BruceVC

Oby why has Russia agreed to this ceasefire? I thought Putin didn't care what the West wanted or thought and he just did what he wanted?

Its not a bad read, he positions the whole " yes women are more likely the victims of sexual violence than men but men are also treated more unfairly then women in institutions like family court " in way that is objective So I think its a reasonable article because he does acknowledge the gender inequality that exists in society that effect both men and women

Yes as far as I know it could be still be part of the Commonwealth if it wanted to, but I'm not sure about points like what currency would Scotland use and would they be part of the EU?

You've raised a good point and it is related to the definition of certain words and what we decide they mean. But we do need consistency, do we accept that certain words don't mean what the official dictionary says they mean based on the context and the discussion at the time? Or do we say that a words definition doesn't ever change irrespective of the context? The meaning of words changes over time. Sometimes the dictionary doesn't keep up. The problem in this situation is that you have 8 or 9 journalists using "gamer" to mean the unwashed basement dwelling mysoginist arseholes, and everyone else reading it and thinking "why are they being so hostile to me and my fellow gamers?" not realizing they have suddenly narrowed the definition. It wasn't a natural evolution of the word, it was a bunch of people writing nonsense. Sure I understand your concern. I feel the same frustration. There are several people on these forums who say feminism means a hatred of men and that feminism means that women must be more fairly represented at the expense of men. But what can we do about people who refuse to understand or accept what words really mean?

As I've said numerous times the word " gamer" doesn't mean all gamers, in this discussion it has never meant that. Its just become a convenient way for people like you to vent and show outrage at "the terrible way you have been treated by gaming journalists and the industry " The irony being you have never respected and liked gaming journalists anyway, so its just double standards and false indignation The problem here is how upset you get when it seems like the majority of people have a negative view of the word feminist, but the negative interpretation for that comes from decades of misuse and negative association. Gamer has never meant anything but "people who play games" until the game bloggers decided to hijack the meaning for this discussion. This is why #GamerGate got so many supporters. Imagine how mad you would be if there wasn't any negative association with feminist and everyone widely accepted the term to mean someone who believed in equality, and suddenly all the feminist blogs suddenly started using it to exclusively describe the crazy "all sex is rape, men are the cause of evils, long live the matriarchy" feminists and decry the end of feminism. You've raised a good point and it is related to the definition of certain words and what we decide they mean. But we do need consistency, do we accept that certain words don't mean what the official dictionary says they mean based on the context and the discussion at the time? Or do we say that a words definition doesn't ever change irrespective of the context?

As I've said numerous times the word " gamer" doesn't mean all gamers, in this discussion it has never meant that. Its just become a convenient way for people like you to vent and show outrage at "the terrible way you have been treated by gaming journalists and the industry " The irony being you have never respected and liked gaming journalists anyway, so its just double standards and false indignation

But of course you understand the concern from the UK, the UK has to be strict with Polish immigrants because the last thing the UK wants is thousands of Polish mass murderers running through the streets of London and inflicting carnage and mayhem on people trying to have there tea and scones? You can understand why the British want to prevent this disruption to there lifestyle, its not unreasonable .....

Do you think the majority of people in Texas would vote for independence if there was a referendum? With current situation in states not only Texas. I'm not with you ? What current situation in the USA, do you think that despite some of the perceived economic and political challenges in the USA states would really want to be independent? I don't think so ....

This is a really insightful post but its far to reasonable and logical for this thread If you are shocked by the viciousness of SJW you should read some of the comments directed towards feminists and there supporters. Comments like " a women like you needs a good raping to sort you out " But the main thing for me that I have found completely exasperating about this debate has been the constant and deliberate attempts by people to intentionally misunderstand the intentions of gaming journalists and many people who support Zoe Quinn. And it really comes down to the word " gamer". As I've tried to explain the word doesn't apply to all gamers, but it does apply to those gamers who refuse to accept change in the industry. And this applies to those white, ,male gamers who don't believe in inclusivity. But once again this doesn't mean all white, male gamers. Anyway its always best to stay on the side of virtue and righteousness ....fight the good SJ fight

Do you think the majority of people in Texas would vote for independence if there was a referendum?

Yea that would be cool

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2746321/Jack-Ripper-unmasked-How-amateur-sleuth-used-DNA-breakthrough-identify-Britains-notorious-criminal-126-years-string-terrible-murders.html At last, really interesting story. It deserves its own thread. Remember all the conspiracy theories and guesses around "who was Jack the Ripper "

Excellent article, very accurate view of the situation and some good responses. I hope everyone reads this link. Well done RPS

On the 18 of this month Scotland decides if it wants to be independent from the UK, I use to think that the Yes vote would never succeed and of course " Scotland will want to stay part of the UK" But now I see the Yes vote has taken the lead in the polls http://www.bbc.com/news/events/scotland-decides/poll-tracker I am worried that Scotland might break away from the UK. If so I think this will fundamentally weaken both the UK and Scotland, but anyway what do you guys think? What happens if Scotland breaks away from the UK? What will the political and economic consequences be?

Yeah, but is that because they are ashamed or because of the social stigma from other people? As long as there are black people who think that prostitutes and escorts can be raped because of the job they have, I don't expect even the prouders of them to inform the world of their occupation. I don't know how ****ed up things are where you live, but here no one thinks it's ok to rape strippers, prostitutes, or pornstars. Thankfully we don't have much black folks. If by here you meant Texas then I could agree, but in the US you sure as hell have a large bunch of those animals on the loose. I'm confused, what have black people got to do with "people who think its okay to rape strippers and hookers" ? Do you think black people are more likely to do this?

Its not that they are stupid, its more the fact they have convinced themselves of a certain narrative. Putins propaganda machinery is always impressive. Also its not like Russia has any effective independent news channels that give the average Russian a different perspective. Its Putins and RT way or its the highway in Russia at the moment

Yeah, I nearly played / finished all the IE games in order of release. The exception is PS:T even though I had bought PS:T when it was released. I initially couldn't get into PS:T (quite removed from BG) and put it aside and a few months later IWD was released which I found the game style more familiar with BG and was immediately hooked. It was always marketed as a dungeon crawl where you create your own party so companions weren't going to be in. And not long after that, some months later BG2 was released. So it was a while before I got around to playing PS:T again. My progression was BG, IWD, BG2, PS:T, IWD2. When playing IWD after BG, there were a lot of technical improvements. So it was a natural progression to go from BG, IWD and then BG2 where you see IWD animations in BG2. It flowed really well for me. I really enjoy IWD but not enough to buy it again as there's nothing wrong with my copy of the game and runs on my comp. The mods like unfinished business isn't a strong selling point when I can download that for free, and having been bitten once with the BG:EE with all the bugs, I'm quite wary of Beamdog. Same with Amentep, that I've played IWD more than BG2. You probably find you couldn't get into PS:T because it didn't have the deep and engaging Romance options you were expecting

No but there are plenty who support these professions as "pro-woman" and "empowering"*. Surely you're aware of the dichotomies between the "second" and "third" waves or so-called "sex-negative" verse "sex-positive" feminisms and are not simply reducing numerous interpretations of practice and theory within the feminist movement into one incredibly crude caricature. *I do not. Jenna Jameson: ”Most girls get their first experience in gonzo films – in which they’re taken to a crappy studio apartment in Mission Hills and penetrated in every hole possible by some abusive **** who thinks her name is Bitch.” Alexa James: ”The first shoot I did was with a man who was probably 40 and he was as thick as a soda can. He held me down and shoved it in me with no lube tearing my vagina. When I started to tear up and cry he flipped me over and continued from behind be so they wouldn’t get me crying on film. He pulled my hair and choked me over and over again even when I told him it hurt and I could barely breathe.” Andi Anderson: "After a year or so of that so-called “glamorous” life, I sadly discovered that drugs and drinking were a part of the lifestyle. I began to drink and party out of control! Cocaine, alcohol and ecstasy were my favorites. Before long, I turned into a person I did not want to be. After doing so many hardcore scenes I couldn’t do it anymore. I just remember being in horrible situations and experiencing extreme depression and being alone and sad.” Jessie Jewels: ”People in the porn industry are numb to real life and are like zombies walking around. The abuse that goes on in this industry is completely ridiculous. The way these young ladies are treated is totally sick and brainwashing. I left due to the trauma I experienced even though I was there only a short time.” Genevieve: ”I had bodily fluids all over my face that had to stay on my face for ten minutes. The abuse and degradation was rough. I sweated and was in deep pain. On top of the horrifying experience, my whole body ached, and I was irritable the whole day. The director didn’t really care how I felt; he only wanted to finish the video.” Jessi Summers: ”I also did a scene where I was put with male talent that was on my no list. I wanted to please them so I did it. He put his foot on my head and stepped on it while he was doing me from behind. I freaked out and started balling; they stopped filming and sent me home with reduced pay since they got some shot but not the whole scene. And so on. Geez that's an important but depressing insight into the life of a porn star, especially in the early days when they are building there career. No I don't think its a job that gives you much pride or satisfaction?

"Yawn" This is just more anti-feminist propaganda and hyperbole Not sure what its significance is suppose to be? That is, as a matter of fact, the exact angle Anita and her foaming at the mouth supporters take. Also, her eyebrows are perfect. PERFECT. No its an exaggeration and misinterpretation of what most people who support feminist ideals believe. Unless of course Anita actually said those things about crayons in which case I apologize. But for me its just a cheap shot at feminism by someone who created a fictitious image, using Photoshop, and used her image to encourage ridicule of the feminist movement. What part of modern Feminism are you supporting? Most of it seems pretty hateful to me. It's a destructive ideology, no at all interested in being inclusive. I think that BruceVC is supporting his romanticized view of feminists movement. And like some supporters of other movements (not unlike communism, fascism, nationalism, etc.) he is blinded on what the movement he supports is really like. Okay I've made this point several times but I'll make it again Feminism is a movement that wants equality of the genders in society and in the eyes of the law where it is reasonable. Feminism does not say men are inferior, it isn't about a hatred of men and isn't about ensuring women are equal to men at the expense of men now becoming less than women. Yes you do get radical feminists like the link that was posted that said consensual sex is tantamount to rape but I reject that and all the people I know who care about gender equality reject that type of thinking as well Certain people on this forums don't like the fact that there is a movement in the gaming industry to ensure fair and reasonable gender equality. The result of this a complete dismissal and rejection of anything that comes from anyone associated with the feminist movement. In other words all feminists are painted with the radical feminist brush. And that is unhelpful to understanding what most people who support these movements want

"Yawn" This is just more anti-feminist propaganda and hyperbole Not sure what its significance is suppose to be? That is, as a matter of fact, the exact angle Anita and her foaming at the mouth supporters take. Also, her eyebrows are perfect. PERFECT. No its an exaggeration and misinterpretation of what most people who support feminist ideals believe. Unless of course Anita actually said those things about crayons in which case I apologize. But for me its just a cheap shot at feminism by someone who created a fictitious image, using Photoshop, and used her image to encourage ridicule of the feminist movement.

"Yawn" This is just more anti-feminist propaganda and hyperbole Not sure what its significance is suppose to be? Reductio ad absurdum, which is redundant since there is nothing more absurd than believing that helping women and saving them is misogynist. I agree, but who exactly is suggesting that helping women is considered misogynistic? I have missed that part of the conversation ?

I'm trying to find that study that said that girls with high self esteem were least likely to identify as a feminist. I can't say I know of one of those, however, I do know that recent studies have shown that sex workers such as strippers, prostitutes and porn stars actually have incredibly high self-esteem and the stereotype of them having "daddy issues" or issues with being content with their body image are untrue. I would love to see that study that suggests strippers and escorts have high self-esteem and are proud of there jobs They have confidence in certain arenas as they know what motivates men but its not like they get on to a bus or meet someone in a line in a shopping mall when asked what they do for a living they proudly say "I have the most amazing and liberating job, I have sex with men for money" ...

"Yawn" This is just more anti-feminist propaganda and hyperbole Not sure what its significance is suppose to be?

/pats Labadal on the back I'm sorry. Lost and Damned has even more unlikable characters than base GTA4. /pats Labadal on the back I'm sorry. Lost and Damned has even more unlikable characters than base GTA4. That's okay. When I get annoyed, I will go on a killing spree. Then I can go back to the unlikable characters. I loved the Lost and the Damned, I played a hardcore biker. I would ride over people and randomly attack police cars just to start a war with them

What took her so long? Once again its the victims fault right Sarex?