Ran across this website. Not sure how long it's been up, but I think they make some rather poetic and intriguing points: http://falloutlifelessons.tumblr.com/

I mean this thread to be a welcoming place for general observations of life lessons that can be taken from New Vegas, or for discussion of existing ones on that website. The Ulysses one, "History really can save us" in particular...that pops out at me. It's really well spoken, both in a figurative and a more literal sense. When you go to face Ulysses and potentially stop him, history is both literally and figuratively saving you both. You're calling upon history to talk him down and you basically ARE his history personified.

Just thought there were some good posts and points on that website, and thought the subject matter in general was good, and one we might want to discuss.

Anyone got any "life lessons" they see in New Vegas, or particular favorites from the link?

If you hold on to the past too long, it may come back and haunt you. Sometimes you just need to let go and begin again. Something I took from DM, my favorite DLC.

I think there's lessons in Caesar as well. Or rather I should say, from Caesar. I name these because this are the ones most often overlooked and misunderstood.

"Sometimes love hurts. Sometimes people don't challenge you because they're [censored]s, but they challenge you because they care, and they wanna see you get stronger and improve."

I don't know if this is along those lines but I'll have a go at it anyway.

*clears throat* Ahem...

"LOTTERIES ARE [censored] AWESOME!!!"
- Oliver Swanick

That fit?

Without doubt, Dead Money had an impact on me that I've never felt from a video game. 'Letting go' is very important, IMO. I'm only 18 years old, so it's not as if I've lived enough of life to truly understand the meaning of some of the game's concepts, but I know how it feels to be consumed by envy, even if it's quite trivial. I can be pretty petty, and I do tend to take things personally. I should take a lesson from Dean's story.

I always find myself stuck in the past, musing aimlessly of simpler times. No point in that, really. Maybe that's more do with growing up, but I do find it difficult letting go of things, even if I know I can't have them.

Aaaanywaaaay, I have been a lighter shade of grey kinda gal until I met Caesar.
When I talked to him and heared him out and looked at the bigger picture I could finally open my mind and heart for the darker shade of grey.
That sometimes, evil actions can be justified in the long run for a greater good.

No idea if that fits but it has changed me.
I actually sympathize with the Master now and kinda wanted him to succeed after meeting Caesar.
And everytime I play a game or watch a film/series I always want to know more about the "bad guy".
I want to sympathize with them, I want them to have a reason for doing what they're doing.
I want to believe that few people are truly evil and that they all have a reason for why they do things.
That they have a moral compass and understand what they're doing might be wrong or evil, but that it's necessary for a good cause.

Sadly, I am often disappointed in the writing of the bad guys as their reasons are either just plain evil, selfish, idiotic or underdeveloped.
But I will always from that moment on, when I met Caesar and talked to him, hear the "bad guys" out and think outside the box and see if it pure evil, or a justified evil.

Never forget what yesterday taught you. Accept that what is done is done.

And with that in mind, make the best of the situation you find yourself in, and don't forget to help others to do so in theirs.

And people say games are a bad influence, fallout has made me think "good karma" whenever i do a good deed in real life

I would be willing to argue Caesar is a hero.

He challenges modern society and demands it improve. Even if he is antagonizing it, the when, where and how of it all is justified. He's calling bull [censored] on points that need to be called out, and forcing society to recognize and address them. Without Caesar, many flaws and problems of society would simply remain as they are. Directly, he's antagonizing all other societies, but indirectly, he's helping them.

As Legate Lanius says:

"My coming would've saved you. Set your people free in ways they cannot see. War would've tested them. Broken the weak with it's violence, yet allowing the strong to arise.
Violence gave you that strength, awakened you - I can see it upon your face, where two bullets left their mark."