[ September 14, 2003, 09:26 PM: Message edited by: Annie ]
Posted by Lalo (Member # 3772) on :
I've read Ender's Game, and I get where the reference comes from.
Just... Why the hell is it used so often? It's not, unless I'm grossly illiterate, philisophical or deep. I know Scott or Moose is going to come and prove me wrong with an essay of very impressive bullshit about how it's a satirical comment on the nature of war and how one must necessarily reduce their enemies to positions below them -- or possibly even point out that the "gate" is, in fact, a reference to Hell and Heaven. As the enemy's gate is down, it clearly points the way to Hell, again reinforcing the irony of both sides considering the other as below them and coming from Hell.
But still. Why. Why oh why. Someone tell me why.
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
*Gets faraway look in eyes*
I remember my first Mack thwapping.... Spring it was, of ought-two. Ah, I was a fiery young buck, new to the Hatrack community, with stars in my eyes. I thought I was going to set the on-line world afire.
Until I met her. Mack. The Mackster. The Mack Daddy. The Mackasaurus. One thwapping and now...well, the world just doesn't seem the same any more. The sun shines just a little dimmer. The flowers don't smell as sweet. *twitch*
Don't do it, son. There are some things man is not made for. For all that is holy, right, and good, just do as Ralphie says.
[ September 14, 2003, 09:37 PM: Message edited by: Storm Saxon ]
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
Lalo, I always thought it had something to do with comraderie under extreme pressure. When all was seemingly lost, Bean said it, and everyone calmed down and became relaxed again.
That's what it's always mean for me.
Posted by Erik Slaine (Member # 5583) on :
Jeez. He either was scared off, or went to bed. Cute kid, though.
"Remember, you don't want to think "Marzipan"!
Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :
"Oh, now we see the violence inherent in the system!"
Morbo - Don't make me hurt you.
Isn't that what wifebeaters say? Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
I don't think his sig was any more annoying than anyone else's...I hope he doesn't feel bad about a whole thread being dedicated to the task of asking him to stop using it...
Posted by Ethics Gradient (Member # 878) on :
I'm with FC on that one. It's also a way of reminding people to think outside the square, to understand the situation you're in, to adapt to different circumstances. When Ender works out that the enemy's gate is down, he has understood more clearly than any other commander exactly how the situation they are in functions. It's not that it's a philosophically deep statement, that it has to do with heaven and hell or belittling enemies or anything... At least, not how I read it.
Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :
Lalo, I always thought that the phrase meant to think in new ways, avoid assumptions that can prevent you from seeing solutions. It causes the soldiers to have a paradigm-shift...oops, I forgot, that word has been "retired."
[ September 14, 2003, 09:55 PM: Message edited by: Morbo ]
Posted by Speed (Member # 5162) on :
"The enemy's gate is down" is never supposed to have any meaning nearly that deep. It merely symbolizes the first inkling of Ender's genius. He was able to wrap his mind around a concept that had eluded everyone else that had gone through the exercise, and in doing so was able to find a tactical advantage that led to his team's victory against the other teams. Eventually his gift for this type of strategic thought led his team to a victory against the buggers. It's this type of simple and elegant solution to a problem that makes Ender's Game a classic. I love the line.
However, I agree about taking it off the sig. It loses its power with so much repetition.
[edit: Ooh, beaten again by my slow posting...]
[ September 14, 2003, 09:55 PM: Message edited by: Speed ]
Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
Narnia, you're pretty close to a landmark. Sweetness.
wiezcorek, I'm all for having a signature to assert your individuality. But you have to admit, the EG quote is a bit long, and seems patronizing at an OSC forum. How about "The Yellow Dart"? Add a smilie for good measure. And maybe some cash, just to sweeten the deal. Posted by Erik Slaine (Member # 5583) on :
Boy, I think the kid is really getting it easy from Ralphie. This was her first communique to me: The Telegram .
Posted by Erik Slaine (Member # 5583) on :
Hmm. Strangely this was Morbo's response to my shifting loyalty:
quote: Eslaine, Ralphie is a cult! Don't buy into the madness! Buy some stable investments.
Ralphie's pyramid scheme is already coming apart... This was the source of much of her power, but she's lost all control of it.
And her telegram to you was a trap... she hates transparent toadying. Subtle sycophancy will do the trick. Morbo
Morbo was the first person to buy stock in eslaine!
Morbo=
(Thanks for the link Morbo! )
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
And wonder what my stock is worth now... *ponders*
Hobbes Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
Narnia - If he's offended, then I shall be extremely apologetic. However, much treasure and Luv is in it for him if he takes it down.
And someone else has a sig?
[ September 15, 2003, 01:16 AM: Message edited by: Ralphie ]
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
Hobbes Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
Sigs ought to be short and sweet.
Ni!
Posted by Ethics Gradient (Member # 878) on :
His sig is nowhere near as annoying as Thought's
"Just a [insert adjective here],
Thought"
*shudders*
Posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong (Member # 2229) on :
In a way, it's the one certain axiom in these kid's world. They were beset with uncertainty and manipulation at every juncture; the very game was rotating. I thought it was used as an anchor to refocus everyone's priorities and remind everyone that there is some order and purpose to the world.
I don't know how much thought Card put into it, and it could just be catchy, in a way it's similar to, "Keep your eye on the ball."
[ September 15, 2003, 01:22 AM: Message edited by: Irami Osei-Frimpong ]
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
Hi, Irami. Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
quote: How about "The Yellow Dart"?
Oh, I'm so going to steal that!!! Brilliant!
Ralphie, I'll join in on the luv and sweetness! I just hope he doesn't feel bad. It just bugs me when people feel bad.
sarcasticmuppet-I know!! It's freaking me out. I'm thinking I should wait til 5,000 to do a landmark cause I'm not sure if I'm up to the task!
Posted by Ryan Hart (Member # 5513) on :
Yeah wieczorek if you doin there will be lovin from Ralphie. What more could you want?
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
It's not that .sigs shouldn't be long.
It's that they shouldn't exist at all.
There is NO CONCEIVABLE REASON for people to use signature files on a modern message board.
Posted by A Rat Named Dog (Member # 699) on :
What was the reason on primitive stone-age message boards?
Posted by Amka (Member # 690) on :
Well, the stone age BBs didn't have your name automatically to the side. The .sig file was an automatic way to put your name at the bottom of your post. The idea was to have your name, email addy, etc.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
I must turn in my Hatrack badge, my Hatrack Designer Logo Bathroom Doilly and my Plastic Ender Decoder Ring.
When I heard that phrase I pictured a band of Mongol warriors about to ransack some poor city.
"Remember, the Enemy's Gate is Down, but with enough Prozac, will be happy and jovial again soon."
Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
Hobbes puts his little "Hobbes " at the end of his posts. That's a signature, neh? It's not annoying because it's short and sweet. Well, short at least.
--Ashley-- my signature if I ever remember
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Didn't we establish that people have to type their sig every single time they post? That seems like a huge pain in the behind! The only time I can see it being important is if someone switches user names and needs to be identified. I agree with ya Tom.
[ September 15, 2003, 01:15 PM: Message edited by: Narnia ]
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
I type my sig ever time I post. But then again I type my sig every time I send an e-mail despite the fact that I could just have it automatically added so I wouldn't be the one to ask about auto-sigs.
Hobbes Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
Ohh, and thank-you.
Hobbes Posted by Godric (Member # 4587) on :
You're a bunch of sig totalitarianists! I can't believe this! Trying to regulate if and then what people use as sigs... I'm ashamed of you all!
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
Who let Godric in this thread?
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
Ohh that was me, sorry. I forgot to lock the gate.
Hobbes Posted by Godric (Member # 4587) on :
Oi!
Ralphie.
Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
Hmmm...
Maybe John should use a sig something along the lines of "Remember, GreNME is down... AGAIN"
Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
Lalo, read ES. When I did I thought more of Ender's quote because of the situation in which Bean used it in the defeat of the buggers. Yes, the same situation is in EG, but it's described more in-depth in ES. I didn't realize that it was bothering anyone. Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
I have to answer this as a teacher who is currently taking a class on developing curriculum for the gifted and talented.
"Remember, the enemy's gate is down." This quote is powerful because it demonstrates the way the children are using information and making it meaningful. They are thinking "outside the box". And they are connecting with each other. Also, with this information, they are now prepared to kick @**! Posted by Erik Slaine (Member # 5583) on :
It provided great fun, wiecz! If you really annoyed people around here, you would just get ignored.
Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
I guess that rule doesn't apply vice versa
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
Oh, wieczorek, you are my hizzo, baby!
Thank you, sweetie. You have ETERNAL Ralphie Luv. Hell, I'll make a tribute thread for you. Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
quote: His sig is nowhere near as annoying as Thought's
"Just a [insert adjective here],
Thought"
*shudders*
Yes. That one and whatever goofball that used to post here that used to end his posts with 'The prosecution rests.'
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Say, does anyone know which direction the enemy's gate is? I forget.
Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
It's down, Noemon Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Oh, that's right, it's down! You should put that in your sig so that we don't forget it!
Posted by Beren One Hand (Member # 3403) on :
That phrase is the classic example of a paradigm shift. Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
What's a paradigm? Noemon, you're a rare gem, you are Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
remember, it's pronounced Par-a-DIG-im.
Mr. Webster says:
quote: a philosophical and theoretical framework of a scientific school or discipline within which theories, laws, and generalizations and the experiments performed in support of them are formulated
or maybe it's this:
quote: an example of a conjugation or declension showing a word in all its inflectional forms
[ September 15, 2003, 03:58 PM: Message edited by: sarcasticmuppet ]
Posted by Erik Slaine (Member # 5583) on :
That's a twenty-five cent offense! You'd better be Proactive about that! <---Conactive reference.
Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
Hmmm...I fail to understand the connection of my sig. and a pattern or model (if that's what a par-a-DIG-im is). But that's okay...hmmm...
"Remember, the enemy's gate is down"
Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
Mmmmm.... interthread humor.... ::drools::
Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
"Remember, the enemy's gate is down"
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
Just out of curiosity, how long do we have to wait for wiecwhatever to stop using that stupid sig before we can start being mean to him? Posted by Erik Slaine (Member # 5583) on :
Self goobering--isn't that a sin? Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
Saxon, I think you're a little lost - or maybe that's me?? Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
OK, dude, I know you're new, so I'll let you off with a warning. I am saxon, and he is Storm. END OF STORY.
Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
hmmm...alright. Simple enough. Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
Give him the quivering palm of death, ninja dude!
Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
Just be glad I don't whip out the MPD.
Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
Just be glad I don't comment on something every time I fall into the sticky entanglements of confusion... Posted by Rappin' Ronnie Reagan (Member # 5626) on :
so...the smiley face is your new sig?
Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
Well, someone said "short and sweet", and who can deny a smiley of being sweet? No one, I'd hope... Posted by Ethics Gradient (Member # 878) on :
When I think sweet, I don't think this:
I usually think "Good Lord, even if this only uses 0.25kb, it's still a waste of bandwidth."
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
But if EG posts it, then it's certainly not a waste of my bandwidth.
[ September 15, 2003, 08:56 PM: Message edited by: Ralphie ]
Posted by Ethics Gradient (Member # 878) on :
Mmmm... Ralphie bandwidth...
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
And now you're in a Ralphie sandwich.
But no more. The children are watching.
Posted by Ethics Gradient (Member # 878) on :
Does this post make it a tortilla wrap?
[ September 15, 2003, 09:25 PM: Message edited by: Ethics Gradient ]
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
No, but it is now.
Posted by Ethics Gradient (Member # 878) on :
How long until its one of those yummy pastry twists? Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
I was just telling celia I should NOT being thinking of EG burritos.
But maybe EG cinnamon rolls is perfectly acceptable.
I say we need two more, at least.
[ September 15, 2003, 09:37 PM: Message edited by: Ralphie ]
Posted by Ethics Gradient (Member # 878) on :
Cinnamon rolls not only tasty but also sticky.
I point this out merely as an unrelated observation.
[ September 15, 2003, 09:42 PM: Message edited by: Ethics Gradient ]
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
Many cinnamon rolls also have nuts. Very unrelated observation.
Are we scrolling toward the middle, or the outside?
Posted by Ethics Gradient (Member # 878) on :
Definitely the middle. That's always the sweetest bit.
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
edit: (References to centers and their possible texture removed.)
But I don't think we're at the center yet, anyway.
[ September 15, 2003, 09:56 PM: Message edited by: Ralphie ]
Posted by LadyDove (Member # 3000) on :
::Laughing:: I wanted to post a comment on Raplhie's last post, but I couldn't think of anything suitable for general consumption.
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
Well, it had to end at some point, and if it's going to it may as well as be Christine. Posted by Da_Goat (Member # 5529) on :
quote:"Good Lord, even if this only uses 0.25kb, it's still a waste of bandwidth."
May I use that as my sig?
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
quote:wiecwhatever
Wieczorek.
vieh-tcho-rek.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Is wieczorek your brother Kama? I seem to remember your saying that your brother had signed up. Am I misremembering?
What does wieczorek mean, by the way?
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
Nope, he's not my brother. My brother did sign up, made a post or two, and dissapeared. Besides, he can't speak English
Wieczorek is a popular name, and is a diminutive form of "wieczór", which means "evening"
[ September 16, 2003, 11:27 AM: Message edited by: Kama ]
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
quote:vieh-tcho-rek.
vay-tcho-reck? v-eh-tcho-rek?
vee-ay-tcho-rek?
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Oh, right...your brother's sign on had something to do with a rapier or something, didn't it?
Interesting about the meaning of that name.
Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
Wieczorek was also John Paul's name before coming to America with his family as a child - at that point the I.F. changed Ender's to-be father's last name to Wiggin. Well, if you were in Poland, you would say, "vic-sor-ek" - "vic" as in viking, "sor" as in "sore ankle" and "ek" as in... echinacea. Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
quote:Well, if you were in Poland, you would say, "vic-sor-ek" - "vic" as in viking, "sor" as in "sore ankle" and "ek" as in... echinacea
No, you wouldn't.
vee-eh-tcho-rek
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
"eh" as in heh or "eh" as in hey?
Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
Kama, are you sure that you're thinking of Poland? Many places have different ways of pronouncing things (sorry to be so indubitable ). Vic-sor-ek just like in Austria.
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
I'm sure.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Yeah Kama, I expect you're thinking of somewhere else. What would you know about Poland, anyway?
Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
I shouldn't have worded the question like that, should I? Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
It's a country in Russia, no?
Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
... ...
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
I think it's a *city* in Russia. Sheesh, some people!
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
Well, no, actually I think it's a province in Russia.
Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
Isn't Russia in Europe? . . . Don't think I'm trying to be stupid (b/c I really am ) In my textbook, it lists Russia as an Asian country... *wistful look in eyes* but maybe there is a place called Poland, Russia, Asia
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Well, that just shows how little you know about Poland, that's all!
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
kat - "eh" as in "heh", but only the "e" sound is pronounced
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Well, in all seriousness wieczorek, where do you draw the line between Europe and Asia? It's pretty arbitrary. Russia was dominated by the Mongols for hundreds of years, and it could be argued that the way Soviet power was transferred was inhereted from the Mongols, so it all depends on how you look at it.
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
I thought Kama was from Guam. Isn't that by Poland?
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
i think it's on the border between Europe and Asia. In the mountains.
Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
Why is it that whenever anyone mentions Lithuania and someone asks, "Where's that?" they say, "It's by Russia." What about poor little Latvia and Poland?
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Guam is actually a really swanky gated community in Poland, Russia, I believe.
Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
I see...hmmm...well I was going to say, "See, Russia is the source of all trouble!!" But I would only mean that metaphorically to describe what we were talking about, but if anyone from Russia read this, I might get a bomb dropped on my house.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
I know, because I read it on the Internet.
Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
There is a Poland, Russia? Yes, well, I suppose there might be.
Delhi, Ohio
Delhi, India
Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
Reliable source. Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
At least we can rest assured that no one in Poland is reading this. These people don't know how to use the internet.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
No, I was just pulling your leg. Really, Poland is just an area of Epcot center.
Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
Do they speak Spanish and Russian or Spanish and Polish in Guam?
Poland, Epcot. Poland, Russia, Asia. Goodness!!
Yes, the Polish are even wealthier in terms of sending exploding packages to friends, yes?
[ September 16, 2003, 02:39 PM: Message edited by: wieczorek ]
Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
Poland is not an area of EPCOT, though that's an easy mistake to make. EPCOT is actually a Poland-simulator; the letters in the acronym stand for Experimental Polish Community Of Tomorrow.
Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
sax, I didn't take Noemon seriously anywho. We were just joking. But seriously, though. Poland is in Asia. Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
Okay, so can anyone please finally explain where Poland is?!?
I'm confused!!!!
Posted by MaureenJanay (Member # 2935) on :
wick...no fair putting the phrase "but seriously" in the same sentence as that little winky smilie. (No onanism references, please.)
Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
lol Kama. Here ya go: Poland, Indiana Poland, Maine Poland, NY Poland, Lousiana Poland, ND Poland, Wisconsin and... Poland, Europe!! So, being as Russia is in Asia ... Poland isn't in Russia!! here's a list of Polands: http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll
*edit-smiley was in way of URL
[ September 16, 2003, 03:25 PM: Message edited by: wieczorek ]
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Poland is actually just a state of mind.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I'm in a Poland state of mind.
Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
I don't disagree with you, Noemon...hmmm...I feel an onanism coming on...
Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
All that blab about Indiana and NY, it's aaallll in my head. Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
Whoa. When you feel an onanism coming on, you inform an entire bulletin board?
That's very Polish of you.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Polishing what?
Posted by Erik Slaine (Member # 5583) on :
Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
Wait, Ralphie, you live in Poland, right? Poland, Oregon?
Oh, and wieczorek, thanks for giving me the heads-up. I swear, if it weren't for people like you, I'd never know what was a joke and what was real.
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
Man, saxon. You're so dense.
Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
Thanks for rubbing it in, you heartless beach.
Posted by Leonide (Member # 4157) on :
quote:you heartless beach.
this has to be the best insult i've heard today. and maybe the whole week.
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
It rhymes with leech!
Posted by Yebor1 (Member # 1380) on :
When I get out of the voting booth i get sujected to a poland i try to answer their questions
Posted by Yebor1 (Member # 1380) on :
You'd be surprised how many people mistake my jokes for seriousness
maybe because i dont smile enough
Do you think the mean evil wicked sneer on my face has anything to do with it
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
::groans::
Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
saxon, someone has to keep people like you in line - and apparently I'm not that person
I still don't know if anyone has been to Mongolia or not. Posted by wieczorek (Member # 5565) on :
Bored...if anyone cares to know, my AIM is steenmeisje . Yes, it's spelled correctly.
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Kiss]](graemlins/kiss.gif)
![[Angst]](graemlins/angst.gif)
![[Dont Know]](graemlins/dontknow.gif)
![[Blushing]](graemlins/blushing.gif)
![[Laugh]](graemlins/laugh.gif)
Ralphie.
![[Evil]](graemlins/evil.gif)
![[Confused]](confused.gif)
![[Party]](graemlins/party.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
). Vic-sor-ek just like in Austria.
![[Wall Bash]](graemlins/wallbash.gif)
![[Cry]](graemlins/cry.gif)
![[No No]](graemlins/nono.gif)
![[Hat]](graemlins/hat.gif)