Yellow Diamond

The subject of this topic has little potential to spark discussion between many members and, as such, would be better suited to a status update or a blog. When creating a thread, please remember that the goal is to start a conversation with room for many people to chime in and give their own viewpoints on, and that sharing events of an anecdotal nature would be better done elsewhere.

No. I know I'm being blunt, but there's next to no debate in my mind about whether to implement such a function. Why? First, we, the staff, would have to go out of our way to implement some sort of system that sends out automated messages to members about a banning. The sheer effort involved isn't worth the follow through; furthermore, consider how logistically straining and inconvenient it would be to have Mailmare contact everyone on someone's friends list. Not everyone marked on a friends list is a close contact, and so a large number of members would be receiving PMs from near total strangers informing them of how they were banned. Second, Skype and other messaging programs largely cover the communication gap on the forums. Most members have their online contact information publicly available on their profiles. If someone is curious why a forum member isn't online anymore, they are more than able to use other contact functions. Finally, we don't need a system which is likely prone to abuse and drama. The staff should have the last word -- not because we want or need our egos stroked, but because we are supposed to be the points of communal stability. Once banned members are allowed to begin making public statements, it defeats the purpose of the ban and undermines its permanence. I personally don't want to get a slew of potential farewell messages -- assuming we could screen them prior to having Mailmare send mass PMs -- that boil down to badmouthing the staff, engaging in passive-aggressive behavior, or milking sympathy from other members. They would serve little purpose other than to irritate everyone involved. Even without a personalized message, the potential for drama is too great. In sum, this is not happening for logistical and social reasons.

Unfortunately, I won't be attending BronyCon due to financial constraints. I had every intention of going, but things fell through at the last possible moment. Add me on Skype because you never know when I might just sneak up from behind and surprise ya!

I knew this day was coming, obviously, but it still evokes some feels. CD, you and I have been riding the chaos train together ever since you came aboard the staff with your Discord avatars and endless stream of navel ponies. We stuck together through thick and thin, and I can say without a shadow of doubt that you are one of the most dedicated staff members I've had the privilege of serving with. Yes, we all feel just a bid inadequate to see you at the top of logged moderator actions. But seriously, it's hard to match your run on the staff; furthermore, though, you have been and continue to be a great member and person. Getting to meet you and your awesome Discord-esque facial hair at BronyCon was a real treat. I do hope we get a chance some day to hang out in person without being tethered to some staff project. I'm sure we would have a load of fun, as we did at the BronyCon staff dinner last year. So, if I discover you have left MLP Forums for some other pony hussy, rest assured you will not escape unscathed. We're brothers bonded by the blood of chaos -- or something like that. I'm sure it reads dramatically at first glance, and that's all I can really hope for. Seriously, thanks for everything -- including the bag of rotten eggs you left on my desk. I'll keep them as a memento of our time cruising the mean streets together, hunting down ne'er-do-wells and locking topics like a couple of badasses.

The subject of this topic has little potential to spark discussion between many members and, as such, would be better suited to a status update or a blog. When creating a thread, please remember that the goal is to start a conversation with room for many people to chime in and give their own viewpoints on, and that sharing events of an anecdotal nature would be better done elsewhere.

This thread appears to be some manner of random (but strangely enjoyable) nonsense, or something spammy of the sort. Thus, it has been sentenced to the Forum Lounge section of Cloudsdale Colosseum.

Pet and cuddle. I don't see any other way.

Aristotle did impact Thomas Aquinas and the whole of Thomistic Scholasticism, so it isn't a surprise that he gets a large outlet through derivative sources. (Thomas himself was at times a bit too indebted to Aristotle, but he was not completely and slavishly Aristotelian on all points.) On the whole, the finding of Aristotle's writings in and around the Medieval era is considered a watershed moment for Western philosophy. Even if much of his philosophy and science are dated or outright incorrect, he's often considered the bridge from Platonic schools of philosophy.

I never played Arkham Origins, but I've watched enough of it to know it was largely a disappointment in light of its predecessors. For me, aside from the game-breaking bugs that came with the game, the story (which I presume is no longer a mystery to anyone) is a tremendous flop. I really liked the idea of Batman taking on a list of assassins hired to kill him in the ice cold winter of Gotham; instead, the developers fell back onto making the Joker the primary antagonist. As great as the Joker is as a villain, it shows a lack of willingness to experiment, to push beyond the standard formula. Yes, the game was filled B-listers from the Rogues Gallery -- but if you're going to pick them, why not just go whole-hog? Make the story about younger Batman fighting for his life. Had Gotham's streets not been a copy and paste of Arkham City's map, and had the story been more cohesive and not prone to a narrative cop out, you'd have the foundations for a very interesting Batman game. Alas, all we are left with are the list of bugs and shoddy, uninspired game design.