Re: The vent thread

[Cyaska]

There are two things I dislike in the majestic game of counter-strike;
French people saying "Lol" in their accent and british people raging.
The accent for both kills me :O

Heheh.

This is why you use the autosniper.

That beautiful, beautiful noise drowns it all out...

[Rmuffn]

I'm mad because what I need to rage about aint even suitable for everyone's ears yet I'm starting to go bloody insane.

One thing I can say though.
Yes fuck snow and airports.

[itsy]

Holy shit what fucking retard came up with the idea of fucking coconut flavoured jelly beans fuck you

[Ephitos / Amarachus]

HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY
COCONUT FLAVOURED JELLY BEANS ARE GODS BLESSING UPON THEE.
!!!!!!!1!111oneoneone!!!111

[avaiel]

honestly? My life is empty. Nothing to be angry about, only melancholia

[Ehrfürchtige Bennedict]

I shall never mix ten kinds of alcohol along with three different cigar brands

[Antistia]

I. Hate. Train Conductors.

[Thonian/Gashwille/Markyth]

Seconded! My father's in a wheelchair, and for my eighteenth birthday, we were supposed to go to a concert where some people we know play guitar classics, the conductor forgot to let us off and I spent the rest of my birthday in a taxi, driving home.

[Lavian]

I shall never mix ten kinds of alcohol along with three different cigar brands

Milk does not count as alcohol.

[Shaelyssa]

It's very interesting to see how different things get people who come from different cultures more easily mad than others ...

[Shaelyssa]

Just to elaborate a bit cause what I said earlier sounded a bit wrong ...

Like for example, I noticed that in the west or just in really westernised families here in the middle east, most people celebrate birthdays, new years, whatever so religiously but over here, we rarely ever celebrate anything - we don't even celebrate the Islamic new year, we only get a holiday but as for actual fesitivies like with party hats and cake? Nope. The only proper celebration we have is for eid il-fitr and eid il-ath'a, and in the former we just have a feast and in the latter, we sacrifice a goat so I don't think that's a proper err ... party, unless watching blood go down the train counts as a party. (I always felt bad for the poor sheep :[).

But it's not only that like ... I was having a conversation with a friend earlier, and he said something that was completely fine for him, it was an every day, average thing where he comes from but when he said it to me, I found his remark so insulting. I rarely ever get mad but what he said actually made me physically sick.

I know this is so bad of me, but I always found it so silly and ridiculous when people get sad that they're not celebrating their birthday or new years or whatever :p.

Also, I know a lot of my american friends, and my arab friends (my brother too) who study in the US saw how children treat their parents. Like one time, I saw this kid here in IKEA actually calling his dad a son of a $@$"! and his mother a whore, and their parents were just like, "Hey!!! Watch your tongue." I actually felt like hitting the idiot myself ...

I don't know, but the difference between cultures is so interesting in my opinion, even though slowly the gap is gradually becoming more and more blurred as western morality (aka lack of :P!!!!) is starting to pass on to us here in the middle east. One of my friends who's English who's lived all her life here in the middle east, told me she actually gets culture shock whenever she goes back to England. She's like in Christmas, a lot of people her age go get drunk and sleep around and for her she's like totally against that, and even though she's not muslim she still wears something very similair to the hijab ...

It's so weird too how like even though I don't care what people do personally in terms of like sex before marraige too and having a boyfriend/girlfriend, but like the other day, I saw a guy giving a girl just a peck on the cheek in public, and I was like "WTF??????" ... that was like my first, natural reaction until I realised that I don't care :p. It's so bizarre...

[Shaelyssa]

Holy crap I talk a lot

[Kristeas Sunbinder]

Just the modern version of "peer pressure" being at odds with the more flexible morality that is chosen by one self.

[Ephitos / Amarachus]

I liked the example about adults.
In the eastern part of the world, asia, russia, germany(kind of west), middle east, children are brought up with discipline. In countries like UK, Ireland, USA,

Simple LOL.

[Seranita]

bein english myself I also find the way many perants today the way they rais there children disgusting, the way i was raised, if i did and said stuff like that in the store it would be an instant slap on the ass.

perants dont do that threw fear of having there children taken by the goverment, which is also rediculouse

[Jeanpierre]

Like for example, I noticed that in the west or just in really westernised families here in the middle east, most people celebrate birthdays, new years, whatever so religiously but over here, we rarely ever celebrate anything - we don't even celebrate the Islamic new year, we only get a holiday but as for actual fesitivies like with party hats and cake? Nope. The only proper celebration we have is for eid il-fitr and eid il-ath'a, and in the former we just have a feast and in the latter, we sacrifice a goat so I don't think that's a proper err ... party, unless watching blood go down the train counts as a party. (I always felt bad for the poor sheep :[).

In our country they celebrate Christmas, Easter and all kinds of things and they have a great time. And then you ask them:
- "What's Easter? Why the eggs? Why the bunnies and bells?" -> *shrug* "Don't care".
- "What's Christmas? Why this date and not his real birthday? Why the Christmas trees? Why Santa and why is he red?" -> *shrug* "Don't care. Be gone, pest."

We have party and feasts, but nobody really seems to give a damn about the reason. In school, they only teach you to draw eggs on a carton board but hey, "Let's not go into the meaning, right?". Even if you study history they don't tell you what's it about. You need to study culture and folklore but don't you dare trying to get a job with that kind of studies.

[Amaryl]

In our country they celebrate Christmas, Easter and all kinds of things and they have a great time. And then you ask them:
- "What's Easter? Why the eggs? Why the bunnies and bells?" -> *shrug* "Don't care".
- "What's Christmas? Why this date and not his real birthday? Why the Christmas trees? Why Santa and why is he red?" -> *shrug* "Don't care. Be gone, pest."

We have party and feasts, but nobody really seems to give a damn about the reason. In school, they only teach you to draw eggs on a carton board but hey, "Let's not go into the meaning, right?". Even if you study history they don't tell you what's it about. You need to study culture and folklore but don't you dare trying to get a job with that kind of studies.

Well imo its about tradition, atleast in my case, I know plenty of shit about "Holy days" but frankly, I see absolutely no meaning in some dude being crusified 2k years ago and walking out of his tomb, nor do I see any meaning in a date where winter solstice is amalgamated with the birth of some religious figure, because its easier to convert people when you mix the "new" stuff with tradition they were already familiar with. Its not about the "meaning" of the holiday in itself

But what matters is the tradition of christmas in my family where we get together see the uncles, aunts, grandparents, nieces nephews, cousins etc, and have some good food. There is nothing religious or has any other special meaning, but the fact that its fun, and this date, because everyone is off work is a great day to have it, and thus it became tradition, since we simply get together over those 3 days in various combinations. but that's it for me, since I just looooove me some great food.

But the "meaning and reasoning" of the Judeo-Christian traditions as to why those days are a day-off to me, really has none, even when I decently know what its about.

Sure i'm also dutch and my family "Celebrates" Sinterklaas on 6 december, and we give each other presents, and the little ones believe in him as real also. but its not like we're honouring the bishop of Myra; Patron saint of orphans and Ladies of the Night. we use it to have a good day of fun with family and show our appreciation to each other in forms of meaningful gifts, or in case with my Brother, trying to top each other off with the most silly useless gifts ever, increasing the gradation of uselessness each year( This year I got a blue toilet seat with a cow painted on it, he got a block of wood, with the text: for your fire place burned into it while he doesn't have a fireplace... )

Some people think the holydays should be about their spiritual/religious meaning, and by all means there's nothing wrong with that, and others like to get drunk because its a day off, and I really don't think there's anything wrong with that either, just like I like to spend time with my family, which I know others despise and feel like they are forced to)

holidays Imo should be what each individual makes of them, and imo there's no wrong or right way to do it. heck if you think the 7th of march is special then take that day off and do your thing. but in the end it comes down to personal tradition on how one percieves certain days.

I have nothing with the ramadan and the sugarfeast after that, but muslims in holland are pretty adamament about those, since its their traditions. just like that sheep slaughtering day. and imo have at it and have fun with it if that's what you like.

That said in public schools, I sure as hell wouldn't have wanted to be indoctrinated as to why I should think that those days are special. sure the flawed history version that was given to me, should be slightly pointed out. though it might be a different case in catholic schools or christian schools etc.

man, its to early to think about this so much

[Jeanpierre]

Aahh, you raise some very interesting points (and they are deeply appreciated). I think the difference is 'spiritualism' (in a non religious sense) or rituals that have a meaning of their own. Indeed Christmas is a great time to be together with family and have some damn good food. Those are values I think are worth keeping and celebrating. That is in itself perhaps more meaningful that celebrating a man who lived ~2000 years ago, even more so if you don't follow his religion.

There is nothing wrong with a -Red- Santa Claus either, nor coloring eggs on Easter. Heck, do what you -want-. But I oppose that they are taught to us as symbols and we are trained through habbit to keep these while they are stripping them of their meaning. It's like enstating laws, but not really giving a reason for it.
Why are Santa's clothes red? Because some dude at Coca Cola invented it as a commercial campaign and it suited their company colors better than the original green. The symbol becomes so absurd that they even wear it in Santiago in Chile during Christmas.... It's summer there during Christmas. Ever seen a guy stuffed with pillows, thick clothes and a fake beard in the burning sun? It's funny I tell you.

Does that mean we should abolish red Santa's and go for the green dude again? Nah.. Pick whatever you want. But if a kid comes around and ask "Why is Santa Red?" don't tell him "Because it's tradition". Explaining that orcs taught us that his red clothes makes riding his sled faster is just as accurate. (Red=faster, mkay?)

[Amaryl]

Stuff about santa

So your gripe with the hole thing, is the commercialisation of the days? and the focus is put on the elements that can be commercialised? like santa, trees, easter eggs etc instead of the sentiment it can confer? I can understand that position.

rant about santa origin and misconceptions...:

[Lavian]

The UK is going to hell in terms of newer generation of children, sure there are good families with good kids but from what I noticed they are the minority compared to the majority of under aged pregnant teens and parents who just don't give a fuck and their kids just grow up to cause so much bullshit before they even hit ten.

I had this incident years ago where I went up to see a friend and there was a group of boys hanging around some small shop who were like 10-13 or something of that range, even younger and they spotted me and all walked up to me. Was about five-eight of them and they just started trouble and even tried to physically attack me. I was forced to fend them off but I couldn't really attack them back as I would be the one to get in shit for it. In that situation I don't know if I should be disliking the kids or the parents for their shitty inability to raise kids or even have them or both the kids and the parents. The amount of junky parents we have is astonishing.

My little rant sorta going off Shaelysa's post.

[Feydor]

Add in mainstream "media" and you've got a recipe for destruction.

[Lavian]

Or "The Sun"

[Muzjhath]

When it comes to the amount of shitty raced kids I meet, and people of my own generation I feel that actually having a licence for becoming a parent, how unhumane it might sound, is pretty bloody valid.
Same with dogs, but that is a different discussion, if you're not suited, or knowing enough to raise your child in a caring way so it grows up not to be a dick in one way or another. You seriously shouldn't get one. I use dick here as a metaphor for all assholes who think they know everything and should be crowned kings/queens of the world at the age of 14, not sarcastic arses that make's us smile when making fun out of said idiots.

As for Christmas, the last five or so years I've been wondering why I celebrate it. Until I remember that I do it to meet my closest family since aside from my parents and sister they live five hours away by car, when breaking the swedish speed limit by quite much. So the few times each year I actually meet them I appriciate all the more. Even if there might at one time have been a religious reason. I doubt many of us there are religious at all for more than traditional and present reasons.
Same with Midsummer, I don't really know the christian reasoning of why we celebrate it still. Only know it's origional aesir orgins as the festival where Frey gives his seed to the earth. (Thus the fallic symbolism we dance around).
Still celebrate it most years since that's when I meet my extended family and relatives. Eat good food, maybe drink a wee to many schnapses and generally have a good time.

I can agree with many points about traditions shouldn't only be taught from "one side". You shouldn't only get taught the Christian easter traditions when we in Sweden have put in a different holiday into it. Should get both. And then a "If you chose to celebrate it even if you do not belive, do it because you want to be with your family, or friends, not because you 'ought too".

On a rant note.
I wish it could fucking stop snowing! I'm bloody tired of shoveling the shit off the driveway and crap. It's cold, heavy and quite often wet work that I do not enjoy!
Also, when it is in thin layers and really really cold, the sound it make's when you walk on it that runs through your spine is just horrible.

[Shaelyssa]

Same with dogs, but that is a different discussion, if you're not suited, or knowing enough to raise your child in a caring way so it grows up not to be a dick in one way or another. You seriously shouldn't get one.

I'm sorry to say this but I completely disagree with what I've quoted. Who are you to decide who can have a baby or not? Maybe the baby will not live a happy and full life with bad parents, but what about the parents themselves? They will not be happy not having a baby either: having children is an innate human instinct. But also, what about people with genetic disorders? Should they be allowed to have babies? It's not so simple, ethics is a very complicated subject, and parenting and how to raise children is very subjective and relative.

For example, where I come from, it's perfectly fine to hit your children and it's not seen as something bad or shameful or whatever at all. Actually, parents are expected to hit their children here if they misbehave. Uff I remember when I was a kid, my dad used to break brooms on my back and I had so many bruises. If this happened anywhere else, he probably would've gone to jail, although my dad is the most wonderful person in the world. I don't think I'm explaining myself properly, because it seems like I'm encouraging beating your children, but what I'm trying to say is that basically, what is good parenting and what is bad parenting is relative and there is no proper, right or wrong way of going about it.

And about the holidays, Amaryl, I figured it would be because of family mainly. Life here in the Persian Gulf is very relaxed. We have a lot, lot, lot of free time. We have no taxes, life here is cheap, and working hours are low, so people have a lot of time with their family. Not only that though, cause family is very, very, very important here too. Like my family go out (all my uncles, and aunts, and cousins, and my cousins' cousins) meet up at the chalet or the farm, so it's not that big of a deal if we don't celebrate this holiday or that because we see each other all the time anyways, if that makes sense? I mean, my parents used to live in the US, and they told me they never had time for anything. They used to maybe go out once a month, or not at all, but over here, we go out every single day, no problem at all. Even though a dog in the US has more social liberties than I do here, I think I still would prefer life here because it is so much easier (although in some ways, harder) in a million different ways.

And yes, I can completely understand why muslims would be so "adamant" about it, because it's not just a tradition for muslims like Christmas is for Christians. It has a lot of religious and spiritual meaning for us still, 1600 or however many years later.

[Kristeas Sunbinder]

But also, what about people with genetic disorders? Should they be allowed to have babies? It's not so simple, ethics is a very complicated subject, and parenting and how to raise children is very subjective and relative.

It depends on the degree. Would you let a couple that can't take care of themselves, take care of a child? Will because of genetics, the child be unable to care for himself? Does the child have to be protected before it is even born, by not being born at all?

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