My opinion of the psychology profession dates from my college years - the people majoring in psych were without a doubt the least balanced ones in any subject approaching the sciences. Trusting the looniest scientists out there to define mental illness doesn't strike me as the best bet....
More seriously, psychology isn't quite a science yet. It's a legitimate field of study, and they do try, but they're still waiting for their version of Isaac Newton. As it stands, the field is more akin to alchemy than to chemistry - they have data, some vague ideas at classification, and some empirical knowledge (i.e. - do this, it works. Why? I have absolutely no friggin' idea. But it works.) They have no framework, theoretical basis, or mathematical analysis, and I don't think they -can- until we know enough about biology to move to the next level. Maybe in the next century - I think bio's going to be the big one in this century.
I know I'm insane, but.....
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Kerry Skydancer
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(I forgot to say that for those who want a toy lightsaber, I have a paper model of Vader's saber...it even extends. PM me if you want it)
"It's great to be known, but it's even better to be known as strange." -- Takeshi Kaga
"I've seen worse." -- Edwina Troutt, TITANIC survivor, during a stormy Carribean cruise, in response to a fellow passenger's query, "Are you worried?"
"I've seen worse." -- Edwina Troutt, TITANIC survivor, during a stormy Carribean cruise, in response to a fellow passenger's query, "Are you worried?"
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RedSquirrel456
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I talk to myself practically all the time. I actually find it pretty fun, and it sometimes helps me focus on things I normally wouldn't be able to. Plus it makes everyone else think you're crazy, so nobody ever bothers you. 8)
And I got a ton of comics, most of them old and completely unrelated to each other. Anybody remember "Micronauts?" I got lots of those.
As for the furry culture, I've never seen anything harmful about the pure escapism of it. There are people who I consider to be crack-heads and haters of their own humanity, namely the ones that constantly spew nothing but porn from their pencils and stuff about how "mystical" it all is when you act like a unicorn. Sorry, but I'd be pretty freaked out if some guy in a feline suit came up and rubbed my leg with his head and was actually serious about it. From my viewpoint, making it a way of life rather than a hobby, sorta like Trekkies or D&D players, that makes it disturbing (not to say Trekkies and D&D players never take it too far either).
And I got a ton of comics, most of them old and completely unrelated to each other. Anybody remember "Micronauts?" I got lots of those.
As for the furry culture, I've never seen anything harmful about the pure escapism of it. There are people who I consider to be crack-heads and haters of their own humanity, namely the ones that constantly spew nothing but porn from their pencils and stuff about how "mystical" it all is when you act like a unicorn. Sorry, but I'd be pretty freaked out if some guy in a feline suit came up and rubbed my leg with his head and was actually serious about it. From my viewpoint, making it a way of life rather than a hobby, sorta like Trekkies or D&D players, that makes it disturbing (not to say Trekkies and D&D players never take it too far either).
"Every revolutionary idea seems to evoke three stages of reaction. They may be summed up by the phrases: (1) It's completely impossible. (2) It's possible, but it's not worth doing. (3) I said it was a good idea all along."
-Arthur C. Clarke
-Arthur C. Clarke
And don't forget the real-life roleplays, where people get together for a weekend or so and spend the entire time in character, playing RPGs out in real life. Could be kinda fun to watch or even participate in, I don't think this is "going too far" really. It's just for a weekend; after that, everybody gets back to their normal lives, having cleansed all need for RP'ing from their bodies for some time 
And I don't have voices in my head, like I said in the first post. I was just joking, to be honest. I also think shrinks deserve a little respect sometimes, especially regarding their lengthy education (I heard today that a certain type of psychiatrist has to undergo an education of up to twenty-two years) and the fact that they can be right sometimes. I do agree, however, that the shrink who said Shyal was possessed should be fervently ridiculed. The only person truly possessed by the devil is me..... mwuahahahaha..... sorry if I offended anyone here folks, just a joke, don't worry
And I don't have voices in my head, like I said in the first post. I was just joking, to be honest. I also think shrinks deserve a little respect sometimes, especially regarding their lengthy education (I heard today that a certain type of psychiatrist has to undergo an education of up to twenty-two years) and the fact that they can be right sometimes. I do agree, however, that the shrink who said Shyal was possessed should be fervently ridiculed. The only person truly possessed by the devil is me..... mwuahahahaha..... sorry if I offended anyone here folks, just a joke, don't worry
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Celidah the Bardess
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As to furries:
Four words--to each their own. Nothing wrong with exploring non-mainstream outlets for creativity. I don't see the difference between spending thousands of dollars on an intricate model train landscape or an intricate fursuit. Yay for imagination.
...okay, so that was more than four words.
As to talking to oneself:
I've often had teachers recommend reading aloud as a means to get focused on and understand material. For me, talking aloud is pretty much the same thing...a means of focus, and understanding what I'm trying to say, learn, do, etc. Especially since I'm definitely an "oooo, shiny!" person. Sometimes I tell stories or sing to myself to pass the time or cheer myself up, too, and often in the song case, I'm trying to memorize it. Still, give me the right (and I use that word very loosely) shrink, and I could be diagonsed crazy and drugged-up within a week, no doubt. Fortunately, though, I have wonderful parents who knew better. Besides...
THEY'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!!!! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
*ahem*
As to costumes:
I <3 costumes. I do. Movie costumes, SCA costumes, well-done con or furry costumes...if I had a job where all I did was try on costumes for the rest of my life, I could die happy. I could also die happy if I had an unlimited budget to buy and make costumes. I attend a Renaissance-style masquerade every spring, and I'm planning the outfit as soon as the previous one ends. In fact, I just got my dress for this year's masquerade. I'm mildly famous in my circles for my mask collection, and I even altered an old prom dress two years ago for another masquerade.
I also own a set of Renaissance Faire-style clothing, which I'm constantly adding to. Yes, I've got a persona to go with that outfit, like many SCA people do. And the purpose for THAT is to focus one's historical interest, and because I'm a firm believer in looking at the world from eyes other than your own once in a while.
Fantasy and furdom can be escapism, yes. So can D&D and real-life roleplays. But especially with all that's been happening these past four or five years, I would like to know what's really wrong with taking a break from life once in a while. As long as we don't blur the lines between fantasy and reality and--as has been said--live a well-balanced life, then have at it, I say!
*two cents clinks onto the table*
Four words--to each their own. Nothing wrong with exploring non-mainstream outlets for creativity. I don't see the difference between spending thousands of dollars on an intricate model train landscape or an intricate fursuit. Yay for imagination.
...okay, so that was more than four words.
As to talking to oneself:
I've often had teachers recommend reading aloud as a means to get focused on and understand material. For me, talking aloud is pretty much the same thing...a means of focus, and understanding what I'm trying to say, learn, do, etc. Especially since I'm definitely an "oooo, shiny!" person. Sometimes I tell stories or sing to myself to pass the time or cheer myself up, too, and often in the song case, I'm trying to memorize it. Still, give me the right (and I use that word very loosely) shrink, and I could be diagonsed crazy and drugged-up within a week, no doubt. Fortunately, though, I have wonderful parents who knew better. Besides...
THEY'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!!!! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
*ahem*
As to costumes:
I <3 costumes. I do. Movie costumes, SCA costumes, well-done con or furry costumes...if I had a job where all I did was try on costumes for the rest of my life, I could die happy. I could also die happy if I had an unlimited budget to buy and make costumes. I attend a Renaissance-style masquerade every spring, and I'm planning the outfit as soon as the previous one ends. In fact, I just got my dress for this year's masquerade. I'm mildly famous in my circles for my mask collection, and I even altered an old prom dress two years ago for another masquerade.
I also own a set of Renaissance Faire-style clothing, which I'm constantly adding to. Yes, I've got a persona to go with that outfit, like many SCA people do. And the purpose for THAT is to focus one's historical interest, and because I'm a firm believer in looking at the world from eyes other than your own once in a while.
Fantasy and furdom can be escapism, yes. So can D&D and real-life roleplays. But especially with all that's been happening these past four or five years, I would like to know what's really wrong with taking a break from life once in a while. As long as we don't blur the lines between fantasy and reality and--as has been said--live a well-balanced life, then have at it, I say!
*two cents clinks onto the table*
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Wayfarer
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Only sorta on topic, but...Strategia wrote:And don't forget the real-life roleplays, where people get together for a weekend or so and spend the entire time in character, playing RPGs out in real life.
Lightbulb Moment!!!
When I read that I suddenly realized: that kind of thing is what I always used to do with my friends at recess, or when we got together to play! (Or at least it sounds like it from that particular description.) I never knew what to call it except "playing," but we were always playing out stories, and when we were at home, we had quite a significant collection of dress-up dresses (yay for thrift stores!), including hoop skirt/petticoat-type things that our moms made for us for Christmas one year. (In fact, we still have most of those dresses... if I had time, I'd probably still wear them.
) And then of course I got to college and heard about the SCA and became... well, a nominal member of the campus group (Grrrrgrumble at busyness and the fact that being more involved would take *shudders* actual planning ahead
). But that meant that I got a fun medieval-style dress and a gray cloak and got to continue with dress-up. Okay, done with the slightly relevant now.
“The mirror may tell us what we are; memory may tell us what we were; but only the imagination can tell us what we might be.” – Donald Keesey
“You go whistling in the dark/ Making light of it/ Making light of it/ And I follow with my heart/ Laughing all the way// Oh 'cause you move me/ You get me dancing and you make me sing/ You move me/ Now I'm taking delight/ In every little thing/ How you move me”
~ "You Move Me"
Pierce Pettis, Gordon Kennedy
“You go whistling in the dark/ Making light of it/ Making light of it/ And I follow with my heart/ Laughing all the way// Oh 'cause you move me/ You get me dancing and you make me sing/ You move me/ Now I'm taking delight/ In every little thing/ How you move me”
~ "You Move Me"
Pierce Pettis, Gordon Kennedy
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Doink
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This reminds me of a story in PvP where Francis makes a roleplaying game where they play people playing a roleplaying game. Included are such classes as "LARPer" and "Convention Rat." 
Both a heart and a brain are necessary for survival. Without one, the other will quickly perish.
"I decline to accept the end of man [...] Man will not only endure, but prevail...." - William Faulkner
"I can say—not as a patriotic bromide, but with full knowledge of the necessary metaphysical, epistemological, ethical, political and aesthetic roots—that the United States of America is the greatest, the noblest and, in its original founding principles, the only moral country in the history of the world." - Ayn Rand
"I decline to accept the end of man [...] Man will not only endure, but prevail...." - William Faulkner
"I can say—not as a patriotic bromide, but with full knowledge of the necessary metaphysical, epistemological, ethical, political and aesthetic roots—that the United States of America is the greatest, the noblest and, in its original founding principles, the only moral country in the history of the world." - Ayn Rand
I think a major portion of the child-psychologist problems have more to do with the employment situation at the school than with the child. I've heard so many horror stories about school psychologists, and judging on other similar support faculty positions, I would venture a hypothesis that there is a concentration of people who are really bad at psychology in those positions, because they're the only ones willing to work for such low pay as the school will provide, and have no real checks-and-balances to make sure they get fired if they do a bad job. Sorta like all the 'coaches' who teach subjects that they have little to no knowledge of, yet they teach it anyway.
Oh, and ADD and ADHD are very real. There's one person in my class who does indeed have it, and you can tell it's real. The problem is that it's become a 'wastebasket' diagnosis: they get the vauge impression something's wrong, but can't tell what, so they write down ADD and make a perscription. The parent is happy, because the media tells them that ADD is a major problem, and they have a bottle of magic pills to fix it. The psychologist is happy, because he/she isn't being bothered anymore. The child doesn't matter, because their feelings in matters that pertain to them are irrelevant, by and in large.
Not a pretty picture.
*sigh*
Anyway, I don't want to throw this off on a tangent about schools. That's been beaten to death in this forum, so let's get back on topic.
I honestly don't think I'll ever be much of a fursuiter, because there is much at stake on public opinion. It's all well and good to say 'be yourself and to hell with the world', but if your chosen profession requires you to interact with the world on friendly terms (many, many do) then you can't necessarily do that. Note that I said chosen profession. So please, no responses about 'dump the job'. It's what I want to do and love to do, so it basically comes down to a choice in priorities.
And, heck... there's always halloween.
Oh, and ADD and ADHD are very real. There's one person in my class who does indeed have it, and you can tell it's real. The problem is that it's become a 'wastebasket' diagnosis: they get the vauge impression something's wrong, but can't tell what, so they write down ADD and make a perscription. The parent is happy, because the media tells them that ADD is a major problem, and they have a bottle of magic pills to fix it. The psychologist is happy, because he/she isn't being bothered anymore. The child doesn't matter, because their feelings in matters that pertain to them are irrelevant, by and in large.
Not a pretty picture.
*sigh*
Anyway, I don't want to throw this off on a tangent about schools. That's been beaten to death in this forum, so let's get back on topic.
I honestly don't think I'll ever be much of a fursuiter, because there is much at stake on public opinion. It's all well and good to say 'be yourself and to hell with the world', but if your chosen profession requires you to interact with the world on friendly terms (many, many do) then you can't necessarily do that. Note that I said chosen profession. So please, no responses about 'dump the job'. It's what I want to do and love to do, so it basically comes down to a choice in priorities.
And, heck... there's always halloween.
Conquering the Universe, one class at a time...
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NydaLynn
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Being creative is normal. Have you ever watched kids play? Do you remember games you would play as a child? One kid will say to another: "Ok... I'm a princess locked in a tower and you're going to rescue me..." At least a similar case is what fruequently happens when my siblings play (although I can honestly say I have not heard the princess example)
Is role play any different? No. Is there anything wrong with it? No. Not as long as people still ahve a sense of what is real and what is just pretend. Kids know the difference, why wouldn't adults?
I enjoy furry and my friend and I constantly note in ourselves and eachother personalty traits that are like our 'fursonas'. Such as my cat friend's love of fish and sushi and mine of chicken and shiny things. I know I have a Ra'conna on my icon right now, but my ideal fursona would either be a fox or a pangolin. Now, my cat friend has a character of her own and RP's online as that character. But she has several others on furry text games online and can play multiple characters at once. Does this make her crazy? I doubt it. Just means she is getting ahell of alot of practice for her dream job of writing, directing, and producing her own movies. ^.^
As for myself as I have gotten busy with school, work, ad life in general partcipation in any fandom has been limited. I would love to make my own fox costume (preferably in my own as-realistic-as-possible- style) but being a college student time and money are two things I do not ahve a large amount of. If I had any money you'd likley be seeing the donation totals a touch higher around here.
As far as talking to yourself. Eh, it's pretty common. I think everyone has done it at some point in thier life. Latley I have noticed I talk to myself, usually when batting around a problem and trying it out from diferent sides of the question. I bet I'm hilarious to hear though, yelling at myself for silly mistakes. "Good job, idiot." ^.^
People are normal as long as they are generally okay with themselves and are not violently distruptive to others. At least, that's the jist of what I remember from Phsychology 101.
I don't mean to be ranting, I was just reading the forum and wanted to toss in my own two cents. Caio! ^.^
Is role play any different? No. Is there anything wrong with it? No. Not as long as people still ahve a sense of what is real and what is just pretend. Kids know the difference, why wouldn't adults?
I enjoy furry and my friend and I constantly note in ourselves and eachother personalty traits that are like our 'fursonas'. Such as my cat friend's love of fish and sushi and mine of chicken and shiny things. I know I have a Ra'conna on my icon right now, but my ideal fursona would either be a fox or a pangolin. Now, my cat friend has a character of her own and RP's online as that character. But she has several others on furry text games online and can play multiple characters at once. Does this make her crazy? I doubt it. Just means she is getting ahell of alot of practice for her dream job of writing, directing, and producing her own movies. ^.^
As for myself as I have gotten busy with school, work, ad life in general partcipation in any fandom has been limited. I would love to make my own fox costume (preferably in my own as-realistic-as-possible- style) but being a college student time and money are two things I do not ahve a large amount of. If I had any money you'd likley be seeing the donation totals a touch higher around here.
As far as talking to yourself. Eh, it's pretty common. I think everyone has done it at some point in thier life. Latley I have noticed I talk to myself, usually when batting around a problem and trying it out from diferent sides of the question. I bet I'm hilarious to hear though, yelling at myself for silly mistakes. "Good job, idiot." ^.^
People are normal as long as they are generally okay with themselves and are not violently distruptive to others. At least, that's the jist of what I remember from Phsychology 101.
I don't mean to be ranting, I was just reading the forum and wanted to toss in my own two cents. Caio! ^.^
"Que Sera Sera..."
<a href="http://nydalynn.deviantart.com"> Deviant Art stuff</a>
<a href="http://nydalynn.deviantart.com"> Deviant Art stuff</a>
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Shyal_malkes
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Wayfarer
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Hehehe. We did princesses.NydaLynn wrote:(although I can honestly say I have not heard the princess example)
And pioneers, and orphans. (Why orphans? I sometimes wondered that myself, but after all, we had to have some reason the kids we were playing weren't answering to any adults.... There was probably also an Annie/Anne of Green Gables/Boxcar Children influence in there somewhere.)A fun thread about... having fun!shyal_malkes wrote:three pages, lots of people, lots of posts, many large posts, no really hard arguing or backbiting or even flaming.
I LOVE THIS TOPIC!!!
(Or about being crazy in fun ways - either one works. )“The mirror may tell us what we are; memory may tell us what we were; but only the imagination can tell us what we might be.” – Donald Keesey
“You go whistling in the dark/ Making light of it/ Making light of it/ And I follow with my heart/ Laughing all the way// Oh 'cause you move me/ You get me dancing and you make me sing/ You move me/ Now I'm taking delight/ In every little thing/ How you move me”
~ "You Move Me"
Pierce Pettis, Gordon Kennedy
“You go whistling in the dark/ Making light of it/ Making light of it/ And I follow with my heart/ Laughing all the way// Oh 'cause you move me/ You get me dancing and you make me sing/ You move me/ Now I'm taking delight/ In every little thing/ How you move me”
~ "You Move Me"
Pierce Pettis, Gordon Kennedy
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Yuoofox
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I liked the Boxcar Children series too.Hehehe. We did princesses. And pioneers, and orphans. (Why orphans? I sometimes wondered that myself, but after all, we had to have some reason the kids we were playing weren't answering to any adults.... There was probably also an Annie/Anne of Green Gables/Boxcar Children influence in there somewhere.)
I've noticed that there are many children's books that I never got around to reading as a kid that I'm enjoying now that I'm older. I think that a well-written children's book usually has a double-meaning: it has a simple, fun meaning, but it also has a deeper philosophical meaning. One example would be Dr. Seuss's book, The Butter Battle.
It's quite interesting when you watch or read something as a kid then visit again years later. Somtimes, it's something that you used to love but you hate now, but sometimes it's something that you like even more now.
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SolidusRaccoon
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Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelled of elderberries!shyal_malkes wrote:three pages, lots of people, lots of posts, many large posts, no really hard arguing or backbiting or even flaming.
I LOVE THIS TOPIC!!!
There, Ha Ha Ha ha Ha.
Yes, sir. I agree completely. It takes a well-balanced individual... such as yourself to rule the world. No, sir. No one knows that you were the third one... Solidus. ...What should I do about the woman? Yes sir. I'll keep her under surveillance. Yes. Thank you. Good-bye...... Mr. President.
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Shyal_malkes
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SolidusRaccoon
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Unsophisticated, uneducated, and uncultured philistines!!!!!!! I bite my thumb at you.
Yes, sir. I agree completely. It takes a well-balanced individual... such as yourself to rule the world. No, sir. No one knows that you were the third one... Solidus. ...What should I do about the woman? Yes sir. I'll keep her under surveillance. Yes. Thank you. Good-bye...... Mr. President.
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SolidusRaccoon
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"Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelled of elderberries!" is from Monty PythonThe JAM wrote:Why are you hurting yourself?
And to bite your thumb at someone is an insult from Romeo & Juliet.
"I will bite my thumb at them, which is disgrace to them if they bear it."
It was a common insult at the time of Shakespeare
Now go away, before I taunt you a second time!
Yes, sir. I agree completely. It takes a well-balanced individual... such as yourself to rule the world. No, sir. No one knows that you were the third one... Solidus. ...What should I do about the woman? Yes sir. I'll keep her under surveillance. Yes. Thank you. Good-bye...... Mr. President.
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SolidusRaccoon
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Ok, see I like to pretend I am in Shakespeares plays. Such wondefull uplifting stories.
Who can forget the love story of "Romeo and Juliet"? and the happily ever after ending?
Or "Hamlet"? And don't forget "MacBeth" Oh how I love and adore that one. Such a feel good story.
Who can forget the love story of "Romeo and Juliet"? and the happily ever after ending?
Or "Hamlet"? And don't forget "MacBeth" Oh how I love and adore that one. Such a feel good story.
Yes, sir. I agree completely. It takes a well-balanced individual... such as yourself to rule the world. No, sir. No one knows that you were the third one... Solidus. ...What should I do about the woman? Yes sir. I'll keep her under surveillance. Yes. Thank you. Good-bye...... Mr. President.
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Shyal_malkes
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"biting one's thumb" (according to my high school english teacher) was the mideval equivelant of giving the finger in today's society
BT, now I that is quite an impressive collection. I know my first one was a freebie give away that came with a sonic collection cd. unfortunately though I lost the comic (and evetually the cd and had to buy a new one. ) and had to start all over when mom took me to the drug store and I saw some of the magazines they had there.
BT, now I that is quite an impressive collection. I know my first one was a freebie give away that came with a sonic collection cd. unfortunately though I lost the comic (and evetually the cd and had to buy a new one.
) and had to start all over when mom took me to the drug store and I saw some of the magazines they had there.you can bite your thumb OFF for all I care, it'd save me the trouble of doing it myself in the long run.SolidusRaccoon wrote:I bite my thumb at you
I still say the doctor did it....