Has NS ever helped you?

[Euronion]

Well I'm a right-winger and a student in California in a very split area that is 60% Liberal. As you can imagine, I debate often times at my school with my classmates and in the school debate club. When we come back this Tuesday, we are going to be debating gun control. Now I have participated in Gun control debates on NS before and since most of NS is left of me on the political spectrum, it allows me to look at different sides of the argument. I did something similar when I was writing a 20 page Honors Chem paper on Nuclear Energy. I searched up a thread on Nuclear Energy and started reading what people had to say as I had run out of ideas. Though to broaden this beyond a purely academic standpoint, NS has also helped me become more light-hearted and has drawn me closer to my faith. I also feel a lot more educated about issues of philosophy, economics, and politics. It allows me to get all my debate out of my system and allows me to be a normal teenager with my friends. Then again, I get into debates on here with people that get me riled up and sometimes I procrastinate for hours on here instead of doing my homework. So my question to you NS, is has NS ever helped you? has NS ever been detrimental to you? do you have friends and or someone special who you met or know on NS? (I know four friends from school that are active on NS)

I do not want this to turn into a debate about issues, I just am curious as to what Max Barry's little creation has done to us.

[The USOT]

NS brought you closer to your faith?!?!?! I had supposed that we atheists here had a general smackdown on religion

NS has been good for me in terms of giving me a political outlet and introducing me to some interesting perspectives.

[Euronion]

NS brought you closer to your faith?!?!?! I had supposed that we atheists here had a general smackdown on religion

NS has been good for me in terms of giving me a political outlet and introducing me to some interesting perspectives.

I know it sounds strange, but when I found a ton of people talking smack about my religion, it just got me closer to my religion.

EDIT: and I know what you mean too. Sometimes I do "hit and run" posts where I post in a thread once, and do not post again because I know no one will like what I have to say but it gives me an outlet for running around some of my crazier ideas without being judged by people I know IRL.

[The USOT]

NS brought you closer to your faith?!?!?! I had supposed that we atheists here had a general smackdown on religion

NS has been good for me in terms of giving me a political outlet and introducing me to some interesting perspectives.

I know it sounds strange, but when I found a ton of people talking smack about my religion, it just got me closer to my religion.

EDIT: and I know what you mean too. Sometimes I do "hit and run" posts where I post in a thread once, and do not post again because I know no one will like what I have to say but it gives me an outlet for running around some of my crazier ideas without being judged by people I know IRL.

Whilst that is something I do use NS for (but merely forget to mention in my post) I meant more along the lines of actually having a chance to speak about politics.
Genuinly with other people I know irl there is a severe lack of interest in politics. Quite genuinly the first political converstion I have had with somebody in possibly 4 years where I didnt have to explain something first occured in a pub 2 months ago. As someone who loves politics, NS gives me a place where not only do I get to discuss it, but also talk to people who are genuinly interesting and know what they are talking about

Unfortunately I dont feel like I contribute to it as much as I would like however. Outside of religion threads I tend to observe rather than get into the more heated arguments.

[Mkuki]

NS brought you closer to your faith?!?!?! I had supposed that we atheists here had a general smackdown on religion

NS has been good for me in terms of giving me a political outlet and introducing me to some interesting perspectives.

Basically this. It turns out that not too many people like to discuss and debate politics or religion.

[Nailed to the Perch]

Absolutely.

There are things I don't like about NSG, and things that frustrate me a lot, but I'm always going to be grateful to it for providing me with a means of both socialization and distraction during a really dark time in my life, and for being the venue where I met my favorite person in the whole world.

Plus, it's certainly helped me laugh many, many times. Whether it's stories of a wheelchair-bound person chasing a knife-wielding maniac down at the truly inhuman speed of 10 mph, or questions about why Batman spends all his time in the comics fighting bad guys instead of just going to the library and reading criminology textbooks, or just the big pile of replies in every thread Hammurab ever made saying, "Are you serious?" NSG has never had any shortage of posts to make one weep with facepalmy laughter.

[Conserative Morality]

I know it sounds strange, but when I found a ton of people talking smack about my religion, it just got me closer to my religion.

EDIT: and I know what you mean too. Sometimes I do "hit and run" posts where I post in a thread once, and do not post again because I know no one will like what I have to say but it gives me an outlet for running around some of my crazier ideas without being judged by people I know IRL.

Hit and run posting is the coward's way out.

In any case, NSG has helped form my ideology and philosophy as it stands today, including minor contributions to my rejection of theism.

[Samuraikoku]

I hope so, but I haven't had yet the opportunity to test it.

[Euronion]

I know it sounds strange, but when I found a ton of people talking smack about my religion, it just got me closer to my religion.

EDIT: and I know what you mean too. Sometimes I do "hit and run" posts where I post in a thread once, and do not post again because I know no one will like what I have to say but it gives me an outlet for running around some of my crazier ideas without being judged by people I know IRL.

Hit and run posting is the coward's way out.

In any case, NSG has helped form my ideology and philosophy as it stands today, including minor contributions to my rejection of theism.

'tis indeed a cowards way out. Though it's not like I do it regularly, I have to in a real crappy mood to the point where I am like "I shall answer the OP but if someone replies I will go Nagasaki on their ass" so I figure it is better for everyone if I don't stick around

[Mkuki]

Hit and run posting is the coward's way out.

In any case, NSG has helped form my ideology and philosophy as it stands today, including minor contributions to my rejection of theism.

'tis indeed a cowards way out. Though it's not like I do it regularly, I have to in a real crappy mood to the point where I am like "I shall answer the OP but if someone replies I will go Nagasaki on their ass" so I figure it is better for everyone if I don't stick around

Most posters here can handle Alderaan, let alone Nagasaki.

[Euronion]

'tis indeed a cowards way out. Though it's not like I do it regularly, I have to in a real crappy mood to the point where I am like "I shall answer the OP but if someone replies I will go Nagasaki on their ass" so I figure it is better for everyone if I don't stick around

Most posters here can handle Alderaan, let alone Nagasaki.

perhaps, but when I get that way, Jimene Cricket says "yah know, that wasn't the nicest thing to do/say" and plus I got a ban once so . . .

[Call to power]

Lets examine my life: Its 2:40AM, I'm eating leftover pizza and I am here.

Hit and run posting is the coward's way out.

Try not to take yourself too seriously now.

[Genivaria]

I come to NSG to sharpen my proverbial teeth. I've learned quite a bit about how to have a civil debate here.
Whereas my mother's idea of a discussion involves shouting, interrupting, and 'nu-uh!'

[Conserative Morality]

I come to NSG to sharpen my proverbial teeth. I've learned quite a bit about how to have a civil debate here.
Whereas my mother's idea of a discussion involves shouting, interrupting, and 'nu-uh!'

My mother refuses to argue politics or philosophy with me anymore, simply because I crush her every time, by her own admission.

She still hasn't changed any of her viewpoints.

[Genivaria]

I come to NSG to sharpen my proverbial teeth. I've learned quite a bit about how to have a civil debate here.
Whereas my mother's idea of a discussion involves shouting, interrupting, and 'nu-uh!'

My mother refuses to argue politics or philosophy with me anymore, simply because I crush her every time, by her own admission.

She still hasn't changed any of her viewpoints.

Sounds familiar...
You should see the stuff I put of my FB page, it pisses her off so much.

[Galloism]

stories of a wheelchair-bound person chasing a knife-wielding maniac down at the truly inhuman speed of 10 mph,

Ah, good times.

[Conserative Morality]

Sounds familiar...
You should see the stuff I put of my FB page, it pisses her off so much.

My mother doesn't get upset about it. I think she takes a bit of pride in the way that I've learned to stand my ground about my beliefs. She just isn't too keen on challenging me on them anymore.

[The Joseon Dynasty]

I just get my opinions shat on. Which is helpful, I guess.

[EnragedMaldivians]

I come to NSG to sharpen my proverbial teeth. I've learned quite a bit about how to have a civil debate here.
Whereas my mother's idea of a discussion involves shouting, interrupting, and 'nu-uh!'

Heh, I sometimes wish my political discussions with my family were like that. That is, a heated discussion where we know where the other stands in terms of leanings. My parents tend be very vague about their political beliefs, my dad especially. He was a diplomat for most of his life so he's gotten very good at confusing me with vague jargon and at skirting around the issue whenever I confront him with something.

Though that's not as bad as the arguments between members of my extended family. One of which ended with one of my uncles being so pissed off at another of my uncles for who he supported politically that he decided to get him arrested on trumped up charges of violating air-conditioning regulations in his apartment. Very little brotherly love between the two.

And yes, NSG has definitely shaped some of my outlook. Very gradually though. I can't think of any dramatic examples of a post which on its own completely altered my view about anything.

[Faolinn]

Not really.It just made me fear for the future of humanity more considering the insane ultimately self destructive positions many here hold.For every materialistic wannabe Nietszche, Rand, Stalin, Frankenstein, Mao, Hitler, and Hobbes I find, the more I fear and there seems to be no shortage of them.

[Northwest Slobovia]

NS often provides a great deal of unintentional humor, frequently in the form of the Wrath of Mod. It's also a good place for political debate, with all that that entails; finding debating partners that I don't have to live with is a small help to a happy marriage.

[Araraukar]

NationStates forums in general are giving me a healthy way of airing my opinions - the arguments can get heated at times, but most often don't degenerate into throwing easily breakable things and yelling until my throat is sore. (Not that I did a lot of that in real life... *shifty eyes*) Or if they do, there's usually quite quickly a mod around telling everyone to cut it off.

I also admit that I like poking at the highly conservative and seriously religious people, who make the mistake of posting in NSG. It's a guilty pleasure of mine. Or would be, if I felt any guilt over it.

[Genivaria]

Not really.It just made me fear for the future of humanity more considering the insane ultimately self destructive positions many here hold.For every materialistic wannabe Nietszche, Rand, Stalin, Frankenstein, Mao, Hitler, and Hobbes I find, the more I fear and there seems to be no shortage of them.

Pfft. I'd take 10 NSG Fascists/Communists over 100 Youtube or Yahoo comments Republicans anyday.

[Faolinn]

Not really.It just made me fear for the future of humanity more considering the insane ultimately self destructive positions many here hold.For every materialistic wannabe Nietszche, Rand, Stalin, Frankenstein, Mao, Hitler, and Hobbes I find, the more I fear and there seems to be no shortage of them.

Pfft. I'd take 10 NSG Fascists/Communists over 100 Youtube or Yahoo comments Republicans anyday.

It's easier to avoid the youtube communists at least.

[Northwest Slobovia]

NationStates forums in general are giving me a healthy way of airing my opinions - the arguments can get heated at times, but most often don't degenerate into throwing easily breakable things and yelling until my throat is sore. (Not that I did a lot of that in real life... *shifty eyes*) Or if they do, there's usually quite quickly a mod around telling everyone to cut it off.

ITYM, "knock it off"... though I'm sure there are plenty of times when the mods would like to cut various things off of various posters.