none; border-radius:0.4615em 0.4615em 0em 0em; box-shadow:3px 3px 3px #999999;"]Illinois Pastafarian Wants to Wear a Colander on his Head for His Driver’s License Picture, but Gets Rejected[div class="excerpt" style="background-color:#f0f0f0; border:1px solid #bfbfbf; border-top:none; border-radius:0em 0em 0.4615em 0.4615em; box-shadow:3px 3px 3px #999999;"] [center]

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June 22, 2013 by Hemant Mehta

A few years ago, Austrian Niko Alm won the right to wear a colander, the official headgear for Pastafarians, in his driver’s license picture:

?1310662078419

In February of this year, 25-year-old Aaron Williams of New Jersey tried to do something similar but got rejected.

And now it’s happening again.

On May 9th, Donald Hoover went to renew his license in Pekin, Illinois. He figured wearing a colander wouldn’t be a problem since state law allows for “religious head dressings not covering any areas of the open face.” The person assisting him, after speaking with his superiors, eventually told Hoover he couldn’t wear it because Illinois didn’t recognize Pastafarianism as an official religion.

...

[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','Infindel B',fantasy;" size=4 color=teal]More at link!

Pastafarianism, even if it is a joke religion, deserves the same rights and privileges as any other belief. Who is to say what a "legitimate religion" is or is not? States, governments, groups and organizations that try and deny them the same rights are illiberal and discriminatory and should be called out on it.

From the Pastafarian website:[/font]


[div class="excerpt" style="margin-left:1em; border:1px solid #bfbfbf; border-radius:0.4615em; box-shadow:3px 3px 3px #999999;"]Whatever you decide, remember this

FSM is a real, legitimate religion, as much as any other. The fact that many see this is as a satirical religion doesn’t change the fact that by any standard one can come up with, our religion is as legitimate as any other. And *that* is the point.


[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','Infindel B',fantasy;" size=4 color=teal]/Ramen[/font]

January 20, 2015

How to Troll a bank like a Pro...

[div class="excerpt" style="background-color:#dcdcdc; padding-bottom:5px; border:1px solid #bfbfbf; border-bottom:none; border-radius:0.4615em 0.4615em 0em 0em; box-shadow:3px 3px 3px #999999;"]Slaton man deposits 500 pounds of pennies[div class="excerpt" style="background-color:#f0f0f0; border:1px solid #bfbfbf; border-top:none; border-radius:0em 0em 0.4615em 0.4615em; box-shadow:3px 3px 3px #999999;"]SLATON, TX (KCBD) -
After 65 years of saving, an 81-year-old Slaton man has deposited $816 worth of pennies at Prosperity Bank.

Ira Keys hasn't spent a penny since he was 17 years old, because of advice his father gave him.

"He says, 'Whatever you do son, save your money,'" Keys said. "Back when I started in '52, I didn't have a lot of money, so I saved pennies and I just kept saving them."

The collection weighed in at about 500 pounds.[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','Infindel B',fantasy;" size=4 color=teal]

More at link

Now this is how a pro trolls a bank [/font]

January 17, 2015

Anyone else sick that...

[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','Infindel B',fantasy;" size=4 color=teal]our state will be celebrating "Confederate Heroes Day" on [font style="font-family:'Brush Script MT',''Lucida handwriting','forte',cursive;" size=5 color=crimson]FREAKING[/font] Martin Luther King, Jr. Day?

I think it is disgusting that we even have a CHD at all. The confederacy was created and run by traitors who betrayed their country because they didn't get their way in an election and because they wanted to defend and promote the [font style="font-family:'Brush Script MT',''Lucida handwriting','forte',cursive;" size=5 color=crimson]EVIL[/font] of slavery.

Not only is this day, imho, a slap in the face to every single African American living in our state; but to every decent Texan of conscience. To add insult to injury, to have it coincide with MLK day is a disgrace.

CHD should be abolished, or at the very least renamed Texas Civil War Memorial Day, and honor the loss of life back then...rather than the racists who betrayed our country. But knowing the politics of our state, I won't hold my breath on that happening anytime soon.



Sorry for the rant, but I had to complain about this somewhere.[/font]

December 23, 2014

It is the Battle of the Gods!

[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','Infindel B',fantasy;" size=4 color=teal] [center]EPIC RAP BATTLE THAT IS!!!
LEGO EDITION!!![center]

In this corner, Greek God of thunder! Master of the pantheon and King of the gods! Putting the Old back into Old School!
[font style="font-family:'IMPACT',''Lucida handwriting','forte',cursive;" size=7 color=crimson]The All powerful Zeus!!![/font]

His opponent, the supreme warrior of the Norse Gods, star of comic and movies, THE ONE THE ONLY:
[font style="font-family:'Impact',''Lucida handwriting','forte',cursive;" size=7 color=crimson]The Mighty THOR!!!![/font]

Lay down your bets religion groupers its about to get MYTHOLOGICAL in here![/font]

[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','Infindel B',fantasy;" size=4 color=teal]Oh, And be aware before clicking that link or watching the video, it does contain some foul language. Its a rap battle by the gods of thunder and lighting, what do you expect?[/font]

December 15, 2014

Ten Ways to Become a Better WoW Player

http://kotaku.com/ten-ways-to-become-a-better-wow-player-1671164246?utm_campaign=Socialflow_Kotaku_Facebook&utm_source=Kotaku_Facebook&utm_medium=Socialflow



[div class="excerpt" style="background-color:#dcdcdc; padding-bottom:5px; border:1px solid #bfbfbf; border-bottom:none; border-radius:0.4615em 0.4615em 0em 0em; box-shadow:3px 3px 3px #999999;"]Ten Ways To Become a Better WoW Player[div class="excerpt" style="background-color:#f0f0f0; border:1px solid #bfbfbf; border-top:none; border-radius:0em 0em 0.4615em 0.4615em; box-shadow:3px 3px 3px #999999;"]
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By Gergo Vas



One of the hardest things in World of Warcraft is making the transition from leveling and playing casually to joining raids or even dungeon groups. YouTuber LazyPeon's video, tuned for Warlords of Draenor, helps a lot.

It's a really good summary of everything, from UI setups to group communication, that's necessary to do to make this step. It'll be a bumpy ride, but at the end, you'll be able to beat all the raid bosses, just like Finnish top guild Paragon did a few days ago, as you can see in the above pic.

[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','Infindel B',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal]SLIGHTLY more at link...

Or you could watch the youtube video by Lazy Peon that this article was based upon here:[/font]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=0&v=uKgUwyAyANc

[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','Infindel B',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal]Anyone else think the very first thing on this list should have been:

[center][font size=4]DON'T STAND IN THE FREAKING FIRE!!![/font][/font][/center]

November 13, 2014

Anyone else getting a good laugh at this?

http://www.vox.com/2014/11/12/7203269/dr-oz-health-twitter

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2014/11/12/americas-quack-dr-oz-asks-people-to-ask-him-questions-on-twitter-hilariously-the-results-arent-quite-what-he-expected/#.VGQZHyx0R7M.twitter

[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal]Some of these are Hilarious![/font]


[div class="excerpt" style="margin-left:1em; border:1px solid #bfbfbf; border-radius:0.4615em; box-shadow:3px 3px 3px #999999;"]Patrick Sherry @patposterous
#OzsInbox My new detox regimen might be toxic. Can you recommend a detoxification to detoxify my toxic detox?


[div class="excerpt" style="margin-left:1em; border:1px solid #bfbfbf; border-radius:0.4615em; box-shadow:3px 3px 3px #999999;"]Greg Hinson @ackdoc
Follow
@DrOz. Which disease kills more people? Ebola or Mercola? #OzsInbox


[div class="excerpt" style="margin-left:1em; border:1px solid #bfbfbf; border-radius:0.4615em; box-shadow:3px 3px 3px #999999;"]Colby Vorland @nutsci
Follow
You've told us to eat low-carb, low-fat, paleo, and vegan diets. I've been eating them all daily- why am I gaining so much weight? #OzsInbox


[div class="excerpt" style="margin-left:1em; border:1px solid #bfbfbf; border-radius:0.4615em; box-shadow:3px 3px 3px #999999;"]Platonic Boner @stalkin_hard
@DrOz how contagious is ebola? If someone tells me an ebola joke, will I get it? #OzsInbox


[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal]I NEVER thought I would say this:

[center][font size=5 color=scarlet]JOE. PESCI . BLESS . TWITTER!!![/font][/font][/center]

November 12, 2014

Japanese High School Holds "Sex Change Day"

[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal]I thought this was pretty cool story and I thought this would be the best group to post it in. If it is in any way inappropriate let me know and I will self-delete it.[/font]

[div class="excerpt" style="background-color:#dcdcdc; padding-bottom:5px; border:1px solid #bfbfbf; border-bottom:none; border-radius:0.4615em 0.4615em 0em 0em; box-shadow:3px 3px 3px #999999;"]Japanese High School Holds "Sex Change Day"[div class="excerpt" style="background-color:#f0f0f0; border:1px solid #bfbfbf; border-top:none; border-radius:0em 0em 0.4615em 0.4615em; box-shadow:3px 3px 3px #999999;"][center]
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By Brian Ashcraft

Yesterday wasn't your typical day at Fuji Hokuryo High School in Yamanashi Prefecture. Male and female students could trade uniforms for what the school dubbed "Sex Change Day" (セクスチェンジ・デー or sekusu chenji dee). The event made the national news.

According to one of Japan's largest papers, Asahi Shimbun (via game site My Game News Flash), the day took its name from "sex" and "exchange" (交換 or koukan)—though, perhaps, calling it "Gender Change Day" would have been a lot more accurate. Boys donned plaid skirts and ribbons, and girls wore slacks and neckties. The point was to allow students the freedom to separate themselves from predetermined notions of manliness and femininity.

[center][/center]

In Japanese high schools and junior high schools, the male and female students typically have different uniforms. Sometimes they both wear blazers, but other parts of the uniform are genderified. Some schools have male students wear uniforms called "gakuran," while female students wear sailor suits, which draw an even sharper line between boys and girls.

[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal] More at Link...[/font]

November 10, 2014

I use this:

[div class="excerpt" style="margin-left:1em; border:1px solid #bfbfbf; border-radius:0.4615em; box-shadow:3px 3px 3px #999999;"][font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal]YOUR MESSAGE HERE [/font]

[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal][font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal]The font-family part tells your computer what font family to use. In my case Papyrus. If the computer reading your script does not support that script it will display [/font][font face='Brush Script MT' size=5][font face='Brush Script MT' size=5 color=teal]Brush Script MT[/font][/font][font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal], and if not that the oh so hated[/font] [font face='comic sans MS'][font size=3 color=teal face='comic sans MS']comic sans MS[/font][/font] [font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal]font. If none of those work it will then use whatever fantasy font family your computer does support.

The size tells it what size to use and color what color to make the font. You can change [/font][font style="font-family:'Brush Script MT',''Lucida handwriting MT','forte',cursive;" size=5 color=crimson ][font style="font-family:'Brush Script MT',''Lucida handwriting MT','forte',cursive;" size=5 color=crimson] fonts[/font][/font] [font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal]multiple times within each other

If you want to be lazy you could use [/font][font size=5 color=scarlet face='Brush Script MT'][font size=5 color=scarlet face='Brush Script MT']this[/font][/font] [font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal]instead but the font might not be supported by their computer and will default back to the normal script[/font]

[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal]I highly suggest if you use a font with spaces in it like[/font] [font color=scarlet size=3 face='comic sans ms'] [font face='comic sans ms' color=scarlet size=3]Comic Sans MS[/font] [/font] [font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal]you put apostrophes before and after like this [/font][font size=3 color=scarlet face='comic sans ms'][font size=3 color=scarlet face='comic sans MS']'Comic Sans MS'[/font][/font]

[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal]I also suggest reading these links for more information:[/font][/font]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1256&pid=1674
http://www.w3schools.com/html/default.asp

[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal][font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal] I hope this[/font] [font style="font-family:'Brush Script MT',''Lucida handwriting MT','forte',cursive;" size=5 color=crimson][font style="font-family:'Brush Script MT',''Lucida handwriting MT','forte',cursive;" size=5 color=crimson]helped!!![/font][/font][/font]

Edit:[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal][font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal] Yes, I know I use the three most hated fonts on the internet. But I like them!!![/font][/font]

PS: [font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal][font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=3 color=teal] For anyone interested in trying this; just copying my post below the quote and pasting it into a reply and previewing it to see how it looks on your screen[/font][/font]