There will always be people who want to ride fast and we can't change that. Just like there will be people who always want to own guns, or drink alcohol, or whatever.

The only thing we can hope for is that people do it in the safest way possible.

Now I know not everyone that drinks alcohol rents a room for the night to make sure they don't drive drunk, or stumble into the road and cause an accident, or throw up on some strangers shoes igniting a huge drunken brawl.

I know not everyone that owns a gun will always shoot it at a range or in a sanctioned hunting area.

It's the same way that not everyone who wants to ride a motorcycle fast will always take it to the track.

I understand why everyone here is upset. But we can't stop everyone from doing everything that is wrong all the time. Is what these riders doing wrong? Yes. Is it dangerous? Yes. But at least it's on some middle of the road nowhere (yes there are houses in the beginning but after that it looks like farmland) place. I didn't see a school bus stop or an orphanage or some kind of cute animal factory. I'm not saying it wasn't there, but I highly doubt these people would take their very expensive motorcycles on this road in such a large group if they thought there was a chance of their bikes getting wrecked.

If anyone here truly truly can tell me they always take all precautions necessary in life, then they are a better person than I am. Otherwise I suggest everyone take a look inward and realize they do things that can potentially hurt other people too, but just always minimize the risk.

>> ^smooman:

jesus some of you sure are quick to exact deadly vengeance to a man who kicked an owl. I'd hate to see how you'd react to someone kicking an actual human in the same manner.
is he an asshole? perhaps unintentionally but still arguably so.....but "diaf", "death deserving prick", "kick his stupid face in" (which could very well result in death)? fucking really? the man kicked an owl, he didnt bomb an orphanage! Ya owls are awesome, ya most, probably even this one, are endangered, but at the end of the day its still just a fucking owl, the kicking of which is absolutely not deserving of a lynch mob death sentence. get a fucking clue, damn


OK. I can't pretend to know what this guy is thinking, or know for sure that sifters who are calling for death aren't just exaggerating a little to make a point. Either way, intentionally hurting a living thing for no good reason should be a serious cause for concern. It's a definite sign that something is seriously wrong with the person doing the hurting. And sometimes, not all the time, but sometimes... all that's needed is a good kick in the face to solve the problem.

>> ^smooman:
jesus some of you sure are quick to exact deadly vengeance to a man who kicked an owl. I'd hate to see how you'd react to someone kicking an actual human in the same manner.
is he an asshole? perhaps unintentionally but still arguably so.....but "diaf", "death deserving prick", "kick his stupid face in" (which could very well result in death)? fucking really? the man kicked an owl, he didnt bomb an orphanage! Ya owls are awesome, ya most, probably even this one, are endangered, but at the end of the day its still just a fucking owl, the kicking of which is absolutely not deserving of a lynch mob death sentence. get a fucking clue, damn


I really wish reincarnation were true because your karmic reward would be sweet justice.

jesus some of you sure are quick to exact deadly vengeance to a man who kicked an owl. I'd hate to see how you'd react to someone kicking an actual human in the same manner.

is he an asshole? perhaps unintentionally but still arguably so.....but "diaf", "death deserving prick", "kick his stupid face in" (which could very well result in death)? fucking really? the man kicked an owl, he didnt bomb an orphanage! Ya owls are awesome, ya most, probably even this one, are endangered, but at the end of the day its still just a fucking owl, the kicking of which is absolutely not deserving of a lynch mob death sentence. get a fucking clue, damn

So to follow your logic.... if it is proved scientifically that being gay is not a choice, but is biologically inherent to the organism, you would treat their inability to have a child "normally" like an other infertile heterosexual couple?

Because your argument seems to hinge on the word "choice" if I read it correctly.

In reply to this comment by Pprt:
Yes I did, I'm averse to using the surrogate route to garner sympathy because it's biological.

They can't have it both ways... they made their lifestyle choice. Now they should live with it. If it's a man who fathers a child and then before bi/homosexual it's different. The kid has a mother and can rely on that psychological comfort.
In reply to this comment by bareboards2:
I'm just curious.... did you watch the video? Or just read the comments?

In reply to this comment by Pprt:
Homosexuals should not be granted the right to adopt.
In reply to this comment by bareboards2:
Why would you say that?

In reply to this comment by Pprt:
Let me know when there's a petition AGAINST them getting this child.

I'm just curious.... did you watch the video? Or just read the comments?

In reply to this comment by Pprt:
Homosexuals should not be granted the right to adopt.
In reply to this comment by bareboards2:
Why would you say that?

In reply to this comment by Pprt:
Let me know when there's a petition AGAINST them getting this child.

Ah. Well. Huh.

In reply to this comment by Pprt:
Homosexuals should not be granted the right to adopt.
In reply to this comment by bareboards2:
Why would you say that?

In reply to this comment by Pprt:
Let me know when there's a petition AGAINST them getting this child.

Why would you say that?

In reply to this comment by Pprt:
Let me know when there's a petition AGAINST them getting this child.

I heard the orphanages in Iraq are doing GREAT business these days since everyone's parents are dead!

>> ^demon_ix:

Happy sloths are happy.

I think both sides in this argument have fair points. Yes, all movies are derivative at some level. But not to this degree.

Also, I don't think Star Wars and the Matrix are that comparable. Sure, you could say Tatooine is like the real world, and space is like the Matrix. But that's kind of tenuous. It's not like outer space was a secret to Luke. They both fight a controlling, evil empire, but that plot point exists in half of action / epic movies. As a plot device, attacking evil empires works much better than attacking orphanages.

Also, if you look at the list of "7 types of plots", Matrix is man versus machine while Star wars is man versus man. Luke's life is heavily influenced by a mysterious father figure whose path he seeks to follow and whose (supposed) death he seeks to revenge. Neo's father plays no roll. Neo is saved by Trinity's love, Luke has no romantic interest. Who is the Han Solo figure in the Matrix?

Yes, they're similar at the one sentence level -- young warrior joins band of freedom fighters to destroy evil empire. That level of similarity can be found for any movie. For Avatar, you can instead write eight sentences, like in this trailer.

Young warrior leaves home for an alien, barely colonized new world inhabited by strange natives with a tenuous peace. The new world holds great spoils sought by the colonists. Meanwhile, the daughter of the native chief has an arranged marriage with a serious, stoic, well respected warrior of the tribe but she is not enthusiastic about this marriage. The young warrior and the native daughter meet and the warrior comes to appreciate the native point of view and way of life. The young warrior and the heroine consult with a sentient tree spirit. The young warrior and the chief's daughters form a close relationship that makes the betrothed mate jealous. The young warrior falls out of favor with the natives and barely escapes execution because of an attack from the colonists. Ultimately, there is a show down between the colonists and the natives, and the young warrior decides to aid the natives.

There are, of course, differences, especially with the ultimate resolution. In Pocahontas
1) There is less of a blood bath in the end.
2) The warrior leaves back to his old world at the end
3) The riches of the new world did not actually exist.
4) There is no "Avatar" element -- John doesn't pretend to be a native.
5) John wasn't specifically tasked to infiltrate the native community.

edit: I suppose this infamous image highlights the similarities better than I did:
http://www.black-and-right.com/wp-content/uploads/Pocahontas-to-Avatar.jpg

>> ^peggedbea:
um, mormon missionaries do not volunteer at aids orphanages.
is there a really a reason to be so fucking combative?
watching her just stresses me out.
if she came into my hospital like that, wed sedate her... or call security.


I'd use lethal force.

It's the only way to be sure....

um, mormon missionaries do not volunteer at aids orphanages.

is there really a reason to be so fucking combative?
watching her just stresses me out.
if she came into my hospital like that, wed sedate her... or call security.

this sounds fascinating "pre-colombian psychoacoustical whistling vessels". What is it?

In reply to this comment by laura:
^hey Renato ~ I grew up as a missionary's daughter in Campinas, S.P. Brasil! (am agnostic now, for the record) Hope to go back to south america some day. As an MK, from the ages of 8-16 my family ran an orphanage, a Baptist seminary, and my Dad flew a Cessna back and forth into Matto Grosso and Minas Gerais "preaching to the indians". (I went w/ him a few times) I went to EAC, then when we returned to the U.S. I hopped around from Michigan, Texas, Alabama in high school.
I had two beautiful kids during my brief stint (4 years) as the wife of an abusive dude who happened to be in the U.S. Marine Corps. (So I know what military family life is like, big time.)
Upon getting out of that mess, I served as the live-in caretaker to a disabled retired psychotherapist. That lasted about 4 years, and was quite an interesting experience which I will not elaborate on here...suffice it to say that I ended up moving to Silver City, NM with said person and meeting the man of my dreams less than a year upon arriving. I have started and stopped my college education more times than I can count along the way, and still haven't finished! (Was headed for medical school!)
With that, I am currently homeschooling my son, helping my hubby with his business (link on my profile page) making reproductions of pre-colombian psychoacoustical whistling vessels, sewing/designing clothes (which is my passion), gardening, and hanging out on the sift!
You are all awesome, and I enjoy your comments!

My problem with this is that when I get an idea to have an 'orphanage' for grown ups, (which is kinda what this is), I run headlong into the issue of drugs. I can deal with anything but an addict. I wonder what the homeless/addict ratio is, does anyone know?

Seems to me that these people didn't lotto their selections, they must have weeded the addicts out or this would have never worked.