NationStates Jolt Archive

Some time ago, on this here General Forum, there were an absurd amount of 'random roleplay' threads of things like coffee houses, bookstores and singles bars. Two memorable ones were Petworthia's Coffee House and a bar of some kind inside an active volcano. Each thread went through some ten or fifteen iterations. There were 'regulars', 'drop ins', characters involved in 'romantic relationships', and the occasional explosion (more, as it happens, in Pet's coffee house than in the Volcano Club). As of now, only one remains, this being the Paradise Beach Club, now in its tenth incarnation.

The questions are simple: Were any of you around for this, and did any of you take part? Why did this established 'industry' die out? Was it a sudden and spontaneous loss of interest for a large number of people, or did it signify NationStates having 'grown up' a bit, that it moved away from social activities, and towards 'real world concerns' such as where, exactly, Al Qaeda plans to attack Canada?
Discuss.



Note: the spoiler box contains previous topics, including:
Tomato a sign of impending doom?

The longest running thread on the general forum's first page is 'Tomato: Fruit or Vegetable'. What does this say about the human condition, as it relates to internet forums? Does this suggest that human beings have a fascination with vegetables, fruit and the tomato greater than the monumental question, 'Bush=Hitler?' If so, does this bode well or poorly for our future as a race?
Discuss.

The longest running thread on the general forum's first page is 'Tomato: Fruit or Vegetable'. What does this say about the human condition, as it relates to internet forums? Does this suggest that human beings have a fascination with vegetables, fruit and the tomato greater than the monumental question, 'Bush=Hitler?' If so, does this bode well or poorly for our future as a race?
Discuss.
it bodes well in my opinion. people get tired of all the Polictial/racial/socal debates and a fun, nonsensical one actually cleans the palet and is often times refreshing.

besides Tollers and Flamebaiters look foolish trying to bait someone in a thread about veggies. and even more foolish are those who rise to the bait. :D

I also think it is a sign of increasing human maturity. In proper context, 1000 years from now no one will care about current politics, but people will still be wondering about the tomato fruit/veggie thing.

I also think it is a sign of increasing human maturity. In proper context, 1000 years from now no one will care about current politics, but people will still be wondering about the tomato fruit/veggie thing.
WHAATTT... I'm still trying to tell the difference between Cabbages and Lettuse! :eek:

Would you rather have Chuck Norris?

WHAATTT... I'm still trying to tell the difference between Cabbages and Lettuse! :eek:
Did you know that cabbage, broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, and cauliflower are all variations of the same plant.

Did you know that cabbage, broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, and cauliflower are all variations of the same plant.

You're shitting me!?!? That's freakin' awesome. Just have to plant one and I get all 3.......4 (in theory).

The longest running thread on the general forum's first page is 'Tomato: Fruit or Vegetable'. What does this say about the human condition, as it relates to internet forums? Does this suggest that human beings have a fascination with vegetables, fruit and the tomato greater than the monumental question, 'Bush=Hitler?' If so, does this bode well or poorly for our future as a race?
Discuss.
well, considering, most of that thread is the debate between me and Infinite Dunes, I can safely say that the thread, as he stated, stopped being about tomatos a while ago. We've been debating language and linguistics for a while now, using the tomato as a case study.

Not to mention, reading all those Bush is evil, abortion, gay rights, etc. threads gives me a headache, constantly bringing up the same exact points time and time again, only to be refuted by the same points from the other side, and never changing anyones mind...it becomes tedious. Atleast with linguistics, someone MIGHT have an open mind and maybe even learn something.

Tomato = Death

1. It's tasty
2. It's red
3. It's both a fruit and a vegtable

Enough said.

The longest running thread on the general forum's first page is 'Tomato: Fruit or Vegetable'. What does this say about the human condition, as it relates to internet forums? It might suggest that Desperate Measures has his finger on the pulse of the NS world. Well, at least on something warm, swollen, and pulsing :eek:

Does this suggest that human beings have a fascination with vegetables, fruit and the tomato greater than the monumental question, 'Bush=Hitler?' If so, does this bode well or poorly for our future as a race?
Discuss.Well, we're already doomed. We're just rearranging the deck chairs on the Hindenburg. ;)

Did you know that cabbage, broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, and cauliflower are all variations of the same plant.
Doesn't that depend on how much torture you subject the plant and seeds to?
The Hormetic Principle?

*thinks devious thoughts*
http://www.websmileys.com/sm/evil/756.gif

Im much more concerned about issues such as...what exactly is the green in irish spring soap? And what is the .001% that isnt Ivory in Ivory soap? Are the soap mines a finite resource or will it all be dug up some day like oil? Does one clean a beard with soap or shampoo? Can anyone pick out the silly questions?

You're shitting me!?!? That's freakin' awesome. Just have to plant one and I get all 3.......4 (in theory).
Not quite that easy. All are the same species. But you buy seed for one variety of that species. However, they will cross-breed. So if you plant them close together and save the seed, it will be random what you will get.

It's like a dairy cow and a beef cow are the same species. You can cross them and get a calf, but you don't know if that calf will have characteristics of dairy or beef.

Not quite that easy. All are the same species. But you buy seed for one variety of that species. However, they will cross-breed. So if you plant them close together and save the seed, it will be random what you will get.

It's like a dairy cow and a beef cow are the same species. You can cross them and get a calf, but you don't know if that calf will have characteristics of dairy or beef.

Even better, I prefer my food to go "moo" or "oink" or "baaa" or "Hey!! Leggo my leg you freak" before I eat it. I don't think broccoli does...unless it does very, very quietly.

*goes off to listen to broccoli*

Eggs are related to jello which is similar to mashed potatos, therefore, eggs are good.

Eggs are related to jello which is similar to mashed potatos, therefore, eggs are good.
Pectin - ground hoof.
:eek:

Pectin - ground hoof.
:eek:

Marrow from the bone as well I believe....at least it went "moo" so I can eat it.

Marrow from the bone as well I believe....at least it went "moo" so I can eat it.
Ah, yeah. *nods*
... :eek:

Pectin - ground hoof.
:eek:
Goes well with whale ;)

Ah, yeah. *nods*
... :eek:
Pwnd.

Pwnd.
Prwnd.
Besides, i was mostly right.

Goes well with whale ;)
Whale Biologist: ...and the fifth reason whales kill is for the sheer fun of it!
Leela: Anything else I should know?
Whale Biologist: Yes. Your suit's lumpy and you smell awful. Hey, I call 'em like I see 'em. I'm a whale biologist.

Whales don't go "moo". They go "ennnnnnghhahhhhahhhhooohhh". Safe to say thay can be eaten and turned into eggs, I mean broccoli.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brassica_oleracea



Also part of the discussion

The production of gelatin starts with the boiling of bones, skins, and hides of pigs and cows, in 70-foot vats to extract and hydrolyze the protein collagen, which is then soaked and filtered. Horns or hooves are not used, as is traditionally thought. The extract is then dried and ground to form a powder, and is mixed with sugar, adipic acid, fumaric acid, sodium citrate, and artificial flavorings and food colors. Because the collagen is processed extensively, the final product is not categorized as a meat or animal product by the US federal government.

Whale Biologist: ...and the fifth reason whales kill is for the sheer fun of it!
Leela: Anything else I should know?
Whale Biologist: Yes. Your suit's lumpy and you smell awful. Hey, I call 'em like I see 'em. I'm a whale biologist.
:) :D :eek: :fluffle: :p ;)

Whales don't go "moo". They go "ennnnnnghhahhhhahhhhooohhh". Safe to say thay can be eaten and turned into eggs, I mean broccoli.
Or tuna.. :eek:

:) :D :eek: :fluffle: :p ;)
Ya know it's worth it to check on Kari *other thread*

Whale Biologist: ...and the fifth reason whales kill is for the sheer fun of it!
Leela: Anything else I should know?
Whale Biologist: Yes. Your suit's lumpy and you smell awful. Hey, I call 'em like I see 'em. I'm a whale biologist.
glad to see you haven't lost your touch ;)

glad to see you haven't lost your touch ;)
Oh i do, i do ... i get numb ... have to touch myself in other ways to restimulate the nerves ...
http://www.websmileys.com/sm/crazy/1471.gif
Besides, it's Ill Rufferto. He's awesome play.
BTW, Scarlet's wantin' to know when we're a go on that thread ...
http://www.websmileys.com/sm/crazy/265.gif

Oh i do, i do ... i get numb ... have to touch myself in other ways to restimulate the nerves ...
http://www.websmileys.com/sm/crazy/1471.gif
Besides, it's Ill Rufferto. He's awesome play.
BTW, Scarlet's wantin' to know when we're a go on that thread ...
http://www.websmileys.com/sm/crazy/265.gif
:eek:
hahaha...oh SJS. What to do with you....

and yes, IllR tends to keep me well amused.

And where has that woman been?! I know I've been absent alot recently, but I feel like she disappeared for a month! I'm good to go with the thread. you want to make the first post?

You know, I'm going to spam the hell out of this mystery thread.



:D

You know, I'm going to spam the hell out of this mystery thread.



:D
haha...well, it can't be far from the intended purpose.

:eek:
hahaha...oh SJS. What to do with you....

and yes, IllR tends to keep me well amused.

And where has that woman been?! I know I've been absent alot recently, but I feel like she disappeared for a month! I'm good to go with the thread. you want to make the first post?
She's gotten some new employment. It looks good so far, she says.

I imagine i can make the first post - it's gonna need a little nudging now & again but i suppose i can do that.
I'm a little distracted on/off but i'll give it a shot. Are you on for a while this eve?

She's gotten some new employment. It looks good so far, she says.

I imagine i can make the first post - it's gonna need a little nudging now & again but i suppose i can do that.
I'm a little distracted on/off but i'll give it a shot. Are you on for a while this eve?
ahh...I'll have to send some congrats on to her soon.

sadly, I think the night is drawing to a close for me...my head is killing me and I'm far to lazy to dig out my tylenol from school.

and when aren't you and I distracted? I'm pretty sure that is the basis of our existances.;)

haha...well, it can't be far from the intended purpose.
Sounds like my kind of thread :p

ahh...I'll have to send some congrats on to her soon.

sadly, I think the night is drawing to a close for me...my head is killing me and I'm far to lazy to dig out my tylenol from school.

and when aren't you and I distracted? I'm pretty sure that is the basis of our existances.;)
Yep. :)
Perhaps i'll set it up anyway - our "living stones" would be Scarlet, Cobbleism, Verdigroth, Muravyets and yourself, and we're the only ones on right now.
:eek:

Hm... this thread's in the most active 5 threads on NS, I feel proud. How about... a change of subject!

Some time ago, on this here General Forum, there were an absurd amount of 'random roleplay' threads of things like coffee houses, bookstores and singles bars. Two memorable ones were Petworthia's Coffee House and a bar of some kind inside an active volcano. Each thread went through some ten or fifteen iterations. There were 'regulars', 'drop ins', characters involved in 'romantic relationships', and the occasional explosion (more, as it happens, in Pet's coffee house than in the Volcano Club). As of now, only one remains, this being the Paradise Beach Club, now in its tenth incarnation.

The questions are simple: Were any of you around for this, and did any of you take part? Why did this established 'industry' die out? Was it a sudden and spontaneous loss of interest for a large number of people, or did it signify NationStates having 'grown up' a bit, that it moved away from social activities, and towards 'real world concerns' such as where, exactly, Al Qaeda plans to attack Canada?
Discuss.

Hm... this thread's in the most active 5 threads on NS, I feel proud. How about... a change of subject!

Some time ago, on this here General Forum, there were an absurd amount of 'random roleplay' threads of things like coffee houses, bookstores and singles bars. Two memorable ones were Petworthia's Coffee House and a bar of some kind inside an active volcano. Each thread went through some ten or fifteen iterations. There were 'regulars', 'drop ins', characters involved in 'romantic relationships', and the occasional explosion (more, as it happens, in Pet's coffee house than in the Volcano Club). As of now, only one remains, this being the Paradise Beach Club, now in its tenth incarnation.

The questions are simple: Were any of you around for this, and did any of you take part? Why did this established 'industry' die out? Was it a sudden and spontaneous loss of interest for a large number of people, or did it signify NationStates having 'grown up' a bit, that it moved away from social activities, and towards 'real world concerns' such as where, exactly, Al Qaeda plans to attack Canada?
Discuss.
:eek:
http://ghettobaby.net/Emoticons/linkedtocdixon061504changelinks/threadhijacked.gif

Uhm, i wasn't around for that. Besides, i'm a self-proclaimed pariah.
;)

i made an rp thread that failed... horribly.

Bump?

Bump?
Cigarette? Pack of gum?

Note: the spoiler box contains previous topics, including:
Tomato a sign of impending doom?

The longest running thread on the general forum's first page is 'Tomato: Fruit or Vegetable'. What does this say about the human condition, as it relates to internet forums? Does this suggest that human beings have a fascination with vegetables, fruit and the tomato greater than the monumental question, 'Bush=Hitler?' If so, does this bode well or poorly for our future as a race?
Discuss.
Bush is to Hitler as Tomato is to Fruit.

Bush is to Hitler as Tomato is to Fruit.
F
I
E
N
D

:D

F
I
E
N
D

:D
I'm just going to be sad if this replaces my original thread. I'm beginning to think that people on General will latch on to just any old thread that mentions God's Most Worthy of Fruits.

Cigarette? Pack of gum?
Gum, please. I'm not a smoker, really.

I'm just going to be sad if this replaces my original thread. I'm beginning to think that people on General will latch on to just any old thread that mentions God's Most Worthy of Fruits.
Feel proud. You made a 10+ page thread that got people arguing, sometimes nastily over a red piece of vegetation. Consider this a sort of homage.

Gum, please. I'm not a smoker, really.


Feel proud. You made a 10+ page thread that got people arguing, sometimes nastily over a red piece of vegetation. Consider this a sort of homage.
My chest, Sir, is puffed.

I'm just going to be sad if this replaces my original thread. I'm beginning to think that people on General will latch on to just any old thread that mentions God's Most Worthy of Fruits.
You're probably right. Perhaps consider moving into the insect kingdom in a future thread. *nods*

Of all the roleplay-ish threads, I only took part in one properly - the Reject Royalty (courtesy of one Occidio Multus). The only reasons I took part at all were because it wasn't even remotely serious and I got to climb Legless Pirates' mizzen mast, but the less said about the latter reason the better. ¬_¬ Aside from that, I must have had almost 10 posts in PB and the NS royalty!

As an extra question for everyone, weren't there about 50 PB threads a while back? Or does incarnation refer to the 10th time the PB threads have been resurrected?

You're probably right. Perhaps consider moving into the insect kingdom in a future thread. *nods*
I decided to go with primates.

I decided to go with primates.
Well, ya can't miss here with that ammo!

*ahem*
http://www.the-scientist.com/news/display/23462/
Ancient human and chimps mixed
Findings of interbreeding could help broaden conventional thinking regarding origins of species

[Published 18th May 2006 05:26 PM GMT]
The ancestors of humans and chimpanzees may have interbred and exchanged significant numbers of genes after the initial split between the species, scientists report in the May 17 online edition of Nature.

The findings could help rethink mainstream thought during the origin of species "by suggesting there can be a quite of bit of exchange as species emerge and diverge," James Mallet at University College London, who did not participate in this study, told The Scientist.

The researchers compared the genomes of humans, chimps, gorillas, and more distantly related primates such as orangutans and macaques, yielding roughly 20 million base pairs of aligned sequence. They focused not on the average level of genetic divergence between humans and their relatives, which can reveal approximately when each species emerged, but on genetic divergence across the human genome, to see when sequences diverged.

The researchers unexpectedly found the youngest divergent regions between humans and chimps appear to be no more than 6.3 million years old and probably no more than 5.4 million years old. This suggests the emergence of humans was more recent than previously suggested by the roughly 6.5- to 7.4-million-year-old Toumaï fossil, humanity's oldest known ancestor.

Moreover, the age of divergent regions varied from less than 84% to more than 147% of the average, a surprising range of more than 4 million years. Reich said he would expect a range of about 1 million years given what has been found in the typical ape. The researchers suggest an explanation for their findings could be that human and chimp speciation took place over a long time with episodes of hybridization between the emerging species after their initial split before they separated permanently.

"Their explanation seems plausible," Mallet said. "It's not surprising per se on the basis of what we know about other animals, but if it happens with humans, we really start believing it."

The conventional model of speciation focuses on allopatry, in which two populations diverge after a barrier isolates them and prevents gene flow, and any hybrids that result are less fit and do not contribute genetically in a meaningful way. "Hybridization could in fact be common during speciation, and could mix traits to create adaptations that help emerging species in new environments," coauthor David Reich at Harvard Medical School in Boston told The Scientist.

The called it striking that human and chimp X chromosomes appear to have diverged far less than autosomes did, experiencing only 83% of the average divergence. Reich and his colleagues say interbreeding could account for this unusual reduction in divergence, as interbreeding would place strong selection pressure to eliminate traits that contribute to hybrid sterility and inviability, which are often X-linked.

These findings could also help settle a controversy suggesting a higher mutation rate amongst males in primates than in other species, Reich said. Prior comparisons of sequence divergence rates in human and rat autosomes and X chromosomes suggested males had a mutation rate about twice that of females, but analyses of humans and chimps suggested a male mutation rate six to seven times higher. The low divergence Reich and his colleagues found between the human and chimp X chromosomes suggest they split very recently. When the investigators factored in the recentness of this split, they said the formerly anomalous human-chimp data matched human-rat findings.

Completion of the gorilla and other primate genomes would enable future tests of the interbreeding hypothesis by distinguishing whether the evolution of certain genomic regions at different rates is due to hybridization or to other mechanisms, such as conserved functionally important regions or the presence of mutation hotspots, Derek Wildman at Wayne State University School of Medicine, who did not participate in the research, told The Scientist.

Charles Q. Choi
cchoi@the-scientist.com

Links within this article

I. Ganguli. "Chimp papers by the barrel." The Scientist, September 1, 2005.
http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/22758/

N. Patterson et al. "Genetic evidence for complex speciation of humans and chimpanzees," Nature, published online May 17, 2006.
http://www.nature.com

James Mallet
http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/14251/

M. Brunet et al. "New material of the earliest hominid from the Upper Miocene of Chad." Nature, April 7, 2005.
PM_ID: 12110880

David Reich
http://www.hms.harvard.edu/dms/bbs/fac/reichda.html

C. Holding, "Chimps are not like humans," The Scientist, May 27, 2004.
http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/22203/
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