This man is an idiot

[jtabeb]

Re: This man is an idiot

And while you and I would probably agree on many things, I am equally sure we would be at odds over a great number of things.

I have met THE MOST varied segment of our society in the military. From trust fund kids to evangelicals who will argue to the death that the earth is 6000 years old, and everything in between. I would honestly have to say that my anecdotal experience does not support your hypothesis. I find little to be at odds against with most of the people I have in-depth conversations with, and most of those conversations lead to well-developed friendships.

I guess that I just haven't had the life experiences that you have. Which is okay. It is my perspective that knowledgeable discourse between informed parties quickly leads to a shedding of obstacles to communication and results is fairly rapid synergy. I hope you get the chance to talk to more people in the military, I think it might change your perspective on people as a whole. It has truly done so for me (and has been to my betterment).

V/R

JT

[Raz]

Re: This man is an idiot

I have met THE MOST varied segment of our society in the military. From trust fund kids to evangelicals who will argue to the death that the earth is 6000 years old, and everything in between. I would honestly have to say that my anecdotal experience does not support your hypothesis. I find little to be at odds against with most of the people I have in-depth conversations with, and most of those conversations lead to well-developed friendships.

I guess that I just haven't had the life experiences that you have. Which is okay. It is my perspective that knowledgeable discourse between informed parties quickly leads to a shedding of obstacles to communication and results is fairly rapid synergy. I hope you get the chance to talk to more people in the military, I think it might change your perspective on people as a whole. It has truly done so for me (and has been to my betterment).

V/R

JT

Thanks for posting your thoughts on that , jtabeb. Just another reason I'm glad to count you as a friend.

And thank you again for your service to our country.

[aaron]

Re: This man is an idiot

The sexual drive is the most powerful impulse of humankind behind that of self-preservation. The unrestrained sexual impulse combined with the casting off of restraint has destroyed relationships, families and even contributed greatly to the collapse of some societies. The very same people who want advertisements using Joe Camel on billboards banned, because they say (and rightly so) it influences young people to begin smoking will also defend pornography and offer no reasons why the viewing of such wouldn't influence people to more willingly accept promiscuity or even deviancy.

Homosexuality is not "normal"; if it were none of us would be here. It is a manifestation of the corruption of our nature due to the Fall. It is not some "super-evil" behavior that's worse than certain others, but just another of the manifold afflictions that some of us are given to struggle with.

I am a believing and practicing Orthodox Christian. I don't anticipate more than 1/2 of one percent of the participants on these forums will agree with me, and I couldn't care less.

You cannot find the truth by counting noses.

I disagree. But I rather enjoy your nice take on it. I think less than 1/2 of one percent of Orthodox "anything" are as tolerant as you are. Keep that in mind when counting noses.


------------------

I watch very little t.v. and have not followed politics until recently. I kept seeing this funny guy with a crazy lisp talking. I did not know he was gay, just an idiot. But, how does a promiscuous gay man represent the average American family? He has no fricken idea. He cannot relate. Does he even know how many families he wrecked with his crazy free-money-for-anyone policy?

He even said at one point it was all worth it - presumably because at least some people will get to keep their over-priced, over-mortgaged homes. He just does not get it, and probably in no small part because he is gay.

[KenD]

Re: This man is an idiot

I have met THE MOST varied segment of our society in the military. From trust fund kids to evangelicals who will argue to the death that the earth is 6000 years old, and everything in between.

I would admit to knowing pretty much the full spectrum of personalities and people that you mentioned, as well, as they exist outside of the military, as I'm sure you know.

I would honestly have to say that my anecdotal experience does not support your hypothesis.

I'm not sure how to address this section of your response as I am not sure if you are responding to my political predictions or any of the number of other topics I hit on.

I find little to be at odds against with most of the people I have in-depth conversations with, and most of those conversations lead to well-developed friendships.

Really? I find a great number of things to be at odds with people with. The very idea that torture under any circumstances could be acceptable bothered me beyond description. When Raz decided to talk about morality, as it applies to homosexuality, I find the fact that torture was not only introduced as a topic for discussion but that it actually gained traction, with any number of people supporting this as nothing less than abhorrent.

This is one of the many ugly subjects that there is no common ground for friendship to be found or a compromise to be made. I feel as strongly about this as I would if someone suggested that pedophilia be embraced by our society. Somehow I don't believe that either of us would feel comfortable befriending someone with those views. (Mind you, this is an absurdly extreme example, but I felt it would lay out a concrete foundation for the point I am attempting to make.)

I guess that I just haven't had the life experiences that you have. Which is okay.

Actually, I think it is a great thing that we have had different experiences in life, it allows for a broader exchange of ideas.

It is my perspective that knowledgeable discourse between informed parties quickly leads to a shedding of obstacles to communication and results is fairly rapid synergy.

The key modifier is "informed" and it should be pointed out that I would go as far as suggesting that the overwhelming majority of people do not qualify based on my experience.

If you need examples, take a visit to Free Republic, where the discussion often turns to why the president should be assassinated or how genocide against all of the liberal Americans is a noble cause. While that might be an eyeopening experience for many, Stormfront, the white power site, boasts well over 100K members. And then you might consider paying a visit to Rapture Ready for another eyeopening experience. These people not only believe in the end time (with every fiber of their being) but will vote for whoever they believe will work toward bringing them about. And yes, in the last presidential election there was someone that they were quite excited about.

These are not people I am interested in engaging in pleasant conversation, even though many, if not all of them, would be very nice people if I were to meet them on the street. I know that the Nazi Party only had about 3,000 members in 1930 and we all know the carnage that was caused when that movement gained traction.

I hope you get the chance to talk to more people in the military, I think it might change your perspective on people as a whole. It has truly done so for me (and has been to my betterment).

I know a good number of people both currently serving and retired from the military, many of which I enjoy a close friendship with. At the same time, the military can be an example in groupthink - certainly not entirely, but there is a lot of misinformation that is spread there and it is necessary.

I look forward to getting to know you better and the exchange of ideas going both ways as I am sure we will both be able to challenge each other and perhaps learn with a little luck.

[cjppjc]

Re: This man is an idiot

I have met THE MOST varied segment of our society in the military. From trust fund kids to evangelicals who will argue to the death that the earth is 6000 years old, and everything in between. I would honestly have to say that my anecdotal experience does not support your hypothesis. I find little to be at odds against with most of the people I have in-depth conversations with, and most of those conversations lead to well-developed friendships.

I guess that I just haven't had the life experiences that you have. Which is okay. It is my perspective that knowledgeable discourse between informed parties quickly leads to a shedding of obstacles to communication and results is fairly rapid synergy. I hope you get the chance to talk to more people in the military, I think it might change your perspective on people as a whole. It has truly done so for me (and has been to my betterment).

V/R

JT

If a person makes the effort you have to have an open discussion without trying to insult the other, your experience will always be the result. Most people want to be liked, and to like others.