Bartimaeus

Attacked? You're the one dismissing people's opinions and perspectives out of hand, Bruce, not me. You're also the one that called me lazy and annoying for daring trying to make you back up your assertion that I was wrong. You did not just disagree with my opinion: you said I was "misunderstanding the reality in the USA and seeing something that is just an aspect as the big picture", "you are confusing internet debates and U.S. politics as a reflection of society", "[it] appears I (BruceVC) do know more about American society than you guys if you are seriously suggesting that US society is polarized"...all only based on your "numerous trips to the USA". And then went on about a bunch of stuff like Obama and free speech that was peripheral to the discussion at best while claiming that you pointed out an "inherent contradiction" in what I was saying...which I asked you to expound upon, which you never did. That's not mere disagreement: that is dismissal. Worse, you have the gall to insult me for bothering to ask for any sort of evidence or logical argument as to why you think you do - you're the one contradicting me, remember? I, on the other hand, merely stated that nobody was going to be convinced by just words without actual evidence or logic-based arguments...and for good reason, as this discussion has very clearly shown. And don't call me surly. I prefer "prickly", or "cantankerous", or "crotchety", or...

About six posts later after your original request as to why I felt the way you did (and then your subsequent dismissal of me), you admit at least that (and only just barely). Well done: really setting the standards in both humility and grace, Bruce.

It does matter when you're contesting what I'm saying, or, in this case, outright contradicting it - something you still haven't taken back nor apologized for, I might add. Nor was it something I did to you, so why would you ask for evidence on my part? I was not saying your perspective was wrong like you're doing to me: I was just saying that I have a different one, and I also said mere words weren't going to convince anybody of anything. I made an edit to my previous post, just in the event that this topic was going to get back more on topic:

Now I literally am not understanding you at all. What inherent contradiction did you point out? And how does our discussion here...one party a South African citizen, the other a U.S.-ian...say something - anything - about U.S. society at large that could ever possibly be considered more than anecdotal at best? I would also like to remind you that you're the one that contradicted my - the one that actually lives in the U.S. - perspective...and without posting anything more than anecdotal evidence (the same as myself, again, excepting that I actually live in the U.S....), while I pointed out that that mere words like we've both only supplied - without evidence, without any logical reasoning - would be unlikely to sway somebody of any persuasion. And your latest counterpoint is that you've somehow pointed out an "inherent contradiction" in my logic? What logic? All I did was bring up some anecdotal evidence and my own perspective, same as you did. (e): JadedWolf's post after mine here reminded me of what this thread was originally about: Bruce complaining that he didn't like it when others dismissed his opinions and perspective out of hand because of his skin color...and now he's doing the same to me because he's been to the U.S. a few times and thinks he knows better. The irony is palpable.

You're a top-notch troll when you want to be one, Bruce. Other times, like now, not so much.

Thanks for supporting my post, at the very least. I didn't like posting that, because it seemed very dismissive of Bruce's perspective - which wasn't my intention - but the fact remained that he was directly contradicting me (and on multiple points) without providing any actual sort of logical counterpoint or evidence while saying I was wrong and that he knew better. C'mon, Bruce: didn't we just have a discussion not too long ago about condescension?

That's funny, because, as I already said, I have the opposite opinions in regards to both the actual U.S. as well as online discussions. Of course, you would know better having visited the U.S. versus someone who actually lives there.

This is no doubt at least a little ironic, but I don't feel like I really need others' affirmations to confirm what seems to be patent to me, and what seems obvious if you pay even an ancillary amount of attention to our media empires (hey, another thing people are polarized about: corporations and capitalism in general, ), and the fact that most normal people still seem to be buying into the idea that there's only two (worthwhile?) sides for any given issue. Other perspectives would be great, too, but it'd be very hard to convince me of the opposite with just words...just as I'm sure anyone of the opposite bent from me will likely not be convinced by just my words, either.

I'll speak for the U.S., since that's where I currently reside: most everything seems highly polarized here in general U.S. society. Democrat vs. Republican, pro-choice vs. pro-life, pro-same-sex marriage vs. the opposite, pro-multiculturism vs. anti-multiculturism, pro-Israel vs. anti-Israel, etc. You get a wider variety of opinions on these issues in forums like these, but in general society, it feels like everyone is so polarized about most everything. It's tiring and depressing, particularly when you consider the fact that it doesn't have to be this way. *shrug*

I find that people have funny definitions of what "maximum settings" means when it comes to talking about their own rigs. Does "full graphic settings" include at least 8x, possibly 16x antialiasing*, no shortcut settings enabled in AMD's GPU control panel, etc.? *...assuming GTA V even comes with antialiasing settings, which it wouldn't surprise me overtly if it didn't based on the type of game that it is, being open world with many complex, mobile objects whose movements are constantly being calculated

My point, I guess, was that I'm trying to see both sides of the argument, and that the situation/issue seems terribly complex and nuanced...and it's unfortunate that all of us...or at least most of us...live in polarized societies where it's (increasingly?) difficult for people to consider the perspectives of those on the other side of the wall, and that issues such as these aren't likely to be resolved any time soon and/or with any semblance of effectiveness as a consequence of that. I edited my previous post some, in case that helps further explain my point of view any.

...debate where?

I've read a tiny - very tiny - amount of literature on the subject, and the "don't attack the privileged, but try and motivate them (as well as everyone else) to get involved in better understanding and working towards improving the lives of those who belong to unprivileged social categories" seems to be the general motto of those are more reasonable about the subject (i.e. not usually the more extremist teenagers and young adults you find on twitter and tumblr and such). It's my belief, though, that people, regardless of their station (or lack thereof) in life, are generally too absorbed in their own lives in order for such movements to ever truly make progress*. Most regular people are too busy working for their own lives and the lives of their loved ones and close friends, too much so to care about the intricacies of others' lives, particularly when it's concerning what seems to be semi-abstract social categorization and labeling. Throw in the people who claim to be "working for" those unprivileged groups but are really more just attacking what they consider to be privileged groups - particularly those who don't subscribe to their theory of certain categories of people being privileged and others being unprivileged - and you're bound for some equal anger and pushback. Such is life...and the polarized societies we live in. e: *Because it doesn't matter whether I belong to privileged groups or not: I still have things goals I need to work towards to and things I need to attend to and get done just like everyone else. Life can feel tough - as well as good - regardless of how objectively good or bad any given person's life we're evaluating is, which means most of us are usually more concerned with working on improving our lives rather than others we feel little connection to. I think it's a perfectly justified attitude, but it is (probably) unfortunate for those born in the future who will be dealt a poor hand in life...if there is no concentrated effort on the part of all - and I do mean all, from those on the very bottom to those at the very top - members of society to improve things. Again, such is life...and how life has, quite frankly, always been.

Afraid not.

If the fan noise on a GPU is bothering me too much, I just downclock the GPU so it doesn't get as hot and therefore need to push the fans so much. ...But uh, I don't usually need the GPU to work too hard anyways, and you just spent a few hundred dollars on a GPU, so you probably don't want to do that.

Isn't it just...not a player-made protagonist? Are we gonna start complaining about all of the literally hundreds - thousands, really - of games that don't give you a choice in regards to the character(s) you play, now? This isn't anything new...

Don't you usually roll a custom party anyways? I think the VA on new companions is pretty poor and mod-quality myself. Yes...it still damages my image of the game whe these random NPCs that I know aren't supposed to be a part of the game are just sitting around in certain locations...feels like I'm playing with mod-added party members, which is a huge, immersion-breaking no-no to me. If I recall correctly, too, Neera talks to you immediately upon spotting you in...Beregost, was it? ...and...Rasaad...or Dorn...whoever the monk in Nashkel is...has ridiculous boots that you could sell for like 15k gold or something insane when I played. It was all just very disappointing. I actually thought about making my own little weidu mod to remove them, but weidu was still broken for the EEs at that point...and really, why bother? Mods that I feel like I need still aren't compatible with the EEs, so there's no point in ever bothering with the EEs over the originals. *shrug*

Which is unfortunate for me, since I want to play them on PC but want absolutely nothing to do with the character DLC...them making that optional on PC would've gone a long ways to increase my goodwill towards them, but what's done is done.

It's too much a composite of things to really say...although the larger amount of processing cores/units/whatever they're called these days, the higher the other parameters (memory, memory bandwidth, clock speeds up to a point, etc.) tend to be...though it depends upon the brand and generation (since they change the architecture of the cores from generation to generation, and cores work differently across brands, too, of course). From a 5800 series card, that's still a pretty sizable upgrade, so congratulations.

But...they're dead! ...although actually giving the article a quick glance over, seems like the article writer thought of that, too. Flashbacks wouldn't exactly be the best of ways to reintroduce dead characters...but outside of magical resurrection or cloning, I guess it's pretty much the only way.

I've heard that show is kinda like Seinfeld, only hyped up on speed and crack cocaine...the latter of factors which, so far, has made me stay away from the show.

Well, it'd help to know what your previous card was so we have an idea on how to compare the two...

That sounds like it could at least be a little promising. I'm rather pessimistic when it comes to games lately, so I probably won't end up playing it anyways unless I hear really great things, but it could happen.

(edit: or if you like the older version more)

Hey, don't worry about it: as the creator, you're sure to have an edge in finishing the levels you've made much more quickly than the average player. Somebody who's never played is sure to spend closer to...oh, maybe 20 to 25 minutes...