The theory is that EVERYONE knows something, or at least knows how to find the answer. Trouble is, of course, that the things we know aren't always the things we NEED to know, especially when it comes to writing a novel.

This is the place if you have an idea and need help fleshing it our, or if you're hoping SOMEONE out there can help answer that burning question about the national bird of New Zealand or spring weather in southern California. If we don't know the answers, we might be able to help you find it.

Another good place to try your question is here.

I am going to preemptively offer my fact-finding and consultation services

I have a Master of Theological Studies degree and I focused on religion, gender and sexuality, with a little bit of politics thrown in. I mostly did contemporary religion as opposed to historical, but there was some.

I did more of the history of religion stuff as an undergrad; I also did a minor in Journalism/Mass Comm focusing on persuasive writing, media representations of marginalized groups, and technology.

So, feel free to PM me if you've got questions that you think I might be able to help you with.

I'll do the same as Jeremie, just in case, you know... you might want to PM something instead of posting it at first. Erm, yeah... *shuts up*

Okay, so my "qualifications" are nowhere neeeear as impressive xD

I live in England (helpful for if you set something in England and you aren't... there xD) I am 17 (teenager = hellupful) and I just completed Secondary School where I did allllll the usual topics, and additional science, music and child development. I am currently in college (UK college, so not uniiiii) taking English Literature, Psychology and Sociology. And I am doing quite well in them.

Also, I'm one of those people who just knows random facts that you don't know you know or don't think they're useful. So... yeah.

Stuff mainly on England I will probably know. But I do know a wide range of subjecttsssss

aaand actually, I could use some info if anyone feels equipped.

Psych people -- what can you tell me about pathological liars? The internet has been (unsurprisingly) contradictory. Generally, do pathological liars believe what they're saying? Or do they know it's a lie?

The background -- a character in my book tells a series of lies that increase in seriousness. She appears to believe them (she has panic attacks regarding some of them) but she's got enough presence of mind not to tell people that would know better or that could catch her and to get worried that the people she's lied to are becoming friends with those that could bust her.

Help? I need whatever I can get to get inside this girl's head and figure it out.

I may, of course, be totally wrong here, because that's a question that never gets a straight answer, so I will check it out with my teacher tomorrow.

Pathological liars can, like, start to believe their lie is the truth after they say it. Basically. That's what some people think. Others say they really believe from the start they are telling the truth (though that doesn't support the case where they feel they have to 'beat' everyone's story). I think this is either a matter of opinion kind of thing, or a different levels of pathological lying thing.

If you've ever met a pathological liar you can tell how difficult they are to work out, which is probably why we can't get a straight answer. As for your story, I'd say go with whichever you believe this character might be.

It's just an inconclusive question, which leaves it open to interpretation.

(don't know if anybody has anything else...?)

Heh, well that's the trick, isn't it. This character is based on someone I used to live with. The situations she lied about? Super serious... and when the topics came up, they were panic attack inducing for her. But she was really careful about her lies. So on one hand, it looked as if she believed fully that these things were actually happening to her, but on the other, she was super methodical.

I still can't get my head around it >.<

I think you need to start by looking at the motives for her lies.

Does she like so much that it has become a habit?

Is it control that she's after? Or avoidance of hard truths?

Were her patterns of lying established at a young age? By parental influence? By some sort of traumatic experience?

I think pathological liars are more likely to tell lies for no obvious reasons at all, so if its super easy to figure out a motive behind it then maybe you need to look at more than just 'pathological liar' as a label.

If nothing else, asking those kinds of questions and having the answers right there to refer to can help make sure that, when you are writing her, the lies she tells and the things she does fit in with how you have characterised her and it will help you keep it convincing for future readers.

I'm probably not particularly helpful here But I have found a few links that you may or may not have already come across.

Links:

Commentary: Getting at the Truth about Pathological Lying
How to Spot a Pathological Liar
Symptoms of a Pathological Liar

Here's my question (ready for randomness?):

What is the best way to travel a long distance with a large LIVE bird? Can you take a bird on a plane if you cage it? A train? Bus?

Geee Ern.

*eyes you*

Best as in what sense? Best for the bird or best for the pocket? International travel has far more restrictions so that definitely needs to be taken into account.

How big is the bird? Often household birds like parakeets and budgies etc can be taken as carry on luggage, but... yeah it totally depends on the size of the bird.

I think you should actually ring around to find out Call a vet, call an airline....

There is a lot of detail online about making your bird more comfortable, but it again depends on the size of the bird and also the reason fortransporting it.

i dont know if i can link to the site i got this from

okay, bear in mind this was written in 2006.



so basically, it depends on size of the bird, but car, plane, ship. I think plane is most comfortable way to travel long distance with the bird, (and yes, it should be caged)

i dont think you can take any animals other than service animals onto things like buses. (dunno about trains)

EDIT: In England, anyway.

Hmmm. I've seen a lot of strange animal things on the commuter rails (my favorite? a squirrel in a cardboard box with holes on his way to an animal rescue) around here, but never on an Amtrak. I guess that doesn't mean you couldn't... just that I haven't seen it.

Plane is preferred, and I guess I'm talking a chicken-sized bird. I just wanted to be sure it was feasible that a bird that sized could be taken on a plane. And yes, I'm talking intercontinental vs. international. I don't even want to think about the poor bird going abroad.

MWAH. Thanks, guys!

United Airlines - Traveling with Pets, Airline Guidelines & Breed Restrictions

For specifics I still think you'd need to call around

ME AGAIN!

Is anyone here a local (or VERY familiar) of either San Francisco, CA, or Atlanta, GA?

Hiiiii WriMo buddies!

So I'm a half hour in, and I need to know;

The average weight of an empty standard/family sized refrigerator

The average weight of a week's worth of groceries for a family of five.


No. Really.

I'm not stuck here or anything, its just something I need If I have to, next time I go shopping I WILL weigh my groceries and just... multiply it by five? Um. Help?!

This here says that the average weight of a refrigerator is 400 pounds.

Bearing in mind there's no sources. And it's WikiAnswers. BUT it's the best I can come up with.

No idea about the groceries, however. xD

haha, nothing like last minute!

Favorite name site?

I'm particularly interested in one that has a 'names like this one' feature or lets you sort by ethnic origin.

Bonus points if you can also find me a site that does last names.

Clearly Behind the Name: the Etymology and History of First Names is the ultimate first name resource and yes you can sort by ethnic origin as well as other awesome means. they also have a surnames site Behind the Name - the Etymology and History of Surnames

Other surname sites I use are:

SurnameDB: Free database of surname meanings and Last Name Meanings Dictionary

Yay! Thanks! Last name crises averted!

Okay, people, I kid you not, this is a deadly serious question...

Ready?

'K, good.

Right... you know when you push a door closed and it clicks, round about where the handle is...? Well... does that clicky bit have a name?

And if so... what is this name?

I've been calling it The Clicky Thing.

Granted it gets me more words... but still. I really must know xD Because... I just can't call it that if it has a name

I bring you... a diagram!

xD... People help me please.. lolol.. where can I find a snowy mountain at United Kingdom. haha. Give the exact place please and a picture of it if possible

Just a heads up before a I ask mah question... I am a Michigander so if anyone is writing a story in that area and has any questions, lemme know and I'll try my best to answer 'em.

And now... the question. DUN DUN DUUUUNNN.

Actually... it's not really a question. But I need to find an orphanage of foster home care facility in Montana that is currently still open or was as of 2004, and cares for children of all ages. So they can at least take in a ten-year-old.

I've been searching and I can't find any lists or anything. :3

Is there any supahsnazzy hotel in San Fransisco, that overlooks the Golden Gate Bridge?

And what's that silver arch-shaped bell you find on counters that you ring to get attention. Like, you hit it with your palm. Lol. I've been calling it the bell, and I think it's just actually a bell with no specific name, but maybe there IS a specific name? LOL. Just in case.

I think it IS just a bell No fancy name that I know of

Ok, I need some help. Does anyone happen to know a lot of info about any of the Ivy League schools? Right now I'm using Princeton but...any of them will do, as long as they're Ivy Anything like what the campus looks like, famous buildings, any majors they're particularly famous for, etc. Thanks!