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  1. Kenson

    Kenson New Member

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    Hiya! My Name is Kenson

    Discussion in 'New Member Introductions' started by Kenson, Nov 22, 2019.

    I am checking out this forum as an alternative to a Discord server that has had some controversy lately. Hoping to find a welcoming community to improve my writing skills. I think I will primarily be writing articles based around technology and gaming, with other topics on my blog if I feel like it.

    I am a 26-year-old guy living in Texas; who is attempting to have writing hopefully turn into a supplementary income (most likely will be losing everything next month) to help keep me afloat. So all tips to improve my writing would be very much appreciated.

    My favorite types of topics to write about are technology, games, dinosaurs, and I am 100% Family-Friendly in all my topics. I also try to keep controversial writing out of my writings. So I will do my best to not mention anything about creation or evolution, just straight up information.

    Anyhow, I hope to learn some things from this community!
     
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  2. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    Hello Kenson!

    I'm one of the forum moderators here, and I want to bid you welcome. :)

    First of all, please do read these two links. They will give you an idea of what our forum is like, what we have to offer, and the kinds of things we expect from our members.

    New Member Quick Start
    Forum Rules

    What kinds of things are you planning to write? Will it only be articles? Or might you want to try fiction as well? If so, do you have a goal in terms of what kind of fiction you'd like to write? Short stories? Flash fiction? Novels?

    Or are you aiming at something different—even creating games of your own?

    Incidentally, there are no rules against dealing with topics like creation or evolution here on the forum—as long as the focus is on writing about these topics. All we ask is that the discussions are non-confrontational and non-evangelical. Many people have strong views on certain subjects, but we attempt to stick to the principle that it's not the topic that will get you in trouble, but the mode of engagement.

    We are primarily a writing site, so if you stick to how to write about the subjects that interest you, rather than debating the rights or wrongs of the subjects themselves, you should be fine.

    It's good that you mentioned the 'family friendly' nature of your approach as well. Believe it or not, we have quite a number of members here who are very young ...11, 12, 13, 14 years of age, etc. So we do have to be mindful of their presence here. We aren't ALL crusty, cynical old adults. (Says one of the crusty, cynical old adults. :) )

    Anyway, I look forward to seeing you around the threads. Dive in and have fun. And if you encounter any difficulties getting settled, don't hesitate to contact me. I'll do what I can to help.

    Cheers for now,

    Jan
     
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  3. Kenson

    Kenson New Member

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    It would be primarily non-fiction. Things like articles on tech, gaming, sometimes on dinosaurs, etc.

    I have always been Family-Friendly. :) This includes my live broadcasts which I do 4x a week.
     
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  4. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    You do broadcasting? That's interesting. What's the setup? Is it radio, TV, 'other media?' Do you have your own 'show?'
     
  5. Kenson

    Kenson New Member

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    I do game broadcasting live, but I don't want to self promote without permission.
     
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  6. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    Thanks for not doing that! You're right, it's not something we would allow. But it's fine to let us know that you do it. It's fun to realise we've just had several new members join up who are interested in games. Maybe our gaming threads will acquire new life. They have been quiet the past wee while.
     
  7. Kenson

    Kenson New Member

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    Hopefully! Looking over the FAQ > Rules, once I'm more active, I could link to my personal site in my signature? I run a blog and forum based around reptiles, dinosaurs, and gaming. Not anything about writing so they're different niches.
     
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  8. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    It's okay to link to a personal blog, once you've become a full member, as long as you're not attempting to sell something or promote yourself. Linking to another forum? I'm not sure about that one. I'll ask my colleagues. Is it a gaming forum? Is it your own forum that you own, or is it just one you moderate?
     
  9. Kenson

    Kenson New Member

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    It's one I own. The 3 main categories of discussion are gaming, dinosaurs/reptiles, and an area for my stream community to hang out in. But it's primarily for the first 2 topics, with the stream community bit being tertiary.
     
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  10. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    Speaking of reptiles, I was just on a bus coming back from an appointment about an hour ago, and a woman got on carrying an iguana in a plastic carrier. Don't see these in Scotland very often. I think she was trying hard to keep it warm, although it seemed very lively. She kept opening the container and trying to get it to stay underneath a blanket. Interesting. I've never seen a live iguana before. She probably had taken it to the vet or something like that.

    I have to say I thought it was a very appealing creature. I can see why people might want to keep them as pets.
     
  11. Kenson

    Kenson New Member

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    Entirely possible! I have a pet Leopard Gecko, myself. His name is Chomper. Cold-blooded reptiles do need an area of heat that they can go to at any time in their enclosure.
     
  12. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    Just looked up leopard gecko! Okay, I can see the appeal, for sure. It looks as if it might be a fast mover. Do they run around a lot?

    The only reptiles I've ever had as pets were not very successful. I grew up when tiny baby painted turtles were on sale in every dimestore. Actually I think they're called red-eared sliders, but we just called them painted turtles. I had one, but it didn't live very long. I don't know why. I was really young at the time, and don't remember all the particulars.

    I also had a pet garter snake for a few months, but as we'd captured it outside, we finally decided to let it go again. It didn't seem fair keeping it cooped up. But I loved to handle it. It seemed quite friendly. Maybe it liked my warm hands!
     
  13. Kenson

    Kenson New Member

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    Sometimes. During the day they sleep more, they're more active at dawn/dusk time.

    That's too bad. Leopard Geckos are some of the more lower-maintenance reptiles if you ever wanted to try again. Once they reach adulthood (around 10-12 months), you can get by with only 2-3 feedings a week. They can go a week or so without feeding at all if their tail is properly fattened.

    I would never recommend wild-caught animals, especially reptiles. They may have so many diseases that bred ones tend to not have. Also not recommended to feed wild-caught bugs either, same reason; potential diseases. Store-bought bugs are much safer to feed them.
     
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  14. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    Yes, I would never attempt to make a pet out of a wild-caught animal now. But back then (back in the 1950s when I was a child) we didn't think anything of it, really. I was animal crazy, and would have kept anything if I'd had the chance. Honestly, when I think of how ignorant we were back then, it really makes me hang my head in shame. Now I hate to see an animal in captivity that isn't provided with ideal habitat, etc, even if it's not wild-caught.

    We were never ever consciously cruel to animals, but there was so much we didn't know. I suspect the baby turtle died because we didn't know enough to give it a warm place to bask, or heaven only knows what else we did to the poor wee thing. I have a very strong memory of feeding it iceberg lettuce, and the little turtle gobbling it up. We bought packaged 'turtle food' and I can still remember what the box looked like. I think it was mainly dried insects, etc.

    I also remember what it was like to hold the turtle, and it's scratchy little claws. It lived in one of those stupid little dimestore habitats, with a plastic palm tree. The poor little guy.
     
  15. Kenson

    Kenson New Member

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    Yea, I provide Chomper with 3 hides, hot, warm, cold so no matter what, he has one he can go in. I have a coconut fiber substrate that the shop used so he has a familiar flooring, and tried to make it look a bit naturalistic.
     
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  16. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    You sound like an excellent pet owner. That's comfortable habitat you're providing. (This thread has motivated me to read up on the subject online.)
     
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  17. Kenson

    Kenson New Member

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    I do try to keep him as comfortable as possible! Such a cute gecko.
     
  18. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    Leopard Geckos and Bearded Dragons are the two most popular lizard pets, apparently. I actually think the lady I saw on the bus had a Bearded Dragon, not an Iguana. It was hard to tell, because he was in a plastic container that wasn't entirely transparent, but the colour was beige, and I didn't get a really good look at him. But on reflection, I think that's what he was.
     
  19. Kenson

    Kenson New Member

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    Technically, Leopards are Geckos, and Beardies are Lizards. Similar, but a bit different. :)
     
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  20. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    I'm learning new stuff again today. :) I guess I always assumed that geckos WERE lizards.
     
  21. Kenson

    Kenson New Member

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    They're both classified under Reptiles, But a "Gecko" is technically a sub-type of lizard, classified on their own, but they are also different.

    According to a website, Diffen:
    "Lizards are reptiles of the order Squamata, normally possessing four legs, external ear openings, and movable eyelids. Geckos are small to average sized lizards belonging to the family Gekkonidae which are found in warm climates throughout the world. Geckos differ from other lizards in terms of their living conditions, physical characteristics, and their eating habits."

    They have similarities, but also some key differences. :)
     
  22. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    I've always had the impression that geckos were really fast-moving creatures, and maybe difficult to capture if they 'get loose.' Is that true?
     
  23. Kenson

    Kenson New Member

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    Oh, I know this personally haha. Chomper was in the bowl I use to weigh him, and he escaped and got underneath the tank (since its' raised up about .75 inches). We had to completely block off one side and life the tank carefully with another person just to get him out and back into the tank. But that was months ago when he was more skittish. He's a lot more used to me now, so he doesn't really dash around as much while I'm handling.
     
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  24. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    A funny story about another small pet. My sister had a hamster, and the hamster escaped while its normal cage was being cleaned. The whole family turned out to look for the wee guy ...my sister, her husband, son, daughter AND their Old English Sheepdog. Hours passed, no luck. They were even worried that the hamster had managed to get out of the house through an open window, as it was summertime.

    However, at the end of the day, their dog appeared with a very strange expression on his face. He went up to my sister, put his head on her lap, opened his mouth ...and the hamster ran out of it. The hamster was a bit soggy, but none the worse for wear. The dog was the one who actually found the little guy! :)
     
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  25. Kenson

    Kenson New Member

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    Dogs are amazing pets, as well. :)
     
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