User talk:WolfyDrake95/Finding Himself

I'm not sure how to say this, but I think I need to say something.

Now, I'm not sure of you're own age; but as an underage writer, this is extremely well written. I'm also under 21, and this story resonates with a part of my life. Specifically the six years I spent in California. I was out of phase with the rest of the world up there, and my few friends didn't stick around. So for me, the emotional content was presented very well.

A bit too well, perhaps, which leads me to believe that you are still experiencing some of what is presented here. I wish I could say that my writings aren't as based on my life as they are, but that would be a lie. A facade. I too am very good at facades. Put on the face of the day, show what people want to see, not what you feel; but that's a great way of building up emotions. And when you can no longer hold them back, they overflow. Hopefully when it happens you're alone, otherwise all they see is weakness. I showed a lot of weakness in California, and it caused me a lot of grief.

Now, I never really thought about suicide, it just seemed detrimental to the advancement of my life, but I have written about it. Specifically a short film script called Internal Conflict. That one wierded out my parents. They almost sent me to a psychologist for it. My writings can be pretty dark, and they are usually driven by dark experiences in my life. The only thing that got me through California was one good friend, and a firm belief that God had something better for me down the road.

Even now I'm somewhat of an escapist. I'll read about others problems, instead of fixing my own. Books, Video games, movies, and even music are all a way out of the real world. Even my writings are an escape from the desert of the real. For a few hours a night, I can do terrible things to someone else, but have it turn out alright.

If you're ever pissed about life in high school, just watch "Little Miss Sunshine," That always cheers me up.

Back to your story, I really do like it. I enjoy man vs self conflicts, so you might even think of making it into a short story, or small series. A continuation would not be unwelcome. You might even mod it to fit into a story universe. Pig and Whistle is needing some starting authors and characters.

--Concerned Reader 18:18, 21 June 2009 (UTC)

I'm glad you enjoyed the story. I'm fourteen, so it was based on my own life, quite directly, though I don't think I'll ever run into such a person ever, and I've never bought an online spell kit. Life has convinced me that it's a cruel world out there. Yes, a facade of smiles, running away from life in the solace of a good game of Halo, yeah, that's my life. Too much work, too many projects...it feels like the world's out to get me. It's just too risky letting anyone, even my parents, know all my little depressions...so I have to get them out by the means of a story.

I'm happy to learn that it "resonates" with you. Though the story didn't come out quite right, it's great to learn that someone's been through this kind of situation as well. Thanks! And as for a sequel...well, I was considering one too. :) --Drake 11:14, 22 June 2009

I'm 18 now, but in California I was more around your age. It seems we have a lot in common. Though your writing is much better than mine was back then. Think of your life now as character development. In any good story, the characters are developed through experiences into what they will become. Most people find that character development is boring to read/watch, but I seem to enjoy it. Without a properly developed character, the people fall flat on the page, staying two dimensional. So if you want to be a fully developed, three dimensional character later in life, you'll have to sit through all this development. At 14, you're a little too young to be worrying about what to do with your life. I'm still not sure what I'm going to do with mine. College is around the corner, and I'm going into Computer Science. That leaves me with many options later in life. Most of which are in a field I'll enjoy.

As it is now, Halo isn't my favorite game universe. For me, I enjoy the story aspect of games, and Halo's story has always seemed a little lacking. My current favorites are the Half-Life series, COD4, L4D, Fallout 3, Portal, and some old point and click adventure stuff. I'm a pc gamer, so that's where most of my games live. I do recommend picking up "The Orange Box." --Concerned Reader 04:26, 22 June 2009 (UTC)

Really? Halo, lacking? I beg to differ. :) I appreciate the storyline aspect of the games, but I find that Halo has a rather compelling storyline. Perhaps I'm just too big a fan. And its gameplay is awesome: a larger variety of stuff as compared to most other games. I'm more of an Xbox gamer (Xbox tends to have a larger amount of good games). In fact, I'm actually busy with a TF story set in the Halo Universe.

As for character development, yeah, it does get a little boring for most people. But what is a story when every character is just the same? That wouldn't be a story, would it? Every character has fundamental differences in personality that sets them apart from each other. I agree, character developments rock.

I've actually got this plan for my life, reflected in the story, how I plan to grab a place in some college in the US (I live in Singapore), then do Computer Science and head over to Bungie to grab a job. But now that I know what it'll take, how much money, and luck, and time is involved, suddenly it all seems like a wild dream...--Drake 13:04, 22 June 2009

It just always felt too floaty for me. The rings were supposed to have earths gravity, and yet Master Chief seems to fall much slower than 9.81m/s^2. I never really played the multi, as I didn't have Live when it came out. I grew up on pc, and like having free online. Nowadays, games tend to come out on everything at once, so I don't really feel like I'm missing anything.

Glad we agree on character development. I'm not sure if you like Anime, but if you do, or don't know if you do, look up Eureka Seven. It has some of the most well done character development I've ever seen. And sky surfing giant robots, but the characters take precedents to the action.

I'm not sure how much it is to get to the US of A, but a computer science degree, or even an engineering degree isn't hard to come by if you have the right grades. Judging by your writing, you seem to be pretty smart. Almost any college will have a comp sci or engineering program. I'm in Austin about to start at Texas A&M, without a scholarship. I'll be working my way through college. The wildest dreams are the best ones to chase after. The chase is a wild ride, and if you catch them, your set for life, doing what you love. I'm hoping to get into embedded systems. Like car computers and mobile devices. I doubt that I'll be doing anything like that soon, but I'll aim for it anyways.

ps, tell Sim Wong Hoo that I enjoy Creative's products. I can't stand Apple.--Concerned Reader 05:58, 22 June 2009 (UTC)

Maybe for Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2, but Halo 3 is a pretty great game. H3 online multiplayer is amazing. I pwn noobs on a daily basis...if I'm lucky. TEAMCOM is cool, but the LIVE charge is sucky...I'm not really into Anime, but I think I might check it out someday...As for my grades, only my English and Sciences are good. I always seem to forget my Math and my Chinese sucks like hell. And yes, if I manage to catch my dreams, I am set for life, doing what I love. What I'm worried about is what happens if I don't catch my dreams. Life sucks in that way. Oh, and I looked through the script "Internal Conflict". It's awesome! I less than three ( <3 ) it.

Oh, and by the way, I don't usually meet Sim Wong Hoo on the street on a daily basis. But if I do see him, I'll be sure to pass the message. ;) --Drake 16:21, 22 June 2009

I liked the story. Well written, utterly depressing. Just the way I like 'em. And am I the only one here who has never been depressed? I've always been happy with my life. Of course, my goals haven't exactly been lofty. I'm probably going to school to become a social studies teacher, not exactly a lofty goal. And good luck getting to America. --Guvnor Of Space 13:59, 22 June 2009 (UTC)

I'm really happy that you enjoyed the story. I lapse into depression every couple of weeks, then I can't write anything or do work or stuff. When that happens, it feels like my dreams are shattered, my life's a joke, nobody understands, the world's out to get me, and I'm all alone in a dark place. So this time, I tried to use the depression to write a story. This story's more of an expression of my life: I'm glad it came out nicely.

If you've honestly, truly enjoyed your life completely without ever feeling hopeless a single time, then you are one hell of a lucky guy. Most people experience serious depression once or twice at the very least. Congratulations, then, on managing to live a happy life. It's a rare man who can say those words. It's cool that you're aiming to be a teacher. Returning to society, that's what it is. I was never much for teaching. I got into a lot of trouble with teachers in my younger days (not that I'm very old now). I hope that when you said "good luck" it meant "I hope you succeed" and not "good luck trying and failing horribly". If it were the latter...I'd be sad. :) --Drake 22:36, 22 June 2009

Nah, that was real good luck. And when I say "never been depressed" I mean never having that hopeless feeling for more then an hour. I just try to be happy. I used to want to be a famous author. That's not going to happen. I wanted to be an engineer. I found out I hate science, but have a passion for history. So there you go. Transformation fiction is an escape for me. I like it, just like I like Science Fiction, because it can be used to express deeper feelings and ideals, or it can simply be fantastic and excting.--Guvnor Of Space 15:11, 22 June 2009 (UTC)

Yeah, I'm a fan of SF and TF too. It's like a small paradise where I can hide from reality, even if it's only for a while. A place where I can actually be me, and not the person people want me to be. In the end, everyone runs from something. But I guess the "try to be happy" method is worth a shot. Maybe my dreams will change, and I won't want to be a game developer in Bungie when I'm old enough. After all, every teen or kid on Halo wants to join Bungie too, if not for their passion then for Flaming Helmet(highly coveted piece of in-game armor that everyone doesn't have). But I do hope that I'll make it to Bungie...It's great that you guys are here to cheer me up. Thanks, you two! You guys have renewed my faith in the world...at least for now. ;)

PS I like smileys.--Drake 23:26, 22 June 2009

WIP Tag

Just a heads up, your story is still flagged as a Work In Progress. --Lloyd

Yeah, I know. Still polishing it. But I took it off already. :) --Drake