Christmas and Cash

Most who know me know this: I freaking love Christmas. I love the cold, the snow, the lights, the tree, the Christmas music played over and over, the crappy Hallmark movies with plots so cliche that I could give you a whole synopsis five minutes in. I love the family's open house, the Christmas cooking, Christmas presents with the Millers, Christmas Eve services, and the fact that this is when we celebrate the coming of Jesus. Christmas is my season; it's one of the times that I get excited. And it ticks me off when people try to rain on this holiday.

The idea that Christmas is just a commercialized holiday ticks me off.

I realize where this idea comes from, don't get me wrong. Hallmark makes a killing on Christmas cards, the stores are filled with loud angry people who waited until the last minute to buy Christmas presents, Santa in the mall is one of the biggest attractions for little kids, and often it feels like the reality of Christmas, the coming of Jesus, is lost.Amid the scuffle of shopping and decorating, the idea that people forget what Christmas means is a logical one. Yet often people are only looking at these actions and judging them, not looking at the depth it reaches.

When you see those people trying hard to find the right gifts and often being very rude in their dealings, there is more to them than just pushy materialism. They aren't just caught up in what they are buy, but I would say more who they are buying it for. They want to get the right gift so they can make someone else happy. It might be a parent trying to get a toy for their child, a boyfriend looking for the right jewelry for the girl he cares for, or some concerned grandchildren trying to find a gift for the grandfather that might not be with them next year. The spirit of giving is alive and well in this season, despite peoples apparent rushing. They might not be so concerned with the random people they meet in the store, but there is a desire to give good gifts to those they love.

This is also the time when many people are more expose to the message of the season. There are those that only go to church on Christmas and Easter, and this is the time when pastors have a chance to reach out to them. It might just be tradition that they show up to church, but as long as they are there, you have a chance to reach out to them. It does no one any good to sit in your weekly pew and judge those that only came for this service. You should reach out to them and try to bring them back. Show them that there is more to church than just Christmas. They might be ignoring the real meaning behind Christmas, but when they show up regardless, it is your chance to bring them into a deeper relationship with the season and the man behind it.

Christmas isn't just about the money and the presents. It isn't about capitalism and wealth, having and not having, giving and getting. We all should realize that Christmas is about Jesus and his birth. But that doesn't mean we should look at the lights and Santa impersonators with disdain or judgement. This season is also about kindness to others, respect, and the love for family. You don't know those others that you see in the store, but you can understand that in their hearts they have a desire to show love to someone. Jesus will always need to be at the center of our celebration, but don't look down on the fun traditions others hold along with that.

I know, it has to be a surprise to see me encouraging tolerance. Consider it a Christmas miracle.

Just something to chew on.

I'll Open Your Mind

This idea has been simmering since probably my sophomore economics class in high school when I was being vehemently argued with regarding some of the ideas I held in regards to policy and politics and the like. See, I could be called a conservative, meaning I have some kind of moral compass and I don't think everyone can live however they want. This kind of mentality doesn't fly well in a public high school where everyone is all about tolerance and stomping on religion. A lot of my fellow students did not appreciate my ideas. With all their negativity, I've come to a conclusion.

I hate open-mindedness.

I can just hear all the "culturally aware" and "socially sensitive" people just flying off the handle right now. How dare he say such a thing! Being open-minded should be the corner stone of our society! It helps us understand others better and keep us from being bigots! Whatever mantra of social justice you want to tack onto it, it all boils down to the same thing: we should accept all ideas, no matter what.

Maybe I'm just argumentative (and I am), but I refuse to accept this idea. There is truth, truth that will always be true no matter what anyone says. Despite all the post-modern junk out there, there is absolute truth (which I'll get into another time). Now, like I've made clear, this idea hasn't won me a lot of supports in school. Countless times I've been told that I have to be more open-minded to the ways the world "really" works. (Side note, I loved hearing from other high schoolers how the world works when none of them had ever done anything else but mooch of their parents for most everything.)

All this build up come to this. Anyone who accuses someone of being closed-minded is just as closed-minded as the one they're ridiculing. The thing about making any kind of judgement call is that when you compartmentalize someone as unwilling to see your side, your not realizing that you refuse to see their side as well. If you won't entertain the idea that they could be right as well, then you have closed your mind off in the exact opposite manner. You are just as closed-minded as them.

I love how being closed-minded is the go to remark when someone refuses to listen to an idea they don't agree with. It is a defense against having to listen to the opinions of anyone else. When you peg someone as close-minded, they don't have any way to argue. To you, they are ignorant and bigoted, unable to see the "enlightened" mentality that is supposedly arising in out culture. It is then easy to disregard what they are saying. After all, since they're close-minded, there is no intelligence in their argument.

It may be too much to ask for a universal respect. Honestly, we have a selfish world and anyone who doesn't want to hear something doesn't have to. But when this same idea starts to infiltrate into everyday thought, that if you don't agree you can just disregard, that is when we have some problems. Sharing ideas, even ones we don't like, is how we get a better perspective on our world. A variety of thoughts helps create a solution that we can all accept.

Anyone who feeds me that close-minded garbage again is getting an open mind courtesy of a pick ax...nah I'm kidding.

Just something to chew on.

Petition for the Men

As I promised, this week we're talking to the guys. This will probably end up pretty short, partly because it is an easy set of ideas, and partly because I'm deathly sick. So with that, we're just going to jump right in.

Guys, be deserving of your lady friends counsel.

Here's what I mean. If the women you know are willing to talk with you, to help you work through problems you are having, whether with friends, work, or relationships with other women, you need to respect their input. Don't be the kind of guy who always runs to a friend, expecting them to take on all your problems, then ignore their advice. What that shows is that you don't care what they are telling you, you only want them to pay attention to you, give you sympathy.

Does this mean you always need to follow the advice you are given. There are times when you won't be given a viable plan. Your own judgement is just as important as the advice you are given. What you do need to do, however, is not take advantage you your friends willingness to help you.

One more thing. Guys, let's be honest. It is pretty easy to misconstrue a friends advice as a subtle sign they are interested in you. It's not your fault, discussions like that can be deep and intimate. That doesn't mean you should take it as a sign. It is possible to have profound discussions with women without a romantic interest. Don't let that idea get in the way of your friendship.

Also, learn when to keep your mouth shut, trust me.

Just something to chew on.

Petition for the Women

My role as a book reviewer means I get a hold of some titles that I wouldn't normally read. This latest batch has me reading a book on teen dating and sex. Not a topic I have a lot of experience with, nor do I intend to, but whatever, it's been interesting. In it was a point, however, that I think needs to be addressed and endorsed. It is an idea that I have seen in action a few times, typically being a part of it, but its range seems limited now. I hope that changes.

Girls, give your counsel to your guy friends.

Guys and girls think differently, this is a shock to no one. Of course, this revelation is made even more obvious through our interactions, we'll call them "conversations" if just to satisfy my current sardonic mood. Anyhow, we have different thought processes, different ways of dealing with situations, and varying methods of interpretation. What does this mean? It's hard to communicate and know what they other is saying. Hiring a translator won't work, mostly because I don't think either side has deciphered the other's language.

What I have seen, however, is how much we help each other. I know that I have talked with my female friends in the past and learned new perspectives, as well as interpretations that I hadn't thought of before. On the other side, I have played confidant for numerous people, listening and advising when I could. There is a benefit to having someone you can confide in who doesn't share your mindset.

Here's what we need, I believe. Girls, guys are pretty thick sometimes. Again, this is not the reveal of the millenia, but I need to cover that to move on. We benefit from your counsel. Yet it seems like it is hard to come by. It's like there is this unspoken taboo that says we aren't allowed to advise on other aspects of life. Conversations scrape away at whatever is shallowest and try to subsist on that. I mentioned before that I wish we could have deeper conversations, ask tough questions and get real answers. My request is that you girls out there who are our friends would be open to help. You have guys that trust you and respect your opinions, let them in on what you think. Let us learn from your mindsets. The value in these ideas are unparalleled.

Guys, I'm getting to you next week, just you wait.

Just something to chew on.

Teamwork Kills...Others

Let's keep on the topic of video games, if only for my sake. But before we get to that, the mildly related intro. With the release of Skyrim last week, it shouldn't come as a surprise that many people have taken to their single player campaigns and decided to leave the multiplayer games behind. I support this strongly, single player games have amazing stories and offer unique experiences, but let us not forget the team games.

Multiplayer games can offer an amazingly different experience.

Games are a big part of bonding on my floor. There have been numerous nights when we have been up until that late hours playing whatever games we could play together. Playing with others is one of the most integral part of a lot of games. I don't think that Call of Duty would be as popular as it is now if they hadn't put so much effort into the multiplayer. A game that requires team work is one that offers a brief look who we are when times call for support.

Two games I'm going to look at today offer some simple but interesting looks at teamwork in games. First up is a popular game i my dorm, Killing Floor. Killing Floor is a wave by wave first-person shooter where you and a group of five others shoot zombies, not exactly original, but the gameplay makes it amazing. The main idea is choosing a class, and playing to those strengths. The commando shoots lots of bullets, supports get shotguns and can weld doors quickly, demolitions help take down big targets, and so on. Ideally, each player chooses a class they are good with and that helps the team survive. I like the support class. I tend to hold a door welded so that nothing can come through, and the other guys shoot everything. Sounds fun right, sit and weld a door. Yet, I like this part. I enjoy the supporting role in these kind of games, and it neer feels as if what I am doing does not add to the overall well-being of the team, and the mutual drive for success. Killing Floor also backs up the idea that every player is valuable by letting you level classes without being them. Damage you do with a different class's weapon adds into the numbers for that class. A game where everyone is the same class doesn't usually end in a successful game. Killing Floor requires communication and diversity in play.

The second game is Monster Hunter. While this game has never really caught on in America, it is a favorite of my brother and I. The premise of this game series is to hunt smaller monsters, get some equipment, then hunt progressively bigger and more destructive dragons. Teamwork in this game is more rewarding than in most games I have played. Working with a group to take down monsters the size of mountains requires a lot of effort. Communication and planning are key. We tend to pick complementory weapon styles when we play together. Taking turns, drawing the monster away so the other could heal, and working tandem to find the best way to get some strikes in and stay safe. There is something about working together and fighting something like those monsters that is an unparalleled gaming experience.

What multiplayer games offer is a different chance to interact with players. Many games have the standard death match, free-for-all, and team game modes. These typically do not make for the deep kind of player-to-player interactions that we see in the games I mentioned. A good player on one server can completely dominate some games, and leave their team without any sense of accomplishment. Good multiplayer games are the ones that encourage those skilled players to help the newer players learn. It becomes beneficial to both sides. Cooperation is an idea that takes a good game to a great game.

I bet you're surprised I didn't mention Team Fortress 2 in this.

Just something to chew on.

Put Yourself In

These next two weeks mark some big releases in the gaming world. Skyrim launched just yesterday, the 11th, Saint's Row the Third will becoming out the 15th, Modern Warfare 3 has come out, and Legends of Zelda celebrates 25 years with Skyward Sword later this month. With all these big releases, and a special not for Skyrim and Saint's Row, I've decided to take this time to address a common trend in more and more modern games.

Character creation is great, when done properly.

Lots of games that have player created characters are trying to let them craft their own character for the rest of the story. Games like Mass Effect, The Elder Scrolls games, LittleBigPlanet, and others all had their own form of character creation. There are probably a hundred sliders in most menus that let you change every little facet of your characters...or so they would have you believe. In most cases, there is little difference between what ruggedly handsome man or woman you'll be playing as. Elder Scrolls: Oblivion was so callused as to not even let characters have beards. Many games don't give enough choice to the player when it comes to who they will be.

What I;m going to look at are a few games that do offer good choice. The first being Tony Hawk Underground. I look back on this game favorably, mostly because it was still ridiculous and tight in play, while letting you have loads of unrealistic skating fun in a variety of settings. The part of character creation that was done well here is choice. You could deck out your skater in so many different pieces of costume. I remember my guy had sunglasses, a rice hat, a winter coat, baggy cargo pants, and bare feet, all dyed a deep green. My brother's character looked distinctly different than mine. Underground offered a variety of choices in every aspect, with many kinds of shoes, shirts, pants, and accessories. A good character creation system needs to offer a huge load of choices. Every player will have their own style, and own sense of what is cool. Only having a few choices of any kind is never enough. Saint's Row falters a bit here. There are fun customization options, but they are pretty small in scope. Variety is the spice of life, right? And in a game where you are the character, you need to attune their style to what you like.

The next one we're looking at is The Smackdown vs. Raw series. That's right, WWE's wrestling game. What could these games have done right? Well, outside of some genuinely fun gameplay, they did character creation right in two ways. The first is in layers. The character creation works so well because of the ability to stack. You can choose to put various tattoos on and layer them into new patterns. Other clothing articles get stacked as well. If Minecraft has taught us anything, it's that people will go above what developers expected when given the freedom. If you limit the player to one shirt or top, they'll make due, but when you let them have a variety of options, they'll create some cool looks. The idea here is to not limit to just one choice. It isn't hard to think of adding an open button-down shirt over a long-sleeved T-shirt, and put a trench coat on top. The second area that these games did well was in the animations. Once you're finished building that muscle bound superstar (or unrealistically proportioned Diva) what kind of moves do they get? WWE has offered a very deep selection to choose everything from the basic punches, to ring-in and out animation, to specials. They have even added a pretty valid finisher creator. These games have some of the strongest character creation in games.

With so much emphasis on the player and their character, there needs to be more involved in the character creation. Most MMOs have a problem with this, letting you pick some starting equipment in your own personal flair, then clamming you up in the same dull armor that everyone gets. Some people really put time into what their character looks like and who they are in the world. Developers should respect their players and offer more in this content. The more a character connects to the game, the more they will enjoy the time. That is good for developers, publishers, marketers, and players.

But remember, there will be some seriously messed up player characters out there, we'll just have to live with that.

Just something to chew on.

Loosen That Tie

So, I figured that after all that heavy reading you guys did last month, I'll get back to some easier, more opinionated writing. As many of you know, I dress casually. I wear hats and go barefoot as often as possible. T-shirts and overshirts are my main clothing options. There is an actual reason that I am boring you with these points.

I hate the idea of dressing up for church.

I never really had to dress up in nice clothes when I went to church. Shorts and a t-shirt were perfectly acceptable in my home. I remember my mom telling me that she never required us to dress up because she didn't want to take the time to make us look presentable. Sunday wouldn't be about rushing to church in stuffy starched shirts, it would be relaxed. I realize that this is how I grew up, and that is a major impact on my thinking, but even that isn't everything. As I look at it, it makes so much sense.

Church is supposed to be something we want to go to. For me, I hate ties, and if I had to wear one every time I went to church, I believe that I would dread going. It wouldn't be the same place for me. Church was always the place I could cut loose. The people there knew me and didn't judge my quirks and oddities. They knew that was just who I was, and they loved me for it. If I had to be dressed proper and stoic, my church wouldn't have been the same safe haven for me that it had been for so long.

Often the line, "come just as you are" is quoted for such a topic, and this wouldn't be a fairly standard online journal if I didn't. I love the idea of going to God in whatever way we can. We don't need to follow any special protocols or dress codes, all that is needed is a willing heart. Clothes don't make the Christian, it is the belief that defines us.

Just no nudist Christian churches please, lots of old people go to church....

Just something to chew on.