I believe we have had this discussion before... swearing, that is...

I am surprised that this point hasn't been brought up: quite frankly, Winx Club is a cartoon targeted towards a very young age demographic (5 to 12), and thus, being a forum based off of that cartoon, we have to respect the inevitable fact that members from that particular demographic can and will join this forum and read what is being said here. That means, if you wouldn't say it in front of a very young child (5-12), it is not okay to post it here. That is the reason why the censorship is strict.

Now, I have read every post in this thread, and, yes, to those of us who are older, the censorship may seem a bit restrictive (and some things, like the roleplaying character's name that was mentioned, can be worked out just by saying, "Hey, this got caught up in the censor, help please?") but the bottom line is that we have to cater to everyone here, especially children, and including, as mentioned, many different cultures.

Also, it would, as I have said many times before, be a demanding, and impossible (let alone offensive) task to "make a list" of swear words not to use. Because we are older members, we should have the maturity to know what is inappropriate to say in front of, say, an eight-year-old. If you're unsure about cultural complications, look it up on the internet. That's what I do to double-check, at least.

Another thing: We here are not a radio station, or a television station, we are a forum that revolves around a cartoon targeted towards younger kids. Do not attack us with complaints in general about censorship, take that one to your local media outlets, thank you.


I hope this clears everything up, and I apologize if I sounded overtly blunt, but intervention was clearly appropriate.

Black Swan

Thoroughly intense movie... I have never seen anything like it; in fact, it was extremely hard to watch. Definitely a reason why it has been rated R in the states. By strictly critical standards, though, it is definitely an Oscar-worthy movie (though I'm still "rooting" for Inception.) I am going to bet that Natalie Portman (the lead in the movie) wins "Best Actress" (and deserves it!)

*reviving old thread*

I would also be interested in knowing exactly what stores Winx merchandise can be found - if anyone happens to know. I'm going to go to Europe in a few months and my little sister demanded that I bring something of the sort back for her. (To be honest, I have no idea where I would even begin looking.)

To Build a Home - The Cinematic Orchestra

By the cracks of the skin I climbed to the top
I climbed the tree to see the world
When the gusts came around to blow me down
I held on as tightly as you held onto me...

And I built a home, For you, For me
Until it disappeared

Beautiful song - I'm actually planning to express it artistically through photographs, varying colors, and textures (it's a project I'm really excited about.) :)

Will it be on the 28th?

The time (10:00 p.m. GMT) sounds excellent to me. :)

Oh, it's quite alright. Don't feel bad about it. In fact, I'm precisely the same way (which probably has been made quite clear.)

While browsing around eBay today, I spotted this:

This doesn't look official... at all. Awhile back, I purchased the Tecna doll from that line, and she looks like this:

Big difference, wouldn't you say? I'm betting that it's a knockoff, despite the convincing packaging.

But... that's not all :

(The bottom pictures display the "official" dolls - All of these lower pictures (except that of Stella) are courtesy of Tons-of-Toys) Apologies for the blurry photos - I couldn't find any others.

Despite the blurry images, you can still see the difference in quality - the fabric used... the detail... the faces...

Oh my!

It's "legit." I purchased a product from that site a long while ago without hassle. :)

For Reasons Unknown - The Killers

But my heart, it don't beat, it don't beat the way it used to...
And my lips, they don't kiss, they don't kiss the way they used to...
And my eyes don't recognize you at all...
For reasons unknown, for reasons unknown

There are both major and minor inconsistencies between the comics and the television series... :/ They're both enjoyable, though, in their own right.

At the same time, the television series is the more popular and more viewed expression of the "Winx Club" idea, and for that reason, it would be nice to see some more focus on underdeveloped characters there.

I completely agree with you 100% (and agree with everything you have said in this thread thus far).


That is always something that bothered me about the show, and bothered me further when more characters were added. It seemed hopes for development of arguably undeveloped characters (ie., Flora and Tecna; and even some of the specialists) was being drastically reduced (pardon my redundancies). At this point, though, like you said, its gotten to be where the viewer has almost gotten used to the fact that it probably will always be that way - nothing can be done about it.

Now, if I was writing for the show, it would be much different.

I'm currently stressing out over two very important and grade-impacting essays that will need to be completed within two days... and stressing out over just about everything in my life right now...

I agree that it is not right to complain about something (ie., a music genre) unless you have heard/researched it extensively (I myself wouldn't have said anything about rap had I not been exposed to it frequently), but, at the same time, there are exceptions (ie., some things that can jump out as problematic right from the start without thorough listening of the genre).

For example, it is very clear that the degradation of women and excessive cursing are two common themes in most popular rap songs (at least in the U.S.), and that simple fact deems it worthy of at least some criticism. It doesn't mean that the criticism was made to be "in" or what have you, but because, quite frankly, some songs within the genre simply deserve a critical eye. For example, I posted what I did because of my discontent with the degradation and the way some people passively accept these said songs (at least, where I live) simply because they are "popular." They do not take the time to dissect the lyrics and realize how so very cruel some of them are. As the thread's title suggests, such songs make me angry, and so, I posted that they did so. I would post examples, but am not going to for the sake of avoiding explicit content. They're not hard to find - any number of them can be found on top 10 lists anywhere.

I'm not saying this is true everywhere, of course, and also not saying that the whole genre deserves criticism - I'm also not saying that only the rap genre produces such songs (as it can be found in nearly every genre, from rock to pop - it just seems, with popular songs, it is frequently blatant within the rap genre nowadays, at least here in the U.S.). For example, I know that in my favorite genre, alternative rock, there are plenty of songs that have cruel and degrading lyrics - and I am discontent with them, too.

Meh. :/

Tired of holiday carols, but this song (not quite fitting under that genre anyway) is an exception.

Christmas Lights - Coldplay

Those Christmas lights,
Light up the street,
Down where the sea and city meet.
May all your troubles soon be gone

Believe Me Natalie - The Killers

Umm... I didn't dismiss all of it. I stated that the majority of rap songs (particularly hugely popular ones) are guilty of the aforementioned; not all of them. :/ (Last line of my post) I understand, though. I find that it is very easy to misinterpret messages online. Perhaps I should have emphasized that point (about the majority) a bit more.

I myself have developed a fondness for a couple of rap songs (one being by the Gorillaz, actually).

I completely agree with everything you stated here. Katy Perry's "California Girls" particularly bothers me; why would anyone want to listen to a song about the "privileged" (and by this I mean rich) nonexistent (meaning that her portrayal reflects that of "Hollywood"; false... not true... not real) young "perfect" women of California? Living with a sibling who is obsessed with the song is truly torturous...

Right about now, I'm also currently detesting all forms of Christmas carols... (Currently being overplayed on the radio... and repeated... and repeated... and repeated...)

And, as always: rap... The constant degradation of women translating into flailing attempts at backing up the rapper's false facade of masculinity.. I swear, that's the only reason why they include lines of women's inferiority, as well as unneccessary cursing and the like... it's to provide them (the rapper) with a sense of superiority (that "manly-man" appeal, so to speak). Not so... A true artist need not hide behind a mask of harshness and inhumane discrimination to prove their "talents" to the world.. And a true musical artist, in my opinion, is someone who can sing a beautiful love song or touching lament and be genuinely and completely proud of it... Now that's confidence!

You are such an asset to this forum... It's a shame that you're leaving, and we'll all undoubtedly miss you greatly, but I understand your reasoning. I wish you the best of luck in all that you do! *cyber-hug*

I am itching to graduate already and get out of this city, I'm tired of it, just... tired of it... that and, overall, I'm just feeling lonely and blue.

Now I'm procrastinating.

Yay!


(And go get yourself some food, Tea!)

I stopped working on a paper (or in-depth novel analysis, I should say) for my Advanced Literature and Composition class and have now just completed a mid-term paper about alcohol abuse for my college psychology course, and I soon will be opening an article for work that I need to review, edit, and present to the interviewee by Monday... or perhaps I should finish that other assignment for my advanced literature class... or perhaps I should let my mind wander over to the side of my consciousness that is wondering what in the world I should do to those 121 photos I took during a photoshoot today... Now all I'm thinking about is Photoshop...

Photoshop... Photoshop...

It's going to be a busy weekend....

After watching a couple episodes of "L.A.", I do not mind it either, but at the same time, I just do not think it is on the same level as "Criminal Intent." It just... I don't know, perhaps there is something a bit more boring about it... or maybe it's because the detectives seem more casual and less emotionally invested in the cases they're investigating... Something about it is off; enough so that when SVU ends, I actually have an inner debate about whether or not to spend my time sleeping or actually watching the program.

I've watched it every time, though... Even when sleep may have been a better choice. Ah well, it's still early on in the season. We'll see if it gets any better...

Hereafter.

Definitely a deep movie - for mature minds only, and I emphasize that. The whole movie, and I mean in its entirety, is about a very dark subject. The movie in itself may have come off as thoroughly saddening, not at all one to see if you're looking for something with a light mood, but at the same time, it provided fuel for the mind to decide for oneself the mystery behind the inevitable. It made you think, to put it simply; it made you think about life in a deeper respect. I myself thoroughly enjoyed it, despite the holding back of tears at least twice (once I just let them flow freely, there was no stopping it.)

I would recommend for those who have a respect for "deeper" movies and who are mature enough to handle the content.



I cannot say the same for "The Social Network." Waste of time, really. The only thing that I "gained" from it was a newfound dislike for Facebook "creator" Mark Zuckerburg. The dragging on of agonizing minute after minute of discussions on this and that which could have ended within a mere few moments was enough to make me wonder "why did I bring my friends to see this?"

There was a show here which sounds a lot like the one you're talking about. It was called "American Inventor" and was co-produced by American Idol's Simon Cowell. It followed the same set-up as Idol, just with inventors, and in which one inventor was the winner. I don't think it's on the air anymore, though (at least, it is no longer on ABC). (Wikipedia: American Inventor)

There is also show, also on ABC, called "Shark Tank" which sounds slightly like the show you are speaking of as well.

Basically, there is a panel of investors and individuals come in and pitch their ideas to them (inventions, business ideas, and what have you.) The panel then decides if they will invest in their idea or not. It's pretty cruel, usually though. People leave the room crying; some have spent their life's earnings on making their idea "happen" and then these so-called "experts" tell them "no way, it just can't." I'm not fond of it, myself. This one seems to destroy hope rather than encourage new ideas. This show, as far as I know, may still be "alive." (Wikipedia: Shark Tank)

I simply need to post a topic about this, because lately, I've been subjected to an awful amount of ridiculing/mocking/teasing. I have not been on the receiving end, nor can I tell you what it is like to be the "bully": I'm a mere spectator of an issue that, at least in this nation, has grown to dishearteningly large proportions. Because this is an online forum with youth and adults alike, I decided it would be a good idea to start a topic such as this; as it may not only benefit your lives online, but in the real world as well.

I wanted to open this topic to toss around some general ideas about bullying; just to bring up the topic, and generate a response from each of you. Bullying: What do you think of it, what do you do to stop it, have you ever been affected by it, how do you feel if you have ever been subjected to it in any way... etc. I think if we all talk about it and see the opinions of others, maybe we will find it within ourselves to try to diminish this issue or find strength if this is something that we are dealing with.


I'll start off:
My feelings about bullying consist of the following:
One, when I see it happening, my respect for the bully decreases. I have found that people that ridicule others as if they are superior actually establish that they are indeed the lesser person for doing so.

Two, I believe that if someone is being tormented by a bully, someone should try to stick up for them (particularly if the person being bullied cannot do so for themselves.) For example, I go to school with a girl who is a little less mentally able than the rest and also is a bit emotional, but instead of treating her with kindness she needs, my peers have bullied her for years - even now, as we're entering adulthood. People like her need someone to stick up for them. This goes for adults, too.

Three, cyber-bullying... I believe that this type is the worst and leads to the most unfortunate consequences. I know my school does not tolerate it - I would suggest, if you see it happening within yours, to report it (even if you feel you must do so anonymously). I definitely think adults should intervene if this ever occurs, as well.

Four, if you are being bullied, do not let it hurt you. Think of it like this: whoever is hurting you is only doing so because they are unsure of themselves - they lack the confidence to feel content with themselves, and thus, they feel a need to degrade others in order to make themselves feel superior to someone. If you allow them to draw an emotional response from you, they will only torment you more. Ignore it, no matter how cruel the comment, and it will cease.


Now I leave it to you: discuss: express your thoughts, opinions, advice, and experiences...