Shield Frequency

[yokusa]

Yeah, the poll is specific, but I wanted specific results...

[The Devil's Advocate]

Ah but the DA in me goes: How do you define "A lot"? My answer was simple I'm ALWAYS sheilded. When I'm at home I'm at least double-shielded (not neccissarily just two shields but two entire SETS of shields.) It's that or go bonkers. As boring as Sanity is... full blown insanity is worse.

Edit: Also this poll has been run so many times it's getting old, and there's never anything NEW to it. How many times are we going to have to say "I shield all the time"?

~The Devil's Advocate

[innerfire]

I am also *always* shielded, while my overall sensitivity isn't too immense, parts of it are to the point where its pretty uncomfortable for me to even be in a larger chat room unshielded, or certain special events - one time I was just in a library, but I could swear someone must have done something to leave a mess there because there was just such a strong reading going on that it really screwed me up (of course at that time my shield had developed a rather large hole).

Note I'm also parinoid so shielding for defensive purposes is big too, even if my shields aren't good enough to block the attack, its better than nothing

[The Devil's Advocate]

I don't have that luxury, No One... It's not a matter of 'letting shields solve all your problems.' Are you stupid to wear SCUBA gear when spending protracted times underwater? No. It is logical, sensible precaution. In my case against the influnce of everyone within several MILES of me, at all times. "Focal Meditation" is next best thing to worthless in my case. Today at work was a really good example. Fun with overloads as everyone comes back to this college town for school semester and the local population doubles.

I do have a paranoia factor as well. I've been attacked to many times to go unshielded.

~The Devil's Advocate

[jaci]

."Are you stupid to wear SCUBA gear when spending protracted times underwater?"
No you're not but you can still teach yourself to hold your breath for longer *grin*. Ok seriously now, I do tend to shield all the time and I do tend to rely on them a fair bit often. However don't discount focal meditation as a way of also helping with this. I've actually been finding that it has been a help with managing the "noise"/overload factor as well, it surprised me how much when I was reflecting on it the other day. It's worth a try, you might find it helpful as well.

[The Devil's Advocate]

It's something I have tried. It has been less than useful.

~The Devil's Advocate

[lunin]

I don't keep it up all the time because sometimes I just need to rest it a bit so I can focus more energy into what I'm doing psionically. It is also sometimes fun to 'ride' emotional energy from large groups, especially if you can keep them happy and energetic, then allow yourself to follow that into the next group of people. I do keep it up as often as I can think to though, it can be really distracting not to, not even to mention the difficulty it gives in focusing on anything if bombarded and leaving yourself open if anyone attacks you (purposefully or accidentally).

[yokusa]

Sorry this post is kinda late, but I was asked a question and It'd be rude not to answer it.

"A lot" can mean whatever you as an individual want it to mean. A lot means a substantial amount or the majority. Since I had no way of making a poll that would fit everyone's criteria, I put this poll down in the best way I thought of. I don't think anyone had trouble answering the poll, and I thought it was pretty straightforward.

And perhaps this may have been a past poll or something, but I have never taken part in any poll or thread that has spoken of shield frequency in this way on this site. A lot of subjects may get repeated when the forums change or when the site makes a drastic change. And anyway, I think the forums could use any type of discussion right about now, whether you've heard the question before or not. I'm just bringing some discussion into the forums.

[paraplayer]

Never needed a shield. Never made a shield. Never even tried to make a shield.

[Cullen]

Have to agree with DA on this one. Always...always....always do I have a shiled up. Seriosly. You won't want to see me when I don't. My rooms are shileded, my house is shielded, I'm shielded. Empathy has its uses...but sometimes...... yah, it really bites.

[wolfdancer]

I always have at least two shields up. What I'm using depends some on what situations I expect to encounter within the next three days or so. Some of them are so instinctive now that I forget they are up. I have also found shielding my workstation at work to be very beneficial. The shielding on my apartment is relatively mild compared to what I've seen others use, but it useful. The frequency of direction specific shields depends upon how often my neighbors decide to fight or host drinking (and whatever else) parties.

[yokusa]

Oh yeah, by all means. In my opinion, shields are essential. Without them one is very prone to psi that we don't even see coming our way as well as psi we can detect, but can't block without shields.

[wolfdancer]

By all means what? Yokusa, I think I got the jist of your post, but you lost me as to what you were referencing in that first sentence.

[yokusa]

It seemed as if we were split into two different categories of "yes you should definitely be shielded" and "you don't need to be shielded" and I was yet to decide. There were also some comments of "I'd have to agree with this person" or "I definitely disagree". So I was saying "oh yes, by all means shield!" kinda thing. Maybe I could have worded it differently, and I was in a rush.

[The Devil's Advocate]

Alot of the shielding debate seems to depend in most cases (just from this limited sample and what I know of them.) on how large a passive range the individual has. Mine is measured in miles and I'm still trying to find a concrete way to pin it down EXACTLY how large it is reliably. (Yes I hate utterly subjective experimentation.)

~The Devil's Advocate