Elf Clan

WAYFINDER QUOTES

Original sayings from the founder of Elf Clan... for what it's worth

True  freedom  is  not without limits, for that which is ungoverned inevitably  infringes  on  the  freedom  of others.

When winning becomes the all-important goal, the game ceases being a game.

If we did not appreciate absurdity, we could not bear to look in a mirror.

Live today as if it is your last day, with tomorrow wisely in mind in case it isn’t.

There is only one truth-- but countless interpretations.

The best way to achieve you dreams is to stop waiting for them to happen.

Instead of going with the lowest bidder, go with the best reputation. The lowest bidder is usually the lowest quality.

Artificial intelligence has always been applied to computers and robotics. Perhaps that term should rather be applied to today’s generation of human beings.

Never let emotions interfere with common sense or legal defense.

Forgiveness cannot change the past... but it can change your future.

Walls cannot stop eagles or gophers.   The only way for the human species to progress socially is to stop building unnecessary walls.

Prejudice is not the sole property of any ethnic group.  It shall remain universal until we realize that the color of ones skin is no more important than the color of ones eyes.

No matter what nation you do laundry for, it always comes out dirty.

Questioning the claims of others, no matter who they are, should be a built-in self-defense mechanism for our minds. Think about what you believe. Question your deepest convictions.  Examine what you read and hear.  Doing so regularly will serve as a protection against both naivety and gullibility.

Wayfinder's First Law of Research:  For every PHD there is an equal and opposite PHD.

Related:

For any belief or argument one might hold, there are numerous "authoritative" links, blogs and papers written to support it... however errant that belief may be.  For every link there is an equally authoritative opposing link.

Also related:

Science regularly believes it has discovered "facts", which are in reality temporary, extremely limited observations waiting to be updated or debunked.  Swallowing the claims of human beings without question, however educated those people may be, is to forget that they are merely human beings... and that scientific "facts" are regularly being updated.

One doesn't require a degree to know the sky is blue.  Knowing why the sky is blue is interesting, but doesn't change the reality of the sky.

The primary problem of mankind is not one of ignorance, but of stupidity brought about by arrogance. For along with basic ignorance— with which we are all born and can only hope to partially alleviate— there would seem a pandemic of believing we know far more than we actually do, being insistent on such, and an eagerness to condemn those who disagree. It is this particular self-inflicted disease which has brought about the destruction of advanced society throughout history. It is unfortunate that such attitude seems to have a strong penchant for survival, or perhaps there would be some hope that those of common sense would survive longer and eventually balance the scales. As things stand, the stupid and arrogant tend to destroy before anything has opportunity to mature, and the meek never have a chance to inherit the earth.

The Internet is at the same time the greatest informational tool ever created… and the greatest weapon.

If you focus on beauty that is all you shall see... and miss all else that is good.

I think in the ultimate scheme of things almost everything is a "waste of time".  The difference is in how well it is wasted.

The haughty one denies what is real because he cannot measure it.  He twists creation to his personal desires and invents his own truth.

What one chooses to believe or disbelieve will change neither reality or consequence.

No stone is larger than the pebble in your shoe.

Have you noticed nature does not require dusting, vacuuming, nor the lawn mowed?

Never play a flute near a grizzly bear.  It's not that the bear hates flute music; it's that you're near a grizzly bear.

Personal belief does not alter reality.  People defy gravity regularly, but eventually that plane is coming down.

If necessity is the mother of invention, cash-strapped is the father of ingenuity.

Policy should be directed by common sense. If you leave a cookie on the table when a dwagon is nearby, it ceases being your cookie.

This is the way it is, the way it's always been and the way it has to be, are great deterrents to progress. 

Conformists build solid foundations; they are seldom architects of the future.

Hatred never begets tolerance. Labeling someone a homophobe is just another form of bigotry.

Abhorring censorship does not excuse abandoning all common sense.  Moderation is what separates society from anarchy.

When recorded music replaced family musicians, we lost a significant portion of our humanity.

 
Never put visionaries in charge of a company. Let them come up with the ideas. Never put techs in charge of a company. Let them accomplish the ideas. Put a businessman in charge of business... and put the  customer in charge of the  businessman.

 
Once you remove greed and ego as factors, what remains is progress.

 
No attitude is immortal, nor immune to consequence.

 
It's the little things that count. The difference between functional and non-functional code is one character.

Most people don't like hearing truth. It causes stress and often results in the requirement to do something.

 
There are always consequences for actions. Sometimes they are slow in coming... but they do eventually come.  The lessons of consequence are not so kind as self-moderation.

 
Many people believe that a profitable business is a successful business. I say it's how you earn the profit that makes you successful. Criminals may be profitable; only the vile would consider them successful.

Some people claim that Jesus Christ and Mahatma Gandhi died as financially poor, misguided fools.  But people die, both rich and poor. I seriously doubt today's richest men will be remembered 2,000 years from now, or that millions of people will still follow their every word.

 
No matter how fancy the decor in your restaurant... it's the food that will keep people coming back.

There is a vast difference between pursuing technology for solar and wind energy... and creating highly radioactive nuclear furnaces. Just because we can do something doesn't mean we should.

 
Humankind is the only creature on earth that is endangering the planet itself. Intelligence would seem the seed of stupidity.

THANKSGIVING:  A holiday where people celebrate our forefathers coming to a new world... where they slaughtered the inhabitants, stole their land, destroyed the buffalo herds and became the continent's greatest predator. Of course that was over 200 years ago. We'd never do that today. Today we prefer to bomb oil-rich countries, punch large holes in the ozone layer, raid the Social Security fund into near bankruptcy, dump mercury into the oceans and ravage the Amazon rain forests. Thus we can be grateful and give thanks that we haven't yet wiped ourselves off the planet.

Naivety is a wonderful and peaceful thing... until some fool removes it from us.

Naught but change is everlasting, chaos the eternal constant. 

Those who read books are in truth voyeurs, content to spend a significant part of their lives examining the thoughts of others, learning without the benefit of personal experience.  However at times such is justified by the presence of chocolate, a fireplace and good brandy.

If the legal system were based on justice and common-sense, people wouldn't need attorneys to use it.

Rare is the leader who dies peacefully and without significant regret.

GUIDE TO LIFE

Listen to your head, not your heart. Ask for advice from trusted, experienced friends. Then make a decision without obvious regrets, and stick with it. Common sense is better than I.Q. If you can’t solve it, the two choices are adjust to it or choose something different entirely. When there is no other choice, endure with dignity.

That solves most problems. Not all, but most. That just leaves the unsolvable problems, in which case ignoring them or giving them less importance in your mind often makes them far less burdensome. Because sometimes problems just solve themselves.

If in danger, exit. If others are in danger, help. Don’t try to do it all yourself. Don’t do something obviously stupid. Follow your heart only when it’s right. Learn to recognize when your heart is misleading you, because it’s emotional and often doesn’t think. Do what is right, even when you don’t want to. Consider the welfare of others above your own. Keep your word. Fulfill your obligations. Spend less time in mindless activities (television) and more time creating, working, cleaning, making something. Spend less on frivolities, save every dime you can. Keep secrets to yourself, where they’ll remain safe. Readily admit mistakes and apologize. Always check ego at the door. Do not be the center of your world.  Avoid being the center of attention.  Focus on others.

Help those who cannot help themselves. Be patient, choose your battles very wisely. Respond in wisdom and tolerance. Always be kind, always— especially to those who are unkind. Replace negativity with acceptance and resolution. Leave the past in the past and move forward; learn from the past, but don’t let it rule over you. Be good to yourself and better to others.

Regarding the concept of High Elven

If we are superior, it is by natural existence and longevity. If we seem arrogant, it is due to knowledge and wisdom, not pride. If we are aloof it is not by our desire, but due to the objectionable habits of those from whom we remain apart. The High Elven are an ancient race. If others are viewed as children in comparison... this is understandable.

Wayfinder's Notes on Virtual Reality

Virtual worlds seem to have virtual success.

The way people act in virtual reality where no one knows who they really are, is likely who they really are.

I do not support real life pimps or pedophiles; I will not tolerate virtual ones.

The last time I checked, World of Warcraft had 11.5 million customers... each paying $15 a month to play the game. Quick math: 11.5 million x $15 = $172.5 million per month. Linden Lab: appx $5 million per month.  $5 million isn't chump change, but it's not WoW.

I've done business with companies that would fall all over themselves to retain a $50 a year subscriber.  Linden Lab cares nothing for those who spend thousands.
 

Regarding Technology and Society:

 
Favorite miscellaneous quotes from other folks:

"Some people are so open-minded their brains fall out."
-- Rick Warren

"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."
-- Thomas Jefferson.
 

"I'm surprised that battered fish is even legal."

--anonymous

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results."
-- author debated

"The way things are going in fashion, there will soon be nothing left for prostitutes to wear."
-- Bill Maher

"The ignorant man simply doesn't know. There is no shame in that; we are all ignorant in areas. The stupid man knows, but ignores. There is no excuse for that."
-- my father

"I can afford to buy the biggest steak I can eat. How much more does a man need?"
-- Richard (an old friend)

"You want to be profitable in the restaurant business? Charge customers a reasonable amount, and give them more food than they can eat."
-- Robert (another friend)

"Don't worry about the money. Put your customers first, make them happy, and the money will follow."

-- anonymous

"There is nothing more irritating than a person who doesn't know what he's talking about-- except of course a person who does."

-- anonymous

"When you choose revenge, dig two graves."

-- ancient proverb

"When I hear somebody sigh, 'Life is hard', I am always tempted to ask: Compared to what?"
-- Sydney Harris

"Never lie, and you won't need to remember which lies you've told."
-- my father

"Life is too important to be taken seriously."
-- Oscar Wilde

"A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice."
-- Bill Cosby, oddly enough

"I like cats. I just can't eat a whole one by myself."
-- Author wisely unknown

"Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how popular it remains?"
-- Anonymous

"We should always respect our elders.  I don't have to respect anyone."

--accredited to George Burns

"Death makes life simpler on so many levels."
-- Eli, a friend of mine making a satirical comment on the human condition

"Bad behavior gets noticed far more than good behavior, because it triggers parts of the brain responsible for threat assessment."

--Zauber Paracelsus

"For math students easily confused by the holidays, remember that Oct 31 = Dec 25."

-- anonymous

(Explanation for non-math folks:  octal 31 is the same number as decimal 25.)

"Money makes the world go round, but the Earth turns regardless of cash flow."

-Zauber Paracelsus

"Whatever a man is sowing, this he shall also reap."

-- Jesus