brikenjon
06-10-2008, 02:56 PM
1. How'd you find the Freethought Forum?
By doing a search for a smirk smiley on Google. Ironically, I don't think I actually found it after I got distracted by everything else here. :smirk: Oh, look, there's one.
2. Are you a member of any other online forums? Which?
Yes, 8bitbrigade.com. It's another VBulletin-based forum that started out as a Halo 2 clan, but has evolved more generally into just a small community of mature (relatively) gamers.
3. How do you feel about smilies (emoticons)?
They're pretty important in online-only communication. You don't have body language to rely on, so at least they give you some way of presenting the intent of your text. Unfortunately, that can be abused, such as the "Smiley makes it OK." mentality. i.e. "I put a winking smiley on my completely passive-aggressive statement, so don't get upset with me."
On a less practical note, some of them are almost like little works of art. A well-done smiley is good wholesome fun. Unfortunately, the manufacture of such gems is not a skill I possess.
4. How do you feel about 3500+ smilies?
Intimidated. It means that chances are there's exactly the smiley I want to express myself with, but I most likely won't find it soon enough to use if I want to keep up with a thread of any popularity.
5. Is flaming:
A. Hilarious
B. Beneath you
C. Irritating as fuck
C, I guess. As long as debate or discussion is still producing points and arguments, valid or not, somebody is being presented with an opportunity to learn or grow. As soon as it degrades into name calling and other insults, it lessens the value of both sides and only provides the opportunity for humor. Humor is good, but the cost in this case generally isn't worth it.
6. Is vulgar language:
A. Hilarious
B. Beneath you
C. Irritating as fuck
D. I'm a bit of a potty mouth, but I'm guessing the intellectual nature of this board is going to tend to put me in a more formal mode of expression. I do appreciate that swear words are not prohibited, but are still used appropriately.
7. Why did the chicken cross the road?
Because that's how the joke goes.
8. Who pays for your food?
Many animals, with their lives? Corporate America, with my wages? American farmers, with their sweat? My girlfriend, with my money?
I guess I'm not sure what this question is about. I'm not on food stamps, if that's what you want to know.
9. What's one thing you've always wanted to do but never have?
Write a novel. Stand in line, right?
10. What is your single favorite place in the world?
Tucson, Arizona. Of all the places I've lived, I liked it the best.
11. What's the significance of your username?
Brian Kenneth Johnson... clever, I know.
12. What about your avatar?
It's a Michael Parkes print, "Sky Painting". I have it hanging near my computer and needed an avatar that wasn't Halo 3 related, so I went with that. Hopefully I'll be inspired with something better scaled soon.
Thank you, liv and viscousmemories, for your warm welcomes already.
By doing a search for a smirk smiley on Google. Ironically, I don't think I actually found it after I got distracted by everything else here. :smirk: Oh, look, there's one.
2. Are you a member of any other online forums? Which?
Yes, 8bitbrigade.com. It's another VBulletin-based forum that started out as a Halo 2 clan, but has evolved more generally into just a small community of mature (relatively) gamers.
3. How do you feel about smilies (emoticons)?
They're pretty important in online-only communication. You don't have body language to rely on, so at least they give you some way of presenting the intent of your text. Unfortunately, that can be abused, such as the "Smiley makes it OK." mentality. i.e. "I put a winking smiley on my completely passive-aggressive statement, so don't get upset with me."
On a less practical note, some of them are almost like little works of art. A well-done smiley is good wholesome fun. Unfortunately, the manufacture of such gems is not a skill I possess.
4. How do you feel about 3500+ smilies?
Intimidated. It means that chances are there's exactly the smiley I want to express myself with, but I most likely won't find it soon enough to use if I want to keep up with a thread of any popularity.
5. Is flaming:
A. Hilarious
B. Beneath you
C. Irritating as fuck
C, I guess. As long as debate or discussion is still producing points and arguments, valid or not, somebody is being presented with an opportunity to learn or grow. As soon as it degrades into name calling and other insults, it lessens the value of both sides and only provides the opportunity for humor. Humor is good, but the cost in this case generally isn't worth it.
6. Is vulgar language:
A. Hilarious
B. Beneath you
C. Irritating as fuck
D. I'm a bit of a potty mouth, but I'm guessing the intellectual nature of this board is going to tend to put me in a more formal mode of expression. I do appreciate that swear words are not prohibited, but are still used appropriately.
7. Why did the chicken cross the road?
Because that's how the joke goes.
8. Who pays for your food?
Many animals, with their lives? Corporate America, with my wages? American farmers, with their sweat? My girlfriend, with my money?
I guess I'm not sure what this question is about. I'm not on food stamps, if that's what you want to know.
9. What's one thing you've always wanted to do but never have?
Write a novel. Stand in line, right?
10. What is your single favorite place in the world?
Tucson, Arizona. Of all the places I've lived, I liked it the best.
11. What's the significance of your username?
Brian Kenneth Johnson... clever, I know.
12. What about your avatar?
It's a Michael Parkes print, "Sky Painting". I have it hanging near my computer and needed an avatar that wasn't Halo 3 related, so I went with that. Hopefully I'll be inspired with something better scaled soon.
Thank you, liv and viscousmemories, for your warm welcomes already.