dwayne blogged

There are many reasons to be trigger happy in this country. Let’s start with the good ones. I’ve recently opened a photo album on MySpace that features pictures I’ve taken of Singapore. I was going to feature more pictures on the blog, but I’ve apparently exceeded the space left on my account, mostly due to the high resolution of the picture to the left which was recently taken by my 10.1 megapixel camera. And yes, it’s my fault for not reducing the image size either.

These other pictures I’m featuring are what shows the ugly side of Singapore. Well, one aspect of it anyway. Twice, I was on the bus and the person sitting on the inside refused to make reasonable space for me. To the person in the first picture, "Are you trying to make up for the lack of something between your legs by spreading them so far apart?". To the person in the second picture, "Who’s your imaginary friend to your right?" These are but small examples of increasingly rude public behaviour. If the Singapore courtesy campaign (that in itself is embarrassing for a country to have) didn’t help, I don’t know what else will.

I’ve been following the book series "Dragonlance" since I was 12. Then, the creators Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman had to sell their rights (to the world of Krynn) to their publishers in order to get published. The series, now close to 200 books in print (and I have every one of them) was a great success and the publishers have since commissioned many other writers. Of course, fans are most happy when Weis and Hickman write. Due to differences with the publisher we can only speculate about, Weis and Hickman recently announced they would turn in their last manuscript… the last book that chronicles the life of the most beloved character in the series, Raistlin Majere, leaving fans further speculating the end of the series.

However, due to further complications in the author-publisher  relationship, this last book, "Dragons of The Hourglass Mage", is not likely to happen. Amazon has since pulled pre-orders from its website. Even if the series was coming to a close, how would the story conclude without the final chapter? Despite the volumes of books on my shelf, I’m sure many fans would agree that the shelf would still be empty without the finishing touches of Weis and Hickman. I certainly hope things get sorted out.

The glorious book to the left is a very special annotated volume of the first three books ever published. I’m currently reading it and falling in love with the series even more, because the last time I read it was when I was 12! Thank you Josephine for the wonderful gift! The other picture is of an actual Dragonlance created. I chanced upon this website that sells medieval type weapons from the worlds created in movies like Harry Potter, X-Men and 300. When I have a big enough space, I’ll probably start collecting some of these items. They would be especially useful for self-defense in any case, right?

If online gamers in the World of Warcraft (Wow)are any indication of what youths today are like, then the real world is in serious trouble. Aside from having to teach a bunch of bratty school kids once, I’m fortunate enough to say that my only other experience with rude youths is in the World of Warcraft.

In any one of the general chats, you’ll easily find players either putting someone else down with insults or bragging about how they are better than everyone else or both.
It almost seems that the only way to feel better about themselves is by name calling, belittling or bullying.

I’m guessing the majority of these rude types are between the ages of 13 and 19, and maybe a couple of twenty-somethings whom Mother Nature thought a good idea to leave in their childhood. I’m also guessing they are male. I’m not saying that they aren’t capable of being mature, it’s just that I haven’t seen enough examples of maturity in-game.

Why the need to prove oneself so badly? Why are they so easily provoked, quick to judge and unwilling to forgive? Should the fact that it’s an online game mean that grace or remorse shouldn’t exist?

I know this entry is but a little cry out to the huge world out there. But I’ve said my piece and I quit!