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Elvin Ruler
Forum God
0 fics uploaded
Registration Date: 09-01-2003
Posts: 1097
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Who I am: musical talents, understanding, willing to learn, open-minded to things without compromising the principles of what I believe
Country: diversity (at least where I live), willingness to do what it takes to do what we believe needs to be done (sometimes this is taken too far, however), the genuine goodness that lives in the silent majority of the country
Gatch: The fun-loving attitude, the open-minded attitude in which all sorts of sensitive and strong beliefs are read, the tendency to respond to what we disagree with not with a "you're wrong," flaming style, but rather an explanation of what we believe, the friendship that is formed between people of different religions, cultures, etc., the talent that the members have, sheesh this list could go on forever.
In my opinion, pride is taken too far when it begins to hurt others, in any way. Too much pride in self can lead to the snubbing of others and worse. Too much pride in country can and has led countries to force their ways on other countries and horrors such as the holocaust and tribal wars. Too much pride in Gatch? No such thing. ^_~
__________________
What if there is a spoon? 
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01-06-2004 16:45
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meridianday
Galaxy Girl
I am a Devilstar.
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Registration Date: 27-06-2001
Posts: 1640
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Isn't the world's second greatest lover Casanunda? I suppose that's a different world though 
I recently went on a soft skills course related to getting people to do what I want (pah!) and one of the things we all had to do was to put together a list of our attributes, the things about ourselves we could be proud of. And I couldn't do it! It was too difficult. And of the others on the course, fully half wrote down things about themselves that weren't positive attributes to balance out the ones that were, so that they didn't end up sounding big-headed. I dunno, is this a Brit thing? We're not allowed to be proud because being self-effacing is more virtuous and looks better?
Like FB, I'm proud of my child. My daughter is a bright and happy little girl, doing well at school and socially far better adjusted than I ever was at her age. But again that's not pride in myself, since I put a lot of that down to the place I chose for her daycare - I wouldn't have got her socially well-adjusted because I'm not sociable enough myself.
Pride in Gatch... I don't know if how I feel about it is proud. I enjoy it tremendously, on many levels. I enjoy the fact that it both does and does not make sense. I enjoy the fact that my love for it allows me to justify to myself the depth of obsession I hold and the amount I've spent over the years on amassing my collection. I really should catalogue that one day
But too much pride in fandom is also a bad thing. I wonder what it's like in LOTR fan groups where most of the members love the books and hate the films, and the conflict when new fans come in who only know the story from the films. Or Spiderman fan groups who love the comics and hate the film(s). Or X-men fan groups who love some of the comics, hate some of the other comics, feel in whatever multifarious ways they can about the 2 tv series, and love/hate/both simultaneously the films. It's like the reaction to the BOTP comic, that because the adaptation wasn't faithful that it was terrible - and I suffered a bit from that myself - rather than it being all about the writing and storytelling and artwork. Or the immediate reaction when it was announced that there would be a new version of the BOTP tv series, one quote being "How can this not suck?", without even knowing what was planned to be done with it. Is that fandom pride gone too far, or is it love that's afraid of being let down?
__________________
 Mallanox : "My mother was Irish and my father was an alien. I was an only child and I dress funny."
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02-06-2004 11:49
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Buffy
Boardie
0 fics uploaded
Registration Date: 25-07-2001
Posts: 382
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| quote: | Originally posted by meridianday
I recently went on a soft skills course related to getting people to do what I want (pah!) and one of the things we all had to do was to put together a list of our attributes, the things about ourselves we could be proud of. And I couldn't do it! It was too difficult. And of the others on the course, fully half wrote down things about themselves that weren't positive attributes to balance out the ones that were, so that they didn't end up sounding big-headed. I dunno, is this a Brit thing? We're not allowed to be proud because being self-effacing is more virtuous and looks better?
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Nah, I think that it's pretty universal. At least, it's common here too. Then again, we may be out of the ordinary too: Us southern belles are taught to be self depreciating from birth. *chuckles*
Not to mention, unless a person has a spectacular self esteem it's easier to find flaws we wanna fix than virtues. Speaking from experience...
Hmmm... this is an interesting thread. Pride.
Hmmm...mmmm..hmmm....what am I proud of?
What makes me proud of who I am?
I'd probably have to say my family. My parents, my brother, my husband, my son, my mother in law, sister in law etc. Our close knit extended clan. Warts and all, I know we'll all be there for each other and come a-runnin' with bells on (or shotguns in some cases) if needed. We may want to wring each other's necks from time to time, but we are always there for each other when it counts.
What makes me proud of my country?
I'd have to say the sheer cultural diversity that still unites iself under the name 'American' (Kinda like my family really...we wanna wring each other's necks, but if someone threatens our family, we come a-runnin'). And the checks and balance system and devotion to better itself in the long run. And the understanding that no matter who you are, if you work hard enough, you can become whatever you want to be. That you aren't limited by class, birth, or family if you want it bad enough: You can get the training and education if you want it. That's pretty darn cool.
Pride in Gatch....?
I like the folks. It attracts a large group of really creative individuals. I've developed a few very rockin' friendships out of this fandom, so even though I'm not a die hard fan any longer, I am so thankful for the freakies I met during the ride!
__________________
"Spider sense....tingling."
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02-06-2004 14:59
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imaqtz
Forum God
I am a Condor.
0 fics uploaded
Registration Date: 17-07-2001
Posts: 1049
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All too often in life, we rely on others to determine who we are and what our values "should" be. Our culture, religion, community, or society's expectations may dictate what is proper and what isnt...and pride unfortunately may be soley construed as mere haughtiness and arrogant self indulgence, a sinful vice to shy away from or screw ones nose in distaste.
I am a product of such expectations. I think I would have succumbed quite easily <if not in quiet yet resentful resignation> to the "norm"..the "common".
So what makes me proud of who I am?
Every single soul God's helped placing in my path in my journey through life and self discovery.
I thank God for the parents I have, for the country Im in, for the man I married, for the children I bore with him, for the many people that Ive cossed paths with, for every joy, every sorrow, every experience, or crisis..ALL have been instrumental in learning lessons in life, enriching me as a person.
ANy reason why I dont treat Gatch as just any "fandom"? There are a plethora of sites we can go into if we want to delve into exclusively Gatchaman/botp information, facts and figures.
How refreshing to meet other Gatch fans that actually POSSESS intriguing and unique personalities as well as literary and /or artistic talent!
How thrilling is it to watch them develop and hone their skills, the quality of their work a testament to their confidence as creative and lateral thinkers?
How entertaining and amusing is it to fall into the personas they present in here , personas that are as dramatic, and as spellbinding as the actual Tatsunoko Gatch characters weve come to love and enjoy?
Yet how surprsing , even at times mortifying and confrontational has it been to take that step in cyberspace on a freaking anime site no less, to reveal that bit more of our true selves, sharing in our personal joys , or times of personal crisis..forming friendships that remain steadfast even today.
What Im proud of in Gatch?
*smile widens*
Im proud of the members that had the courage to open not only their minds, but their hearts and souls, for the times of encouragement , for the times of comfort , for the slapbanging humour and wit, for the fights and harsh words, and for allowing that closeness of familiarity to occur within cyberspace.
I have learnt much from you all.
Ill finish this midnight introspective rambling < yeah, yeah, that darn philosophical hour *grinwink*> ..with a quote I found on some inspirational site..
A worthy quote in my opinion, expressing my thoughts , experiences and aspirations as a woman, a wife, a mother , an Australian and as a Gatch member.
I like to think I have instilled such values in my children, enabling them to stand tall, to NOT bend to society's expectations of them , but rather allow them to make their own choices and live by the consequences of those choices.
"I do not choose to be a commoner. It is my right to be uncommon. I seek opportunity to develop whatever talents I have --- not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me. I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed. I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challanges to life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the state of calm utopia. I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any earthy master nor bend to any threat. It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act myself, enjoy the benefit of my creation and to face the world boldy and say, 'This I have done.'"
Unknown
*smile*
Indeed. 
__________________
Shoot first..ask questions later!
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06-06-2004 14:35
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), we started the modern age, we've been major contributors to the destruction of despots (hitler, napoleon), we have contributed so much to world history that we've made more of an impression on other nations and cultures then any other nation in the world.
