Register
Login
.a970 { width: 970px; margin: 0 auto; } ".ob_get_contents(); ob_end_Clean(); }elseif($mmorpgforums970Active == "yes" && $mmorpgforums970Campaign == 2){ ob_start(); include($ad970x250path .'ad970x250_2.php'); $ad970x250 = "".ob_get_contents(); ob_end_Clean(); }elseif($mmorpgforums970Active == "yes" && $mmorpgforums970Campaign == 3){ ob_start(); include($ad970x250path .'ad970x250_3.php'); $ad970x250 = "".ob_get_contents(); ob_end_Clean(); } //echo $ad970x250;

Serious personal issues and Metro

Discussion in 'General Chat' started by Storchburp, May 25, 2013.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Storchburp

    Storchburp Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2013
    Messages:
    144
    Likes Received:
    0
    I've been wanting to just talk about this...I am not close to my family and it might seem strange or awkward to ramble on about this to strangers online, but I suppose its not inappropriate here. But if it is uncomfortable to read about, then just ignore the thread...

    A lot of us have some interest in firearms, real or airsoft, and of survival skills after a disaster. This is why the Metro and similar games are fun for us. I'm also glad that the members here come from so many places across the world but enjoy discussing a common interest and get along quite well. :)

    Unfortunately I do not dare state where I come from or talk too much about my real life background because my friends are hostile towards each other. I don't want them to track each other down through me and fight. While I am Christian, I grew up with many Muslim teachers in school, friends that I admired and loved and was quite happy. Now I also have Christian friends who really believe that they need to kill or drive Muslims in order to defend the country.

    I go to a lot of effort to hide the two groups from each other and while I try to speak up about the good points of both, I've endured a lot of threats to my own safety and a lot of anger. As said before, I am not close to my family and my friends mean everything to me. I used to get into a lot of arguments - now I just try to separate them. Both groups share my interest in firearms and survival and are very capable of killing or injuring the other. :shocked:

    It is very stressful and depressing trying to calm them down or prevent conflicts. The recent slaughter of a British soldier in London by two extremist Muslims with knives has caused a lot of tension in my social life. I guess all I want to say is that when I can't stand it anymore, I enjoy playing games like Metro 2033 or Last Light and really try to imagine a world where we can all get along in peace. It means a lot to me and I hope the members on this forum do not end up on opposing sides in a war. :/

    Just sharing.
     
    #1 Storchburp, May 25, 2013
  2. Skaara Dreadlocks

    Skaara Dreadlocks Tha Baws

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2011
    Messages:
    3,714
    Likes Received:
    0
    That's sad to hear, I hope it all turns out well in the end. You're a damn guardian angel, to put it that way. A peace negotiator. Good work! :)
    Sorry to say this, but how does Metro help you imagine a world where everyone can get along in peace, when the whole metro is separated by Communists, Nazis and other factions, all warring against each other? :lol:
     
    #2 Skaara Dreadlocks, May 25, 2013
  3. Jet Odessa

    Jet Odessa Mutant Hunter Extraordinaire

    Joined:
    May 21, 2012
    Messages:
    964
    Likes Received:
    0
    thanx for sharing this with us Storch. very brave of you.
     
    #3 Jet Odessa, May 25, 2013
  4. Clear Sky Stalker

    Clear Sky Stalker Spartan Ranger
    Regular

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2013
    Messages:
    573
    Likes Received:
    1
    your not alone man, Ive got friends at school who hate each other and/or talk about them behind their backs. I'm pretty sure my dad is racist even though im not, and im pretty sure hes either a Christan or a catholic could never tell.

    I'm basically a mediator between most of my friends at school, at least I was until i graduated last week. my point being, if you need to talk or just blow steam off then pm me.
     
    #4 Clear Sky Stalker, May 25, 2013
  5. Storchburp

    Storchburp Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2013
    Messages:
    144
    Likes Received:
    0
    Its gotten to the point that I don't dare keep a facebook account or chat on Steam because they will add me as Friends and then suddenly notice each other in my friends list.

    Skaara, I think its because in Metro we play as Artyom who has the option and the ability to work to bring peace, or even put ourselves in the place of the Dark Ones who are actually putting themselves at risk of getting shot when they walk unarmed into the tunnels in order to reach out to humans. When you put violence aside and try to trust the unknown, without escaping from the harshness of the world but instead accepting its nature and adapting to it; etc.

    Artyom cannot change the world of Metro to what it was when he was a child. Dangerous mutants can harm him, and a sinister new species of human exists, The air cannot be breathed without a mask and so much of what is beautiful is gone. He cannot change these things but at least, he can stop making war on a personal level.

    Dammit, I am actually drinking some vodka right now to relax. I'll probably look at this thread tomorrow morning and think I had gone emo :p
     
    #5 Storchburp, May 25, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: May 25, 2013
  6. Keegan83

    Keegan83 Well-Known Member
    Regular

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2012
    Messages:
    567
    Likes Received:
    0
    Wow,that's...extreme.It's pretty sad that people are fighting with each other over silly things as religion.
    I hope everything turns out well for you and your friends.
     
    #6 Keegan83, May 25, 2013
  7. Darkbringer

    Darkbringer Huntsman

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2012
    Messages:
    1,264
    Likes Received:
    0
    It's very brave of you to share this, and I appreciate what you are doing. Really. It's not easy to be you, but you just do the best you can to avoid bloodshed between your groups of friends. Stay strong.
     
    #7 Darkbringer, May 25, 2013
  8. thuner

    thuner Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2011
    Messages:
    545
    Likes Received:
    0
    I have to agree that it is sad that people fight over religion. Specially when it's between Jews, Christians and/or Muslims, since it's more or less the same religion. (same god, just diffrent Profets):

    Though, I would really like to say that it's fully okay to "blow off your steam" or talk about it to strangers, since it even can be easier when you dont have to care what about how people will react. I do have a lot of experience with that myself also (talking about personal stuff to strangers), and my ears are wide open if you feel like you want to talk, even though I might not be able to help. Always having someone that listens can be something unvaluable for many people.

    What you do is something really difficult since you (I guess) can't or dont want to, convince your friends to like your other friends. That is also something they have to take, but that they want to go and fight your eachother? That doesnt make sence. Im hoping you know what you do, and really dont want it to end in a situation were a friend gets killed because of his friends not liking eachother :s

    Im not entirely sure what to say to be fair, rather than Keep fighting and dont give up. There's always a tomorrow, for better or worse.
     
    #8 thuner, May 25, 2013
  9. Skaara Dreadlocks

    Skaara Dreadlocks Tha Baws

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2011
    Messages:
    3,714
    Likes Received:
    0
    Ah, great thought, how did I not see that? You actually compare Metro with your own life in a way, only in the virtual world you are able to fulfill your wishes. Great thinking, actually. If you played something that had nothing to do with your situation, only to get your mind off of it, it would only work temporarily for some times. But what you are doing is to keep your mind on it and get a feeling that you are managing it, that you are succeeding. The fact that you do that, will make you stronger at the times you have troubles in real life :)

    I've been part of many communities throughout my internet-life, and I've lately been a peacemaker myself, as so many of the members have been angry with each other. It's far from as worse as it can get, it's not that bad. But hadn't it been for me, that community would not have stayed alive for as long as it did. It recently died, but I gave everything I had to make it last longer, and I'm happy with that. I'm satisfied with myself, with the efforts I made.
     
    #9 Skaara Dreadlocks, May 25, 2013
  10. thuner

    thuner Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2011
    Messages:
    545
    Likes Received:
    0
    You only did that because you are/wanted to become the Moderator! :rolleyes: :p
    Nah, but Im glad it still was alive so I could come back to the release xD
    It was pretty empty already when I joined tbh.
     
    #10 thuner, May 25, 2013
  11. Skaara Dreadlocks

    Skaara Dreadlocks Tha Baws

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2011
    Messages:
    3,714
    Likes Received:
    0
    I was talking about the HL2RP community in Garry's Mod, not this forum... :p
     
    #11 Skaara Dreadlocks, May 25, 2013
  12. thuner

    thuner Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2011
    Messages:
    545
    Likes Received:
    0

    Oh lol.
    *whispers* traitor... (Jk jk) xD
     
    #12 thuner, May 25, 2013
  13. Bamul

    Bamul S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
    Regular

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2011
    Messages:
    3,865
    Likes Received:
    0
    Sounds tough man, but I think I can relate to some extent. Thankfully, my friends aren't capable of murder but they can surely hospitalize each other. :( Tbh, I have nothing more to say other than keep doing what you're doing, stay strong and be careful. :)

    If things do get too hot, however, I recommend finding new friends. If my friends put me in a lot of danger or would harm me just for being friends with a person from another culture, then I would no longer consider them as friends that are worth keeping. Fortunately, as an immigrant, I have to stick with groups that are more tolerant if I want to survive unscathed - which means I find myself in situations such as these less often. My friends can still be a pain in the ass due to their prejudices towards Eastern Europeans, but at least they're not as dangerous.
     
    #13 Bamul, May 27, 2013
  14. Storchburp

    Storchburp Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2013
    Messages:
    144
    Likes Received:
    0
    I stepped away, stewed over things for a few days, and read the responses here. Like Bamul I am also an immigrant but am considered very neutral to most groups, which is probably how I end up being stuck between two conflicting ones :eek:

    I've also come to the same conclusion. Its time to step away and stay in touch only with friends that won't involve themselves in a conflict - unconditionally. No ifs or buts, they'll need to get along with each other and be ok with diversity. With the rest, I've made my point firmly enough with them that I would not be drawn into taking sides. If they end up clashing, I'll wait till things die down before even showing up.

    Skaara, I also thought more about why people like us play Metro. If you think of the average gamer as finding wish fulfilment, then you can tell a lot about a person from the games they like. Maybe someone who plays Metro and especially tries to get the good endings is someone who just hopes for a better and more peaceful future in this world, thinks a lot about the mysteries of the human spirit. Its deep.

    Maybe someone who prefers playing Call of Duty just really likes the military, wants to be a hero and make things go boom.

    And when I get stressed out and play Angry Birds, maybe, just maybe, all I want to throw a tantrum and smash things mindlessly :p
     
    #14 Storchburp, May 27, 2013
  15. rolfwar

    rolfwar Well-Known Member
    Regular

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2012
    Messages:
    953
    Likes Received:
    0
    Religion really is the opium of the people, diverting their minds from the real problems.
    It only divides people.
     
    #15 rolfwar, May 28, 2013
  16. Bamul

    Bamul S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
    Regular

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2011
    Messages:
    3,865
    Likes Received:
    0
    I'm glad you're coping with these issues, Storchburp. :)
     
    #16 Bamul, May 30, 2013
  17. Nod2033

    Nod2033 Well-Known Member
    Regular

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2011
    Messages:
    700
    Likes Received:
    0
    This reminds me a bit, of what's happening in London right now...

    Did you guys see the news? About a "Muslim" who hacked to death a possible soldier in London... more information here:

    http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50147439n

    There is a group called EDL who go against Muslims.

    They're basically a bunch of racist assholes trying to "exterminate" the Muslims in UK, and have used this incident to take advantage of everything.

    But anyways... could your friends be by any chance part of this group? Maybe then.
     
    #17 Nod2033, May 30, 2013
  18. Bamul

    Bamul S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
    Regular

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2011
    Messages:
    3,865
    Likes Received:
    0
    Oh no, not the EDL. I hate those pricks. :p This is isn't 100% on topic, but somehow related: a few months ago, I found out that the mother of one of my best friends supported a splinter group of the EDL. I had an argument with her and my friend acted like an utter prick towards me to the point where I can't even bear to look at his face today. It sucks, because he wasn't racist. He was just so blinded by love for his mother to the point where he could not see that she supported a racist organization. :(
     
    #18 Bamul, May 30, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: May 30, 2013
  19. Keegan83

    Keegan83 Well-Known Member
    Regular

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2012
    Messages:
    567
    Likes Received:
    0
    To the noose! :mad::D
     
    #19 Keegan83, May 30, 2013
  20. Jet Odessa

    Jet Odessa Mutant Hunter Extraordinaire

    Joined:
    May 21, 2012
    Messages:
    964
    Likes Received:
    0
    to the nosies!!! :ballchain: :pop2:
     
    #20 Jet Odessa, May 31, 2013
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 2