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@DebateArt.com
@Vader
Chrome's Zoom feature is working fine for me, maybe try restarting Chrome?
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@RationalMadman
I'll certainly try, thanks for the comment
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In a few hours I graduate high school and am officially semi-free from the government's grip. I'm highly excited for a break from the constant grind, and am even more excited for my future prospects. Anyway, I hope you all have been doing well during my absence. I've been largely inactive for the past month and a half in order to focus on school, but with my newfound freedom I will be able to commit a lot more time to the site and catch up on the current happenings.
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@RationalMadman
Who on this site would you kiss? Who would you marry? Who would you kill?
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@Undefeatable
The "freedom" argument is extraordinarily easy to knock down because it is extraordinarily false. Check my debate with Seldiora for details.
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@Vader
I mean he's not technically wrong. Columbus sort of walked onto natives land and claimed it as his own. Someone could do that today and say they own America, but they'd probably be dismissed as insane or shot if they start entering someone's property
It wasn't organized territory and the populations were sparse and similarly unorganized. Coming and claiming what was seemingly empty land for Spain wasn't the equivalent of marching into New York City and claiming it for yourself. The way Columbus saw it, he was simply bringing civilization to a stone age world. Moreover, whenever people speak of Columbus "stealing" land, they don't seem to recognize that nearly all land expansion in history was done through CONQUERING land, which is exactly what Spain did. This wasn't a uniquely terrible act. It wasn't good, but it wasn't something uniquely heinous by any means.
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ah yes, the Great Columbus Landing of 1942.
Seriously though, your understanding of history is so flawed.
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@RationalMadman
As for my inactivity... When school ends I intend on debating once more. Just have a few weeks to get through.
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@RationalMadman
A fascinating insight. Thanks for taking the time.
he at times may 'slant' a comment to have an alternate interpretation thus meaning he didn't technically lie.
This is true. I've been known to "white lie" or skirt around the issue at times. I don't always trust my interpretation of events enough to be firm and resolute... I'm always analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of ideas, which can lead me to be paralyzed with choice regarding divisive issues I don't have a firm position on. A natural result of this is that my solutions tend to be "middle of the road" when it comes to conflict resolution, and I don't so much as delete a vote without careful consideration of the precedent I'd be setting (and if I get push back on it, I always am considering the criticisms coming my way).
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@RationalMadman
Too curious not to.
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@gugigor
That One Voter (if Feature 1 fails)
yeahhh.... Once school ends, I want to start voting more. I'm unable to at this time though.
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@Earth
Keep its function hidden for now although I really think you did TOWN dirty by the early claim (if you aren't lying about the role). The whole point of Beloved Princess is to try and attract a NK for the debuff it gives Mafia.
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Another note, starting this evening, I won't be able to check in very often until Monday. I have work all throughout the weekend
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I will claim immediately for sake of confirmation.
I am "It" and I am the popular townie. Obviously, I require one extra vote to be lynched. I'm not sure why I'm getting this role again so soon but whatever ig.
Anyway, to help confirm myself: VTL MisterChris.
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@Earth
I am Carrie and I am the Beloved Princess.
Does this role function as described here?
"You are the BELOVED PRINCESS. If you are lynched, the following Day Phase will be skipped. If you are killed at night, the following Night Phase will be skipped."
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@Vader
don't blame you, i mean you won
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y'all were autistic for lynching me over a photo variation, I very obviously soft claimed DP1 but NoOOoOO let's hammer before he claims.
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Not sure how I feel about the pop-quiz idea from RM. Could make things interesting
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Again thinking Lunatic is likely TOWN but the urgency with which RM wants to replace him may indicate SCUM or TP affiliation.
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I am reading Earth hard TOWN for:
- early claim
- detailed picture description
- being too lazy to read the opening posts from RM.
I don't agree with Supa's accusation on Pie, I feel like he's just trying to get TOWN going by any means possible.
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Honestly as stupid as this game may have become due to my shenanigans I actually think I have made a masterpiece out of what could have otherwise been a boring 'classic' setup: 3 vanills, 2 goons, 1 cop 1 doc type setup.
Did... RM just disclose the entire setup
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@ILikePie5
Man with black, messy hair in a red suit sitting at a table holding 5 cards in one hand and touching a stack of poker chips in the other. He has a bead of sweat running down his cheek. Some women in similar red suits are seen in the background.
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@Bullish
Not reading the sign up thread or the OP is a town tell
Why?
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@Bullish
I think the mod psych of this would put superstars at scum, cause otherwise why not just use innocent child?
ah, this is a good point, but at the same time, I feel that RM giving them a mod-confirmed claim and role + a role to use however they see fit is a bit OP. It's almost as if he's giving SCUM two sets of fake claims
I understand that we should reserve the possibility for Lunatic to be SCUM. If TOWN turns out to be loaded, then the decision to make Lunatic SCUM might make sense.
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@Earth
his character and role are revealed already.
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Since RM confirms that SCUM have not been given a fake character claim, I believe Earth is TOWN for claiming so early.
This is debatable but Lunatic is almost confirmed TOWN in my book because to give SCUM the celebrity + a fake role I think would be OP.
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well anyway first thing I'll say is I know zero about the theme of this game. Never seen this anime.
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I will not use the L-word
lol what
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I'd suggest Lunatic or Danielle if they could be active.
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@Sum1hugme
Maybe at some point. I'm taking a small break from the debate stage just to get my bearings on schoolwork and to read my Bible and other literature. My graduation approaches though, and we will be able to debate soon.
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@coal
@SirAnonymous
@Sum1hugme
So I've been asked to speak on why I am now a Christian...
It's very difficult to answer this (satisfactorily) with concision, but it more or less comes down to the immense force of the Holy Spirit drawing me to God. This is why I said "not by my own strength, but by His alone." I agree with the Calvinist doctrine that head knowledge and a half-hearted "eh this is probably true" alone is not sufficient to be saved. Why? Because without the Holy Spirit we are dead spiritually, and we do not WANT to be saved nor do we have true faith. I felt the Holy Spirit tugging on my heart for weeks, and it grew to a crescendo this past Sunday. At that moment, giving myself to Christ seemed irresistible to me. Lord knows I would have found some excuse to put off the decision otherwise, I am the most reluctant convert there ever was. It's extremely difficult to describe.
Anyway, I have followed the "head knowledge" route all my life until this point. I grew up in a Christian family, and have known the tenets of the faith for a long time, but I never truly BELIEVED in them nor did I really desire to up until now. I've always taken an intellectual interest in this stuff though, especially since I realized that eternity could hang in the balance. When I was taught Darwinism and Old Earth Theory it conflicted with the hyper-literalist interpretations of scripture I was brought up on, and for a long time I've been an agnostic because of it. I've spent a long time researching into arguments for and against the existence of God, the divinity of Christ, the reliability of Scripture, the relationship between Scripture and science, interpretations of Genesis and other passages, etc. I could never resolve the conflicts in my mind until recently. There are questions that I still don't know (and may not ever know) the answers to. But I've been granted the gift of faith by God.
Now, this isn't to say there aren't solid, rational reasons for belief. There are plenty.
- The Cosmological Argument (why is there something rather than nothing? You must have a cause outside of space, time, and matter to create space, time, and matter)
- The Teleological Argument (there is overwhelming, inescapable evidence of fine-tuning and design by an intelligent source)
- The Argument from Abiogenesis (intelligent scientists in expensive laboratories can not create life after decades of trying. Why should we expect unintelligent, natural forces to accomplish what they couldn't?)
- Laws of Morality, Logic, Math, Physics, etc. (A purely naturalistic world has no notion of transcendent law)
- Consciousness (The human consciousness is inexplicable by science)
- Unexplainable truths... the world is beautiful, and I stand in awe of it. I enjoy music. I love stories. I laugh. I dream. I love. God's creation is tainted by sin, but the remnants of the perfect world in which God created many things for us to enjoy remains.
- Prophecies in Scripture fulfilled (there are some insane mathematical calculations that show how improbable this was aside from divine guidance)
- The nature of Scripture itself (dozens of writers over thousands of years, talking about the same story)
- Early, eyewitness accounts of Jesus that can be corroborated by extra-Biblical sources (Especially Luke, the man included historical details that eyewitnesses only could have known. Also, most of the gospels contain details that are just SCREAMING to be contradicted by critics if they were false. Why did the Pharisees explain away the empty tomb with theft? Because the tomb WAS empty.)
- The story is unembellished and honest, portraying the events in great detail (and to the great embarrassment of the disciples). If I was getting together with my buds to create a giant lie in order to accomplish my goal of getting myself martyred, I wouldn't weave a tale that depicted me as being utterly stupid (failing to grasp Jesus' words), a coward (I hide as the women investigate Jesus' tomb, I deny my Lord 3 times after swearing I would not), careless (me and the bois fell asleep on our Lord in his time of need), and unbelievable (the story defies Jewish expectations of what the Messiah would be. Not the type of story you concoct when you want Jews to believe you).
- The fact that these men were martyred for their beliefs, when they would be in the unique position of knowing whether the faith was based on a lie. No one dies for a lie, especially not one that brings them NO benefits. The Watergate lies lasted a measly 2 weeks. Imagine how much quicker the apostles would have cracked under pressure of death if this were a lie? These were the same men that cowered in fear after Jesus' crucifixion while the women went to Jesus' tomb.
- Personal experiences. What I felt and continue to feel is real, and that is enough for me to believe. It's not just me either, look at the millions the faith has affected and changed.
- much more...
This and more is why I believe.
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@fauxlaw
Thank you. I appreciate the support everyone has given since yesterday, sincerely I do.
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I'll join
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@Theweakeredge
congrats on this achievement despite your relative inactivity on the site!
ouch ;-;
I hope to increase my debate activity once school wraps up. Just riding out my senior year at this point
what do you feel about the accomplishment?
I feel pretty good about it. It's nice to see payoff for the work I put into debates.
Do you feel like you could one day achieve the number one spot?
Maybe, but it will be quite a while before then. It could be a pipe dream of course, as I'm sure Oromagi will continue to debate as well.
Finally, do you think you'll stay at number two?
In a few days Ragnar will pass me again because of his debate with Mairj23. After that, I think I'll be able to regain 2nd by doing another debate or two. Ragnar does debates a lot more intermittently than I do.
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@SirAnonymous
@Sum1hugme
Why?I'm curious about that as well. What led you to this decision?What led you to this realization?
Now that... that requires a longer answer. Let me get through Latin class and I'll answer
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@RationalMadman
By the way, your profile still lists your religion as Pastafarianism.
ah, will change that. Thanks
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@SirAnonymous
Thank you. I'm happy as well. And a bit shocked at my own belief frankly.
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Today, I felt an irresistible call to dedicate myself to the Lord. I’m a disciple of Christ as of today- not by my own strength, but by His alone.
I understand that I will be congratulated by some and ridiculed by others for this decision, but it doesn’t matter. I have faith.
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@Mandrakel
your definition of religion is completely wrong and you continue to be in denial. If the non-religious (those who reject the supernatural) develop a religion-like adherence to a radical political ideology, that is not the fault of religion, but of the non-religious who developed and followed it. You claim that the distinction between believing in the supernatural makes no difference, but you ignore that this is literally the distinguishing factor between religion and non-religion. You can try and equate the two all you want, but you simply dig your grave further.
But let's say I buy that communism is a religion. If athiests gravitate towards religious-like behavior, and end up killing hundreds of millions, the entire debate is non-unique. Neither side, theist nor secular, can claim to be rid of religious fervor.
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@Mandrakel
Communism is no different to religion and is for all intents and purposes a religion.
Ah, the argument athiests all turn to. When athiests do wrong, just call them religious, and that somehow alters reality. Sorry, but communism is not a religion, it is antithetical to religion. The religion ALWAYS appeals to the supernatural by DEFINITION. Communism rejects the supernatural, and substitutes it with government authority and collectivist ideals. It is an ideology, not a religion. A radical one. Non-religious folk are just as capable of violent fervor as religious folk are. And I would argue that some religions are more uniquely opposed to violence than others, just as some ideologies are. Your argument crumbles.
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I'd give feedback but I haven't really read your debates in any significant amount. Once school calms down I'll resume judging debates and I assume I'll get to know your debate style better.
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