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[SalmonGod]

There's twisting interpretation of religious texts.  Lies to make the population feel like they're not the aggressor when they really are, or to convince that they'll be victimized if they don't take up aggression first.  Lies and twisting of half-truths to convince a troubled population that the target population is responsible for their problems.  Lies regarding motives (i.e. we're going to help these people by civilizing/freeing them!).  Stunts and propaganda to stir up nationalistic sentiments far beyond natural levels.  De-humanization of the target population.  Offering economic opportunities to the poor, who feel like signing up is their only path to a better future.  Etc...

All this stuff is in play behind every major war, which probably wouldn't happen otherwise.  And a lot of it is self-fulfilling prophecy (leaders on both sides convince their people of the other's aggression and can say afterwards that they were right).  Yeah, there are plenty of people who feel those tribal instincts a lot deeper than most and/or just love to fight, but not enough to make up armies.

And then factor in that not having some kind of wartime draft or required service period is (I'm pretty sure?) only a recent development in history, and still uncommon.

[Dutchling]

Well, that, or you just pay your soldiers.

[SalmonGod]

Offering economic opportunities to the poor, who feel like signing up is their only path to a better future.

One of the most common and long-standing complaints about warfare is it's always the poor fighting on behalf of the rich... and a majority of people I've heard from who have done any military service have cited the economic benefits as the biggest factor.  Among my friends, every single one who is/has worked for the military has done so exclusively because it was the best opportunity they could find.  They don't WANT to be contributing to warfare.

[Tawa]

I wanna run an ocean-based DnD game, but I'm afraid the people in my other campaigns will RRRAAAAAGEEEE about a further reduced update frequency.

Woe is me.

[GiglameshDespair]

I wanna run an ocean-based DnD game, but I'm afraid the people in my other campaigns will RRRAAAAAGEEEE about a further reduced update frequency.

Woe is me.

What games are you running already? If you do start a game, I claim a spot.

[Descan]

Offering economic opportunities to the poor, who feel like signing up is their only path to a better future.

One of the most common and long-standing complaints about warfare is it's always the poor fighting on behalf of the rich... and a majority of people I've heard from who have done any military service have cited the economic benefits as the biggest factor.  Among my friends, every single one who is/has worked for the military has done so exclusively because it was the best opportunity they could find.  They don't WANT to be contributing to warfare.

... Huh. So a basic income could not only cut down on health-care costs (Not only in America where you don't go to the doctor unless you're literally dying, but in other countries, cuts down on the health costs of being poor, such as malnutrition) but also cut down on the army and warfare in general? :V

I don't want to become one of those "This one thing will solve everything!" but it's *really* starting to look like it :I

[TD1]

I wanna run an ocean-based DnD game, but I'm afraid the people in my other campaigns will RRRAAAAAGEEEE about a further reduced update frequency.

Woe is me.

What games are you running already? If you do start a game, I claim a spot.

I also claim a spot.

[SalmonGod]

Offering economic opportunities to the poor, who feel like signing up is their only path to a better future.

One of the most common and long-standing complaints about warfare is it's always the poor fighting on behalf of the rich... and a majority of people I've heard from who have done any military service have cited the economic benefits as the biggest factor.  Among my friends, every single one who is/has worked for the military has done so exclusively because it was the best opportunity they could find.  They don't WANT to be contributing to warfare.

... Huh. So a basic income could not only cut down on health-care costs (Not only in America where you don't go to the doctor unless you're literally dying, but in other countries, cuts down on the health costs of being poor, such as malnutrition) but also cut down on the army and warfare in general? :V

I don't want to become one of those "This one thing will solve everything!" but it's *really* starting to look like it :I

I'm right there with you.  I blame inequality, which is mostly economic in origin, for the majority of the world's problems.  Almost every problem in the world (in my opinion) can be broken down to a root cause of social hierarchy/concentration of resources poisoning people's cultural perspective or otherwise providing motivations that go against natural behaviors.

[Sirus]

I wanna run an ocean-based DnD game, but I'm afraid the people in my other campaigns will RRRAAAAAGEEEE about a further reduced update frequency.

Woe is me.

What games are you running already? If you do start a game, I claim a spot.

He's "running" at least two other D&D games already. I say "running" because he hasn't updated the one I'm in for some time.

So, don't expect his ocean-based game to last long

[mastahcheese]

I'd offer to run it if I could, but I can't right now.
Just stick with what you've got, Mr. Tawa.

[SalmonGod]

Sad:  Taking my kids to the pool.  I find pools incredibly boring.  It's like "Ok.... so I'm in water now.... *shrug*"  Going down the big slide or whatever is exciting maybe twice.  Otherwise there's nothing to do but... move around for no reason... except in water... I could move around for no reason whenever/wherever I want, without having to go through the uncomfortable ordeal of acclimating to the water temperature and risking horrible sunburns...

But kids.

[Tawa]

I wanna run an ocean-based DnD game, but I'm afraid the people in my other campaigns will RRRAAAAAGEEEE about a further reduced update frequency.

Woe is me.

What games are you running already? If you do start a game, I claim a spot.

I also claim a spot.

YOU MUST BE FAMILIAR WITH 3.5 FOOLISH MATRIM MORTAL

Anyway, I have a 3.5 campaign centered around collecting "memories" of the past and piecing history back together. I have another campaign in 4th edition that was originally intended to be high, "epic" fantasy but when that idea bored me, I inserted a plot twist so that I can warp the plot into a new thing.

Then again, the "navally-based" bit is probably a side effect of playing Zelda: Wind Waker, but meh, whatever.

You know what? To heck with it. It's going down. I'll just put some commemorative bump images in my sig, mastahcheese style.

Oh yeah also

He's "running" at least two other D&D games already. I say "running" because he hasn't updated the one I'm in for some time.

So, don't expect his ocean-based game to last long

That's because ShadowHammer has to post. I PM'ed him. Updates will come.

[Descan]

Sad:  Taking my kids to the pool.  I find pools incredibly boring.  It's like "Ok.... so I'm in water now.... *shrug*"  Going down the big slide or whatever is exciting maybe twice.  Otherwise there's nothing to do but... move around for no reason... except in water... I could move around for no reason whenever/wherever I want, without having to go through the uncomfortable ordeal of acclimating to the water temperature and risking horrible sunburns...

But kids.

Pools are exercise for me, with the chance of oogling cute guys in nothing but their skivvies. Going to to the pool just to go to the pool is a little weird, but to do laps? Sure.

For kids, I think it's a mixture of "bath-time but you can mess around?!"* and "this water stuff is so weird!" You never see a kid just move their hands around under water and stare at it, or wave them back and forth on the surface? The resistance is new, especially if they're something like 5-10.

*This one I'm not so sure of, it may be a little patronizing.

[BlackFlyme]

There has been arguing over whether to homeschool my youngest sister or not.

Can't quite say how I feel about this, but to say that the school system has been failing her is an understatement.

She is very far behind her classmates, but the school's response so far has been underwhelming.

[LordSlowpoke]

i wanted to make corndogs

i ended up with scrambled eggs

how does this even work