darth_ender

Sounds like a question of lust

And a question of trust

And a question of not letting what we've built up crumble to dust.

Here's one that is sure to offend.

When the DSM IV (the manual for diagnosing psychiatric conditions, 4th edition) came out, homosexuality was removed.  Very recently the DSM V came out, changing transsexualism so that it in itself is not a psychiatric disorder, but the dissatisfaction with one's body which doesn't match one's internal gender is the disorder.  While I am not here to argue the morality or anything of such things, I wish to point out the politics and imprecise nature of psychiatric conditions.

While we know why we have a heart, why it beats, what is going wrong when it beats incorrectly, what may cause cardiac conditions or what effects cardiac conditions may cause, etc, we know so very little about psychiatric conditions.  When someone is having congestive heart failure, they receive a diagnosis based on the root cause, not the subsequent fluid buildup in lungs, lower extremities, lab results, etc.  However in psychiatric conditions, we do not label based on the root cause, but rather the manifestation.  So for whatever biological reasons a person may be severely depressed or seeing things that are not there, no matter how varied the root cause, they will receive a diagnosis of major depressive disorder or schizophrenia.  My point: psychiatry/psychology is a far less precise science.

How is this relevant? Well, with such imprecision, it allows for a society to redefine psychiatric conditions with ease, depending on the prevailing winds of societal wisdom.  Today, as Bruce Jenner transitions into Caitlyn Jenner, transgender rights and acceptance are at the forefront of many minds, particularly those who consider themselves very open-minded.

So let me challenge that open-mindedness.  Are these changes always right?  Or perhaps do they not go far enough?  For instance, the differences in sexual orientation are in many ways analogous to the differences between normal adults and pedophiles.  I am certain this will cause offense, but the parallels are many, regardless.  The big difference is that it is socially wrong for adults to have sexual relations with children.  Similarly, there are those who wish to have sex with animals, or sex with close relatives, but such things are not acceptable socially.

Now imagine a future society where we are more sexually open.  Children are permitted to have sex with adults starting at the age of 9, perhaps with parental permission.  People are permitted to get extra close to their pets, and the siblings are permitted to be partners.  And over time, the psychiatric diagnoses that accompany these conditions are changed to suit public views.  And of course there are those who do not approve of such behavior, but they are just close-minded and condemned for their bigotry and narrow-mindedness.

Do you feel these are extreme examples?  There are societies, even primitive societies, where all young men (of minor age) must give oral sex to an older man in order to achieve their own status of manhood.  There are societies where hallucinations are actually seen as visions, insight that those without schizophrenia lack.  These things are seen as natural, and with further research, and with political favor, these things might even be seen as evolutionarily beneficial, just as the more pressing issues of today are now being explained as beneficial to human evolution.

My point is that the mind is a complex thing, and that politics are indeed involved in what is and is not acceptable, appropriate, or even a disorder.  There are those who are cruel bigots, and I certainly don't feel such is appropriate.  But while my views have liberalized quite a bit in recent years in these areas, I still feel I must defend those who believe such behaviors are not natural.  There is plenty of justification for those views, and many of them are not bigots in spite of their beliefs.  If you find some of the behaviors I suggested above offensive, just consider how those views may change some day, and just consider how resistant you might be to those changes.

I think Team Olie should begin posting in every other thread and find every excuse to encourage other folks to check out Team Olie's projects.

Example:

We see you are sad because you are losing your hair.  You should check out The Ridiculous Menace with the very handsome Ric Olie, and he's losing his hair as well.  Here are a bunch of links.

Here is what my board looks like

Should you not

Every time

With your signature

Form a rhyme?

One Man Team Ender

The Idea Lender

Inserting a row or column in Excel, then removing that same row or column has sometimes realigned my games if that helps.  I know it sounds weird, but it's worked.

Which, obviously, yet remarkably coincidentally, is the opposite of negative one!  Team Olie is the opposite of TeamNegative_1!

The jokesters of the forum inherent

Need to post in this thread of things apparent

How will we know of the obvious in verse

Without the Team Olie of this universe?

One other thing occurs to me: we have played two 3-player hex shogis, each on separate boards.  Perhaps you are using the incorrect board.

I wonder if it is also possible that your setup is a little funny, perhaps the alignment of the board and pieces is different on the grid than Ric's and mine.  I know sometimes when I booted up the spreadsheet I had to realign things in the past.  I agree with Ric's placement of my bishop.

I guess I'm directionally challenged because that is what I meant, and my move makes it requisite. What a dork I am 8P

This thread sounds like a an enjoyable cavort

Though the time to rhyme can make for tough sport.

I will post my posts in this thread by Post

Praetorian, though I likely won't write the most.

Poetry is an old hobby of mine

But I'm not the best poet--hopefully others shine.

Had some trouble getting the file back, but I'm good to go now, so my first move is:

N-9xy

I'm playing from the upper left corner, since that's where I was during our last game.  As we had it set up before, Ric is next, but we don't have to keep it that way.

It would likely be one of the two.  I know of no other three-player shogis, though there is a four-player version, but then we'd have to hunt down another player.  I am interested in Kokusai Sannin, and I think I'd like to have a go at allies against one, with me being the loner, if you guys are okay with that.  Post, you gave up too early last game, and I think it is actually possible to force a win as the loner, but I want to test it out.

And Ric, yeah, we can pick up the other game if there's a lull, like you said.  I'll try to get a spreadsheet eventually.  Always busy.

See, I thought we were missing the piece moves, but I was looking in a hurry as usual.  I'll try to create such a spreadsheet too if you don't beat me to it at some point tonight.

Yeah, I thought it was cute.  Unfortunately, it appears the rules are unavailable, and only the printable game/pieces and app are available.  My Kindle Fire won't download the app on its own (stupid thing!) but I might be able to get it to play and figure out the rules anyway.  I'll get back to you.

Oh, forgot to add that polygamy was never against the law until after it was an institutionalized policy in the Church.  It was because of us that the law was created in the first place.

He is most certainly a man, a fallible man who even receives chastisement from God in scriptures that he himself dictated.

Polygamy is an interesting issue, as it was practiced in OT times, but by the NT it had died out.  I'm sure there are numerous articles I could link to, but for now I will start with the best answer that comes from our Book of Mormon, found in Jacob 2, with my emphasis placed on the last verse:

 23 But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes. For behold, thus saith the Lord: This people begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son.

 24 Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.

 25 Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph.

 26 Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old.

 27 Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none;

 28 For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts.

 29 Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes.

 30 For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.

Long story short, it's almost always wrong, with the exception largely to raise a population of God's people.

Do you think your dad wants to try a game?  If we can get a fourth player we could even try yonin shogi.

Also, I'm interested in this game.  I haven't seen it before and I'm not familiar with the rules, but it looks easy.  I just have to find a moment to look it over.

http://ocastudios.com/four/shogi/

Sx1c check

Kx1c

G*1d check

K-1b

G (either) x2c mate

Good game, my friend.  You get to make the next call.

There's a great shot of the underside of a star destroyer (three actually, but only one that you could use) in TESB when Han says, "We can still outmaneuver them."

Great news in my mind.  I am not big into horse racing, but I really enjoyed the movie Secretariat despite its uneven pacing and was amazed at that tremendous horse, so my interest is piqued every time I hear about a Triple Crown contender.  Awesome news.  Glad to hear it :)

S-1d

Well if you get the chance you should check them out.  Here is a playlist of some of their songs from Poem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKUxE8UE7S0&list=PLxha3DZtSaoMSripOgeUhjham_4lenoTe

G-2e

That is their most popular album for sure, but I personally preferred the next one, Poem.  It was my favorite CD for a while.  

S-1e