Has NS ever helped you?

[Mike the Progressive]

Nope, not really.

[Herskerstad]

No, NS hurts you because it loves you.

[Manahakatouki]

It's made me more worldly I suppose...

I also feel more sane whenever I come here ...

[Rereumrari]

Can't say it has so far. It only serves to remind me of how ideologically different I am from every other person my age.

[Wind in the Willows]

Not really.

[Terrakristovia]

Funny story: I based a college application essay for University of Chicago on two of my NS RP characters. I was waitlisted, which is a huge accomplishment for that school!

THANKS NATION STATES!

[Reggae Magmia]

Being on NS:

Pros:
Made me question and change radical beliefs I had when I first arrived, and some picked up on the way.
Made me more analytical.
Made me more skeptical.
Made me more empathetic.
Made me recognize what's important in life.
Put me in contact with good people I would never have met otherwise.

Cons:
I use it as a procrastinator.
Has caused unnecessary stress and frustration.
Almost pushed me towards apathy.

The underlined is probably what I'm happy about the most.

[Northwest Slobovia]

Funny story: I based a college application essay for University of Chicago on two of my NS RP characters. I was waitlisted, which is a huge accomplishment for that school!

Not really. All it takes is talent.

[Romalae]

NSG gave me quite a few talking points for IRL debates. It's probably also increased my knowledge about philosophy, politics, and current events, but I don't recognize it off the bat like I do the talking points.

[Ceannairceach]

It swung me to the left wing, which helped me a lot, in my view.

It convinced me of atheism, which I consider even more helpful.

It helped me accept my sexuality, which is perhaps the most helpful thing.

[Grenartia]

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.

Its helped me to clarify my own opinions, and to think of arguments to better defend them. It helped prevent me from committing suicide, simply by the community providing a supportive outlet for me.

It admittedly has played a part in preventing my grades from being all too good, but, by the same token, its far from the sole cause of my recent drop in grades.

[Big Jim P]

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.

I met my wife here.

[Ceannairceach]

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.

I met my wife here.

I've always meant to ask how the hell that happened.

[Unilisia]

Well, I'd never have met the man I fawn over if I hadn't come to NS, and a host of other people who I find cool to some degree, so NS has been generally positive for me.

Also, when I was pregnant, I got quite a bit of help from people here on what to do about it, how to deal with it, yada yada, and people helped me cope with the aftermath, so that was also a good thing.

[Forsher]

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

Only if you learn from that.

I suppose if you define reinforcing specific viewpoints as a good thing. Also, as a result of that I am much less likely to change my mind, so, I say no.

Although that's partly because the people who disagree tend not to present their disagreement in a manner conducive to convincing me of the errors of my ways.

[Roan Cara]

As Jim said, we met on here. And through meeting him and marrying him I have had worlds opened up to me as far as things like religious viewpoints and tolerance and science and history and weapons and alllll kinds of interesting stuff I wouldn't know if I hadn't met him. Also had MANY MANY laughs with many people and found a group as twisted in their humor as I am which is always a plus.

[Big Jim P]

I met my wife here.

I've always meant to ask how the hell that happened.

Back in '03 Mezzaluna introduced Roan to NS. Me and her got to talking, first here, then IMs, then phone calls lasting hours. We fell in love, I came up here to NY to meet her IRL. I proposed, she said yes, and we have been married for 7 years now.

[EnragedMaldivians]

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.

That being said, there are a few posters who've definitely had an impact on shaping my opinions. Bottle for instance. While I never interacted with her much I used to find her posts quite, erm - frustrating - a long time ago. But the more I read them the more they made sense, on a whole variety of topics (abortion, religion, feminism, etc). And while I wasn't a homophobic or misogynistic individual when I came on this site, I'm not sure I'd be as passionate about fighting against discrimination directed against LGBT folks and against anti-abortion legislation (especially within the context of my own country) as I am today, if it weren't for her.

[Roan Cara]

I've always meant to ask how the hell that happened.

Back in '03 Mezzaluna introduced Roan to NS. Me and her got to talking, first here, then IMs, then phone calls lasting hours. We fell in love, I came up here to NY to meet her IRL. I proposed, she said yes, and we have been married for 7 years now.

Still love you, now and forever

[Ceannairceach]

I've always meant to ask how the hell that happened.

Back in '03 Mezzaluna introduced Roan to NS. Me and her got to talking, first here, then IMs, then phone calls lasting hours. We fell in love, I came up here to NY to meet her IRL. I proposed, she said yes, and we have been married for 7 years now.

Adorable.

And short.

[Neutraligon]

I live in Utah after having grown up right outside DC. NSG keeps me relatively sane.

[Mike the Progressive]

Well, I'd never have met the man I fawn over if I hadn't come to NS, and a host of other people who I find cool to some degree, so NS has been generally positive for me.

Also, when I was pregnant, I got quite a bit of help from people here on what to do about it, how to deal with it, yada yada, and people helped me cope with the aftermath, so that was also a good thing.

Like how you should have named your kid Michael or Michelle.

[Gidgetisms]

At times. But then again, it also has been the straw that broke the camel's back.

[Gidgetisms]

Back in '03 Mezzaluna introduced Roan to NS. Me and her got to talking, first here, then IMs, then phone calls lasting hours. We fell in love, I came up here to NY to meet her IRL. I proposed, she said yes, and we have been married for 7 years now.

Still love you, now and forever

ah, Luna. I miss the old folks

[Shady Deals]

In a few ways NS has helped me see others' perspectives. On other hand, I find it rather disturbing in some instances the vitriol that posters spew out because of a difference of opinion.

Beyond that...I enjoy taunting the Ordo Logicum.