I believe getting into one of my country's top universities and also becoming a high-ranking official of my school organization are the best achievements I have gotten so far. Although I hope to strive for the better and hopefully claim more achievements in life! Good luck to us all 

Of course! Just like muscles, if we don't experience challenges or stress once in a while, we won't improve and remain "limpy." Challenges are required for us to grow as strong, skilled and wise individuals.

Just as the old saying goes: "One who has overcome extreme hardship is much more worthy of praise than one who has led an easy life."

Elementary and secondary education will only give you general knowledge and skills, but will not give you masteries and expertise. Higher education is extremely important as it is what allows us to master what we want-- that's how we get doctors, lawyers, scientists and etc. And these are all very important contributors to society.

I think science will one day find a way to significantly increase the average lifespan, although I think it's quite impossible to literally/physically live forever (based on what science can explain for now).

I've also read a similar research, where they kept a dog's head alive for a couple of hours after decapitation. If it isn't fake, then by all means, I believe we can somehow achieve immortality--in the very, very far future, however. Still, it's a possibility.

Personally, I want to prolong life, but not be actually immortal. I want my life and the lives of my loved ones to be extra long, but I wouldn't want to live forever. I believe it can get quite sad if I live out the rest of my family and friends. But if ALL of us were immortal, then the Earth will have to pay the price because the population will eternally increase and increase while resources will be depleted. Just my two cents sir!

I may not be in the position to speak as I have no smerits to give myself, but I believe that is only fair. Honestly speaking, I believe the rank of the author should be disregarded and just base on the quality of the post if you're planning to give out smerits sir. I may be new here, but I've seen low-rank members post interesting and helpful posts that I think deserve merits. Just my two-cents sir!

Play offline games or watch TV series. The reason why offline games are better if you plan on relieving stress is because you wouldn't have to deal with other obnoxious gamers, or as what people like to call them: cancer

Watch The Office, How I Met Your Mother, or Community! These sitcoms will definitely help you relax and have fun at the same time. 

I agree with what you have to say sir, that burglar did deserve what he got. How could you violently rob a senior citizen? That is just way too low for a human being.

For me, however, killing should be the last option to anything, as I myself believe that I do not have the guts to kill anyone. Moreover, if someone uses violence against you and threaten your life just to steal your property, then you should not hesitate to commit self-defense and try to harm the attacker as well, and killing them would just be one of the many just consequences.

As a journalism student, I value freedom of speech more than other of the many rights we have as humans. However, freedom of speech has always has been a doubled-edged sword.

If there's no freedom of speech, then only those with power will get to choose whether an idea should be listened to or not--and that it extremely dangerous as there are a lot of selfish power-mongers out there. However, as you said, some people abuse that freedom and use it to pass their often misinformed and false opinions as hard facts, and that is one of the main problems of journalism.

There are a lot of people that are either intentionally trying to spread fake news, or just plain stupid as to why they can't tell if they should present their opinions as truth or not.

Moreover, I extremely agree when you said that the people's voices should not be muted but those spreading lies should get punished. Legally speaking, these are criminal acts as they can either be libelous or just plain misinformation-spreading. However, the sad truth is that only a few really get to pay for it. I hope our justice system gets to take these more seriously and add measures on how to prevent them.

P.S. Just to add to your list of examples, I believe the Flat Earth Society should be one too 

I we were to take it literally, then the planet does not need saving-- we're just like fleas living in a large organism. But as I believe that you mean saving the planet's organic nature and environment, then no, no we are not. It's quite sad that while there are lots of people who are doing their parts to save the environment, there are like a million more that either damage the environment more or just don't care.

However, even then, we should not stop trying to save the Earth. There is no planet B (for now at least), and id we want to survive as a species, we should start protecting the environment more.

Hello! I'm currently a graduating journalism student. Until now, I still have not decided whether I shall continue my studies and pursue law school. I first decided that I wanted to be a lawyer when I was in high school because I look up to lawyers so much-- even though I'm not sure if I have the guts to be one.

I know law is one of the noblest professions, and that it is extremely difficult to pursue. Now, my dilemma is whether I should try my luck and go to law school or stick to journalism. Is it really as hard as they say?

Are there any lawyers/law students in this forum? If there are, can you guys please share your thoughts whether it is worth it or not to pursue a law career. Thank you very much and more power to the servants/masters of the law! 

I agree with your picks! I would love to travel to Paris and New York, at least once before I die. But my ultimate dream place to go to would be Tokyo, Japan. Specially during the winter, because I would love to experience snow! 

I really love Japanese culture, from samurais to anime and all the like  I also love their traits as a people: disciplined, kind, and wise. I hope I can visit their country someday and experience their rich culture!

There are such things call "white lies." These are lies that are necessary for nothing bad to happen, and are oftentimes considered good. However, in your case, maybe it's okay-- for now. Always remember to lie as less as possible, because once you get used to it, you never know what you might be lying about someday.

Just always be careful so there would be no need for you to lie. Peace out!

Ahhh so bale wala palang time limit sa pag-attain ng merit, basta maabot yung required amount hehe. Maraming salamat po sa paglilinaw sir!! 

Maraming salamat dito sir!! Bilang isang baguhan, aaminin kong wala pa akong masyadong alam sa merit system. Matagal ko nang nagawa ang account na to, pero ngayon ko lang ulit ginamit. Buti na lang may mga guide na ganito para sa mga tulad namin 

Ask ko lang po sir, partikular doon sa merit required per month (sa column na merit / month needed**). Alam kong malayong malayo pa ako mag-rank, pero nais ko pa rin malaman:

Kapag halimbawa ba ay gusto kong maging member, kinakailangan ba na makatanggap ako ng at least 5 merits per month, bukod pa doon sa requirement na 10 merit overall ang meron ako? Or kapag member na ako, tsaka lang required na tumanggap ako ng 5 merits per month?

Sana malinaw ang pagkakatanong ko and again, thank you very much for this sir!

I also believe that yes, they do. Other than their social influence, they literally have more money to either hire more competent lawyers, pay off bribes, or pay bail to avoid jailtime.

Moreover, they just have more connections that can get them off the hook faster and better as compared to the poor.

I'm not European but thanks for this information, I was not aware of this.

People from all over the world, not just Europe, should be aware of this news. This affects not only the UK but will eventually affect all of humanity. I guess some of us are still too ignorant about such issues but this must be a wake up call.

We're slowly killing the earth and fewer things are being done to address it. Save natural resources!

It is because envy is natural for us humans as a species, as well as in other animals. Although it is normal, we should not let envy get the better of ourselves. No matter how envious we are, it should not push us to actually take something away from others.

Just to avoid confusion, being envious is different from being jealous.Envy is wanting what others have, while jealousy is the fear or the feeling of not wanting others to take what is already yours.

To quote philosopher Rene Descartes, "Cogito ergo sum."

"I think, therefore I am."

I think, therefore I exist. I believe that I am alive, as I am here now, typing this, breathing, feeling, and many more. I am sure that this is not a dream nor a simulation either. I believe this is real life, and that I exist in it, making me really alive as well.

Turning atheism into religion will only make it pointless, I believe. The purpose of atheism is to neglect the existence of God and to defy religion, so it would make no sense to make atheism a religion. Moreover, a religion requires that you believe in a superior being. So I guess atheists can create organizations and such, but can't call it a religion.

Other than poverty, I believe their upbringing and their emotional state has a lot to do about why the went into prostitution. However, I watched in a TV program years ago, a documentary to be exact, one prostitute went into prostitution just because she loves sex. She was not poor. So I think that's one factor to consider, however I still think that poverty and emotional health are still the main factors.