This page is part of the archives of the IshCon.org discussion forums, as they existed from November 2002 to January 2007. Some links and other content references may be outdated or broken. For more information about IshCon, visit www.ishcon.org.
Topic: Introductions
Part of the forum "Welcome Center" in the IshCon Forum Archive
| Poster and Date | Post |
| etbnc Thu Mar 3rd, 2005 at 05:51 PM |
Hi! We find that sharing some information about ourselves helps to promote a sense of community. It's not required; it's simply a custom. If you'd like to tell us something about yourself, please do. Many of us are on a first name basis around here, but that's not required either. If you're new to the web conversation scene, you might want to try writing a message or two in the Sandbox first. There you can figure out how to compose, edit, and post messages in a less public place. When you're comfortable with your posting savvy, feel free to come back here. (Click here to go to the sandbox.) Would you like to introduce yourself? Please do! |
| ProjectPurity Fri Mar 25th, 2005 at 10:32 PM |
To get this ball rolling, i'm JB. I'm a young eco-village aspirer and sustainability buff. Natural building and permaculture are my focal points right now.... i'm still in the learning stage, but i'm ready to start the doing stage. |
| mindtear Fri Mar 25th, 2005 at 11:10 PM |
I'm re-posting from what I wrote on the old community thread, modified slightly... Hi, everyone. I was introduced to the site by my friend Mike (WackyMorningDJ). I'm really interested in this site and all of the issues that it deals with. So, a bit about me: My name is Devin Hammond, I go by Devin, just to keep it simple like that. I live in Charlotte, North Carolina. I'm 17 years old, white, and middle class. Stuff about me that I think is important - I am a Unitarian Universalist (UU for short, heh) - http://www.uua.org - and we're all about community, interdependency, and cooperation. This sort-of-religion-but-not-really-we-just-call-it-that-to-make-it-easier has been by far the most important thing in my life. It has been a major influence on my life, directly and indirectly introducing me to an incredible variety of ideas, perspectives, and places - including here. (The article on Peak Oil was posted on a UU forum). Because of it, I feel like I've cultivated (and am, of course, forever in the process of cultivating) an intelligent, honest, and open perspective of the world. If there has ever been any truth in my life, it has been directly related to my experiences at church, The Mountain (a UU retreat center) and several other UU-related activities/events/ideas/places/thoughts/etc. I am a senior (sort of) in high school, which I attend whenever I feel like it - which, currently, is not very much. I'm failing seven out of eight classes cheerfully. Because of my episodes (and they are many) with school, I feel like civilization has rejected me. The next step - me getting out of civilization - is what I'm currently working on. My main interests in my current life are -Buddhism and other eastern thought (I was just recently exposed to it) - particularly Thich Nhat Hanh's writings and Claude Anshin Thomas, a vietnam-veteran-turned-buddhist-monk who came to my "church" recently. -Music - both listening and playing. I play saxophone in jazz band at my high school (the one class I am passing, hah) and have an eclectic mix of music tastes, but mostly some variant of rock. -Reading - I love to read. I have a long list of books/authors I enjoy. Science fiction is my favorite “fun” genre, and I guess anything I can learn from is my favorite “serious” genre. -Writing – I want to be (and am already) a writer of some sort. I mostly write poetry, in addition to some short fiction and the occasional essay. I'll be writing a lot on here, which is basically informal essays. My favorite kind. -I’m athletic, and I play soccer at a very high level, but I’m kind of tired of it, and so I hesitate to mention it here. I love playing, but not when it gets competitive – impossible to avoid at the level I play at. I’ve really turned away from competition recently. I used to be hypercompetitive, but that was way back when I thought I was better than everyone else because of a number of arbitrary things. The typical reason. So, I’m quitting soccer, after 13 years. So, this is just an introduction... I'm a lot more complex than that, but you'll get to know me over time. In faith, Devin |
| valhallan Sat Mar 26th, 2005 at 04:38 AM |
Hey everyone, I'm Cory. I live in dismal central Illinois. I'm nearing completetion of a doctorate in analytical chemistry (snore...), after which will attempt to focus my research on environmental toxicology and its effects on the directed evolution (or population bottleneck effect) of various species in a contaminated environment (most likely on mollusk species in lakewater). Its hard to get funding for that sort of thing though. I can't even begin to alarm you as to the level of serotonin reuptake inhibitor (aka Paxil, Prozac, etc.) we have in our groundwater here in Illinois, and probably around the country -- and how little the EPA cares. I also dabble heavily in Biodiesel production and have built my own reactor (with lots of help from the people at www.biodieselnow.com and www.veggieavenger.com -- most notably by reading the biodiesel queen Maria 'Girl Mark' Alvarez's work on the 'Appleseed Processor'). I drive a 2000 VW Golf that gets an average of 42 miles per gallon on B100 (100% Biodiesel) made from waste restaurant grease, and that with keeping the trunk stocked with 8 gallons of emergency water, 3-5 days canned foods, tent and sleeping bag to give me an emergency survival buffer for when I can finally drive away from the city for good (due to either Peak Oil riots, WWIII, zombie apocalypse, or when I actually get the courage to really 'walk away'). My username is valhallan in honor of my favorite philosphical discussion about religion of all time; the one that took place between Conan the Barbarian and Subotai the Archer in the 1982 movie Conan the Barbarian. I'll recreate it here: Subotai: Who is your god, Conan? Conan: My god is Crom, king of the Mountain! Subotai: Crom, Ha! Conan: Crom is strong! When I die, I will stand before him and he will ask me, "What is the Riddle of Steel?" and if I do not know it, he will cast me out of Valhalla and laugh at me! That is Crom, strong on his mountain! Subotai: Ha! My god is greater, my god is the Four Winds. Conan: Crom laughs at your Four Winds. Subotai: No! My god is the everlasting sky, your god ... lives underneath him! Conan: *defeated* End Scene Succinct and logical. If only all such discussions could end so well between two people and with such a rational and legitimate conclusion. Conan and Subotai then go on to rob the Tower of the Serpent, never letting their religious differences get in the way of obtaining ill-gotten goods from the likes of Thulsa Doom's snake cult. |
| tonyz Sat Mar 26th, 2005 at 11:45 AM |
Let me re-introduce myself. Tony Zebrowski, ver. 24.9 I've been all over the map. I was born in the same hosiptal my father was on April 18th, 1980. That's St. Francis Hospital. We grew up mostly poor. My dad tried starting his own busniess for a while, but was quickly undersold by a large corporation ince they saw how profitable it was to do what he did. I helped my father, lugging his tools up and down the stairs of mansions in the Suburbs, to return to our little ranch in the Ghetto of Indianapolis. Guess which chips are on my shoulder? I've always wanted to be an astronaut. The final frontier would be my ultimate satisfaction. I believe humans are destined to become a part of the greater community of life that is beyond our solar systems borders, and I would love to contribute to this in my own way someday when I get bored of all of this :-D I was raised as a Boy Scout. I wasn't pressured into being Catholic, in fact, my family had quit going when I was young. When I was in the fifth grade, I wanted to have my first communion, and all that. SO I got religion when I was about 10. THis lasted until I was 13(and beyond), when researching on a middle school project about UFOs, or maybe it was telepathy. This was the age when I discovered that Christianity had supplanted other religions. What a shock to a self-made Altar boy such as myself. Without my faith in god shaken, but my religion crumbling, I could see why, but I wnated to look deeper. I found out that paganism, the worship of the spirits of the forest (which I guess is called animism around here), was the orignial religion. So secretly, I studied this while still going to church, still going to my Catholic Boy Scout Troop, still participating in mass, still feeling deeply connected to the holiness of the Catholic Church. I went ot some Baptist Church, but to me, it didn't seem liek they even beleived in God, they were there for the fashion show, or something. The few times I went with my friend Danny, I was scoffed and ridiculed. St. Francis had always been my favorite saint, in fact, other than Jesus, he seemed to be the first hippy. Well, anyway, obliviously, I lept fully into paganism, exploring the roots of my modern day Catholicism. But at a boy scout campout, in fact a big Jamboree, my Boy Scout leader actualyl kicked me out of the troop, in front of everyone, for reading the book; "The Witches Dreambook." This is the end of curious, happy, carefree Tony, and the beginning of annoyed, Jaded Tony. I think perhaps, had this never happened, I would have turned out to be a much nicer guy than I am now... Well, details aside, I went to a middle class high school my senior year, and becaome an outsider for the first time. I was always one of the cool kids at my old high school, becuase cool as abotu who you were, not how much your parents make. So, I dropped out. Went to college. Was waaay worse than the second high school, but I found a few kindred spirits. There, I also found Ishmael. Dropped out of college. Did some really crazy shit. Went back to college. Did even crazier shit. Found psychedelics. Did the craziest shit I've done to date. Found Zen Buddhism. Now, I'm an Americorps member in Maine, finding out what poverty means to people outside of my own bubble. I look forward to creating a large burst of income to build a sustainable mushroom farm through travelling and picking wild edibles, perhaps, even writing a book, on mushrooms. Through the farm and the people I have met on my fanatasic journey, I hope to create the resources to build a space for many tribes. I believe the greater path beyond even self-contained tribes is the interplay of tribal cooperation. I desire to maintain all of the techonologies of civilization. I dont' intend on another Great Forgettting. Hopefully, I will get a chance to explore the stars in my old age :) Well, so now, I've been all these things, and so many more. Mostly, I'm interested in shattering peoples perceptions, turning people on, getting them to tune out of civilization, and ultimately, drop out. Somwhere along the lines, I'm looking into developing the part that is past the dropping out, but I've found most people know what to do when thrown off a sinking ship -- swim for shore. So I look up to a mythical hybrid of St.Francis/Timothy Leary/Buddha for guidence, and do mybest to mold my life Whatever the hell that means. So anyway, that's a few sides of me. TonyZ |
| MidnightBoos Sat Mar 26th, 2005 at 06:06 PM |
Hullo My name is Kat. {baleeted!} MB |
| PiperErickson Sun Mar 27th, 2005 at 12:26 PM |
Hi, I'm Joe. :) Hmm... I live in Vancouver (on the Pacific coast in Canada). Maybe if you're in the area you'll let me know and we can meet? I enjoy birding, Zen, tabletop roleplaying games, and basically flitting from one interest to the next in no particular order. Nene told me this was an ok thing to do so I've decided to enjoy myself at it ;) (btw, thanks Nene :D ). I went to university (boring!) and then grad school (blah!). I studied ecology, so I sometimes to go all intellectual and anal (only sometimes, right guys? ;) ). If I do just whack me up side the head and tell me to stop :D Now I'm trying my hand at a tribal business. I've been fortunate enough to introduce Quinn to 4 people so far who actually seem to like it. So my advice is to help change minds. :) Hopelessness is in error because it can only result when one believes one knows the future...and one cannot. |
| LucidWanderer Sun Apr 24th, 2005 at 10:20 PM |
My name is John. I am a Towson University freshman English/Art double major. I do not know everything, I simply have very broad interests. Philosophy, Religion, Sociology, Writing, Fantasy, Art, Drawing, Painting, Digital art, life, Truth, personalities, society... getting the most out of life, and figuring it out. As for the figuring out of life; I keep finding the rabbit hole goes deeper and deeper. I hope to be published soon, either with the poetry I've written, the stories I've written, or the novels and books I have yet to write. On the side, I have worked on the Student Government Assocation, University Senate, Maryland Collegiate Honors Council, and various and sundry other official duties in which people usually respond to the fact that I am a freshman English/Art major with blank stares. The reason I decided to post my ideas first and then my introduction was just so. I have quite a varied history, moving around every few years because of parents in the military. Suffice to say Isolation doesn't even begin to cover it; how I got a full ride to college and am now hopeful of the future is a wild shot for even me. Life just keeps taking profound left turns, and I can't forsee them. I know there's a cliff I walk beside, and its only a matter of time, I feel, before I end up walking over it. |
| starfish Fri May 13th, 2005 at 09:17 AM |
Hi My name is Vicky. I'm originally from Maryland, but I did 4 years in the Air Force and got stuck in NW Florida :roll:. My husband is still in the AF. I got out so I could go to college full time, then I had a baby, so I put things on hold for a while. I've realized that something was wrong with the world for a while now, but it wasn't until I read Beyond Civilization that I realized I could do something about it. I'm now planning on going to nursing school so that I can become a midwife and hopefully sometime in the future open a tribal birth center. I'm excited about being a member of Ishcon, and I hope I'll have some things to share with you :D . |
| raku Fri May 13th, 2005 at 12:14 PM |
Very cool, Vicky! We need more midwives!! :) |
| Heretic Sat May 14th, 2005 at 12:29 PM |
"raku" wrote: We need more midwives!! I'll second that one too! My aunt is having her second child in a few months, and this time she wants to do it with midwife. I'm one of the few people in the family supporting the decision. :) |
| ProjectPurity Sat May 14th, 2005 at 09:09 PM |
"natural childbirth is conceivable" Cool stuff! |
| Vampire_IQ Sat May 14th, 2005 at 09:51 PM |
Hello there. My name is Andrew. I'm 19. I love to read, write, and debate. I finished a short novel, or screenplay if you want to read it that way, and am currently trying to make it to the post office to mail off the manuscript. I have been a drug user for eight years(started at eleven) and I'm currently fighting my way to quitting for good this time. I've been clean of pot for few days(Not an addiction, but I want to pass a piss test), coke for about three weeks, and PCP for close to a few months. I love birds and my favorite birds are the common raven and the rock hopper penguin. The rest is private. |
| PiperErickson Sun May 15th, 2005 at 02:27 AM |
"Vampire_IQ" wrote: I love birds and my favorite birds are the common raven and the rock hopper penguin. The rest is private. Cool Andrew. Do you birdwatch? I'm a huge fan of birds :D - Joe |
| Vampire_IQ Sun May 15th, 2005 at 02:40 AM |
"PiperErickson" wrote: [quote:82851b3d67="Vampire_IQ"] I love birds and my favorite birds are the common raven and the rock hopper penguin. The rest is private. Cool Andrew. Do you birdwatch? I'm a huge fan of birds :D - Joe[/quote] I don't birdwatch as in go out looking for birds, but if I see one I stop and watch. |
| PiperErickson Sun May 15th, 2005 at 09:41 AM |
"Vampire_IQ" wrote: I don't birdwatch as in go out looking for birds, but if I see one I stop and watch. Oh. Why not? :) All you need is a pair of binoculars (8 x 42 is pretty standard for beginning birders, should be at or below $200) and that's all your start up costs (pretty cheap as far as hobbies go!). Birding is one of the most enjoyable parts of my life, and birders are a great group of people - young and old and very supportive of each other. - Joe |
| Vampire_IQ Sun May 15th, 2005 at 01:01 PM |
"PiperErickson" wrote: [quote:b619605267="Vampire_IQ"] I don't birdwatch as in go out looking for birds, but if I see one I stop and watch. Oh. Why not? :) All you need is a pair of binoculars (8 x 42 is pretty standard for beginning birders, should be at or below $200) and that's all your start up costs (pretty cheap as far as hobbies go!). Birding is one of the most enjoyable parts of my life, and birders are a great group of people - young and old and very supportive of each other. - Joe[/quote] Really I've just never thought about it as a hobby. |
| MidnightBoos Mon May 16th, 2005 at 10:25 AM |
sometimes watching an alive thing is enough. you don't even have to know what humans have called it. MB |
| Menrandes Wed May 18th, 2005 at 08:44 PM |
:) Hello everyone! I'm Miranda, 22, from Maryland. I was introduced to this site, as well as to Ishmael, by Ben (Hypnopompia). A little bit about me: I am attending college after a 5 year absence, I work in a bookstore (score to books!), and I am generally an easy going person. For a long time I was struggling with life in general. Strangely, and gladly, life is much better now. :D I've enjoyed reading in the forums on this site for a few weeks now, but I was just waiting in the wings before speaking up and actually saying something. Hobbies? Well there is the reading thing, and you know...the books...then the writing and umm..the books and then the reading! Oh yeah, there's the camping thing too. I love camping. Basically, I'm new at the Ishmael ideas but so far am enjoying it immensely. I'm really looking forward to learning many new things! |
| Vampire_IQ Wed May 18th, 2005 at 11:18 PM |
Welcome Miranda. Hope you find us to your liking. |
| staceyw Sat May 28th, 2005 at 04:59 AM |
Hi everyone, I'm Stacey and live in New Zealand with my husband and our 15 month old daughter. I've long been interested in sustainable agriculture and homesteading. But discovered I'm actually too lazy for a large block of land, as I'm struggling to 'farm' my small backyard :-) Have decided that maybe 'urban agriculture' or 'urban homesteading' is more my thing. I read My Ishmael a month or so ago at my mother's house - she'd got it out of the library and was raving about it. I found it intriguing, and moved on to Beyond Civ, and Ish. Then looked up DQ's site and followed the link to here. I was planning to lurk for a bit longer, but my head has been buzzing with the 'how to's' of tribe-building since I read Beyond Civ, so when I saw the three-part discussion on that going on right now, I just had to add my 2c. Faith-wise, I'm a Christian, although I hesitate to use such a loaded term. In clarification, for me that means I love Christ and try to live as I think he would. In my experience there is real spiritual power there, for positive change in our lives. I have issues with many things the church has done and continues to do in the name of religion. And don't get me started on the Conservative Religious Right :x Or the crusades. Or... But I said I wouldn't get started... As for the extent of my institutionalisation, I have a master's degree in Biochemistry and Genetics. yep, I'm a genetic engineer by training :-) However, you can smooth those feathers back down, I have ethical problems with manipulating our food-sources. (note: those aren't 'safety' issues - I think there are way bigger food safety debates to be having than GM - like additives and preservatives and fillers that aren't actully food at all...). This does mean that I'm well equipped with information on the processes of natural selection, genetic drift, and other evolutionary processes, should those become topical at any point (see, there are christians who are accept evolutionary theory). My current full-time occupation is stay-at-home Mummy to our daughter. (and some-time urban farmer...) This seems like a warm and intellectually rigorous place - so rare to find those both together! Thankyou for your welcoming environment. |
| MidnightBoos Sat May 28th, 2005 at 09:37 AM |
Glad you're here! have a peer around and after monday we should have a flooooood of nifty posts. MB |
| staceyw Sat May 28th, 2005 at 11:41 PM |
Thanks for the welcome MB, hope you're all having a wicked time :-) |
| teresa Tue May 31st, 2005 at 02:08 AM |
I was very happy to meet some IshCon folk this weekend at the conference, and I wanted to briefly introduce myself to the rest of the online community as well. My name is Teresa. I'm 21, from Seattle. I'm not sure how much I'll be contributing to the forums, but I wanted to say hello, catch the after-conference posting, keep in touch and maybe connect with some new people while I'm at it. That's all for now. Thanks! |
| evade379 Tue May 31st, 2005 at 08:51 AM |
Welcome to IshCon! It's good to meet and see new people here as always! :) |
| merl Wed Jun 1st, 2005 at 04:43 AM |
Hi all, I am Mark, husband of Stacey. I've recently read Ishmael and am in the process of deconstructing/ reconstructing my worldview to take what Daniel Quinn says into account. I'm interested in politics, religion and what makes people tick in general, and these ishmael theories are very interesting. There seems to be a fairly high standard of discussion here that I'd be interested in joining in with. In terms of my values I am a christian, although that tends to mean a different thing in every country in the world (particularly the states, where sometimes it seems that conservative=christian). Cheers, Mark |
| evade379 Wed Jun 1st, 2005 at 07:33 AM |
Quote: In terms of my values I am a christian, although that tends to mean a different thing in every country in the world (particularly the states, where sometimes it seems that conservative=christian). sad but tru... Well welcome to ishcon and feel free to jump in anywhere with your opinions! |
| MidnightBoos Wed Jun 1st, 2005 at 09:46 AM |
*waves comically* MB |
| three Thu Jun 2nd, 2005 at 09:41 PM |
hi, my name is jamie...just finished reading Ishmael last week, and it's changed me...i guess that's my introduction. |
| evade379 Thu Jun 2nd, 2005 at 09:57 PM |
welcome Jamie! :) Short intro but its a start. lol Feel free to jump in on any and all topics and give some imput or just to learn. It's always interesting round these parts :-s \:D/ |
| Hypnopompia Fri Jun 3rd, 2005 at 12:56 AM |
"three" wrote: hi, my name is jamie...just finished reading Ishmael last week, and it's changed me...i guess that's my introduction. Yes, welcome. ... Three what? :D |
| Menrandes Sat Jun 4th, 2005 at 07:29 PM |
"three" wrote: hi, my name is jamie...just finished reading Ishmael last week, and it's changed me...i guess that's my introduction. Its amazing how much it can change you, isn't it? welcome! :~~ |
| three Wed Jun 8th, 2005 at 06:58 AM |
woah...replies... let's see i suppose i can cough up some more information...i'm 16 years old, i live in NY, and i've nearly finished my junior year of high school. "3" is the name of my favorite band, which i welcome anyone to listen to at this site www.purevolume.com/3 (hence my name "three"). i just finished Ishmael a couple weeks ago, and it's one of the few books i've read that really made me want to do something...i guess this is just my first step... |
| evade379 Wed Jun 8th, 2005 at 07:16 AM |
"three" wrote: woah...replies... let's see i suppose i can cough up some more information...i'm 16 years old, and live in NY, and i've nearly finished my junior year of high school. "3" is the name of my favorite band, which i welcome anyone to listen to at this site www.purevolume.com/3 (hence my name "three") [/url] Awsome! I like the band! Not often that you find many young teens with good music tastes.... :wink: |
| stillwater Thu Jun 9th, 2005 at 05:58 PM |
Hi All! My name is Heather. I’ve been forum-lurking for a while now and figured it was about time for me to just jump into all the discussion. It seems I’m doing this a bit backwards– actually attending IshCon before finally getting around to acquiring a username. But hey, who needs to always do things as they’re prescribed? The conference was wonderful and I’m lucky to have met many of you in person. It’s awesome to have a face to go along with the names. For those of you I haven’t met, I look forward to getting to know you. :D Hmmm... a wee bit about me... Well, I’m into art, MAJORLY into art– making it, teaching it, reading about it, going to see it, etc. One of my pet projects now is tracing the changing roles of the artist/artisan throughout the course of human history, “prehistory” through post-modern. I’m interested in figuring the role the artist will play in the NTR or just perhaps coming up with some sufficient answer to the question "What is art and why do people take the time to make it?". I’m still working on this, though... there’s so much to learn. The art I make is mainly painting or mixed media installation. Recently, I’ve become excited with all the possibilities for expression performance art allows the artist; although I haven’t done any performance art myself... yet... Basta on that for now... Cheerio, guys. 8) |
| LucidWanderer Thu Jun 9th, 2005 at 06:06 PM |
Welcome Heather! You'll fit right in. We need more artists around here -- especially Artists/Philosophers. |
| prometheus235 Sun Jun 19th, 2005 at 12:07 PM |
Greetings all! My name is Rory. I am me. for money i work at a law office as a paralegal, and have a non-profit record label and a for profit recording studio. for fufillment i play in 3 bands, well 2 and handrums for some local belly dancers, write comic books and film scripts, and practice wing-chun kung-fu (for fighting the illuminati). I have come here to sharpen my debating skills, communicate with like-minds, and to look for new ideas on how to "save" the world. I have started a weekly philosophy group in my hometown, (Lafayette, LA), in the hopes to show others, starting with my friends, that DQ was correct in his theories, and we can do something to avert the demise of the "our" world. Generally i am preaching to the choir, but i have made some inroads with others. some of my friends heckle me, saying it is a lost cause, but i say this. one man can make a difference, one man can do something, one man can change the world. when they laugh, i say look at jesus, or karl marx, and tell me one man can't change minds. |
| MidnightBoos Sun Jun 19th, 2005 at 01:19 PM |
*wave* hey. so, do you prefer "Prom" or "Theus"? MB |
| prometheus235 Mon Jun 20th, 2005 at 09:39 AM |
lol, i geuss i prefer Prom, but i do have to say i am not much of a dancer!! |
| Menrandes Mon Jun 20th, 2005 at 01:03 PM |
"prometheus235" wrote: lol, i geuss i prefer Prom, but i do have to say i am not much of a dancer!! :lol: |
| evade379 Mon Jun 20th, 2005 at 01:04 PM |
I remember a show from my childhood called Prometheus and Bob lol It was on Nickelodeon! Had the futuristic scientist or alien and a caveman! Not sure if that's where the name came from...prolly not but, that's what I think when I see your name!! very cool! :wink: |
| Arbor Fri Jul 1st, 2005 at 04:30 PM |
"evade379" wrote: I remember a show from my childhood called Prometheus and Bob lol It was on Nickelodeon! Had the futuristic scientist or alien and a caveman! Not sure if that's where the name came from...prolly not but, that's what I think when I see your name!! very cool! :wink: mmm, Prometheus and Bob was excellent! It was a segment on Henry & June, I believe. Anyway, I'm new. I haven't gotten around to reading Ishmael yet 'cause I don't have enough money to purchase it. I think I may go to the library later today to see if they have it. I bet I have the Ish vibes in me though as I have a general idea what the book is all about. |
| raku Mon Jul 4th, 2005 at 07:46 PM |
Hey Heather, I just read this today and realized who you were! *bonks self on head* Good to read ya! I hope to meet up at future Cons. Roxy |
| Rogerflat Sun Jul 10th, 2005 at 11:19 AM |
Hey there! My name's Roger. Just joined this site after a friend of mine had me read the book Ishmael. Don't really know where to go or what to do from here but I'm sure I'll figure it out. |
| MidnightBoos Sun Jul 10th, 2005 at 11:21 AM |
pretty much, as i understadn it, Ish-Con is here to help you figure out what to do next. have yourself a fun time. MB |
| Morelia Sun Jul 10th, 2005 at 08:10 PM |
Hello Everyone! Our names are Ryan and Katie and we are from Edmonton, Alberta. I am 24 and Ryan is 28. We have both lived in conservative Alberta all our lives. I was first introduced to Ishmael by my sister when I was 18. It was quite a perspecive altering event. I met Ryan when I was 19. He already shared the same perspective that I had on the world. We are now married and it is so nice to have someone around to always talk to and debate with. We have had many conversations that have shaped the way we view life. We keep and attempt to breed snakes (mostly pythons) and we find it's a great way to appreciate the compexity of life (http://www.rothertreptiles.com). Our name comes from the genus name of our favorite species of pythons. We are animal lovers and also have two bengal cats, one that is blind in her left eye. We try to get out as much as possible to interact with the wildlife around us - garter snake, geese, ducks, beavers, owls... I try to read as much as possible and some of my favorite authors include Quinn, Derrick Jensen, Joseph Campbell, and Chomsky. Most of our bookshelf is made up of books on philosophy, politics, history, religion and biology. We stumbled on this site after looking up Daniel Quinn and we've been reading posts ever since. It is nice to know that there are like minded people out there because they are hard to find in this neck of the woods. We hope to be able to contribute to the site but I'm sure most of our time will be spent reading all the thoughtful posts. Thanks! :) |
| MidnightBoos Sun Jul 10th, 2005 at 08:36 PM |
hope you have a good time here, post, read, learn. MB |
| Hypnopompia Sun Jul 10th, 2005 at 11:04 PM |
Damn guys, remind me not to piss you off. I'm not sure I could handle snakes and bengal cats at once. :D Welcome to Ishcon! And Roger? Don't worry, you'll get over that soon enough. :wink: None of us really know what we're doing, some of us are just better at faking it. |
| BML Mon Jul 11th, 2005 at 09:11 PM |
Yo. Will try to keep this short. I first came into contact with Ishmael during my first year of college in an anthropology class. This chance meeting has been one of the most enlightening experiences in all my life thus far. When I originally read the book, every sentence struck such a chord with me that I literally could not stop thinking about it, and have not stopped over the course of the three years that have passed since then. It was like the ultimate truth was suddenly uncovered. Since that time, I have gone on to read mostly all of Quinn's other books, and work from authors who promote similar ideas and beliefs. These readings have been an incredible breath of fresh air. Before reading Ishamel, I had sensed something in life was "off," but I was the kind of escaptist that never really bothered myself with current events, feeling that everything seemed so bleak, tiresome, and futile. I really wanted nothing to do with anything. At least now, despite still being somewhat cynical in a sense, I have a legitimate reason for feeling that things just aren't going the way they should be, and I have a great sense of wanting to help in 'breaking memes,' so to speak. To wrap things up, my ultimate goal would be to become part of a small, sustainable community [ecovillage?] where I can feel good about living a more ecologically harmonious life. I would love to be able to promote this lifestyle to those who have those same feelings that something is just "off." |
| Hypnopompia Mon Jul 11th, 2005 at 10:54 PM |
Welcome to Ishcon. I was introduced to Ishmael in an Athro class too. |
| slumberelegy Fri Jul 15th, 2005 at 01:25 PM |
Hoy. Name's Chuck. My story? It began when my wife (then my girlfriend) was tired of me preaching about what an incredible paradigm shift the book 'The Origin Of Consciousness In The Breakdown Of The Bicameral Mind' gives you. She had mentioned a book called Ishmael that she claimed would likely do the same thing. Nonsense, I arrogantly declared. Nothing could possibly be more powerful than Origin! Why, it completely reformulated the way I thought about civilization! My wife, patient angel that she is, shoved "The Story of B" into my hands and told me in no uncertain terms that if I didn't read at least the "Public Teachings" in the back, I was going to have to 'do without' for the rest of the month. Haughtily I opened the book, shot her a glare and started reading. One hour later, my entire universe lay in ruins. Ever since then, I've been dedicating my life to the end of the dominance of the Human Empire. I came to be in Iraq because... well, THIS time it's because I have experience in being in a war zone. The last time I was here in, when I was in Fallujah in early '04, they brought me because... well, because I already had experience with the Middle East, when I was here right before the beginning of this bloody war in early '03. So yes, this is my third tour here. I'm U.S. Navy, Seabees. If you really care (because it's pretty boring) look it up on Wikipedia. My focuses right now are hitting that 100 person quota and surpassing it, and inspiring those whom I have reached to aspire to hit their 100 person quota and exceed it. So far I'm only on 8, but I suppose it's a start. My goal is to change one mind a month, and it works pretty well. My interpretations of everything I've learned about leaving civilization behind is that the keystone of civilization is the idea of the One Right Way. So it's pretty much my biggest focus - you hit the keystone, and the arch crumbles. If that which follows civilization truly believes that there is no One Right Way, then the Human Empire can never reform, as it will be missing it's key ingredient. I'm an Oakland CA native, but my Naval gallivanting has taken me to my duty station in Port Hueneme, CA, which is about 50 mi north of LA. That's pretty much it. Oh yes... and I really, really love Star Wars. Peace, happiness, joy, love and a 50% chance of showers, Chuck |
| MidnightBoos Fri Jul 15th, 2005 at 02:54 PM |
big up. :) M'Boos |
| ProjectPurity Fri Jul 15th, 2005 at 04:59 PM |
Star Trek is SOOOOO much cooler than Star Wars :lol: (i actually think the opposite, but for the sake of a good wryle i'll give it a go!) That's a really good point about the one right way thinking being the cornerstone of civilization.... never thought of it entirely that way, but it certainly makes sence. As far as distributing the message to others, i bet i've gone way over 100 on both Ish and TSOB.... I copied the audio tapes of TSOB to MP3 and posted it on Bittorrent.... I reseeded a copy of the Ish audiobook.... during the process of seeding my upload of each torrent surpassed 100 times the file size by a large margin... meaning over 100 people fully downloaded each audiobook from me (and the way bittorrent works, probably each seeder did something less but close to that) By the way, if anyone wants those, i still have them. AIM or PM me. |
| Hypnopompia Sat Jul 16th, 2005 at 12:33 AM |
Guys? This isn't a competition. Besides, I got way more than you JB. :wink: |
| ProjectPurity Sat Jul 16th, 2005 at 08:07 AM |
I'm not sure if it's a competition rather than a goal. I was surprized at how many times the audiobook was fully downloaded... I wasn't too fond of the word "quota" though when Chuck used it.... too close to speeding ticket quota for me |
| MidnightBoos Sat Jul 16th, 2005 at 05:08 PM |
{Baleeted} |
| Brett5 Sun Jul 31st, 2005 at 12:53 PM |
Hi, Brett here, I saw that some of the "elders" recommended posting an intro. after joining up, so here goes... How I got here? I started out as an “environmentalist” and by studying philosophy in college. Somebody gave me a copy of Ishmael in 2000 or so, and was changed by it forever. I first realized that local Ishmael groups were popping up everywhere in 2002, so I joined a local group, then started my own. I’ve been MIA for awhile as the result of a work “binge” lasting several years, and a school “binge” before that (I know, yuck!) This looks like it paid off now (despite my $100K student loan debt), as I was able to start my own business and quit “dragging stones” for others. I’m now seriously trying to convert my business into a tribal one, and trying to work on “changing minds.” I also see the importance of trying to “get off the grid,” but it might take me awhile. For now, I’m trying to what I can, without having “incremental angst.” I decided that local was the way to go a long time ago, and I still think that. I also wised up a bit however, recently seeing the importance of a central dialogue site like Ishcon. Dialoguing has been great so far, deepening my own understanding, and (hopefully) contributing. Posts from “Silverbacks” are great because they’ve been here awhile and know some things... posts from “Newbies” are great too (even from the nay-sayers!) because they often make you think about things you may not have thought about in awhile. This is a great place to network ideas and projects too, of course. I’m not much of an Internet chatter (and I’m sure it shows). I plan on sticking with it though, whether I look stupid or not. I’m also trying to keep a leash on my argumentative/negative side, because I don’t think that’s what this site is about. I’m back-and-forth right now between Atlanta and rural Arkansas (Subiaco). The sooner I can get out of the big-city-rat-race here the better. At any rate, I’m here now and plan on staying (for life), no matter how much success/non-success I have with tribal businesses, etc. I'm a bit older than most here (32), but I guess I've got a few good years before the Internet Sandman comes for me. I love the “tribe of tribes” idea... if I can help support any of you in your endeavors, please feel free to PM or e-mail me. This is the link to my tribal idea on NTV (if you’re interested): http://www.newtribalventures.com/ntv/tribalnetwork/Detail.cfm?Record=8046 |
| JickyJacks Fri Aug 5th, 2005 at 10:28 PM |
I was asked to write an introduction to myself so here it goes. I ran across Ishmael about three years ago when my wife, who had read it for a college class, recommended to me. My reality has been changed ever since. Like the rest of you, I see the world with a new set of eyes. Some personal stuff. I'm not only a husband, but also a father to a brilliant, cute, adorable, lovable 13 month old boy. Seriously, though, having a kid is like being on a physical and emotional rollercoaster. One hour he won't stop crying his eyes out and the next you can't stop laughing at him as he keeps coming back to you every minute to give you a kiss. I went to college to study computer science, then it was physics, then math, philosophy and finally theology. In the end I became a stay at home dad, which is what I always wanted to do from the beginning. College was merely a place for me to learn about things that interested me. It's too bad that it has to be so career oriented - but that's a whole other topic. I've been out of college for a few years now and am living in a small, rural town. Great community, but much here in the department of intellectual stimulation. So, I'm hoping to remedy that a bit here. Daniel (Jicky) |
| savolt Sat Aug 6th, 2005 at 01:18 PM |
wow... i had just finished telling a friend that i no longer relate to my old life and wish there was a way to connect with new people who share my new life philosophies and culture. and then i come here and have been reading all of your postings, and am blown away. simply blown away. my name is stephanie, and like a lot of you, i grew up in a very traditional, conservative, catholic environment on the east coast. i was a 'good girl' and followed the rules, went to college to become an architect, and lived the consumer's anthem. i was miserable. then, along came ishmael and i began a journey that has led me to accept myself as a liberal, vegan atheist. i quit my job in san francisco last fall and moved back home to pursue a new path in education. not sure what's next, but i sure could use a place like this. thank you all for being here. your presence gives me my first bit of optimism in the real world. |
| MidnightBoos Sat Aug 6th, 2005 at 01:30 PM |
Hello stephanie. nice to meet another east coaster. :) Welcome. MB |
| Ghost Sun Aug 7th, 2005 at 11:20 AM |
Hey, Stephanie. Hope this place is a help to you :D It's always good to have more vegans around 8) Peace and Love and Empathy, Matt |
| andrewed Mon Aug 8th, 2005 at 11:46 PM |
Hey everybody. And hello to 2002 Ishconers. This is Andrew Durham, inventor, and author of the website, secret design. I'm writing today because I simply must share the most awesome quotation about civilization I ever read. I mean that I found it unintentionally revealing to an extreme degree. It appeared in the cover story of Springfield (Oregon) News. George Staples, a "Risk Manager" for Delta Construction Company was commenting on the extended hours his company is now permitted to work to meet a deadline on the completion of a new road. The city granted the request, which was momentarily in question due to the noise continuing into the evening. Staples said, "The unfortunate part of the construction business is that what we do interrupts people's lives." :twisted: |
| ninjapirate Mon Aug 15th, 2005 at 04:38 PM |
I'm back |
| twokniveskatie Tue Aug 16th, 2005 at 10:55 AM |
yo, welcome back, adam.....people have been asking about ya, we missed you. jump in somewhere and give us an update! |
| JCamasto Tue Aug 16th, 2005 at 12:41 PM |
Consider packing your traveling duds, and joining us as we head for the hills! -Jim |
| Holidaygirl Sat Sep 3rd, 2005 at 04:07 PM |
Hi, my name is Holidaygirl. I was introduced to Daniel Quinn through a summer reading club program. So far I have only read My Ishmael and hope to read them all... as they come in from the library. I went to wikpedia for a little bit of a clearer view on what the books where saying, and well I ended up here. I don't know yet whether I agree with his viewpoints or not but I do know that it interests me. Hopefully I will be able to learns lots and who knows how this will play out for me. :D |
| Ghost Sat Sep 3rd, 2005 at 08:43 PM |
Oh yeah! Another Canuck in the house 8) Pleased to meet ya. We're pretty informal around here. We usually call each other by our first names. Mine's Matt. You? I hope you get something out of your time here and I hope you enjoy the other books. Peace and Love and Empathy, Matt |
| Holidaygirl Sun Sep 4th, 2005 at 03:50 PM |
I hope I enjoy them to. My Ishmael gave me a migraine so I'm a little weary to pick up another one. Anyways, my name is Bailey. Canucks, are okay... not a hockey fan at all... to much fighting and |
| Vampire_IQ Sun Sep 4th, 2005 at 04:19 PM |
"Ghost" wrote: Pleased to meet ya. We're pretty informal around here. This is true. My name is Andrew. I'm not Canadian. Like I said, Story of B is AWESOME. At least it was to me. But I liked After Dachau even more. Beyond Civilisation was pretty good. A bit mind grinding to me, but still a really good read. Enjoy your stay. |
| MidnightBoos Mon Sep 5th, 2005 at 06:02 PM |
{Baleeted} |
| crazybaldman Sat Sep 17th, 2005 at 10:48 AM |
Greetings All: I am Crazybaldman (aka 'Crazy'). I come from the land of the neocons in which I have been wandering this millenium. I am battered and weary and have a heavy heart. I have found no real solace among the neocons - only a growing sense of impending doom :cry: I began my journey out of fear based on the mistaken notion that neocon aggression would render the world safe for my people - i.e. safe from radical islamic terrorism. I now realize that the neocons have no real interest in terrorism prevention and that their real agenda is merely one of greed. There are other factors that led to my misguided apostatic journey into the land of the neocons - but I will not trouble you with them here :D I am here to announce my return to the tribe of the Children of the Earth. The Children of the Earth will be the only survivors of the coming economic collapse of modern society and the consequent social chaos. The end of the Oil Age is drawing near, the signs are everywhere, and ONLY those who know and practice the ancient skills required to live in harmony with Mother Earth will survive. They will survive by retreating to the deepest wilderness areas they can get to, by living in harmony with Mother, and by doing so invisibly. If they are caught, they will be killed and eaten by the remnants of the Takers who will, for a time, roam the landscape in gangs (of armed cannibalistic looters) bent on finding innocent flesh upon which to feed. When they can find no more innocent flesh - they will then eat each other - our only solace. For now, we must remain in society, teaching (all those who can hear) the ancient skills and the reality which is now swiftly approaching. When the final sign is given, the Children of the Earth will have no more than a year in which to make their retreat to wilderness. That sign is the Red Sky. In the 'night' of the Red Sky, the sky will turn red for a week and the stars will 'bleed'. http://web.pbtcomm.net/~arsmithsr/ The Earth will begin to heal Herself in less than 29 years. Prepare yourselves and more importantly - prepare your children. ~Crazy |
| Vampire_IQ Sat Sep 17th, 2005 at 06:38 PM |
Welcome crazy. I'm not sure what else to say at the moment. |
| Dreamingupstream Mon Sep 26th, 2005 at 11:13 PM |
Hello everyone. I read ishmael almost a year ago now. I was 17 at the time in grade 12. I was an active leader in my school (on student council) and was focussed or should I say "blinded" to the idea of becoming fanicially successful. A year ago today I was preparing myself to obtain a business degree and find out how to survive as one of the more "well-off" takers... Well take that and turn it 180 degrees...amazing what the mind can do! It all started with a book and then just me starting to question everything! Im in a small town in Huntsville...doing what I can to not be depressed with what I see all around me...with all my peers living blind and as slaves...a teacher assigned the book, but im the only one that it hit directly...In a sad way...I almost feel alone...because society is a fraud and everything around me is societal... My hopes is that I can meet people of all ages and all locations...but it would be nice to meet some one close to my age (turning 19 soon) nearby...but i dont think thats likely... Look forward to everything i can learn from all of you! Sincerely, Erich p.s. I am an optimist! Or atleast try to be more then the contrary! |
| evade379 Tue Sep 27th, 2005 at 01:00 AM |
welcome!! Always nice to see a change in thought! :D |
| MidnightBoos Tue Sep 27th, 2005 at 05:43 AM |
dreeeaaammm dream dream dream... actually we have some young members lurky bits around here. hi! hello. welcome! MB |
| Ghost Tue Sep 27th, 2005 at 09:13 AM |
Welcome my fellow Canuck :D There are actually a few people on the board from T-Dot. You guys should hook up or something. ALL HAIL HOCKEY!!! Peace and Love and Empathy, Matt |
| Vampire_IQ Tue Sep 27th, 2005 at 08:31 PM |
Welcome to Ishcon Dream. |
| vertigo Tue Sep 27th, 2005 at 10:36 PM |
just realized that i hadnt done this yet... my name is rich. i got the name vertigo from a mud i play on. mud is multi user dungeon for those who dont know. growing up i spent most of my time playing outside in the woods. as soon as i could drive, i got a car and a job and never really spent a great deal of time outside after that. about 6 months ago i started reading quinn books. sometime before that i got laid off from construction and after a couple weeks i realized that i was alot less stressed not having a job. not that im allergic to work or anything. i just cant stand the idea that im killing myself to make someone else rich. i spend 12+ hours in front of the computer researching many things most of which come from this site. i actually read ishmael after becoming a member of my tribe. not really sure if i have anything else to say. im sure i do prolly just cant think of it at the moment. if you have questions fire away. |
| Vampire_IQ Wed Sep 28th, 2005 at 08:26 AM |
rewelcome to Ishcon Vertigo. |
| Erik Tue Oct 25th, 2005 at 04:24 AM |
I'm Erik. I was introduced to Ishmael by my world history teacher in junior year of high school. I didn't think much of the book at the time; same for the rest of my class. The book sat on my bookshelf for a couple of years until last summer I brushed the book off and re-read it. Since then, I've read The Story of B, My Ishmael, and Beyond Civilization. My eyes feel truly open, but it scares me how blind everyone else is. I live in a house with three others. One has read my loaned copy of Ishmael, and he's already loaned it to a mutual friend who will definitely enjoy it. I'm a business major at Indiana University - and I know that seems absurd to the lot of you. I have a lot of concerns about Quinn's writings, especially about population control. Is there really an exponential increase or not? And why is birth control implausible? I've never really found that well explained in his books. I know the questions are buried in the forums somewhere, so pointing me in the right direction would be terrific. |
| ProjectPurity Tue Oct 25th, 2005 at 10:29 AM |
Hey Erik... I've seen this happen a couple times where people read ishmael as an assignment and don't really take much away from it at the time, but then 2 or 3 years later 1 out of 20 of them pick it back up and re-read it.... then they're all about it. Definitly glad to have someone new, as always.... But i think that you might want to start up a new thread to address those questions, or dig through old threads... ishcon's got a lot of history even since i started posting here.' Good luck! |
| Mathieu Mon Oct 31st, 2005 at 08:40 PM |
Hello I'm Mathieu from Province of Quebec in Canada. I'm 32 years old, i'm married and i have 3 kids (tree guys :? ). I'm a Paramedic. Recently i discover the book of Ishmael and i have read the two books in french (sorry but it my primary language). On the Internet i found the Ishmael Community and then i found you! So... i'm interested to talk to people arround the wolrd about there interpretation of Ishmael and how he change there way of life. So ... that's it. I'm introduced. I hope this forum will help us! Bye :P |
| Xavin Mon Oct 31st, 2005 at 09:18 PM |
Hello again, Some of you all might remember me from a couple of years ago, especially Matt and Jason (Was it two or three years? Or 1 and a half? I really don't remember). Anyway, I'm just dropping by to see how this place has changed. Perhaps I'll stick around a bit. I'll know by next week. :D I ended up hanging out at the Nation of Riflemen (WARNING: many Takers, but they are very cool Takers) for most of the time I wasn't here. A couple of places here and there as well, but I can't think of them right now. It will be very interesting catching up with you guys. Later. --William |
| SurvivalAcres Fri Nov 4th, 2005 at 10:55 PM |
I have never written an introduction to myself, so please bear with me. I am keenly interested in sustainable living, permaculture, ecovillage and most recently, tribal structure. I own Survival Acres, a board, blog and website store (bulk food), which is how I make my living. My main focus these days is "connecting", which includes people, ideas, concepts, memes, direction, plans. To that end, I have my own blog and board but it's not presently enough to succeed in the overall goals that I've set for myself. I have a vision of a vast sub-culture structure... which offers a viable alternative to the present paradigm. You can probably learn a lot about me if you were to read my own posts on my board and blog. I'm pretty outspoken against a lot of what is going on in the world, presently concentrating on the environment, our destructive culture, politics, peak oil, etc. My background includes many things. I was once a corporate slave in technology, emeshed completely within the dreaded system. I realized the folly of my ways, disentangled myself and left many years ago and never looked back. Self employed these days and going to stay that way. I've done many different things to earn a living and can pretty much do whatever I need to do to get by. I've deeply explored various issues, including politics, religion, liberty, culture, history and much more. I've written three books (self published), hate capitalism, don't like most 'ism's anyway, reject religion, believe in spiritual principles and experience, embrace truth, earnestly seeking more (I am a "truth seeker") and expect to be learning for the rest of my life. I've learned I don't have any answers, only more questions. It's not so bad and it gets me by. I live in the woods surrounded by miles of forest, track deer, take pictures of moose, built much of my own house (you should have seen what I started with), pretty much do everything for myself, garden, critters, hunt, fish, whatever I need, but only what I need, abandoned "survivalism" as a dead-end and have turned towards the direction of community. I am presently trying to start a eco-village and am looking for participants. However, this effort may evolve, depending upon several factors, including tribalism. I am considering a minimalist approach for future living. There is a great deal about our present culture and society that I find offensive and my response to it has been to complain (by writing); and to stay the hell away from it. I hate shopping for example, so I don't shop, not if I can help it. I don't join anything and never have. I find that this leads to entanglements that I don't much like, but I enjoy laughter, family, fun and social relationships as much as anyone. I'm wondering if this would disqualify me for a tribe. I am expecting a collapse of society and particularily the United States. I think that this would be a good thing, although very difficult to survive. I am not a survivalist, but understand the mindset very well, having spent years "living it". Nowadays, my focus is on sustainability and common sense, the themes on my board and blog. Tribalism is new to me. I have not read Quinn at all, or anything else regarding tribablism, just a bit or piece here and there on the Web. But intuitively, I think I could readily accept it, I suspect that I already understand it because of my past investigations, research and writing. But we'll see, I'll need to hang here and read much, much more to see if this is what I think it is, or it is something else. In any case, I am looking for a new culture. I'll settle for a sub-culture, or even a sub-sub-culture. I simply can't take this modern paradigm much more and truly long for the day when it is either replaced with something better, or I can simply ignore it as being irrelevant. Right now, it is definitely NOT irrelevant and I can't find a moral justification within myself to pretend otherwise. So I write... I don't know if it does any good, but I try. Oh, I don't have a handle or a tag or a psuedonym or whatever you call those things. I'll have to think of something I suppose. |
| Menrandes Fri Nov 4th, 2005 at 11:03 PM |
"SurvivalAcres" wrote: I live in the woods surrounded by miles of forest, track deer, take pictures of moose, built much of my own house (you should have seen what I started with), pretty much do everything for myself, garden, critters, hunt, fish, whatever I need, but only what I need You're my new hero. Welcome! Glad to have ya! :D |
| JCamasto Sat Nov 5th, 2005 at 12:49 AM |
Glad to have you, SurvivalAcres. Even though you might feel new to tribalism, it's always been there. The whoooole way - not this newfangled self-eliminating civilization experiment of one basic culture. Tribes are what we humans evolved as, with, because. A rich, wild diversity of tribes shaped for millennia by each unique place. Shaped by the life, land and weather found there, shaped by the gods of that land. Flock of geese, pack of wolves, school of fish, hive of bees, tribe of humans. And lately, we've been talking of tribes of tribes, of rhizomous networks of tribes... I think you're on exactly the right page. -Jim |
| exploitanarchy Sat Nov 12th, 2005 at 04:19 PM |
it truely is comforting to see other poeple dealing with similar struggles. i'm only going on 17, and i am already pushing for another way to live. i've tried explaining to my mum my ideas and dreams, but she just doesn't give a damn. i've also tried enlightening my sister, and she accepts that i will live how i want, but she says she'll be fine living the way she does. how am i dealing with my mother's rejection of my ideas AND all of her other bullshit? i'm working on getting into either an independent living type situation, or foster status. i can't take this much longer-i've even considered running away, living on the streets as a parasitic leaver, but i'm not sure what i want to do yet. alot of people tell me that "i have alot going for me". i can be a straight A student-4.0, but i just don't care. i'm unsure if i want to go to college, become a highschool teacher, and spread ideas like that-or if i want to just go straight into living a sustainable way. i still have alot to learn and figure out, and i'd focus purely on it if i could, but only being 17 days from turning 17, i already support myself-i buy/dumpster/steal my own food, clothes, and ect. i'm big into music, and i love reading. i also write, and Quinn/this communities effect on me is already showing in my poetry/writing. yeah. check my profile for more info and links. -billly |
| Huby7 Sat Nov 12th, 2005 at 05:25 PM |
Hey Billly, I'm glad to see that you made it over to IshCon. Good luck on your journey. Curt http://survivingwithincivilization.blogspot.com/ |
| random_vagrant Fri Nov 25th, 2005 at 08:37 AM |
Hello my name is Seth In short I've been following this site and the boards for the last couple of weeks now. I came here through http://www.ishmael.com I was introduced to the teachings and writings of Daniel Quinn through my girlfriend of 4 years now. At first I brushed many of the concepts off as just another way of thinking. But after a few years of patience and solid thinking, I’ve become a strong believer and supporter of him and his followers. After graduating high school in 2004 my girlfriend and I moved from Anchorage, Alaska to the University of Maine. It was here that she received a full scholarship and uses it to study sustainable agriculture. I opted out of the traditional 4 year school and instead go to a technical college to become a carpenter and hopefully later an electrician. After we both finish up our life goal is to once again relocate to rural British Columbia and lay ground for an Ecovilliage. Already we’ve enlisted 7 people to join us with hopefully more to follow. If you would like to know me better I have a live journal here: http://www.livejournal.com/users/random_vagrant/ I feel very much honored to finally be a part of this online community and greatly look forward to getting to know many of you through brilliant conversations. Feel free to message me at any time and again I look forward to getting to know you and where you stand in the great divine we call life. |
| Talvir Fri Nov 25th, 2005 at 10:53 AM |
Hi Seth, I live in BC, so if you have any questions feel free to PM me or start a thread about it :) |
| MidnightBoos Fri Nov 25th, 2005 at 11:17 AM |
Hello Random, i live in Moooooo Hampshire (where the men are men and the cows are nervous). Maybe we'll see ya sometime. TonyZ on the boards here lived in ME for a bit, so try PMing him, he might have good resources in the area for ya. :) MB |
| random_vagrant Fri Nov 25th, 2005 at 12:58 PM |
"Talvir" wrote: Hi Seth, I live in BC, so if you have any questions feel free to PM me or start a thread about it :) thank you very much that would be great. What part of the great B.C. area do you live in and are familar with? My little brother lives there right now and is playing in the http://www.kijhl.ca he has told me it is alot like the Anchorage area only more rain and bigger Mts. My mother and father recently took their 2 week vacation in British Columbia to look for a possible retirment house. When they got back they told me they were sold by the sheer beauty of it all. |
| random_vagrant Fri Nov 25th, 2005 at 01:09 PM |
"MidnightBoos" wrote: Hello Random, i live in Moooooo Hampshire (where the men are men and the cows are nervous). Maybe we'll see ya sometime. TonyZ on the boards here lived in ME for a bit, so try PMing him, he might have good resources in the area for ya. :) MB Oh Im sorry but ME blows and after I serve my time here I want flat out. Right now I live in Old Town but I go to school in Bangor. Its just horrid. SO many people here just have no hope of a future and are very much agaisnt any kid of social change. I have manged to find a couple of friends though that are starting to ask me about my earthship/ecovillage plan. |
| MidnightBoos Fri Nov 25th, 2005 at 02:40 PM |
thaaaaats kinda why i said to contact TonyZ. he might know some more people to talk to. yeah. and us eatern Yanks luv you too. ~MB |
| random_vagrant Fri Nov 25th, 2005 at 03:09 PM |
lol sorry, ya thad be great! |
| Talvir Fri Nov 25th, 2005 at 03:36 PM |
"random_vagrant" wrote: thank you very much that would be great. What part of the great B.C. area do you live in and are familar with? My little brother lives there right now and is playing in the http://www.kijhl.ca he has told me it is alot like the Anchorage area only more rain and bigger Mts. My mother and father recently took their 2 week vacation in British Columbia to look for a possible retirment house. When they got back they told me they were sold by the sheer beauty of it all. I currently live in the Lower Mainland, and I've also lived in rural Vancouver Island. Yeah, it's pretty fantastic here. Though, with everyone and their dog wanting to move here, it's hard to know how things will change with development... So, we actually need more people that think along the lines you do! :D Otherwise we're just going to turn into Toronto (which is a bad thing :) ) |
| random_vagrant Fri Nov 25th, 2005 at 04:01 PM |
Oh I've already found a nice lot of 300 arces for a cool 300 grand. Pricy yes, but not when your splitting it up among 10 or more people. |
| Talvir Sat Nov 26th, 2005 at 11:39 AM |
"random_vagrant" wrote: Oh I've already found a nice lot of 300 arces for a cool 300 grand. Pricy yes, but not when your splitting it up among 10 or more people. That's great :) Which municipality is it in? |
| random_vagrant Sat Nov 26th, 2005 at 12:50 PM |
ohh Im sorry I may be a kisser but I don't kiss and tell. |
| Hendrixangus Sat Nov 26th, 2005 at 02:29 PM |
My name is Eric and i am a history major at Plattsburgh University (originally from Schenectady), but i may switch to Anthropology or Sociology, something along the lines of a social science. I have read Ishmael, Storey of B and My Ishmael. |
| Talvir Sat Nov 26th, 2005 at 04:27 PM |
"random_vagrant" wrote: ohh Im sorry I may be a kisser but I don't kiss and tell. LOL. No worries, I was just curious :) |
| JCamasto Sat Nov 26th, 2005 at 05:00 PM |
"random_vagrant" wrote: ohh Im sorry I may be a kisser but I don't kiss and tell. Also known as: a bluff, a boast, newbie bravado, unfurled peacock feathers, an appeal to hidden or special knowledge/resources, proclaiming (without being) the change you wish to see, etc... ---- Welcome to IshCon, Seth. No worries, no one is gonna steal your plan, if you do have one. Indeed, it's ridiculous to assume that anyone would commit to plans with anyone, after only a handful of posts from on some online forum.... We're about open-source sharing and building upon each other's knowledge, not protecting or restricting knowledge. Giving support, getting support - in that order. -Jim |
| LucidWanderer Sat Nov 26th, 2005 at 06:22 PM |
Welcome Eric. I'm an English/Complex systems major at Towson University. Good to see some other college students, as the university setting allows a lot of resources -- library, professors, courses, etc. Take advantage of it, the system is ripe for the picking but often left to rot because of various factors... |
| TwoRoadsTom Sun Nov 27th, 2005 at 04:58 PM |
My name's Bill Maxwell and I live out in sunny Los Angeles, CA. I was introduced to Ishmael by a good friend about 4 years back. I remember him insisting so strongly that I needed to read it, that it would change my life. I thought at the time that was probably just hype. Was I wrong (thanks again John!). Since then, I've read practically everything Quinn's written + a host of other things (Jared Diamond among them). I've researched high and low and had a hell of a time doing it. After the Ishmael shock, I also dove into studying the pre-European history of where I live. Now, I'm proud to say, I've had the chance to meet some of the people who make up the living history of the human race. The sense of community among them -- even after all the shit the Europeans have done to them -- is frightening (in a good way). You know one of the things that fascinated me the most about Leaver culture? They expect 100% out of you, all the time. If something doesn't work out, you don't "wish you could do better" because you did the best you could do. It's a decisive change of paradigm over Takers, who always feel a need to 'improve' themselves. It's like Taker culture is stuck being children. Hm. What else? I'm a proud husband to a wonderful wife and 3 great kids (sorry to all you 'don't breed!' folks out there). I live with my father-in-law and a good friend (uncle & godfather to the kids) which gives me a small insight into the benefits of tribal life. Because of my kids, I also had the opportunity to be part of 7 families who ressurrected the Topanga Coop Preschool, which had gone defunct a couple of years earlier. This gave me an insight into how cooperatives function and just how powerful and FUN working with others on a common agenda can be. I'm a professional writer who works primarily in the games industry (board, RPG, and computer). To the Geek contingent, I've inserted references to Ishmael & Story of B into various White Wolf roleplaying products. The newest is "Sanctum & Sigil" where the leader of a group of mages is a "B". I design rituals and stories too, for all you pagans and animists out there. I've done it for my group and for others (including a wedding ceremony for the local Unitarian Church). I'm working very hard to make connections between groups in Los Angeles, from the local tribes -- we have the largest Native urban population in the U.S. -- to the Greens to the anarchists to the Unitarian Church (trying to get a sweat lodge built there currently). Oh yes... and I'm also diligently working on an eco-village. The selling speech is thus: Quote: The Little Foot Coop Project is dedicated to building a co-housing development in or near Topanga Canyon, California. All structures built within the co-housing development will be designed to ‘reduce the human footprint’. ‘Reducing the human footprint’ contains several elements: ▸ Environmentally sensitive building materials (low lumber use). ▸ Environmentally appropriate building structure (heavily insulated walls through construction or earth berming – building a house mostly underground – to handle temperatures, use of rounded or arched shapes to resist earthquakes) ▸ Maximum allowable space for plant and animal growth (green roofs?, eco-gardens/edible ‘jungles’ – a variety of deliberately planted local plant life – instead of lawns.) The Coop will have localized grid elements. ▸ Water collection (through cisterns and/or rain collection, potentially through wells in addition). ▸ Greywater reclamation (recovering water lost through washing, showers, or other on-site water use) ▸ On-site sewage elimination (through compost toilets or specially designed sewage ‘treatment’ plants using biological means of sewage breakdown) ▸ Local power grid (solar or wind generated) The Coop will have an on-site food source, through gardening, a deliberate gathering process (wildcrafting), or animal husbandry. The food should be available to the community in amounts that would allow an average family to survive and be healthy. This food does not have to be ‘free’ per se and may require certain tasks (set by the community) so that it can be maintained. The community area will serve the needs of the community. At the least, it will serve as a comfortable meeting space for the whole coop. Ideally, it could also serve as common ‘cafeteria’, gym, dance hall, library, children’s play area, hospital/wellness center, or school. For buildings, we are carefully looking at the designs presented at the Hesperia Institute. For gardening and landscaping, we would like to use Fukuokan techniques (of which I'm discussing with a friend who loves to garden. There are about ten families interested to various degrees right now and we're talking to several other groups as well (maybe to join with them or have them join us; maybe to learn from them). Just FYI, the 'little footprint' is selling language; I agree with others that a smaller footprint means more people, not necessarily better living. I'd like to think, when the group revises this document, that we place more emphasis on "stepping gently" on the earth. So, I could probably say more but this is just an introduction & I'm too talkative as it is. 8) Best Bill Maxwell Two Roads Walker |
| Talvir Sun Nov 27th, 2005 at 06:51 PM |
"TwoRoadsTom" wrote: I'm a professional writer who works primarily in the games industry (board, RPG, and computer). To the Geek contingent, I've inserted references to Ishmael & Story of B into various White Wolf roleplaying products. The newest is "Sanctum & Sigil" where the leader of a group of mages is a "B". Bill Maxwell Two Roads Walker Fantastic, a real-live gaming writer! :D I'm a gamer, so it's nice to meet someone from the design side. I've played a little of the older WW games (the old Vampire & Werewolf). What board games & computer games have you worked on? |
| TwoRoadsTom Sun Nov 27th, 2005 at 09:58 PM |
Quote: I've played a little of the older WW games (the old Vampire & Werewolf). What board games & computer games have you worked on? eep! Resume posting... :oops: Okay... computer games: Return to Krondor, Starfleet Academy, Chekov's Missions, Neopets: The Darkest Faerie. Board games are "Star Trek Trivia Game", "Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets Trivia Game", "Hot Wheels: Acceleracers CCG", "Tangled Tales" About half a dozen RPG things too + some Hollywood odds & ends. There are a couple of others (both computer & board) also in my stable but my contributions got cut / the product never shipped :( so I'm not including them. Ah, the life of a writer... :roll: |
| random_vagrant Mon Nov 28th, 2005 at 09:48 AM |
"JCamasto" wrote: [quote:adf9df1b7e="random_vagrant"] ohh Im sorry I may be a kisser but I don't kiss and tell. Also known as: a bluff, a boast, newbie bravado, unfurled peacock feathers, an appeal to hidden or special knowledge/resources, proclaiming (without being) the change you wish to see, etc... ---- Welcome to IshCon, Seth. No worries, no one is gonna steal your plan, if you do have one. Indeed, it's ridiculous to assume that anyone would commit to plans with anyone, after only a handful of posts from on some online forum.... We're about open-source sharing and building upon each other's knowledge, not protecting or restricting knowledge. Giving support, getting support - in that order. -Jim[/quote] hey relax Im just playin and clearly the other poster knows it too. I had to re-find it online anyway. No worries boss its all kosher here. An actually as I search for it again right now in a differant window I cannot find the link. ahh here it is... http://www.eaglestar.net/hhn.html and looks like I was a little off on the figures. My apologize. |
| Shady_Waffle Wed Dec 28th, 2005 at 11:35 AM |
Hello everyone! My name is Julia, but I can respond to various other names [ as long as they're nice ones :wink: ]. I was recommended this site, and so, here I am! :D I'm a student at a university in Halifax, Nova Scotia, eventhough I'm still not 100% sure what I'm doing there and what I want to do with my life. I went there mostly to learn Japanese because I'd like to teach there one day. I've also recently started to develope an intrest in Philosophy. The year before last I read Ishmael. It was only by chance that I did because a friend of mine had been searching for it, but couldn't remember the name too well. One day upon a visit to one of the local used clothing stores she found a copy of it in the used books bin. She reccomended it to me not just because it opend up her mind, but also because of the kind of conversations we usually have. Ofcourse it opened my mind too and I bought my own copy, plus My Ishmael, which I read afterwards. [ i know i read them out of order. :oops: ] Currently I am in the middle of The Story of B and enjoying it immensely as I enjoyed the other two, and I've been encouraging people I know to borrow my copies of Ishmael and My Ishmael. I'm not usually very active on the interenet as I use to be, but I thought I should introduce myself just incase I start to become active here. :) |
| Menrandes Wed Dec 28th, 2005 at 12:00 PM |
Hi Julia! Welcome to ishcon!! :D :D |
| Ghost Wed Dec 28th, 2005 at 12:18 PM |
Yo, yo, yo. More Canuck action in da house 8) Welcome to IshCon, Julia. You should speak to Roxy (Raku). She speaks Japanese and taught there too. Hope to see more of you. Peace and Love and Empathy, Matt |
| raku Wed Dec 28th, 2005 at 12:30 PM |
Hey, yeah. I studied in Kyoto and taught in Tokyo for 3 years. I'll tell you anything you wanna know. And welcome to Ishcon! :) |
| random_vagrant Wed Dec 28th, 2005 at 02:23 PM |
welcome welcome welcome so far i find this to be an awesome place to meet just amazing people Hows the northern boarder these days? |
| Dreamingupstream Wed Dec 28th, 2005 at 06:40 PM |
Hey Julia!!! Welcome...and please, don't hesitate to be active here (although I appluad you for not being on a computer/internet nearly as much as myself) Another fellow Canadian (whao whao!) We're starting to grow...! Its great to have more students and "younger minds" around here...Nothing against the older folks!!! Lots to give and lots to take from this site...enjoy! |
| Shady_Waffle Thu Dec 29th, 2005 at 07:25 PM |
Thank-you everyone! :D I'm going to try and respond all in one post. *L* Raku -> That's really awesome! I want to visit Kyoto. Right now I'm working to try and go to a university in Hokkaido for a few months because my university is affiliated with it. It's hard for me to know what I want to know because I just want to know Japan. I'm yearning for the experience I think. It never ceases to surprise me. Thank-you very much for your offer. If I can think of something that I'm specifically curious about I will ask you. :) Ghost & Dreamingupstream -> haha Yep! We're slowly and quietly taking over the world. >D Dreamingupstream -> haha I can't really bragg about not being on the internet much because I actually spend time playing my favorite video game. :-# hehe Having minds of all generations is always helpful. :) random_vagrant -> It seems to be to me too. I haven't had much of a chance to look around too much, but so far I'm liking it. :) In Nova Scotia we're getting the nice winter weather. There hasn't been a day yet where my nose snot has frozen when I'm outside. *lol* But it's not January yet, so, I shouldn't be saying anything. :) |
| TwoRoadsTom Sat Dec 31st, 2005 at 03:55 PM |
I just wanted to out Penguin. He's the fella who first forced Ishmael on me. "Here, read this book." he insisted. "It will change your life!" Yeah, right. I thought. I've heard that one before. Boy, was I wrong! 8) So, thank you Penguin! You've done me and mine a great and wonderful service! :D And now back to the Introductions in progress... Best Bill Maxwell |
| random_vagrant Sat Dec 31st, 2005 at 04:36 PM |
speaking of penguins. On Christmas day my parents sat our family and a couple down to watch March of the Penguins. I must say I was awe struck and byond taken aback. Their social structure is soo interesting...but man was it just me or we're there a ton of similarities of how the Penguin social network acts compared to how mainstream society acts? Example: the baby chicks getting attacked by that bastard bird. Yet no parents came to the chicks aid. Anyway for me it was the heart moving/warming movie of my year. |
| tikimate Tue Jan 24th, 2006 at 10:37 PM |
Hello, As i finished Ishmael, i notice "contant other readers of ISHMAEL as www.ishmeal.org",<-- so i did<---which lead me here Looking through this site, it is hard to understand exactly what it is out to accomplish. Throughout everything, one thing is similar. Change is wanted, and held at high importance. I am trying to figure out, what everyone is out to do, what people believe must be changed. I personally believe a change must be made. I am not sure what exactly must be done or where to start. This is because so much should be changed and is able to be changed. Where to start? I guess all forward progress is good, but many of these things that must be changed go like this.. 2 steps back, 1 step forward... Organizatoin and co-operation is needed for these changes to be made a reality. Please reply tell me what should be changed. It seems, i have been having daily epiphanies. I guess it all began years and years ago when i was born and i started to be molded by society, by mother culture. with every new realization it seems more come faster and faster. I am making more progress learning and figuring out exactly what i believe in. Its hard to say what my first realization was, But to guess i would have to say when i walked to school the first day and sat down beside 30 other eager children. And i knew... I am not alone. Over the last year i feel i have learned and sorted out more then ever before and can only hope i continue on this path. 4 months ago I choose to become vegan, for many many different reasons. Then 4 days ago I read ishmael... this gave me hope, reasured my realization that i am not alone. I dont claim to know what has to be changed and i am unsure how this change should be brought about.. but i have ideas and would love nothing more to play my part as someone who evokes changes. |
| Dreamingupstream Tue Jan 24th, 2006 at 11:17 PM |
Hey Tikimate! Its great to see you've found us. Welcome to Ishcon. If you let it, Ishcon will blow your mind. You can keep learning here and even share with others what you learn or what you think about things. There are thousands of resources posted here that will take you to other websites, books, movies, authors, people, ideas etc...it is a great online community to have like-minds be able to communicate with one another...! And please, don't ever forget that you are not alone! :) Our culture needs to be changed. Everyone at this site takes Dan Quinn's ideas in different ways. Yes, there is common ground about some things but there is also a distinction between everyone here in what they want to do and how they're going to do it...I cannot speak for everyone here, but I can say that our culture needs to be changed. In order do that, minds need to be changed :D Please take part in any of the forrums/threads you see! Don't be intimidated, all I dont know much, I'll be glad to help you out! Tell us a little about yourself? How old are ya? Where you from? Hope to see you write again! Sincerely, Erich |
| ProjectPurity Sun Jan 29th, 2006 at 08:19 PM |
Wow, welcome. feel free to introduce.... Hows it going? Did you like the cake? I hope you're tray table is in the upright position. Ishcon ate my dog! |
| Talvir Mon Feb 6th, 2006 at 01:36 AM |
"TwoRoadsTom" wrote: Okay... computer games: Return to Krondor, Starfleet Academy, Chekov's Missions, Neopets: The Darkest Faerie. Board games are "Star Trek Trivia Game", "Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets Trivia Game", "Hot Wheels: Acceleracers CCG", "Tangled Tales" About half a dozen RPG things too + some Hollywood odds & ends. There are a couple of others (both computer & board) also in my stable but my contributions got cut / the product never shipped :( so I'm not including them. Oops, missed this post! I haven't played any of those games, but of course Betrayal at Krondor is an amazing game still played even now by afficianodos (I was too young to afford the computer to play it myself). What specific RPG things? I play a fair amount of tabletop RPGs so I'm really curious what you've done there :D "random_vagrant" wrote: speaking of penguins. On Christmas day my parents sat our family and a couple down to watch March of the Penguins. I must say I was awe struck and byond taken aback. Their social structure is soo interesting...but man was it just me or we're there a ton of similarities of how the Penguin social network acts compared to how mainstream society acts? Example: the baby chicks getting attacked by that bastard bird. Yet no parents came to the chicks aid. Anyway for me it was the heart moving/warming movie of my year. I haven't seen it yet, since I don't like films that much. Wiki is our friend! ;) :) "Wiki" wrote: The film has created some political and social anthromorphic commentary. Michael Medved praised the film for promoting conservative family values. This led to responses by others, including Andrew Sullivan, pointing out that penguins are not monogamous from year to year and (at least in captivity) have a tendency toward homosexual and bisexual behavior. Other commentators such as Matt Walker have pointed out that many penguin 'adoptions' of chicks are in fact kidnappings, that weak chicks are frequently the victims of infanticide, that albino penguins are ostracised and attacked and that prostitution is practiced by at least one species of penguins [2] (New Scientist, October 1, page 17). In a response to commentary that the penguins were proof of intelligent design, George Will commented, why would an intelligent designer have penguins raise chicks in minus 80 degree Fahrenheit temperatures? Many commentators including Matt Walker and Andrew Sullivan [3] have concluded that trying to compare human behavior with animal behavior is a mistake. Some of the controversy over this may be media driven. Rich Lowry of National Review reported that the BBC "have been harassing me for days over March of the Penguins. Apparently the film is just now coming to Britain. They are doing a piece on the 'controversy' over the film. I made the mistake of having one conversation with this—perfectly pleasant and polite, I should say—woman at the BBC about it, since I love the movie, but I have been showered with messages from her since then. Today she was calling about what, I'm not sure. I think to see if I would say on air that penguins are God's instruments to pull America back from the hell-fire, or something like that. As politely as I could I told her, 'Lady, they're just birds.'" Guardian article New Scientist abstract |
| TwoRoadsTom Mon Feb 6th, 2006 at 02:28 AM |
"Talvir" wrote: "quote='TwoRoadsTom' Okay... computer games: Return to Krondor, Starfleet Academy, Chekov's Missions, Neopets: The Darkest Faerie. Board games are "Star Trek Trivia Game", "Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets Trivia Game", "Hot Wheels: Acceleracers CCG", "Tangled Tales" About half a dozen RPG things too + some Hollywood odds & ends. There are a couple of others (both computer & board) also in my stable but my contributions got cut / the product never shipped :( so I'm not including them." Oops, missed this post! I haven't played any of those games, but of course Betrayal at Krondor is an amazing game still played even now by afficianodos (I was too young to afford the computer to play it myself). What specific RPG things? I play a fair amount of tabletop RPGs so I'm really curious what you've done there :D Sanctum & Sigil (2005), Mage: the Awakening Supplement, White Wolf Publishing Dystopia Inc. (2004), Core Book, Holistic Design Inc. Virtual Adept, Revised Edition (2003), Mage Supplement, White Wolf Publishing Fading Suns: Arcane Tech (2003), Fading Suns Supplement, Holistic Design Inc. Star Trek: TNG Episode Guide (2003), Star Trek Supplement, Decipher Star Trek: Bestiary (2003), Star Trek Supplement, Decipher Lord Erbian's Bestiary (2002), Fading Suns Supplement, Holistic Design Inc. Passion Play (2000), Live Action Supplement, Holistic Design Inc. Also Lead Developer Lost Worlds (2000), Fading Suns Supplement, Holistic Design Inc. Pandemonium Unleashed (1999), Fading Suns Supplement, Holistic Design Inc. And what fun it was! :) So, what do you play? |
| Talvir Mon Mar 6th, 2006 at 02:42 PM |
"TwoRoadsTom" wrote: Sanctum & Sigil (2005), Mage: the Awakening Supplement, White Wolf Publishing Dystopia Inc. (2004), Core Book, Holistic Design Inc. Virtual Adept, Revised Edition (2003), Mage Supplement, White Wolf Publishing Fading Suns: Arcane Tech (2003), Fading Suns Supplement, Holistic Design Inc. Star Trek: TNG Episode Guide (2003), Star Trek Supplement, Decipher Star Trek: Bestiary (2003), Star Trek Supplement, Decipher Lord Erbian's Bestiary (2002), Fading Suns Supplement, Holistic Design Inc. Passion Play (2000), Live Action Supplement, Holistic Design Inc. Also Lead Developer Lost Worlds (2000), Fading Suns Supplement, Holistic Design Inc. Pandemonium Unleashed (1999), Fading Suns Supplement, Holistic Design Inc. And what fun it was! :) So, what do you play? Hey Bill, Jeez, sorry, I'm bad at missing posts. SWEET stuff, mate! I love me some RPGing. :) My first girlfriend bought just about every Fading Suns supplement available, but I never had a chance to play it! :( The other books I'm not familiar with, but I have heard of many of those systems. I'm interested in design a little because when I have the time (and am in the mood), I'm currently re-vamping the AD&D campaign module "Ruins of Adventure", adding some pictures (painted by my fiance) and re-jigging it so it flows better and incorporates all of the ideas that the designers mentioned but never explored. But let's see, I started gaming with a friend with a homebrewed game we made based on those great old "Fighting Fantasy" books by Livingstone and Jackson. Then my brother's friend introduced us to his older brother, who sold us his original D&D books. Not long after, I started GMing AD&D 2nd in the original AD&D Forgotten Realms setting. After a couple year hiatus, I played some AD&D 3.0 (which seemed great at the start but I soon realized all of the complexity made it less enjoyable for me). Then I branched all over, playing with all sorts of gamers - Heroes Unlimited, several homebrews, RISUS. I'm a unigamer, I'll play just about anything. At the moment I'm playing in an on-again, off-again Alternity campaign. A good friend of mine is trying to get his League of Extraordinary Gentlemen game going (homebrewed rules, but based mainly on Castle Falkenstein mechanics). TTYL, - Joe |
| Rixbear Wed Mar 29th, 2006 at 03:28 AM |
Hi, My name is Patrick, but I tend to go by "Rixbear" online. I'm a musician (voice, piano, and guitar) and student at my local community college. Since I read "Ishmael", I've done everything I could to educate myself as to how to approach the problems it brings to light. I've read all of Quinn's books I could get my hands on (except for "Beyond Civilization... it's in the mail, though), and have begun working my way through the suggested reading-list on his website... I especially recommend, "Gaviotas" by Alan Weisman. It got me wondering what other people are doing, and wishing I were a part of a community. So here I am. |
| Menrandes Wed Mar 29th, 2006 at 10:37 AM |
well hey there rixbear, or Patrick, either one. Glad to have you here! :D |
| surrealswirls Tue Apr 4th, 2006 at 08:17 PM |
I was asked to write a bit about myself, so here it goes... I'm a recent college graduate of a liberal arts institution in California, where I was born and raised. I majored in studio art, with a focus in painting. I've been very interested in the therapeutic qualities of making art ever since my mother used her artistic talents to cope with breast cancer and her mortality when I was growing up. She died when I was 13, but her art has lived on to help many other victims of cancer find peace, understanding, and unity in their struggle with this disease. I wrote my thesis on medicinal and therapeutic attributes of color last Fall. I'm now living in the Northwest. I have a job as a professional photographer at a portrait studio which I sometimes enjoy and am other times very frustrated with. Umm... I like classic rock and blues. My favorite all time band is Pink Floyd. I'm also an avid writer of both fiction, nonfiction and poetry - you'll notice my posts tend to get lengthy very quickly (sorry!). I did a lot of theater in high school which I would like to get back into but haven't found the time or motivation yet. I've always had a natural affection for the earth sciences. I'm an Atheist. I make an attempt to pick up the guitar once every blue moon. I love to decorate. I collect elephants. At 23, I'm still not sure what I want to do with my life. I might go to Grad school for publishing, English, a teaching credential, or art therapy. I'm a tree-hugger and have a (probably) very romantic and idealistic desire to save the world. It's all my kindergarten teacher's fault. She told me that I was the future and I had the power to change the world when I grew up, and I believed her, darnit! |
| Talvir Wed Apr 5th, 2006 at 01:22 AM |
"surrealswirls" wrote: I was asked to write a bit about myself, so here it goes... Hey Surreal, Thanks for sharing :D It's nice to know people. My wife is a graphic designer, she is just finishing her studies and we'll be moving momentarily so she can begin working at her new job. - Joe |
| foolish_yeti Wed Apr 5th, 2006 at 04:47 AM |
Hey surreal, welcome! Be sure to take a gander at past threads here, there's some interesting stuff hangin' around, Just curious as to what sort of paintings you do. I'm actually two exams shy of finishing up my honours BFA in studio art- my focus is mainly printmaking (litho), although once I don't have the facilities I'd like to get back into more painting. |
| surrealswirls Sat Apr 8th, 2006 at 12:49 AM |
"foolish_yeti" wrote: Just curious as to what sort of paintings you do. I'm actually two exams shy of finishing up my honours BFA in studio art- my focus is mainly printmaking (litho), although once I don't have the facilities I'd like to get back into more painting. Most of my work would probably fall into abstract-expressionism or conceptualism. The college I attended really pushed the conceptualism wagon, like crammed it down our throats. The only paintings I've had shown in a gallery so far were a series of large scale rain paintings. Rain paintings meaning that I painted them outside, in the rain. The idea behind them being my belief in the duality of creation and destruction; life and death intertwined in such a way as to show that although the rain "destroyed" the images, it also created a new one. Kinda my philosophy about life - things one would think of initially as being bad or negative (rain destroying paint) turn out to be lessons from which to learn and grow (a whole new unduplicatable painting). More recently, I've gotten into a sort of surrealism/realism kick. The most recent painting I've made looks to be Salvador Dali and Frida Kahlo inspired. As far as my photography goes, that's a whole other ball game. Most of my personal photography is specifically about ideas from Daniel Quinn. Then I pay the bills by taking pictures of families. |
| foolish_yeti Sun Apr 9th, 2006 at 12:49 AM |
Oh man, I think I would have lost it at your college. I think this recent focus on conceptual art is a huge problem (no offense intended). I purposely stayed away from profs who pushed that. Produces a lot of bad work, and distances art from the majority of the population... that being said it can be done well, but it's very hard. Your rain pieces sound interesting. I for one could never bring myself to incoporate that much chance into my work....unless it was a performance piece I guess. Don't think I could let go of my work that much- probably has to do with being a print student.....planned, meticulous and careful, lol. |
| surrealswirls Sun Apr 9th, 2006 at 09:12 PM |
I tend to agree with you about conceptual art. I gave it a shot because my profs were all so into the movement themselves and I like to remain open to as many different paths of creativity as possible, but like you said - conceptualism distances the spectator from the artist. Conceptualism is really art for artists, not your everyday Joe-Shmoe. Most of my painting portfolio would probably fall more into abstract expressionism. I've been obsessed with artists from that movement for most of my life. I'm attracted to the healing aspect of art making, and abstract expressionism is a very emotional movement. My paintings tend to be very bold and colorful. Funny that you said that you're too controlling to do rain paintings because most of my work is also very controlled. I'm a perfectionist by nature, and probably a bit of a control freak when it comes to painting, so my rain paintings were an attempt to break free of the creative restraints I put myself in. It started out as an assignment in a mixed media class: "Make a piece of art that breaks a personal rule." I looked at the paintings I'd done over the years and realized that they were all meticuously controlled, so I decided to make an uncontrolled painting. I had so much fun breaking my own control-freak rule that this one assignment turned into a whole year's worth of new works. I set canvases on fire, folded up wet paintings and had my friend drive over them with his truck, painted in the rain, painted with my feet, painted with my right hand (I'm left handed), hacked at a painting with an axe, it went on and on... My school, Scripps (one of the Claremont Colleges if you've everh heard of them) prides itself on having one of the few printmaking facilities on the West Coast. Unfortunately, I never got a chance to take one of their classes, though I was always intrigued by the work that came out of that wing of the department. :D |
| foolish_yeti Mon Apr 10th, 2006 at 12:52 PM |
Technically abstract expressionism is conceptual art....so you're not getting away from it that easily. I have no problem with conceptual art when done well- it's just the fact that it's done crappily so often and it seems like this focus on conceptual art in school creates a lot of conceptual artists before they're ready for it. Interesting you say that your work is controlled yet expressive... neat duality going on there. Abstract expressionism is really about the act of painting, so I can for sure see how you could go into art therapy with that one. Art is very cathartic. Yes, printmakers are a dying breed....not very many places that teach it, and fewer that have good programs. Nobody really goes into university to be a printmaker.....usually fall in love with it after. My university fortunately has excellenet facilities and profs, which I'll be missing :( But it will mean a return back to painting, which I have been looking forward to ever since I finished a historical techniques class last summer. |
| surrealswirls Sat Apr 15th, 2006 at 01:37 AM |
Abstract Expressionism is so NOT conceptualism. Not only does the movement not have any kind of political agenda behind it, but the two movements are 30-40 years apart. Abstract expressionism is very introverted/internal art. It's all about emotion, using paint to express one's internal emotions. Conceptualism is all about exposing chosen concept for bandwagoning purposes - like feminism, for example. It appropriates external "causes" to derive a creative "subject." Abs-exp. is also solely a painting movement whereas conceptualism can be seen in all different mediums, especially sculpture/mixed media. |
| Valnurana Sat Apr 15th, 2006 at 08:52 PM |
Yo y'all! I've been lurking here and in other, sometimes less savory, sites for awhile and finally decided to say some of what's gone through my mind. To introduce myself, I am a graphic designer and marketing professional working for a non-profit organization whose main purpose is to provide financial support to members of the community with few alternatives. (We like rich people too. They provide the funds to keep us going.) I am a displaced yankee with a home, a family, two very spoiled cats and a lot of concerns about the future, living on a flood plain near the ocean with only one major exit. I am seriously considering a future move to a higher plain of existence...maybe the Chugach Mountains? I'll have to bring a sweater, though. It can get a might chilly on those higher plains. I am a bookwyrm: My favorite world - Darkover My favorite series - Song of Homana My favorite character - Mnementh My favority TV - off (except for Star Trek) My claim to fame - My first Star Trek episode was Charlie X in September 1966. I've never missed one. So there you go. That's me. |
| surrealswirls Sat Apr 15th, 2006 at 09:28 PM |
Welcome to the forum Valnurana! :D Live long and prosper! I'm fairly new to this site as well. Just jump into the convos and people will warm right up to you. Jolechu! :wink: |
| foolish_yeti Mon Apr 17th, 2006 at 02:06 PM |
"surrealswirls" wrote: Abstract Expressionism is so NOT conceptualism. Not only does the movement not have any kind of political agenda behind it, but the two movements are 30-40 years apart. Abstract expressionism is very introverted/internal art. It's all about emotion, using paint to express one's internal emotions. Conceptualism is all about exposing chosen concept for bandwagoning purposes - like feminism, for example. It appropriates external "causes" to derive a creative "subject." Abs-exp. is also solely a painting movement whereas conceptualism can be seen in all different mediums, especially sculpture/mixed media. Yeah, conceptualism as a movement is around the 60's- abstract expressionism is like 40's- but didn't really take off until the 50's....but I was very careful to not say that AE is conceptualism, as in the movement, but conceptual- as in it tries to convey a concept to the viewer, rather than being like an art object...art more about the discourse surrounding it. I'd say AE is conceptual and is a precursor to conceptualism. AE is not really defined as a certain style, but more the concept behind the work. |
| surrealswirls Tue Apr 18th, 2006 at 03:10 AM |
well then every act of expression begins with a "concept." what kind of art do you do that is not you definition of conceptual art? Now I am very curious. Got any pictures? |
| foolish_yeti Tue Apr 18th, 2006 at 04:25 PM |
Non conceptual art would be representational art. So for example if I do a self portrait or a landscape. That being said, a self portrait or a landscape could be conceptual- depending on how it is used. As is so much in art, it all depends on the artists intent. I would say that any art that attempts to portray an idea or a a concept would classify as conceptual art. Now there would be varying degrees here, and some would be more obvious than others. Non conceptual art would be more along the lines of traditional art objects, such as portraits or sculptures of greek gods. Now the argument could be made that there is a "concept" behind every work of art. So something like David's "Oath of the Horatii" could be about nationalism and honour. To someone else it could be about the evils of a patriarchical society. Any image will have associations for the viewer, and mean something different to them. Ignoring the comissioned part, David himself could have had an idea he wanted to get across to the people. Even in works of art that are for "art's sake" could be said to have a concept behind them- say of beauty, the sublime, etc. I'd say that for art to be considered conceptual the idea has to outweigh the piece itself. So the piece is more about the concept behind it than the work itself. How do you decide that? Well- as is most things in art, its all subjective. |
| surrealswirls Wed Apr 19th, 2006 at 01:09 AM |
"foolish_yeti" wrote: Non conceptual art would be representational art. So for example if I do a self portrait or a landscape. That being said, a self portrait or a landscape could be conceptual- depending on how it is used. As is so much in art, it all depends on the artists intent. I would say that any art that attempts to portray an idea or a a concept would classify as conceptual art. Now there would be varying degrees here, and some would be more obvious than others. Non conceptual art would be more along the lines of traditional art objects, such as portraits or sculptures of greek gods. Now the argument could be made that there is a "concept" behind every work of art. So something like David's "Oath of the Horatii" could be about nationalism and honour. To someone else it could be about the evils of a patriarchical society. Any image will have associations for the viewer, and mean something different to them. Ignoring the comissioned part, David him |