All I'm saying is you dont have to play the bloody game to know what some facts about it. Merely can google them.

Quote by Daley

It makes me excited to know that he'll have support at home. Even though I'm in southern Georgia, my parents never said anything negative to me about being with guys. Unfortunately, they never really said much of anything and I had no support at home until I became serious with my partner and shoved him into my family as an adult.

Life would have been much easier as a kid if I wouldn't have felt like I had to hide things from them. I'm happy that hopefully she can keep that relationship and communication open. That's a huge advantage for him.

It is advantageous that he has support at home. Even his siblings will be super supportive and I even think extremely protective. But they can't protect him 100% of the time. I am with you, it was hard to hide this from family friends for an extended period of years. And when I finally did escape the closet I lost all my friends and some of my family. Well they lost not me. In Teagyn's (nephew) situation he will not lose family. thank god.

Quote by chemkarate

You get my four cents (two per topic):

Colorado, like California, is a state where there are some really conservative spots and some really liberal spots. You have cities like Boulder, which is full of hippies who can give Berkeley a run for its liberal money, and then you have areas like the rural southern farmlands that have more in common with the deep South. Colorado Springs is, from what little I saw of it and what I've read, is conservative, but not ridiculously religious. I know that it was one of the cities that started to really embrace the Tea Party's politics, then paid for it a year later when they had to stop things like nursery care and street lights. However, if this high school has a zero tolerance bullying policy, it must not be that conservative. If you've ever been to California's Orange County, I think it's a lot like that.

With regard to kiddkasper's suggestion, martial arts can be a great outlet for a gay person and a teenager. It teaches discipline, helps with physical fitness, and works wonders at relieving stress and getting your mind off whatever is bugging you. The ability to defend oneself is also very helpful, if only for the confidence it bestows in a variety of situations.

That said, it may not be for your nephew. A person has to WANT to pursue a martial art to reap the benefits. If your nephew is not inclined toward it, it shouldn't be forced on him. Additionally, the type of person the sensei/instructor is makes a huge difference. Some sensei are amazing people while others can be complete assholes who teach through fear instead of respect. (Most, in my experience, are thankfully the better type.)

So in short, I'm all for suggesting the martial art route, but it won't be a magic bullet. If your nephew does take one up, I would advise your sister to sit in on at least the first few classes and keep tabs on if her son is actually enjoying it.

One other thought (sorry, this is going longer than I intended). One big thing that will really help your nephew is if he can have something where he can truly express himself. Something, anything, where he can release stress, throw himself in, and do it with others. Forming those connections, with himself and with others, is going to be one of the best things that can be done to make sure he becomes a healthy adult.

Thank you for your thoughts. I will be going to see them next month and will try and see if he is interested in Martial Arts. I know he loves to play baseball and I hope he keeps that up too. I am concerned about my mothers reaction though. She was only moderately accepting of me but I didn't tell her until I was 35. While she accepts she still silently judges. And I have seen how she treats him sometimes and fear that it will get worse. Regardless if I have to bring him to California I will :) Course I will have to fight Robbyn and Mike. Maybe a few pew pew pew's will work....

Seriously thanks for your input.

It makes me excited to know that he'll have support at home. Even though I'm in southern Georgia, my parents never said anything negative to me about being with guys. Unfortunately, they never really said much of anything and I had no support at home until I became serious with my partner and shoved him into my family as an adult.

Life would have been much easier as a kid if I wouldn't have felt like I had to hide things from them. I'm happy that hopefully she can keep that relationship and communication open. That's a huge advantage for him.

You get my four cents (two per topic):

Colorado, like California, is a state where there are some really conservative spots and some really liberal spots. You have cities like Boulder, which is full of hippies who can give Berkeley a run for its liberal money, and then you have areas like the rural southern farmlands that have more in common with the deep South. Colorado Springs is, from what little I saw of it and what I've read, is conservative, but not ridiculously religious. I know that it was one of the cities that started to really embrace the Tea Party's politics, then paid for it a year later when they had to stop things like nursery care and street lights. However, if this high school has a zero tolerance bullying policy, it must not be that conservative. If you've ever been to California's Orange County, I think it's a lot like that.

With regard to kiddkasper's suggestion, martial arts can be a great outlet for a gay person and a teenager. It teaches discipline, helps with physical fitness, and works wonders at relieving stress and getting your mind off whatever is bugging you. The ability to defend oneself is also very helpful, if only for the confidence it bestows in a variety of situations.

That said, it may not be for your nephew. A person has to WANT to pursue a martial art to reap the benefits. If your nephew is not inclined toward it, it shouldn't be forced on him. Additionally, the type of person the sensei/instructor is makes a huge difference. Some sensei are amazing people while others can be complete assholes who teach through fear instead of respect. (Most, in my experience, are thankfully the better type.)

So in short, I'm all for suggesting the martial art route, but it won't be a magic bullet. If your nephew does take one up, I would advise your sister to sit in on at least the first few classes and keep tabs on if her son is actually enjoying it.

One other thought (sorry, this is going longer than I intended). One big thing that will really help your nephew is if he can have something where he can truly express himself. Something, anything, where he can release stress, throw himself in, and do it with others. Forming those connections, with himself and with others, is going to be one of the best things that can be done to make sure he becomes a healthy adult.

And I'm just thinking out loud on this one. But would a self defense/martial arts class be an option?

Quote by kiddkasper

Just my 2 cents. But, I think his parents being supportive will help a lot. The fact that he felt comfortable enough to tell his mom and that they were able to talk says a lot. My father died when I was 4 so I only grew up with my mother. I came out to her when I was 15 even though I knew long before that. There were many things that she didn't understand. But I always knew that she had my back.

The other good thing is that they are planning on putting him into a school that has a zero tolerance policy. I don't think that's going to completely eliminate all possibilities of him being harrased (ie. outside of school and home) But I think it will help a lot.

I think if your nephew truly understands that there are people in the world that love and support him, that will go a long way. What is hopefully a last resort that will never have to be used, here are some sources of more support:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/cryforhelp/episodes/resources/hotlines-and-web-sites-for-teens/11/

Thanks for your 2 cents. Worth much more than that!

Just my 2 cents. But, I think his parents being supportive will help a lot. The fact that he felt comfortable enough to tell his mom and that they were able to talk says a lot. My father died when I was 4 so I only grew up with my mother. I came out to her when I was 15 even though I knew long before that. There were many things that she didn't understand. But I always knew that she had my back.

The other good thing is that they are planning on putting him into a school that has a zero tolerance policy. I don't think that's going to completely eliminate all possibilities of him being harrased (ie. outside of school and home) But I think it will help a lot.

I think if your nephew truly understands that there are people in the world that love and support him, that will go a long way. What is hopefully a last resort that will never have to be used, here are some sources of more support:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/cryforhelp/episodes/resources/hotlines-and-web-sites-for-teens/11/

So last night my sister is grocery shopping and she gets a text from my nephew. Two simple words: "I'm Gay". My Nephew is 11 and will be 12 in a couple weeks. I have always had a feeling that this one was gay but pretty much kept it to myself and only said something to Robbyn about it once. Now I have known I was special since I was a young lad of 6 or 7. I also know the damage it caused in my early life because of my religious upbringing. It took me until I was 30 to stop fighting and become who I am today. I do not want this kind of path for my nephew. Robbyn and her husband Mike are very supportive. When she got home she went to his room and asked him some questions about why he thinks he is gay and the best thing in the world she said to him is that she would be supportive even if he was straight. She and I talked on the phone this morning because she wanted some input from me as to how to approach this. So (without going into my family history and boring you all to tears) I described for her how my life proceeded. Keeping it secret, keeping it safe and how that affected my early life and especially how I did not want him to go through a lengthy period in his life similar to my own. Granted coming out today is very different than it was back then. But still, knowing what he is about to face and what he could go through is not very encouraging. As we were talking this morning she remembered suddenly that he had asked for my phone number last week, and because he is a text-aholic she didn't give it to him for fear that it would be disturbing to me at work and such. Which is not true, I don't care how many times I am texted, if I can respond I do and if I can't respond I do when I can. So I told her to go ahead and give my number to him, although I do have his already. My sister lives in Colorado Springs and I have no idea how the gay community is in the state of Colorado but I hear that it is a rather conservative state. When my nephew gets to High School she is going to put him in a no tolerance high school (my niece currently goes there) and the policy is zero tolerance for anything that is considered bullying or the like. I think this is a good approach but also kind of fell that it will be hiding him.

Now for a story that breaks my heart and kind of the reason why I am writing this here:
My Niece, the one I just wrote about had a wonderful friend that she went to elementary, middle and started high school with. They were best friends. Well he was gay as well and when he entered High School he started working on equal treatment and support for everyone, not just gays, though that was a big part of it. Well it appears that he committed suicide recently because he didn't get the support he needed. I don't wan this to happen to my nephew but I can't protect him form everything just as my sister, his mother can't. I need to help them find people that can help support them there in Colorado. I can only be so supportive living so far away as I only get to see them all a couple times a year.

A penny (or EC) for your thoughts.

Quote by kiddkasper

Quote by Capt Makarand

The gas is explained in the game lore/show lore.

So we have to play the game to get a better understanding of the show?

I think not.

As I understand it, the show was intended as a tie-in to the game--interestingly, not the other way around.

nooooo you dont. if you look up info on the show in google you can find out! Later in the show im sure they'll touch base with it.

I would love to go to a star wars theme park, but would feel all creepy going by myself...

So I would wait until Stonewall set up an excursion, then if I can pull myself out of my shell I would be able to go and enjoy it. :3

Hah, that IS funny, Nicholas! xD

Watched his "WTF is Doctor Who" video and was suddenly very glad I was already a Doctor Who fan before listening to the people try to describe it to him.

Quote by Seannewboy

If i ever met Lenard Nimoy i would have to say "You are and always have been our Spock."

I met him at a barber shop when I was 6 or 7. He offered to teach me the nerve pinch...

By demonstrating it on me.

Needless to say I freaked out.

Still... One of the best memories I still have (thank goodness it wasn't claimed by my amnesia).

tlhIngan maH!

I met Hillbane shortly after joining Stonewall and beginning my KDF character. He brought me into the House of Nagh reD and was always available for help. He will be greatly missed.

Quote by kiddkasper

Quote by Capt Makarand

The gas is explained in the game lore/show lore.

So we have to play the game to get a better understanding of the show?

I think not.

Yeah, that's something I've been afraid of ever since they announced the show and game, is that you would have to participate in both to understand. I barely have time to watch the show, so I certainly don't have time to play some tie in game.

Like I mentioned in the last post, that is only an issue for setting it as an in game official fleet uniform, which isn't what I'm suggesting.

Also, it doesn't matter if you're not not unaligned, you still get to wear your standard Republic uniform.

Basically i am suggesting that we agree on a fleet color scheme for the new jackets

Here be mechanics spoilers. You have been warned.

Quote by Capt Makarand

The gas is explained in the game lore/show lore.

So we have to play the game to get a better understanding of the show?

I think not.

Regardless if it can be set officially in game as a "fleet" uniform, doesn't mean that we can't post template files with color codes and costume settings that we've voted on as the winners. I've played through tribble as both fed aligned and kdf aligned. If you don't pick an alliance, you can't do more than the first 6 missions over and over.

This works with costume unlocks on tribble as such. Minor Spoilers:

You start off as a civilian and have only civilian clothes. After the tutorial you join the romulan republic, and get the republic uniform options. Later on when you choose an allegiance you get a new set of costume options depending on what faction you ally with. Please note, you're still a romulan republic officer, you just get a federationy or a klingony version of your romulan uniform you can choose to wear if you want. You can also keep your generic republic uniform (which I choose to do anyways, as I don't really like either versions of the allied uniforms)

Another minor spoiler, you also get a Tal Shiar uniform at one point, which can be color customized. I'm all about color coordination, so I'd love us to vote on an establish official fleet colors for these uniforms.

I'm sure there will be other options that we haven't seen yet as well, and any of them which we can get through free gameplay I think we should be able to vote on an official fleet variant for those who have progressed far enough to unlock. It would make RP a lot more fun.