FunkyTown

I would go to your house in the middle of the street, but I'm like a rolling stone: With no direction home, Like a complete unknown, just like a rolling stone.

I was so disappointed when I found out I was an Ephraimite. I wanted to be a Danite! Get to be a judge -and- a thorn in the ankle of our brethren? Man, that is ONE SWEET JOB!

Hi everyone, My name's John. I've been a member for going on almost 6 years, now(I thought it was 5, but it was 5 on May 18th if you consider my baptism date the date I joined the church). I'm a big nerd who, in high school, was your typical arts geek. I try to challenge myself all the time, though, so I went on to become a boxer for about three years. Now, I work for Research In Motion. I'm eclectic and random. I love C.S. Lewis and G.K Chesterton. I love Prison Break. I love watching cartoons and eating cereal and hate to see people unhappy. I love the church and everyone in it and genuinely like most people, but sometimes people don't get my sense of humor.

Hahah. I love these sorts of questions(I'm a convert) because it boils down to one simple thing: Converts are seen as second-class citizens to people 'born in the covenant'. It's not intended and it's certainly not acted on, but it's definitely perceived by many. People treat me well, I'm respected and have friendships in the church, but I do hear these sorts of questions all the time. If it was irrelevant, we wouldn't hear the question. Nobody asks, "Would you date somebody who owned a blue shirt?" or "Would you marry someone who once made a matchbox car?" because those are perceived as irrelevant stats. The simple truth is that it's perceived to be something wrong. It's understandable, though, because converts -don't- have the knowledge of the LDS culture. Converts -don't- know when to stand, when to sit or who is important in the church. They make social gaffes and mistakes and don't know the simplest things in the church that 'everyone knows' in your area. It's something that's bound to happen in any social structure regardless of intentions - The outsider will always be treated differently because he -acts- differently.

See? You've gotta be smooooooth like me to ask someone out on a forum. Like I could use the super-awesome pickup line, "I may weigh eight hundred pounds and be unable to reach every part of part of my body when I bathe, but I do try. I'm thirty-five years old, I've never kissed a girl and I live in my parents basement. Please let me stalk you so that my mother doesn't think I'm attracted to men." Women love honesty.

Unix? You can't make excuses for her and you can't attack her for it, either. You are in a bad position, but what you need to do is back off. Your kids are smart enough to recognize hypocrisy, but you can neither make excuses nor attack her. If you make excuses, your kids will recognize that you're lying to them. If you attack her, they'll resent you because it's their mother. Seriously. The only thing you can tell them is, "We all have free will to do what we want. We just can't choose the consequences of our actions. You love your mother - Pray that her life is everything she wanted it to be."

I have to admit - I was one of those converts who joined the church at the ripe old age of 26 almost five years ago and I found it weird. Everyone in the YSA area was married by the age of 21-23 and the vast majority are in a different part of their life. Dating became far too strange for me within the church, so I turned outside of it. The average person outside the church gets married at 31. Inside the church, it's more like 20 for females and 23 for males. I still have an active social life and I still date, but unless I want to date a 19 year old or someone who has already been divorced and has kids and baggage that I don't have(Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it's not a spot where I'm at in my life) I'm stuck looking outside the church. It is what it is. I accept that.

I think this is a good question for many reasons, but I thought I'd chime in. Do I think 'Magic' in the way most people think about it exists? No. If, every time you said something in Latin or Ancient Greek something weird happened then Rome and Sparta had a lot of strange occurences whenever someone said "Pass the butter". On the other hand, there are miraculous happenings and even Biblically it talks about the inferior magics of the Egyptians. In India, Fakirs can do strange things. Is there such a thing as what the Aborigines of Australia call the Dreamtime? The truth is I don't know.

Welcome, Judy! You now have more posts than me, but welcome anyway. Feel free to post anything! Except for questions how to dance. I look like Baloo from The Jungle Book when I dance, just shakin' my bear-like bum all over the dance floor.

Just thought I'd chime in with a reply to the original poster - The idea that nice guys finish last with women is so pervasive and incorrect a notion that I thought I'd chime in and say what the real truth is: Attraction is not a choice. No one can choose who they do and do not find attractive. This is a truism for both women and men, but people don't realize it. Is there a gene that make women find men that are respectful and attentive attractive? No. Instead, there are several things that the average 'Nice guy' does that repulses women. 1) They don't show their attraction - This is the classic nice guy mistake. If you come across as a best friend without flirting or showing yourself as wanting them -romantically- they will not think of you romantically. Then, the nice guy pops out of nowhere and asks the nice girl out. It's shocking and jarring because they haven't thought of you that way. Why the jerk prospers - The jerk prospers in this because he doesn't -care- what she thinks. The nice guy is so nervous, he won't approach and will instead pine away from a distance. 2) Puppy Dog Syndrome - Conversely, another mistake 'nice guys' make is the puppy dog syndrome. They'll follow the girl around, hang on their every word and move when the girl commands. Think about when a woman has done this to you - Did you like it? No. You found it a bit creepy and off-putting. Would you date the puppy-dog girl? No. And the girl will not date a puppy-dog guy. Why the jerk prospers - The jerk prospers because he, again, doesn't -care- what the girl wants. He'll never be the weird puppy-dog. Instead, it becomes a game. Many people want what they can't have. How the nice guy can prosper - You might think, based on what I've said, that you have to not care what the girl thinks. This is not true. You -do- have to care. What the jerk has is a false confidence - A bravado that falls away the moment someone who's opinion he cares about pipes up. Be confident - If the two of you are planning something, have an opinion. Nothing drives women more crazy than a guy who doesn't care one way or another(And not crazy in a good way). Care about the way you dress - Believe it or not, women will notice if you don't clean your nails or can't color coordinate. Have interests outside of just her - Do not obsess. Obsession is not attractive. Learn to take rejection - Sometimes, a girl will say no. Big deal. Move on and don't give it a second thought. Just as importantly - This will go against every fiber of your being, but it's true. We have to learn to drive, to exercise properly and even dress ourselves. Every skill in life is learned and it's no shame to do so. If you're having issues dating, learn how to attract someone. Talk to a friend, someone you trust - Anybody who is of a mindset to help you. Don't assume someone you trust will judge you if you ask for help. Just do it and it can change everything. Anyway, that's a strange first posting from someone. But if you don't believe me, let's ask the ladies - Whaddya think?