While We Wait: Writer's Block & Other Lame Excuses

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Lord_Iggy said:
What's more significant, I think, is how some cultural things carry though even if language does not. I think my North Sea/Baltic ancestry has something to do with my liking pickled herring with lingonberry jam- but that's not genetic, it's just that it's a particular bit of food culture been passed down in a few branches of my family tree.
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Dachs said:
Using the word to describe some of your cultural background can be useful. If 'German culture' was a significant part of your upbringing and helps define your personality, then of course somebody should mention it.

But this "I'm a quarter Russian, an eighth Korean, an eighth Brazilian, and half Burkinabi" crap? Yeah, I think that's stupid.
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So, you agree with me, basically. Glad to see it.
 
I sort of agree with what Dachs is saying - but at the same time I'm not sure if the real reason for stating every nationality or ethnicity "in your background" is about oneself, but rather about your family's past? I don't talk about my distant French ancestry because that makes me part French, it's because said ancestor came from Rochefort, which was a Huguenot stronghold dring the French Wars of Religion - yet left for New Zealand in the mid-late 1800s and it makes me wonder how he got there and why he left. It's not about the genetics of my innate desire to surrender. :p
 
@Dachs: ...That's "agreement" only under the loosest of definitions.

Though really "culture... [helping to define] your personality" is a weird way to phrase it, so maybe you are agreeing with him.

(Food culture =/= personality or a "significant part of your upbringing" IMHO but whatever)
 
taillesskangaru said:
What about Chinese people who identify themselves as Peruvians?
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They're Peruvians who have Chinese ancestry then. :p

General Olaf said:
I sort of agree with what Dachs is saying - but at the same time I'm not sure if the real reason for stating every nationality or ethnicity "in your background" is about oneself, but rather about your family's past? I don't talk about my distant French ancestry because that makes me part French, it's because said ancestor came from Rochefort, which was a Huguenot stronghold dring the French Wars of Religion - yet left for New Zealand in the mid-late 1800s and it makes me wonder how he got there and why he left. It's not about the genetics of my innate desire to surrender. :p
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I agree with Olaf here- the reason I'd state my proportionate family background is to talk about my family's history. I'll firmly agree with Dachs on the point that such percentages don't directly affect myself- if I'd been adopted, it would be next to irrelevant. However, this information remains very useful as a snapshot of my family's history. Wondering why my 'Swedish' ancestors came from what is now Finland, where 'Prussia' was and why Mennonites left it for Russia, and what the heck a Mennonite even was were major parts of my initial drive to learn about history.
 
General Olaf said:
I sort of agree with what Dachs is saying - but at the same time I'm not sure if the real reason for stating every nationality or ethnicity "in your background" is about oneself, but rather about your family's past? I don't talk about my distant French ancestry because that makes me part French, it's because said ancestor came from Rochefort, which was a Huguenot stronghold dring the French Wars of Religion - yet left for New Zealand in the mid-late 1800s and it makes me wonder how he got there and why he left. It's not about the genetics of my innate desire to surrender. :p
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I don't see what being interested in family history has to do with the aforementioned proportionate breakdown crap. Like, at all. You can say "oh hey, I had ancestors from X part of Y country that were involved in Z thing and I think that's really cool" without resorting to talking about how you're three-eighths New Yorker.
North King said:
@Dachs: ...That's "agreement" only under the loosest of definitions.

Though really "culture... [helping to define] your personality" is a weird way to phrase it, so maybe you are agreeing with him.

(Food culture =/= personality or a "significant part of your upbringing" IMHO but whatever)
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It was said in a deliberately vague sense because I wanted to accommodate various things like food, sports teams, tastes in literature, historical interests, and whatnot.
 
Dachs said:
It was said in a deliberately vague sense because I wanted to accommodate various things like food, sports teams, tastes in literature, historical interests, and whatnot.
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Y'know, generally, being abrasive is not conducive to accommodation.
 
bombshoo said:
I know pretty much all of my own updates have hurt by not knowing what to do, where to go next, or having the confidence to trust in my own writing abilities. From talking with other NESers I also know that these same problems apply to multiple people. Would a "Help Me With My Update Thread" be a good idea? In this thread, basically you can apply to have a neutral third party read a rough draft of your update for peer review, as well as discuss different types and methods for producing a successful update.

If this thread were successful, I think we might see a lot more NESes lasting more than simply 1-3 updates.

It could probably also be used as a place for people to get critiques on stories (or even orders?) before they actually posted them, if that is desirable.

Good idea? Bad idea? Thoughts?
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Moderator Action: Such a thread passes my test of acceptability.
 
You are forgiven.
 
Birdjaguar said:
Moderator Action: Such a thread passes my test of acceptability.
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Wait, I'm confused and failing miserably at reading comprehension. Is Bird saying such a thread should not be made?
 
You're forgiven. Swag please? :D

Dachs said:
I don't see what being interested in family history has to do with the aforementioned proportionate breakdown crap. Like, at all. You can say "oh hey, I had ancestors from X part of Y country that were involved in Z thing and I think that's really cool" without resorting to talking about how you're three-eighths New Yorker.
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That's the point which I agree with you on.
 
nutranurse said:
Wait, I'm confused and failing miserably at reading comprehension. Is Bird saying such a thread should not be made?
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Thlayli said:
No, he's not. He said "it's acceptable" in a fancy way.
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Yes. Thlayli is correct. "Moderator" text is more official than non moderator text.
 
Y'all (I don't say y'all normally.), the map for Update I:XI (11) is up for my NES. Go check it out. Hyuderp. /Plug
 
:goodjob: Looks great. I've posted orders (phirst! :D)
 
SouthernKing said:
Speaking of which, random question, what defines the colors moderators are allowed to use? Is it personal choice or is it related to rank?
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I think it is as simple as [mod1] Moderator Action: or Moderator Action: and entirely down to choice.
 
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