[QUOTE="VoodooGamer"]

[QUOTE="Sajo7"] His argument is he thinks smoking is cool, what's there to discuss?Sajo7

Read the article cockbreath.

Read the article as I said, and you'll find something to agree or disagree with.

[QUOTE="VoodooGamer"]

[QUOTE="Theokhoth"]

And the point is. . .?

Theokhoth

"and the point is. . .?" :roll:

Read the article troglodyte. Also, if you can't add two and two, meaning that I want people to discuss his opinion on this, then take basic math over again.

What's to discuss? Hitchens says: "I like cigs and beer."

Good for him. There are people who agree and people who disagree. Who the hell cares?

Or do you think people should like it more because Hitchens does?

Hence the "and the point is. . . ?".

Perhaps, you would be better off not complicating something as simple as a discussion. Christopher Hitchens wrote an excellent article here, discuss. It's quite simple really.

The Guardian.UK

"There have been moments of reverie, wreathed in smoke and alone with a book, and moments of conversation, perfumed with ashtrays and cocktails and decent company, which I would not have exchanged for a year of ordinary existence." --Christopher Hitchens

[QUOTE="REA24409"]

My friends and family are pretty religious people, and I am still debating if I should tell them I am atheist or if I should keep it a secret from them. I am scared they will react the wrong way and try to change what I believe, and I am not in the mood to hear them go on and on talking about god. I have told people I am not close to I'm atheist because they don't really care. But everyone I am close with, I think, will and I am scared to tell them I'm atheist. And to be honest I am sick of people saying, "How can you not believe in god? Have you read the bible?" I'm sick of it, I also read Fahrenheit 451, and just because I read that doesn't mean I believe firemen burn books. So what do you guys say, should I tell them the truth on my outlook on religion, or should I keep it a secret from everyone I love?

footballa27

im reading that book right now! its badass

It's an excellent book. I finished it rather quickly, but that was only because I was so captivated by it.

I don't think anyone here is in any position to give advice on what you should do, especially when it might affect your relationship with your parents. Do what you think is right but, if only want to mention this because you're feeling resentful towards them, then it might not be a very respectable act. Just think on it, and get a mod to lock this thread.

Not entirely sure what you have against stoicism. Besides, Suikoden is a direct reinterpretation of the Water Margin, one of the best philosophical texts ever written. I'd easily place it on par with The Republic.Vandalvideo

I don't have anything against stoicism and, in fact, I find it quite fascinating. I'm very eager to read the Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, a very prominate stoic during Roman times. I was simply using it as an example of how I don't place either locations of philosophy higher than the other.