#never study syntax dude. the trees

[mallalada]

its one of those sit in front of your laptop getting closer and closer to crying over the course of 3 hours kind of nights huh

[nightblogofficialbook]

Chapter One

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“Helen, time to wake up!”

I turned over with a groan. “My alarm hasn’t even gone off yet, mom,” I complained, burying my head further under the pillow.

“You set that thing way too late, you’re always rushing yourself in the morning!”

Mom clicked the light on and I groaned louder. “Come on, I’ll make you pancakes but you have to get up now little missy.”

I gave in and sat up. My hair was a nest, my muscles still asleep. I yawned and stretched, and got up to walk out of my room to the bathroom to fix my mess.

My name is Helen Morris. I’m sixteen, tired of life, and ready for retirement already. It’s currently 5:30 a.m. thanks to school being an hour’s bus route away from home. In three months I turn seventeen and qualify for driving unsupervised. Not that I have a car to drive, but at least I’ll be able to work without the school stepping in, too. I live with my mom in an old, rickety two-bedroom, one bathroom house with walls that creaked and water that didn’t always run hot for very long. It wasn’t much, but it was paid off and in her name. My dad’s in prison, but I don’t want to think about him.

I got dressed in plain jeans and a blue t-shirt and walked through the hallway to the kitchen. Mom had some homemade blueberry pancakes made up ready the way I usually eat them. I groggily sat down and took a bite, enjoying the flavor for the moment. Mom glanced back at me from the sink where she was cleaning the pans and bowls.

“See, isn’t this nicer than rushing off with no breakfast?” she said matter-of-factly.

“It is, thanks Mom.” I really was grateful to being woken up like this. Mom usually works overnight as a nurse, so mornings like these are the result of her still being awake after her shift. It was hard to fully appreciate it in the moment, though, with the not being fully awake yet and all.

I finished my pancakes and milk, and dropped the dishes in the dishwasher. After finishing up the rest of my boring morning routine of brushing my teeth and getting dressed, I grabbed my bag, hugged my mom, and went out the door for the ten minute walk towards the bus stop.

The air was still cool and crisp, but I knew it was a lie. In two to fours hours it would be hot as hell. I still wore a jacket nonetheless because the school, in addition to being terrible already, did not know what the meaning of climate control is, and tended to have its classrooms ranging from stuffy to freezing. But for these ten quiet minutes, it was a nice morning.

The aged houses and trees of my neighborhood gave way to a more modern urban sprawl, the neighborhood of the better-off kids. I like to think I was only envious of the fact that they had less things to worry about, given their financial stability. Granted, I had no idea what kind of lives lived behind those doors, but I couldn’t help the bitter feeling that it surely couldn’t be anything nearly as bad as the rest of us. I haven’t really been out in the world necessarily yet, but I did see how much mom struggles to keep us afloat and happy.

Past this neighborhood was the community center and library, which is where my bus stop was. Behind this was a large, forested area which I sometimes use as shortcut to get  here from home as it cuts the time in half. Which I frequently have to do. It can be pretty creepy this early in the morning, even more so after dark. But the five minutes of sunset was where it’s at; the way the golden-red rays fell through the trees...it was pretty magical.

Fun fact about this forest; there’s this huge creepy castle that no one ever goes near, somewhere right smack in the middle. It’s not like people aren’t allowed to go near, but, inexplicably, people avoid that place anyway. Some say it’s haunted, some claim it’s not even there. Apparently some have even actually gone in but never came back out. None of it is backed up by anything, but I’ve always avoided the area nonetheless. It’s a bit out of the way from my route home anyway, and I’m not dumb enough to go trespassing on someone else’s property in the middle of the woods.

The bus arrived, and thank goodness, because the other kids at my stop started to arrive at the same time. I didn’t want to interact with anyone if I could help it. One dude quickly put out a cigarette soon as he saw the bus, and a couple girls my age looked disappointed to not have any time to gawk and gossip about the shabbiness of everything in general. Since the bus barn is close to this area, ours was the first stop to be picked up in the mornings, but also the last one to drop in the evenings. Which meant we got first pick on seats but also had to deal with everyone else for the maximum amount of time possible. And this bus picked up both junior high and high schoolers.

I remember being in junior high, I grimaced as a bunch of fourteen/fifteen-year-olds loaded up at the next few stops. It really wasn’t all that long ago honestly, but it was such a weird age. Girls figuring out puberty, boys learning how to be asses but not understanding why girls won’t be attracted to them, but at the same time both genders thinking the other is stupid. I really hated that age. Not that high school is much different, but at least everyone has enough going on to keep out of each other’s business.

The hour passes and I nearly fell asleep as the bus dropped the high schoolers off first. I got my stiff legs moving and made my way into the building.

Classes pass in a daze like usual. Nothing is very interesting, but at least it’s consistent. I know what to expect from my day, and what’s expected of me. I know what periods I’m going to hate, and which ones I can relax in. It really isn’t as bad as I complain about, sometimes. That’s just how life goes. You settle into monotony and enjoy the calm ride however you can.

Unfortunately for today, I had forgotten about my math test. I’m not bad at math, but I’m not great at it either, and the teacher is REALLY confusing most of the time. She needs to seriously consider retirement; hardly anyone could make heads or tails of what she’d say. I bombed the test of course, I forgot to do the practice homework to prepare for it. When I got my test back, there was a note in red pen telling me I need to apply myself or I’m going to have to take remedial lessons. The last thing I needed was even MORE time at school. That would mean I’d have to miss my bus and catch a public bus. Which means getting home after dark and making mom worry.

Last class was just a seminar hour for study, and thankfully I had this with my best friend, Emily. We both took a dead language class as an elective and were translating a runes assignment.

“Tell me if you think this is close,” she said quietly. “Here be a person of shared...tree?”

“That’s the symbol for parent, not tree,” I corrected, “so it should be ‘Here be a person of shared parent.’ They’re saying it’s their sibling.”

“Ooooooohhhh I get it now,” Emily mused. “I swear though, I had to have gotten somebody’s eulogy or something.”

“It might be, it’s gotta be more interesting than mine. I’m pretty sure I just have someones written layout of their town.”

“Seriously though, how are you so good at this? These are dead languages, and the teacher freakin’ loves you.”

I shrugged. “I dunno. I have a hard time with the roman based letters sometimes, which is dumb, but give me runes and I’ve got it. I think it’s because there’s a simpler pattern to decipher for me. Like, the structure just makes sense with the language syntax or something.”

“I dunno,” Emily stared dubiously at her text. “We’re already in the second course and this is still all just gibberish to me.”

“You got that far, though, didn’t you?” I said, gesturing to her project. “You got halfway through the assignment before getting a symbol confused with another.”

“Yeah, but I still have to use a cheat sheet.”

I shrugged again. “Nothing wrong with that. Plus, no one else has it as easy either. Maybe I’m just a weirdo.”

She laughed, and I grinned. Our seminar teacher shushed us angrily, even though we weren’t being that loud. I narrowed my eyes his direction but just let it go. He had always been an ass that could only ever amount to a gym teacher, but it wasn’t worth picking a fight with him. Besides, there was nothing I could really do about it.

School let out and Emily walked with me to my bus. She was one of the lucky ones whose parents were able to have time to pick her up after school. “You think you’ll be able to come over today?” she asked hopefully.

“Sorry, not this time either. Mom wants me to pick up some stuff from the community center for her work and by that point it’ll be almost dark.”

“Dang. You should ask her if it’s cool if my mom just picks you up from school and then takes you home.”

“Ha! Good luck with that, she barely feels comfortable with me riding the bus, let alone someone else’s car.”

We said our goodbyes and I got on the bus to settle in for the hour-long drive back. The town flew by in a blur of hills and houses and trees, every now and then passing through the small business district again as the bus weaved back and forth, unloading it’s contents like a slowly hatching spider’s nest. The tiredness of the day began to weigh on me, and I felt a little guilty for lying to Emily. Mom didn’t actually have anything I needed to get; I just didn’t want to ask her again, only to be told no and reminded of the dangers of why. And with her busy schedule, she really didn’t even have time to meet parents and give proper assessment. It was so frustrating, but even more so because I understood why.

At least, in a few months, I’ll legally be allowed to work, and I’ll be able to use that as a reason for her to allow me to start making my own decisions.

My stop finally arrived, I got off the bus like all the other little spiderlings, and began my walk home. I still have enough time before sunset actually happens and it gets too dark, so I decided to take my nature path through the woods. It was quiet, immediately a different atmosphere from the civilization around the community center. The trees were tall and loomed far overhead, not impossibly tall or really even impressively tall, but gentle. The oaks and sycamores and birches all commingled their leaves, creating this wonderful blanket of patterned light through the summer green foliage. A breeze would sometimes drift through, causing the treetops to shimmer and rustle and bring relief from the fading summer heat. Below my feet was a lightly worn path from all the times I’ve walked through these woods, every now and then branching off into other less worn paths from the times others had walked through here as well. I breathed in and enjoyed the peace. Sometimes I wish I could just live out here, in the trees, away from all the people. Away from all the noise and frustrations of everyone’s expectations.

The peace was short lived of course, as it always was. The path was only a five minute walk after all. And before long I was back near my house with its tall privacy fenced in yard and it’s peeling paint and creaky hinges.

Mom was already awake and getting ready for work, wearing her baby blue scrubs as I walked in.

“Dinner is on the stove,” she instructed, “ and I have the oven on warm so don’t forget it. Remember to keep the doors locked.” She kissed me on the forehead. “Love you baby, be safe.”

“You too mom,” I hugged back, and locked the door as she left. I checked all of the windows and back doors absentmindedly, thinking about how different things would be if things were...well, different. Mom could stay at home and wouldn’t need to work so much, I could possibly have a life outside school and home, though to be honest I don’t know how much I’d actually want that. Maybe we’d have a bigger, newer house.

I shook my head, assembling the chili tortillas mom had prepped for me and sitting down. No, this is nice, this is okay. We’ve got a warm home, enough good food, and new clothes when we need them. We’re not hurting for money, and getting by modestly. This was nice enough.

After cleaning my dishes and putting the food away, I went back to my room to my desk to deal with the remedial homework my math teacher had given me. I clicked the radio setting on my alarm and listened to music while I worked through the numbers. The song playing on the station made me smile; it was a pop classic Emily and I liked to make fun of, due to it sounding exactly like every other song out there but with the lyrics being horrifically bad. I sung to it softly, wondering what she was up to.

Just as the thought crossed my mind, the phone rang. My heart gave a start from the sudden noise. “Hello?” I answered.

“Hey! It’sa me!”

I laughed. “Hey Emily. I was just thinking about what you’d be up to.”

“Making pizza rolls. Well, waiting for pizza rolls. So I just heard our song on the radio and I thought hey, Helen better be hearing this too ‘cause I can’t just enjoy the hilarity of it again all by myself.”

I laughed again. “I was, actually. Trying to plow through this stupid extra math work Mrs. Marrow gave me.

“Ugh, Bloody Marrow, she needs to retire.”

“For sure.”

“Anyway, so I actually wanted to tell you something that happened to me today!” she began, excited. “Erin asked me out in the most sweetest adorable way ever, she had given me her phone number last week ‘cause we had a science project together and had to coordinate outside of class and whatever, and today she sent me a text wanting to know if I like ice cream and would want to go get some at this new shop opening up at the mall this week!!”

I sat forward in amazement. “Emily! That’s awesome! You’ve had a crush on her for like, forever, I’m so happy for you!”

“I knoooooooow,” I heard her squee on the other end, and the sound of rustling as she was probably rolling back and forth on her bed happily. “She’s so prettyyyyy and I’m so gaaaaaaaaaaay.” I laughed.

“Well, I really hope it works out for you. It’d be really cool to see you two together.”

“Yeah, I’m a little scared though. I mean, this clearly sounds like a date, but I have no idea if she’s like, INTO me, or just ya know, looking for a friend or whatever.”

“Dude. She’s totally into you. How could she not be?”

“Buuuuuut-”

“For reals though. I’ve seen the way she acts when you come around. Plus you’re not exactly hiding your rainbows. She’s totes into you.”

“Uuuuuggghhhhh I just don’t knowwwwww.” I heard her shift. “Have you ever had a massive crush on anyone? Or have a crush on anyone currently?” she added with a hint of probing in her voice.

“I did once,” I grimaced. “That was a few years ago. You remember James?”

She made a noise of surprise. “Ugh that jock-head?”

“Yeah. He went to my middle school before we had moved here.”

“Dang, small world.”

“Yeah. Well, I used to think he was cute back then, and he kind of was. But I never really knew him. When I first moved here and started high school, I found out he went to this school too, so I tried to go talk to him since he was the only person I knew, and he essentially said ‘Ew, no, go away.’ Or something like that.”

“Ugh, boys are so rotten. You should switch sides, girls are way nicer.”

I gave a small laugh. “I wish. I get why you like girls, but I just kinda...don’t like anyone.”

“Dude, confession time to lighten the mood? I once had a crush on you.”

“I know,” I laughed. “You gave me chocolates and your lunch like, everyday. I felt bad for not realizing sooner after I ate all of your food.”

She laughed too. “S’algood, s’algood, I think I may have been mixing feelings a bit, you just seemed like someone I HAD to get to know.”

“I’m really glad you did. I didn’t have any friends at that time.”

“And you’re like, the most open-minded person ever. A lot of girls would get really defensive. Which sucks, but is also pretty hilarious too.”

“Well, I’m flattered you thought I was gay,” I teased. “And sorry that I wasn’t.”

“Yeah, you could be bi though, and I just wasn’t your type. Or maybe even ace.”

“I dunno, I kinda just...don’t care? I don’t really care what category I’d fit in, I just want to be treated like me.”

“Saaaaaame, girl, same.”

We chatted for a few more hours before it started getting really late. The phone call distraction extended my homework by the same amount of time, but it made it easier to get through, and at least it was done. As the last tangent conversation ended we said our see-you-tomorrows and hung up.

I flopped back against the musty pillows. I should really wash those. Our earlier conversation went through my mind, and I turned over on my side, hugging a large stuffed husky my mom got me when I was ten. It’s not like I didn’t want to like people, or that I didn’t want to date anyone. No one ever felt like they were actually interested in ME, not even Emily. At least Emily was aware of it; that’s the reason we became friends. But...I didn’t want to risk the possibility of actually really liking someone, and they just turn out to be like James had been; a stuck up jerk who didn’t even want to be nice. Or like some of the guys that were too thick to understand that Emily likes girls and certainly not them.

Being alone though...that’s what sucks the most. And for me, being around people who make me feel alone is the worst feeling of all.

I sat at the computer lab in the community center, looking at job listings, looking for any that hire seventeen year olds. It was still a few months away but It wouldn’t hurt to try to get a head start. I could use the shortened time to convince them to at least consider me; there was a public bus route that made a stop just down the road from where the school bus drops, at roughly the same time. I could take my seminar hour at the end of the day and check myself out of school, work for a couple of hours, and then commute back here. And mom wouldn’t need to know about it, AND I’d be able to help out with expenses. It’s a win-win scenario, it wouldn’t even cut into homework time.

I leaned back and stretched, and noticed that it was unusually quiet, and dark, in the building. I looked around; everyone had left save for the front desk lady, who was quietly reading her book. The auto lights had already gone out.

I checked the time on the computer. It said 8:05.

Oh crap.

Logging out as quickly as I could I bolted out the doors; the sun was already in setting position. “Oh crap oh crap.” Mom is going to be furious, this was her night off, I should have been home an hour ago…!

I ran towards the woods, debating whether to take the chance of it being dark before I made it through or getting into even more trouble with mom. To be honest, mom is probably scarier. The implications of it being after dark by the time I made it home was enough of a risk. I dove right into the treeline.

There was a different eeriness to the atmosphere here today, maybe it was because I was in a hurry, and maybe because it was minutes from full darkness. Something sent prickles across my skin, like I was being watched, like something was following me. I moved quicker, faster, my breath starting to become labored. A chilling mist was filling the forest; the sun had set. A strange lurch in the pit of my stomach pulled me in a direction that I was sure was the path home. Surely I was close now…?

I stopped, unable to believe my eyes as the treeline gave way to a clearing, my heart sinking as I realized it wasn’t because I was leaving the forest...and rising again from the sheer awe that was before me.

Towering far above me and covering the entire expanse of the open treeline I stepped out from, was an impressively large, black stone castle.

“It’s real…” I whispered. “No way…” How on earth did I end up here? I know that path by heart, I shouldn’t have veered off for a moment…!

Curiosity governed my senses. I walked through the white rose bushes that lined the outer wall and towards the brick; it wasn’t just a flat dark stone, it was carved with intricate details and patterns and symbols. With a start I recognized a lot of them; sanskrit, rune, greek, hebrew, korean. None were written in a manner I could read or understand, but something told me it was all the same language, whatever it was. Running my fingers across them felt almost electric, as if they held magic or something dumb like that.

I walked along the wall, carefully avoiding the rose buses that lined the way, coming up to a wrought iron gate. It twisted into intricate vine-like patterns with an almost glossy new sheen, as if it had just been made. A similar theme was applied to the rest of the castle beyond the wall, like a gothic style mansion with darkened rooftops. It was gorgeous and glossy and new and…

Wait, new?

I looked closer at the walls, and tried my best to look closer at the inner castle itself. Everything looked pristine and kept, fresh painted with muted and yet vibrant colors, even the stone and iron showed no discernable age. As if it had been freshly built. If this was the legendary castle in the woods, it would have to be SUPER ancient, because that myth has been around since our parents’ parents were little. It would be worn, the stones cracking and nature attempting to take over, or at the very least look uninhabited.

This looked very inhabited.

A chill fell over my body and dread followed suit. I shouldn’t be here. I don’t know what kind of people would live here, but I got the feeling they’d be the kind that wouldn’t care about shooting some random teenager looking like they’re about to trespass. I backed away quickly, feeling the hairs on the back of my neck rise as it felt like I was being closely watched again.

“Ouch!” Pain stung across my forearm as I stumbled into a rose bush, dragging a very thin bead of blood in a line down the scratch. “Ah, crap…” Now mom won’t just be mad. She’ll be paranoid.

A light snap! sounded from my left and I spun towards it, fear filling my pulsing chest. A million thoughts ran through my head, my breath started to catch. Very slowly, carefully this time, I started backing away. I let out a sigh of relief as a squirrel ran out from a bush, but the tension remained. It was time to leave.

But then I heard another crack, and this wasn’t a squirrel.

A pair of eyes shone in the dark, and a large, lithe figure began to step out from the shadows; that was all I needed to turn around and nope the heck out of there.

I had barely taken ten steps before I felt a rush of wind, and then suddenly I was jerked backwards into something solid by my arms. “NO-!” A scream had just barely begun from my mouth when pain erupted my from shoulder. Numbness overtook me and then everything was black.

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[joeybuddy96]

Nick was feeling sad. Yesterday at 11:51am · Orlando, FL · Please friends and family continue to pray fervently for the officer involved in the accident last night. He has reached a grave point and things could go either way. Carolyn Moore Wolf Praying. This city is getting rougher by the day. Like · Reply · Yesterday at 12:01pm Michael Praying. Do you know if they caught the suspects they were pursuing? Like · Reply · Yesterday at 12:17pm Carolyn As of last night, no. Like · Reply · Yesterday at 12:18pm Carolyn But they know who he is Like · Reply · 1 · Yesterday at 12:18pm Michael Well that's good that they at least know who it is, they can't hide forever. The suspect should be charged with harsher violations since someone got hurt as a result of them fleeing the police. Like · Reply · Yesterday at 12:21pm Joel Benedict

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Choose File Nick Praying. Like · Reply · 1 · Yesterday at 12:20pm Bekka C. Praying Like · Reply · Yesterday at 1:07pm Cerena ???????? Like · Reply · Yesterday at 1:29pm Todd Praying Like · Reply · Yesterday at 1:31pm Brenda Praying Like · Reply · Yesterday at 1:36pm Jay Prayed Like · Reply · Yesterday at 2:06pm Jeffrey ?? Like · Reply · Yesterday at 2:06pm Barbara Praying! Like · Reply · Yesterday at 2:57pm Joel Benedict Joel Benedict Praying to Quetzalcoatl that he doesn't pull through to cancel out the other prayers because that's how it works. Like · Reply · 23 hours ago Joel Benedict Joel Benedict Wow, I got what I prayed to Quetzalcoatl for. The officer died, even when all those others prayed to an inferior God. Proof that Quetzalcoatl is real. Warm up those altars and get the big knife ready. Like · Reply · 22 hours ago · Edited Nick H Dude... why?

Just... why? Unlike · Reply · 2 · 12 hrs Sam If what someone else believes in bothers you enough to make you say disgusting things like this, you need to reevaluate your life. Unlike · Reply · 1 · 7 hrs Joel Benedict Joel Benedict If what someone else says disgusts you enough to be bothered by it, you haven't been on the Internet enough. Like · Reply · 2 hrs Sam Man, I get that you get off on offensive comments, but don't bring your brony, 4chan trolling bs to a post like this where people are being decent. There are fb groups for that. Unlike · Reply · 1 · 2 hrs · Edited Joel Benedict Joel Benedict Sam Decent people don't worship genocidal maniacs, Sam. Like · Reply · 1 hr Sam Joel decent people let people live the lifestyles they choose to without ridicule Unlike · Reply · 1 · 1 hr Joel Benedict Joel Benedict Sam You're saying that someone who ridicules is not a decent person, yet labeling someone else is a form of criticism. Criticism is only okay when Sam is the one passing judgement. What nonsense. Absurdities deserve to be labeled as such. Like · Reply · 1 hr Sam I'm sorry, when did I pass judgement? When did I label you? Like · Reply · 1 hr Joel Benedict Joel Benedict Sam You said my tactics don't belong to groups where people are decent. The suggestion there is that my comments, and by extension, I am not decent. Judgement passed. You said that decent people don't ridicule. The suggestion there is that I'm ridiculing, and by extension, I'm not decent. Judgement passed, Sam schooled. Like · Reply · 54 mins Sam If you say so. Fact is, you said something indecent and inappropriate. You're defending it, you stand by it, so it's more of an inference than a judgement. But by all means, school me some more about proper social etiquette. You know so much about it. Like · Reply · 49 mins Joel Benedict

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Choose File Nick Joel Benedict I don't know what's up with you. Are you deliberately trying to be a jerk? What the hecks wrong with you? Unlike · Reply · 6 · 22 hours ago · Edited Joel Benedict Joel Benedict Grow up, Nick. Prayer does nothing and never has. If you want to support the officer's family, you can do it without an imaginary friend. Like · Reply · 17 hrs Joe You're right Joel. Reaching out and acting in faith and putting your hope into words and allowing others to join in that voice of hope is a terrible thing that smacks of illusion and psychosis.

He should just be an asshole who trolls people attempting to do some type of good within their community...

Do you have such a repulsion to faith based ideas when you visit the numerous hospitals that were founded out of that same hope and faith? Do you have the same disdain for the families of fallen veterans who cling to such hope because it is all they have while there loved ones are away?

And why should he abandon his hope and faith? If the reasoning is so he can become the type of person you are presenting to the world, I think I'll just stick to my 'imaginary friend' than a 'real' asshole.

I did not know the officer; however, I have friends who are close friends of his family. They are in mourning and they prayed out of hope and faith in something greater and bigger than them self. That is the point of prayer.

How about you grow up and find better things to do than to troll people based out of your supposed superior intellect and understanding of the world. Like · Reply · 4 · 14 hrs Faith Delete your post Nick and remove his air time. We know prayer works - testimony on top of testimony on top of testimony.... Like · Reply · 13 hrs Joel Benedict Joel Benedict Faith Yeah, delete any evidence that all those prayers did jack squat to save the officer. Google argumentum ad populum, Faith. Testimony is for late night infomercials, double-blind peer reviewed studies are for reality. Like · Reply · 1 hr Joel Benedict Joel Benedict Joe So far none of you have helped in any material way, Joe. I'm hearing a lot of smack talk and no action. Hoping for something does nothing; actively influencing something via action does something. Typing repetitive comments on a page is a game for people who feel the need to be included, who fear something bad will happen if they don't participate in the ritual. You want to change the world, you've got to make it happen.

Would those hospitals be the same ones that receive county, state, and federal funds at my expense? They deserve to be held responsible for their theft, not to be admired.

Did those veterans start a family prior to taking a knowingly risky job? The responsibility for their families is theirs; if their family suffers as a result of the veteran's gamble, it's reckless negligence, not a noble act. Did those veterans take a job paid for at my expense, with death benefits paid for at my expense, with their families living off of my dime for the rest of their lives? They don't deserve pity for their theft, and neither does the officer's family.

Faith and hope in indefensible, fictional things should never have been taken up in the first place, same as any bad habit. Great, dig in your heels in favor of something no more real than Odin, Ba'al, or Ishtar. There's a sucker born every minute, no reason you shouldn't jump on the bandwagon. Plenty of room for everyone. I notice you have no problem assuming that you are right a priori, but have a significant lack of anything resembling a reason for the faith you have. Like say...evidence.

Them self? Themselves, you mean? Okay, so the point of prayer is to ask for help from the thin air because it's better and more powerful than them. Since they aren't so great in the first place, no reason to mourn when one of their worthless number is lost, right? Because only something that is anything other than them is worthy of hope? And sending positive willpower vibes and self-deprecation out into the ether will make your emotions into not-sad ones? Sheesh, what a misanthropic worldview.

Yeah, you're right, Dr. Simon. My poor dum-dum head just can't fathom the all-knowing nature of talking snakes and donkeys. Sigh, if only I could understand the enlightenment that comes from knowing pi is exactly 3 and the world is a circle supported on four columns. I'll go stare at the wall with drool coming out of my mouth now. Or read about purgatorius coracis, since both are equally nonsensical. Like · Reply · 1 hr Joe I love the sound of self-righteous condemnation.

I'm glad your morality 101 course has served you well (and if we based our arguments in syntax and English grammar, you sure would have me all up a tree).

There is a fool born every minute, that is all true and good. They come from all walks and beliefs.

There are also pretentious pricks born at the same, if not greater rate.

Your lack of respect for anybody but yourself and what few groups or people that can stomach your over-inflated ego is all too obvious.

You talk of reality, yet ignore only that which you can see and experience.

I have faith and hope in many things. Most of it is in the lives of people like Nick who have proven themselves (happy with my correction? Does it help you understand what was said. I'm sorry them self was too confusing for you to follow) worthy of having faith and hope in.

As for the rest of your recycled diatribe that offers nothing new except revealing your own personal level of cynicism, I'll save my breath. You have placed your nose in a situation it was never needed to go. You have already represented yourself adequately enough to reveal you care nothing for the thoughts of others unless they just happen to agree with you.

You are no better than any person who used religion to perpetuate evil acts throughout history. But wrap up your disdain in religion. Pretend that the world would be better, it is what you have placed hope and faith in. Hope and faith that the world would finally be whatever you wish it would be if all the 'ignorant' people who don't think like you just weren't in the way....

Either way, I have been around the world a time or two. Met people from cultures that you can't possibly understand. I have experienced humanity in a manner that you clearly have not...

Either way. This was never about you, Nick, religion or me. It was about community support and allowing people the chance to show their support. It may not be the 'tangible' support that you wish, but it was support none the less.

You would rather have nothing said at all rather than such a 'cheap display' of public support and hope. That is your business and your ideology but don't wrap it up in pretentious morality 101 course material and expect me to fall all over myself. I have spoken with far smarter than you who have felt very similar to you. Those men and women are worth far greater respect than your tired diatribe. Unlike · Reply · 1 · 40 mins Joel Benedict Joel Benedict Joe Wow, you love The Sound of Self-Righteous Condemnation too? I've got their first two albums and the fourth one, but I heard the third one was sub-par.

No Joe, I do not give respect to fools. I give respect to those who deserve it. Lack of self-respect might be why you've fallen in with misanthropes. I don't know what world you live in, but where I come from, I make no pretense of being hostile to fools. You might want to look up the Urban Dictionary definition of "prick." Not exactly Jesus-talk.

"You talk of reality, yet ignore only that which you can see and experience." Uh, did you mean that I ignore that which I cannot see and experience? There's this thing called indirect observation, Joe. Along with logic and philosophy, but since those are things I ignore, they're not relevant to this discussion, are they?

Ah, so you don't have faith and hope in a magic sky-fairy and just in other humans. Actually that does clear things up. I thought you were yet another goosestepping theocrat, but I guess I was wrong. See, now was that so hard? Watch, I'll do it slowly so you can see how it's done: I was wrong about you being a religious wacko following ritualistic mysticism. Oh, but wait, I'm the one who only listens to the echo chamber, so I couldn't possibly be wrong in the first place.

Which evil act am I perpetuating exactly? I don't remember any...uh...Quetzocoatl! Now I remember. Yeah, ha ha, the human sacrifice thing. Boy, that is pretty evil. You know, it would be a real shame if other religions were built entirely around human sacrifice and blood worship. Luckily Christianity has none of that.

Hmm...what would life be like with a predominantly atheist population? Well, when we look at the demographics of atheism worldwide, what we see is an increase in economic prosperity and a decrease in poverty. Then again, I'd have to find someone else to make fun of endlessly.

Saying "I wish you well" isn't support, tangible or otherwise. Don't get me wrong, I'd much rather have people say something, just so long as it's not pity towards a professional thief. Maybe you can connect me with these far-smarter people. It could be that they deserve even less respect than my tired diatribe has given them so far. Like · Reply · 4 mins Joel Benedict

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Choose File Emily I agree with Faith. I was also going to suggest removing the post. I would hate to think the family and friends are reading the very heartless words. Whether you believe or don't, a man lost his life trying to protect the very city this guy lives in. Clearly at some point this was a friend or acquaintance of yours, Nick. Keep praying for Joel that he does not have to suffer the obvious pain and anguish he is experiencing. No atheist I've ever met wishes for death upon someone. This Joel is suffering. May God or the universe, or whatever brings him peace and happiness restore his heart for humanity. Unlike · Reply · 2 · 12 hrs Joel Benedict Joel Benedict I don't know if you're aware of this, but people without a pulse don't exactly have time to post on social media. Oh, you meant compassion. Right. I forget quite often how compassionate copy-pasting the same response over anything in your news feed is.

The guy lost his life trying to play chicken with a rival criminal. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. He was on the clock with money paid for via forcible taking.

Suffering? I'm chilling at home getting a laugh out of a sanctimonious, self-adulating fandom out of touch with reality. But hey, if that's suffering, turn up the flames baby. B|

Wow, now that you've said that magic spell, suddenly I have an urge to give huge sums of money to police unions and televangelists. Thank you for fixing my non-functional cardio-respiratory system Emily. Like · Reply · 59 mins Emily Man, oh man, you've got a bunch of people praying for you now. I think that's ultimately what you wanted, right? I've got all kinds of things I'd like to say to you but maybe I'll just say a few. I love you even though I don't know you. I will pray for peace in your life into the "thin air" as you call it. Have a good one, Joel. Unlike · Reply · 1 · 13 mins Joel Benedict Joel Benedict Emily Boy, how flattering. A bunch of people chanting to themselves due to Internet butthurt. Wait--I'm feeling something. Yes, yes....positive energy vibes wafting my way. I now have peace in my life! Ta-da! Like · Reply · Just now Joel Benedict

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Choose File Jeffrey I say don't give him any more power then he thinks he has. He wants you to delete your post so that your positive energy and prayers are not voiced. Like · Reply · 10 hrs Joel Benedict Joel Benedict So if he deletes the post, I win because the prayers aren't voiced, but if he keeps the post up, I win because I have evidence that prayers do nothing. It's a win-win all the way bro. B| Like · Reply · 57 mins Joel Benedict

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Choose File Lora Prayer has been answered but it is not within anyone's ability to evaluate al the millions of prayer supplications over thousands of years to definitively say prayer has no effect. Also, prayer is not exclusively about request but has other goals such as praise. I have personally had prayer answered as I hoped and other times not. My faith is not a checklist and my God is not Santa Claus. His ways are not my ways,his thoughts are not my thoughts. If atheism's result is to mock and deride those who are reaching out to those that do pray to God I cannot respect it as a "belief". Unlike · Reply · 1 · 2 hrs Joel Benedict Joel Benedict Name one time when any prayer has been answered as a result of the act of praying. And no, George Nostradamus Mueller doesn't count. It's a strawman to say that all prayers need to be analysed. All you need is a double-blind peer reviewed study of a controlled group and set of expectations. It's the request and reward part I'm criticizing here. The worship of a genocidal maniac is bad enough on its own.

See now that's the crux--you have hopes, sometimes they pan out, sometimes they don't. The prayer, though, has zero effect on it happening one way or the other. God is unchanging; there's no reason why you couldn't make a predictable checklist. You're right, God isn't Santa Claus; at least Saint Nicholas was a real person at one point before ritualistic mysticism took over.

The verse about God's super-duper superior ways could be said about anything and anyone, fiction or non-fiction. "Ah, it is not within my duty to question Mubarak, Vishnu, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, Allah, Ariel Castro, or the guy rubbing butter all over his naked body on the sidewalk. Their ways are not mine, their thoughts are not mine." It's granting something power a priori without examining any of the many, many reasons why those sources shouldn't be given the benefit of faith.

Atheism isn't a belief. The prefix "a-" just means "not this." For example, I'm guessing you haven't listened to much Linkin Park. You would then be a-Linkin Park.

Theism and those who pray deserve derision just as much as flat-earthers or believers in any other falsity. Emotionally vulnerable people trying anything to gain personal security, just as long as it doesn't involve being grounded in reality deserves no respect. Certainly not when it involves a gonzo cult. Like · Reply · 36 mins Joel Benedict

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Choose File Lora Nick H see my above comment. You know who I am and I am very sorry about this officer. You can guess rightly that I will be praying for the family,too. I usually do not engage in comments regarding these matters but felt a need to this time. Like · Reply · 2 hrs Daniel This guy is a clown Like · Reply · 9 mins Joel Benedict Joel Benedict woah-oh, busted. Unable to post comment. Try Again