ZBB Census 2016

[Vijay]

Hindi, Urdu, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian

To a large extent the first two, and for all means and purposes the last three, are single languages. So yeah, you are a braggart .

Lol, I know! I guess I wanted to point out that I can also read all of them (yeah I know, as if I wasn't enough of a braggart already). And I studied from a book that claims to teach Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian in tandem pretty much. First I wanted to learn Croatian (because one of my cousins on my mom's side was getting married to a Croatian lady in Croatia and her parents speak no English or apparently anything else), then Serbian (because another on my dad's side was getting married to a Serbian guy, and his mom doesn't speak English either)...so yeah.

[Pogostick Man]

Basics
Username: Pogostick Man
Birthplace: Cleveland
Place of residence: Ohio
Any particular reason you live there now? My family
Occupation: Professional conlanger, for what meager pay I can get
Pets (+5 extra credit if you provide photographic evidence): One dog

Identity
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Relationship: Never been in one
Nationality: American
Ethnicity: Mostly Indo-European
Religion: Quasi-Lutheran
Politics: Some mixture of libertarianism and conservatism

Measurements
Age: 24
Handedness: Right

Languages (including level of fluency!)
Native language(s): English
Other languages: Arabic (more than three semesters), Latin (three semesters), French (four years in high school), Oneida (Abbot's teaching grammar and that big dictionary from the University of Toronto—not very fluent at all), Kanien'kéha' (Kanyen'keha Tewatati—not very fluent at all), Cayuga (Wadęwayęstanih—not very fluent at all)
Your conlangs: The Caber languages, the Tim Ar-O languages, the Çuvvaccos languages, the Ban De languages, the Taltic languages, Kgáweq', Renłułe, Avestani, Raholg, the Macro-Putp'o languages, Late Night Conlang Project, 09/15 Project
Natlangs or conlangs you have interest in but have never actually learned any of aside from maybe reading a paper on it once: Oksapmin, Yup'ik

Favourites - only 1 each!
Favourite language: Arabic
Favourite colour: Red
Favourite food: Grandma's mashed potatoes
Favourite drink: Coca-Cola
Favourite animal: Dogs!
Favourite sport: Football
Favourite book: The Prefect, by Alastair Reynolds

Extra Credit
2) What's the most interesting place you've ever been to? Roswell

[rotting bones]

Basics
Username: rotting bones
Name: Kazi Amanul Islam Siddiqui
Other nicknames (including good stories, if you have any): rotting ham. My ironic nickname is Kazi, a singer in Indian Idol. I can't sing.
Birthplace: Kolkata
Place of residence: Land of the free for over a year now.
Any particular reason you live there now? Student.
Occupation: ...Student. I should get a job, I really should.
Pets (+5 extra credit if you provide photographic evidence): No. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if I were to eat them absentmindedly.

Identity
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Straight
Relationship: Single
Nationality: Indian
Ethnicity: Bengali middle class. (The stereotype says we are "whiter" than the American stereotype of white people.)
Religion: I don't understand the word "God". If you are not being nice to people, then you should.
Politics: Likewise, I don't understand "the people". If you could change the system to benefit the worst off, why wouldn't you? Are you an eldritch abomination or something? I don't hate eldritch abominations. I think they're awesome! I wouldn't care to be eaten by one though.

Measurements
Age: 26
Height: I don't know. Slightly shorter than 6 feet, maybe? Arab ancestry.
Weight: I don't know. I have visible fat, but I'm not what you'd call a fat person. I walk outside for hours even though I don't have to, just thinking.
Shoe size: I don't remember. I ask the salesman to fit me every time.
Blood type: O+. That one I know!
Handedness: Right handed. Do I get to claim ambidextrousness if I CAN write with my left hand, and my handwriting is just not very good? I normally tend to use both hands in equal amounts.

Languages (including level of fluency!)
Native language(s): Bengali.
Other languages: English, Hindi, Russian.
Your conlangs: I have one. It's terrible. I probably can't handle criticism.
Natlangs or conlangs you have interest in but have never actually learned any of aside from maybe reading a paper on it once: German, Ithkuil, French, Korean.

Favourites - only 1 each!
Favourite language: English
Favourite colour: Green
Favourite food: Masala dosa
Favourite drink: Apple juice?
Favourite animal: Mantis shrimp
Favourite sport: Brood war
Favourite book: The book of the world.
Favourite movie: Every single movie I have watched has slipped from my memory.
Favourite video game: For me, games have become what technical subjects are like for many people.
Favourite non-video game: After a while, my attention sort of wanders back to technical subjects.

Extra Credit
1) Link to the funniest picture you know of on the internet that isn't goatse. http://40.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lo6of ... o1_500.jpg
2) What's the most interesting place you've ever been to? I once visited a town called Ghatakpukur. The name means "seal pond". It's main industry was sorting garbage. If you think ordinary Indian streets look filthy, then this town looked like a town-sized pile of garbage with a town growing out of parts of it. I really identified with this town. I thought it was a lot like me.

[Znex]

Basics
Username: Znex
Name: Simon
Birthplace: Sydney, Australia
Place of residence: Sydney, Australia
Any particular reason you live there now? Not really
Occupation: Student
Pets (+5 extra credit if you provide photographic evidence): 1 dog

Identity
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Hetero
Relationship: Single
Nationality: Australian
Ethnicity: Anglo
Religion: Christian
Politics: Neutral~Left

Measurements
Age: 21
Height: ~165cm
Weight: ~50kg
Shoe size: 10
Blood type: ?
Handedness: Right

Languages (including level of fluency!)
Native language(s): English (Cultivated~General AuE with British influence)
Other languages: Ancient Greek (B1), Welsh (A2), Ancient Hebrew (A2), Mandarin Chinese (A2~A1), Nisuese (A1), Gamilaraay (A1)
Your conlangs: Pofp'ash, Nisuese
Natlangs you have interest in but have never actually learned any of aside from maybe reading a paper on it once: Basque, Japanese, Nahuatl, Yucatec Mayan, Dharug, Cantonese, Shanghainese, Portuguese, Georgian, Arabic, Proto-Germanic, Gaulish, PIE, Irish Gaeilge, Breton, Finnish, Coptic, Tagalog
Conlangs you have interest in but have never actually learned any of aside from maybe reading a paper on it once: Atlántika, leewefraaka, others?


Favourites - only 1 each!
Favourite language: Welsh!
Favourite colour: Blue
Favourite food: Wonton noodles
Favourite drink: Tea
Favourite animal: Dog

[Koko]

What better way to introduce myself to this board than to fill out this census thingy! (watch there be an introduction thread >.> )

Basics
Username: Koko
Name: Jonathan
Birthplace: 100 Mile (House), BC, Canada
Place of residence: Kamloops, BC
Any particular reason you live there now?: I'm only 16 and can't yet afford to move to Florence, Italy, so I'm kinda stuck here for a while…
Occupation: high school student
Pets (+5 extra credit if you provide photographic evidence): small, black cat named Spooky, and a small, salt and pepper shitzu-yorky mix dog named Leo

Identity
Gender: male, but more appropriately demiboy, but meh
Sexuality: bisexual, though more attracted to males than females
Relationship: none
Nationality: Canadian
Ethnicity: Cree (50%), Italian (25%)
Religion: Christian, unsure of which denomination, but probly likely to just be nondenominational and simply have Christian faith
Politics: hard left socialist with a dark, twisted fascist fantasy; I'm also a pirate (search pirate politics if you don't know what I mean)

Measurements
Age: 16
Height: never remember
Weight: 121~124? (lbs)
Shoe size: 11, but depends on shoe
Blood type: never found out
Handedness: right

Languages (including level of fluency!)
Native language(s): English, unfortunately
Other languages: Italian (B1?); Japanese (A1?); Danish, Lithuanian, Czech, Icelandic (A1); [Plains] Cree, Thai, Bulgarian, Korean (not quite A1)
Your conlangs: Isyan, Zokardi, Botan
Natlangs or conlangs you have interest in but have never actually learned any of aside from maybe reading a paper on it once: Lojban, Armenian, Malayalam, Hindi, Niuean, Friulian, Galician, Old Norse, Old English, Russian, High Valyrian

Favourites - only 1 each!
Favourite language: impossible to choose just one! I say… Italian on days starting with 0, Japanese on days starting with 1, Isyan (yes, my own conlang ) on days starting with 2, and Danish on days starting with 3
Favourite colour: black
Favourite food: chocolate
Favourite drink: coke
Favourite animal: wolves
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite book: impossible to choose just one!
Favourite movie: impossible to choose just one! Memoirs of a Geisha during Japanese festivals, Meet Me in St. Louis during Winter Holidays, Spirited Away in August, and LOTR trilogy during summer

[Vijay]

What better way to introduce myself to this board than to fill out this census thingy! (watch there be an introduction thread >.> )

Ikr?

Politics: hard left socialist with a dark, twisted fascist fantasy

Knowing you, though, I'd just note that I find "fascist" a bit of a misleading term (not trying to fault you here, just pointing this out for the benefit of anyone who might happen to be curious) since racism is commonly considered a characteristic of fascism, but AFAIK it's not a characteristic of your political beliefs, nor would it make sense for it to be since you're half non-white anyway.

Favourite movie: impossible to choose just one! Memoirs of a Geisha during Japanese festivals

Now there's a specification I wouldn't expect to see from anyone else!

[Xephyr]

Politics: hard left socialist with a dark, twisted fascist fantasy

Knowing you, though, I'd just note that I find "fascist" a bit of a misleading term (not trying to fault you here, just pointing this out for the benefit of anyone who might happen to be curious) since racism is commonly considered a characteristic of fascism, but AFAIK it's not a characteristic of your political beliefs, nor would it make sense for it to be since you're half non-white anyway.

What on earth are you talking about? It's entirely possible to be fascist without being racist, as well as to be racist without being white.

[Koko]

And thanks for that Vijay! Racism is definitely not characteristic of my beliefs I personally don't associate racism with just fascism though, it can be attached to even communism!

[Vijay]

What on earth are you talking about? It's entirely possible to be fascist without being racist, as well as to be racist without being white.

Both of those statements are controversial.

[Xephyr]

Why?

[Vijay]

Because there are varying definitions for both fascism and racism depending on who you ask.

[Koko]

I forgot to mention I'm a pirate! I'll fix that right away!

[Xephyr]

Because there are varying definitions for both fascism and racism depending on who you ask.

Yeah but that doesn't make them all equally valid. Definitions of "fascism" that only refer to race-centered fascism (as opposed to, say, nationalistic or religious fascism, or just fascism-for-fascism's sake), and definitions of "racism" that only refer to racism-of-whites-against-blacks (as opposed to, say, racism-of-blacks-against-whites, or racism-of-polynesians-against-south-americans), are both pretty worthless. What is the practical value of pointlessly narrowing the semantic scope of a term?

[jmcd]

I'll try to be a bit middle ground on the word 'fascist':
'Fascist' was initially associated with Mussolini, who wasn't all that racist. Nowadays, however, the prototypical usage of the word is to refer to an ideology wich includes racist elements among other things.

On 'racism', it can certainly be applied to people who aren't white, even if white are by far most likely to benefit from a racially imbalanced society nowadays (this side of the 15th century? 19th century?). Heck, you can be racist against asians when you're asian by self-hatred or be racist agianst black people when you're mixed race as part of a hierarchy.

[Vijay]

Because there are varying definitions for both fascism and racism depending on who you ask.

Yeah but that doesn't make them all equally valid. Definitions of "fascism" that only refer to race-centered fascism (as opposed to, say, nationalistic or religious fascism, or just fascism-for-fascism's sake), and definitions of "racism" that only refer to racism-of-whites-against-blacks (as opposed to, say, racism-of-blacks-against-whites, or racism-of-polynesians-against-south-americans), are both pretty worthless. What is the practical value of pointlessly narrowing the semantic scope of a term?

Even without getting into the debate of how pointless or not such definitions are, you can't deny that those are still commonly accepted definitions, and not everyone even on this forum is going to have the same views on the definitions of those words as you do. As such, I think there is indeed a point in clarifying that Koko does not mean that he is a race-centered fascist or a pro-white racist.

[Koko]

Even if the narrowing of said terms is indeed pointless, you still get those stubborn nongs who refuse to believe racism can't be used in reference to discrimination against majorities by minorities (which IMO is a ridiculous claim), and to avoid confrontation with these people we must be very conscious of what we say so as not to feed the beast. Same probly goes for fascism where they immediately think of Hitler and the holocaust and be all "Fascism = racist dictatorship!" I'd rather avoid such a discussion.

[Xephyr]

Even without getting into the debate of how pointless or not such definitions are, you can't deny that those are still commonly accepted definitions.

In my opinion, they are only "commonly accepted" by people with sloppy thinking. Take the racism example: I am aware that some people wish to tell others that only white people can be racist. I also find this view extremely sinister, and so should you. The first reason is that I view racism to be a moral failing (do you not?), and I also think that everybody, by virtue of their common human dignity, should be held to the same moral standards (When did this idea go out of fashion?). The idea that certain people would, by the completely arbitrary criterion of their skin color, be held exempt from a moral standard only makes sense either if A. you think that it's somehow "okay" for certain people to commit a particular moral failing, or B. you think that, like animals, they cannot be expected to behave in a moral fashion. Do you believe either of these things? I don't. The second reason is that it is inherently divisive: what on earth do you imagine the result is going to be of telling an entire generation of nonwhite children that it is okay for them to behave in a prejudicial way towards people of other races? I have an idea, but I'll let you make your own speculations.

@Koko: Well call me a stubborn nong, then, because I happen to think that both majorities and minorities are capable of choosing not to discriminate, and that therefore they ought not do so.

[Vijay]

Considering how recently we (exclusive ) had an argument on this forum about misogyny (and how well that went...), I'm really not inclined to have another one about racism (and fascism) right now, so I'll just respond to this point:

Well call me a stubborn nong, then, because I happen to think that both majorities and minorities are capable of choosing not to discriminate, and that therefore they ought not do so.

He's saying people who don't think like you are "stubborn nongs."

EDIT: Ah, I think I see what the cause for confusion was. He said, "you still get those stubborn nongs who refuse to believe racism can't be used in reference to discrimination against majorities by minorities" when he meant "you still get....who refuse to believe racism can be used..." Double negatives. Sigh.

[Astraios]

Basics
Username: Astraios
Name: I prefer individual people’s different nicknames for me.
Other nicknames (including good stories, if you have any): Yosefa Rabbit. I dressed up once as Jessica Rabbit.
Birthplace: England
Place of residence: Israel
Any particular reason you live there now? I moved away from my family.
Occupation: Something in academia would be nice.
Pets (+5 extra credit if you provide photographic evidence): A street cat named Gigi. He lives outside.

Identity
Gender: None
Sexuality: All of it.
Nationality: UK, Israel
Ethnicity: English of Russian Jewish descent.
Religion: None, though I’m officially a Jew.
Politics: I don’t understand them.

Measurements
Age: It keeps getting higher.
Height: 180 cm
Weight: Skinnier than you.
Shoe size: I forget.
Blood type: I forget.
Handedness: Right handed.

Languages (including level of fluency!)
Native language(s): English
Other languages: Hebrew, French, Russian, Persian, Yiddish, Arabic
Your conlangs: A lot of nameless unfinished projects.

Favourites - only 1 each!
Favourite language: Hebrew
Favourite colour: All of them.
Favourite food: Chocolate
Favourite drink: Alcohol
Favourite sport: The Game of Thrones.
Favourite book: The Historian
Favourite movie: The Marvel series.
Favourite non-video game: Sex

Extra Credit
2) What's the most interesting place you've ever been to? Dorne’s Water Gardens. (That is, the Alcázar of Seville.)

[Koko]

Well call me a stubborn nong, then, because I happen to think that both majorities and minorities are capable of choosing not to discriminate, and that therefore they ought not do so.

He's saying people who don't think like you are "stubborn nongs."

Yeah. Don't worry Xephyr, I agree with you!

EDIT: Ah, I think I see what the cause for confusion was. He said, "you still get those stubborn nongs who refuse to believe racism can't be used in reference to discrimination against majorities by minorities" when he meant "you still get....who refuse to believe racism can be used..." Double negatives. Sigh.

*facepalm* I even proofread that post a few times knowing something was wrong with it! Sorry for the confusion

[finlay]

Basics
Username: Finlay
Name: Finlay
Other nicknames (including good stories, if you have any): I hope not, frankly
Birthplace: Edinburgh
Place of residence: Western Tokyo
Any particular reason you live there now? For work I guess.
Occupation: English teacher
Pets (+5 extra credit if you provide photographic evidence): nada

Identity
Gender: male (half-hearted)
Sexuality: gay
Relationship: yes, but ldr and not seeming to get any closer
Nationality: uk
Ethnicity: white
Religion: no thank you
Politics: anti-tory

Measurements
Age: 28
Height: 168
Weight: around 80 - more than i'd like, especially since i hit my low of 69 kg after a weight loss regime in 2014, but a lot of the weight i've gained since then has been muscle so i probably shouldn't worry too much.
Shoe size: between 8.5-10 in uk, 27-28 in japan
Blood type: ?
Handedness: right

Languages (including level of fluency!)
Native language(s): english
Other languages: japanese at B1 (B2 when I'm drunk/confident), french at A1-A2, german at maybe A1 if I'm lucky, can understand dutch, can read and write latin using a dictionary, can muddle my way through other romance languages like spanish or italian if people speak slowly and use many words that have cognates in english.
Your conlangs: currently the main is yaufulti but also have a few others
Natlangs or conlangs you have interest in but have never actually learned any of aside from maybe reading a paper on it once: everything else tbh

Favourites - only 1 each!
Favourite language: haha japanese i guess
Favourite colour: changes depending on the day
Favourite food: chocolate let's be real
Favourite drink: beer i guess
Favourite animal: dog over cat, but apart from that ...
Favourite sport: cycling, skiing, swimming - it seems i'm kind of a loner when it comes to sports
Favourite book: harry potter lol
Favourite movie: my go-to is the fifth element
Favourite video game: enjoying starcraft 2 lately
Favourite non-video game: chess

Extra Credit
1) Link to the funniest picture you know of on the internet that isn't goatse. meh
2) What's the most interesting place you've ever been to? meh

[Jonlang]

Basics
Username: Dyolf
Name: Jon
Birthplace: South Wales
Place of residence: North Wales
Occupation: I'm not allowed to say, it's the law.

Identity
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Straight
Relationship: Yes?
Nationality: Welsh / British
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Religion: Atheist

Measurements
Age: 28
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 13st
Shoe size: 11 (UK size)
Blood type: A+
Handedness: Right

Languages (including level of fluency!)
Native language(s): English (fluent), Welsh (learning)
Other languages:
Your conlangs: Quebric
Natlangs or conlangs you have interest in but have never actually learned any of aside from maybe reading a paper on it once: Latin, German (I studied in school), Old English, Old Norse, Ancient Greek, Irish, Cornish, Breton, Russian...

Favourites - only 1 each!
Favourite language: Welsh
Favourite colour: Red
Favourite food: Pasta
Favourite drink: Guinness
Favourite animal: Is dragon allowed?
Favourite sport: Rugby
Favourite book: The Lord of the Rings
Favourite movie: The Lord of the Rings
Favourite video game: Final Fantasy VII

Extra Credit
1) Link to the funniest picture you know of on the internet that isn't goatse.
2) What's the most interesting place you've ever been to? It may not seem interesting to many people, but I recently visited York and loved learning about the city's Viking history.

[Burke]

Basics
Username: Burke
Name: Burke
Other nicknames (including good stories, if you have any): Burke
Birthplace: MA
Place of residence: MA
Any particular reason you live there now? Work and school
Occupation: Engineer, Computer
Pets (+5 extra credit if you provide photographic evidence): 1 dog who thinks she's a cat

Identity
Gender: M
Sexuality:
Relationship:
Nationality: USA
Ethnicity: Primarily Greek and Irish
Religion: Catholic, Roman
Politics: Nah

Measurements
Age: 27
Height: 5-10
Weight: 170
Shoe size: 11.5
Blood type: B-
Handedness: Ambi (thanks to surgery growing up)

Languages (including level of fluency!)
Native language(s): English, Greek (but not very strong anymore)
Other languages: Mandarin, Spanish, Latin, Old Greeks, sorta Hebrew
Your conlangs: Nawi
Natlangs or conlangs you have interest in but have never actually learned any of aside from maybe reading a paper on it once: Arabic

Favourites - only 1 each!
Favourite language: C
Favourite colour: Green
Favourite food: peppers
Favourite drink: oolong rock tea
Favourite animal: frog
Favourite sport: baseball
Favourite book: varies
Favourite movie: ~
Favourite video game: Earthbound
Favourite non-video game: Desert Bus

[jal]

Favourite non-video game: Desert Bus

How's that not a video game?


JAL

[WeepingElf]

And how is C a language?