So You Wanna Be a Hero By Supporting A Good Cause?

[Milan Easton]

Hola mi amigos,

I'm not sure if any of you have been effected by cancer in your life, but I've known a lot of people to succumb to the illness, including my dad, grandma, and my best friends' brother.  I've also have two friends who are survivors.  I'm going to be participating in the "Climb to Conquer Cancer" as a means of honoring them, raising awareness, and raising money for research and quality of life programs for those suffering from cancer.

The hike is going to be at the end of February and will end at the roof top of South Mountain.  This range is a beautiful desert region in Phoenix, Arizona.  You can see a picture of South Mountain here:

http://content.ichotelsgroup.com/destin ... 272_57.jpg

If you have the desire to support the cause, and have the resources, please feel free to donate!  You can access the donation page here:

http://www.acsevents.org/faf/donorReg/d ... =162489129

Also, if you have any family or friends who have had cancer, please let me know, as I'd like to honor them on the hike to the top!

Thanks for your support!

Anonymous Game Developer #1

[ThreeHeadedMonkey]

A good cause. My grandfather died from cancer.

[Milan Easton]

I'm sorry to hear that, Threeheadedmonkey   Cancer is really devestating.  I will be sure to keep your grandpa in mind when making my way to the top of the mountain.

Take care,

Anonymous Game Developer #1

[Angelus3K]

My Uncle is about to succomb to Cancer.

Good luck Brit!!!

[Quest For Glory Fan]

My best friend died of cancer when he was 14. If I wasn't so far in debt I'd easily donate but as it is I'm ashamed not to be able to.

[Klytos]

Hey Brit, having fought and beaten the big "C" in the last year myself I want to say that I think you're doing a great thing. Is the climb about a particular form of cancer (lympoma, breast etc) or just cancer in general?

Either way, it's a worthy cause and best of luck with it. Send us some photo's.

Shawn

[Milan Easton]

Wow, it's amazing to see how many people's lives are effected by cancer I'm really sorry to hear about your Uncle, Angelus...and your friend as well, Quest For Glory Fan  How long has your uncle been sick for?

Congratulations Klytos for having fought and prevailed!  I am so happy that you are doing better now--I can't even imagine having to endure that.  How has it effected your outlook on life now? I am assuming that nothing would seem all that challenging anymore, after facing cancer head on.  It's like, when I was in the police academy, they expected SO much from us--we had to put up with so much stress and classwork.  Then, when going and taking a normal college class, I remember the students complaining about the most minor of things--for getting homework, or for the material being difficult.  And, I remember just thinking, "whoa, this isn't hard?!  This is a JOY!  This is so fun, taking this class...these people are complaining about nothing!"  I am wondering if it is similar with battling cancer.  Like, did it change your outlook?  Do you now feel that things, that you used to think were difficult, are not as difficult anymore?  Do you have a higher tolerance for stress?  Just curious...

Thanks a bunch for the thoughtful comments.  The climb is for cancer in general--it's raising money for the American Cancer Society.  I'll keep you guys and your loved ones in my thoughts while climbing...and no worries about not being able to donate, QFG Fan...just helping to spread the word and raise awareness is a good thing:)

I'll try to get some photos!

Thanks again, guys,

Anonymous Game Developer #1

[Klytos]

How has it effected your outlook on life now? I am assuming that nothing would seem all that challenging anymore, after facing cancer head on.

I am wondering if it is similar with battling cancer.  Like, did it change your outlook?  Do you now feel that things, that you used to think were difficult, are not as difficult anymore?  Do you have a higher tolerance for stress?

A lot of my attitudes changed during the time I was diagnosed and getting treatment, moreso than afterwards.

When I was first diagnosed at the beginning of 2006, I didn't really think about it and I certainly wasn't stressed about it at all. I didn't really tell anyone about it besides my brother and my parents, because I didn't want a big pitty party about me. That said, I eventually had to bring my boss into the scene because I went into treatments which required time off work.

My outlook on life has changed I suppose although I didn't really think about it until you asked. I suppose I'm more driven to do something important or interesting with my life, which is why I've applied for university this year and I've become involved with a political party again. I also travelled to New York which had been a life long dream and got trashed with Blackthorne in Syracuse on Canadian beer.

One thing that changed after being diagnosed with Hodkins Lymphoma was that I suddenly had no patience for a lot of people I used to put up with or that I was even friends with. Some people are a drain on you emotionally and without realising what I was doing, in the space of a couple of months I had cut those people out of my life. One girl in particular was very depressive person, although we'd been friends for nearly 15 years, and I just told her I didn't want anything to do with her anymore. And it's strange and probably doesn't speak highly of me, but it's been better not having to deal with other peoples bullshit.

One of the things that helped me get through the whole thing was my brother being around and just going out for food or watching a movie or something. That was awesome cause he is very similar to me and knows when to leave me alone and when to want to do something.

Another good thing that happened was that I found I could pick up girls a lot easier (not that I'm boasting but it's never been really difficult to pickup. Big city = lots of options). I could go into detail, but I won't lol. I guess I didn't worry about rejection anymore. I still don't. It's very cool.

A rather stupid thing that helped was IA and working on KQ3. I found it relaxing to go through the bug lists, locate and destroy bugs in the game. One of the reasons I'm very proud of it and I defend it so vigourously is that I spent a lot of time working on it when I was too sick to do anything else. So when people critisised the game without playing it (as a producer of games yourself, I'm sure you know when people haven't even played the game), or blatently called me a liar because what I had said wasn't in line with what they thought the truth was, that really frustrated me.

All of which I guess brings me back to your question, and my answer is yes, I've changed.

Before I used to let a lot of things slide even if I found them offensive or wrong. Now I usually stand up for it, sometimes to my own detriment. I find I have no patience for people who are depressive in nature, or haven't thought out their position on various important issues. Like one girl said to me the other day that she wasn't for or against war in Iraq because it didn't effect her. I just looked at her and wondered what sort of world we're becoming when people don't think about things. I find I enjoy a good conversation with someone who's thought their position on an issue through, compared with stupid people who don't think about anything important. Not that all of life is about important big issues, but some things need to be thought about.

As for stress, I'm finding I don't have any tolerance for stress anymore. And the stupidest things stress me out. It actually pisses me off, cause I used to not worry about anything.

Things being more difficult or easier hasn't changed for me. What's changed is my opinion on those things. Some things I didn't like doing before I do now without thinking that I don't like it. I also find that I finish a lot more things than I used to. I used to get distracted a lot more easily and start something new, now I tend to finish things.

All in all, I find that I care about things more, and I think about the future more.

Shawn

[Milan Easton]

Thanks for the thoughtful response, Shawn.  I'm glad that you were able to take a lot of positive things out of the experience--especially the ability to get rid of the crap in your life that wasn't working for you, and also getting out and accomplishing some goals, and finishing what you start.  Your brother sounds cool, by the way--it's always nice to have a sibling you can get along with, who can be part of your support network.

And I totally understand the concept of working on normally tedious game related tasks as a means of coping.  Whenever I get stressed, it feels almost therapuetic to do really repetitive stuff on the game that most people wouldn't want to touch with a ten foot pole.

I am glad that you are doing better

BTW, here is a picture from the event:

[Quest For Glory Fan]

so if I induce stress somehow does that mean I'm getting QFG2 quicker?

[Klytos]

so if I induce stress somehow does that mean I'm getting QFG2 quicker?

No, it means that sometime when you don't expect it, a big fat hairy dude will try to sleep with you.

[Sinister]

My grandmother died of lung cancer and I helped take care of her during her last days.

Also one of my best friends had cancer (brain cancer) and fought through it, though today he is not the same person he was before I still help him out whenever I can.

Good luck on your hike it's a great cause.

[Quest For Glory Fan]

so if I induce stress somehow does that mean I'm getting QFG2 quicker?

No, it means that sometime when you don't expect it, a big fat hairy dude will try to sleep with you.

and it'll be the best I've had this year.