Hello RRS
Offline Hi everybody, I posted once or twice before I noticed that there's a forum for introductions, but here's mine.
In order to satisfy my parent's paranoia, I won't be providing my real name, but you can call me by any of my online nicknames: Tycoon, Tyke, Tyc, or Ty.
I'm a sixteen year high school junior, and I live in southern California. About two years ago I came to terms with my sexuality as a gay, and it opened my eyes in ways I can't even described. I had been raised Christian, sang in the church choir, served at the altar, and participated in the youth group - and then, after a lot of online discussion and debate, converted to atheism. Though I still remind myself to be open-minded, I'm a die-hard atheist now, I refuse to say "under god" in the pledge of allegiance, and have started crossing out the words "in god we trust" on my money.
Well, that explains my atheism. Umm... I guess a little trivial personal information? I sing in my school choir... had a short solo this past Sunday in front of an audience of about 2,000... I play a lot of video games... I don't listen to music at all, because it prevents me from thinking much... and I'm a very picky eater. I suppose that's about it.
Any questions, feel free to ask. 
Oh, and please tell me just a little bit about yourself if you post!
Tycoon
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Certainly there aren't quite as many though - which only means I should have all the more respect for you, believing what you believed despite overwhelming criticism, no doubt.
His Avatar? That was his last meal.
Theism is why we can't have nice things.
I love metallica and system of a down too!
''Black Holes result from God dividing the universe by zero.''
Do you play plenty of 360? either way, what's your gamertag
''Black Holes result from God dividing the universe by zero.''
More quotes!
Well I guess we're just queer as folk.
....Dammit. I should be slapped for that. Ah well, I enjoy lame jokes and bad taste. Which is why I got Brian's joke really quickly. And why I got stared at when I laughed during the first scene of 'Mars Attacks' in the theaters when it first came out.
I agree. Though that's just because I've always been music-oriented. I used to play the very few tapes my parents had when I was really little, dancing like crazy to the 'St. Elmo's Fire' soundtrack (yup, that's really funny all right.)
It's definitely very rednecky out here. This is a major Republican stronghold, and it's amazing to me how many churches there are out here, per capita. There also are lots of restaurants, for some reason. Like way, way more than is reasonable.
I actually used to think this area was really flat- but then I drove to Lubbock (about 100 miles away). It's in the Panhandle, which gives you a hint about how flat it is. One of those places where you can get road hypnosis if you're not careful. I do miss hills, though. And the ocean, even though I rarely went.
Thanks. If you want to get a game that isn't that gory, and is still really good, get 'Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection.' It's actually a massive amount of Genesis console classics (and a few Master System games... most of them not quite as good) on one disc. And it's fairly cheap too and has a wide range of types of games.
The only other games I've reviewed which I liked (FEAR 2 and Left4Dead) were also bloody. Incredibly good, but violent enough to where some parents would pitch a fit, so I can understand how that wouldn't be possible.
Certainly compared to Anaheim! Life behind the Orange Curtain, eh? I always felt sorry for the people (except for the very wealthy, of course) living in Orange County. It's like the mini-south in there sometimes.
I live in Michigan because it's where I grew up and I lack the motivation to do anything great with my life. I've been "planning" to go to college for the last 6 years now. I don't even know where I'd go if I left Michigan. I've actually had two separate offers to move to North Carolina, but it doesn't seem like the kind of place I'd like to live. I have though about Sweden and Norway.
Another question for you. If you like music... why the drum set?
After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him.
The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.
MySpace
Why don't you want to do something interesting with your life? My biggest problem is that I'm never satisfied. I always feel like I have to do more. I have to stand out. I have to make some sort of difference.
I like making music - not listening.
You know, I don't really have an answer to that. I can't blame it on low expectations. I can't blame it on my parents. I just don't have that drive to succeed. Perhaps I just haven't found anything I enjoy doing enough to work toward a career, or maybe I'm too easily contented.
After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him.
The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.
MySpace
Well, for me, gay rights is my current crusade... that and spreading atheism. I really like what the RRS does.
What interests you?
I'm late coming to this but welcome to the boards.
I'm...well... Michael
I'm a 28 year old chemistry researcher, gamer and professional slacker from all the way over the pond in Scotland-shire. Hope you enjoy your stay!
M
Forget Jesus, the stars died so that you could be here
- Lawrence Krauss
I'm late too, but wanted to add my welcome.
I'm Alexandra, 21 years old, and I'm a biology major at a university in the Chicago area. I love exercising, listening to & playing music (trained in piano and voice), and cooking, among other things. I like to spend my weekends clubbing, drinking, and partying. I have strange obsessions with Hello Kitty and VW Beetles (used to have a yellow one named Sunny). I have a black belt in karate, and have accidentally attacked my boyfriend in my sleep several times in the past month...
Oh yeah, I'm sorry but I'm the opposite of a picky eater (as long as it's good food), and the only video game that I play is Dance Dance Revolution. But there seem to be plenty of other guys around willing to talk about that stuff.
Anyways, that's enough random stuff about me. I'm sure you'll learn much more from my posts and such. Nice to have you around Tycoon!~
Hey Tycoon. Welcome to the forums.
My real name is DarkSwordFireWind1337, and I make a living by hitting things with swords until their HPs reach 0 and they give me some Gil and X-Potions.
- Leon Trotsky, Last Will & Testament
February 27, 1940
Nice to meet you Michael. You're not late at all.
I still check for responses.
It seems you and I have a common talent: slacking off. I, however, cannot stand chemistry.
Thanks.
Thanks for the welcome Alexandra.
I found biology to be a considerably easier topic than chemistry.
I love cooking. Don't have much time for it, but I want to get better. I've been singing for around twelve years, used to take piano, but don't anymore. I spend my weekends hanging out with friends or relaxing in front of my computer.
I also used to take karate. Never made it as far as black though - made it to the first red belt when schoolwork overwhelmed me, and then I never went back.
What do you mean by good food? :S
See you around.
Thanks for the welcome.
Gil and X-Potions? What game are those from?
And in response to something else you said; i think most people find chemistry boring. I've gotten used to a lot of glazed looks over the years
Forget Jesus, the stars died so that you could be here
- Lawrence Krauss
Hey, remember... I'm only sixteen. I'm not some old school gamer or somebody who knows every video game that ever existed.
What game were you talking about?
Any Final Fantasy.
Hi, Tycoon, and welcome!
From what I have read of your posts so far, I think we would agree about a lot of things.
I'm, umm, somewhat older, have spent a career in electrical/electronic engineering, then computer programming.
Never really believed in God, thanks at least partly to my father, and have only become more convinced of the total lack of justification for Theism of any sort as I have learned and experienced more.
I listen mostly to podcasts - mostly skeptical, atheist, science, computer, news commentary. Occasionally to music, not nearly as much as I used to.
Have travelled a lot, but not since 2006 (to South East Asia - Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand). Been seven times to the USA, couple of times to Russia and China, also visited Egypt, Central/Southern Africa, couple of places in South America, Antarctica, various Pacific Islands...
Favorite oxymorons: Gospel Truth, Rational Supernaturalist, Business Ethics, Christian Morality
"Theology is now little more than a branch of human ignorance. Indeed, it is ignorance with wings." - Sam Harris
The path to Truth lies via careful study of reality, not the dreams of our fallible minds - me
From the sublime to the ridiculous: Science -> Philosophy -> Theology
Oh. Yeah. Never played one of those.
Hi Bob.
Thanks for the welcome.
From the posts you made in my thread about morality, I can see we're going to agree on quite a few things.
Both of my parents are computer programmers. I never could understand how anybody could enjoy it.
It's good that you didn't just take your dads word for it. I know some people who were raised atheist, and they usually aren't as well-principled as the rest.
Those are a lot of interesting places that you've been. What were you looking for?
Tyke
The first places I went to outside Australia ( where I live, I see I neglected to mention that ) were mainly for Scuba diving, including to a resort on the Red Sea. On that trip, I added an optional 7 day tour of Egypt, which really got me hooked on visiting exotic, famous and historic places. I also neglected to mention I have always been into photography, so that is another thing driving me to such places.
So I have chased scenery, nature, a taste of different cultures, first-hand experience of iconic places: The Grand Canyon, the Pyramids, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the Great Wall of China, game parks in Africa, etc, etc. all gives me a great buzz when I look over my photos and videos.
I feel that those experiences have given me a great perspective on the range of cultures and environments around the world.
When I see documentaries, news items, and even movies set in places I've been, it adds something to my experience. Including one morning I woke up and turned on the TV to see a building I had gone sight-seeing to the top of two years earlier collapsing in New York City...
Favorite oxymorons: Gospel Truth, Rational Supernaturalist, Business Ethics, Christian Morality
"Theology is now little more than a branch of human ignorance. Indeed, it is ignorance with wings." - Sam Harris
The path to Truth lies via careful study of reality, not the dreams of our fallible minds - me
From the sublime to the ridiculous: Science -> Philosophy -> Theology
Good point, I was forgetting that. My bad
Like the man said - Final Fantasy. I highly recommend 7, 10 and 12.
Forget Jesus, the stars died so that you could be here
- Lawrence Krauss
I hated 12.
The game plays itself too much to stay involved, and the storyline is pathetic. Your characters are so utterly....insignificant to the world, as well as the main character barely having a personality at all.
Also, the person that made demon walls deserves to be shot in the head.
Theism is why we can't have nice things.