Me too... how about you?

Bobbyzen comments on Jan 7, 2020:

Dang I remember those days. "The Man" was everyone from the police to people in suits. The 60's was a good time to be a rebel!

TomMcGiverin replies on Jan 7, 2020:

That explains the difference between now and then. Nowadays, most people want to be The Man. That's why they vote for Trump and support fascism. Sad time for rebels these days....

Lawmakers chant 'death to America' in Iranian parliament - YouTube

Geoffrey51 comments on Jan 5, 2020:

The scary thing is the Evangelical Christians will be applauding the idea of conflict because it will enhance the coming of their Messianic delusion. You almost wish it were true. At least it would give their nonsense some rational!

TomMcGiverin replies on Jan 6, 2020:

If they can't wait to meet Jesus or see him come back, that's fine with me. Just don't take me with them in their quest...

While I did say I was done with online dating, I thought I would try FB dating and see if it was ...

BitFlipper comments on Jan 4, 2020:

I was "liked" by a woman in a nearby city of Facebook Dating today. I don't think she was a scammer but she sure was offensive. At first she seemed nice and wanted to meet me at a brewery to watch a football game. I answered that I had plans and needed more lead-time. Then she got pissy. I agreed...

TomMcGiverin replies on Jan 4, 2020:

@tinkercreek I didn't think NY state had very many whites bigoted enough to use the N-word about blacks. I stand corrected.

'A Face In the Crowd' and the Unfulfilled Prediction of a Better America

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 4, 2020:

I agree, half, if not most Americans, are gullible suckers.

TomMcGiverin replies on Jan 4, 2020:

@WilliamCharles Guess I am a proud, but sad member of the intelligensia.

Would Trump Go to War With Iran for Political Purposes? - Rolling Stone

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 3, 2020:

Does a bear shit in the woods?

TomMcGiverin replies on Jan 3, 2020:

@TheInterlooper Good one!

I just want to be cuddled and spooned for a few hours. To feel safe and cared for.

TheGreatShadow comments on Jan 3, 2020:

If you were closer, I'd ablige. My last gf told me she always felt safe with me. However, she fucked a friend of mine on New Years a few years ago. When I was there...

TomMcGiverin replies on Jan 3, 2020:

@BitFlipper Wish I could be of help, but I'm not much better. One thing I do know is to quit being desperate, or at least not show it, regarding human contact. I learned a long time ago that it's the biggest turnoff there is to women in the dating game, at least to the women who are at all emotionally healthy.

I keep hearing how much money politicians keep rising and then I wonder, why would anyone want to ...

RoboGraham comments on Jan 3, 2020:

Money is speech. Speech can be used for persuasion. An awful lot of persuading needs to be done to win an election so large sums of money are needed. If you believe that a certain candidate getting into power will help your personal situation, campaign contributions are like investments.

TomMcGiverin replies on Jan 3, 2020:

@RoboGraham Bernie is the only prez candidate I have ever given money to. I knew the rest were too corrupt and did not care about people like me. Still, I would much prefer public financing of all campaigns for federal offices. It would be well worth the extra tax money to get big money out of our politics, but I know that Americans are either too dumb or just too disgusted with politics to see that public financing of campaigns would be money well spent to get rid of the bribery and corruption, It would be very unpopular with both parties and the media, as it would cut off their gravy train to being prosperous from the status quo. It would also require the media to give free airtime to qualified candidates and a restoration of the Fairness Doctrine by the FCC, maybe also a constitutional amendment to make it happen. All very unlikely...

I just want to be cuddled and spooned for a few hours. To feel safe and cared for.

TheGreatShadow comments on Jan 3, 2020:

If you were closer, I'd ablige. My last gf told me she always felt safe with me. However, she fucked a friend of mine on New Years a few years ago. When I was there...

TomMcGiverin replies on Jan 3, 2020:

@BitFlipper That safe thing is right. Sounds like the woman feels you can be taken for granted, at the least, and at the worst, that you are someone easy to friendzone.....

This is getting so scary!

TomMcGiverin comments on Jan 3, 2020:

If only most Americans were smart enough to see how they are being played with these wars of convenience for political gain, but they aren't, probably because we now have a poverty draft and only a small percentage of the population is affected when we go to war in the Middle East each time. ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Jan 3, 2020:

@Varn It is what it is...The poverty draft ends up drawing recruits from three demo groups that have very few options for employment and bettering their economic lot except thru the military: Poor people, rural Americans (who are mainly poor whites), and minority groups ( blacks and Hispanics).

Finland solves housing crisis?

RoboGraham comments on Jan 2, 2020:

It's pretty obvious when you think about it. Struggling people will be much more likely to succeed and become productive members of society if they have a home. Much better and more cost effective to give these people a hand rather then allow their situation to continue to deteriorate. With 3D ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Jan 3, 2020:

@bingst Very true. Have to keep the peasants in line, provide cannon fodder for the military, and workers for the worst jobs. Can't allow the peons too many choices for what they do and still keep the system of exploitation going. Won't do at all to allow that...

How can plane tix still cost so much? We’ve been flying for a century now!

mordant comments on Jan 2, 2020:

They cost a lot less in inflation-adjusted dollars than they did in, say, 1960. You can fly between some commuter hubs for $50. When I was your age (okay Boomer) you couldn't fly anywhere for less than hundreds of dollars. What bothers me more than the cost (although the difference between ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Jan 2, 2020:

Nowadays it's more realistic to look at airlines as flying cattle cars, because that's how they look at it regarding their customers....

Finland solves housing crisis?

RoboGraham comments on Jan 2, 2020:

It's pretty obvious when you think about it. Struggling people will be much more likely to succeed and become productive members of society if they have a home. Much better and more cost effective to give these people a hand rather then allow their situation to continue to deteriorate. With 3D ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Jan 2, 2020:

Well said. Too bad there are still so many conservatives who hate the poor, wish them dead, and thus believe they are undeserving of anything except what they earn with their own hands and bootstraps. Better they stay poor or become dead than be morally corrupted by handouts. However, these same people conveniently overlook any moral corruption that occurs when the idle rich such as the Walton family inherit more than they need and grow up to be totally lazy and worthless to society. They are given a pass as being deserving and virtuous.

I keep hearing that Austin is relatively progressive. Is that true? [lifeinsider.me]

glennlab comments on Jan 1, 2020:

Austin is possibly the most progressive city in Texas. Most of the major cities in Texas are progressive, it is the rural and smaller cities and towns that give Texas its conservative reputation. gerrymandering has insured that these rural areas maintain an out sized influence in the state.

TomMcGiverin replies on Jan 1, 2020:

Iowa has the same problem. The conservative rural areas end up getting to run everything in the state government because they still have outsized influence. But that is going to change in the next decade or so because those areas are pretty much populated by old folks who will die in that time period and then the more progressive cites will get to run things, because the rural areas will be so depopulated by then that in statewide elections they will no longer have that much power anymore.

What are your New Year’s Eve plans?

GreatNani comments on Jan 1, 2020:

How was the dinner and dancing?

TomMcGiverin replies on Jan 1, 2020:

@UUNJ Lucky the fire marshal didn't see those stairs, or they would have been fined.

What are your New Year’s Eve plans?

TomMcGiverin comments on Dec 31, 2019:

I had the same plans, but I came down with stomach flu on Sunday, so I holed up at home till the middle or late in the week.

TomMcGiverin replies on Jan 1, 2020:

@UUNJ I am. My temp is down to less than 100 with no fever reducer. Plan to go out tomorrow to grocery shop and begin eating some bigger amounts of food. I'll take my last two anti-nausea pills tomorrow,

Biden would consider Republican for VP 'but I can't think of one right now' | TheHill

mcgeo52 comments on Dec 31, 2019:

Why shouldn't he have a Republican running mate? It worked for Obama.

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 31, 2019:

To me, Obama was Repub lite. He ran on and catered to the usual BS identity politics of the Dems, but on the economy, foreign policy, war, inequality, and even climate change, he was more like the Repubs. In other words, on all the issues that matter to the rich and corporate America, he was Bush in blackface.

Mike Huckabee Argues LGBTQ People Are ‘Biggest Threat’ To American Morality | Michael Stone

Beowulfsfriend comments on Dec 16, 2019:

This coming from a guy who finds it morally acceptable to play his bass with a guy who admitted to screwing underage women/ girls.

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 29, 2019:

@Beowulfsfriend Figures..

Mike Huckabee Argues LGBTQ People Are ‘Biggest Threat’ To American Morality | Michael Stone

Beowulfsfriend comments on Dec 16, 2019:

This coming from a guy who finds it morally acceptable to play his bass with a guy who admitted to screwing underage women/ girls.

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 29, 2019:

Which douchebag would that be, that screws underage females?

Gonna be a vegetable for the next couple of hours and watch Office Space.

TomMcGiverin comments on Dec 28, 2019:

I love that movie and own it on dvd. I find it theraputic to watch occaisionally.

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 28, 2019:

@indelible I've had both bosses like Stan and also others like Lumbard, they exist everwhere. My worst was a guy that was both a workaholic and a micromanager. I and another co-worker often fantasized about killing him.

Just left a disappointing date with a woman I’ve corresponded with online for a few weeks.

1of5 comments on Dec 26, 2019:

But her profile pic was at least current, right?

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 28, 2019:

@Bobbyzen Sounds to me like she was being a bit deceptive and evasive by going with just the one head shot in her profile. As Reagan used to say, "Trust, but verify..".

Gonna be a vegetable for the next couple of hours and watch Office Space.

Fit50something comments on Dec 28, 2019:

I've noticed that a lot of people in the office/corporate world really relate to that movie. Kinda sucks, when you think about it.

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 28, 2019:

I have found that most aspects of Office Space fit with every job I have ever had as an adult, even blue collar jobs, because all workplaces involve heirarchy, office politics, and weasel managers who lie thru their teeth.

Two years on this thing, and no closer to meeting someone now, then two years ago! Do women on this ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Dec 27, 2019:

Join the freaking club... I've been on here for three years too and still have yet to meet even one woman in person from my local area, even tho I tried messaging a handful of them in the first few months I was on here...

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 28, 2019:

@twill My rate is about the same, but I don't assume it's because the women aren't interested in meeting men. I am more inclined to believe it's because I have so much competition out there in my local area on sites like Match and that the women are instead interested in meeting guys that are better looking than me, appear to have more money, and, most importantly, are more a part of the cultural mainstream here than me, which is something that comes across pretty clearly in my profile essay.

Two years on this thing, and no closer to meeting someone now, then two years ago! Do women on this ...

mordant comments on Dec 28, 2019:

The dating component of this site probably lacks the requisite volume of members to be a game changer for anyone regardless of geography, unless you're willing to conduct a LDR of some kind. If I were looking, I'd use it just in case I got lucky but it would not be my entire strategy. It is the ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 28, 2019:

Well said. It is because those sites have critical masses of membership that they are able to charge money for memberships, not because their service is high quality, let me assure you of that. Their service to members and the quality of their profile formats continue to get worse, because they are all owned by the same huge conglomerates. That way they have monopoly power and no real competition that would force them to provide better service to members. Too bad they are not regulated by the FTC for monopoly practices or regulated like a utility like wireless companies.

Two years on this thing, and no closer to meeting someone now, then two years ago! Do women on this ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Dec 27, 2019:

Join the freaking club... I've been on here for three years too and still have yet to meet even one woman in person from my local area, even tho I tried messaging a handful of them in the first few months I was on here...

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 28, 2019:

@twill I don't know about that, but it definitely seems the case with Agnostic.com, at least the women from Iowa, even tho their profiles say they are open to meeting men. What is your basis or reason for saying most women on dating sites don't actually want to meet anyone? Are you saying they are just on there to feed their egos with the attention or entertain themselves?

We are being robbed . . . .

makeshiftmania comments on Dec 27, 2019:

The entire purpose of the politicians (of either party) put into power by the rich who purchased them is twofold. First, to funnel tax dollars from the American taxpayer to the wealthy (particularly the military industrial complex and fossil fuel corporations). Second, it is to make sure that those ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 27, 2019:

Absolutely right and until we have a viable third party that is not bought and can challenge the duopoly, we will not see any improvement.

We are being robbed . . . .

RoboGraham comments on Dec 27, 2019:

Yes and the democrats just recently approved Trump's budget increasing the military budget by billions more and creating a space force. Both parties are in on it. Both parties are putting the wants of the military industrial complex over the needs of the people.

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 27, 2019:

Bernie was one of the few to not support the new version of NAFTA. I wish he would also vote against these kinds of military budgets, but he won't as long as he represents Vermont and they benefit from the defense contracts. He is as good as we are going to get in a president who opposes trade deals that screw the workers and average citizens as well as limiting military spending as much as possible without being assassinated.

I'd NEVER give someone a pet as a gift.

Druvius comments on Dec 27, 2019:

There's a special place in hell for people who abandon pets.

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 27, 2019:

Almost makes me want to believe in hell for that reason.

Just left a disappointing date with a woman I’ve corresponded with online for a few weeks.

TomMcGiverin comments on Dec 26, 2019:

She was still having kids in her late 40s? Definitely different values than me. I agree with your perspective and reaction to this situation. Kansas is even more of a backward state than Iowa politically and socially. I wish you luck in finding someone compatible, you're going to need it in ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 27, 2019:

@demifeministgal Gwen is the woman from Missouri who is around my age and has really long hair. She used to write a column about dating for an online forum. As far as making intelligent choices about dating, with both men and women, intelligence and rationality seem to be in short supply as instead ego and emotion seem to rule the behavior and thinking of most in the dating game....

Just left a disappointing date with a woman I’ve corresponded with online for a few weeks.

273kelvin comments on Dec 27, 2019:

This is another good reason for early IRL meetings. It saves time in all that correspondence only to find out stuff like this. Do not feel guilty about not wanting to date a woman who is disabled,.It is your life and you are the only person responsible for it.

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 27, 2019:

I totally agree about getting the in person meeting over with as soon as possible, preferably within a week or two weeks at most after the first exchange of messages. I am suspicious of women who want to trade messages for over a week before deciding if they will meet you for coffee. In my experience, these kind of people are often stringing you along about meeting in person because they are either very picky about who they will meet or else they are messaging with several different men and wanting to do a lot of screening thru messages before agreeing to meet only the "finalists" for coffee. Being only an average man with average looks, I am not interested in wasting my time pursuing a woman who is obviously likely to be out of my league if she has several or more men after her. Call it low self esteem or not, but I know I am not likely to be selected by someone when there is that much competition.

Just left a disappointing date with a woman I’ve corresponded with online for a few weeks.

TomMcGiverin comments on Dec 26, 2019:

She was still having kids in her late 40s? Definitely different values than me. I agree with your perspective and reaction to this situation. Kansas is even more of a backward state than Iowa politically and socially. I wish you luck in finding someone compatible, you're going to need it in ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 27, 2019:

@demifeministgal True, he can increase his odds, but in reality those that do seek out those who are below average in looks are few and far between. Gwendolyn and I have made this point ad nauseum on these boards before and I will not belabor it here. You can either accept that as a fact or not.....I think there are a lot of people on these boards that claim to be very idealistic about the importance of looks in the dating game, but my opinion is that most of them are being dishonest or naive.....

I'm unsure as whether or not this subject has been brought up on this Site before or not, but here ...

MsDemeanour comments on Dec 27, 2019:

christ! I didn't know Broken Hill was in USA. I never heard of such blatant discrimination except when it's me, tossing out the door knockers at my own front door (apart from when I see it on the telly)/ Anyway, I have to say I watched Life of Brian more than once or twice and I believe I can ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 27, 2019:

Life Of Brian rocks! I own it on dvd and watch it when I am feeling depressed...

Just left a disappointing date with a woman I’ve corresponded with online for a few weeks.

TomMcGiverin comments on Dec 26, 2019:

She was still having kids in her late 40s? Definitely different values than me. I agree with your perspective and reaction to this situation. Kansas is even more of a backward state than Iowa politically and socially. I wish you luck in finding someone compatible, you're going to need it in ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 27, 2019:

@demifeministgal I was not pushing him one way or the other about seeking out only above average-looking women, only recognizing that the dating game is, in the end, a competitive process with most people. In the sense that you are competing, in most cases, with other people of your gender that are all bringing their own positive and negative things to the table or competition. Let's be honest and admit that most people in the dating game see it like shopping and they usually pick people that have the most positive things going for them and the fewest negative things about them. Some of those factors, in the choosing of men, are money and looks, including baldness. Just being honest about the competitive aspect, at least in the early stage of deciding who to meet and who to reject. I was simply pointing out where he stands against the likely competition in his geo area.

Happy Holidays my Fellow Hippies - I've been busy getting my apartment in order the last few weeks, ...

moosepucky comments on Dec 26, 2019:

Time and money are at opposite ends of the spectrum. When you have the time to do something, you rarely have the money to do it. When you have money to do something, you rarely have the time to do it.

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 26, 2019:

I now, for the first time in my life, have the time and money to do what I want. The question now is, for how many years will I have adequate health to do what I want?

Gender pay gap 2019: Equal wages expected in 257 years, report says

LucyLoohoo comments on Dec 21, 2019:

Will anyone be alive in 257 years?

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 21, 2019:

My point exactly...

Gender pay gap 2019: Equal wages expected in 257 years, report says

TomMcGiverin comments on Dec 21, 2019:

Barring some miraculous change in our planet's environmental policies and our country's politics, I'm pretty sure we won't be around in any organized society in 257 years, assuming our species is still even around. But then again, I'll be long dead by then.....

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 21, 2019:

@KittensandSage Optimist...

When I see these numbers and this issue detailed, I find it hard to understand those on this site ...

1of5 comments on Dec 21, 2019:

People have this incredibly wonderful ability to say "that can't happen to me", which allows them to do stupid things. Like hunt animals much larger than themselves, sail the seas, drive in rush hour, and forgoe thier health.

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 21, 2019:

@MarkiusMahamius That kind of "belief" is just as magical and full of shit as believing in the sky fairy, but it's their life...as long as they don't force it on me thru their politics.

My girlfriend just asked me if i would still love her if she didn’t have any skin?? um...

TomMcGiverin comments on Dec 21, 2019:

Excuse my twisted sense of humor, but this idea makes me think of the movie character of Hannibal Lector, serial killer, saying something like "I would like to wear your face"........

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 21, 2019:

@averykings Twisted minds think alike.....

Nearly 1 in 4 adults in the US will be severely obese by 2030, study suggests | Ars Technica

Sticks48 comments on Dec 21, 2019:

There are places in America where they have already surpassed those numbers.

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 21, 2019:

@Sticks48 For me, it has the opposite effect. Instead of making me feel superior to most of the other customers, I end up feeling depressed about the workers and other customers looking so beat down and unhappy about being there.

Nearly 1 in 4 adults in the US will be severely obese by 2030, study suggests | Ars Technica

Sticks48 comments on Dec 21, 2019:

There are places in America where they have already surpassed those numbers.

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 21, 2019:

I agree that anytime I visit a Walmart, the other customers appear to be very overweight for the vast majority of them.

When I see these numbers and this issue detailed, I find it hard to understand those on this site ...

1of5 comments on Dec 21, 2019:

People have this incredibly wonderful ability to say "that can't happen to me", which allows them to do stupid things. Like hunt animals much larger than themselves, sail the seas, drive in rush hour, and forgoe thier health.

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 21, 2019:

Quite true. There are many people who can never imagine needing great help from others, whether it be financial or in services, due to failed health, going broke, becoming jobless, losing their home in a disaster, etc. Therefore, an attitude of "we are all in this together" is foreign to them and they vote accordingly with this irrational optimism. Another related reason people vote against their interests is the irrational belief that either they or their children are destined to become rich, therefore they are against changing the economic or tax system from the status quo because it might penalize them financially in the future. Talk about counting your chickens before they hatch! The most confounding thing to me is the belief of people who are struggling financially yet are dead set against single payer or universal healthcare for all because they are racist or resentful of undocumented people, who they refer to as all Mexicans, receiving free or affordable healthcare as part of any new reform. Even tho this type of reform would improve things immensely for poor whites in America, these people would rather cut off their nose to spite their face....In this situation, you can't fix stupid or racist......

‪67 percent of Americans say their financial situation hasn't improved under Trump ...

RoboGraham comments on Dec 20, 2019:

I wonder how many would report that their financial situation has gotten worse?

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 21, 2019:

It has long been proven that most Americans who are poor or downwardly mobile, esp. white Americans, are embarrassed or in denial about their status. So the answer to your ? is that relatively few would recognize that their financial situation is worse and then be willing to admit it. Most Americans mistakenly overestimate their class status when it comes to economic class.

Nearly 1 in 4 adults in the US will be severely obese by 2030, study suggests | Ars Technica

BitFlipper comments on Dec 20, 2019:

I'm now 221, down from 245 two months ago, and 274 last year. I do a heavy gym workout 3 times a week and have eliminated *almost* all unhealthy foods and unhealthy portions. I am **sick and tired** of being marginalized as a fat person and I've decided it's within my power to change that.

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 21, 2019:

That is great progress and I am happy for you. Keep up the good work.

Just trying to get a head count here. Who's an atheist and who isn't, and why?

SeaGreenEyez comments on Dec 19, 2019:

Not much to tell. Indoctrinated, almost killed myself trying to force the nonsensical into a sensible head, said, "Fuck that!" And lived happily ever after. 😁

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 19, 2019:

Cute kitty...

Year after year, Americans are baited into an entrenched system of "voting" that claims to dispense ...

RoboGraham comments on Dec 19, 2019:

Now they not only have elite soldiers but drones as well. And soon there will be robotic soldiers and mass surveillance.

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 19, 2019:

Quite true and the only way to prevent that will be millions of Americans getting out in the street and raising hell before it's too late and we have martial law and no public assembly allowed after robotic soldiers and drones are dispatched to keep the citizens fearful and confined to their homes.

Dealing with the current state of affairs - is this a good approach?

TomMcGiverin comments on Dec 18, 2019:

The author ignores how the Dems are just as corrupt as the Repubs and thus those who recognize this realize that long term despair is hard to avoid concerning our future as a nation. Electing Dems for prez and congress, even a few like Sanders, is not going to, by itself, change our corrupt rotten ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 18, 2019:

@mordant Unfortunately for him and us, the DNC and the party establishment do not care about winning the election against Trump or nor do they want the kind of systemic change you are talking about or want the involvement of the voiceless and the usual non-voters in the election process. Because all that matters to TPTB with the Dem party is pleasing their donor class of the rich and corporate America, because those groups are perfectly fine with another four years of Trump. They just care about preventing any progressive agenda from ever being pursued in DC.

Hey everyone, For those that have used fake phone numbers or apps to keep in touch with a new ...

Bobbyzen comments on Dec 18, 2019:

Call him from a phone booth 😂. Sorry I’m just an old wise guy, emphasis on old.

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 18, 2019:

Working pay phones are becoming hard to find these days....Seems like nowadays they are only used by criminals in large cities to make calls regarding criminal acts on TV shows....

My favorite Texan: Townes van Zandt My Colorado Girl - Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues [youtu.be]

Sticks48 comments on Dec 17, 2019:

We did a show with Townes in the late 70's. We still do Pancho and Lefty. It is one of the few cover songs we do. He was a terrific songwriter. Nice post.

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 17, 2019:

@Haemish1 Kinky Friedman And The Texas Jewboys, best band name ever!

What can be done about the inactive members problem on this site?

SCal comments on Dec 16, 2019:

The set up of the site is not "fun". The browse and forum features are confusing and bulky. The site is set up for discussion and not getting to know or connecting with each other. I joined as a dating site, but stayed to join the discourse. Most people, especially younger age groups have no ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 16, 2019:

That makes perfect sense, your statement about what younger people are looking for. It explains why most of the active members here are older people like me.

Okay, ladies, a question. How many of you on the online dating scene actually make the first move?

273kelvin comments on Dec 15, 2019:

I have had one or two. They have been (how can I put this without being ungallant) not the type I would have contacted myself. My friend seems to get loads of unsolicited msgs. In fact, he does not send any himself now as he has about 4-5 women on the go at the same time. Then again he has always ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 15, 2019:

He's probably at least above average-looking. That seems to make all the difference in the world in how much interest you get from women on dating sites. And I'm sure it goes that way for women who are above average looking too.

The Man Who Slapped a Female Reporter’s Butt on TV is a Christian Youth Leader | Hemant Mehta | ...

Benthoven comments on Dec 12, 2019:

One thing I've noticed, especially when it comes to Evangelicals, is the more "moral" they are, the more immoral they are. The more 'anti-gay' they are, the gayer they are. The more afraid they are of children being harmed by godless heathens, the more likely they are to do the harm. The more they ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 12, 2019:

It's a psychological concept called projection, namely attributing or accusing others of behavior that is actually very much a part of yourself, but too shameful to admit to oneself or others.

Not this year...

RavenCT comments on Dec 12, 2019:

Can jump six feet from a stand still.... 😂

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 12, 2019:

I have seen cats that can do that and land on the top of an open door....

I haven't had luck in any dating site.

273kelvin comments on Dec 5, 2019:

Dating at a later age is difficult at best. I looked at your profile and if I may say, you look very good for 72. The problem I have with online dating is that so many of the women of my age are either beige or appear to be beige. It is not so much physical attraction (although that is a factor) ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 6, 2019:

@273kelvin Those profiles sound like women who are very boring to be around and not very mentally deep.

I haven't had luck in any dating site.

IrishTxJudy comments on Dec 5, 2019:

I have zero expectations from dating sites. There are those in this group and the Single/Mingle group who tell us they are meeting people but either it’s nothing permanent or not really finding “the one”. At the end of the day, they are still here.... like all the rest of us. At our ages,...

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 5, 2019:

@IrishTxJudy Agreed.

I haven't had luck in any dating site.

IrishTxJudy comments on Dec 5, 2019:

I have zero expectations from dating sites. There are those in this group and the Single/Mingle group who tell us they are meeting people but either it’s nothing permanent or not really finding “the one”. At the end of the day, they are still here.... like all the rest of us. At our ages,...

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 5, 2019:

@IrishTxJudy I agree there aren't many success stories from online dating and that in two years I only ended up meeting a couple dozen women. But that is still way more than I would have met that seemed at all compatible thru the group joining route.....

I haven't had luck in any dating site.

IrishTxJudy comments on Dec 5, 2019:

I have zero expectations from dating sites. There are those in this group and the Single/Mingle group who tell us they are meeting people but either it’s nothing permanent or not really finding “the one”. At the end of the day, they are still here.... like all the rest of us. At our ages,...

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 5, 2019:

I also tried the joining route of groups as well as online dating and it doesn't work. Doesn't expose you to nearly the same amount of women as online dating, so I have to disagree with you.

I haven't had luck in any dating site.

273kelvin comments on Dec 5, 2019:

Dating at a later age is difficult at best. I looked at your profile and if I may say, you look very good for 72. The problem I have with online dating is that so many of the women of my age are either beige or appear to be beige. It is not so much physical attraction (although that is a factor) ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 5, 2019:

I totally get that. Almost all the women I ran across on Batch were very family-oriented and seemed to only want family men who would spend time mostly with them and their kids and grandkids, leaving only the occaisional weekend away doing who knows what.... probably not anything interesting to me for those weekends.... I think a lot of that probably has more to do with one's location and the mainstream culture of that area. Mine happens to be very family-oriented and I am stuck with that.

Woman skips mammogram because she cannot afford it and insce company refuses coverage.

Lauren comments on Dec 4, 2019:

"Diagnostic" procedures are commonly used by insurance companies in the U.S. to get out of paying. I haven't had cancer, and I get my annual exam and mammogram in my doctor's office, but last year he saw a spot on the films he wanted another look at, so he sent me to an imaging center. My insurer ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 4, 2019:

Damned if you do, damned if you don't (get the tests).....

What do you think of this - There is a guy who loves his wife so much and cannot bear to lose her.

BitFlipper comments on Dec 3, 2019:

It sounds like you're "asking for a friend".

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 4, 2019:

Ya think? It does remind me of spiels I've heard from other guys who said they were " just asking for a friend". Or maybe I'm just too cynical.....If so, EV is free to correct me and I will apologize.

Obama just lost my respect.

JazznBlues comments on Dec 2, 2019:

Been unsure who to vote for, this article tipped me into Bernie Land!

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 2, 2019:

I always vote for whoever Wall Street and corporate America hate the most. It's a no-brainer..because I know they are my true class enemies, much more than rednecks, religious fundies, and other conservatives or people of other racial groups.

If Trump is re-elected, what would your response be--if none of these fit, make your answer as a ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Dec 2, 2019:

I will lose what little hope I have left and go on living my life and trying to take care of myself as best I can while expecting the worst in our politics and economy for the future. Trump being re-elected will not be that much different than having Biden or any of the other centrist, corporatist, ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 2, 2019:

@DavidDuhon I agree completely with you on all of that. I think Bernie is the only one who can beat Trump, by giving hope to the usual low income non-voters and getting them to turn out in a general election, as well as some of Trump's supporters who are left out of the economy and angry with the status quo. Those people would have voted for him in 2016 if the Dems had not nominated Hillary, but they voted for Trump hoping for change and believing his lies. If Bernie does not win I give up hope in change thru national electoral politics and agree it has to come with movements outside of the electoral system, due to how bought and corrupt that system is. I think the Occupy movement gave us a glimpse of what that might look like and have to be.

A weird thing has been happening and I wonder if it happens to any of you guys.

Athena comments on Dec 1, 2019:

It wouldn't surprise me. Bernie is Washington's biggest nightmare, on both the DNC and RNC sides of the establishment. They know that with him in office, the bullshit will be over, which also means it could be the end of some careers. They make Bernie out to be "crazy" and "too old" which is ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 1, 2019:

@Athena Trump serves the interests of the rich and corporations. Bernie does not. The hit would happen before he could get elected, so that his VP could not succeed him.

A weird thing has been happening and I wonder if it happens to any of you guys.

Athena comments on Dec 1, 2019:

It wouldn't surprise me. Bernie is Washington's biggest nightmare, on both the DNC and RNC sides of the establishment. They know that with him in office, the bullshit will be over, which also means it could be the end of some careers. They make Bernie out to be "crazy" and "too old" which is ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 1, 2019:

That is why I am afraid that if he gets the nomination or is elected prez the spooks will arrange a convenient heart attack for him after he is poisoned. After his recent heart attack, it could all be explained as natural causes. No need in his case to have someone shoot him like in all the assassinations of the 1960s. If I were him, I would also stay away from small aircraft after what happened to Carnahan and Wellstone.

I guess this is just a rant.

TomMcGiverin comments on Dec 1, 2019:

All that kind of talk sort of validates my longtime cynicism that many women in the dating game put a man's money way ahead of his heart and character....

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 1, 2019:

@GreatNani Everything goes both ways. That's why it's pointless to say one gender behaves worse than the other.....Trading beauty for money is as old as prostitution...

I guess this is just a rant.

moosepucky comments on Dec 1, 2019:

I am holding out for a wealthy, nearsighted, supermodel. Wish me luck

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 1, 2019:

Good luck with that one. While you're at it, say hi to the Easter Bunny for me....

Do you think it is about ABB?

MarkiusMahamius comments on Dec 1, 2019:

Whats ABB? Ive met plentry of people who like Harris here, even a few Biden apologists. A few Buttigieg too. Bernie Bots are like vegans... "how can you tell you've met one? Dont worry, they'll tell you"

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 1, 2019:

@RoboGraham But to these kinds of people, they would rather spend that money fighting reform, even if in vain, than give it away to their perceived inferiors thru government taxation or confiscation. It's the principle of the thing, in their eyes...

So how many of you guys think this is “fair”?

TomMcGiverin comments on Dec 1, 2019:

I always make it clear, beginning with the first meeting for coffee, that I will gladly pay for their coffee if that's ok with them. After that, I make it clear that I expect we will each pay our own way on things as we are getting to know each other. If a woman objects to the latter, I have my ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Dec 1, 2019:

@UUNJ That's something that can be compromised on down the line and I am fine with doing that. I just want to date women that put their cards, and their priorities, on the table early on, so there are no games or misunderstandings.

Christian Zealot Beheads Girlfriend Because She Refused To Repent | Michael Stone

girlwithsmiles comments on Nov 30, 2019:

Hopefully one day this too shall pass, and the beating the demons out of the psychotic 😢

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 30, 2019:

So true! Reminds me of the scene in Monty Python And The Holy Grail, in which the accused witch is brought out in the town square and weighed against a duck to prove whether she is truly a witch or not....What passed for medivial science back then.....

I am curious about your day. Did you have any family mishaps or faux pas?

Hathacat comments on Nov 28, 2019:

Didn’t celebrate

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 28, 2019:

@Hathacat That's a good pet mom...

All older members of the site will probably find this very interesting - [theglobeandmail.com]

ToolGuy comments on Nov 28, 2019:

So when people put into their dating profiles that they are only interested in dating, is this what they mean? And does that mean those who do want live-in partners go for younger partners?

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 28, 2019:

It would not surprise me that most men who want a live-in relationship eventually would or will go the route of seeking younger women for partners in order to have more prospects for getting the arrangement they want. But I doubt most younger women are willing to date men who are much older, at least not regular guys who are not rich or famous. That has been my experience with online dating. This mismatch on desired arrangements between men and women who are both older or a certain age seems to be a lot like the other common situation of older men wanting to have kids with someone and having to date younger in women in order to get that wish granted.

I am curious about your day. Did you have any family mishaps or faux pas?

Hathacat comments on Nov 28, 2019:

Didn’t celebrate

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 28, 2019:

Didn't you at least give your pets treats?

Guys, if you want to move in with her, remember this motivation.

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 28, 2019:

If only it were that simple....

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 28, 2019:

@WonderWartHog99 Funny.

All older members of the site will probably find this very interesting - [theglobeandmail.com]

Allamanda comments on Nov 28, 2019:

I'm finding all the responses to this very interesting but from a different angle - one of the things that seems to inhibit late marriages and even some relationships, is that one or both persons have grown children and or grandchildren and are part of their system of carers, or live with them, or ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 28, 2019:

@Allamanda There is a lot of truth to your words, at least in my geo area. The women who are in my age group are almost all very family-oriented and they make it clear in their profile essays that they will always put their family ahead of you or any other dating partner as far as their time and attention. Which is why I had so little luck in finding someone thru online dating. When I finally did meet someone mutually compatible it was, no surprise, someone who never had kids, which is pretty rare in my local area. I have always made it clear to women in online dating that I am willing to be involved in or absorbed into someone's extended family, but at the same time, I do not want to spend most of my time with the woman, esp. early in the relationship, visiting their family. In my experience with online dating, it seemed the women with kids who were family-oriented were usually very rigid and unwilling to compromise on those points of mine. In fact, they seemed more interested in finding someone who would happily serve as a regular escort to their family visits than as a real dating partner or as part of a couples relationship.

Guys, if you want to move in with her, remember this motivation.

Davekp comments on Nov 28, 2019:

And.. "Happy pay your Visa bill."

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 28, 2019:

That's too much into Sugar Daddy territory for me to offer someone.

Ideal role of religion in society?

NoPlanetB comments on Nov 27, 2019:

I would not want to take it away from people who want it as a comfort. I would relegate it to personal use only and for adults only.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 27, 2019:

@NoPlanetB Not into porn myself, so I didn't consider that. Sounds like that too.

Ideal role of religion in society?

NoPlanetB comments on Nov 27, 2019:

I would not want to take it away from people who want it as a comfort. I would relegate it to personal use only and for adults only.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 27, 2019:

Sounds like weed....

As of yesterday, I am down 40 lbs in 15 weeks.

BitFlipper comments on Nov 26, 2019:

I have faced the fact that my overweight condition makes me unacceptable to most of the women I'm attracted to. I'm finally taking the project from "nice to have" to "essential". I'm down to 230 from 275, and I intend to see what life is like st 200. At 6' tall, maybe women will see something other ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 27, 2019:

@BitFlipper I totally understand, BF. Been there, have the T-shirt. Looks really do matter a lot, with both sexes, in the dating game. Personality matters, but looks are necessary to get you in the door, so to speak, so that women will first choose to read your messages and reply to you. Only after that does personality enter into the game very much.....

As of yesterday, I am down 40 lbs in 15 weeks.

BitFlipper comments on Nov 26, 2019:

I have faced the fact that my overweight condition makes me unacceptable to most of the women I'm attracted to. I'm finally taking the project from "nice to have" to "essential". I'm down to 230 from 275, and I intend to see what life is like st 200. At 6' tall, maybe women will see something other ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 27, 2019:

@IrishTxJudy Shaving is always the way to go. 200 lbs at 6' looks good to most women.

Would you rather be in love or have someone be in love with you?

Sticks48 comments on Nov 27, 2019:

Either way is bad for both people.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 27, 2019:

@Sticks48 I figured that was the case. In those situations, a block is the only remedy.

Would you rather be in love or have someone be in love with you?

Sticks48 comments on Nov 27, 2019:

Either way is bad for both people.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 27, 2019:

@Sticks48 Sounds like trying decaf for a while might be good, Sticks, lol....

Checking out the fishies.

Sticks48 comments on Nov 25, 2019:

A buffet!

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 25, 2019:

Kitty hungry for some fish....

First, you cut taxes for the rich and the deficit explodes.

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 24, 2019:

The cartoon is truthful. It has always been there plan and also that of the corporate Dems as well, including Obama. Which is part of why I hate him....

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 25, 2019:

@snytiger6 I hate all lying pols, but esp. those who pretend to be for the common people. At least the Repubs pretty much tell you straight up how they are going to screw you and serve the rich.

Tonight is date number three with a woman I met on the Okay Little Winged Guy site.

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 23, 2019:

What movie, I'm curious....

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 24, 2019:

@Bobbyzen Good choice. Very positive and safe.

My apologies if this has come up before, but who has been active members of matchmaking sites?

Cabsmom comments on Nov 23, 2019:

Okcupid is a good one. They have lots of questions you can answer to get a better match. Plenty of fish worked for me once. I met a great guy and we are friends with benefits now. I would like more, but he has a complicated life. Our time is horrible. Meetme was horrible for me. I ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 23, 2019:

I agree with you about Our Time. It was pretty much a waste of time for me. I have been on Match for a little over two years and I finally found someone compatible recently. Match is probably about as good as it will get, at least for my age group and area. Frankly, I think that dating sites are not likely to work for most people who are only average-looking or worse that are also seeking something long term with someone of quality.

I put theses lifters on the greenhouse they open and close as the temperature changes.

seattlepanda comments on Nov 20, 2019:

chicken man...

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 20, 2019:

"he's everywhere, he's everywhere...."

Can you love a racist?

Sticks48 comments on Nov 18, 2019:

Family or really close friend, yes I have done that. Over time both changed I am happy to say. Romantic relationship, that would be a big NO! That is a tough one. Just do what you feel is right and it won't be wrong.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 19, 2019:

@Sticks48 I love that movie and that scene is priceless! " I'd like to welcome our new__", as the welcome banner quickly rolls back up and the men all draw their guns.....

Feel alone?

kimlaleona comments on Nov 17, 2019:

Yeah when it comes down to this one belief of how the universe was made. I cant expect everyone to agree with all my beliefs and some christians are pretty cool. They just feel that WE think that we came from "nothing". I can understand how that seems crazy but you cant really believe someone is ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 17, 2019:

Paragraphs......

Happy Sunday Everyone.

Haemish1 comments on Nov 17, 2019:

Surprisingly, there isn’t a Victoria’s Secret in the Butte Plaza mall - very little there beyond a call center, movie theatre and Joann’s fabrics. I’ve always been a bit too shy to venture into Victoria’s Secret (without female accompaniment:)

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 17, 2019:

@Haemish1 Exactly! I don't always have better things to do with my time, but I sure as hell have better things to do with my money. Playing the lottery would be a better investment, and I don't do that one either.

Happy Sunday Everyone.

Haemish1 comments on Nov 17, 2019:

Surprisingly, there isn’t a Victoria’s Secret in the Butte Plaza mall - very little there beyond a call center, movie theatre and Joann’s fabrics. I’ve always been a bit too shy to venture into Victoria’s Secret (without female accompaniment:)

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 17, 2019:

Same here. I'm probably one of the few men my age, except for very religious types, that has never been to a strip club and has never had any interest in going to one.

I have kinda given up on online dating for the time being.

BitFlipper comments on Nov 14, 2019:

Online is the only option for me. I have no luck at all in person. At least with online dating the rejection is delayed until the in-person meeting.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 17, 2019:

@BitFlipper Good luck with that. In my experience, most women will not share with you, at least not honestly, why they are rejecting you. Most will simply not reply if you ask them, others will simply say some lame excuse rather than be honest. We usually end up having to make an assumption or else be left in the dark wondering. That's the state of things. I have no idea if men are the same way about sharing or not sharing the real reasons why women are rejected. It would be interesting to hear from women who have been bold enough to ask men.

Most of the world now thinks religion is the cause of the world's problems! [usnews.com]

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 16, 2019:

I really don't think the root cause is religion as much as greed, extreme individualism, tribalism, fear of differences in others and, most importantly, governments run by the rich, corporations, and corrupt politicians. The world could be rid of religion and these other problems would still lead to...

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 16, 2019:

@BryanLV It is not healthy for societies. Go live on your own island, if you can afford one. Most Libertarians seem to desire that, except for their desire to benefit from police, fire depts, roads, and other benefits from living in societies they don't want to pay taxes for.......

I have kinda given up on online dating for the time being.

BitFlipper comments on Nov 14, 2019:

Online is the only option for me. I have no luck at all in person. At least with online dating the rejection is delayed until the in-person meeting.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 16, 2019:

@BitFlipper That is puzzling and it's happened to me several times too. The women just ghosted me when I messaged them after the in person meeting. Even if you message them after the in person meeting and ask them why they don't want to see you again, you will usually not get an honest, meaningful answer, in my experience. In the end, it doesn't matter anyway as the bottom line is, you've been rejected and time to move on.

Ralph Nader on the Trump impeachment. Why are the democrats so reluctant?

dare2dream comments on Nov 15, 2019:

I think the Democrats are reluctant because they learned in 2016 that a good 40% of the American electorate don't think Trump has done anything impeachable because they are as deplorable, racist and ignorant as Trump is. The common Republican voters have been voting against their own best interests ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 15, 2019:

And they also know that an impeachment by the House will go nowhere in the Senate, just a replay of the Clinton impeachment during his second term. And, just like with Clinton, they know that the process might actually make him more popular and make the Dems look bad in comparison, the same way Clinton's impeachment made the Repubs look bad then.

On your third date, and she tells you about her FWB

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 15, 2019:

Better that she told you early on than later. Personally, I would not continue seeing someone who was so casual about sex that she was already having a continued FWB while also meeting and dating other men, but I'm sure some other men wouldn't really mind or let that hold them back from continuing ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 15, 2019:

@GreatNani I can picture some people to whom saying that or hearing that on the third date would be no big deal. Everybody's different.....

I have kinda given up on online dating for the time being.

BitFlipper comments on Nov 14, 2019:

Online is the only option for me. I have no luck at all in person. At least with online dating the rejection is delayed until the in-person meeting.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 15, 2019:

I'm very sad to hear that. I hope it changes for you. I don't know that you are experiencing rejection based on your looks with online dating at the time of the in-person meeting. In my experience, the women who are going to reject me on looks usually do that well before the in person meeting by either not reading my message in the first place after seeing my main pic next to the message or they blow off my message and don't reply after reading the message and then viewing my profile. But either way, I can only infer what is going on there because no one in online dating volunteers the info that they are rejecting you on looks in a message to you. Instead they leave it unsaid.

I have kinda given up on online dating for the time being.

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 14, 2019:

I can relate. Music is huge to me and I could never date someone who was much of a country music fan, as I hate that genre and the whole culture that goes with it. Same with smoking and someone who is very religious. I am currently dating someone who is a practicing Catholic, but she is not big on ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 15, 2019:

@273kelvin Country music is all the same to me. Not interested in hearing twang, the extremely deliberately nasal vocal style and endless stories of rural life. I get enough of the latter simply by living in Iowa. I don't want it thrown in my face thru music. It's really grating to hear good singers deliberately sing in a nasal voice thru their nose just to fit in with the country music scene and please their fans. I see this all the time with people at karaoke shows.

Ohio Law Would Allow Students To Give Wrong Answers Because Of Religious Belief | Michael Stone

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 14, 2019:

It's funny in a sad, ironic way how much the American religious fundies have in common with the Taliban and Islamic fundamentalists, and yet, they are totally clueless about the similarities........

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 15, 2019:

@Beowulfsfriend I doubt they get it, but that is exactly the right response.

Ohio Law Would Allow Students To Give Wrong Answers Because Of Religious Belief | Michael Stone

LisaFultonave comments on Nov 14, 2019:

Unbelievable. NOBODY better wonder why I joined this forum in search of intelligent conversation. I just don't understand why all these religious people WANT to be stupid. It's not even accidental, it's willful ignorance! And now they want to make it a LAW that you can be ignorant!!!!!

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 14, 2019:

@LisaFultonave I almost never post on FB. Just use it for messaging with friends and keeping up on entertainment events like live music.

Ohio Law Would Allow Students To Give Wrong Answers Because Of Religious Belief | Michael Stone

KKGator comments on Nov 14, 2019:

I'm so glad I no longer live in Ohio. First, Jim Jordan, now this shit. SMFH

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 14, 2019:

@LisaFultonave Sounds like a good plan. Glad you are self sufficient and hope you are back west soon.

Ohio Law Would Allow Students To Give Wrong Answers Because Of Religious Belief | Michael Stone

KKGator comments on Nov 14, 2019:

I'm so glad I no longer live in Ohio. First, Jim Jordan, now this shit. SMFH

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 14, 2019:

@LisaFultonave I pity you for still living there....

Ohio Law Would Allow Students To Give Wrong Answers Because Of Religious Belief | Michael Stone

LisaFultonave comments on Nov 14, 2019:

Unbelievable. NOBODY better wonder why I joined this forum in search of intelligent conversation. I just don't understand why all these religious people WANT to be stupid. It's not even accidental, it's willful ignorance! And now they want to make it a LAW that you can be ignorant!!!!!

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 14, 2019:

"Confuse not the minds of the ignorant. They will only hate you for it"...