> >(Geez, how long-winded can I get?)
>
> You haven't been longer-winded then I've been yet ;-) (See message number 25833 for details; it's a bit outdated but I don't think that anyone has beaten my top two yet. And no, that's not a challenge ;-) / / / )But, on the other hand, you're an awful lot more frequent then I am (espessially considering that I'm STILL in school...and will be until July 2! Bah!).
>

Hmm... Well, don't get too used to it. :) I'm going away for an academic program over the summer pretty soon, which may take up a lot of my time. But I promise to keep checking in.

> *Kaz! hands over the "most long posts" trophy to Arthur; he sure has more then 4 very long posts by now!
>

*Arthur gratefully picks up the trophy and walks over to the podium*

Thank you, thank you...

I'd like to thank my mom and dad, of course, for teaching me how to talk as a child and allowing me to talk for hours on end when other parents would've sent their children to some sort of home... That really influenced my mental development.

And I'd like to thank all my friends, RL and on the forum, for giving me all these wonderful conversational gambits to pick up on, and I'd like to thank all my teachers for forcing me to think so that I'd get into the habit. Especially I'd like to thank that teacher in middle school who docked my grade for not meeting the minimum word requirement. I think everything I've done since then has been to subconsciously spite you. I couldn't've done it otherwise. Thanks.

Of course I have to thank Sam for setting up the forum and providing this wonderful website, and for not banning me yet. Thanks, Sam, and I promise no one will ever see those pictures. No, not even your wife. Scout's honor.

And I'd like to thank in particular Wolfspirit, and Jezzika, and, of course, Kaz!, all of whom have been particularly supportive (thanks for the e-mail, Wolf), and I'd like to thank my service provider, AOL, even though it *sucks*, but, hey, it's better than nothing, right? Well, isn't it?

Never mind. And, of course, I have to thank my two adorable little siblings, both of whom have done their best to annoy and harass me in every way possible, thus driving me to spend all my time on the Internet...

("Is there an award for 'Longest Acceptance Speech'?" "There better not be. Or he's going to make another one.")

(snip, snip)

> On a bit of a sidetrack here -- I found it quite interesting that we actually share quite a few beliefs even though you come from a pretty definate Christian perspective and I, well, don't. I mean, there are a few bits here and there that I don't completely agree with; since we are different people it's extremely unlikely that we share the exact same views in everything. And I have to admit that there are also a few bits here and there that are difficult for me to understand, as I am much less knowledgeable about Christianity then you are. But I don't find that these facts serve to detract from your posts; rather, in my mind, they enhance it because it gives me new ways to think of the same issue -- and usually on the same side as my viewpoints too -- that I would have never though of on my own. Actually, I believe that there was only one thing to my recollection that I completely disagreed with: [As an intro into one of your posts, regarding how you thought others would take your post. I think.]"...it annoys the heck out of people who happen not to be Christians or don't take the Bible as a final source of truth." I personally enjoyed it, thank you very much :-)
>

Well, thanks. I find that on many issues I end up agreeing with non-Christians as much as or more than fellow Christians; sharing a common faith does not guarantee that we think the same way, of course, or the Church would be a much more stable and united entity than it currently is. (Or, I suppose, they currently are.)

> > How's about I ... shorten my posts, and ... try not to go arrrgggh if I go a little over the twenty-page limit in a weak moment? Fair deal? :)
>
> Well, I guess that tightening your posts could help a little bit, but whatever you do don't sacrifice good content for the sole purpose of keeping the wordcount down! If you do, you could very well end up not saying exactly want you intended to say. Heh, I never worry about trying to keep size down...as some of you may have already noticed....
>
> Then again, I haven't been posting all that frequently either (and I'm blaming it on schoolwork!).
>
> -Ka"And if you didn't think that was a 'little opinion' from me....you don't know me well enough ;-)"z!

Oh, I think I know you already... You're that long-lost twin my mom was telling me about, aren't you? :)

Ar"wonders how much of his genetic material has been scattered around the planet"thur