Walsingham

That is without a shadow of doubt the single most terrifying thing I've seen all year.

One of Britain's leading doctors argued quite effectively that veganism - as commonly practiced in the UK - was malnutritive child abuse. And the only thing which prevented the police taking action was that it was practiced by people who were neither poor nor black.

I believe both exist; I don't believe a person is, themselves, evil. I don't believe a person is, themselves, good. I think all people are capable of actions that are either good or evil. I am trying to untrivialise all acts of evil, even the ones that some people may think are justified, and I am trying to dissociate them from 'other people' and associate them with everyone, because I believe that is how it is. I think you may have stumbled in your progress, then. The distinction between capability and effect - in this case being evil and doing evil - is significant. And is discussed in ADP-01 of the British Army.* I would carry your point further by agreeing with you, and observe that it is preventing the effect that should consume our attention. The capability can be fought, constrained, confused, mislead, sated. From a perspective of public good, this is where our primary focus should be. However, if you deny that there are specific individuals who hold a particular and enduring capability for evil then ...well frankly I can't believe that you do deny it. *Yes, they really are that interesting. And freely available online.

*relieved chuckle* As some of you will undoubtedly understand, it's worked itself out. The barrage of invective I was receiving had apparently been prompted by HER blaming ME for HER wanting to sleep with me "all the time." There's an appealingly physical solution presenting itself. But I don't think it's the way forward, unfortunately. What she actually needs is a bit more faith in her non-physical qualities, so she can chase fresh prey.

The mathematical function which I had in mind would permit what you're talking about, Trashman. Since the quality of immersion would be an additive product of problem solving congruence and emotional congruence.

I think I can say in all honesty that prosper's 3D modelling is roughly 300 times better than mine.

Fielding an angry angry ex, via email. She's angry because I wouldn't go out with her again. I won't go out with her again because she's unpredictable and angry. The situation would be funny, but I've got a bad feeling about it.

Hey! That's a perfectly normal cultural celebration you just censored! Trivia: the role of the chief in that clip is actually being played by his great grandson Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

I know a wee bit about both hard and 'soft' sciences, and I have to say - perhaps harshly - that I find the notion we shouldn't study, define, or refine 'immersion' is pretty contemptible. Complex emergent properties, such as 'immersion', 'humour', or 'fun', of media are the standards by which they succeed or fail. Not FPS or Ghz. Given that these are success/fail issues, surely there can't be a BETTER sort of topic to discuss. Either from the perspective of the developers, or from the perspective of an intellectual challenge.

Leslie Nielsen. Fighting a bear? *beat*

I was going to post a clip from the film Zulu, but I'm not sure if it would contradict forum guidelines. Monte knows what I mean.

Not exactly news, but I discovered the Werner projection of the world today. I just quite like it, being heart shaped. Can't imagine it being useful though.

I don't believe in "moustache twirling" evil. I do believe in individuals who will abduct/drug, imprison, and rape to death another human being. If I may say so you seem to be deliberately trivialising the subject in an attempt to make your bloodless calculations more palatable. I am specifically saying, from the OP onwards, that we are discussing quintessentially emotional cases that involve extremes of criminal behaviour.

@chairchucker Hold on, though. This discussion was never about 'crime'. That covers everything from noise abatement upwards. I'm open to correction, but I understood rehabilitation to be a success in petty crime and disorder. Theft, prostitution, drugs etc. This thread is about evil. Individuals who visit pain and suffering on others as ...a lifestyle choice.

I would also sell Azdeus' car to back that project.

I'm literally speechless.

Mate, I've got some real collectors items. Shame I can't paint to save my life. Probably won't get to them until I retire.

Was teaching my mate to play Star Wars Supremacy/Rebellion yesterday. I think he started to get it. Great game.

I think my brain just pretended to forget who Christina Hendricks was, so I'd have to look at photos of her.

It's not a wild suggestion. One of the ways in which Islamism is spreading in some states is because people are turning to 'Islamic' courts which offer a more natural justice than endless logical niceties. I have to also add that while I generally favour reason and discipline I am always suspicious of claims that we should do the 'civilised' thing just for the giddy thrill of feeling special. If civilisation means a criminal can visit pain and suffering on innocents and walk away unimpaired, then what advantage does the citizen gain over living in the most abject barbarism?

On the early lead miniatures you sometimes find the studded shoulders on any old way. Probably a question of field repairs away from the chapter armouries. Possibly in a galaxy far far away.

Drow suffer from poor classroom discipline. By which I mean hails of poison darts, corrosive mist bombs, etc. Makes it hard to focus.

I don't think I'm being mendacious if I suggest that a three year program should be able to rehabilitate young violent offenders. If sufficiently intensive and well thought out. But a justice system which gave a man three years for - for example - cutting a man's nose off. That's not justice as I understand it.

It could be a retro thing. A 'return to the values of our fathers'. I like your point about armour having a functional component in its aesthetic. You mean like the pigeon chest of 'ironside' cavalry? But magic renders the physical dynamics less important, surely? Also, found this cool helmet while I was looking