narcimund

These people are mortally offended that gay people should make promises to stick together. And also that they should get financial security benefits. That's the crux of the matter. First Class Citizen Twice Over

Bill, that's a really interesting idea. Of course everyone realizes there's exactly as much basis for thinking 302.9 covers heterosexuality as homosexuality. Maybe we shouldn't go there... First Class Citizen Twice Over

Nightjumps, that is brilliant analysis. You are 100% dead on! First Class Citizen Twice Over

Actually, I wrote exactly the poll I wanted to. Your presumption that gay marriage would lead to other extentions of marriage is not a logical fallacy in my poll. It's simply an additional, unrelated issue. First Class Citizen Twice Over

Of course you're right. It wasn't exactly intended to "make sense" so much as make a point: Society benefits from stable families. Despite some people's opinion that only fertile, childbearing families are important, society benefits from stable childless families as well. And it also benefits from stable adopting families. Overall, stable family groups of all shapes are better for society than rapidly shifting ones. Stable families are good and marriage stabilizes families. Counter-examples abound, but overall it is true. Therefore it is in society's best interest that gay couples should marry. First Class Citizen Twice Over

ONE? Sorry to burst your bubble, but you're way behind the times. It's a flood and it includes B.C. as well. I know one couple personally who made the 6 hour drive north and came back governmentally married. First Class Citizen Twice Over

I like formal apologies. They clear the air, at least when both parties are WILLING to let the air clear. First Class Citizen Twice Over

Duece, you're absolutely right. I was hypocritical and unfair. In my lame defense, I was sufficiently drunk when I posted this poll that I let my deepseated bigotries get the better of me. In truth I don't believe all Christians are one thing or another. Christianity is so often used by the other side of the debate that it's hard to keep the two straight. But it's only a portion of the Christians who are making the fuss. Please accept my apology. -- Meunkel, I hope you'll also accept my apology. You too are a perfect gentleman and it was your innocent post about Dean that triggered my thinking on this poll. I shouldn't have associated you personally with what you were writing about. Again, there was a lot of wine with dinner last night and I hope you can forgive me. First Class Citizen Twice Over

Good question. -I- don't need shit. I've been in a stable, marriage-like, monogamous, completely independent relationship for five years. But I'm not asking for myself. Society-wide, it's clearly a benefit for there to be legal and social support of relationships like mine. Straight people get that benefit and Meunkel and Chuteless and Bush can't stand the thought of us getting that external assistance for some reason. They must want gay people to screw around. So I'm asking, overall, society-wide, does everyone agree with the Christians that gay people should get it on all day long? The paternalistic authoritarians are pushing for policy that promotes liberal, promiscuous sexual lifestyles. "Gay marriage" would move towards family-oriented lifestyles. Which is most desirable? Make your choice. Be pragmatic. First Class Citizen Twice Over

Enough of the vagueness. Let's stop talking about "redefining marriage" and "civil unions" and other buzz words. Let's get down to the core of it. Either you think societal support of monogamy is a good thing or a bad thing. What do you want gay people to have? First Class Citizen Twice Over

Yes. All US webpages have versions in every other language. If they didn't there would be riots, marches, and protests. First Class Citizen Twice Over

Um, yeah. This is news? First Class Citizen Twice Over

I love that book! First Class Citizen Twice Over

Did you turn the Cypres on? First Class Citizen Twice Over

For what it's worth, my first jump was off a similar bridge (with a better landing area) in complete quiet and isolation except for my mentor. I am glad I wasn't surrounded by gawkers and onlookers and critical eyes and cameras and music. Jumping off a fixed object is a serious business which deserves serious focus. I'm glad I didn't try to do it at Bridge Day. First Class Citizen Twice Over

Hahaha! I don't know. I hadn't thought about it. Why? Have you had sex with him? First Class Citizen Twice Over

I didn't SAY it was about me. I ASKED if it was about me. I suggested two choices: Either you keep a convenient list of threads to use against other people as well, or you only do that for me. Your answer seems to be that IS only about me. Odd how you're calling me arrogant when (A) I didn't say what you claim I said and (B) if I HAD said it I would have been right. I suppose I should be honored by all of this attention. First Class Citizen Twice Over

Wow. That unrelated thread is nine months old. Do you keep lists of threads by your computer to use against people? Or are you just obsessed with me? First Class Citizen Twice Over

There are people who judge everything from their personal centric position and those who evaluate the symmetric dynamics of the entire system. You can easily tell the difference. The first kind uses the words "us" and "them" a lot. "Us" is philosophically merged with the concepts of "good" and "desirable". Anything which challenges "us" is "evil" even though it's simply "them" acting on the exact same pattern that "us" is. This is the position which leads to wars. When children fight this way, adults smile patronizingly at them and send them to their rooms to think about it. When adults fight this way, innocents die bloody and painful deaths. The kind of person who evaluates dispassionately to find a wider truth usually becomes a historian, since when they apply their tools to current events, they end up hated by both sides of the conflict. "Which side are you on? You're either with us or with them!" "I'm on neither side. You're both being childish." "Ah ha! You're allied with our enemy after all!" "No, but your vast incompetance in basic rational thought could certainly lead you to that conclusion." "TRAITOR!" "Sigh..." First Class Citizen Twice Over

Oh, I'm sorry. Forget I brought it up. First Class Citizen Twice Over

It's patronizing when authorities such as this one (and George Bush is another) put ridiculous words in the mouths of the other side. It reminds me when anti-gay activists announce, wrongly, that gay people "are only obsessed with sex" or environmentalists hate industry, business, and success. Very nice try in making the other sides look bad, but you're just making shit up. Wouldn't it make more sense for us to presume they have at least internally consistent motives? The reason they're attacking us is revenge for decades of us attacking them. The US has played a heavy handed game of deceit, warmaking, and covert destabilization for many years. None of this is news! After all that we're chanting, "They hate our freedom"? Why not, "They hate our little puppy dogs and pretty wildflowers"? You and this judge might believe the US was within its rights all these years to do all the destructive things it's done, but don't pretend after causing havok (even possibly justified havok) in peoples' countries that they won't harbor massive resentments. And don't attribute it to nonsensical motives. Look with your eyes. First Class Citizen Twice Over

I count TWELVE threads in this forum that name Twin Falls directly. Whatever the ideals may be, the practical matter appears settled. First Class Citizen Twice Over

Actually, there was a very positive story in July. I posted it here. Unfortunately the paper's archive no longer has it, but I pasted the text. Previous thread First Class Citizen Twice Over

What's the value of sticking with the religion you were "born into"? Since there are a zillion religions and most of them have as a basic tenent that the others are flat out WRONG, most everyone is fucked. The religion you were born into is, by simple numbering, probably fatal to your soul. In other words, abandoning whatever religion you were born into is a great policy. Don't let random chance dictate the fate of your soul... go religion shopping! First Class Citizen Twice Over

(xpost from Places to Jump forum) Whatever you do, do NOT get mixed up in the annual Dominican Republic Air Force Boogie. It does not exist. You will lose your money. Someone who goes by the name Eugene Matos, who has some weak connection with the DR Air Force, announces once a year (coming up soon here) that for a small fixed fee paid directly to him you are entitled to a full week of food and lodging and all the jumps you like. People who have fallen for it and actually flew to DR have found such an abysmal situation that it's seriously hard to decide if Eugene Matos is a crook or just so ridiculously inept and stupid that he couldn't organize a lunch. To his credit, some people who went in 2003 actually were able to make ONE jump during the week. Others (like me) didn't even try to go after we were notified a week in advance the event would likely be cancelled. Do not fall for this scam/fiasco. For more info, send me a note. First Class Citizen Twice Over