Member Spotlight #7: Ask Ghost X anything

[Telcontar]

You get to meet 3 people from the present and the past. Who are they, and why?

They can be ANYONE. They don't have to be famous people. Relatives, etc...

 

[Ghost X]

Writer to writer, what advice do you have?

I think that writing thread does a better job than I could at giving advice. For beginners, I guess it is important to have the story make sense, so try and develop some kind of objective eye when reading what you've written. After all, you may understand it, but what about everyone else? Also, be efficient with the information communicated, and make it easy to read. I really think world-building is important too, so the more knowledgeable you are about your subject matter, the more complex and convincing your story can be.

How on earth did you do the publishing thing again? Pretty sure I asked about this a loooong time ago, but refresh my hazy mind.

If you want to publish to kindle, http://kdp.amazon.com <-- It has a step-by-step tutorial thing of how to do it. If I can follow it, so can everyone else .

I know you're straight, but if you had to snog/marry/avoid any guy on here?

Yop/Aaron/Remnant-of-VII . "Avoiding" only due to complete opposite worldviews, nothing personal .

The same question, but for women (also Dawn and Carlie DO NOT COUNT!).

Damn you, taking away my options. Soakette/Octo/ObsidianFire (*creepyface*?)

If you had to rap to a song, what would it be?

Probably a nursery rhyme. I get easily tongue-tied ... so... "I'm a little teapot."

Tell us your best joke.

I'm not really one for remembering good jokes .

You, me, Dawn and Carlie in a band - what role are you? Singer, drummer, guitar, etc? More importantly, what is our name?

I'm definitely singer . Dawn I can imagine would like drums (), Carlie on lead guitar, and Ami on bass guitar, although I have no clue of your skills. It could be absolutely atrocious . Hence, band name: Atrocious. It would be a thrash metal band.

Would you still dwell on TLS if you became a famous artist, or famous anything?

Apparently being a successful artist is a time-consuming life, but I figure I could still appear on a regular basis. I could only imagine departing TLS if I met even more awesome people IRL (crowd goes "awww").

I'm over at yours for a friendly dinner. What do you cook for me?

I'd say stirfry, but given that's what I always cook, that'd be pretty insulting. I might make up a crumbed chicken.

What's your favourite pizza?

Meatlovers.

Do Aussies drink Fosters like I do?

VB and XXXX are Australia's greatest selling beer. No one drinks fosters, like the stereotype suggests. Fosters owns popular brands of beer though.

The zombie apocalypse suddenly happens. Run us through what on earth you'll do and how you react to this cliched, but serious news?

Depends on the lore. Depends on a lot really. I'd probably team up with friends immediately, and give everyone a task to complete straight away. I fortunately know people with degrees in horticulture, but would probably have people collect some books on such, just in case they die . Others would collect a hell of a lot of tin food. I'd have us live near the nearest dam. I know people with guns, they can come along too . As to how I'd react? I'd probably be anxious to say the least.

Is it always sunny down under?

Don't be so naive .

You get to read the mind of someone here - who is it?

Anyone who disagrees with me >=). Just so I can see the source of the flaw of their reasoning ... or perhaps learn something, if I am indeed flawed myself .

Same question, but with inhabiting their body.

Whoever has the best job security and health prospects .

You're now the Australian James Bond (do you have a secret service?). What gadgets do you have at your disposal?

Yes, Australia has a secret service. I don't think it gets up to as much exciting activities as something like Mossad though (that's what they want me to think ). Gadgets... let's see. Seeing as James Bond is a work of fiction, and intelligence gathering is a lot more boring than in the movies, it is hard for me to imagine anything. I personally wouldn't want to have anything on me that would make anyone suspect I was an agent anyway. If I were to be imaginative, I guess all my equipment would have to be invisible .

You once said you lived in England before. What was your opinion about us before you came over?

I guess I was surprised to a degree at how different English culture was to Australian culture. I thought the difference would be less. Hard to describe.

Speaking of which, is there another country you'd fancy living in?

Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, and Finland. Probably in that order.

Why won't you play Uncharted with us?

Do you still play it? . I recall not having the time. I definitely don't have the time now with uni.

Favourite colour?

Crimson.

What's the best food dish you've ever eaten?

Lamb marinated in garlic. However, I had duck at some Korean restaurant that was an awfully close second .

What food do you really hate?

Liquorice.

When you're wound up about something what do you to to relax or calm down?

Distance myself from what is winding me up, either physically and/or mentally. This is important when it comes to when I'm trying to get sleep. The last thing I want to be doing is thinking about stressful things .

What's the most extravagant thing you've ever purchased?

Probably my first trip to Canada.

What's your favourite shoe brand?

Probably Dunlop. Cheap shoes (which now makes me question the chain of supply. God damn it ).

If you could be an animal what animal would you be and why?

A bonobo. The most peaceful sex-crazy species of the apes .

Given the power, what changes would you make to the world/various countries?

I'm not strong on libertarian socialist theory, so I can only go by models that currently exist in the world. Being a dictator, as the question implies, kind of defeats the purpose anyway, I guess .

First off, as a priority, all states with the capacity should majorly invest in the research and development of technology that would lead to the best case scenario in regard to climate change. We must ween ourselves off fossil fuels, asap. If corporate welfare should be given, it shouldn't be to oil companies, but renewable energy companies. The violence in the world and displaced groups of people caused by it you see today is nothing compared to what will happen in the future otherwise.

I'd then realign state boundaries in some places of the world to reflect cultural groups, rather than those drawn by western colonists over the past few hundred years, which is causing many modern day clashes, and stifling progress in those regions. Some cultures simply don't mix, because they are unable to reason with each other (due to conflicting baseless ideologies). Separate them, educate them (with a rational theory of knowledge ), and they can naturally reintegrate down the track (as Reason is a unifying force). The more divided a state's population, the more extreme the views are on either side of the divide. This is what you're seeing in Iraq and Syria now. Remove the divide, let things calm down, or it will happen anyway in a violent fashion.

All constitutions would have something like the US's first amendment, complete with first clause and separation clause (with the added separation of money and state). Election campaigns would be financed by taxpayers. Reason would rule debate, not money. Secular governments free from all forms of corruption are the only governments that can represent everyone equally. Representatives would also receive AUD$100,000 at most a year, so they can better represent their people.

I could write many more paragraphs . I would ask you the same question also .

What's something you'd love to try but have not yet dared to? Do you think you might do it one day?

I'm not going to do anything stupid like jump out of a plane. However, I'd like to experience micro-gravity, despite my dislike of vomiting. In those "vomit comet" things, I think they give you an injection to reduce the likelihood anyway.

If you could cure one disease, what would it be?

HIV

If you could assassinate one person in the world (a diplomatic tower of cards, as it were), who would you take out?

Disclaimer: I wouldn't kill anyone unless in self defence. This is a hypothetical scenario .

I don't think assassinations would be too productive unless that one person was responsible for the system I have an issue with. I think you'll find most people are rather products of that system, leading them to be easily replaced by other products that'd fill the vacuum. Due to this, I can't think of any one I'd kill.

You get to meet 3 people from the present and the past. Who are they, and why?

Socrates, Plato, Aristotle. I'd just like to see how they'd react to developments in philosophy since their time, as well as science .

 

[The Twilight Mexican]

I am currious about your user name. Are you the 10th ghost? The goes of number 10? A former ghost that was somehow resurrected? Is it a reference to killing an "ex" of yours (like that bitch ex of mine is now a ghost)? Of am I just missing a key reference here?

Nope. It is a product of my childhood. I thought ghosts were cool, and the letter X was also cool.

Are you sure you're not a product of the tenth program in a series of clandestine government operations to produce powerful covert operatives, and didn't, in fact, escape into the Canadian wilderness from one of this program's facilities after being imbued with properties that made your already resilient form nearly indestructible?

Retractable claws may also be involved.

 

[Ghost X]

Are you sure you're not a product of the tenth program in a series of clandestine government operations to produce powerful covert operatives, and didn't, in fact, escape into the Canadian wilderness from one of this program's facilities after being imbued with properties that made your already resilient form nearly indestructible?

Retractable claws may also be involved.

Nope, not Wolverine or a ghost thereof .

 

[The Twilight Mexican]

I knew it!

Oh, wait, you said no. =(

 

[Carlie]

Ever had any dreams involving people from TLS?

 

[Ghost X]

You get to meet 3 people from the present and the past. Who are they, and why?

Given the structure of this question, I don't think I answered it properly, as I only selected 3 people from the past. Three people from the present would be Barack Obama, Li Keqiang, and José Manuel Durão Barroso. They're in charge of the three places producing the most carbon.

Ever had any dreams involving people from TLS?

Yop was in one. He taught me how to ski .

 

[Keveh Kins]

Your favourite game in the Metal Gear series?

REX or RAY?

What got you interested in ancient Greek philosophy?

 

[Ghost X]

Your favourite game in the Metal Gear series?

Story-wise, probably MGS3, but MGO(2) that came with MGS4 I played for a veeery long time (until they stopped the servers ).

REX or RAY

The battle with REX in MGS was far more exciting, but design-wise, it is hard for me to pick.

What got you interested in ancient Greek philosophy?

Studying Humanism in my degree.

 

[Ⓐaron]

I'm not strong on libertarian socialist theory, so I can only go by models that currently exist in the world. Being a dictator, as the question implies, kind of defeats the purpose anyway, I guess .

First off, as a priority, all states with the capacity should majorly invest in the research and development of technology that would lead to the best case scenario in regard to climate change. We must ween ourselves off fossil fuels, asap. If corporate welfare should be given, it shouldn't be to oil companies, but renewable energy companies. The violence in the world and displaced groups of people caused by it you see today is nothing compared to what will happen in the future otherwise.

I'd then realign state boundaries in some places of the world to reflect cultural groups, rather than those drawn by western colonists over the past few hundred years, which is causing many modern day clashes, and stifling progress in those regions. Some cultures simply don't mix, because they are unable to reason with each other (due to conflicting baseless ideologies). Separate them, educate them (with a rational theory of knowledge ), and they can naturally reintegrate down the track (as Reason is a unifying force). The more divided a state's population, the more extreme the views are on either side of the divide. This is what you're seeing in Iraq and Syria now. Remove the divide, let things calm down, or it will happen anyway in a violent fashion.

All constitutions would have something like the US's first amendment, complete with first clause and separation clause (with the added separation of money and state). Election campaigns would be financed by taxpayers. Reason would rule debate, not money. Secular governments free from all forms of corruption are the only governments that can represent everyone equally. Representatives would also receive AUD$100,000 at most a year, so they can better represent their people.

I could write many more paragraphs . I would ask you the same question also .

I answered what I'd do for the U.S. here. I wouldn't change most of this today. I'd enact similar policies for other countries, albeit with some differences (most countries don't have military budgets as grossly out of proportion as the U.S.'s, for example, so that's one thing that applies to the U.S. that wouldn't apply to other countries). Probably other things you mentioned as well.

One thing I think I didn't mention is I'd also enact constitutional provisions protecting minorities (racial, sexual orientation, gender, etc.) from any form of discrimination.

I might give a more thorough answer in my own thread.

 

[Octo]

What part/s of the UK did you live in/visit etc? Thoughts theron/therof?

Australia is home to all of the most evil animals (spiders, snakes, kangaroos, man) have you had any encounters with any of them? Did you smush them righteously under your Blunnies? Do you wear Blunnies?

What is your ideal job? (besides obviously being able to make a living as an artist)

Aus and NZ seem to have a rivalry going, how do you feel about New Zealanders in general?

 

[Cabaret]

Yop was in one. He taught me how to ski .

In one.... Who was in the others?

Would ever get together romantically with someone on TLS? Would distance be a problem? Would you expect them to move to you, or would you be willing to move to them? What qualities would that person have to have to really get you?

Have you ever had a long distance relationship?

Have you ever broken a bone? Or had any other serious accident?

What are your top 3 proudest achievements?

What

 

[Cabaret]

Yop was in one. He taught me how to ski .

In one.... Who was in the others?

Would ever get together romantically with someone on TLS? Would distance be a problem? Would you expect them to move to you, or would you be willing to move to them? What qualities would that person have to have to really get you?

Have you ever had a long distance relationship?

Have you ever broken a bone? Or had any other serious accident?

What are your top 3 proudest achievements?

What's better tea or coffee?

 

[Carlie]

Who do you think is the best girl and boy at sex in the forum?

 

[Ghost X]

What part/s of the UK did you live in/visit etc? Thoughts theron/therof?

The list is quite small, because I was always worried about my finances I was rather conservative in my travels (despite being a few thousand in the black when leaving ).

- Brighton & Hove: Enjoyed living there. One of the more progressive areas of England, I suspect.
- Haywards Heath: Cozy little town/thing. Not a place I'd want to live though.
- London: Big place (). I thought it was good, especially for a tourist, but a bit expensive. Favourite area was probably Camden Town.
- Norwich: Fairly average place. Granted, I didn't really do any touristy things there. I saw some interesting ruins, but only from the vantage point of a bus.
- Great Yarmouth: Seemed pretty dead when I was there, but from all the shit on the main road on the coast, looked like at other times it is much more lively.
- Plymouth: Nice coastal city with a historic past. I find it interesting to kind of "participate" in that element. eg: "This is precisely where x event happened".
- Eastbourne: Literally where people go to die.

Australia is home to all of the most evil animals (spiders, snakes, kangaroos, man) have you had any encounters with any of them? Did you smush them righteously under your Blunnies? Do you wear Blunnies?

Spiders are a regular event, though fortunately only of the less dangerous garden variety. I've encountered more deadly kinds, but fortunately at a distance. Fortunately my encounters with snakes have been rather second hand, eg: Driving over them, or seeing one after someone else has killed them. Working in a kangaroo meat factory, I've encountered lots of dead kangaroos, fresh from the truck. Encountered live ones too, both in nature and in a zoo (where they even allow you to pet them ). I have also encountered men, I look in the mirror and see one of the bastards all the time. As for blunnies, I do have boots like them. If "Blunnies" is an aussie slang term, I'm afraid you've one-upped me there because I've never heard them being called that before.

What is your ideal job? (besides obviously being able to make a living as an artist)

I really don't mind the work side of manual labour jobs I've done, and would love to work them again, but only if I knew I was working with good management, good co-workers, and good machinery, but in my experience, there is no such combination.

Aus and NZ seem to have a rivalry going, how do you feel about New Zealanders in general?

I get the impression it is actually less batshit than Australia, but then I hear that's only because their government actually represents their people more than our government does here, and that we are culturally very similar otherwise. They seem like nice folk. I don't partake in nationalistic nonsense, beyond barracking for home teams in sport.

(Re: Dreams featuring TLS members) In one.... Who was in the others?

I said "in one" because I dreamt of a TLS member "in one" dream . I can't recall any others, if they happened.

Would ever get together romantically with someone on TLS? Would distance be a problem? Would you expect them to move to you, or would you be willing to move to them? What qualities would that person have to have to really get you?

It wouldn't be unprecedented for me to develop a bond with a person I've met on a forum, but distance is generally the issue. I don't do LDRs. I've given up my globe-trotting skirt-chasing ways for now too. So unless a local lass becomes a member, it is probably a no. I have no issue moving country to be with someone, just as long as their country isn't completely batshit, though I'm not in a position to do such now or for a few years anyway. They'd have to be suitably rational (), take reasonable care of their health, and have at least some similar interests.

Have you ever had a long distance relationship?

No.

Have you ever broken a bone? Or had any other serious accident?

No.

What are your top 3 proudest achievements?

- Getting good grades academically (so far).
- The certificates I've already got (mentioned in OP), despite likely never using them.

My greatest failure is not having a number 3 .

What's better tea or coffee?

I love a good mocha, but tea is healthier, ain't it? .

Who do you think is the best girl and boy at sex in the forum?

This is a hard one, because I don't trust people that boast about sexual prowess . I have this idea (that I haven't researched ) that scientists and engineers would probably be the best in bed, so Lex and Fangu. Probably Cab too, given her work history?

 

[Octo]

Who do you think is the best girl and boy at sex in the forum?

I need clarficiation, you mean with each other or individually?

@Ghost, you have to marry one TLS member, and breed (or adopt if it's a guy) and you can't get divorced or anything. Otherwise aliens are going to blow up the Earth! You don't want that to happen do you?! So yeah, who do you choose?

And you can't have spambot454632.

scientists and engineers would probably be the best in bed

I have visions of test tubes and scaffolding now @_@

 

[Ghost X]

I need clarification, you mean with each other or individually?

I figure you're talking to Carlie, but sure, all three of the people I mentioned in an awkward threesome. I ship them!

@Ghost, you have to marry one TLS member, and breed (or adopt if it's a guy) and you can't get divorced or anything. Otherwise aliens are going to blow up the Earth! You don't want that to happen do you?! So yeah, who do you choose?

I said I'd marry you in a previous answer here (hope you don't mind), but I guess that would be illegal . Bigamy, etc. Seeing as you haven't given me restrictions however *glares at Ami* and we're going for legal options, I'd say Carlie (apologies in advance). On the plus side, I'd probably be entertaining for a couple of years, and although you can't divorce me, nothing was said about open relationships .

 

[Tetsujin]

So what's with that face in your avatar?

 

[Octo]

I said I'd marry you in a previous answer here (hope you don't mind),

This is what I get for buggering off on holiday! Missed oppurtunities!

nothing was said about open relationships .

I dunno, you'd have to ask the Aliens, they're pretty conservative with a small 'c'

@Tets pppffft Even I know the answer to that one!

 

[Ghost X]

So what's with that face in your avatar?

The current face is based upon

Spoiler: the lady's expression in the shower scene of Psycho.

The original is a bad guy from one of my stories . Another version of him appears on the

Spoiler: book cover

.

 

[Octo]

First album/single bought?

Favourite art materials? Least favourite?

Any artists that you can't stand?

 

[Carlie]

I figure you're talking to Carlie, but sure, all three of the people I mentioned in an awkward threesome. I ship them!

I'm sure Fangu and Cab would enjoy it. This is how is gonna play out: Lex will gtfo as quickly as possible, make himself as sandwich and enjoy some mshenko in ME3 while Fangu and Cab enjoy their now twosome.

I said I'd marry you in a previous answer here (hope you don't mind), but I guess that would be illegal . Bigamy, etc. Seeing as you haven't given me restrictions however *glares at Ami* and we're going for legal options, I'd say Carlie (apologies in advance). On the plus side, I'd probably be entertaining for a couple of years, and although you can't divorce me, nothing was said about open relationships .

I don't mind sharing.


Which people from the forum do you think would hook up if they met irl?

 

[Ⓐaron]

If there were some way around the distance problem (let's say the Doctor left you his TARDIS) which, if any, forum members would you date?

 

[Octo]

If there were some way around the distance problem (let's say the Doctor left you his TARDIS) which, if any, forum members would you date?

He already said he'd marry me so...y'know...just sayin'

I can handle polyamory just as long as I'm kept in a manner I'm accustomed to (ice cream and pistachio nuts mainly)

 

[Tetsujin]

The current face is based upon

Spoiler: the lady's expression in the shower scene of Psycho.

I see.

So how many variations of this have you gone through by now?