Suzie

Oh wow so you have a faithful VT who you mentioned cares about you and calls you every single time she does not see you in Church AND amazing home teachers who besides going to your home and sharing the message also provide service by fixing your sprinklers! What a wonderful group of Saints! I wish I had Visiting Teachers and Home Teachers like that! I suppose for many the glass is half empty but for others is half full. Count your blessings!

Crazypotato, I think in a lot of threads you seem to share the same opinion. This is a forum where people share their views (positive and negative ones), I think most people know that so when a person chooses to post personal stories they should also expect that not everyone is going to sympathize with their story, not so?. That's human nature. :) The thing is if a person do not sympathize with whatever story, then they are judgmental and harsh. Geez, all these emotional stuff of judging, getting my feelings hurt and being offended are almost in every thread. It's getting old. It would be nice for a change just to focus on the topic. :)

Crazypotato, I am commenting on what it is written. I don't have a crystal ball. :) Of course there are two sides of the story. I am commenting in the exact scenario the OP shared. :)

Ray Bradbury is a genius! One of my favorite writers growing up.

There is nothing that this wife did that caused this man to do what he did. It was his CHOICE and if he is a man he should take responsibility for what he did. Nobody pushes you to the point where you will leave your WIFE sleeping in freezing temperatures in your car and you do not care at all. That's ABUSE. Whether we want to make it sound better by choosing other words, doesn't change the fact. Maybe some people who are in abusive relations themselves may think or rationalize this whole scenario in another different perspective by trying to share the blame but I believe that's just a victim's point of view. "He is not that bad, I am bad too because I made HIM do it...". Nobody has the right to treat another person in this way, no matter what. IMO, of course.

Oh wow, good thing you are not. :) I am not keen about the idea of closing threads because people start getting their feelings hurt or interpret things in the wrong way. If that's the case, why to bother participating in a discussion at all? IMO, as long as everyone is respectful then a good debate (even one with opposite and strong view points) should be welcome. I always say, if someone feels they cannot handle emotionally a thread (for whatever reason) or they do not like people disagreeing with their view point or challenged, then maybe they shouldn't participate in that particular thread and participate in others they feel they can handle. If someone results to name calling or hijacking threads then of course moderators should intervene. IMO, of course.

Completely.

I don't think is so black and white. I believe if a member is acting inappropriately with a minor and I am AWARE of it, definetely will talk to the Bishop about it, I will not wait for the predator to do it. Also depending on the whole story the police would be involved as well.

Hmmmm, Pam wasn't quoting you. She was quoting Jayanna.

Oh I see what you are saying. Well, of course that's just your opinion and I absolutely respect that (actually I am not keen about plastic surgery because most of the time the result hardly ends up looking natural). However, I think the only two points I disagree with you is: 1. Stating that it is a "sin". What is the basis for this? As any other sin, does it require repentance and even confession to the Bishop? Does it stop someone from entering the house of the Lord? 2. Blaming the person making the choice for whatever is happening in the ward. I absolutely disagree with that. In my ward, there are people just like me. Some make better choices than I do, others do not but I wouldn't expect to put the blame on them for my own choices. I am a big woman, not a wimp. Therefore, I would expect to have what it takes to check my own life and see what can I do to improve/change in my OWN personal life than be checking other people's boobs, tattoos or earrings. This is NOT for you but when I read things like the OP, it makes me think lots of people are so disconnected with REALITY. I have lived in different parts of the world where our brothers and sisters suffer hunger, deprivations of every kind, health related issues and so much more... and there are only a few who extent a hand to these sweet souls in those parts of the world and they are so grateful for whatever it is given to them because the pain is big and their suffering long. This is such a petty issue when there are so many URGENT matters. It saddens me that our priorities and thoughts are so screwed up and so self centered that we forget or neglect the REAL purpose of why we are here. The members of this ward I believe need a reality check, go out and do some serious service to people who are truly in need (breast implant sister included) and all those stupid fight over a piece of silocone, over whether is a sin or is not a sin, whether someone offended me or haven't, whether someone gave me a seat or haven't will GO AWAY! It is when we are so concentrated in our own selves and our own little world that we find these issues (breast implants) troublesome. My two cents for what they are worth.

I think you are confusing "defending" with not making a big deal about it.

It seems almost like an obsession. So what about the rich brother who drives he latest porsche to Church? Will he be the cause of contention and "cancer" in the ward after all there are so many poor saints or those who cannot afford such luxury and they may put themselves in debt in order to get one? We do not have control over people's choices but we DO have a choice over our reaction over their choices. If ANYONE feels they have to get a boob job after seeing someone in Church get one, then there is something really wrong (and it has nothing to do with the piece of silicone).

Just curious, are you married? Then with this logic, every woman in the Church should not dye her hair or highlight it, wear jewelry or put make up on.

How weird. Looking at other women's boobs? What is next? The booty? Geez. If they are bothered by it, they are probably staring too much.

Hmmmm but isn't there a difference between being shy and overly sensitive? At least in my observation, I know several shy people and in my experience they are not necessarily overly sensitive. The terms are not mutually inclusive IMO. I agree about being nice, however we cannot expect the other person NOT to feel offended even if no offense was committed (I am talking particularly about overly sensitive people). Sometimes the lightest thing offends them. I think as long as we try our very best and be nice, then we have no control over other people's reaction and perception. That's entirely their choice.

You, big bad FunkyTown guy CRY IRL? Wow, A hero has fallen. The world is coming to an end. Can we now return to the original topic?

Crazypotato, I would love this thread to return to the original topic in a mature way. This is not about me at all, also I do not understand why some of the points shared by others are being taken as a joke? It's kind of odd. I would please ask if we can return to the original topic. Now personally I can take a heated debate in a mature way (LOVE to debate) so as long as we all are respectful of each other (even if we strongly disagree), don't try to deviate the topic by using constant offtopic remarks or constant light jokes and not get all "emotional" about it (which I find annoying) is all great for me. Hope is great for you too as well as others. Suzie :)

Hey, Crazypotato you are free to say what you want to say without the humor camouflage eh. And hey, it's Raca. :)

For me, it's sad when a good thread gets locked just because people disagree and start getting emotional. I don't think this thread is getting ridiculous at all or "r" like you mentioned.

Love that quote, I will put it as my signature. Thanks! :)

Hey too many people is just one or two. Oh yes, I can concede that we should all be kind to each other. Can you concede that the REACTION you choose to have when someone offends you has nothing to do with the "offender" but is entirely your choice? (the "offended") :)

It's called figure of speech. It is sad though that you are assuming intention (just wanted to be "right"). Well, I suppose that's your opinion and that's alright. :)

Who told you I do not understand? Oh brother, trust me you do not know me, my past and my present circumstances. You would be VERY surprised actually. :) However, again is a matter of choices each one of us make. Drop it already? I didn't know you was my boss. :) I would hate to see this thread closing because we cannot discuss this issue without getting emotionally involved or personal so I propose to focus on the TOPIC rather than the person.

How was she treated badly? I fail to see this. She sees a purse in the middle row and she sits there (I would have personally ask anyone around if that seat is taken seeing that there is a purse in there but that's just me). So it's obvious to me that someone (or more) were sitting in that bench before she arrived, what is exactly the problem? Maybe the person in question just went to use the restroom with her small child and just want to return to her seat? How is it that informing someone the seat is reserved equal being "treated badly"?

Hmmm I am not sure if you completely see the moral in Elder Bednar's talk or what I am trying to say.... It's simple: It does NOT matter whether the seat issue is silly or whether it is not (and the person feels not welcomed, etc). The POINT is that in BOTH perspectives, we do NOT have control over what people say or act BUT we DO have control on how WE react. That's the point on Elder Bednar's talk that could be applied to most "I am offended" episodes.