vanSulli wrote:
Educating people about responsible reproduction practices is great, but you need people who are healthy and happy enough to actually listen. That is, let's get them enough water first.

And thus the ads about water, and then we find that while we sent them a lot of it, they had even MORE kids so now we need more water etc. etc., infinite cycle.

I do think they deserve water, but we need to face facts: we're overpopulating the planet. We need LESS people. I think part of why our paranoia and selfish instincts still exist is purely so we don't overpopulate faster lol.

vanSulli wrote:
I just got morbidly offended because a very good friend of mine whom I previously had no reason to have anything but the most unwavering of respect for posted a 'support Chik-Fil-A' picture on Facebook.

I shouldn't really be offended, because that's, like, their opinion, man. On the other hand, this goes against something I consider a core fact that is integrated with my views of humanity. Where, oh fellow Aperture Innovators, does the path to righteousness lie?

Chik-Fil-A? Isn't that that horrid chicken-selling place whose food tastes like they dragged it through the dumpster first?

Specifically this one:

Or is this about the gay thing? In which case I think it's up to the person; technically [INITIATE OMNI MODE], it's not against nature if you can still do it without anything else needed except body (and mind). From that perspective it's not wrong. From a religious perspective it is REALLY bad, but then again the Bible also has situations where you can rape a person without any consequence so...

Personally, while I am not gay myself, I am neutral either way; let people live how they wanna live, leave them to thier own devices and if others want to do it with them, then why shouldn't they?

groxkiller585 wrote:

Chik-Fil-A? Isn't that that horrid chicken-selling place whose food tastes like they dragged it through the dumpster first?
?

Gonna have to respectfully disagree with you on that point.

The question is, why are we still simply trying to give them fresh water, twenty years on? How much money has been pumped into water wells? I bet there was enough money to include at least one per village.

I want to see exactly where this money is funnelling into. Twenty years of constant donation and high profile tv campaigns yearly, and we still haven't got enough wells for these people? Someone's done goofed somewhere there.

But, regarding the population, I do not believe they, as a country, really need to cut it out. I mean, it looks like EVERY SINGLE ONE of the developing nations seem to be going through this "industrial revolution" you talked about. That spike came out of nowhere. I'd expect little bumps if it were country, but this is clearly not a little bump on the chart.

In regards to gays, I am biased. But I want to know, what is natural? I mean, if it can be done with no tools, surely that's natural? And what about the fact that there's never been an animal that's been reported as exclusively straight? Is that unnatural too?

I know a gay guy. Likes portal a lot, as well as Minecraft. Was bullied their whole life until college.Was liked by near all of his teachers, specifically the teaching assistants. Has helped prevent an online suicide. Has taken the role of agony aunt more times than they can remember. Never done drugs, cigarettes or alcohol, and also is a strong believer in being faithful, as well as saving themselves until marriage, unlike the majoratory of teens today.
Yet so many say he's going to hell, just because instead of being a guy, wanting to find some girl to protect, to care about, to love and to have children with, he wants to feel protected and loved in that way himself. It's just, sad that the majoratory (I'm looking at you specifically, America) are so religious, they brand genuine love as evil.

Kizzycocoa wrote:

I want to see exactly where this money is funnelling into. Twenty years of constant donation and high profile tv campaigns yearly, and we still haven't got enough wells for these people? Someone's done goofed somewhere there.

The problem with a lot of these third world countries is that some large percentage of the donations go through that country's government - a government who then takes another large percentage of that money before giving the rest to the organizations who actually build the wells or whatever.

Really the only way to make sure your money is being used in the way you intended is to go there and do it yourself, and not a lot of people have enough investment to do that.

p0rtalplayer wrote:

Kizzycocoa wrote:

I want to see exactly where this money is funnelling into. Twenty years of constant donation and high profile tv campaigns yearly, and we still haven't got enough wells for these people? Someone's done goofed somewhere there.

The problem with a lot of these third world countries is that some large percentage of the donations go through that country's government - a government who then takes another large percentage of that money before giving the rest to the organizations who actually build the wells or whatever.

Really the only way to make sure your money is being used in the way you intended is to go there and do it yourself, and not a lot of people have enough investment to do that.

so basically red nose day is a massive sham.

Kizzycocoa wrote:
In regards to gays, I am biased. But I want to know, what is natural? I mean, if it can be done with no tools, surely that's natural? And what about the fact that there's never been an animal that's been reported as exclusively straight? Is that unnatural too?

I know a gay guy. Likes portal a lot, as well as Minecraft. Was bullied their whole life until college.Was liked by near all of his teachers, specifically the teaching assistants. Has helped prevent an online suicide. Has taken the role of agony aunt more times than they can remember. Never done drugs, cigarettes or alcohol, and also is a strong believer in being faithful, as well as saving themselves until marriage, unlike the majoratory of teens today.
Yet so many say he's going to hell, just because instead of being a guy, wanting to find some girl to protect, to care about, to love and to have children with, he wants to feel protected and loved in that way himself. It's just, sad that the majoratory (I'm looking at you specifically, America) are so religious, they brand genuine love as evil.

That's another good point: There are animals that are gay (there's literally a lizard species with no males so they HAVE to be lesbian to survive) , and clearly they are natural, so therefore the action must also be considered natural.

And I hate when people cannot get over one thing in a person they truly hate, even when that thing is trivial and doesn't effect them, or anyone around them. It's just so idiotic to hate a person for something like this.

Also your friend sounds like a saint compared to people I know around where I live, so for him!

EDIT: Yes, we've known that's a massive ripoff for a bit now, which is why I haven't provided money there. I'm still trying to find a fundraiser that actually GOES to Africa and builds shit and it doesn't go through the African gov't.

groxkiller585 wrote:
From a religious perspective it is REALLY bad, but then again the Bible also has situations where you can rape a person without any consequence so...

I don't believe that religious beliefs have any bearing on what is, effectively, a social (and sadly, political) situation. But I can complain about religion when the time is right.

Sven wrote:

groxkiller585 wrote:
From a religious perspective it is REALLY bad, but then again the Bible also has situations where you can rape a person without any consequence so...>

I don't believe that religious beliefs have any bearing on what is, effectively, a social (and sadly, political) situation. But I can complain about religion when the time is right.

Well they do, but they hardly apply in today's society at all, so hardly can be considered something to abide by. Some basic stuff is here because it still applies: Be a nice person, don't steal, don't rape, etc.

But I do agree that even those are sketchy and flexible at best.

groxkiller585 wrote:

Also your friend sounds like a saint compared to people I know around where I live, so for him!

cough I think he was talking about himself, unless he also has a friend who's gay and who he knows a lot about.

I was raised in a Christian household, so this whole debate gets really awkward for me. I'm pretty sure my mom is not openly anti-gay, though she does sort of roll her eyes whenever it gets mentioned on TV.

I personally don't see why certain passages in the Bible that forbid same-sex marriage have any bearing on the present day. These rules made sense for developing civilizations in a large and dangerous world, and having a relationship that didn't get you at least one child was pretty much nixed, especially considering that monogamy was required (though, it would seem, fairly often broken).

But some people take the whole thing word-for-word literally, even the parts that are explicitly metaphorical, and there's not much you can do to persuade them.

groxkiller585 wrote:
That's another good point: There are animals that are gay (there's literally a lizard species with no males so they HAVE to be lesbian to survive) , and clearly they are natural, so therefore the action must also be considered natural.

And I hate when people cannot get over one thing in a person they truly hate, even when that thing is trivial and doesn't effect them, or anyone around them. It's just so idiotic to hate a person for something like this.

Also your friend sounds like a saint compared to people I know around where I live, so for him!

EDIT: Yes, we've known that's a massive ripoff for a bit now, which is why I haven't provided money there. I'm still trying to find a fundraiser that actually GOES to Africa and builds shit and it doesn't go through the African gov't.

yeah. yet no religion's commented

also, really? lol. if you told me before you said that, you'd be accused of conspiracy theories.

also, thanks for the cake.

p0rtalplayer wrote:

groxkiller585 wrote:

Also your friend sounds like a saint compared to people I know around where I live, so for him!

cough I think he was talking about himself, unless he also has a friend who's gay and who he knows a lot about.

I was raised in a Christian household, so this whole debate gets really awkward for me. I'm pretty sure my mom is not openly anti-gay, though she does sort of roll her eyes whenever it gets mentioned on TV.

I personally don't see why certain passages in the Bible that forbid same-sex marriage have any bearing on the present day. These rules made sense for developing civilizations in a large and dangerous world, and having a relationship that didn't get you at least one child was pretty much nixed, especially considering that monogamy was required (though, it would seem, fairly often broken).

But some people take the whole thing word-for-word literally, even the parts that are explicitly metaphorical, and there's not much you can do to persuade them.

I usually call those people out (the literal-ists) and point out several things that are downright laughable and near-impossible. Then they pull the "hurr you're quoting it out of context"-card and that's when I know I've won.

EDIT:
Since when does "h-u-r-r" get censored?

p0rtalplayer wrote:

groxkiller585 wrote:

Also your friend sounds like a saint compared to people I know around where I live, so for him!

cough I think he was talking about himself, unless he also has a friend who's gay and who he knows a lot about.

I know.

groxkiller585 wrote:

p0rtalplayer wrote:

groxkiller585 wrote:

Also your friend sounds like a saint compared to people I know around where I live, so for him!

cough I think he was talking about himself, unless he also has a friend who's gay and who he knows a lot about.>

I know.

you guys are so subtle. A++ on your subtility scores for your posts.

on topic:
[yt:17kbyiii]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRbrXYGLRMY[/yt:17kbyiii]

This is happening way too much.

the UK threatens to raid the Ecuadorian Embassy to get Julian Assange over mere "sex alligations"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-19259623

This is just more proof of the blatant corruption and the ongoing war against whistleblowers.

I cannot believe our government is threatening to break all diplomatic ties to get to him. it's sickening.

Colossal wrote:
Let's discuss politics

After reading the whole topic you have no idea how much restraint I am exercising right now

NotJomonay wrote:

Colossal wrote:
Let's discuss politics>

After reading the whole topic you have no idea how much restraint I am exercising right now

welcome back?

I thought you left because you somehow interpreted all of my posts as attacking you.
also because of .

Kizzycocoa wrote:

I thought you left because you somehow interpreted all of my posts as attacking you.

I left because you were insufferable.

Jomonay wrote:
I have come back for mapping/music purposes only.

NotJomonay wrote:

Kizzycocoa wrote:

I thought you left because you somehow interpreted all of my posts as attacking you.

I left because you were insufferable.

Jomonay wrote:
I have come back for mapping/music purposes only.

Fairdos. Though you're the first person I've ever known who'd describe me as insufferable.