More flattery for @ant, I guess

Oh, my dear. Flattery will get you everywhere.

In reply to this comment by EDD:
I know you have a fantastic (re: similar to mine) taste in games, and you seem to be a fan of everything steampunk, so I thought you might find this to your liking: http://videosift.com/video/Edge-of-Twilight-Trailer-Someone-Special

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@Farhad2000 - they don't need to do anything we tell them. They don't listen to the likes of us. Very few focus groups or taking cues from us chattering blogeratti. That works for them.

@campionidelmondo. Can you really look at the picture at the top of this post and say that the Nexus One isn't inspired by the iPhone? It's even more evident when you pick one up. Flick to scroll, page bounce-back, pinch zoom, etc. etc. I don't think that Apple should be sueing- but the Google Phone is definitely the sincerest form of flattery.

I can accept that. I don't want to cause you further grief and now, finally, I think we've dredged through this whole thing enough. I'm thankful for the friendship we had if only for a brief period and if there's every anything at some point in the future my profile, email, facebook, (...) is always open.

Be good, Rachel. ANd best of luck to you and Jake.

In reply to this comment by alien_concept:
As this has all been made public again (thanks rasch!) I thought i'd post my e mail to gwiz here for all to see, if they so wish to, or even give a shit.


OK, so I'm not going back to VS again, so thought it'd be easier to just e mail you.

I'm going to keep it as brief as possible. Firstly, me ever saying I could fall for you was a reaction to saying you liked me. It was flattery and a way of letting you down gently, as I followed it straight up with the facts about Jake. Not that I didn't find you adorable and hilarious and good fun to be around, I did. But if that offhand comment I made is what's carried any of this on, then I'm a fucking idiot, and again I need to learn to keep my mouth shut.

As far as you and rasch, I really have no more to say on the subject. I know how he has been with you, and I know how he has always been with me. I guess we just have to agree to disagree on his intentions and favourability. There will never be a point when I don't appreciate his friendship to me, even if I don't always agree with the way he goes about things. And as for thinking you deleted my comment and posting it again, well pfft, that was dumb. I decided to make it a PM, because I really didn't want to bring it all out in public again, give you at least the chance to reply to me and put it all to rest. I showed him what I'd written because he was mentioned. That is it. I'm sure him making a bit of a twat of himself is going to make you feel a tad smug!

As far as pretty much everything else goes, it's all 50/50 on who is telling the truth and I'm pretty sure the best course of action from now on is to converse with neither of you. One way or the other it's all a pointless headache I don't need. Jake was over it before it started, as always. I did feel you undermined us, but you explained that you never intended to do that and I happily accept that.

I'm glad to hear you have found a girlfriend. I hope it works out for you. Be good to her, listen to her and when she is being unreasonable, ignore it don't argue with it, it's a woman's right for having to bleed once a month. Good luck

Rae

As this has all been made public again (thanks rasch!) I thought i'd post my e mail to gwiz here for all to see, if they so wish to, or even give a shit.


OK, so I'm not going back to VS again, so thought it'd be easier to just e mail you.

I'm going to keep it as brief as possible. Firstly, me ever saying I could fall for you was a reaction to saying you liked me. It was flattery and a way of letting you down gently, as I followed it straight up with the facts about Jake. Not that I didn't find you adorable and hilarious and good fun to be around, I did. But if that offhand comment I made is what's carried any of this on, then I'm a fucking idiot, and again I need to learn to keep my mouth shut.

As far as you and rasch, I really have no more to say on the subject. I know how he has been with you, and I know how he has always been with me. I guess we just have to agree to disagree on his intentions and favourability. There will never be a point when I don't appreciate his friendship to me, even if I don't always agree with the way he goes about things. And as for thinking you deleted my comment and posting it again, well pfft, that was dumb. I decided to make it a PM, because I really didn't want to bring it all out in public again, give you at least the chance to reply to me and put it all to rest. I showed him what I'd written because he was mentioned. That is it. I'm sure him making a bit of a twat of himself is going to make you feel a tad smug!

As far as pretty much everything else goes, it's all 50/50 on who is telling the truth and I'm pretty sure the best course of action from now on is to converse with neither of you. One way or the other it's all a pointless headache I don't need. Jake was over it before it started, as always. I did feel you undermined us, but you explained that you never intended to do that and I happily accept that.

I'm glad to hear you have found a girlfriend. I hope it works out for you. Be good to her, listen to her and when she is being unreasonable, ignore it don't argue with it, it's a woman's right for having to bleed once a month. Good luck

Rae

As this has all been made public again (thanks rasch!) I thought i'd post my e mail to gwiz here for all to see, if they so wish to, or even give a shit.


OK, so I'm not going back to VS again, so thought it'd be easier to just e mail you.

I'm going to keep it as brief as possible. Firstly, me ever saying I could fall for you was a reaction to saying you liked me. It was flattery and a way of letting you down gently, as I followed it straight up with the facts about Jake. Not that I didn't find you adorable and hilarious and good fun to be around, I did. But if that offhand comment I made is what's carried any of this on, then I'm a fucking idiot, and again I need to learn to keep my mouth shut.

As far as you and rasch, I really have no more to say on the subject. I know how he has been with you, and I know how he has always been with me. I guess we just have to agree to disagree on his intentions and favourability. There will never be a point when I don't appreciate his friendship to me, even if I don't always agree with the way he goes about things. And as for thinking you deleted my comment and posting it again, well pfft, that was dumb. I decided to make it a PM, because I really didn't want to bring it all out in public again, give you at least the chance to reply to me and put it all to rest. I showed him what I'd written because he was mentioned. That is it. I'm sure him making a bit of a twat of himself is going to make you feel a tad smug!

As far as pretty much everything else goes, it's all 50/50 on who is telling the truth and I'm pretty sure the best course of action from now on is to converse with neither of you. One way or the other it's all a pointless headache I don't need. Jake was over it before it started, as always. I did feel you undermined us, but you explained that you never intended to do that and I happily accept that.

I'm glad to hear you have found a girlfriend. I hope it works out for you. Be good to her, listen to her and when she is being unreasonable, ignore it don't argue with it, it's a woman's right for having to bleed once a month. Good luck

Rae

Hey Arvana!

Mucho congratulations! You bring a great deal to the sift and your videos are always stand-outs on the sift. I think you also have the handsome-est avatar on the sift, in a Hugh Jackman, Sir Les Patterson, pre crazy Gibson kinda way! Great job

(Note: I watered that compliment down slightly so it wouldnt sound like flattery, can you guys tell which name doesnt belong? )

Winstonfield and Thumper, how do you imagine the GOP could come back into power if they regularly insult all moderate conservatives?

It takes a majority of the populace getting behind you to win an election (democracy). Folks on the far left who believe in political self-flattery think Nader or Kucinich would capture the votes of centrists... Folks on the far right are just as unreasonable.

The term 'rino' seems to be one of the stupidest things ever thought up in politics, whether from the left or the right.

Tags for this video have been changed from 'Mickey Mouse, prostitute, Steamboat Willie' to 'Mickey Mouse, prostitute, Steamboat Willie, flattery' - edited by ponceleon

Who gets laid the chicken or the egg?
How about the MC that has just been led
To a renegade teacher preacher then he got stomped
Cause I'm a feature straight from the Bronx
Productions better known as Boogie Down
If I was a king right now I'd get crowned
The Nice is a teacher not a prince or a rap lord
I even write my rhymes on a blackboard
To get specific, and probably make you understand
What makes the 808 plan
It's simple, I'm a round it off like this
That's how many stupid MC's I've dissed
But if the commence to try me I won't buy it
I'll look them up and down and I'll say "Don't even try it"
Cause I can go on and on without breathing
The TR, another form of BDP-eating
MC's like Chunky, moving real bluntly
Shaking and baking MC's like a junky
Fiending, hitting MC's like they was cocaine
Calling them John Doe, meaning they have no name
I'll spin you like a quarter, drink you like water
Hit below the belt with things you never thought of
I lay down the law that I am a slaughter
I roll like a tital wave, so you oughta
Float like a sailboat, move like a speedboat
In water, now watch you soak
Into a rhyme of mine until you hit the bottom
It's heavy like an anchor, it's no problem
For me to just bake you, eat you like a cookie
I am a profressional, boy, you're just a rookie
I'm here to sing a song, but some are not able
Compared to me you're just crumbs on the table

In my prime, more vocal than I've ever been
I'm not an amateur, sort of like a veteran
Split from the bums, arriving from a long trip
Now I'm back to just cold rip
MC's like confetti, eat 'em like spaghetti
I chill for a year and yet I'm still ready
To house MC's, sink 'em like a boat will
I roll heavy, thick like oatmeal
So now you know the 808 is showing
I do damage in just one moment
Here's a little message to those who want to hang out
Just remember that I give pain out
The TR-808 relates to a terrorizer
Never hiding, clever always memorizing
Poetry, history, math, or even paragraphs
I'm not into b-boying, just hoeing
Showing, blowing MC's like the wind does
I might lay you, sort of like a hen does
Cause your rhymes are weak and unstable
Compared to me you're just crumbs on the table

You must think, before you even get soup
I'll put you on the corner and sell you like a prostitute
Like a street whore, make you want more and more
Move you to the side, up and down like a seesaw
Pulling out a gun is uncalled for
But I'm with it, so go for yours
You may even try to diss, but I call it flattery
I pack more volts than a Duracell battery
Charging MC's, smooth like the breeze
Scott made me funky, yo, that was one theme
Or topic, showing I be rocking
Every little city I play I leave a heat wave
Burning up the industry, never try to get with me
I'm the type of person that never needs rehearsing
Just a little sex, a six pack of Beck's
And my room to move about, and a Guiness Stout
To make me feel able, chilling, and stable
Sometimes I'm on the mic, sometimes I'm on the turntable
I'm superb, sort of like herb
A man of my word and I've never been served

Upvote for a clever prank and EDD's clever flattery. I recommend watching part 3, the reactions, as it demonstrates that not everyone is so easily fooled. The local authorities are repeatedly cited as (correctly) guessing that the lights are nothing more than flares attached to balloons. On the other hand, it's also fun to watch those with less critical thinking skills see what they want. The History Channel segment is really hilarious.

I'm feeling inspired to improve on this prank. Anyone have knowledge of pyrotechnics? I want to create a slow burning flare that doesn't look like a road flare. I'm thinking magnesium strips, but I guess I'll have to experiment.

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)

If it was Microsoft I'd be screaming bloody murder - but, you know - it's Apple, so it's insanely great. (at least I recognize my hypocrisy)

Apple innovated the hell out of the iPhone. In hindsight you look at it and think, "yes, of course- everyone should be making phones like this"

But Nokia, Motorola, Samsung et al couldn't even make a phone browser that didn't make you want to pull your hair out.

Now, in the sincerest form of flattery, all of the usual companies are making large touch screen, internet focused phones- and it seems natural that a multi-touch screen would be useful. But Apple got there first. They did the hard R&D yards and took the risk, it's only right that they should reap the rewards.

Not entirely a fair look at astrology. Not all astrologers produce charts as susceptible to the Barnum effect. Some of the most popular do; the Barnum effect depends on a certain flattery, which make people really like the readings they get. But it's not entirely inevitable.

To accurately gauge whether astrologers really are at all accurate about people, you'd have to have a control group given random charts, and a test group given their own charts. If the test group reports a better match than the control group, then astrology is (somewhat) vindicated.

This has been done, actually. But there wasn't much of a difference between the test and the control.

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A few years ago I decided to read the classic How to Win Friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie.

It was good reading for an anti-social computer nerd and helped me break out of a dead-end job. A big message in the book is the power of honest praise. Telling other people good things about them that are true is very powerful.

It's very different from flattery, because it has to be praise that you honestly believe. Otherwise people smell the patronization.

>> ^Rugil:
I'm not questioning whether it's true or not, I'm just surprised he didn't insult the people who would buy a game just because he likes it in an attempt to deflect the underlying flattery.


I don't know where you get that from. He was asked by the interviewer directly; it's not as if he brought that up himself to boast.