Many millions of angry worms might do the trick...
Worms certainly know how to scream :)

Would sir like that hot or cold?
Ahhh...breakfast, such an antiquated concept to me. OK, not really - I have breakfast about once a week, on either Saturday or Sunday. Weekdays I don't even have time to shave before I run for the bus, let alone actually sit down and eat. And I never said anything about weekend breakfasts being when I get up (usually 6 or 7 pm, I stay up all Friday night to between 4 to 6 am, and then remain nocturnal for the rest of the weekend) - breakfast can be the last meal I eat before I go to bed sometimes.

Zwilnik:
For all those alcophiliacally inclined such as yourself, may I present the new patent pending Acme In-mouth Deodorant...? ;)

Despite the strong British tendency to think and do otherwise, I have a distinct preference to remain fully in control of my mind. I don't even like the idea of alcohol as a social stimulant - the idea that people don't seem to be able to (or at least, believe that they can't, and that might have just as powerful an effect) socialise without it really annoys me.

A little bundle of hate, yes, but I do have all sorts of unconventional views about what I think is acceptable, tasteful, and even just nice, and even what parts of the human body look to be flawed in design... think I need to get out more? ;)

- uilleann

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zwilnik:
hang on, since when is *any* opportunity for everyone to get stinking drunk pointless ?

---

lol! Well, for me (being teetotal) it's not so great. Actually, though, you did make me think of an advantage - I get to watch all my friends make complete and utter arses of themselves while I just laugh and torture them in their debilitated state, he he. And even if they don't do anything horrendous, the next morning I can tell them that they did anyway. Ooh, I am wicked

sky

(do Borg ships have huge JCB digger attachments on them or something for doing stuff like that?)
If not, then they should do, for the love of God!

Worms certainly know how to scream
I'm pretty good at that too, actually. All those years of studiously avoiding boy band concerts mean that I have a lot of stored up screaming energy just waiting to be used. I just need the right opportunity...

I have breakfast about once a week, on either Saturday or Sunday
At least you haven't succumbed to the terror that is 'Nutri-Grain' just yet... it tastes like sawdust mixed with anti-freeze and Canderel 'Breakfast on the Run' : how stomach-churning...

I don't even have time to shave before I run for the bus
Oh, you must make time to shave, or no one will be able to see you under all that hair

sky

If not, then they should do, for the love of God!
Better question - are JCBs actually any good? Having learnt too many upleasant truths of the past and present state of British manufacturing, it makes me even more suspicious. Everyone buys JCB (Joseph Cyril Bamford, IIRC), but are they actually good quality?

Heh, I was impressed with Psion, though, the other day. One of the rubber feet has fallen off my Revo+, which means that typing on it, or tapping the screen too hard, with it on a smooth surface can cause the whole unit to swivel about the other rear foot. It wasn't my fault - it's a manufacturing defect, it seems. I've only had it a few months, so it's still under warranty. I was trying to psych myself up to sending it back to Psion to have it repaired (no access to any of my data while at home, though I can copy it off onto my work PC), but my dad suggested just asking them to send the parts. Surely not... of course they've never be flexible or helpful, that just never happens; Steve, over AIM, thought the suggestion would make them tell me to "Fuck off" (um, yes, they'd really say that to my ear) - but yes, the parts should have been put in the post today, and the guy on the phone even told me how to fit them (means taking the unit apart, which means mangling the badge on the top), but also suggested I could just cut the end off the foot and glue it on.

There are, indeed, times when reality takes a short break from following the path of cynism... Now, to get it to veer off the path of pessimism (sorry, realism, too), such that I can find myself some companionship. OK, that is not going to happen, firstly - I'd need to take the effort, and secondly, I don't think I'm ready for a relationship - far too much of my brain is on the side of lust, and it bodes pretty poorly for a proper relationship. I really have no idea what I'd actually do with a girlfriend - sit and listen to trance and post to the forums together? I mean, I don't do anything else.

Oh, something that struck me - both GameMaster and his friend are helping girls in their programming class. Congrats for the girls, but how come it's always guys helping girls? Are girls really all bad at programming, or, at least, worse than the guys? I think that, when I was a student helper for the first year in my second year, I did tend to help girls more than guys, but I was pretty unimpressed by anyone there - I never believed it was possible to make basic event-driven programming so difficult... I can probably forgive anyone having problems with Eiffel, though, that was one weird language. Actually, more often that not, that particular copy had just crapped itself. We once had three machines side by side, and a fourth opposite the central one, all with smelly-panted copies of Eiffel. That compiler was a menace...

Never beat, though, how simultaneously irritated and ravingly-delirious I was over watching Delphi 5 demolish the entire of NT 4, twice in a row, from trying to open a student's work from a floppy disc... man, that was quite an experience...

Man, am I such a sad, sad guy....

I'm pretty good at that too, actually...
Ack, I hate screaming. Any screaming. Like that of female characters on TV/film when they get abducted (cf Enterprise, 1-1, just saw that tonight), or people screaming on rollercoasters etc (I've only been on a really tiny one, but the screaming was most irritating), and kids screaming when playing - both because it is generally irritating, and because it brings home how much fun they're having that I'm not.

it tastes like sawdust mixed with anti-freeze and Canderel
Now, tell me, just how have you wound up eating sawdust and drinking anti-freeze? Man, you must have had a weird life *shakes head in much worriment* ;)

Actually, I used to play with sawdust when I was little, from my dad's circular saw bench, not sure what I used to do with it. More fun was grinding up chalk and bricks and mixing it with water to make paint. Or playing with whatever we made the blob-a-lobs out of... cement I guess...

Pre-computer life was certainly original...

Oh, you must make time to shave, or no one will be able to see you under all that hair
Now, I do not know what planet you come from, but you see, on Earth, where I live (tho I'm not indigenous myself), the stuff that covers one's eyes and nose is hair, of the kind that grows from the top of one's head. Actually, my hair is well below that length now, but I don't generally allow it to impede my vision. I've not walked into a lamp post yet, and never plan to.

As for my beard, yes, if I didn't shave every so often I guess I'd end up looking like Moses, albeit a very youthful version. I don't think my time for that has come about yet...

Now, in acknowledgement of the greatness of this post and of my new status in life, bow down to...
- Highlie uilleann (when the ... did I ever amass that many posts?)
Geek Culture Code
(nah, I'd never be an evil Highlie, I could never bring myself to really be evil, though I still kinda fancy torching a few flies with the cigarette lighter I found at the station - my plan of electrocuting them with the piezo generator (from an old gas heater, my dad gave me it some years ago) failed miserably. OK, I wasn't zapping flies, but the ants invading our house. First off, the current will only arc over onto metal (not ants), and secondly, while being something like 30,000 volts, is only in microamps, and after about 15 zaps of the metal brackets on which some of the ants were walking, the ants were curled up and writhing about, but still able to get up and walk away a few minutes later (though the couple that got 30-50 zaps or something actually seemed to remain fried). Bah, I wanted to just frazzle them in one go :)

Reminds me of the wasp fun of many years ago now...

heh, we're not Alone in the Universe any longer... ;)
Well, I'm pretty sure THEY have been watching us for a quite a while now... if they have dirt on Nayt, then just think of what they could have stored about us! ;)

I don't think I'm ready for a relationship
Now I know you're a closet Dawson's Creek fan... don't try and deny it! ;)

Man, am I such a sad, sad guy....
I thought about typing something other than 'hell, yes', but the inspiration just wouldn't come...;)

Ack, I hate screaming. Any screaming.
But don't you love watching horror films and hearing the pretty girl scream in misery? It's so much fun when the evil monster finally shuts her up. Ah, sadistic me...

Now, tell me, just how have you wound up eating sawdust and drinking anti-freeze?
Don't ask me, ask the tribe of militant trained monkeys from Betelgeuse who force fed me the stuff!

I do not know what planet you come from
Neither do I :( I'm thinking probably Mercury, as I've always had a great tan...

if I didn't shave every so often I guess I'd end up looking like Moses
lol! Have you ever had to urge to shout "let my people go" at various figures of authority? ;)

bow down
You've gotta be kidding me...;)

Bah, I wanted to just frazzle them in one go :)
You little bundle of hate, you!

Grr, it's getting late...
No shit? :)

quote:

---

Originally posted by uilleann:
...most peolple who post here do so irregularly...
Well, yes, that is true, but then, you learn almost nothing, and will have probably forgotten who they are if you ever see them again. I'm thinking of all the regulars, and there are quite a few (quantumfluff, Steen, snupy, Zorro, you (of course), and so on).
- uilleann[/B]

---

what about the regulars of old? such as Epy and Shoe, and a few others I've seen and not heard from since before I registered? Things are relative, and people change and move on...as for when you racked up that many posts, the geek code topic, your 'I'm back' topic, and of course, this topic are obviously good sources...it occurs to me, why dun you two do actual chats sometimes?...easier to communicate that way....bah, well, your no longer alone in this thread, I may be tempted to stick around for a while, if only to piss you off a bit and gain me some more stars..

sleep, with me, tonight <da daaa, dn dnnnnn...>
Heh, just a song from Conjure One that I have, I don't actually know what it's about. The bit in the <> represents synth sounds - probably one the things I love most about electronic music is all the unusual synth sounds you get to hear. That song is not trance (it's a rather soft, gentle song with a harder edge), but the best trance to me is often that with a lot of hard synth sounds. Go synthesisers...

Of course, you knew I was going to bed early, and were using your mental powers to tell me, telepathically, that I had to stay up, and wait - you were using your lure to keep me on the Dark Side... but no! Hah! The (light side of the) Force will always be victorious...

No... No! Keep that Death Star away from me...

Well, I'm pretty sure THEY have been watching us for a quite a while now
Now that would be interesting... I hope, though, that these records are kept Top Secret to themselves, I don't want them getting out...

That reminds me - someone once had this idea of what would you do if someone had filmed you for a day. Would you want to watch? Would you let your parents/friends etc. see it? Or would you just have the tape destroyed?

I think, in the past, I'd just see enough privately to get really annoyed and then dispose of it. These days, I might be able to put up with watching it (though it'd get tiresome, no doubt), but it'd still be kept a secret.

How about you? Oh, and Zwilnik and neo? Maybe we should make a topic out of this? If I get an aye, I'll make one, unless one of you wants the pleasure of doing so first... (and just pay me royalties ;)

Now I know you're a closet Dawson's Creek fan... don't try and deny it! ;)
I'm not - though I've seen a couple of odd bits from the show, and could probably get hooked on it. As for why you drew that conclusion - I can see what you mean, though. I think too much, yes, but a) I suspect my conclusion is correct b) this thinking is a substitute for activity. In the point at hand - actual relationships would answer it far better than my estimations, but then, someone else could get badly hurt if I'm not adequate at relationship skills. It is for their own good.

Yes, you are right - I'm not a typical guy.

I thought about typing something other than 'hell, yes', but the inspiration just wouldn't come...;)
I think I'm just being true to the more socially held meaning of geek (in the UK at least), and the one that I have in my mind (which is why I still don't like thinking of myself as one).

But don't you love watching horror films...
I don't watch films, normally. Last time I went to the cinema, was to watch Lord of the Rings, and I was not overly impressed. This is not because I have anything against films in general, though - the cinema means going out (and there is no-one to go with, hence me boycotting seeing the Clone Wars, which looked good), and seeing films on TV has other related issues.

Actually, the contrivety found in most (if not all films) really, really irritates me. Films are written with a beginning and an end in mind. For example, beg = { Boy, Girl, Boy.issues, Girl.issues, Situation }; end = { Boy->snog(Girl) }. With those premises in place, the film is compelled to some path to match, no matter how improbable. In reality, the beginning is known, but not the end. Our own path is ours to choose, but the paths of others are not under our control nor are they even known to us in full. Thus, films present completely unlikely views of life where fate shines down dazzlingly on the heroes and smites the bad guys, and so on.

Granted, all films are bound by this limitation, but I prefer films where this is kept to a more realistic level, or where there is enough interesting plot to make it not seem to matter. Or, when, despite being contrived, it matters not because the ending is not something that will bother me that I'm missing out on.

I've probably said this before, but watching some random film on TV at Chris' (easier on the shift key than PhAtfiSh) in the evening is very relaxing, actually. Just tells me I need to leave home, find somewhere else to live, get more friends and go out more. But hey, as sure as eggs are eggs (you know, I've never used that expression before), I'll be at my StarMax in my room each night for a long time to come.

and hearing the pretty girl scream in misery? It's so much fun when the evil monster finally shuts her up. Ah, sadistic me...
I must agree with you there. Never seen a film where that is the case, but man, I'd probably want to go hug the monster or something, maybe sign up my services in his legions just so I can go shut her up myself... ;]

Have you ever had to urge to shout "let my people go" at various figures of authority? ;)
I don't have the voice for that :) I'd probably rather just be the mad runs-round-with-automatic-rifle killing everyone guy. Much better for releasing repressed emotion, and ppl die. Die die die. :)

You little bundle of hate, you!
You do realise, don't you, that I'm a Time Lord? (There are a few clues on my website). Thus, when I quoted you previously as having said that, I was right, you just didn't know at that time that you were going to say it...

Quoting neotatsu:
what about the regulars of old?
I'd say that they were before my Time, but I guess I could backtrack a bit and spend some time in that era for a while...

as for when you racked up that many posts...
Heh, no need to tell me :) Actually, I'm referring to the 350-500 period, which seemed to go too fast, and without me noticing. Prolly has been these chats with skylar, but I didn't know I'd made 150 posts out of it... :)

why dun you two do actual chats sometimes?...easier to communicate that way
Skylar has been to my website, and on that site, my contact details are listed on the front page. I will concede, though, that in it's present state, they will probably be off the bottom of the browser window for smallew windows or lower resolution screens - this problem has already been observed.

I don't like to push myself on anyone, suspecting that they won't want me around, so I leave it up to others to get in contact (and sky does list instant messaging in her profile). I even found that, on ICQ, no-one ever said hello to me when I came online, so I always had to do that bit myself. A few people do, now, on occasions, but I don't bother now - instant messaging has become tiresome. That is, in fact, another factor - I don't know whether the communication you see in the forums would survive if carried over to IM - it would probably burn bright and then fizzle out and die, and just leave another pile of ashes in my buddy list.

if only to piss you off a bit and gain me some more stars..
Charming... ;) Actually, if you meant that seriously, then it isn't hard to do - I'm not much of a challenge in that respect :)

Send Sky the Arnie/Hawking clips of the Christmas special (my friend stars in pt 2
Christmas special of...? Very nice gesture, anyhoo

Go synthesisers...
Ditto. But I also find a lot of appeal in loud, crunchy, messy guitars...

you were using your lure to keep me on the Dark Side... but no!
So you think... I like to take my time, allowing the corruption and evil to grow over weeks, even months. Soon you will feel (the dark side) of the Force! Hahahahahah!

No... No! Keep that Death Star away from me...
told ya Wow, I must really hate you to have destroyed you so quickly...

I hope, though, that these records are kept Top Secret to themselves
Oh no, THEY can't tell anyone. Knowledge is power, so THEY must keep all knowledge to themselves, or their position as the supreme lords and masters of the universes would be lost! Just out of curiosity, what is it that you would want to hide?

what would you do if someone had filmed you for a day
I'd wouldn't be able to watch.. it'd be too cringeworthy. I would, however, sell it to a television network for a hefty sum, who would market it as the ultimate in reality televsion, thus drawing in millions of viewers. I'd become fantastically wealthy and famous and would spend a few years living fast and loose, until eventually all my riches would be gambled away and sitting in the coffers of the MGM Grand, Las Vegas. I would then realise the error of my ways and spend the rest of my days living in a hut on a mountainside somewhere, a tragic figure warped by local legend into some kind of demi-goddess.

Thus, films present completely unlikely views of life where fate shines down dazzlingly on the heroes and smites the bad guys, and so on.
Which is great if escapism is what you're looking for. Sometimes the very lack of control one has over life the universe and everything makes one want to pretend, if only for 95 mins and some trailers, that there is some kind of order to it, and maybe their own life could turn out in the same, neatly satisfying, all loose ends tied kind of way. It is a bit weak and essentially lying to oneself, but ultimately, we have to lie to ourselves occasionally just to make situations bearable.

I need to leave home, find somewhere else to live, get more friends and go out more
What??? And leave me here to have lonely pseudo conversations with myself? This I cannot allow!

I don't have the voice for that
Worn out by all the screaming, no doubt.

You do realise, don't you, that I'm a Time Lord?
So tell me, what will I be saying next?

quoting neo:

why dun you two do actual chats sometimes?
nah... not that I don't appreciate uilleann's sparkling conversation I just don't like chat rooms. Instant messaging is quiggy, yes, but only with RL friends who I'll see at school the next day to carry on the conversation. Plus, with RL friends there are more practical things to talk about; with net friends you can fall into a groove of endlessly rehashing your grievances and pecadilloes. This might be what we're doing here, but the wit and argument is more polished as we have time to think about what we're writing. And it's not as tortuous in a forum, because one conversation takes place over quite a long time. It's a lot more fun this way

Ditto. But I also find a lot of appeal in loud, crunchy, messy guitars...
I prefer my guitars to be à la Mike Oldfield, but anyhow.

Soon you will feel (the dark side) of the Force! Hahahahahah!
I'm already there - I gave in a long time ago.

Just out of curiosity, what is it that you would want to hide? ;)
That depends on who might find out - I tend to have semi-irrational fears of what would happen if someone knew something. Though, I think there are things that would more universally be frowned on. Not that it really matters to you, or anyone.

Which is great if escapism is what you're looking for.
Oh, I was not denying that. I'm just saying that I'm all too aware of the lack of reality in it. But then, even shows where it doesn't become apparent while watching it (Voyager (which is all I watch)), I sometimes just sit and pick an episode to bits afterwards. For me, escapism often needs to be realistic and plausible, else I can't escape into it - I'm too tied to realism.

...makes one want to pretend...that there is some kind of order to it, and maybe their own life could turn out in the same, neatly satisfying, all loose ends tied kind of way.
Well, my difficulty is with the number of ridiculous co-incidences that riddle films right through - everything just "works out" because it has to for the plot to work. I wish plots could show stories where, yes, things do work out, but not from ludicrously fake plot lines.

ultimately, we have to lie to ourselves occasionally just to make situations bearable.
I think my fantasies are separated from reality, by 500 years. (I chose that number originally just to make life easier in sci-fi games). I don't see anything as lying to myself (whatever that is), but I do spend far more time than I should pretending that life was different. Not pretending that I'm different so much as pretending I'm somewhere else. I'm still, after all, just a university student (though I'm an employee of the university's e-Business team for 48 weeks) and I don't feel that my life really has any meaning right now. I've never been happy with reality - when I was little, I used to chalk out the entire of the (quiet) oval-shape road we live in with complex road markings, just because I wanted to pretend that it was real - just peddling around in a go-kart itself was just not satisfactory - it had to be real, grown-up life.

Life as a school student, and now university student, is itself without meaning. We don't do anything, in the end. I know some people (and probably all other geeks) enjoy learning stuff, but I don't - I just want to be doing something interesting, and for a reason. That is - take for example lili_Pad. It is a styled text multi-page notepad app I wrote for myself because I needed such a program. It never got released because I never felt it good enough, and development died some time ago. It's incomplete and a bit broken, but it does work. However, it has no user base. No-one but me uses it, so there is no reason to go on wasting time with it - it does all that I need generally. I don't bother programming now - no cause to.

Uh... I think I tangentified too far there. Anyhow... um... grr, hrm. Yes, anyhow, students can do all sorts - clubs, societies - those technically inclined can set up some website or something special... It all sounds like fun, but hey, it never happened. University life for others is something I'm envious of, really.

Oh, fuck this bit.

What??? And leave me here to have lonely pseudo conversations with myself? This I cannot
allow! ;)
By which time, you, too, will have got your own life sorted out. Oh, I forget, you actually like me. An almost strange concept to me. I can accept that you can like the view of me you see online, but more to the point, I never really become attached to anyone online, or any place, and despite how much I might think something means, it can, and does, all come to and end I and I just about forget people or communities ever existed or, more likely, just remember them as a name, no more.

Not sure if it is a good, or bad, thing that you take it as far as you do - it will probably only cause you unneeded pain when I vanish from here without trace.

So tell me, what will I be saying next?
You realise that, if I tell you, you'd just refuse to say it out of spite :)

Oh, I've had enough of this post now. Grr, go on, send, get off my screen.

quoting uilleann:

I prefer my guitars to be à la Mike Oldfield
*scratches head* err... who?

I'm already there - I gave in a long time ago.
It's better this way, isn't it? It gives you a valid excuse for being bitter and twisted all the time

I tend to have semi-irrational fears of what would happen if someone knew something.
Yeah, I know that feeling. Which is why I'm a bit reluctant about giving information out over the net... even my name. But I think you know that now, don't you?

escapism often needs to be realistic and plausible
Hence the interest in sci-fi rather than fairies at the bottom of the garden?

Not pretending that I'm different so much as pretending I'm somewhere else.
Where? D'you mean a place where you could plausibly be, or a different world type scenario? Or both?

when I was little, I used to chalk out the entire of the (quiet) oval-shape road we live in with complex road markings
For some reason, I can't picture you as a little kid. I think it's because you come across as thinking far more than is requisite for someone your age. I'm not sure whether over thinking is a good or a bad thing, yet...

We don't do anything, in the end.
I'm one of those geeks that enjoys learning stuff; but even so, can't you comfort yourself with the fact that you are preparing yourself to be able to do something better, one day?

Oh, fuck this bit.
If you want. I thought it was quite interesting...

you actually like me... I can accept that you can like the view of me you see online
Yes, that's exactly what I meant when I said that I think you're a decent guy. You seem decent, from what I can see of you.

I never really become attached to anyone online
A very good practice, I think. I was trying to be funny when I made the comment about you abandoning me; it is almost certain that one of us will 'abandon' the other in due course, and you needn't worry... I won't collapse in a heap when it happens.

(stating the obvious about how this line would have otherwise stated the obvious)
It's official... you think too much (stating the obvious about uilleann's stating the obvious in lieu of stating the obvious, thus proving that I too, think too much; another example of stating the obvious).

sky

Quoting skylar:
That is, more bleurghy than usual...
Was I ever not bleurghy (had to be careful trying to type that right?)? Well, for starters, your wit in the early posts tended to drive the bleurgh away. Anyhow, all sustained online communication with me goes down the bleurgh route soon enough :)

*scratches head* err... who?
I'm starting to wonder if Google is nothing more than a myth (a female moth) or something that I made up one night in my dreams. Anyhow, big surprises here, his site is www.mikeoldfield.com , and for useful information, there is always tubular.net (good for getting the correct info for ID3 tags). Anyway, he is a British musician (instrumentalist and composer), most famous for Tubular Bells, (also known as the theme to The Exorcist, much to his chagrin), used to have long hair (but mine is longer, hah!) and a beard (back in the 70s), and he likes guitars. A lot.

It's better this way, isn't it? It gives you a valid excuse for being bitter and twisted all the time :)
Mrm? If you say so.

Which is why I'm a bit reluctant about giving information out over the net... even my name.
I'm not that bad. Actually, there is a certain topic of my life that, once a deadly secret, I find myself wanting to tell people... The change there came about by slipping up in copying a URL (bet the Internet Location CM plugin failed to put the URL on the clipboard on purpose), and pasting Air_Man the old one on the clipboard, not the new one destined for him. And a page of images was presented to him that was a dead giveaway. He was "distrubed", but some people just laugh. Tried to freak out dragonman, and failed miserably, damnit. It's a bit cold in this wet jumper (that is, sweater, I'm not wearing a dress, duh), though.

But I think you know that now, don't you?
Indeed! EVERYONE! SKYLAR'S REAL NAME IS.....um, I don't want to die just yet... :]

Hence the interest in sci-fi rather than fairies at the bottom of the garden?
Oh, hardly. Sci-fi plots can be some of the most ridiculous. That warp 10 episode of Voyager had Gene Roddenberry turning in his grave so much that he, well, I dunno, prolly drive all the ground out from underneath himself or something.

All fiction has rules to abide to, whether real (i.e. what life is like now), or fictional themselves (the nature of the Star Trek universe). As long as fiction follows the nature of the universe in which it is based, and general common sense, then it is acceptable. Whether I actually like that universe is another matter. Not sure I'd be too keen on fairies, but I might.

Where? D'you mean a place where you could plausibly be, or a different world type scenario? Or both?
Where could I plausibly be where anything fun could happen? Depends on your definition of plausible. Do you mean, plausible within the limitations of my life, or of human existence? The former, I have thought of a few. The latter, hrm, dunno, I guess nowhere else holds much appeal to me. Dunno, good question - why do I always imagine science fiction scenaria?

Actually, what was the point of the question? *checks preceding post* Ah. The previous paragraph was assuming you meant on earth (and not the "different world type scenario"). I'm not sure I understand the question now, but my point about plausibility was not referring to science fiction in general, but more about the fact that fictional stories often only "work" because the plot is riddled with completely improbable co-incidences, or "overlooked" inconsistencies. Thus, I cannot escape into them because I spot the problems, which simply prove that they aren't real.

Fantasies of my own often get stuck with limits of my imagination, where I have to overlook all sorts of things because I can't explain how things came to pass. Or, I realise that they'd never really work as they rely on false premises, impossible occurrances or behaviour in people, and so on.

In the end, nothing is ever a substitute for reality.

For some reason, I can't picture you as a little kid.
You'd not want to. But anyhow, I was, in the end, much happier before I started secondary school. I was in a village primary school with two years to a class because there were so few children. Then I changed to a secondary school with my year split into five classes. The change was too much for me, as was the treatment from others in the second year, and I don't think I ever fully recovered. I blame the second year on what took away my ability to see the funny side of humourous insults.

I did think far too much as a kid, though.

I'm not sure whether over thinking is a good or a bad thing, yet...
For having fun, it depends. I've always had a level of thought and dedication consistent with a level of comprehensive role playing that no-one else typically cared for. If everyone else shared that, games could have been most enjoyable. As it stood, the disparity between my needs from games, and others' needs, was not helpful.

In terms of the rest of my life, over-thinking is a good thinking, but mine is just completely misdirected, into the opposite sex and stuff, and not where it needs to go, such as programming (e.g. my job).

I'm one of those geeks that enjoys learning stuff; but even so, can't you comfort yourself with the fact that you are preparing yourself to be able to do something better, one day?
The future, as far as I am concerned, does not exist; the past is gone, as my memory does not enable me to remember most of it. The present is the only part of time that I inhabit - even with the TARDIS, I can travel to any time I like, but I can never escape my own time.

I used to enjoy learning stuff, now, I'm too lazy usually to even do a Google search to start researching into something that interests me. I'm perpetually lazy now.

If you want. I thought it was quite interesting...
Well, if you want to continue it (you little bundle of masochism), be my guest.

You seem decent, from what I can see of you.
I'm like Steen, it seems, just with the harsher front kept hidden. I'm neither all good, nor all bad. Not that it makes any difference in the end.

A very good practice, I think.
Not unless you like having no-one and nothing mean anything to you.

I was trying to be funny when I made the comment about you abandoning me
I know :)

It's official... you think too much
Only just noticed? ;)

I miss my sweet little thread about Canada Day.
Awww... I'll join in *hugs*

quoting uilleann:

Well, for starters, your wit in the early posts tended to drive the bleurgh away.
Are you suggesting I'm not funny any more?? *sniffs* you sure know how to hit a girl where it hurts, don't you? *breaks down into sobs*

I'm starting to wonder if Google is nothing more than a myth
I'm prefectly aware of the existence of Google, thank you very much! I just can't be bothered to go look for something myself; I'd far rather use you as a little slave boy to adhere to my every whim

Mrm? If you say so.
Oh, come on... did you never play Star Wars as a kid? And did you not always want to be Darth Vader instead of drippy drippy Luke?

there is a certain topic of my life that, once a deadly secret, I find myself wanting to tell people...
I find myself all ears... and nose(y)

It's a bit cold in this wet jumper
I hope you get ill. I've had flu all week, and I want somebody else to suffer, too.

EVERYONE! SKYLAR'S REAL NAME IS.....um, I don't want to die just yet... :]
Don't you think I have a weird name? I think so; I'm not sure whether I like it yet. And the circumstances behind my name are rather grotesque, too. And you can tell anyone you like, so long as you can find someone who is prepared to listen As for dying... it's only a matter of time before I kill you anyway

Do you mean, plausible within the limitations of my life, or of human existence? The former, I have thought of a few.
Such as? Have you noticed, by the way, that our communication mainly takes the form of me asking questions and you giving answers? Or you just asking to be insulted, and me happily obliging?

The future, as far as I am concerned, does not exist
But can't you allow yourself to believe that it does, if only to make the present more enjoyable. Why can't it exist? Because it has not yet been experienced? And who's to say that there is a present time at all? Surely there is no time which is not the past or the future, because the present moment passes so quickly that it hardly appears at all. Sorry, I think I'm off the point a little. Anyway...

Well, if you want to continue it (you little bundle of masochism), be my guest.
It's beyond my control, now External forces compel me to reply against my will; we'll never get out of the rut you have dug for ourselves.

Only just noticed?
Of course not. Only just mentioned it, that's all

sky

Anyhow, I do realise that you were only joking there, before you think I'm mistakenly taking you seriously. But yes, level of wit that we began with was just too good to last (everything good is).

I'd far rather use you as a little slave boy to adhere to my every whim ;)
And maybe I'd put up with you, if I didn't see far too many other people using others as their Google slave boys.

Oh, come on... did you never play Star Wars as a kid?
No. I was never into Star Wars like that. I used to play sci-fi games with my cousin David and my sister, or Chris, but it was Star Trek or Doctor Who if anything - David got us interested in sci-fi, although I gave him his first Doctor Who book (someone gave me two copies of one (Doctor Who and the Loch Ness Monster). I did see Star Wars (Ep. IV) at his house, but it was some years until I saw the other two, and I've never been a fan.

And anyhow, in Star Trek, I was Spock (and David was Kirk (no surprises there)), and both of us were Doctors at the same time (8th and 9th reincarnations). I've always been a goody - never had any real desire to be the bad guy.

In later years, I've wanted a light saber, though, just cause they're cool. I've got a phaser (TNG type II), but the sound circuitry is cheap and it sounds nothing like a phaser. My cap gun is much more fun :)

there is a certain topic of my life that, once a deadly secret, I find myself wanting to tell people...
See below.

I hope you get ill. I've had flu all week, and I want somebody else to suffer, too. ;)
I have a strong body - goodness knows where I'd be if it wasn't, and I still put it up to all the strains I put mine through. But I assure you I was wet quite deliberately. I guess no-one will ever know just how good I looked with my hair, and that jumper, soaked...

Don't you think I have a weird name?
Forename or surname? Your surname is nothing new on me, and nothing unusual considering what descent I assume you are of, given your religion. As for your forename, it would be unusual for some people to have it, but in this multi-ethnic world, and also taking into account what we take in from science-fiction, it's nothing too odd.

Personally, it has little appeal to me (though I don't find it displeasurable), although I do have a thing for names, both unusual ones, and just regular ones that are still cute (e.g. Sarah). The total lack of imagination on the part of parents these days is pretty depressing - most parents go for "in" names (which is why there are always several people each of several common names (two Daniels at primary school, three at secondary school) in school years, or just think of something else really unoriginal. I think Elrond is a cool name, but, alas, rather pretentious. I actually have a cousin Arwen, though. But come on, all you geeks here thinking of having children, PLEASE do your children, and the world, a favour and don't call them Sarah and John, or Steve, or Daniel, or any other insanely over-used name. How about Elrohir?

it's only a matter of time before I kill you anyway :)
Well, as long as you make it better than dying of cancer or something, then I can't complain - you'd only be doing me a favour :)

Such as?
Goodness knows now, probably involving school and stuff.

Have you noticed, by the way, that our communication mainly takes the form of me asking questions and you giving answers?
Yes, I have. Remember that I have little interest in others, so never have anything to ask. As for why I continue, I guess its part compulsion, and part because you always leave me issues to address. We're stuck in a rut that one of us has to choose to leave, and it won't be me, as I'd never choose to leave something unanswered.

Or you just asking to be insulted, and me happily obliging? ;)
I'm neither asking, nor complaining.

But can't you allow yourself to believe that it does
It's more of, it just doesn't. For example, I won't revise until the last minute, because the realisation that I have an exam doesn't hit me until the last minute. Now, that is a slightly different angle. Even after considering that, I still say that the future does not exist, although there are various predictions of varying accuracy of what will occur. Exams have a 99.99% accuracy - I might get ill, or die, or something, but otherwise, they will.

Either way, I'm not sure how it would affect me. Certainly, I could be part of some group of geeks, and do something fun and geeky, future or no future. I think it's more complicated than just whether the future is real or not.

Why can't it exist?
Because we can only speculate about it. Right now, I plan to finish going through the forums, but what if Mac OS crashed and my file system was fatally affected, or the power went out and stayed out? Or I collapsed with heart failure? You see my point? The future, on any level, is not known, but only the target of speculation. What would severe fire damage to my university do to my course? And so on.

Surely there is no time which is not the past or the future...?
Yes, I concur there, actually. If you take it literally enough, then yes. I think it is often fair enough to extend the definition of the present to include a few hours, or days, where all probabilities are high enough, and I'd count the all of the current day so far as the present, in a sense. It depends on how strict your definitions are.

Ew...sobbing, another sissy activity. Ick ick ick.
I have to agree with you, there. I've never understood this whole idea that 'the modern man' is able to cry, and therefore far more appealing to women; I've always valued a bit of stoic machismo I never know how to behave around people when they cry, even if I sympathise with their situation; if anything, I lose respect for them and get very irritated, even though I know I'm showing the less human side of myself.

I mean, look at Twinkle Toes' most recent topic - she is absolutely asking for flames, if not death.
I wouldn't hold it against her; I think her intention was honourable - to allow people at GC to be more honest with each other. I was hoping to encourage the same sort of thing when I replied to her post. I just (stupidly) didn't realise that people do get offended at that sort of thing. And I thought some people would feel genuinely pleased to read nice things about themselves.

it was Star Trek or Doctor Who if anything
Star Trek I can understand; but why Doctor Who?

In later years, I've wanted a light saber, though, just cause they're cool.
Been there. I also wanted to be dropped off at school in the DeLorean, heh. And I wanted a flying bicycle, like the one Elliot has in ET. I once tried to drive my bike off the patio in our old house (about an eight foot drop to the garden) just to see if it would fly... that didn't turn out too well.

I was wet quite deliberately.
Our IT teacher never let us in the computer room if we had been swimming and had wet hair (if we even looked at the computers, they would burst into flames). Shame on you, Zebby!

The total lack of imagination on the part of parents these days is pretty depressing
You know what's depressing? My parents called my little sister Zara and didn't realise that it was an acronym of my name until after they had named her! Ah well; she's a cute kiddie, so I'll forgive her I hate it when people give their kids rhyming names, like Ricky, Micky, Dickie, etc... bleurgh! So if you decided to have children, what would you call them (theoretically speaking), bearing in mind that you would have to strike a balance between pretension and being boring, something you like and something your kid would be able to live with?

you'd only be doing me a favour
Good God, don't get all 'I want to die' on me; that's as bad, if not worse, than sobbing...

Remember that I have little interest in others, so never have anything to ask.
I tried to make it a little different today, to see if it could 'work' if we tried it another way...but I suppose if replying is based on conclusion, then that doesn't really matte.

I still say that the future does not exist, although there are various predictions of varying accuracy of what will occur.
But don't you want to make contingency plans, in case something that is feasible does come to pass? Of course, you couldn't plan for everything, but it would make life more enjoyable and interesting if you planned for things that you want to happen.

quoting Steen:

I'm not that harsh... I just have no tact whatsoever
Wow... so someone else does actually read what we write *shocked pause*

sky

I wouldn't hold it against her; I think her intention was honourable...
I'm not really holding it against her, just upset about what she said about snupy, which really was taking things too far. I don't think I hold grudges here, though, it will all pass soon enough. As for an honourable intention, I'm a little doubtful - it has been reckoned that she only did to get others to tell her what they think of her. Being the cynic I am, and looking at my own ways of thinking, that theory does have merits. Maybe it is a mixture. But anyhow, as I said, it will pass. Unless something good comes of it.

I just (stupidly) didn't realise that people do get offended at that sort of thing. And I thought some people would feel genuinely pleased to read nice things about themselves.
But therein lies the fatal problem. People don't mind, in fact, love, to hear good things said of them. But subjective negative opinions are best left unspoken. Spike has received both objective and subjective criticism. We and he accept he needs to be more mature here, but the way he was repeatedly told things like "I dun like you" was out of order.

What worries me, even more, is that I personally only seem to be offering condemning views as of late. Ah, well... I was never called to be the soul of the party. I always wanted to keep order - I used to play at being a policeman when I was little, and keep arresting my sister on stupid falsified charges, just because I was obnoxious. These days, I tend to only speak out for a good reason.

I also like to enternain, just ask Steve about my lengthy rant full of obscenities, in the car on then way back from our Nortel awards ceremonly. There were senior members of staff from our year in the car, yet Steve, Luke and Richard almost died from trying to contain their laughter. Yet, I still retain a disinterested distance from people, and want little in return from any more than just one person, someone, anyone special.

Star Trek I can understand; but why Doctor Who?
I just used to read the books, and they were dead cool :)

I once tried to drive my bike off the patio in our old house ... just to see if it would fly... that didn't turn out too well.
Heh, just had to experiment, heh? ;) I know that tendency and desire, though I never tried to kill myself in the process.... ;)

Our IT teacher never let us in the computer room if we had been swimming and had wet hair
Wet hair... *longing thoughts* Oh, how you tempt me there (and I kid you not)... : /

Our head of IT was a nutter, too, and because I was obviously good with computers, she hated me, as did she hate my friend David Mills, another geek.

(if we even looked at the computers, they would burst into flames)
Actually, that is the opinion a lot of people have with computers in general, and that fear is what stops them from experimenting and learning, in part, I suspect. Computers are far more tolerant than people think.

My parents called my little sister Zara...
Heh, maybe Ceren Ercen is Ceren Ercen's real name after all... And yes, that wasn't too clever of your parents, unless they just wanted to be cute :) And cute is good...

So if you decided to have children, what would you call them (theoretically speaking)
I sense the force is strong in "theoretically", I hate kids, as did lili *sniff* :(

Names? Good grief, that's a hard one. The "something your kid would be able to live with" would probably spoil everything I'd choose, to be honest. For a girl, Lilian would be a possibility... Actually, Irish names are nice, although then you'd have the problem of them being considered "plastic Paddies" - I guess I could marry an Irish woman, and that would settle that =)

I'm kind of at a loss, or it's just too late, really... um, no idea right now. Under the assumption that I'd Uzi down any kids who made fun of my little ones, I'd say candidates would be Irish names (the more uncommon ones, no more Caitlins (and I'd make sure I'd go for the traditional Irish spelling, with appropriate accents, e.g. Róisín)).

Good God, don't get all 'I want to die' on me...
Heh, nah, I don't plan on dying yet.

I tried to make it a little different today, to see if it could 'work'...
Well?

But don't you want to make contingency plans
I'm scared of effort and lazy. I don't do anything :)

Wow... so someone else does actually read what we write...
Heh, but you'd not know if I'd not shamelessly baited Steen like that =)

Steen:
Heh, a tendency I do see around. Pity it wasn't to GMx's taste ;) (luser...) I do find it hard to understand (I read emotion from style of post) what you are really feeling, but from other posts you seem a nice guy. And indeed, I think my point still stands, with your correction noted.

- Zebediah with an 'e'.

Oh, that reminds me...

I read most threads in the forums on a daily basis. I just don't respond to the majority of them. I've left the two of you alone because you both seemed to be having so much fun talking with each other. Or maybe I'm just a closet voyeur who likes pretending to eavesdrop

uilleann wrote:
I do find it hard to understand (I read emotion from style of post) what you are really feeling,

Nobody else knows what to make of me either

but from other posts you seem a nice guy.

As for an honourable intention, I'm a little doubtful - it has been reckoned that she only did to get others to tell her what they think of her.
Ahh... I'm the eternal optimist, I suppose. Judging by her past posts, I think that if Twink really wanted to know what others thought of her, she'd just come out and ask them. But if she did only want to know what others thought, I couldn't blame her; everyone wants to know that... I just wish it hadn't turned out nastily

We and he accept he needs to be more mature here, but the way he was repeatedly told things like "I dun like you" was out of order.
Yes, I badly regret typing that *slaps her wrist*. I've since apologised to him... I still find that I can't hold it against neo and Twinkie, though; I just appreciated their honesty, no matter how subjective their opinions. However, I realise that I probably wouldn't be saying this if they had said anything bad about me...

These days, I tend to only speak out for a good reason.
Too lazy to speak up? I wouldn't normally speak up (chicken shit) but when something comes along like Twinkie's thread (someone else inviting me to say something), I unfortunately cannot resist. And it feels so good, because I normally just keep my mouth shut.

just ask Steve about my lengthy rant full of obscenities
Okay... where's he got to?

I still retain a disinterested distance from people, and want little in return
What about friends, though? Don't you want to stay friends with them, and doesn't that mean at least trying to be interested in their lives? Otherwise they all drift away...

Heh, just had to experiment, heh?
Yep. Like the time when I tried to figure out how long it would take me to break my parents' bed if I bounced on it; that got me seven stiches in my knee (I fell off and landed on the glass face of an alarm clock). Or the time I knocked myself out with a Swingball, trying to see if I could knock it out of the ground. I kid you not... unfortunately I guess I just never had any fear, and as a result of my many accidents, I'm now a lot more cautious than many other people. How about you? How did your childhood experiments differ from mine?

Wet hair... *longing thoughts* Oh, how you tempt me there
What's so great about wet hair?? Do you like to have wet hair yourself, or do you prefer it when other people have wet hair? Oh you strange strange man...

Our head of IT was a nutter, too
Did yours have enough dandruff to create a dry ski slope??

Computers are far more tolerant than people think.
I live in fear of the blue screen... *hides behind Zeb* Don't let it get me!

cute is good...
Heh, I suppose. At least they don't dress us in matching outfits... there is such a thing as too cute. The whole concept of Valentines' Day, for example, is too too cute.

I sense the force is strong in "theoretically"
When I first read that I thought you were making some bizarre Star Wars reference... Zebby Wan Kenobi. Sorry; duhhhh, sky! *slaps her wrist again; it's rather sore by now. do you have any moisturiser?*

I hate kids
I adore my little sister, but other little kids are a perpetual nightmare. Grr...

Names? Good grief, that's a hard one.
Nah, not really. To wit: Sebastien, Olympia, Ismene (pron, Izz-may-nee), Ralph (pron. Rafe), Clea (Clayya). But then, those are pretty pretentious, I suppose *shrugs*.

Well?
I should be asking you, really. You may have discovered that I don't have a problem with any format; but does it irritate you to change things a little?

I don't do anything
You sure can type a hell of a lot!

"Ee, she was thin"...
Ooh, good one! I'd recommend you stick it in the Joke Bank, but I'm pretty sure that only 1 in every 182.8 geeks would get it... I heard a funny one today, but I won't retell it, as I'll make many many enemies among the Welsh/ the sheep population.

quoting Roach:

I just hate to interrupt when you two have such interesting chemistry to watch.
What, you mean insulting each other all the time?

quoting Steen:

Thank you. You seem like a respectable and likable sort of guy yourself.
Awww... can't you just feel the love in this room?

sky

------------------
Holy sweet goddamn! You left your cello in the basement...

heh, Actually I'm of the opinion that we took our honesty a bit to far by critisizing Spike so much, to be honest he's gotten better than he USED to be, but frankly I'm the type who gets pissed off easy and stays mad for a while...oh, and Sky just mentioning the Welsh has got me interested in what the joke was...well, that's about it, sorry to bother you two again, I just saw a reference to me and Twinkie just had to see what you two were saying about us, but then curiosity killed the cat, now didn't it...

Yep, that's the one. I don't know why it amuses me so.

oh, and Sky just mentioning the Welsh has got me interested in what the joke was

Guy 1: Hey, guess what? The Welsh have found a new use for sheep...
Guy 2: What is it?
Guy 1: Wool!

quoting Roach:

I don't know why it amuses me so.
I can insult you too, if you'd like...

sky

... it makes conversations with Americans very difficult sometimes...
Not sure if I've ever observed that problem... maybe I have and just forgot ;)

Ahh... I'm the eternal optimist, I suppose.
Get away from me you evil optimist, Away, I say, Away! Be Gone! ;)
(just kidding, skylie)

Judging by her past posts, I think that if Twink...
I did glance through some of her most recent post last night, and I found her logic flawed. She seems to use the excuse that, because we have to deal with people being unkind in real life, it gives her the right to treat us like that online, too, which is thoughtless. I didn't analyse the post and reply - I'm taking Paul's advice to let it die, what's done is done - she can argue all she likes but the evidence of what happened is plain. She craves anger and to be angry, but most other people don't, and want to be treated with courtesy.

However, I realise that I probably wouldn't be saying this if they had said anything bad about me...
They were nice to me, too, but I really felt for snupy when I read that remark. As I said before, I personally have had to learn the hard way about excessive voluntary honesty. I'm banned from the #macusers IRC channel I created, for that very reason.

I unfortunately cannot resist. And it feels so good...
Well, I don't see it doing any harm, and I'm sure more people than just me appreciate it :)

Okay... where's he got to?
I gave you his address, so time for a game of hide and seek. He's on MSN and AIM, and he might already be lying in wait for you... ;) Well, not at this hour, anyhow. Old chap needs ten hours of sleep at night... :p

What about friends, though? Don't you want to stay friends with them, and doesn't that mean at least trying to be interested in their lives? Otherwise they all drift away...
I'm not really like that - I seem to have only two states: romance, or no more than acquaintance. Anything in between doesn't really exist. And if someone is female, they typically become candidates for the former state, although if I see them around at a bus stop or in Uni, I'll never go any further than look at them. I'm not sure that I have any real friends in the sense of what others have, but as far as just listening to or reading my ramblings go, there's Steve and you. And then there's PhAtfiSh - not sure what to make of our relationship - more than acquantances, I suppose.

As for whether there is a middle state, of good friend, I think it exists, and I want people in it, but don't know how, or who, and don't care enough about anyone for anyone to take it. And there's always the pull of the higher state, it will never let go.

I kid you not... unfortunately ;) I guess I just never had any fear, and as a result of my many accidents, I'm now a lot more cautious than many other people.
Wow, you maniac :) How far, I assume, intense geeky curiosity can take some people... Well, the caution you now have should be of benefit to you. You certainly never died from those "experiments", but one could be forgiven for thinking that you were trying to ;)

How about you? How did your childhood experiments differ from mine?
I detailed some of it to you earlier, I can post some of that here if you want. I think I was always cautious, I tried to avoid myself ever coming to any harm, and still do.

What's so great about wet hair??
To me, many girls/women look incredibly sexy in wet clothes and with long wet hair. Even more appealing than pictures is to watch hair in and out of water, a most beautiful sight. On the other hand, more traditional forms of beauty (make-up, some "attractive" clothing and so on) are often turn-offs to me. I have strange tastes, and it messes with my mind - wanting to identify the existence of girls (and potential girlfriends) who look good wet, want to get wet, and also don't like make-up and all other un-natural forms of attempted attraction, in addition to being intelligent and geeky.

Hair and water are both perfectly normal, though, as are the places where one can go and swim in the water (clothed), and then lie down in the sun and chill out as you dry out - I'm thinking of natural beauty spots - secluded by steep, green hills, with trees around and birds in the sky.

Just walking in the rain is another one.

Of course, the fact that any cold water can make my hyperventilate (I think that is what it is), and that I can't swim, is rather limiting. I did discover, though, in the bath recently that I've now gained tolerance to getting water up my nose, which used to make me cough horribly. It's a start.

Do you like to have wet hair yourself, or do you prefer it when other people have wet hair?
The former is nice, I admit, as I have long hair (which looks good wet), but it is rather narcissistic; I'd far rather share the experience with a girlfriend, and have us enjoy seeing each other wet, in the shower, or lake, or whatever.

Oh you strange strange man... ;)
I hereby award skylar the Skylar Prize for Statement of the Obvious, for July 2002.

Did yours have enough dandruff to create a dry ski slope??
Nope. She was (may still be, not heard that she ever left) a tanned but a bit wrinkly ex-PE teacher, who had to leave the subject through to some sort of injury, I think. And ended up at our school teaching IT. I also had Mr Tong, and he was a really nice guy, with canine teeth that were a little bit longer than normal, making him look like a half-breed vampire. He was who taught us BBC BASIC programming in about 1993 or 1994, although, as I'd had a BBC Micro for a couple of years at that point, I knew more than he did, and had to teach him how to edit lines of mistyped code - the archaic line-based edit system was not his strong point. Miss Peaty (the head) was just responsible (or maybe the governors were) for spending a fortune on Office Professional 4 for every machine, and never bothering to teach us what to do with it (she preferred showing us Word 2, instead of 6 which was also available on every PC).

I just hated her patronising manner, and distrust. Students used to return floppies after they finished with them and, in computer club after school this was, she had me format a few 5.25" BBC ones. The munger students had not taken care of them (must have munge