Why not? If you have any information I lack, I would love to be proven wrong. Isn't that the purpose of dialog?
Of cource you are right about the purpose of dialog, but the problem is that we start from different "bases" - i can not discuss the "Greek issue" without mentioning the structural problems which are not just financial/economic but also social/cultural (i.e., our "Othomanic" ways of doing things...). I dislike Krugman, and analysis of that kind, not just because i disagree with his "left-wing" views (i am not dogmatic - i understand that he has some good points), but because he chooses to ignores some facts, the most important of which is: if we Greeks don't change our ways of running our state, even if we start with zero debt, the next day we will be in debt again. I don't know if you live in Greece (i do), but even if you don't i expect from you to know few things about those "Othomanic" ways of ours. That is why i support this German imposed austerity to us Greeks: even if it does not work so well (or as expected) in its financial/economic aspects, it helped us Greeks to have a first level suplus for the first time in years - it imposed some things we had to implement on our own, but we never did until Germans (and the rest of "Troika") "invade" our country!
I have many data - but i need to know if you live (or ever lived) in Greece patrioti!
Come on... transsexuality has nothing to do with sex. There are transsexuals who are straight, gay, lesbian, whatever. To borrow a term from the O'Reily Perl books, it's completely orthogonal to the issue. Also, I don't like the SJW crapola that came out of Gamergate, or the people who tried to profit from it by lying, crying wolf, and claiming they were harassed into leaving their homes when it wasn't true. I'm also against quota-based systems and other politically correct "solutions" for gender equality because they just perpetuate the stereotypical myth of women needing a leg up because we're not equally capable.
I agree!
We probably agree on a lot of things.
"PROBABLY"? Are you stupid girl? We just agreed in so many things...
I'm NOT upset with you. Really.
I am really glad - i hate myself when i upset people (and you know how Christ gets upset when someone that pretends to be a Christian upsets a fellow human being).
And since you've taken the time to engage, I'll friend you.
I really appreciate your friendship - but take my advise in this and lets be real friend, so don't do it by pressing some web button: not because i have any problem with that, but because you will have (too much Slashdot stupidity, too many stupid Slashdoters)... just take my advise as a friend!
You must have a hint? How hard is it to Just look at my user name - Barbara Hudson - the same as I use in real life, in the courts, with the government, whatever. It's on every post I make:-)
You have a point, but to explain myself, please understand that i have personaly met with some "t" that were not comfortable enough with some real life name uses - i hope you understand. By the way, Saint Barbara is in Athens right now!
And as a former believer who has returned to atheism, I don't want to be "saved" a second time. In retrospect, once was too much.
You're certainly free to believe in your own salvation, but I'm sure you'd be put off if other religions went to you and said "You believe wrong. we love you and want you to be saved."
It's why when I see the Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons going door to door, I phone my neighbor so they can pretend they're not home. Why not respect other people's choices? The "great commission" in Matthew 28 isn't working any more:-)
Let's agree that we disagree for now, and leave it to time to make us both wiser!
Listen lady: my comments were not only about you personaly or "t" in general - they were about all the "alphabet" (and it's not my problem that you personaly or "t" in general want to associate yourself with that "alphabet"...)
Second, same-sex marriage is not an attack on anyone's religious beliefs, but plenty of bigots have worked hard to frame it as such. Think of it - nobody is demanding that same-sex marriage be mandatory for everyone. Gays and lesbians getting married is not an "attack" on your religion no matter how much you or anyone else claims otherwise.
The countries that have passed same-sex marriage have also included the rule that no religious practitioner (priest, pastor, whatever) can be forced by law to perform same-sex marriages, so we're even respecting your rights to practice your religious beliefs in your own way. We just don't want religions to obstruct the ending of discriminatory practices vis. marriage to LGBT. And yet, time and again this easily refuted accusation is made by fear-mongers.
Simply put, saying that civil unions are sufficient and that LGBTetc should accept that is an attempt to impose your beliefs on others outside your church, where you have no business doing so. When you say that ""i want to advise LGBTt people to stop being so irresponsible when demand (sic) their rights" you are treating them as second-class citizens; not only that, but you are publicly making it clear that you and your religion don't believe that equal rights apply to all. That is not "support." Being treated like a second-class citizen, without equal rights in law, is what is being fought here. If religions are against that, then maybe that is what is causing the flood of people who no longer take their beliefs from the church and only go there for the social aspects.
So, when you say that you support the right of LGBT people to "behave that way", you're simply not telling the truth. Marriage is part of people's behaviour. To deny it, and actively denounce their right to marry outside the church based on either sexual orientation or because their gender doesn't match their birth gender is not "supportive." What if people were to lobby that YOUR religion can no longer have marriages, just civil unions? That would also solve the discriminatory nature of the debate - NOBODY gets married. But we don't want to take away your rights - just equal treatment outside the church.
This is something that several religions have already addressed in a positive, inclusive way. Those who don't will just become less relevant to each succeeding generation.
I am not trying to destroy religion - the "religious folk" who engage in discriminatory behaviour and fear-mongering, and make their decisions on how to treat others without fully examining the question, are doing that job better than I could ever do.
And telling them that their life is sinful and they need to repent is NOT supporting the right of LGBT people to "behave the way they do." Far from it. It's paternalistic and insulting.
I'm just pointing all this out, is all. You publicly disagree with the rights of gays and lesbians to marry, well I'm going to defend their rights even though I am neither, just as they have defended mine. Same as I defend the right of Muslims to wear a turban instead of a hat while on duty as police officers. And the right of Catholics to wear a cross as big as they want (the government tried to pass legislation limiting the display of religious symbols a year ago - they got tossed out).
You know, there are both protestants and catholics who both say the same thing - "we support their right to behave that way, but they are sinning and need to repent and come to our way of believing or they will go to hell".
Let's agree that we disagree for now, and leave it to time to make us both wiser!
It is unclear to me why an AI living like a parasite on the information fed to it by humans and the fact humans are living will decide suddenly it can benefit from killing all of us.
while (true) {
[...]//TODO: make sure this "AI" thing knows how important we humans are - note: i mean REALLY TODO!
[...]
}
You total lack of knowledge on what transsexuality is, and bigotry towards transsexuals, shows.
O.K., since we have this "bigotry" word from the begining, i should treat the rest of your comment as i always do when i read it elsewhere...
You say I should go to church and I might learn something. I did - I was a fundamentalist evangelical baptist. Probably read the bible cover-to-cover more than 20 times. Entered the whole thing into my computer along with a program I wrote to do quick searches - back before the Internet.
Here's just some of what I learned: Christians are more hypocritical and less shameless about it than atheists. Their claims of "hate the sin, love the sinner" don't match up with their actions, and don't even make sense. You either accept someone as they are, or you don't, and want them to change to conform to YOUR beliefs. Who died and made them god?
But if you're going to answer one question, I'll pose this one again - where in the Bible does it say that transsexuality is a sin that I should "repent" of it? You yourself said that "i also believe that LBGTt people should repent for their behavior ". Please be specific. What behaviour should I repent of?
I hope your sexuality was not the only thing that conserned you when in church, so you had the chance to learn few things for the other topics Christianity is also about. Yes we Christians are hypocritical - i like to say that i try to become Christian! I don't think you are really interested in my theological knowledge about your medical condition - didn't i anwsered every other question you made clearly and honestly? About that "You either accept someone as they are, or you don't": the whole point of Christianity is to change us, so we become better...
Classifying part of the recognized treatment for an accepted medical condition as "sin" is dangerous. People who have "repented" and de-transitioned because of religious pressure are some of the sorriest, unhappiest people you will ever meet.
Why don't you conduct an experiment. You wrote "you can even try to go to some Orthodox/Catholic (or even Protestantic - i speak for what i know for sure) church and you will find love (not sexual, but brotherly/sisterly)." Get dressed up as the opposite sex and tell them you're getting a sex change. Walk a mile or 10 in my shoes (just not the ones with the stiletto heels - you'll break your neck). See how "accepted" and "loved" you feel when they say that "we still love you, but not your sin."
And some food for thought - would a male-to-female transsexual be allowed to marry a man in your church? Or, if your church only cares about birth sex, shouldn't they be allowed to marry a woman? I've never been able to get a proper answer from religious types who set strict rules on who can marry - they start sputtering and then mostly say "you can't marry a man because you're really a man" and "you can't marry a woman because you're not a man" and then, realizing the contradiction there, say "you can't marry anyone." This is what happens when arbitrary rules meet reality.:-)
I stoped wearing high heels when i was 5 years old - i tried my mother's shoes (when she was not home!), i almost killed myself (and from then i almost feel agony every time i see a woman trying to walk with them... poor ladies), and decided that this thing is not for me!
You should go to a Catholic church (or Orthodox - i say Catholic because they are more common in USA) and try to answer this question for yourself - but remember this: the church already has Jesus as its head... it does not need you to for that - act like a woman in church and you will be treated as a woman in church... so, keep you head down as a women must do... by the way:i am Greek.
And saying "wake up from your sleep boy/girl" is a slur, same as "Listen dude/dudette", th
Put simply, your expressed views on LGBTt issues ARE hate speech
I think that are LOVE speech - brotherly love from someone like me who wants LBGT people to be saved, as i want for everyone else...including myself!
Also, referring to me elsewhere as a boy/girl or dude/dudette is a slur.
You have to understand that when you have a signature informing people that "this post brought to you by the letter ' t ' in LGBTIt (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transgender, Intersex, transsexual)" (so, you have no problem informing me that you are a transsexual), then you have to provide a "hint" on how you wish to be addressed/refered - since you write that you have read my other comment where i address/refer to you as dude/dudette, you would have read that i wrote that i have met personaly transsexual people... in communication "face to face" i dealt with this easily, but from the internet i must have a hint... you surely understand the "practical problem"... o.k.?
Your post is still a lie. I specifically mentioned where you said "my religion is more important for humans (even LGBTt people) than some civil rights" and "i want to advise LGBTt people to stop being so irresponsible when demand (sic) their rights"
You claim that you agree with what Whiteox posted when he said "As far as I'm concerned, we should all accept (therefore not deny) everyone's choice to follow and act with any belief system they wish, as long as it doesn't interfere with the choice of others."
You lie. Plain and simple. Maybe you should apply to be Greece's next finance minister.
OK., let's try this again, but please you try a bit more - together, we can do it!
The best thing to do is let church be a church, and have civil issues outside it - like what happened in this case. YOU (and everyone else) should not try to connect this with religion because I AM religious: if my religion is threatened i would prefer to stop supporting LBGTt people - my religion is more important for humans (even LBGTt people) than some civil rights (that most LBGTt people will never even practice actually - less than 10% of LBGTt people plans to "marry").
As a person of religion that has civil rights to decide about such issues i want to advise LBGTt people to stop being so irresponsible when demand their rights: civil unions is your civil right, I support it - having sex with Jesus is not! Please stop suppressing my right to religion.... everyone will benefit from that.
I accept (therefore not deny) everyone's choice to follow and act with any belief system they wish, as long as it doesn't interfere with the choice of others (e.g., my religious choices ) - is there something you still don't understand? As i already wrote from the begining, i support civil unions between LBGT people - i don't like it (in the same way i don't like many things), but i support it... you have to relax a little and try to understand that maybe YOU can not differentiate between those simple things, but other people (like me) can. And my advise to LBGT people is to try understand this difference: we, heterosexual religious people, also citizens in democracies, who support LBGT civil rights, can decide with our votes about such issues - when LBGT people think that they must attack our religion to make us support them, then things become problematic... we already support them, what is the point on attacking us!
Anyway, i understand you have personal interest in this matters, so i don't blame you so much about acting this way - but you have to stop this "i accuse you" practice, and give me some answers too: do you have a serious problem with people like me (i.e., considering us as the "enemy") for believing LBGT behavior is bad, if we support the right of LBGT people to behave that way?
At least most of us are smart enough to wear a seatbelt and not get ejected from a vehicle.
Why this anonymous human being is modded down?
The two were thrown from their vehicle, police said. Media reports said the couple may not have been wearing seatbelts when they crashed. (source: BBC)
By the time Dr. Nash emerged from his disturbed state, his ideas had influenced economics, foreign affairs, politics, biology — virtually every sphere of life
is not scientific news, nor does the link point to any academic results. "Ask Ethan" is simply a popular-scientific discussion of results already known. So no News for Nerds, and hardly any Stuff that Matters, IMHO.
While i can't disagree with you (althrough i find this "Ask Ethan" to be good written, and deep enough, stuff), you must agree that this story is at least one of the rare Slashdot stories about something other than the usual TOTALY unrelated to "news for nerds" - in the one month i am a "Slashdoter" i managed to make so many comments about religion (i am a/the religious guy!) or the Greek economy (i am Greek!) for example, but only few about something related to nerds (but even then i did not felt so good: e.g., i insulted all the anti-systemd fundamentalists, so i felt again like a religious Greek fighting the barbarians...).
Yes, Greeks are misinformed also - while i support the Euro, i don't like the "terror" propaganda about what will happen if we leave it (althrough i understand that is necessary to balance the opposite ""EURO must be blamed for everything" propaganda). Anyway, it seems that we are the only 2 Greeks who have still some brains left in their heads... but since we disagree i must now insult you: ante spase re malaka (hmmm... unfortunately for me i remember you also wrote to that German "i don't want your money", so my insult does not work... kai se sebomai gia auto patrioti!)
Among other thing: it is now a law (an EU directive) that my religion's truths about many things (LBGT issues included) is "hate crime/speach" - so, i feel that my religion is suppresed (by the way: my religion -Christian- is well known about this "only those who want it must follow it").
I can't believe they did that, seriously? I mean, i could understand if they sold just the commersial part of their central/national bank (the agreement is that EUROzone central banks can not have such activities anymore, becoming parts of the European Central Bank - ECB), but the full thing?! To be honest i would not be so suprised if they did that - Dutch are great people, but sometimes they feel like they must prove to the world how much "ahead of their time" they are, so they go really extra stupid...
By the way, the only central bank(s) still not respecting the agreement is a) i think the Belgian b) I KNOW VERY WELL... our own Greek central/national bank (it is even in the Athens stock exchange!).
Thank you for appreciating my link AND THANK YOU FOR CORRECTING ME (i really hate mis-information: USA should be 14% AND GREECE 8% - i did not made it on purpose, i was going by the PDF table -no time for quality testing!-, and i was "heavely" rounding... next time i will be more careful, although even like that i think the data i posted was accurate enough!) - anyway, thanks!
When you say you don't like LGBT and "t", I would ask these questions, with specific application to transsexuals such as myself:
O.K., but keep in mind please:
a) i wrote "I don't like LBGT (and "t" - i like/. sigs!) - by the way, i am a Greek (Orthodox - which is almost like Catholics) Christian (note: my religion teaches, and my church believes, that LBGTt behavior is very bad, but we should love LBGTt persons)."
b) i mostly dont like LGBT (that is without the "t"), without that meaning that i like every "t".
c) i am not an "LBGTt professor" to know what the every letter means to every LBGTt
PLUS (and more important): please read again my comment, you may understand better its "spirit".
1. How do you justify that don't you like someone you never even met?
I HAVE MET SOME MURDERERS - I DON'T LIKE ALL MURDERERS. I have met some LBGT (and some "t") people - i don't like ALL LBGT (and most "t") people. Is it something unusual to write "i don't like murderers"?
2. Transsexualism is a medical condition. Why should I go against the advice of 5 psychiatrists, a psychologist, and my endocrinologist? I am not a doctor, so I defer to their judgment.
After 5 psychiatrists, a psychologist, and an endocrinologist? Neither i am a doctor, so i advise you to take their advise. Is LBGT a medical condition also?
3. Why shouldn't I continue to preserve my civil rights, and speak up for those who aren't so lucky?
I don't know! Why you ask me, someone who supports the civil rights of everyone, this question?
4.LGBTIt have always supported the right of churches to regulate who they marry IN THEIR CHURCH - just please don't impose your beliefs on either those churches who do perform LGBTIt marriages or on individuals who want a civil marriage. That's the law here, and there are zero problems with it. Why do you believe the fear-mongerers who claim that we want to force churches to marry those who do not share your beliefs? In other words, [citation required]. Among the 20 countries that support same-sex marriage, please list those that force churches to perform same-sex marriages.
Listen dude/dudette, i am not some kid, nor someone who knows LBGT people only from the tv - i personaly know people that organize "guy pride" carnivals, and i know their fucking "lets attack a church happenings". Plus, i don't know where this "here" is for you, but i am from Europe, where already some nothern-European churches must by law allow such "happenings".
5. My civil rights as a transsexual include the right not to be discriminated on based on either my former or current gender. I've had to take offenders to task before a tribunal twice just in the last year to ensure my civil rights are respected. Why should I believe that your religion is more important to me than my civil rights?
I don't like ANY anti-discrimination (race/sex/age/religion/etc) "rights", so fuck you for doing that to those people. Why should I believe that your civil rights is more important to me than my religion?
6. Why should I repent for a medical condition with an internationally-recognized treatment that is, in fact, recognized by many religions?
You don't have to repent for that - you can even try to go to some Orthodox/Catholic (or even Protestantic - i speak for what i know for sure) church and you will find love (not sexual, but brotherly/sisterly).
7. When you write:
As a person of religion that has civil rights to decide about such issues i want to advise LBGTt people to stop being so irresponsible when demand their rights: civil unions is your civil right, I support it - having sex with Jesus is not! Please stop suppressing my right to religion.... everyone will benefit from that
As far as I'm concerned, we should all accept (therefore not deny) everyone's choice to follow and act with any belief system they wish, as long as it doesn't interfere with the choice of others.
I am really glad my brother in Christ that you agree with me, and i agree with your extra addition to my point
What a LIAR! Or did you forget that you posted that 3 hours ago in this same discussion? You know, the comment where you state this model of intolerance for others, their rights, and their beliefs:
my religion is more important for humans (even LBGTt people) than some civil rights
and
i want to advise LBGTt people to stop being so irresponsible when demand their rights
So, please answer the 15 questions I posed underneath your comment wrt your beliefs vis transsexuals. I've got my baloney detector on high:-)
I don't think i am a "liar", i started my comment, as honestly as i could, with this: "I don't like LBGT (and "t" - i like/. sigs!)" - and i am sure you recognized the sig. Unfortunately it has been modded down as "flamebait" (i don't understand why), so people may just read the parts you quoted in your reply and miss the "spirit" of the comment, but fortunately you provided a link so... thanks!
I just read the other reply with the GOOD questions you made, so i will try to answer them.
Hello from Greece, my brother in Christ - this is more important for me than that you are also a fellow Slashdoter, even if being both a Christian and Slashdoter IS important for me... i just wrote this comment to some other fellow.
I agree with all the theological points you write about (most probably -since you know the Bible so well!- you are a Protestant! I am an Orthodox). Unfortunately, i also agree with what you write about Slashdot... and here is the problem for me: i am Greek! I came here for good discussions - or at least honest. I may be unable to contribute in good discussions, but i am disappointed from the dis-honesty of many Slashdoters: when it is o.k. to accuse Christianity for almost everything (even for systemd? i would not be suprised if i ever read such a thing here!), but it is not o.k. to counter-argument... then this is not a discussion any more. In Greek "discussion" is called "sizitisi" - it means "together asking [for the truth]".
In any case, i appreciate your message because some cultural differences that surely exist between a Greek like me and most of other Slashdoters (i understand that this is mostly a USA forum) make me think sometimes that it is something wrong with me: i strugle with my English, i make fun of non-Greeks by calling them barbarians, etc - i know understand that it is mostly what i already understood....
Even if homosexuality were a disease, I still wouldn't trust the CDC to tell me what percentage of the population had it. And it isn't one.
I have many other sources (from USA, UK, Europe) that put the number of gays, lesbians or bisexuals to what the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports: less that 3% - i posted that as a source because it is the most offical i think (by the way, this "Center for Disease Control and Prevention" studies and reports about many things, don't get upset by the name - i avoided to express my opinion about homosexuality in that comment, i will do the same in this, but if you are interested i already did it here... but it is already modded as "flamebait", so...)
The best thing to do is let church be a church, and have civil issues outside it - like what happened in this case
Well written. I agree with you. Let it be. Many people find comfort in church and as a Roman Catholic (the Western Rite), I have more respect towards the Eastern Rite religions like orthodoxy because they are much more community oriented, they allow their priests to marry and generally are more traditional, closer to apostolic faith.
As far as I'm concerned, we should all accept (therefore not deny) everyone's choice to follow and act with any belief system they wish, as long as it doesn't interfere with the choice of others.
I am really glad my brother in Christ that you agree with me, and i agree with your extra addition to my point - but as a fellow Slashdoter (about a month's old) i must confess to you that i am disappointed from Slashdot because the comment from which the part you agree with is from has been modded down as "flamebait"... what is the point of discussing this story if a religious person like me can't honestly express himself? Don't answer, it was a rhetoric question... i already understand what "Slashdot" likes...
While in some theological matters i find my (Greek) Orthodox Church more correct, we are almost the same church, hopefully we will unite some day - but i have a deep respect for the Roman Catholic Church because does more than us Orthodox in the good mission of speading the TRUTH... this is something that obligates me to defend it from the dis-honest attacks that are so usual.
civil unions is your civil right, I support it - having sex with Jesus is not!
Well, *I* want to get down on my knees and please Jesus.
And since civil rights seem to include freedom of religion, I'll thank you to not tell me that I can't feel his salvation all over my face.
No problem dude, do what ever you like (if you realy like that - please excuse me if i just advise you against it), but (even from this small part of my -modded down!- comment) try to understand what my point is.
If 10% of people are gay, then this impacts 10% of nerds.
Less than 3 percent of the U.S. population identify themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual, based on Center for Disease Control and Prevention first large-scale government survey measuring Americans’ sexual orientation - source. There are more "nerds" effected by their baseball team losing a game, should Slashdot report baseball results?
I don't run Apache, but I don't bitch when they put an Apache story on the front page.
Is this a good analogy for "nerd" stories and this story? And what about my baseball team's results?
Get over it.
What i can not "get over" is that i made a comment in this "NON-nerd" pseydo-"discussion" (in which only certain opinions are allowed...) that has been modded down because... you know why! So, it is not only a NON-nerd story, but you have to be a "team's supporter" to participate...
The funny thing my fellow Greek is that i am a "mnimoniakos Germano-Tsolias"! I believe strongly in austerity, i even support Germans invating Greece - but i don't like misinformation.
I must admit that i read your other comment you made to some German, and, while i am very against leaving EUROzone/EU, so i disagree with you, i found this "I support Greece leaving EU, like you support Greece leaving - no reason for hostility" phrase of yours something i can understand AND respect - it is so rare (for a Greek) to have an opinion for that issue that is without the usual rhetoric...
As a fellow Greek, you understand that if we start discussing this issue here we will end up going Greek with our "ante gamisou re malaka" and the rest that are usual between Greeks discussing politics! So, i don't want to discuss it with you because most probably i will end up insulting you... i don't have a problem insulting anyone, i even like it, but this phrase of yours makes me think that YOU may be this rare kind of Greek that does not deserve my insults patrioti!
Slashdot Mirror
Why not? If you have any information I lack, I would love to be proven wrong. Isn't that the purpose of dialog?
Of cource you are right about the purpose of dialog, but the problem is that we start from different "bases" - i can not discuss the "Greek issue" without mentioning the structural problems which are not just financial/economic but also social/cultural (i.e., our "Othomanic" ways of doing things...). I dislike Krugman, and analysis of that kind, not just because i disagree with his "left-wing" views (i am not dogmatic - i understand that he has some good points), but because he chooses to ignores some facts, the most important of which is: if we Greeks don't change our ways of running our state, even if we start with zero debt, the next day we will be in debt again. I don't know if you live in Greece (i do), but even if you don't i expect from you to know few things about those "Othomanic" ways of ours. That is why i support this German imposed austerity to us Greeks: even if it does not work so well (or as expected) in its financial/economic aspects, it helped us Greeks to have a first level suplus for the first time in years - it imposed some things we had to implement on our own, but we never did until Germans (and the rest of "Troika") "invade" our country!
I have many data - but i need to know if you live (or ever lived) in Greece patrioti!
Come on ... transsexuality has nothing to do with sex. There are transsexuals who are straight, gay, lesbian, whatever. To borrow a term from the O'Reily Perl books, it's completely orthogonal to the issue. Also, I don't like the SJW crapola that came out of Gamergate, or the people who tried to profit from it by lying, crying wolf, and claiming they were harassed into leaving their homes when it wasn't true. I'm also against quota-based systems and other politically correct "solutions" for gender equality because they just perpetuate the stereotypical myth of women needing a leg up because we're not equally capable.
I agree!
We probably agree on a lot of things.
"PROBABLY"? Are you stupid girl? We just agreed in so many things...
I'm NOT upset with you. Really.
I am really glad - i hate myself when i upset people (and you know how Christ gets upset when someone that pretends to be a Christian upsets a fellow human being).
And since you've taken the time to engage, I'll friend you.
I really appreciate your friendship - but take my advise in this and lets be real friend, so don't do it by pressing some web button: not because i have any problem with that, but because you will have (too much Slashdot stupidity, too many stupid Slashdoters)... just take my advise as a friend!
Keep in touch, okay?
I will try to stick around my friend.
You must have a hint? How hard is it to Just look at my user name - Barbara Hudson - the same as I use in real life, in the courts, with the government, whatever. It's on every post I make :-)
You have a point, but to explain myself, please understand that i have personaly met with some "t" that were not comfortable enough with some real life name uses - i hope you understand. By the way, Saint Barbara is in Athens right now!
And as a former believer who has returned to atheism, I don't want to be "saved" a second time. In retrospect, once was too much. You're certainly free to believe in your own salvation, but I'm sure you'd be put off if other religions went to you and said "You believe wrong. we love you and want you to be saved." It's why when I see the Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons going door to door, I phone my neighbor so they can pretend they're not home. Why not respect other people's choices? The "great commission" in Matthew 28 isn't working any more :-)
Let's agree that we disagree for now, and leave it to time to make us both wiser!
First, who says that I'm not heterosexual? I am.
Listen lady: my comments were not only about you personaly or "t" in general - they were about all the "alphabet" (and it's not my problem that you personaly or "t" in general want to associate yourself with that "alphabet"...)
Second, same-sex marriage is not an attack on anyone's religious beliefs, but plenty of bigots have worked hard to frame it as such. Think of it - nobody is demanding that same-sex marriage be mandatory for everyone. Gays and lesbians getting married is not an "attack" on your religion no matter how much you or anyone else claims otherwise.
The countries that have passed same-sex marriage have also included the rule that no religious practitioner (priest, pastor, whatever) can be forced by law to perform same-sex marriages, so we're even respecting your rights to practice your religious beliefs in your own way. We just don't want religions to obstruct the ending of discriminatory practices vis. marriage to LGBT. And yet, time and again this easily refuted accusation is made by fear-mongers.
Simply put, saying that civil unions are sufficient and that LGBTetc should accept that is an attempt to impose your beliefs on others outside your church, where you have no business doing so. When you say that ""i want to advise LGBTt people to stop being so irresponsible when demand (sic) their rights" you are treating them as second-class citizens; not only that, but you are publicly making it clear that you and your religion don't believe that equal rights apply to all. That is not "support." Being treated like a second-class citizen, without equal rights in law, is what is being fought here. If religions are against that, then maybe that is what is causing the flood of people who no longer take their beliefs from the church and only go there for the social aspects.
So, when you say that you support the right of LGBT people to "behave that way", you're simply not telling the truth. Marriage is part of people's behaviour. To deny it, and actively denounce their right to marry outside the church based on either sexual orientation or because their gender doesn't match their birth gender is not "supportive." What if people were to lobby that YOUR religion can no longer have marriages, just civil unions? That would also solve the discriminatory nature of the debate - NOBODY gets married. But we don't want to take away your rights - just equal treatment outside the church.
This is something that several religions have already addressed in a positive, inclusive way. Those who don't will just become less relevant to each succeeding generation.
I am not trying to destroy religion - the "religious folk" who engage in discriminatory behaviour and fear-mongering, and make their decisions on how to treat others without fully examining the question, are doing that job better than I could ever do.
And telling them that their life is sinful and they need to repent is NOT supporting the right of LGBT people to "behave the way they do." Far from it. It's paternalistic and insulting.
I'm just pointing all this out, is all. You publicly disagree with the rights of gays and lesbians to marry, well I'm going to defend their rights even though I am neither, just as they have defended mine. Same as I defend the right of Muslims to wear a turban instead of a hat while on duty as police officers. And the right of Catholics to wear a cross as big as they want (the government tried to pass legislation limiting the display of religious symbols a year ago - they got tossed out).
You know, there are both protestants and catholics who both say the same thing - "we support their right to behave that way, but they are sinning and need to repent and come to our way of believing or they will go to hell".
Let's agree that we disagree for now, and leave it to time to make us both wiser!
It is unclear to me why an AI living like a parasite on the information fed to it by humans and the fact humans are living will decide suddenly it can benefit from killing all of us.
while (true) { [...] //TODO: make sure this "AI" thing knows how important we humans are - note: i mean REALLY TODO!
[...]
}
We both know no one in Greece is asking for a handout.
Hmmm... are you sure you want to discuss this with me? Dooon't dooo iiit patrioti!
You total lack of knowledge on what transsexuality is, and bigotry towards transsexuals, shows.
O.K., since we have this "bigotry" word from the begining, i should treat the rest of your comment as i always do when i read it elsewhere...
You say I should go to church and I might learn something. I did - I was a fundamentalist evangelical baptist. Probably read the bible cover-to-cover more than 20 times. Entered the whole thing into my computer along with a program I wrote to do quick searches - back before the Internet.
Here's just some of what I learned: Christians are more hypocritical and less shameless about it than atheists. Their claims of "hate the sin, love the sinner" don't match up with their actions, and don't even make sense. You either accept someone as they are, or you don't, and want them to change to conform to YOUR beliefs. Who died and made them god?
But if you're going to answer one question, I'll pose this one again - where in the Bible does it say that transsexuality is a sin that I should "repent" of it? You yourself said that "i also believe that LBGTt people should repent for their behavior ". Please be specific. What behaviour should I repent of?
I hope your sexuality was not the only thing that conserned you when in church, so you had the chance to learn few things for the other topics Christianity is also about. Yes we Christians are hypocritical - i like to say that i try to become Christian! I don't think you are really interested in my theological knowledge about your medical condition - didn't i anwsered every other question you made clearly and honestly? About that "You either accept someone as they are, or you don't": the whole point of Christianity is to change us, so we become better...
Classifying part of the recognized treatment for an accepted medical condition as "sin" is dangerous. People who have "repented" and de-transitioned because of religious pressure are some of the sorriest, unhappiest people you will ever meet.
Why don't you conduct an experiment. You wrote "you can even try to go to some Orthodox/Catholic (or even Protestantic - i speak for what i know for sure) church and you will find love (not sexual, but brotherly/sisterly)." Get dressed up as the opposite sex and tell them you're getting a sex change. Walk a mile or 10 in my shoes (just not the ones with the stiletto heels - you'll break your neck). See how "accepted" and "loved" you feel when they say that "we still love you, but not your sin."
And some food for thought - would a male-to-female transsexual be allowed to marry a man in your church? Or, if your church only cares about birth sex, shouldn't they be allowed to marry a woman? I've never been able to get a proper answer from religious types who set strict rules on who can marry - they start sputtering and then mostly say "you can't marry a man because you're really a man" and "you can't marry a woman because you're not a man" and then, realizing the contradiction there, say "you can't marry anyone." This is what happens when arbitrary rules meet reality. :-)
I stoped wearing high heels when i was 5 years old - i tried my mother's shoes (when she was not home!), i almost killed myself (and from then i almost feel agony every time i see a woman trying to walk with them... poor ladies), and decided that this thing is not for me!
You should go to a Catholic church (or Orthodox - i say Catholic because they are more common in USA) and try to answer this question for yourself - but remember this: the church already has Jesus as its head... it does not need you to for that - act like a woman in church and you will be treated as a woman in church... so, keep you head down as a women must do... by the way:i am Greek.
And saying "wake up from your sleep boy/girl" is a slur, same as "Listen dude/dudette", th
Put simply, your expressed views on LGBTt issues ARE hate speech
I think that are LOVE speech - brotherly love from someone like me who wants LBGT people to be saved, as i want for everyone else...including myself!
Also, referring to me elsewhere as a boy/girl or dude/dudette is a slur.
You have to understand that when you have a signature informing people that "this post brought to you by the letter ' t ' in LGBTIt (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transgender, Intersex, transsexual)" (so, you have no problem informing me that you are a transsexual), then you have to provide a "hint" on how you wish to be addressed/refered - since you write that you have read my other comment where i address/refer to you as dude/dudette, you would have read that i wrote that i have met personaly transsexual people... in communication "face to face" i dealt with this easily, but from the internet i must have a hint... you surely understand the "practical problem"... o.k.?
Your post is still a lie. I specifically mentioned where you said "my religion is more important for humans (even LGBTt people) than some civil rights" and "i want to advise LGBTt people to stop being so irresponsible when demand (sic) their rights"
You claim that you agree with what Whiteox posted when he said "As far as I'm concerned, we should all accept (therefore not deny) everyone's choice to follow and act with any belief system they wish, as long as it doesn't interfere with the choice of others."
You lie. Plain and simple. Maybe you should apply to be Greece's next finance minister.
OK., let's try this again, but please you try a bit more - together, we can do it!
The best thing to do is let church be a church, and have civil issues outside it - like what happened in this case. YOU (and everyone else) should not try to connect this with religion because I AM religious: if my religion is threatened i would prefer to stop supporting LBGTt people - my religion is more important for humans (even LBGTt people) than some civil rights (that most LBGTt people will never even practice actually - less than 10% of LBGTt people plans to "marry").
As a person of religion that has civil rights to decide about such issues i want to advise LBGTt people to stop being so irresponsible when demand their rights: civil unions is your civil right, I support it - having sex with Jesus is not! Please stop suppressing my right to religion.... everyone will benefit from that.
I accept (therefore not deny) everyone's choice to follow and act with any belief system they wish, as long as it doesn't interfere with the choice of others (e.g., my religious choices ) - is there something you still don't understand? As i already wrote from the begining, i support civil unions between LBGT people - i don't like it (in the same way i don't like many things), but i support it... you have to relax a little and try to understand that maybe YOU can not differentiate between those simple things, but other people (like me) can. And my advise to LBGT people is to try understand this difference: we, heterosexual religious people, also citizens in democracies, who support LBGT civil rights, can decide with our votes about such issues - when LBGT people think that they must attack our religion to make us support them, then things become problematic... we already support them, what is the point on attacking us!
Anyway, i understand you have personal interest in this matters, so i don't blame you so much about acting this way - but you have to stop this "i accuse you" practice, and give me some answers too: do you have a serious problem with people like me (i.e., considering us as the "enemy") for believing LBGT behavior is bad, if we support the right of LBGT people to behave that way?
Furthermore, I've read that the driver did use a seatbelt -- and survived.
If that is true then the driver is better in physics than mister Nash was...
At least most of us are smart enough to wear a seatbelt and not get ejected from a vehicle.
Why this anonymous human being is modded down?
The two were thrown from their vehicle, police said. Media reports said the couple may not have been wearing seatbelts when they crashed. (source: BBC)
By the time Dr. Nash emerged from his disturbed state, his ideas had influenced economics, foreign affairs, politics, biology — virtually every sphere of life
I just like how it sounds... ignore me!
is not scientific news, nor does the link point to any academic results. "Ask Ethan" is simply a popular-scientific discussion of results already known. So no News for Nerds, and hardly any Stuff that Matters, IMHO.
While i can't disagree with you (althrough i find this "Ask Ethan" to be good written, and deep enough, stuff), you must agree that this story is at least one of the rare Slashdot stories about something other than the usual TOTALY unrelated to "news for nerds" - in the one month i am a "Slashdoter" i managed to make so many comments about religion (i am a/the religious guy!) or the Greek economy (i am Greek!) for example, but only few about something related to nerds (but even then i did not felt so good: e.g., i insulted all the anti-systemd fundamentalists, so i felt again like a religious Greek fighting the barbarians...).
Yes, Greeks are misinformed also - while i support the Euro, i don't like the "terror" propaganda about what will happen if we leave it (althrough i understand that is necessary to balance the opposite ""EURO must be blamed for everything" propaganda). Anyway, it seems that we are the only 2 Greeks who have still some brains left in their heads... but since we disagree i must now insult you: ante spase re malaka (hmmm... unfortunately for me i remember you also wrote to that German "i don't want your money", so my insult does not work... kai se sebomai gia auto patrioti!)
Among other thing: it is now a law (an EU directive) that my religion's truths about many things (LBGT issues included) is "hate crime/speach" - so, i feel that my religion is suppresed (by the way: my religion -Christian- is well known about this "only those who want it must follow it").
By the way, the only central bank(s) still not respecting the agreement is a) i think the Belgian b) I KNOW VERY WELL... our own Greek central/national bank (it is even in the Athens stock exchange!).
Thank you for appreciating my link AND THANK YOU FOR CORRECTING ME (i really hate mis-information: USA should be 14% AND GREECE 8% - i did not made it on purpose, i was going by the PDF table -no time for quality testing!-, and i was "heavely" rounding... next time i will be more careful, although even like that i think the data i posted was accurate enough!) - anyway, thanks!
When you say you don't like LGBT and "t", I would ask these questions, with specific application to transsexuals such as myself:
O.K., but keep in mind please: /. sigs!) - by the way, i am a Greek (Orthodox - which is almost like Catholics) Christian (note: my religion teaches, and my church believes, that LBGTt behavior is very bad, but we should love LBGTt persons)."
a) i wrote "I don't like LBGT (and "t" - i like
b) i mostly dont like LGBT (that is without the "t"), without that meaning that i like every "t".
c) i am not an "LBGTt professor" to know what the every letter means to every LBGTt
PLUS (and more important): please read again my comment, you may understand better its "spirit".
1. How do you justify that don't you like someone you never even met?
I HAVE MET SOME MURDERERS - I DON'T LIKE ALL MURDERERS. I have met some LBGT (and some "t") people - i don't like ALL LBGT (and most "t") people. Is it something unusual to write "i don't like murderers"?
2. Transsexualism is a medical condition. Why should I go against the advice of 5 psychiatrists, a psychologist, and my endocrinologist? I am not a doctor, so I defer to their judgment.
After 5 psychiatrists, a psychologist, and an endocrinologist? Neither i am a doctor, so i advise you to take their advise. Is LBGT a medical condition also?
3. Why shouldn't I continue to preserve my civil rights, and speak up for those who aren't so lucky?
I don't know! Why you ask me, someone who supports the civil rights of everyone, this question?
4.LGBTIt have always supported the right of churches to regulate who they marry IN THEIR CHURCH - just please don't impose your beliefs on either those churches who do perform LGBTIt marriages or on individuals who want a civil marriage. That's the law here, and there are zero problems with it. Why do you believe the fear-mongerers who claim that we want to force churches to marry those who do not share your beliefs? In other words, [citation required]. Among the 20 countries that support same-sex marriage, please list those that force churches to perform same-sex marriages.
Listen dude/dudette, i am not some kid, nor someone who knows LBGT people only from the tv - i personaly know people that organize "guy pride" carnivals, and i know their fucking "lets attack a church happenings". Plus, i don't know where this "here" is for you, but i am from Europe, where already some nothern-European churches must by law allow such "happenings".
5. My civil rights as a transsexual include the right not to be discriminated on based on either my former or current gender. I've had to take offenders to task before a tribunal twice just in the last year to ensure my civil rights are respected. Why should I believe that your religion is more important to me than my civil rights?
I don't like ANY anti-discrimination (race/sex/age/religion/etc) "rights", so fuck you for doing that to those people. Why should I believe that your civil rights is more important to me than my religion?
6. Why should I repent for a medical condition with an internationally-recognized treatment that is, in fact, recognized by many religions?
You don't have to repent for that - you can even try to go to some Orthodox/Catholic (or even Protestantic - i speak for what i know for sure) church and you will find love (not sexual, but brotherly/sisterly).
7. When you write: As a person of religion that has civil rights to decide about such issues i want to advise LBGTt people to stop being so irresponsible when demand their rights: civil unions is your civil right, I support it - having sex with Jesus is not! Please stop suppressing my right to religion.... everyone will benefit from that
7.1 Why
As far as I'm concerned, we should all accept (therefore not deny) everyone's choice to follow and act with any belief system they wish, as long as it doesn't interfere with the choice of others.
I am really glad my brother in Christ that you agree with me, and i agree with your extra addition to my point
What a LIAR! Or did you forget that you posted that 3 hours ago in this same discussion? You know, the comment where you state this model of intolerance for others, their rights, and their beliefs:
my religion is more important for humans (even LBGTt people) than some civil rights
and
i want to advise LBGTt people to stop being so irresponsible when demand their rights
So, please answer the 15 questions I posed underneath your comment wrt your beliefs vis transsexuals. I've got my baloney detector on high :-)
I don't think i am a "liar", i started my comment, as honestly as i could, with this: "I don't like LBGT (and "t" - i like /. sigs!)" - and i am sure you recognized the sig. Unfortunately it has been modded down as "flamebait" (i don't understand why), so people may just read the parts you quoted in your reply and miss the "spirit" of the comment, but fortunately you provided a link so... thanks!
I just read the other reply with the GOOD questions you made, so i will try to answer them.
I agree with all the theological points you write about (most probably -since you know the Bible so well!- you are a Protestant! I am an Orthodox). Unfortunately, i also agree with what you write about Slashdot... and here is the problem for me: i am Greek! I came here for good discussions - or at least honest. I may be unable to contribute in good discussions, but i am disappointed from the dis-honesty of many Slashdoters: when it is o.k. to accuse Christianity for almost everything (even for systemd? i would not be suprised if i ever read such a thing here!), but it is not o.k. to counter-argument... then this is not a discussion any more. In Greek "discussion" is called "sizitisi" - it means "together asking [for the truth]".
In any case, i appreciate your message because some cultural differences that surely exist between a Greek like me and most of other Slashdoters (i understand that this is mostly a USA forum) make me think sometimes that it is something wrong with me: i strugle with my English, i make fun of non-Greeks by calling them barbarians, etc - i know understand that it is mostly what i already understood....
Even if homosexuality were a disease, I still wouldn't trust the CDC to tell me what percentage of the population had it. And it isn't one.
I have many other sources (from USA, UK, Europe) that put the number of gays, lesbians or bisexuals to what the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports: less that 3% - i posted that as a source because it is the most offical i think (by the way, this "Center for Disease Control and Prevention" studies and reports about many things, don't get upset by the name - i avoided to express my opinion about homosexuality in that comment, i will do the same in this, but if you are interested i already did it here... but it is already modded as "flamebait", so...)
The best thing to do is let church be a church, and have civil issues outside it - like what happened in this case
Well written. I agree with you. Let it be. Many people find comfort in church and as a Roman Catholic (the Western Rite), I have more respect towards the Eastern Rite religions like orthodoxy because they are much more community oriented, they allow their priests to marry and generally are more traditional, closer to apostolic faith. As far as I'm concerned, we should all accept (therefore not deny) everyone's choice to follow and act with any belief system they wish, as long as it doesn't interfere with the choice of others.
I am really glad my brother in Christ that you agree with me, and i agree with your extra addition to my point - but as a fellow Slashdoter (about a month's old) i must confess to you that i am disappointed from Slashdot because the comment from which the part you agree with is from has been modded down as "flamebait"... what is the point of discussing this story if a religious person like me can't honestly express himself? Don't answer, it was a rhetoric question... i already understand what "Slashdot" likes...
While in some theological matters i find my (Greek) Orthodox Church more correct, we are almost the same church, hopefully we will unite some day - but i have a deep respect for the Roman Catholic Church because does more than us Orthodox in the good mission of speading the TRUTH... this is something that obligates me to defend it from the dis-honest attacks that are so usual.
civil unions is your civil right, I support it - having sex with Jesus is not!
Well, *I* want to get down on my knees and please Jesus.
And since civil rights seem to include freedom of religion, I'll thank you to not tell me that I can't feel his salvation all over my face.
No problem dude, do what ever you like (if you realy like that - please excuse me if i just advise you against it), but (even from this small part of my -modded down!- comment) try to understand what my point is.
If 10% of people are gay, then this impacts 10% of nerds.
Less than 3 percent of the U.S. population identify themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual, based on Center for Disease Control and Prevention first large-scale government survey measuring Americans’ sexual orientation - source. There are more "nerds" effected by their baseball team losing a game, should Slashdot report baseball results?
I don't run Apache, but I don't bitch when they put an Apache story on the front page.
Is this a good analogy for "nerd" stories and this story? And what about my baseball team's results?
Get over it.
What i can not "get over" is that i made a comment in this "NON-nerd" pseydo-"discussion" (in which only certain opinions are allowed...) that has been modded down because... you know why! So, it is not only a NON-nerd story, but you have to be a "team's supporter" to participate...
The funny thing my fellow Greek is that i am a "mnimoniakos Germano-Tsolias"! I believe strongly in austerity, i even support Germans invating Greece - but i don't like misinformation.
I must admit that i read your other comment you made to some German, and, while i am very against leaving EUROzone/EU, so i disagree with you, i found this "I support Greece leaving EU, like you support Greece leaving - no reason for hostility" phrase of yours something i can understand AND respect - it is so rare (for a Greek) to have an opinion for that issue that is without the usual rhetoric...
As a fellow Greek, you understand that if we start discussing this issue here we will end up going Greek with our "ante gamisou re malaka" and the rest that are usual between Greeks discussing politics! So, i don't want to discuss it with you because most probably i will end up insulting you... i don't have a problem insulting anyone, i even like it, but this phrase of yours makes me think that YOU may be this rare kind of Greek that does not deserve my insults patrioti!