<p>sorry, LSA, but I'm not a stranger on the net. I'm allowed 'ad hominem' replies. Thanks. And I don't know what you're talking about- you're most definitely not looking for the same-old mindnumbingly redundant "civil discussion". </p>
<p>Oh, and you hijacked my thread</p>
<p>-stab-</p>
<p>Uhhh, yeah. I came back to the thread looking forward to seeing more '09 thoughts on the year, but I come back to this? </p>
<p>Ahhhh Motherland! I went to sleep to late and woke up too early to even read the arguments :p</p>
<p>Just because you're allowed ad hominems doesn't mean name-calling helps your argument or message, pebbles. =P</p>
<p>As for LSA stealing your thread, I'm sure you have plenty others. You did declare it was just spam/stream of conciousness, and I, for one, think that a lot of interesting issues have sprung forth. If anyone would be willing to respond to some of the things I've said, I'd love to discuss further. (I will take a look at Caltech too.)</p>
<p>Nothing presented here is new or refreshing or even interesting for longer than a brief twinge of a neuron. It's just the convergence of several 'holier than thou' attitudes - yours, unfortunately, the heaviest of them all. But I guess I'd just forgotten what these message boards are for- their attraction mainly- a bit of ego stroking by patronization, a little more by comparison, and of course we can't forget the attention. </p>
<p>-shrug-</p>
<p>I could not have cared less if no one responded. I was merely in a mood to reflect. In fact, I wouldn't even have responded to this futile and redundant rant of disillusioned youths had it not been one of my good friends who sparked the discussion.</p>
<p>pebbles, if you weren't going to be open to discussion, why did you post on a discussion board? And if you're simply going to have that kind of attitude about it, who are you to accuse LSA of having no faith in human nature? Why respond at all if reflection was what you were after? Why be upset that your thread was "hijacked?"</p>
<p>I'm sorry if I come across as assertive or upfront, or if the terminology we've been using puts you off. I don't mean to have a 'holier-than-thou' attitude: I just highly dislike ad hominem shouting matches. And I think we are all mature enough to refrain from engaging in one.</p>
<p>I sincerely hope that the other students at MIT aren't as touchy when what they say or write isn't simply accepted in discussion and that they usually display a little more intellectual curiosity. While you may not see anything refreshing or new presented here, that doesn't mean we can't generate anything refreshing or new. However, one can't bounce ideas off a nonreceptive surface.</p>
<p>You're right. I'm an awful person. Please don't let me dissuade you from attending this brilliant institution. I just have this terrible tendency to shout at people who are more assertive and intellectually curious than I am. =(</p>
<p>Guys guys!!! What happened to the happy, supportive people I read about last year! It seems like a year has changed you guys a lot.</p>
<p>I shall return around early action time! It was a special time of year for me =)</p>
<p>...There clearly is no point for me to continue in this thread.</p>