sgallan

P.S. have you seen my gnome? I am a godless heathen and I kidnapped your gnome. There was a ransom but frankly the gnome and I have become drinking buddies so you can't have him back.

Time out works. They mess up again..... another time out. Long time. They move.... put them back. They talk, tell them you are not interested. They complain you don't argue, you just stay in their face..... sit down, shut up, and I am not remotely interested. In otherwords you 'win' and keep winning..... right away. And let them know you are going to win right away. I've delt with kids who - when I couldn't seem to convince them to stay under control on their own - became attached to the hip to me. They hate that. When they have earned your respect, at that point you give them respect and work with a new relationship. Kids like that will still test you of course, but it is easier to bring them back into line the second time. PS - I am the substitute in this school district they love to give the troubled grades and classes too. 7th grade at one school and 6th grade at another. With usually one difficult class in the other grades from 3rd on. A lot of kids think I am either strict, or mean. That basically means they have to follow the rules and do their work. The troubled ones usually test me right away (they learned), and you lay the hammer down on them instantly. The rest catch on.

"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow." "Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles." Or in my case just to make the bills and support a gifted child, and other peoples kids. Evil man that I am. "Keep them from spending time with their children." Now what is it? Make the bills or spend time with the kids on the streets? "Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives. " The models used to be appetite. But I knew where to eat. ;-) "Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Christmas." "Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his resurrection and power over sin and death." Bagging on the fat guy and the rabbit!?!? Now that is going to far! "Even in their recreation, let them be excessive." But of course. Life is for the living! "Have them return from their recreation exhausted." CLUNK - oww, I hate it when that happens. "Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead." Wait a second. Make up my mind. It was nature that got me exhausted. Now you say it is a good thing? "Keep them busy, busy, and busy!" Yeah, that making the bills thing while raising a gifted child, and helping with countless others does keep one busy. Surely it is the work of Satan. "Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus." Exactly. Doing good and having fun is the work of the devil. I think I need to stop all of that. Get fat, drunk, pray a lot, and die. "Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause." Wow..... it sounds like there is no way to win in this senario. I might as well find a cliff to jump off of. Sorry to rain on the parade but I find stuff like this terribly depressing. It reminds me why I want nothing to do with religion. Seriously, dammed no matter what you do.

Why did you not fit the mold? I certainly am not the "average" Mormon, but I get along. I do say it is true that if you are different in some ways it can epset people. So what? Suppose people would freeak out a bit if J.Golden Kimble or Porter Rockwell came back to life and came into a testimony meeting to adress the audience? It is way more different than that. I come from an entirely different than the usual LDS background. Every member my family has lived together outside of marraige with no regrets. Some have had kids out of wedlock. There have been substance issues within the family. There is a mix of religions (not all Christian) and non-believers. We have gay family. All of which we just consider part of life, and most of which most to many members have no real concept of as just being normal. It is why I can go into the prisons without judging those guys (some of whom are lifers that did some serious crimes) in anyway other than how they are as a student and a person in the here and now. I find members look down on such things and people in a big way. Sometimes it is a political partisan thing (like you do occasionally). Sometimes it is a 'of the world'. My peers are similar to me. We were a wild bunch as youth but we are in our 30-50's now and just mostly middle class folks living life. The life I am familiar with is so different as to be almost indistinguishable with the norm in this religion. And I wouldn't change much. The problem lies when - and you can probably imagine HP's doing this - in PH some of the folk start saying bad things about people I love and like. My family and peers, well it isn't all that condusive to "fitting in". And nowadays - if I were to accept an invite - I would probably say something very pointed and blunt. While the results it would give the folks something to talk for awhile, it would probably be not very nice on my part. Whose to say who is right. Me, or them? But they got the numbers in that environment so it is better to stay away. Anyhow, those sorts of attitudes, and all of the little guilts (WOW/coffee and any number of 'rules') made my ex disticntly uncomfortable. As an addict alcoholic with a crap load of some serious guilt type stuff, she didn't the petty (by comparison) guilts of this religion. And with her recent foray into drugs/alcohol/dementia I somehow doubt those petty little guilts would be constructive. It's just a different world we've lived in I guess with a conservative hidebound type culture not real condusive to understanding such things. Anyhow.... that's my view and you did ask. :)

We can play the example game forever. I have two first cousins I was close too who blew their brains out. Both did so while intoxicated/on drugs with easy access to guns. Too easy. Is this an argument for gun control..... nah, I am not for it. Just showing these examples are endless and go both ways.

If yo9u did move to Canada, the increase you have in taxes would decrease your disposable income for whatever pleasures or necessities you enjoy. How much are you willing to sacrifice for the government provided bennies? Health insurance would be nice. I am a single parent afterall. Now if I didn't have the kid it wouldn't be such an issue. If I die, I die. But until then it is. Also, will you so as so many Canadians do when they are sick and cross the border for certain things they need now that the government says they can wait 6-10 months or longer for? Beats the alternative...... going to the doctor when I can no longer wait just to be told.... it is to late. Or bankruptsy under the new laws.

I like it here. If I really hated it I would find a way to be gone. And you are right in that there are no nirvana's. I just think there are nicer socieites/nations to live in. For example I am without health insurance at the moment. One little accident and I could be ruined. Ignore a pain or health precurser because I can't afford it and I am dead. That and our crime rates, recividism in the prisons, incarceration rates, and so forth are abyssmal. So yeah, given those circumstances, and given my kids future in athletics, as well as education is good there, all makes Canada a good choice. Will I make it happen? Probably not right away, but if say the kid ends up in college there, then probably. It is a better fit for my political and personal values.

You'll note I always say "industrialized" or sometimes "first world" when making such comparisons. I like it here because it is my homeland and a first world nation. But I think other nations are better places to live. They are more humane and less violent then we are generally speaking.

Australia would be my second choice, but there is no wrestling there for the kid so it would have to wait until she is grown. In Canada womens/girls wrestling is a respected and popular sport. They do really well and are ranked second in the world. Reni may even end up there in college.

They allow you to freely vent your anger and the disgust you feel about us posters. And that my dear man is what you have been doing since you came back to this forum. Am I going to get a bill for your analysis? You have been so angry and bitter. It does stir up the pot though doesn't it. Got you going. Your posts are rather negative and on the cruel side. All of them? Or are you being over general in an attempt to have somebody who make you uncomfortable.... leave. Which sorta illustrates what I am talking about. It you are that unhappy here, then leave. Yup, just what I figured above.... Have a great Sabbath Interesting how you slam people and then say the above. Does saying it slamming people alright? Could you perhaps see how I might find it a bit disingenious. FWIW, I tried out your religion many years ago. The LDS are among the most outwardly kindest and helpful people I have come to know. But there were an awful lot of people like yourself who obviously didn't want people like me in your religion. Didn't fit the mold. And you know what? You usually get your way (it wasn't why in my case but it was with my ex). They leave..... and you then folks such as yourself often get superior by blaming it on them. And if you also think I am mean and bitter..... well I am a godless heathen...... who even tried your religion.... it is what I am supposed to be. Just meeting expectations.

You ever seen that town? We drive thru every year on the way to wrestle in Michigan. It's mostly empty lots now as it's been somewhat depopulated. It is considered the most dangerous town in the country and has been for many years. It's one of those places that if you are white, and have a death wish, go for a little stroll after dark. When I went through with Reni and Brittny a couple of years ago it was like 10:00 PM and with two young girls 13 & 9 I am thinking "not a good place to breakdown". Very rare I get nervous but with the girls in tow I did then. I understand about your friend. I see people in the prisons who - while they don't think it is mecca - prefer it.

I am sure you'd just love East St. Louis. It is in the United States afterall.

I'm sure Canada is swell too, but I prefer it here. Could I interest you in some real estate in East St. Louis.

but this is home and the greatest nation on the planet. There could be a difference however between the "greatest" country on earth, and the best one to live in. For my values, and current needs, Canada would be better. Generally speaking it is a kinder, more caring nation, from my POV. A kick butt economy and military, and some cool geography and people, do go a long way. So if I am 'stuck' here that works too.

Big deal. I've lived in the USA all of my life and guess what? We see things differently about this nation as well. And guess what again? We have hundreds of places that will not report crime in this country as well. You ever heard of the inner city? Happens all of the time. I've seen it in every nation I have ever been in. So this isn't news. Face up to it, the demographics with regards to crime, and the number of citizens we incarcerate in this nation, are abyssmal. The worst in the industrialized world. So having guns doesn't exactly help in this regard. Think of it though...... in a way I am agreeing with you. We need our guns. This country can be a pretty brutish place. And as I also said..... that genie has been out of the bottle for about 300 years on this continent. It's not going back in. Canada would be better though but I just can't afford it at the moment and Winnie might get annoyed.

But the thinking has been done for today. Terribly dry. I love that kind of humor. Everytime this board gets a little traffic this sort of thing comes up. Then the forum dies off for awhile. Then the regulars say "oh my, what have we wrought", ease up, maybe do a little marketing and word of mouth, and the cycle repeats itself. I get a chuckle out of it everytime.

Jason - Sort of makes my point doesn't it.

2. I've found a place with moderate to heavy traffic, with a variety of views (about 70% LDS is what I've heard). Ex's are here, the occasional Anti, and a few of us evangelicals. Trust me on this one. This site doesn't generate as much posting traffic in a year as a number of sites I go to do in a week. This includes some LDS (with many non-LDS posters). This also includes this very board that - when I first started coming here about 7-8 years ago - was one of those sites that generated a heavy amount of traffic. Now if you are comfortable here.... no problem. But I am not a big fan of over moderation, of threads being moved to locations where even long time posters know nothing about, and that sort of thing. Heck, I don't bash this religion except in political issues (even defend it from time to time) and it happens to me. It happens and when it does it usually slows boards down. It's happened here in a big way and has even happened a bit a Beliefnet though they seemed eased up some over there. Heck and even Strawberry - who used to be one of the sweeters ones (still very nice mind you) has become hardened by the process.

And Sgallen, don't buy into the idea that Europe has less crime. In Sweden you can have someone trying to break your door down, call the police, and they never appear. No appearance, no report to file, no crime. Now that is funny. With this sort of "don't fool me with the facts because I can make stuff up to prove my point" type thing I can say virtually anything, and it's every bit as credible as anything you might have to say. It is the perfect debate position. You cannot win nor lose because nothing is real or unreal..... it is all just made up in the mind of the debators position. I think we need guns in this country. Our incarceration rates are so high, and have so many guns, and violent crimes, that it seems we are pretty violent people (look at your shoot out to every situation attitude). Heck I should get a gun just so you don't cop an attitude and try to take me out. Of course that could be exciting and I am nothing if not an adrenaline junky.

LOL..... yup, as usual different perspectives annoy the handful of regulars and the wagons are being circled. At least it happened quick this time. See ya again in a few months.

Open topics = Board Purgatory When things get to dicey around here they move topics to a place where you have to get "permission" to enter. Except that there is no way to know about it if you are new here and (unless things have changed) nobody really posts much there anyway. So it is basically purgatory.

You aren't my bosses, I'll post as I want to post thank you. And I have my 'godless heathen' thing to fall back on if I go overboard.

There is a certain "freedom" you get from not having principles. When you became a Christian you gained freedoms and liberties you never dreamed of...the things you lost do not matter....the same applies here. We have the constitution and it grants us things you cannot get in Arab nations, but we have list the permission to do certain things...things we have been freed of. Here we go again..... the good guys (Christian) and the bad guys (everybody else). Oh well, I guess as a godless heathen I better get to torturing, raping, and pillaging. So much to do and so little time.

Are you guys kidding me? I post at a lot of boards. Even moderate on a couple. You'd think a board with the handle of LDSTALK would have a huge amount of traffic. This one did a very very long time ago. But this thing is - generally speaking - about the slowest board I post on. With a handful of regulars who clearly do not want a busy board - except when things get to slow and it looks like the board may die. Then when things start hopping - like now - a thread like this pops up. It happens every time and has for years. Save posting the rules of engagement..... all boards have them. Some more strict. And they thrive. Oh, and I have been chased off several times. I haven't even got around to bookmarking this site (again) yet as I suspect I won't be here long.

First, I am not a gun control person. This is the USA and that genie is out of the bottle. I don't own a gun (they are expensive and I got better uses for my money) but my dad has a bunch of them and I like to shoot. But.... Europe is not a good example. They have far lower crime rates, a far lower incarceration rates, and are far less violent, than the USA. What they do over there seems to work very well for them.