Articles written by Robert Lambert

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Arts & Humanities > Meaning of Life Is this a perfect world: 1 of 49
There are two objections that I frequently hear to the idea of a perfect world. The first is that the world is not or cannot be perfect, and the second is that the world should not be perfect. Both often involve descriptions of what a perfect world would be like, which usually amounts to there being no war or violence, no cr... More..
Arts & Humanities > Fantasy & Science Fiction The difference between science fiction and fantasy: 1 of 29
In analyzing the differences between these genres, and their similarities, let us first acknowledge the huge amount of variety in both. Fantasy is not limited to Tolkien, nor sci-fi to Star Trek. Fantasy stories can exist without magic or elves, and sci-fi can exist without space travel or aliens. If we're going to answer th... More..
Relationships & Family > Gay & Lesbian Issues Being gay as a choice: 2 of 17
If you ask the average gay man or lesbian this question, you are likely to receive a forceful "no!" in addition to a stern lecture on why being gay couldn't possibly be a choice. I fully understand the reason for this passion and I don't exactly disagree, but I believe that it's misguided. Consider for a moment: why does it ... More..
Computers & Technology > Hardware (Other) RAM explained: 2 of 14
I know that many people new to computing or who don't have an education in computer science can get confused about the difference between RAM and your hard drive. Both can be referred to as "memory," and they both store data, but they perform very different functions for the computer. RAM, or random access memory, is the com... More..
Pets & Animals > Dogs (Other) Should restaurants allow dogs in with their owners?: 4 of 25
I am not a dog owner and, while I do like dogs, I don't have any plans to own one in the future. I do not feel that the addition of dogs would improve my dining experience in a restaurant, and I do not think the rights of dog owners are being infringed upon by keeping dogs out. But when someone asks whether something should ... More..
Arts & Humanities > Writing Tips How to write an artificial language: 1 of 5
I am a science-fiction writer with an interest in linguistics, and my primary intention in writing this article is to help other writers who need to create the basics of a fictional language for an alien species. But alas, within that very first sentence we come across the first error that so many sci-fi authors make. Humans... More..
Arts & Humanities > Writing Tips How to create interesting characters: 10 of 44
In considering how to create interesting characters, we must of course first determine what makes a character interesting. Is it realism? Or perhaps conflict? Or uniqueness? Or is it complexity? Let us examine each of these, in turn. Does realism help make a character interesting? For a character to be realistic means, of co... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Religion & Spirituality (Other) Can God and Darwinism coexist?: 52 of 117
I see no reason that the existence of a god or gods and the existence of evolution should be seen as mutually exclusive. However, it makes sense that people who believe in evolution often become atheists or agnostics. I myself am an atheist and an evolutionist. The reason is not that evolution rules out the existence of gods... More..
Arts & Humanities > Writing Tips Tips on creating characters for your novel: 1 of 2
What is a character made of? This is the first question we must ask if we wish to create characters, for to try and make them without knowing what it is they're made of would be much like trying to make cookies without knowing what the ingredients are. You've seen finished cookies before, and you might be able to luck out an... More..