samusaran253

Syria sends army reinforcements into Deraa

So basically Syria is the next Libya. There's a civil war forming there, and it isn't very civil. The Syrian government has fired upon Syrian protestors and it's getting bloodier by the hour. What do you think will happen in Syria? Will this spark a civil war? Who do you support, the government or the protestors? Do you think the United States should intervene, like we did with Libya, and if so, how should we intervene? If you want, please try to keep all discussions and news articles about the Syrian protests in this thread.

Double Down please

Why won't it?

No one wants to meet their fellow members in real life?

I have an idea that I'm sharing with a few of the communities I go to, basically the idea is that a bunch of us members would get together in real life at a park and go camping together. I actually got the idea from Facepunch's annual British camping trip, so I figured we should have an American one here. If the camping trip goes well and we get enough people, perhaps people in other countries will have meet-ups too, and we'll have our Japanese members get together some place in Japan or our Nigerien members get to together in Niger, or our Canadian members get together in Canada, so on and so forth. It would be great, we could all get to know each other better in real life and just hang out around a camp fire talking and what-not. We could even do some stuff together, like go fishing or some of us could bring a bunch of laser tag equipment for everyone to use (probably Laser Tag: Team Ops). We could also go hiking together or for those of us who are gun owners, we could go to a gun shooting range or something like that. Perhaps we could even have a contest to see who can barbeque the best, or something like that. I'm open to ideas, and of course you're all welcome to do whatever you please so long as it's within the meet-ups rules, which are below. This isn't a for sure thing, nor is this even the official thread for the meet-up, should we choose to have one. This is just seeing what people think of the idea. If enough people like the idea, then I'll post an official meet-up thread where people can announce if they are coming or not. So, what do you think of my meet-up idea? And would you like to attend it if you could? RULES -You must follow all federal, state, and local laws, as well as any rules the park may have. -You must be at least 13 or older to attend the meet-up. -You must respect all members at the meet-up, even if you don't like a certain member. -No littering, if you have trash, dispose of it properly, or better yet, recycle it. -No elitism, you are no better than any other member. Frequently Asked Questions Q: Can I take my girlfriend/boyfriend with me? A: Yes, if you want to. Q: Can I take some friends with me? A: You can take 1 or 2 people with you, but now more than that since this is meant for the members of the forum. Q: Why can't kids 12 or younger come? A: This is a meet-up for teenagers and adults. Q: Who would host the meet-up? A: I will. Q: Can I bring alcohol or tobacco? A: Yes, but do not distribute them to anyone under the age of 18. Q: If I do something stupid on the camping trip, will I be banned on the forums? A: No, unless you do something illegal like start stalking a member or try to physically harm another member. Q: Where would we be having this meet-up? A: That has yet to be decided, though likely somewhere in the central United States. Q: Can I bring my gun(s)? A: Yes, but please be careful and be sure to follow all gun safety guidelines. Q: I'm a girl, what if a creepy forever alone guy won't leave me alone? A: Kick him in the balls. Q: Do I have to sleep in a tent? A: Not if you don't want to. Feel free to sleep under the stars or in your car if that's what you want. Q: Can I bring my RV? A: If the park allows RV camping, sure. Q: What if someone steals my stuff? A: Tell me about it and/or contact the police. Q: If something bad happens to me, can I sue the forum staff or you? A: No, the meet-up is unaffiliated with the forums and solely run by me, and you can't sue me either since I am not legally responsible for you, if you get mauled by a bear, that's on you. However should another forum member be directly (or indirectly) responsible for putting you in harm's way, and you feel the need to take legal action, then you are well within your right to do so. Q: Will it just be our community camping or will people from other forums be there too? A: Just us. Q: Will transport be provided for me or will I have to come here myself? A: You'll have to come here yourself, though if some members want to carpool and pick each other up on the way to the campsite, then by all means, do so. Q: I don't live within the United States, can I still come? A: Of course, but you'll have to pay for your own transportation just like everyone else. Q: I'm scared of the outdoors, can I hang out with you guys outside, but sleep at a hotel? A: Sure, if that's what you want. Q: Do I have to do what everyone else does and go where they go? A: No, you're a human being with free will, do whatever you want, but it would be nice if you joined the rest of us. Q: Can my parents/guardians come? A: No, unless they are members of the forum, but even then, no. Q: Can I bring someone who is under the age of 13 to the meet-up? A: No. Q: I'm currently 12, but will be 13 by the time you guys we all go camping, can I sign up now? A: Yes. Q: Will supplies and tents be provided, or will I have to bring my own? A: You'll have to bring your own, though some members may decide to share supplies and bring stuff for other people.

Nah, that'd be his username.

We don't teach evolution or creationism here in America.

After seeing some people, mostly Europeans, claim that all Americans are stupid because our "education system is worse than North Korea's" and making other baseless claims like that, I've decided to share my own experience with the education system of the United States. After going through America's 13 year system, let me say this, it was easy. I wish I could be one of those people who say that high school (the last 4 years of the education system; the last 6 years, if you count junior high school), but they weren't, in fact I am a much happier person now than I was in high school. By no means am I implying that the American education system is perfect, since no system is entirely perfect, but it's definitely not as bad as the liberal media makes it out to be. No, I'm not a prodigy or anything, but I went through the education system and it worked fine. I didn't go to some fascist Orwellian high school with metal detectors, school uniforms, strict dress code, drug sniffing dogs, or police everywhere. I also didn't go to a run-down high school with gangs, violence, bullying, or anything like that. I just went to a normal American high school. Please note that I am basing this entire thread upon my personal experience, which was with a high school in a semi-rural area, and by no means represents urban (city) high schools, which are likely gang infested. I went through the system like everyone else, did my education like everyone else, K-6, 7-8, and 9-12, and I wasn't generally a straight A student, nor did I have perfect behavior. I definitely could have been a straight A student had I applied myself more, but that was not the fault of the education system, that was a fault of my own. I am an extremely intelligent human being, and have been since I was about 13. I can code and design an entire fully functional website in less than an hour, I am informed about almost all political issues and have opinions on them, I study political ideologies and religions in my free time to further my knowledge, I know how the world works both in high school and after it, and I was always a step ahead of most of my peers, and still am today in many cases. We teach our children and later our teenagers just fine, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Does that mean I want to lessen funding towards education? No, in fact I want to increase funding towards education. I feel as though education is very important for today's young people, but remember, high school is all about learning how to become a productive and social member of society, K-6 on the other hand is all about learning basics such as the English language, science, mathematics, and other core classes. My school district never had the best funding, and in my final year of high school it was/is crumbling now, because of lack of state funding. It has gotten so bad that they had to close down a lot of elementary schools in the area, and merge them with other elementary schools. They're even planning on merging an elementary school with my local junior high school, which many of the locals, myself included, are strongly against. Now lets get down to the social aspect, high school has virtually no bullying, bullying is something little kids do in the K-6 system, not teenagers. No, I wasn't some popular football playing jock who had a cheerleader girlfriend, in fact, I was the opposite. I was the video game playing geek with practically no friends. Sure, I had some "friends" who I would hang out with at school and talk to online, but like most people, I only had maybe one or two real friends. But even within my own group, I was one of the people who just didn't fit in entirely, despite me being one of the two leaders of the group, and the administrator of the group's official message board. We had cliques, of course, like every high school does, there were the jocks, the emos, the stoners, the cheerleaders, the preps, the band geeks, the goths, us gamers, and all other kinds of cliques, and of course there was also individuality. But cliques are nothing like what Hollywood makes it out to be, everyone gets along with everyone else, and everyone has friends in every group, and all groups peacefully socialize with each other. There were no gangs, but again, I've never lived in a major city, especially not a poor area of a city. We did have some drugs though, of course there was alcohol and smoking, but never on campus, and those are of course general things teenagers do to rebel (or because they get addicted). There wasn't any peer pressure though, no one ever pressured you into doing drugs, or even really asked you too. Of course, there's the occasional pot, but pretty much no one got into the hard drugs, maybe a few of the stoners did some of the hardcore stuff like meth, but no one I know (aside from one girl, but she graduated a few years before me). Now then, teen sex, sure, there was a lot of that, but most people played it safe and used condoms and/or birth control. There were a handful of pregnancies each year, but they brought that upon themselves. As for fashion, let me say that, like most guys, I'm not very adept when it comes to fashion. I would just wear whatever I felt like, and never got made fun of or singled out too much. Sure, there were the preps who always wore Hollister or the emos who generally wore darker clothing, but it certainly wasn't a fashion contest or anything like that. I'd say the school system is pretty damn good, if not the best in the world. Sure, after high school, like most people, I missed it, and still do sometimes. I wish I could go back and be 13 again, a teenager, and start my adult/teenage life over. But all-in-all I'm glad of the person I am now, I'm not rich or overly successful yet, but I work hard and I'm getting there, since that's what America is all about, hard-work and making your own future. The school system has already vastly improved, my baby brother learned in 3rd grade what they taught me and everyone else in 5th grade. He was learning multiplication and division in like second grade. So yes, I'm glad our school system is making strides to become better, because our young people are the future of this country. Do I think we need to completely overhaul the school system? No. Do I think we need to take extreme stances like metal detectors, teachers beating students, school uniforms, strict dress codes, search and seizures every 2 hours, drug sniffing dogs, or anything like that? No. But I do think we need to fund education more. Of course, you have to remember that every high school is different, and with that, I bid adieu.

United States

I wanted to cover just about every issue in today's society.

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He'll probably just get suspended, possibly expelled. Since he's (most likely) a minor, he won't go to prison.

At 13 he'd be a teenager, and teenagers are capable of rational thought just like adults, so he has to take responsibility for his own words. At least now he'll learn his lesson and never do this again. Also, what of the slim chance he was serious, terrorists have done this before, like that guy who threatened to light his high school school on fire on Newgrounds, and someone called the police and they found that the kid had a knife, gasoline, and a lighter on him at school.

Don't even start with your liberal bullshit. You and your damn communist friends, trying to ruin America and ban guns.