Well masamune, I agree that its time to end this discussion. You really do come accross as closed minded, you critique my lack of ability to recite the FFVII script on cue but feel as though you do not need to understand any of the sources that served as inspiration for Advent children. Your Hackneyed fighting convention crack was very out of line, as you seem to be under the impression that all there is to martial arts is kicking people in the head, and dont seem to comprehend the physical, mental, and emotional conditioning that is required to obtain any degree of skill, and the neccessary understanding of these factors in constructing a proper fight sequence involving the practices of sword or physical combat. You seem to feel that your arguments should be respected and adhered to as law, while other points that are just as, if not more, well constructed are ignored or dismissed simply because you are not familiar with the material.

Ive also noticed that you just seem to be reaching for material in order to justify your arguments. You seem like a reasonably intelligent indvidual, yet you undermine this impression by stating that the geostigma is likely more painful then sword or gunshot wounds, thus simultaneously attempting to justify clouds physical prowess and the severity of the ailment. Yet if this were true then why arent there cases of children committing suicide, lopping off afflicted limbs just to be rid of the pain while shrieking and writhing in agony? A stabwound in itself is a very agonizing and painful thing, which if particularly severe and major arteries or muscles are cut, would impair the victim from functioning to full ability (like it should have affected cloud), so an ailment that can surppass the pain threshold in terms of severity would likely lead to people dying in a period of days due too exhaustion, seeing as how the human body would eventually exhuast itself as it produces adenaline and other chemicals that would aid a person to endure intense physical hardship. Thus any really deep and unbiased thought would lead a person to the conclusion that the writers (I should state "writer" seeing as how its my personal theory that nomura wrote the script on his own, as it bears almost all his hallmarks, but Im giving square the benefit of the doubt) couldnt see fit to write anything particularly poignant about the geostigma.

It seems as this discussion has really run its course. take pride in the fact that you've given as good an argument in AC's favor as anyone Ive met, but its not good enough. If you cant respect and appreciate someone with a superior knowledge then yourself in a certain field (as I did when I applauded your knowledge of FFVII's script ) then there is no point in continuing on, seeing as how intelligent and respecful discussion is an impossibility. You had some interesting, yet misguided posts in your thread, but if you want to hear of them feel free to pm me and I'll discuss it further. Otherwise I see little point in continuing a discussion that is just going in circles with little respect or dignity.