A couple incarnations of this thread have existed in the past, but with the surfeit of new players to the 200X arena, I thought I'd start a new iteration for those who might not have otherwise noticed.

This is the Players Thread, where we explain a little bit about ourselves. Participation in the thread isn't necessary, of course, so feel free to put as much or as little as you want. It's just in the way of getting to know each other a little better.

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My name's Seph, like you probably guessed, and that's short for 'Joseph', but nobody calls me that. I'm 27 and live in Philadelphia, PA, though I grew up in northern California, lived for a long time in upstate NY, and have traveled all over the place, including a few other continents. I move a lot.

I first joined RPGP back in 2001, and I've been here off and on (a lot of off) since then. I'm sort of a ham-and-egger professionally, having had something like forty jobs. I'm from working poor roots and am consequently a total asshole. I'm a Socialist, an atheist, and a bit of a cunt about both. I'm a thug version of a geek who likes guns and getting into fistfights as much as gaming and writing, kind of like if Ernest Hemingway and Steve Jackson had rotating visitation rights with their lone, mutant offspring. I know a lot about a lot of things, and most people who like me agree that I'm a right bastard who's nevertheless a delight to have around and is quite good at solving problems.

I'm one of three Mods for the 200X setting and currently play Gerad 'Odysseus' Donighal and Henry 'Cain' Yeager. I tend to use my characters to say something about the world outside of the game, kind of like philosophies given personality, and as a player, I prefer to write in the first person whenever appropriate. My pet peeve about this place is characters designed for statistical advantage rather than being interesting.

Real name is David, I'm 39, and one of the Mods on this board. About half of what Seph said about himself applies equally to me and the other half is diametrically opposite.

I know a lot about a lot of stuff. I've had a ton of jobs, Public School teacher of English, History and Journalism, IT for over 10 years, Bench Jeweler, Engraver, and Ren Faire Jouster and actor.
I've been gaming since 8th grade back in the early 2nd Edition DnD days. I've ST'd games for at least 20 years. One of my pet pevees is games that die off after only a short time. I've been on the boards lurking since 2004 and very active for the last couple years. I run the Long March game on this site which has been going since Oct 2006, and play in Phoenix Rising and Dead Rising.

I was raised a conservative christian. These days I don't know what I am. Somewhere between Christian, Buddist, and Agnostic. At times I've been as rightwing as WR, these days, I can't stand either party. Unlike Seph, I'm definitely not a socialist, as far as I'm concerned the government is not to be trusted with herding the sheep. I also hate confrontation although I've been in my share of fights over the years, it just takes more to push me to it than some folks.

I do share Seph's dislike of powergaming for the sake of powergaming, but unfortunately Aberrant is the ultimate paradise of a system for it. I've heard the cries of the people though, and will be more active as a mod in preventing the excesses.

(The comment about WR being right wing was not intended as a judgement, or a shot. Was just using him as an example, I have shared many of his beliefs in the past and still do to some degree.)

Just sharing this little tidbit for those I promised pics of.

this is my and my homely-self on a Skycoaster at our local theme park.

this is my second time soloing it - and I prefer it this way since partners (up to three can go at one time together) tend to unbalance the dive and make the flight significantly less smooth. Big fun you bet, though. Loves it!

People, as in life, are far more complex than they seem. While I have been labeled 'right wing', I am hardly that. True, I lean to the right, but that does put someone on the fringes. Of course, to those on the far left (and far right), anyone with a differing opinion is often labeled as being on the opposite extreme. (It makes it easier to hate you for disagreeing with them). It is what radicals do.

I will offer up my positions, and let my fellow 200x'ers judge where I lie.

-I consider myself a classical Liberal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_liberalism. These days, a classical liberal would be called a right winger by the Marxian sects, who oppose free markets, as well as religions. Both of which are protected by classical liberalism. I am not a modern or social liberal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_liberalism. In today's hyper-partizan political environment, my embrace of Capitalism, puts me somewhere between a fascist and a seal-clubber (sarc.) In reality, this places me towards the middle.

-I am a staunch believer in the concept of Federalism. The centralization of power always leads to an erosion of individual liberties.

-I am pro-choice. It is an individual liberty thing (see above).

-I am ok with gay marriage. It is up to the voters of any district or state to decide if they want to allow it.

-I am an athiest, yet I respect other's beliefs that do not impose upon my life.

-I think that war is necessary to protect liberty. Putting my head in the sand and hoping that the rabid dog down the block will ignore me, is insane and suicidal.

-I dislike Socialism and all its incarnations(Communism, fascism, Marxism) for obvious reasons. Socialism uses government force to impose its values on a society like theocracies do.

-I am currently serving in the Army Reserves as a Combat Medic. I am an EMT in the civilian sector who works on an ambulance.

-I live in Chicago with my wife who is finishing her doctorate in social psychology.

-I am a gun owner. People kill people. Inanimate objects don't.

-I have a weakness for ice cream.

-I grew up in California. I surfed, bodyboarded and bodysurfed for 20 years of my life.

-I dislike the concept of Multiculturalism as its basic premise is Orwellian- "All cultures are equal EXCEPT Western Culture, which is inherently evil."

-I majored in Biology with Classical Studies and Political Science minors.

-I have a brother and mom in Colorado

-My direct descendant, George Jacobs, was hung as a wizard during the Salem Witch Trials. http://www.pioneerfamily.com/Family/Jacobs.htm.