[Tari]

"You must first understad yourself from the heart outwards, fully, before you can accept any other. Without this knowledge of the ways of your own heart you may never understand anothers."

In relation to Fantasy what do you think about this statement?

[juzzza]

Perhaps you should substitute the word 'heart' with 'imagination', and you've pretty much explained why mainstream find it so hard to give the genre any respect or time.

[Leiali]

That's a bit harsh Juzzza. I accept that Fantasy and Science Fiction is dismissed by a great deal of literary society, but I don't think that it means that there is a lack of imagination elsewhere.

But back to Tari's quote. I think that the phrase in question is a good idea in all areas of life, not just fantasy. It is something that I guess people would be striving to do for their whole lives, and not just encapsulated in a book. In understanding yourself, there is the pitfall of the changes in your outlook in life, understanding that can take a while! But I do think that if you are more self aware, you can have better empathy with others, and build a better rapport. Accepting both you and the people around you is hard work but not impossible, regardless of whether you always understand yourself.

[Apathy]

"Without this knowledge of the ways of your own heart you may never understand anothers"

Tari, that's hogswash. To understand what motivates people, you must have good perception, be in close proximity to them for a while, or hear their weakness/fears(and occaisionally strength, like faith or their belief in a cause or something they perceive as truth.)
Your little thing there sounds it came from some mystical self-help book.

"You must first understad yourself from the heart outwards, fully, before you can accept any other."

This sounds actually like good advice. Becoming married to someone and then finding out that each of you wants something different...

But really that quote in relation to Fantasy? To me it sounds kind of inane. A novel is a story. The authors do not really have to understand anything about anything, except typing, to punch put a story. They especially do not have to take to heart those two sentences for any reason. In fact if everyone in the stories understood another, and after all the nasty people were rounded up and burned, and people got over their embarrassment and anger, there would never be any conflict except the occaisional fire, tornado, or drought.

[Tari]

But really that quote in relation to Fantasy? To me it sounds kind of inane. A novel is a story. The authors do not really have to understand anything about anything, except typing, to punch put a story. They especially do not have to take to heart those two sentences for any reason. In fact if everyone in the stories understood another, and after all the nasty people were rounded up and burned, and people got over their embarrassment and anger, there would never be any conflict except the occaisional fire, tornado, or drought.

First question Apathy, wat does inane mean? im only fifteen and my vocab is limited compared to some people. Authors understand their stories and characters their situations and anything in relation to their novels. it's alot more than knowing how to punch some words into a computer.

not everyone in stories should understand each other, thats not what i meant when i types that quote. maybe i should ask you, in particular, what you think that quote means in relation to life in general as well as fantasy. i've read many fantasy's where they talk about chracters hearts and emotions etc, otherwise how else will you know the character. it's hard to know someone wimply from observing their actions, you need to get inside their heads and emotions to fully understand anyone whther fiction or real.

i agree if their were no conflicts between both good and evil stories would be boring. that is obvious to me.

[Heresy]

This is why, when you do not know what the word means and instead of looking bad on your part, you look up the word before you reply to someone.

Main Entry: 1inane
Pronunciation: i-'nAn
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): inan·er; -est
Etymology: Latin inanis
1 : EMPTY, INSUBSTANTIAL
2 : lacking significance, meaning, or point : SILLY
synonym see INSIPID
- inane·ly adverb
- inane·ness /-'nAn-n&s/ noun

This way, when you reply to someone, you don't look half-knowledgeable.

(Sorry, not trying to appear anal, just think that if you're going to complain about NOT knowing words in relation to other people, you do what the rest of us do...look them up and LEARN.)

[Tari]

This is why, when you do not know what the word means and instead of looking bad on your part, you look up the word before you reply to someone.

I'm not being rude but when i replied to that i was in class and not supposed to be doing anything but my assignment so it wasn't just a half thought of answer it was a hurried one despite it being long. do u know how hard it is to disobey a teacher whilst there's three of them lurking about the room, looking over peoples shoulders? once again not intending to be rude because i usually look things up so i dont look like such an idiot.

~ Tari

[Yobmod]

"You must first understad yourself from the heart outwards, fully, before you can accept any other. Without this knowledge of the ways of your own heart you may never understand anothers."

I don't think this statement has relevance to real life or fantasy. I freely admit to not understanding my motivations for some things, (and i think everyone else is in the same boat) but that doesn't mean i cannot understand or accept others.
The only people who think they know themselves completely have taken too many drugs :D

[Leiali]

This is why, when you do not know what the word means and instead of looking bad on your part, you look up the word before you reply to someone.

Main Entry: 1inane
Pronunciation: i-'nAn
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): inan·er; -est
Etymology: Latin inanis
1 : EMPTY, INSUBSTANTIAL
2 : lacking significance, meaning, or point : SILLY
synonym see INSIPID
- inane·ly adverb
- inane·ness /-'nAn-n&s/ noun

This way, when you reply to someone, you don't look half-knowledgeable.

(Sorry, not trying to appear anal, just think that if you're going to complain about NOT knowing words in relation to other people, you do what the rest of us do...look them up and LEARN.)

Heresy, that really isn't very fair - and is anal! Tari requested a definition -and have you seen how many people interpret words on this site and will not accept each others views? And by doing that has opened herself up to learning, instead of perhaps covering up the fact that she doesn't understand it, she has been quite brave and asked, and I applaud her for it.

Not everyone has the time and access, or patience to do what you ask! And I'm guessing here but looking things up would be like being at school, which is fine at school but on this site, interaction surely must be the key!

[juzzza]

I agree, let's try and keep things civil please, that isn't the kind of welcome we appreciate at SFFWORLD.

Tari, you keep asking away.

Heresy, as I explained to another member recently, this place is used as a resource by many, your post would have explained nicely what the word inane means if you'd left out the lecture, now perhaps you can post the dictionary definition of 'anal' and we can all decide if your post matches :D :p