Auberean

It seems like most people agree that we have a problem with this in our modern times. Do you think that this is a problem that stems from how children are raised by their parents, or do you think it has come from technological advances? I don't think that the basic nature of human beings is different anywhere at anytime, but that people are different due to their surroundings. Parents aren't any better or worse today than they ever were, it is society that is bringing to us never-before-seen situations that we must adapt to. Anyone think the same?

Most of those are excellent. Kurt Vonnegut would probably have to be one of my favorite authors. Also, I could create an entire thread on the discussion of Ayn Rand. And maybe in the future I will, haha.

I'll add my own, Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. It is about a group of airmen staged on a fictional island during WWII. It is a dark satire, and one of it's main themes is the absurdity of bureaucracy, and human beings in general. Another short summary, but I don't want to give away any of it's better points.

Really? The search is so convoluted, I couldn't find anything. If it's too old don't bother bumping it up. http://forum.tip.it/viewtopic.php?t=452249&highlight=favorite+favourite+novel http://forum.tip.it/viewtopic.php?t=539332&highlight=favorite+favourite+novel http://forum.tip.it/viewtopic.php?t=487360&highlight=favorite+favourite+novel Hm. Well, those are all at the least two months old. I think we're safe in here.

Hey now, there's a colored text thread for stuff like this.

They make excelent toiletpaper indeed, although the glossy pages of the illustrated editions do carry an increased risk of paper cut, which really isn't something you want down there :-w My recommendation: American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis. I'm not recommending Dan Brown for his accuracy and writing style, I just wanted to make the point that his books can entertain to a pretty good degree.

Really? The search is so convoluted, I couldn't find anything. If it's too old don't bother bumping it up.

Yeah, I can agree with some of that. I'd say that if students were beaten for not turning in homework, they'd certainly be more motivated to do so. Of course, then there would be allegations of abuse, and people would wonder if students were really doing it for their own intellectual good, and blah blah blah things like that can become very complicated, very quickly.

His stuff can be entertaining, but I wouldn't recommend the movies.

No heavy debating here, just...books! I couldn't find a book thread, and this seemed like the right place. We'll see. What are you currently reading, and what would you recommend to other people? I'll put up some of my own suggestions in a bit.

By Apathy I mean lack of motivation. Today, many students are accused of being completely apathetic towards their own lives. Over approximately the last half-century, America has become less industrial and more service-based. This has led to more emphasis being placed on the importance of education. Influenced by a high undergraduate drop-out rate, colleges of higher education complain that students sent from high schools are too "immature" to handle the rigors of a college environment. Do you really believe that this is true? Are American students any more or less mature than they were in times past, and if so, how come?

Just curious what you think - if you're getting the information you need to fix your problem, what does it matter who gives it to you?

Yes, most major companies use AI bots for online support. Interesting stuff. Makes sense too, it's much cheaper and much easier than hiring human beings.

Macros and exploits exist in every popular game, because it's profitable to do so.

My first car had windows that only worked somtimes, turn signals that only worked sometimes, and side-mirrors that fell off randomly, to name a new things. I actually had the option of having one of my parents' old cars, but noo don't ever do that. Make sure that your first car is as cheap as possible, because something bad is sure to happen to it!

Thanks. Yeah, after reading a majority of the posts in this thread, it seems like the problem is that people know what the problem is, but don't have the ability or initiative to treat it.

There can't be any denying that internet usage for long periods of time has a number of negative consequences. Staring at a computer monitor does a horrible number on your eyes, sitting still isn't exactly helping your body, and it can be argued that interacting with people through the internet is actually damaging our social mechanism. Still, the internet is a very attractive option. It has games, incredible tracts of information, and large areas where people can interact with one other. Using the internet as a replacement for others things such as libraries and physical social settings is rather easy to do. While all adults aren't exactly masters of their of bodies and minds, children and teenagers tend to be much more susceptible to harm due to their developmental stages. Bad habits you learn growing up usually tend to be bad habits that you carry with you through adulthood. There lies our problem. While we're young, we really don't know what's good for us, and we're not very good at making positive decisions when faced when an entertaining and easy alternative. So, do you think this is a problem? Do you think that prolonged internet usage is seriously damaging the minds and bodies of our youths, destroying their social skills, and discouraging hard work? Or do you think that our youths today are capable of taking care of themselves, and that the internet does not pose a problem? Who is ultimately responsible in this situation?

To Kill A Mockingbird Edit: Ironically, the whole quote is basically describing that you don't have to fight to be courageous or "awesome". Haha.

When?

Yes, but would anyone actually play? I would for sure. Oh and by the way, did the off topic events team end up having that poker tournament people were going on about, because I wanted to be involved in that too. :cry: Really? Once I asked a Moderator if I could organize some kind of poker tournament, but I was told it wouldn't be allowed.

Yes, but would anyone actually play?

Where's the fun in that? I want to be a hero.

Hmm...those people seem more interested in explaining man's actions and the morality behind them. I'm looking for a solution to the problem of Free Will that I can personally agree with. I had another suggestion?

Am I really arguing in favor of Fate, or Destiny? It does sound that way sometimes. I really need to think about that. Mostly I just brought this up because topics like this interest me. Fate and destiny naturaly seem to imply a supernatural force working upon them. The argument I see most rationaly presented is that we live in a universe of cause and effect - a never-ending chain of consequence. So why should it be that humans are able to evade this omni-present law? It is interesting, but it can drvie you made. One person spent weeks just flexing his hand and wondering if he had had the choice not too. Until he went mad of course. So if you are of unstable mental condition, then find away around it like I do, rather than through it. :) It's not maddening to me so much as it is interesting, for some reason. I can see people easily getting lost, of course. Edit: I don't think that the absence of free will implies that all events are pre-destined.

Am I really arguing in favor of Fate, or Destiny? It does sound that way sometimes. I really need to think about that. Mostly I just brought this up because topics like this interest me.