Game: Ask the Person Below You

Yes, I have changed in many ways. I've changed for the positive by learning how to manage my anger and frustration. But I've changed for the worse by accepting defeat or relinquishing my control in the outcome of things. I've changed by gaining wisdom and understanding, but I've also changed by being more full of regrets than ever before. I'm older and I feel it. I've become a grandfather. I'm more financially equipped than I ever have been before. I've gained... and I've lost... and I often wonder why life won't let you gain without losing at the same time. Maybe to give us something to write about, eh?

To the person below me: If you knew in advance which losses you would have to sustain to make significant gains in your life, how would you prioritize or value all the components that makes up your life now?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kelly_Sprout

To the person below me: If you knew in advance which losses you would have to sustain to make significant gains in your life, how would you prioritize or value all the components that makes up your life now?

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As my father would always recommend: 'hope for the best, and prepare for the worst.'
In terms of prioritization, when someone faces many troubles, one must certainly maintain a sense of self-preservation; for a while, I would not feel horrible to worry less about others to maintain my own physiological and psychological health (then again, I have no children :D). From there, I would carefully visualize how to maintain stability and attain desired goals simply step-by-step, though always much easier mapped out than earned.

To the person below me: do you believe in astrology? Why or why not?

Nah, I know too much about astronomy to believe in astrology, and I don't even know that much about astronomy. I like reading my horoscopes though, it's nice to see what they have to say.

Same Q. because I can't think of a better one

No. No, no, no, no. You'll notice if you read every horoscope on a given date, they all give approximately the same generic blather.

Same question.

They have a saying over here, which you may google for its meaning: I'm from Missouri!

Same question:

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Originally Posted by Mono

To the person below me: do you believe in astrology? Why or why not?

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Yes, and no.

I do not believe that the stars can influence one's future or determine one's path or have any sort of control over anything at all. They are massive balls of gas, consuming hydrogen and producing helium, light, heat, radiation, and energy. All of that produce eventually can contribute to life and cycles of entropy. Other than that, they cannot cause or predict or contribute in any way to personality or destiny.

On the other hand, *I* can affect and/or effect my own personality or destiny by choosing to emulate characteristics or attributes ascribed to certain stars, planets, constellations by astrology. I can choose to see myself as a warrior born under Saggitarious or a bull born under Taurus, etc. I can cultivate a warrior ethos or a bull's stubbornness, etc.

The stars don't make me do it, but I can certainly allow myself to be become the self-fulfilling prophecy of the astrological interpretation of my moment and location of birth under the stars.


Let's keep at this question just a little while longer. Perhaps someone who is convinced that astrology plays some part in human drama might be willing to share their insights.

No, I do not believe in astrology. I have trouble believing that much of human personality and behavior depend on celestial bodies; of the many, many people I have met in my lifetime, of the approaching 7 billion people on earth, the 12 astrological signs, for me, have never had the ability to summarize each individual depending on their birthday, time, location, etc. As human beings, I feel we seem far more complex than the vague descriptions given of each sign.
Though I do not intend to insult anyone else's beliefs on astrology, I only cannot agree; it does not seem a matter of not wanting to believe, or not choosing to believe, but more that I cannot believe it true.

To the person below me: what Internet sites do you mostly frequent?

This one, several webcomics like Dilbert,Garfield, Alpha Shade, angels2200 and The Noob. Apart from that I visit several blog and or news sites on various subjects, like games Gamespot or movies IMDB A shipmodellers website known as Drydock Models and many more sites.

Same Q, include links!

Well, LitNet, obviously! Then there's always google, wikipedia, pantheon and dictionary.com for referencing stuff. Hmm... what else...? *scanning favourites folder* there's meebo for chatting, and orkut for some more chatting! :D
I also read other newspapers and journals online like the Hindustan Times, the New York Times and The Economist.
I used to frequent Mugglenet quite a bit after the new book came out, but the obsession has dimmed quite a bit of late. So, my new pastime is playing 20 questions online. :)

Same question...

Lit-Net, The Christian Forum, LOTRForums, Eisley Journals, Blogger, To Write Love on Her Arms.

Have you ever heard of any of these sites? (apart from Lit Net!)

Not really, I think that I have heard of lotr forum but not sure if it is the same one...

Your favourite websites to visit? Include the links.

Heey, Aimus! Someone else who reads The Noob!!

Also interesting: Angry Alien, Concerned, Alien Loves Predator, and the ubiquitous VGCats.


Same question!

Of course I go many strange places, or I wouldn't be me, now would I? :lol:

I get a lot of my superhero images here: http://www.dragonhero.com/hero/vault/index.html

Doc Savage http://docsavage.org/

The Shadow (the site I write for all the time) http://www.spaceports.com/~deshadow/

The Spider (The Pulp character that may have launched Spider-man!) http://members.aol.com/spiderpage/index.html

Doctor Who http://www.timelash.com/tardis/

Sherlock Holmes http://www.sherlockian.net/

I only have 3 favorite websites, or at least sites I visit regularly:

My personel email
Here
Naturally curly: http://naturallycurly2.com

Same question.

A few sites: Hotmail, The Literature Network (what a surprise!), eMedicine (an excellent reference site for healthcare workers), My Space (some friends finally got me to join the cult-like website :D), and Yahoo (for news and online chess).

To the person below me: away from your computer, during leisure time, where do you usually go?

(simple and typical question, I know, but I feel slightly braindead today :p)

Usually down to the Jays game, unfortunalety they are on the West Coast just now or I'd be there currently. (I had an inordinate amount of fun last sunday making fun of all the Yankee fans who had made the trip up)

Why did you last cry?

When I finally gave up hope of ever seeing someone again. When I finally realized that I am living in a prison of my own making, stronger and darker than any hole or isolation cell or prisoner of war camp or hell itself. When I finally resigned myself to my present.


What is the most out-of-place, out-of-character emotion you have ever experienced and why did it happen?

I experienced such an emotion when I came to know that I saw the person whom I like for the very last time (he just left suddenly). Inspite of me being a normally even tempered person who shows hardly any emotions I had actually locked my self in the bathroom & cried a lot. However I'm not ashamed about this & from this I came to know that even I can have emotions.

Same ques.

Emotions eh? I'm like data before he got the emotion chip. I once cried when watching a movie though. You see, I was peeling onions at the time.

Okay that might be a bit of an overstatement, but I often surprise myself at the lack of emotion I demonstrate, I mean I feel, but not really. It's all extremely subdued. I don't know why it happens, it just does. I don't mind though, it beats being an emotional wreck that cries because the poor fly I just crushed might have had a wee little one that will now have to wait for his mommy until it dies too.

What is up with this time of the year? What does it do to you?

This time of year usually makes me energetic, vivacious, and always fall in love with nature (on hikes, bicycle rides, etc.) all over again. That I attended school and college for so many years, and such would pre-occupy much of my time, summer usually seemed reserved for a time for writing, as well; of course, I wrote during school and college, but not as much, and this time often seemed a time to pour out all the gathered creativity. :)

To the person below me: what season (spring, summer, autumn, winter) do you enjoy the most, and why?

If it is spring, I enjoy spring the most, if it is summer I enjoy summer the most, if it is autumn I wish it was spring, and if it is winter I wish it was summer, but generally I prefer summer, although the last few weeks the temperature had me wishing for winter. the heat was quite extreme, and not at all enjoyable when one has to work.

Same Q (ya, I know, I'm being lazy, sue me.)

In Spring when the flowers are bright,
I often feel that life is alright.
In Summer when the long nights grow hot,
I begin to think that life is not.
In Autumn when the leaves come tumbling down,
My spirits also twist around.
In Winter when the ground glows white,
Once more things are peaceful and alright. :)

Do you find yourself wishing you had done things differently at vital points in your life?

Not really; I could have done many things better in life, yet thus seems the unique talent of retrospect (as they say 'hindsight is 20/20' :D). Overall, I have very few regrets, but, even if I could travel back in time to alter things, I would not; despite all the troubles of the past that I may have prevented, I feel content enough presently.

To the person below me: do you dream (as in dreaming when sleeping) often? And what did you last dream about, that you can remember?

Yes, I dream often, and I sometimes remember more of the dreams than I would like. It seems they often are very complicated, or at least in the dreams I have to solve complex situations, and I don't always succeed. Of course, those are one sort of dream I have, I also have more relaxing dreams, that just jump about eratically and involve fragments of my life mixed with well, dream sequences. It's all very surreal and dreamlike.

Same Q, I like it.

yes but not very often but when i do they are so vivid and i remember them and when i ask people(in real life) who were in the dream if they remember when something in the dream happened and they think im completely nuts because they dont remember it at all they were just in my dream and i remember it. haha quite funny somtimes.

same question

Yes, I often do, and I often remember my dreams....as for the second part of the question, that's a long story. Last night I was in a bar after a parade gig with my pipe band (I'm almost 15. When you're with a band they let everyone drink, but I don't touch it) to hang out and jam and stuff, usually one of the drummers and I do some highland dancing. Anyway, she introduced me to another drummer, a guy, 18, who was nice and very cute, but he kept staring at me. All us young people were in a corner talking and he was nice but unnerved me somehow. SO....I had a really really bad dream that all of us were at a lake and suddenly we were alone and he tried to knock me out. I woke up extremely frightened ^_^
Strange happenings in the piping world....

Do you remember dreams more often when they are good or bad?

Both, usually. I dream almost every night, and remember most of them when waking, but the ones that distinguish themselves most, of course, seem the really good dreams and the really bad dreams - the two extremes. In terms of remembering dreams on a long-term basis, I probably recall more bad than good dreams, yet still find them fascinating, nonetheless.

To the person below me: how would your dream-home look?

Funny you should ask. I always had a dream home in mind, and even designed on paper, way back when I was a teenager, long enough ago that we won't go there! :lol: It would be perfectly round, with a hall running to bisect it. The inside center would be a glass-domed greenhouse. A hallway would circle the greenhouse, giving access to the rooms. So you'd come in the front door, down the hall, and there would be a door to the greenhouse area, and a circular hallway leading in both directions. Crossing the greenhouse area would take you out the other door to the back circle of the hallway, and the hallway running to the back door of the house. All on one floor, no stairs, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, family room, kitchen, dining-room, and laundry/workspace. Funky sounding maybe, but it's my dream.

Same question.

Sort of like a no-smoking sign, but without the lit cigarette?

Something Christie-esque...hehehe...

Same question!

A cabin in the middle of a dense forest somehow solar powered or something and only a few modern conventions like maybe a fridge and computer. oooh Since it's a dream home I guess it would be cool if trees somehow grew into a house... I wonder if that's possible and how long it would take? Oh, and shelves absolutely filled with books, and a cellar with even more books, paintings, and albums. I think I just realized how little living space is to me and how I'm easily irritated when I'm out of my room, because I can't listen to music or read easily unless I'm in the woods or my room or rambling wow I need sleep.

Is time linear like we percieve it in everyday life, or is it static and permanent, like width and height, or whatever else?

Time is a wheel that turns!

What do you think time is?

Time is the property of the universe - St Augustine

Time is the fourth dimension - Einstein

Time kills - Caesar

Same Q.

A drag.... :(

Same question....

Simply, the reciprocal of space.

To the person below me: despite your age, how old/young do you feel?

I am the firstborn of my parents. Growing up, I grew up sober and with strong feelings of responsibility for my sister and brother. Although I remember being a child, I also remember being "old for my age". When I reached manhood, however, I entered a very physical, demanding trade and worked among men mostly much older and more seasoned than I. This made me feel like I was the youngster of the team (which, for the most part, I was.) I spent most of my adult life thinking of myself as "The Kid." I didn't become a grandfather until I was fifty. With that first grandchild, I suddenly felt old! I began noticing aches and pains; moving more slowly; driving more carefully.

Now I am approaching retirement and I feel like, for the first time, I am actually the age that my chronological birth record says that I am!


Next question: To the previous question I would like to add, "Do you look your age, older, or younger?"

I look and feel younger than I my age, especially when I compare myself with girls of my age. But I think I can dramatically change my looks to look more mature by, simply, combing my hair back.

Next Q.
I had once read in a newspaper article by a woman columnist that "unlike women, most men don't act their age". I vaguely agreed with the claim, but reasoned that it could be only because they (women) are simple minded and, hence, are able to behave in a more decided and mature manner than men. My question is whether you agree with this claim. Give reasons for agreeing or disagreeing.

PS: I feel like I might have stirred the hornet's nest. ;)

Well, I think I agree some with it. Some men (like my dad) seems so much younger than what he actually is. Perhaps the men don't have that much responsibility or don't tend to nag as much as women do. :) Women grow old faster than men (grow more mature faster, rather).

P.S. Caesar- I think you must have meant women not men when you said "are able to behave in a more decided and mature manner than men." Am I wrong?

Same Q.

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Originally Posted by Adelheid

P.S. Caesar- I think you must have meant women not men when you said "are able to behave in a more decided and mature manner than men." Am I wrong?

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No, Adelheid, when I said 'men' I meant 'men'. When I said women are 'simple-minded' I meant that women rely more on their instinct than reason.

In fact, my view about men and women was absolutely contrary to yours. In my opinion, subject to correction, nature itself has created a purpose for women which is to create life. Of course, men are involved in the process but their role in perpetuating life is secondary to that of women. Paradoxically, men are like assistants to women who perform the primary function. Take any specie among which there is separation of sexes and study the role of males and females. Excluding a few exceptions, you will see that males are required to do a lot of work and to use their imagination to impress the females.

I have based my suppositions on the belief that men have an instinctual and irresistible love for women. And women, from what I have heard from them, consider begetting children or become mothers as their life’s goal. Women see motherhood as a fulfillment in life.

I don't know if I have expressed myself clearly or if I'm right, so I darw your attention to Bernard Shaw's play, "Man and Superman."

Question:

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Originally Posted by me

I had once read in a newspaper article by a woman columnist that "unlike women, most men don't act their age". I vaguely agreed with the claim, but reasoned that it could be only because they (women) are simple minded and, hence, are able to behave in a more decided and mature manner than men. My question is whether you agree with this claim. Give reasons for agreeing or disagreeing.

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I, personally, have a lot of difficulty agreeing with whatever column referenced, and, of course, I would love to see a great amount of empirical, measurable, realistic evidence to support this . . . theory. Firstly, one must objectively define the terms 'simple-minded,' 'mature,' and the true differences between male and female gender roles, masculinity and femininity, and, most important of all, find males and females who fit the apparently objective developmental age in accordance with their age in years, declaring that the 'control group,' and finding logical comparisons who allegedly 'do not act their age.' I would find it very difficult to prove without a great amount of confirmatory bias. Honestly, what a ridiculous study! :lol:

To the person below me: do you personally think men ought to seem more masculine and females more feminine, have a mix of the two, or otherwise, and why?

As a man, what I would like to have in a woman are the things that I don't actually have. There are things that women have that man can never have. I don' mean only the physical part here. That's why my answer is that women should be more feminine and men more masculine. This seem more natural to me.

Interesting question, that same one.