FORUM COMMUNITY OMNIBUS AMA THREAD

[WalterMitty]

do you ever regret joining the navy?

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Why do you suggest that atheists like Seth McFarlane and I "accept Jesus"?  You've called me a great poster, you've lauded the genius of Mr. McFarlane, but at the same time want to change something that certainly plays a role in how we go about things and the opinions that we have. 

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

For example, I support public healthcare despite it going against my otherwise individualist leaning views.

Was this shift prompted by a specific event in your life where you personally experienced the benefits of public healthcare or the problems caused by a lack of it?

No, but by the experiences of people I know and am close too. Several relatives lost their health insurance at the dawn of the recession and later on in the aftermath of the failed launch of Obamacare. I also saw American poverty first hand while I worked at a local food pantry near my house as part of a school project.

My own brother, who has severe autism and lives in a group home, receives Medicare benefits, but I always have supported these programs even in my most far-right phase because they are partially paid for by the beneficiary through the taxes they pay. It didn’t click with me until a year ago that a public healthcare system would more or less be paid for through the same way, just like roads, ports, and education.

[beaver2.0]

Does your signature intentionally read as though it were written by a third-grader?

Yes.  I am not sure why I wrote it that way.

Who are you?

A student in Virginia.  I was born here.  (In Virginia, not Atlas Forum).

Who's your favorite Southern politician?

If we are discussing ones that no longer hold political office, then James Earl Carter.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

do you ever regret joining the navy?

Oh dear god, yes.  Ship life is absolutely dreadful and I've been depressed since I got to this command. 

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

What does your Christian faith mean to you and does it help guide you in decisions you make in your life?

It's pretty fundamental to me and it shines through in most aspects. Often very oddly. For example an odd convo that once occurred in my Ingress chat:

Player: Hey new guy, do you love Jesus?
Player: Because Other Player does.
Me: I do!
New guy: No, I'm not too fond of fictional characters in general and when I do it tends to be more sci-fi than fantasy.
Player: Ha, seriously BRTD?
Me: Guys, Jesus was the original Resistance. And the Pharisees were Enlightened.

And yeah my decisions have become a lot more selfless in general since I was so touched and filled with the Spirit.

And it played a big role in my single most important decision of the past year: I picked Resistance over Enlightened because I thought the Enlightened doctrine was blasphemous and heretical.

Why do you suggest that atheists like Seth McFarlane and I "accept Jesus"?  You've called me a great poster, you've lauded the genius of Mr. McFarlane, but at the same time want to change something that certainly plays a role in how we go about things and the opinions that we have. 

Thing is Seth's Christian-bashing is some of the least funny stuff he does. Now if the show was exactly the same otherwise but he was a Christian it'd be even better. Even the best can be improved. Similarly I'm trying to imagine you as part of the Atlas Liberal Christian Clique and how cool that'd be.

[Hash]

How did you ascend to the PASOK leadership, and how were you robbed of it by the usurper Papandreou? We never got the details.

I won the PASOK leadership in 2009 after an online primary, but I was unceremoniously removed from power by Papandreou because my name isn't Papandreou, and then in 2011, my legitimate claim to the leadership was once again frustrated by the conniving fat bastard. I remain the sole legitimate PASOK leader and I guarantee that my glorious party would not be winning 8% of the vote now.

Who are you voting for on city council?

I have no clue and it's made even more difficult because you'll have six thousand random people running on identical fluff platforms of 'engaging the community' or 'building the city' or whatever. I will probably vote for Jody Mitic since I watched Amazing Race last season, and he seems like a genuinely good guy.

What is your long-term plan for your elections blog? Do you just plan on continuing to post whenever you can, or do you have more of a vision for the project?

The former, definitely, especially as I'll probably have even less time going forward doing a masters' and/or having a regular full-time job. Besides, I may need to shut it down temporarily if I end up going abroad for a few months early next year. If possible, though, I'd like to keep it going, perhaps at a reduced pace.

[angus]

Why do you frequently change your displayname?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Why do you frequently change your displayname?

Running gag sort of. It's an integral part of my forum persona.

[PiMp DaDdy FitzGerald]

I have a friend who interrupted coitus for Ingress. Is that considered normal behavior?

[Hatman 🍁]

Why do you think we care about Ingress?

[PiMp DaDdy FitzGerald]

Why do you think we care about Ingress?

I care about Ingress.

[traininthedistance]

Have you ever made a snowman?

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Do you believe in God?

[RR1997]

Do your friends/relatives/colleagues know about your rather extreme views?

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Did you take Professor Flitwick's class? Because you're charming

I have not taken the course (nor have I read Harry Potter-had to look it up), but I was told by the electrician at my house that my Florida cracker accent was "polite" and "soothing" which sorta creeped me out.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Do you believe in God?

Not sure if serious..... but no. 

[Eraserhead]

What is your favorite Update episode, season or story arc? What is your favorite memory of opebo?

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

What is your favorite Update episode, season or story arc? What is your favorite memory of opebo?

Episode: "cleaning the meat" during The Diet.  I love that quote more than any other from Our Dear Friend.  Also the saga about heating the pipes with the incandescant (sp?) light bulb was brilliant. 

Season: Probably the season that mostly involved CADD and Walking.  Bushie's days were able to be so elaborately catargorized based upon attendance, walking, doctor's notes, inclement weather, valid/invalid excuses, etc.  Great stuff.

Story arc: I'm not sure it can be called a singular "story arc", but the neverending series of conundrums that epitomize Update isw funny beyond words.  The Deer, the jackoff hobo, etc.

Favorite memory of opebo: DEFINITELY his completely manic nature during the 2012 election, epitomized in the brilliant "A black can't win a close election" topic.  His wild swings from sunny optimism to outright despair reminded me of a sports fan who is wasted at the championship game, with all his wit thrown in.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Do your friends/relatives/colleagues know about your rather extreme views?

Some do, but I don't discuss politics much in real life (normal).

[Nhoj]

How is your life as a bourgeoisie class enemy going?

[MalaspinaGold]

Barack Obama or Robert Mugabe?

[Eraserhead]

I'm definitely going to miss opebo in 2016. Hopefully there will be a forum coup by then.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Sneakers O'Tool vs Jesus?

[Antonio the Sixth]

I always have supported these programs even in my most far-right phase because they are partially paid for by the beneficiary through the taxes they pay. It didn’t click with me until a year ago that a public healthcare system would more or less be paid for through the same way, just like roads, ports, and education.

Doesn't this describe how almost all social insurance programs (including public pensions, unemployment insurance, etc.) work?