The edition you are currently reading is the 109th full edition. To read any older editions of HF News, please go here.
![[Image: jba1spITkcOXLN.png]](http://i.minus.com/jba1spITkcOXLN.png)
Due to an overload of groups, Omniscient has decided that the sales of new groups would be obliterated from HF. There will be no more new groups sold, although the owners of the current paid groups are still welcome to sell their group. It was stated that, much like awards, he felt groups were losing their rarity on the site. To see Omniscient's announcement thread, click the following link: http://goo.gl/Qaf5a
New Ub3r Feature
After, and I quote, "feeling productive", Omniscient decided to implement a new feature, which allows Ub3rs to search the past username database, which would then show a list of members who fit the provided criterea. This is useful for looking for old friends that have changed their username, or perhaps finding a user's profile link from exported PMs. In the past, there was no way to locate users, so this feature should prove to be quite helpful. To view the new search function, click the following link: http://goo.gl/9tMMy
AOL Ban Lifted
After constant persuasion attempts, Omniscient has finally managed to actuate AOL to lift the IP address ban on emails, allowing members to register and recover passwords via AOL once again. It will likely take 1-2 day(s) before the ban is fully lifted, although confirmation that AOL users will once again be able to receive HF emails once again is comforting. To view Omniscient's tweet about this happening, click the following link: http://goo.gl/sYvkw
![[Image: jHAVGLpCK2X3O.png]](http://i.minus.com/jHAVGLpCK2X3O.png)
monkeytherat won the Hackforums chess tournament. Read about it here.
Moralitas stepped down as Staff.
Chief.'s account was re-opened.
Yellows had his post count drastically lowered.
Paradoxum is now Staff! Congratulations!
Repfucks
- Diogenes of Sinope was repfucked.
Bans
- mybboss was banned for low quality posting.
- SoulZeh was vacation banned.
- Stevo was vacation banned.
- Haste. was vacation banned.
- Diogenes of Sinope's account was closed.
- Suhinder was banned for multi-accounting.
- The Goat was banned for trolling.
- Harry Dresden was vacation banned.
- Barneyyz™ was vacation banned.
- S70N3R was banned for a year... again.
- Cody was banned due to an infection.
Awards
- Blazin received the Brony award for smoking weed and watching MLP.
Group Leadership Changes
- Formula1 is no longer a leader of Eminence.
- Chief. is now a leader of Logic.
- iElement is now a leader of Logic.
![[Image: jC7Qf9JqwY96f.png]](http://i.minus.com/jC7Qf9JqwY96f.png)
malichi - Romney the Liar!
Sherlock Holmes - Do you think real Time Travel will ever be possible?
The Elite - You are born gay - Only logical arguments
![[Image: juGD7pFSr607C.png]](http://i.minus.com/juGD7pFSr607C.png)
Phytrix:
Hello Hexicidal, and thanks for allowing me to interview your group for
the 109th edition of the HF News. Why don't you tell the readers what
the group focuses on primarily?
Hexicidal: Thank you for interviewing us. Logic focuses on itself. We are a dedicated group here for the people. Without the amazing members that are in Logic, we would be nothing. My purpose here is to give an experience unlike any other on HackForums. Each group is an individual family, and I love our little dysfunctional family.
Phytrix: Haha, you're not the only one. Before I start interviewing the members, I'll ask you a quick question. What are your views on multiple dimensions?
Hexicidal: Multiple dimensions is a brilliant area of thought. I hold the views that each dimension influences our own in inconspicuous ways. Each dimension could possibly be linked by black holes that allow white holes to form in multiple dimensions and interlink each dimension to each other. While information is absorbed and crush, it is not destroyed. It is simply transformed.
Phytrix: Will we, the human race, end up as a fossil collection for more advanced species?
Racutt: Civilization seems to be heading multiple ways right now. I believe that part of our species will be left on earth to die off and be discovered as a fossil collection, while another part will end up exploring the stars. Maybe even being the advanced species that discovers its original ancestors one day.
Phytrix: Do you think there should be further limits, rather than just prompts, on online adult content?
sylvertech: No. If a person wants porn, let him have it. Those who do not want it, leave. I could care less about shielding offspring from the horrors they will eventually have to face. Trauma leads to awareness.
Phytrix: What is your ideal political movement?
DeadLine: Let me start off by saying that I'm not a big fan of modern politics. The reason is very simple: most political figures are smart people who use their knowledge to maintain the corrupt system that we live in today. You might not know it, or see it every day but something is very wrong with this world. Take Julian Assange for instance, the man is being hunted by several governments for crimes that he did not commit. He is a modern day hero for what he did, leaking those files and exposing the truth about so many things, just like Bradley Manning. The things that they did for this world, are amazing to say the least. They have opened a lot of eyes. They have given their lives to support humanity, and that is what brings a little bit of light to the darkness that we live in. That being said, my ideal political movement as of today does not exist and I doubt it ever will.
Phytrix: Is there such a way to 'cheat' death, or do you just get lucky sometimes?
Text: You cannot cheat death. No one can know when death strikes. "Cheating Death" is implying that death is a living thing, which it is not.
Phytrix: Would the world be better under a one world order? Why/why not?
zZParadoxZz: That would have to depend on the type of system that we would have in order. In my opinion, yes, because we would have all the resources in the world capable of being used by every person in the world. This would relinquish a lot of the current issues we have now, such as the high prices we have on crude oil. At the same time, though, I believe if a one world order were to be enacted, we would have to be EXTREMELY careful of who we put in power.
Phytrix: Is suicide selfish?
Anarchy: Yes, although not always. If someone lets say has no chance of recovering from an injury that gives them no chance to ever move a muscle again, that's not exactly selfish. If some 14 year old girl commits suicide because someone called her ugly it's not selfish either since she's furthering evolution of humans.
Phytrix: Should survival be the main focus of society today? Why/why not?
Cyph3rStorm: Well I would have to say no to that, mainly because we all already know how to survive. As humans, our biggest focus should be bettering our technology to be able to help each other. Take starving children for example, we have the capacity and resources to do it, but the main problem is we have no cheap and easy way to get resources to them. If we could make our lives more efficient, and better for EVERYONE, things would go really well.
Phytrix: Should we limit the amount of children someone should be able to have for population control?
Anarchy: No. A person shouldn't be bound by the government in anyway involving breeding. What's next? Do we kill old people for population control?
Phytrix: Is immortality a possibility in the future?
Isaac Asimov: Well immortality is theoretically possible, but in my opinion no. Being immortal or if everyone is immortal, then the demand for food will skyrocket or plummet, as well as our population(Always will increase). Also, just imagine the evolutionary aspects of things and if you are walking around like the average human being in the year 2012, you will look totally out of place compared to the others. Imagine being a Homosapien Erectus while everyone else is Homosapien Sapien? Then just imagine the mental impact. If your mind is aging, but your body is not, you will develop such a strong disorder, so remembering what your name is would be a daily accomplishment. I think my greatest fear of immortality would be getting trapped somewhere out in this world. If you can't die then you can't escape, therefore driving you mentally insane for all of eternity.
Phytrix: Do you think technology is advancing too fast for the world? Will technology take our jobs?
tamilan: No, I don't think that technology is advancing too fast for the world. Yes, people will lose jobs, but technology will also help people live a much more affordable life due to reduced costs at the producer's end. People will have to adjust to machines doing their jobs sooner or later, and I personally would prefer sooner.
Phytrix: Do ghosts exist or is it possible?
tamilan: Of course there is a possibility that ghosts exist, however I would go as far as to make the claim that they don't. Just because people tell more stories about ghosts does not mean that ghosts are more likely to exist than other fantasy creatures such as fairies and pixies. Yes, there are sometime phenomena that sometimes occur, but I don't think it is fair to attribute that to ghosts. 'I don't know, therefore Ghosts!', is not a valid explanation for the existence of ghosts. But it would be pretty cool if ghosts like the ones from Harry Potter existed.
Phytrix: What is your opinion on standardized testing in schools and its impact on society?
Cyph3rStorm (against): From my Personal experience is has set standard education back. From the time I took my first State Standard when I first went to public school in the 6th grade and found that we were not learning anything, everything I had learned from the 4th-5th grade was being taught in the Advanced classes in Public school. The main objective was to get kids prepared for these standardized tests since they were what determined if you passed or failed; also teachers based their whole curriculum around the standardized test to help children pass since they gain a Pay Bonus for every child who passes the test. Now I am all for seeing where people stand but because of this education does not start 'till after Junior year of High School. I pretty much had to teach myself all the advanced Math because my math teachers were busy teaching tricks to these standard tests and cheating Arithmetic equations so we can move at full speed. But since teachers have become so focused on these standardized tests they leave out the fun part of education; learning new things by experience; so my feelings is these bonuses have forced teachers to put greed before education made them lazy, rude, and actually very ineffective. Now there are teachers out there that actually love what they do, but from my experience and people I know they go for the money, state bonus, and summers. So the overall impact is children are learning the same thing year after year; they get bored. Teachers start to call them failures since they're bored of learning the same thing. Teachers tell them they're going to fail the state standard, although you pass with flying colors since it's really the same thing over and over. Teachers make bonus and never thanks anyone, and you're left to do the same thing and start to hate it even more, leading to either dropping out, doing drugs, getting into trouble, or finding other ways to entertain and learn. Standard testing is leading to an uneducated world. I believe they should have a standard test but make it once every four years, so new things can be implemented. People can actually be taught important things; new things, and testing wouldn't be the primary focus of teachers.
Cyber-Security (for): Standardized testing brings a much more positive impact on society as a whole. For example, it makes sure that the students are learning all the necessary knowledge for their age. Additionally, it creates a sort of "test" for teachers because if they were to slack off and not care about the education of the students, it would show because the students would be complaining that they never learned the necessary techniques to solve a problem. Its impact on government is great as well. The government can see which students have the highest intelligence levels out of the entire country or area. This enables them to look even closer at the students’ schools and find out which schools house the most intelligent humans. They can then direct their funds to more appropriate areas where the intelligence levels aren't as high. If the teachers don't teach right, it will show as well. In conclusion, every level of society is affected positively from standardized testing in schools.
Phytrix: Who are you (yes, this is a serious question. I mean as in... as a person, not "Hi, I'm ___")
Cyber-Security: This question’s depth is often taken for granted by many individuals. If I directed this question to you, what would you say? Most likely “My name is ____ and I like ____, ____, and __.” What would you classify yourself as? The point is that we were given a name and when were given the name, we become that. We have been labeled. Other than that, we are all the same when we are born. This isn’t my point though; a massive realization will come in the end. Everything physical in this world is made up of these four conditions:
• Solidity
• Liquidity
• Heat
• Airiness
These elements are taken directly out of Buddhism; the faith behind this is very low. If you look at everything in this world that you can see, look for these inside of them. Now what makes us different from those? Well, some would argue we have consciousness (or a soul). If you have taken a course in neurology you will have realized how much brutal raw power our brain has. It can take in millions of data points and organize them in a fraction of a second. Unfortunately, we don’t have a soul. Put aside your faith for a bit and look at the facts. Our brains and bodies are so complex (years of evolution) that not even the machinery we have today can match it. Feelings are simply just biochemistry that is active in our body. Consciousness is the process of receiving all this information from the outside and recreating it. Our brains can trick us at any point, it controls everything. Is reality an illusion? We may never know until we create or find intelligence higher than us.
My point is that we have no soul. If we have feelings and consciousness, there is no need for a soul. Personality, what about that? All the interactions you have in your life is printed into your brain. You can craft somebody’s personality by controlling the external variables that affect them. I know it’s hard to accept, but it is the truth. Thanks for reading, I hope this has made you more critically minded about what you are.
Hexicidal: Thank you for interviewing us. Logic focuses on itself. We are a dedicated group here for the people. Without the amazing members that are in Logic, we would be nothing. My purpose here is to give an experience unlike any other on HackForums. Each group is an individual family, and I love our little dysfunctional family.
Phytrix: Haha, you're not the only one. Before I start interviewing the members, I'll ask you a quick question. What are your views on multiple dimensions?
Hexicidal: Multiple dimensions is a brilliant area of thought. I hold the views that each dimension influences our own in inconspicuous ways. Each dimension could possibly be linked by black holes that allow white holes to form in multiple dimensions and interlink each dimension to each other. While information is absorbed and crush, it is not destroyed. It is simply transformed.
Phytrix: Will we, the human race, end up as a fossil collection for more advanced species?
Racutt: Civilization seems to be heading multiple ways right now. I believe that part of our species will be left on earth to die off and be discovered as a fossil collection, while another part will end up exploring the stars. Maybe even being the advanced species that discovers its original ancestors one day.
Phytrix: Do you think there should be further limits, rather than just prompts, on online adult content?
sylvertech: No. If a person wants porn, let him have it. Those who do not want it, leave. I could care less about shielding offspring from the horrors they will eventually have to face. Trauma leads to awareness.
Phytrix: What is your ideal political movement?
DeadLine: Let me start off by saying that I'm not a big fan of modern politics. The reason is very simple: most political figures are smart people who use their knowledge to maintain the corrupt system that we live in today. You might not know it, or see it every day but something is very wrong with this world. Take Julian Assange for instance, the man is being hunted by several governments for crimes that he did not commit. He is a modern day hero for what he did, leaking those files and exposing the truth about so many things, just like Bradley Manning. The things that they did for this world, are amazing to say the least. They have opened a lot of eyes. They have given their lives to support humanity, and that is what brings a little bit of light to the darkness that we live in. That being said, my ideal political movement as of today does not exist and I doubt it ever will.
Phytrix: Is there such a way to 'cheat' death, or do you just get lucky sometimes?
Text: You cannot cheat death. No one can know when death strikes. "Cheating Death" is implying that death is a living thing, which it is not.
Phytrix: Would the world be better under a one world order? Why/why not?
zZParadoxZz: That would have to depend on the type of system that we would have in order. In my opinion, yes, because we would have all the resources in the world capable of being used by every person in the world. This would relinquish a lot of the current issues we have now, such as the high prices we have on crude oil. At the same time, though, I believe if a one world order were to be enacted, we would have to be EXTREMELY careful of who we put in power.
Phytrix: Is suicide selfish?
Anarchy: Yes, although not always. If someone lets say has no chance of recovering from an injury that gives them no chance to ever move a muscle again, that's not exactly selfish. If some 14 year old girl commits suicide because someone called her ugly it's not selfish either since she's furthering evolution of humans.
Phytrix: Should survival be the main focus of society today? Why/why not?
Cyph3rStorm: Well I would have to say no to that, mainly because we all already know how to survive. As humans, our biggest focus should be bettering our technology to be able to help each other. Take starving children for example, we have the capacity and resources to do it, but the main problem is we have no cheap and easy way to get resources to them. If we could make our lives more efficient, and better for EVERYONE, things would go really well.
Phytrix: Should we limit the amount of children someone should be able to have for population control?
Anarchy: No. A person shouldn't be bound by the government in anyway involving breeding. What's next? Do we kill old people for population control?
Phytrix: Is immortality a possibility in the future?
Isaac Asimov: Well immortality is theoretically possible, but in my opinion no. Being immortal or if everyone is immortal, then the demand for food will skyrocket or plummet, as well as our population(Always will increase). Also, just imagine the evolutionary aspects of things and if you are walking around like the average human being in the year 2012, you will look totally out of place compared to the others. Imagine being a Homosapien Erectus while everyone else is Homosapien Sapien? Then just imagine the mental impact. If your mind is aging, but your body is not, you will develop such a strong disorder, so remembering what your name is would be a daily accomplishment. I think my greatest fear of immortality would be getting trapped somewhere out in this world. If you can't die then you can't escape, therefore driving you mentally insane for all of eternity.
Phytrix: Do you think technology is advancing too fast for the world? Will technology take our jobs?
tamilan: No, I don't think that technology is advancing too fast for the world. Yes, people will lose jobs, but technology will also help people live a much more affordable life due to reduced costs at the producer's end. People will have to adjust to machines doing their jobs sooner or later, and I personally would prefer sooner.
Phytrix: Do ghosts exist or is it possible?
tamilan: Of course there is a possibility that ghosts exist, however I would go as far as to make the claim that they don't. Just because people tell more stories about ghosts does not mean that ghosts are more likely to exist than other fantasy creatures such as fairies and pixies. Yes, there are sometime phenomena that sometimes occur, but I don't think it is fair to attribute that to ghosts. 'I don't know, therefore Ghosts!', is not a valid explanation for the existence of ghosts. But it would be pretty cool if ghosts like the ones from Harry Potter existed.
Phytrix: What is your opinion on standardized testing in schools and its impact on society?
Cyph3rStorm (against): From my Personal experience is has set standard education back. From the time I took my first State Standard when I first went to public school in the 6th grade and found that we were not learning anything, everything I had learned from the 4th-5th grade was being taught in the Advanced classes in Public school. The main objective was to get kids prepared for these standardized tests since they were what determined if you passed or failed; also teachers based their whole curriculum around the standardized test to help children pass since they gain a Pay Bonus for every child who passes the test. Now I am all for seeing where people stand but because of this education does not start 'till after Junior year of High School. I pretty much had to teach myself all the advanced Math because my math teachers were busy teaching tricks to these standard tests and cheating Arithmetic equations so we can move at full speed. But since teachers have become so focused on these standardized tests they leave out the fun part of education; learning new things by experience; so my feelings is these bonuses have forced teachers to put greed before education made them lazy, rude, and actually very ineffective. Now there are teachers out there that actually love what they do, but from my experience and people I know they go for the money, state bonus, and summers. So the overall impact is children are learning the same thing year after year; they get bored. Teachers start to call them failures since they're bored of learning the same thing. Teachers tell them they're going to fail the state standard, although you pass with flying colors since it's really the same thing over and over. Teachers make bonus and never thanks anyone, and you're left to do the same thing and start to hate it even more, leading to either dropping out, doing drugs, getting into trouble, or finding other ways to entertain and learn. Standard testing is leading to an uneducated world. I believe they should have a standard test but make it once every four years, so new things can be implemented. People can actually be taught important things; new things, and testing wouldn't be the primary focus of teachers.
Cyber-Security (for): Standardized testing brings a much more positive impact on society as a whole. For example, it makes sure that the students are learning all the necessary knowledge for their age. Additionally, it creates a sort of "test" for teachers because if they were to slack off and not care about the education of the students, it would show because the students would be complaining that they never learned the necessary techniques to solve a problem. Its impact on government is great as well. The government can see which students have the highest intelligence levels out of the entire country or area. This enables them to look even closer at the students’ schools and find out which schools house the most intelligent humans. They can then direct their funds to more appropriate areas where the intelligence levels aren't as high. If the teachers don't teach right, it will show as well. In conclusion, every level of society is affected positively from standardized testing in schools.
Phytrix: Who are you (yes, this is a serious question. I mean as in... as a person, not "Hi, I'm ___")
Cyber-Security: This question’s depth is often taken for granted by many individuals. If I directed this question to you, what would you say? Most likely “My name is ____ and I like ____, ____, and __.” What would you classify yourself as? The point is that we were given a name and when were given the name, we become that. We have been labeled. Other than that, we are all the same when we are born. This isn’t my point though; a massive realization will come in the end. Everything physical in this world is made up of these four conditions:
• Solidity
• Liquidity
• Heat
• Airiness
These elements are taken directly out of Buddhism; the faith behind this is very low. If you look at everything in this world that you can see, look for these inside of them. Now what makes us different from those? Well, some would argue we have consciousness (or a soul). If you have taken a course in neurology you will have realized how much brutal raw power our brain has. It can take in millions of data points and organize them in a fraction of a second. Unfortunately, we don’t have a soul. Put aside your faith for a bit and look at the facts. Our brains and bodies are so complex (years of evolution) that not even the machinery we have today can match it. Feelings are simply just biochemistry that is active in our body. Consciousness is the process of receiving all this information from the outside and recreating it. Our brains can trick us at any point, it controls everything. Is reality an illusion? We may never know until we create or find intelligence higher than us.
My point is that we have no soul. If we have feelings and consciousness, there is no need for a soul. Personality, what about that? All the interactions you have in your life is printed into your brain. You can craft somebody’s personality by controlling the external variables that affect them. I know it’s hard to accept, but it is the truth. Thanks for reading, I hope this has made you more critically minded about what you are.
Interview - zZParadoxZz
Phytrix:
Welcome, zZParadoxZz, to the 109th edition of the HF News. Usually,
interviews are focused at well-known members, or old-fags. This week,
I've decided to take a less well-known member, and look at his views of
the site, and following the interview with Logic, receive his opinions
on some SRPP related questions. Shoutouts?
zZParadoxZz: Moon Shiner, of course. My Xbox Live buddy!
Phytrix: Good to hear. Now, what brought you to the forum originally?
zZParadoxZz: I had a deep urge to find a way to connect with other people online. So after I found Facebook, I found HackForums and discovered that I was very interested in computers.
Phytrix: Facebook and Hackforums as your first social-networking sites, strange match. Anyhow, what exactly interests you in HF? Which sections do you frequent, and what have you learnt?
zZParadoxZz: When I first started, I used to frequent both the RAT and Coding sections of HF. I never really became truly amazing with either, but found out that I liked the site, and the people on it (for the most part). Since then, I just wander aimlessly around the site, giving my personal input and advice towards a variety of people and things, although I do spend a good deal of time in both the SRPP and AA sections.
Phytrix: I see. Diversity of topics is one of the things which makes HF so popular. While we are on the topic of the site, what are some things that you would change/implement/improve if you had the opportunity?
zZParadoxZz: I would like to see a better cultivation of newer members. Quite often, I'll see newer members, who don't necessarily know what they are doing wrong, get flamed to the breaking point by more senior members. If older members could maybe give more of a helping hand towards newer members, I'm sure everyone would be much happier.
Phytrix: I most definitely agree, although it's hard to tell which new members are serious, or just trolling/there to cause havoc. If you don't mind sharing, what is your religious stance(s), and why?
zZParadoxZz: I was raised a member of the LDS religion, but have never truly believed a good percentage of what they teach, although I've seen that it sometimes makes more sense than other religions. Currently, I am not too concerned with my "eternal" welfare. If there is a God, so be it, but if there isn't, I'm perfectly fine with that as well. One thing I am sure of, it's that neither me nor anyone else will know for sure until death.
Phytrix: That's definitely a decent take on such a controversial topic. Another topic which has been of interest recently is suicide. What are your views on suicide, and do you see the act as selfish? Why/why not?
zZParadoxZz: Although there are many cases where it probably should be considered selfish, I generally don't think it is; rather, I believe it to be a personal decision based on what a person had been through, and what he believes he will be going through. If a person has lived a life of misery and sadness, and truly believes that their existence is just a burden, I believe that they have the right to make a decision regarding suicide.
Phytrix: While we are on the topic of death, what about the death penalty? Do you think it should be used more, less, or in a different way? Do you think it's effective?
zZParadoxZz: I believe that everyone deserves a second chance, but there comes a point where a person does not care about his or anyone elses welfare anymore. Also, if a person has been in and out of prison so much that his existence is that much of a burden on the government, then I believe that the death penalty should be a consideration.
Phytrix: Morality definitely plays a role in that topic, as everyone has a different level and/or understanding of it. What morals define you as a person, and what major morals difference you from the generalised society?
zZParadoxZz: I believe that if someone does something to me, than I have the right to do something of equal weight towards them. Although I believe I have that right, I rarely act upon it. I usually just try to avoid a situation that will end badly for both me and whoever else may be involved. Frankly, I believe that compassion is better than justice, just because nobody is perfect.
Phytrix: Most definitely. What kind of music do you listen to, in what situations, and why?
zZParadoxZz: I listen to all sorts, but I tend to lean towards Rap, which does not fit my personality in the slightest. Certain groups/artists I like are Wu-Tang Clan, AZ, and Nas. I basically enjoy any type of music that has a gritty realism to it, without trying to mask anything from anyone. Although content has a lot to do with it, I like a strong lyrical presence in a song as well. I listen to music in all situations, because it gives my mind something else to focus on besides whatever my current situation may be.
Phytrix: I agree with your situation-relation, as I do the same. Earlier today, Omniscient stated that no more paid usergroups will be introduced. What are your views on this, and on usergroups in general?
zZParadoxZz: I believe that his decision was a good one, since the usergroups, at least to me, were losing their appeal. On usergroups in general, I believe that some of them should have a larger focus on a specific topic. I do not believe that having a usergroup just for the sake of having a usergroup, is very smart or original.
Phytrix: Thanks for allowing me to interview you today zZParadoxZz. Any final thoughts/comments before I let you go?
zZParadoxZz: I appreciate your willingness to interview me, and I'm glad I got the chance to share a little bit about myself with the community.
zZParadoxZz: Moon Shiner, of course. My Xbox Live buddy!
Phytrix: Good to hear. Now, what brought you to the forum originally?
zZParadoxZz: I had a deep urge to find a way to connect with other people online. So after I found Facebook, I found HackForums and discovered that I was very interested in computers.
Phytrix: Facebook and Hackforums as your first social-networking sites, strange match. Anyhow, what exactly interests you in HF? Which sections do you frequent, and what have you learnt?
zZParadoxZz: When I first started, I used to frequent both the RAT and Coding sections of HF. I never really became truly amazing with either, but found out that I liked the site, and the people on it (for the most part). Since then, I just wander aimlessly around the site, giving my personal input and advice towards a variety of people and things, although I do spend a good deal of time in both the SRPP and AA sections.
Phytrix: I see. Diversity of topics is one of the things which makes HF so popular. While we are on the topic of the site, what are some things that you would change/implement/improve if you had the opportunity?
zZParadoxZz: I would like to see a better cultivation of newer members. Quite often, I'll see newer members, who don't necessarily know what they are doing wrong, get flamed to the breaking point by more senior members. If older members could maybe give more of a helping hand towards newer members, I'm sure everyone would be much happier.
Phytrix: I most definitely agree, although it's hard to tell which new members are serious, or just trolling/there to cause havoc. If you don't mind sharing, what is your religious stance(s), and why?
zZParadoxZz: I was raised a member of the LDS religion, but have never truly believed a good percentage of what they teach, although I've seen that it sometimes makes more sense than other religions. Currently, I am not too concerned with my "eternal" welfare. If there is a God, so be it, but if there isn't, I'm perfectly fine with that as well. One thing I am sure of, it's that neither me nor anyone else will know for sure until death.
Phytrix: That's definitely a decent take on such a controversial topic. Another topic which has been of interest recently is suicide. What are your views on suicide, and do you see the act as selfish? Why/why not?
zZParadoxZz: Although there are many cases where it probably should be considered selfish, I generally don't think it is; rather, I believe it to be a personal decision based on what a person had been through, and what he believes he will be going through. If a person has lived a life of misery and sadness, and truly believes that their existence is just a burden, I believe that they have the right to make a decision regarding suicide.
Phytrix: While we are on the topic of death, what about the death penalty? Do you think it should be used more, less, or in a different way? Do you think it's effective?
zZParadoxZz: I believe that everyone deserves a second chance, but there comes a point where a person does not care about his or anyone elses welfare anymore. Also, if a person has been in and out of prison so much that his existence is that much of a burden on the government, then I believe that the death penalty should be a consideration.
Phytrix: Morality definitely plays a role in that topic, as everyone has a different level and/or understanding of it. What morals define you as a person, and what major morals difference you from the generalised society?
zZParadoxZz: I believe that if someone does something to me, than I have the right to do something of equal weight towards them. Although I believe I have that right, I rarely act upon it. I usually just try to avoid a situation that will end badly for both me and whoever else may be involved. Frankly, I believe that compassion is better than justice, just because nobody is perfect.
Phytrix: Most definitely. What kind of music do you listen to, in what situations, and why?
zZParadoxZz: I listen to all sorts, but I tend to lean towards Rap, which does not fit my personality in the slightest. Certain groups/artists I like are Wu-Tang Clan, AZ, and Nas. I basically enjoy any type of music that has a gritty realism to it, without trying to mask anything from anyone. Although content has a lot to do with it, I like a strong lyrical presence in a song as well. I listen to music in all situations, because it gives my mind something else to focus on besides whatever my current situation may be.
Phytrix: I agree with your situation-relation, as I do the same. Earlier today, Omniscient stated that no more paid usergroups will be introduced. What are your views on this, and on usergroups in general?
zZParadoxZz: I believe that his decision was a good one, since the usergroups, at least to me, were losing their appeal. On usergroups in general, I believe that some of them should have a larger focus on a specific topic. I do not believe that having a usergroup just for the sake of having a usergroup, is very smart or original.
Phytrix: Thanks for allowing me to interview you today zZParadoxZz. Any final thoughts/comments before I let you go?
zZParadoxZz: I appreciate your willingness to interview me, and I'm glad I got the chance to share a little bit about myself with the community.
No comments:
Post a Comment