narcimund

No. Screwing around while seriously drunk MIGHT be a "mistake", but carrying on with a clear mind over a period of weeks is simply betrayal. You've seen this person's character. She chooses to betray you repeatedly and enjoys it until you force her to admit it. Then she pretends to change her mind. Saying the words "I'm sorry" is a game to her. It's a very clear picture of a sick and abusive person. Get out. Go find someone who deserves you. First Class Citizen Twice Over

It was five years ago this month. A mutual friend introduced us. The strange thing is he did it so badly. He told me he had an old friend who was incredibly intelligent. His friend loved to spar with wit, to compete in argument, to joust with meaning and innuendo. His friend was intense, without mercy, always looking to volley well thought out dialogue, but out to win. His one passion was to find a worthy adversary. On the other hand, he told his friend that he knew a sweet, thoughtful friend. Kind and generous and gentle with a vulnerable heart. Always supportive to those in need, striving to offer a helpful hand to those willing to help themselves. Trustworthy and trusting. Believe it or not, our mutual friend was right on both counts. He could have switched sides and told the same story to the other person and he would have still been right. The problem is not that he was wrong, but that he told one part to me and the other part to my not-yet lover. So as you might guess our first meeting (and those that followed) were strange. I entered thinking I was being challenged to a philosophical battle to the death, while he thought he was meeting a safe and nurturing partner. He said, "Hi. It's nice to meet you." I replied, "Oh yeah? I know what you mean by that!" For several months we tried to play out what we expected of each other and each hurt the other in our misunderstanding. Neither was satisfied or impressed, but somehow we both could see there was a truth under the falsehood we were playing out. Then one day we came together and decided to start over. We chose to consciously drop what we'd been told and pretend nothing had yet happened. We began again with a fresh slate. Within a month of 8 hour conversations it was clear we were each other's best friend. Within a year we both found ourselves single and after it became obvious we couldn't deny it anymore, we became a couple. The next four years are a long involved story with a bottom line that we're in love more than ever and an excellent team. We own our house together, have built a business together, and have dreams we're building together for the long haul. We both believe in ourselves but believe in the team even more. First Class Citizen Twice Over

Read my post and what it was referring to more closely, please. I'm not disputing opinions. I'm disputing erroneous statements of fact. It can be an opinion that something is or isn't nice or moral or appealing or revolting. It's a statement of fact, however, that a thing is or isn't true. My scoffing was at someone's statements which are overreaching, undereducated, and to be blunt, wrong. He attempted to make objective statements about things he has no information about and I do not pretend to respect those claims as valid on an individual basis. First Class Citizen Twice Over

My boyfriend and I each got one. His was too small and he sent it back for a bigger one. All three helmets had INCREDIBLY stiff visor action. They were so tight we had to strain to pop them open or closed. It took all ten fingertips pushing hard before the visors would SNAP! into place. We seriously wondered if they would open and close or break first. After a 1/2 hour visor loosening session ("Up! Urgh... {snap}. Down! Grunt!... {snap}. Up....") they finally loosened enough to use them. They're still loosening every time they go up or down. We wonder if we have more than a few dozen jumps left before they loosen TOO much and start popping open in freefall. (By the way, Sky Systems includes an instruction sheet that warns that all the visors have this problem and suggests loosening it this way. If I were Sky Systems I'd fix the problem, not document it. Speaking of documentation, Sky Systems really ought to update the instruction sheet. Terribly confusing stuff for what should be a simple product.) My boyfriend's helmet had another (possibly related) visor problem as well. The visor has become misshapen. The lower edges bow inward now, so it can't be closed just by pushing downward on the top edge. He needs to use his thumbs underneath to push the edges into position and his fingers to pull it down. Finally, their sizing chart is wrong. We both know our head sizes and their chart said I'm at the smallish end of "extra large" so it should be slightly loose. Instead it's extremely tight, but bearable. He was supposed to be at the upper end of medium and literally couldn't get it on his head. He's wearing an extra large now and says it's great. Now seriously, none of this is going to break us. We're adaptable. But who needs extra challenges like this in freefall or under canopy? Equipment should help, not complicate things. And who decided two-handed visor operation was a good idea? For over $300 each, we expected them to function better. I'm reminded of the BMW brand motorcycle helmets. One button pops the whole front of the helmet open (snick}. One finger pushes it back {snick}! That's elegance. If only BMW made sport helmets... Added several months later... Well, my Oxygn did what it was supposed to do - it saved me an injury. I got someone's foot in the face on a jump and the faceplate was shattered. I ordered a new one and it came with an instruction sheet for a different model, so I had to figure it out on my own. When things didn't fit together on reassembly, I called Sky Systems for help. The customer abuse agent who answered seemed to think it incredibly funny that I was having trouble with a simple problem. Even after I told him I didn't appreciate him making fun of me he kept doing it. In addition, the new visor came with weird white streaks all across it like someone had smeared mayonnaise on it then let it dry. I assume that's an antifog coating but I'd rather have fog. What a terrible company! Added yet a few months later (12/02): OK, yet another problem. Now my boyfriend's A3 lost a faceplate in freefall. Just popped open and snapped off. 60 seconds of terminal wind into his eyeballs.

My gosh but you're awfully certain of your ridiculous ideas! First Class Citizen Twice Over

I expect a nuke to blow in a US city shortly before the first election Bush might lose. First Class Citizen Twice Over

Mikkif, everything you write leads me to think the same thing of you. First Class Citizen Twice Over

I saw her perform twice. Amazing! What a showman. First Class Citizen Twice Over

Well, I sent off my registration fee! First Class Citizen Twice Over

I'll half-agree with you. The smartest are the ones who invite information, not those who argue from their own lack of it. There's a difference between saying, "I know next to nothing about X but here's my first impression ...," and saying "This is the truth about X: ..." when in fact, you know next to nothing about it. First Class Citizen Twice Over

A similar complaint was made on the BASE board recently. Someone was upset at the new "Gay Base #" being discussed. (And no, "Gay Base" does not refer to the base jumper's homosexuality. But that's a long story.) So I'll crosspost my answer here: First Class Citizen Twice Over

Is that true? I scan through the various things reviewed on dz.com and all I see are compliments. Look at the DZ reviews for instance. They almost ALL average to 5 out of 5! For some reason there's a heavy bias towards complimentary reviews on this website. First Class Citizen Twice Over

What is it with blue and black? Why are skydivers always wearing blue and black? How boring! First Class Citizen Twice Over

I bought a rig from Toronto this year. That involved shipping it to the US. I asked the seller to send it to my DZ as an escrow agent, but he didn't agree to that. Instead, we took advantage of a non-jumping friend I had in Toronto. I asked my friend to be my agent and visually inspect the rig for obvious injury or poor cosmetics. I figured if the rig was as good as the seller claimed, it would be spotless, tight, and shiny which my friend would be qualified to judge. They met, exchanged money for rig, then my friend shipped it through his firm which regularly ships expensive equiment to the US. He used his expertise to avoid duties, which I appreciated. Everything worked out perfectly. First Class Citizen Twice Over

Lest you think I'm a numbskull, I'm was quite aware of the irony as well. Notice I said Personally, I'm not a big fan of this new meaning and I DIDN'T say, "Gay" is an English word with a specific meaning and nobody can change it! Yes, words change meaning over time. It's only recently that I've realized the sexual aspect is being bleached out of this usage leaving only the raw hatred, disgust, and meaningless insult behind. Since it's been a deep, core part of my life since I was 13 to bleach out the hatred and disgust from the word, leaving only the sexual meaning, you possibly can understand why I'm personally not overjoyed by this contrary movement. 'nuff said. First Class Citizen Twice Over

Recruiting? Testing? How do you get that? I didn't ask if HE likes speedo pics. I just said I like speedo pics. First Class Citizen Twice Over

Viking, post some more pics of your boobies. Tight wet speedos ROCK. First Class Citizen Twice Over

Well guys, I think we have a conclusion: Each of you is either STRICTLY gay or STRICTLY straight. Additionally, it is morally WRONG for you to cross over and perform a sexual act that is not according to your genetic orientation. So here's everyone's assignment. Discover your true nature then live according to it. I'm going to go away and smile over this one. First Class Citizen Twice Over

Hamburger Hill? That's awful! First Class Citizen Twice Over

Mikkif, I think you're wonderful! First Class Citizen Twice Over

I have no bias one way or another on the question of how many gay people have a genetic predisposition, but I'd sure love to know how you come by this conclusion. It's not obvious to me. First Class Citizen Twice Over

I hope you have individual reasons to distrust these riggers rather than simply lumping them together as men. I mean, really. That's unfair to men AND yourself. First Class Citizen Twice Over

Why are you recommending the malecon hotels? I'm definitely not a resort kind of traveler. Time for a run to Lonely Planet. First Class Citizen Twice Over

Going back through cgross's posts, it appears that he's objecting to peer pressure somehow influencing people away from their natural heterosexuality against their better nature. His primary prediction is that the human race will depopulate. I've asked several times now why he thinks this. To get there from here he would have to prove that peer pressure to be gay exists, AND that it actually causes straight men to act gay, AND that these victims remain gay-acting exclusively for their entire lives, never reverting to women and commencing breeding. He'd ALSO have to prove that the numbers are increasing at a rate sufficient to catch up to the exponential increase in unconflicted breeding going on. It would be interesting to get a thorough, reasoned response. I don't expect one however. (Apologies again to goose491 for mixing up my responses earlier. I had a terrible headache yesterday.) First Class Citizen Twice Over

What a revolutionary claim! It must be wonderful to be omniscient. Most terms are. First Class Citizen Twice Over