Do you think atheism can lead to higher consciousness?

genessa comments on Jan 10, 2019:

1. depends on what counts as higher consciousness, and higher than what. 2. atheism itself? i have evidence all around me that it does not. however, the things that lead to atheism may also lead to higher consciousness, dependent on what that is. g

genessa replies on Jan 10, 2019:

@AstralSmoke okay, so that one thing is unblocked, but it can't guarantee that anything else will be. that's my only point. not actually attacking the post but i think it's an example of overreach -- like promising that if you lose weight you will get a better lover. it might represent one hurdle down but it doesn't touch any of the others, right? g

Curious how long before the Democrats give in.

jerry99 comments on Jan 10, 2019:

How do you deal with a child who’s throwing a temper tantrum? I don’t think it’s smart to cave in and give him his candy or whatever. I think it’s best to ignore him until he calms down and comes to his senses. Unfortunately, in this case I doubt Trump has enough sense to realize what’s ...

genessa replies on Jan 10, 2019:

nancy did it right. she simply said "no." g

Curious how long before the Democrats give in.

genessa comments on Jan 10, 2019:

nancy won't be giving in. g

genessa replies on Jan 10, 2019:

@Dandewine poor chuck had no one to lean on, and now he has nancy. he isn't a bad guy. nancy, on the other hand, is wonder woman! she gave trump the one-word answer when he asked for his wall (without, i might add, offering anything in return): NO. no wonder baby trump spat up his formula and crawled out of the room. g

Trump was true to form today when he took his ball and went home (except he hasn't got any balls, ...

david75090 comments on Jan 10, 2019:

The whole "crisis" is Trump. He's doing the equivalent of holding his breath until he gets his way. An immature way of being president.

genessa replies on Jan 10, 2019:

if only he would turn blue! g

Do you think atheism can lead to higher consciousness?

genessa comments on Jan 10, 2019:

1. depends on what counts as higher consciousness, and higher than what. 2. atheism itself? i have evidence all around me that it does not. however, the things that lead to atheism may also lead to higher consciousness, dependent on what that is. g

genessa replies on Jan 10, 2019:

@Fernapple lol look around this site. there are plenty of extremely distracted atheists here. it's only one distraction of many that gets dropped. i hear ya, but i really wouldn't put that much stock in it. i say this as an atheist of more than half a century (and not planning to start believing in any gods, either). g

FACT CHECK: Did a 1950s TV Episode Feature a Character Named Trump Who Offered to Build a Protective...

godef comments on Jan 10, 2019:

Snake oil salesman? Sounds like Twump.

genessa replies on Jan 10, 2019:

sure does! i wonder if they got the name from woody guthrie, who after all had written a song about trump's father. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh1QXhqXDbU g

How did you deconvert?

genessa comments on Jan 10, 2019:

i never had to deconvert and this site is showing me how lucky i was. i was raised a secular jew and when i discovered there was no god, i didn't even think how it would affect my being jewish (not at all) since i wasn't religious to start with, and to me jewishness (not judaism) is more a cultural...

genessa replies on Jan 10, 2019:

@Ario99 i never mentioned it to my folks -- not because i was afraid or even hesitant, but because it just didn't occur to me they'd be interested. a decade later i was living three thousand miles from them and someone asked me whether my parents believed in god and i had no idea! so i called them long-distance and asked, and they were annoyed that i had called long-distance for such an unimportant question! neither had a ready answer for me. each hesitated. my mom said "i think... i think i do." my dad said "i think... i think i don't." that was that! it was THAT traumatic lol g

Do you think atheism can lead to higher consciousness?

genessa comments on Jan 10, 2019:

1. depends on what counts as higher consciousness, and higher than what. 2. atheism itself? i have evidence all around me that it does not. however, the things that lead to atheism may also lead to higher consciousness, dependent on what that is. g

genessa replies on Jan 10, 2019:

@Fernapple well, i do not see that as a function of atheism. they can coexist but they're not necessarily related and they're certainly not related causally. g

Fact checking Trump's address

genessa comments on Jan 8, 2019:

wouldn't it be easier just to list things he said that were true? thinking.... let's see. he didn't introduce himself so "i'm donald trump" is out. that would've been true.... yeah, short list, right? nice blank space. g

genessa replies on Jan 9, 2019:

@dalefvictor well he was in the white house. i am not sure he actually had a message. but i did leave out that he said there is a humanitarian crisis. he forgot to mention that he is its cause, but hey, at his age and level of cognitive function, it's pretty impressive that he remembered he was in the white house. g

What can we do about the Russian puppet in the White House? Where is Mueller?

genessa comments on Jan 9, 2019:

mueller and his team are working their ass off. you want it done fast or you want it done right? g

genessa replies on Jan 9, 2019:

@Dave75 i hope he doesn't last long enough to be defeated. he's too dangerous. g

What can we do about the Russian puppet in the White House? Where is Mueller?

Sgt_Spanky comments on Jan 9, 2019:

I honestly don't care about Mueller. There's already a tsunami of evidence to support impeachment even without Mueller's report. Pelosi's already getting on my nerves by refusing to move on Trump until the probe is complete. All this *"We need to wait for the Mueller report."* bullshit is just ...

genessa replies on Jan 9, 2019:

@Sgt_Spanky there is merit in that, and yet indictment would not involve the senate so it would be surer. there actually is no law against indicting a sitting president. we shall see. mueller is working quite swiftly. watergate was rapid and took 18 months. this is more complex. g

What can we do about the Russian puppet in the White House? Where is Mueller?

Sgt_Spanky comments on Jan 9, 2019:

I honestly don't care about Mueller. There's already a tsunami of evidence to support impeachment even without Mueller's report. Pelosi's already getting on my nerves by refusing to move on Trump until the probe is complete. All this *"We need to wait for the Mueller report."* bullshit is just ...

genessa replies on Jan 9, 2019:

@Sgt_Spanky if i could hover at his window like a ghost and go "wooo oooo ooo" to give him a heart attack i surely would! i am also torn between impeachment and indictment. it would be nice to do both. g

What can we do about the Russian puppet in the White House? Where is Mueller?

Sgt_Spanky comments on Jan 9, 2019:

I honestly don't care about Mueller. There's already a tsunami of evidence to support impeachment even without Mueller's report. Pelosi's already getting on my nerves by refusing to move on Trump until the probe is complete. All this *"We need to wait for the Mueller report."* bullshit is just ...

genessa replies on Jan 9, 2019:

no one is just waiting. and that tsunami of evidence comes in large part from mueller's efforts. if it won't hold up in court, it isn't worth squat. it has to be done right. g

With the way we behave, the human race deserves to go extinct. [smithsonianmag.com]

genessa comments on Jan 9, 2019:

we? i'm not identifying with that. g

genessa replies on Jan 9, 2019:

@Closeted maybe (i'm not holding my breath) they can begin the long healing process. g

With the way we behave, the human race deserves to go extinct. [smithsonianmag.com]

genessa comments on Jan 9, 2019:

we? i'm not identifying with that. g

genessa replies on Jan 9, 2019:

@Closeted i own that i'm human. i own that humans can be rotten. i will not own that we must be, that i personally am, nor that we deserve extinction. g

I really need to say something, and I figure here is perhaps the only safe place I can say it ...

Rudy1962 comments on Jan 9, 2019:

Why do you torture yourself listening to Christian radio? Sure most Democrat politicians are a little dishonest and corrupt, but are they really as bad as Republicans?

genessa replies on Jan 9, 2019:

why would you say most dems are a little dishonest and corrupt? have you any evidence of that? the thing is, both political parties have a lot of elected officials affiliated with them, so there are bound to be some dishonest and corrupt people, but the democratic party does not exist to enrich itself, and it does not cheat to stay in power. that's not the party line or the party platform, nor how it operates. the republican party does both. the democratic party has had some weirdos in it, and you know what happens to them when they're discovered? the dems oust them. the republicans have a SHITLOAD of weirdos, and you know what happens to them when they're discovered? they get confirmed to the supreme court; they win their primaries and have their parties' support no matter what. the republicans circle the wagons. there is a HUGE difference between the two parties as far as corruption and dishonesty go, and that's not even the only difference. g

Is "following" just code for STALKING?

ghettophilosopher comments on Jan 8, 2019:

How many more "followers" did you get after making this post?

genessa replies on Jan 8, 2019:

@Pluviophile why can't you answer? ag dot com shows you how many followers you have. g

As atheist and agnostics what in your opinion is the odds of there being a afterlife ?

Jay1313132018 comments on Jan 8, 2019:

So, I call myself Agnostic. As such, I say that I don't know what happens after death. I don't call myself An Atheist because that would mean I knew what happens after death. So, are you really pure Atheist?

genessa replies on Jan 8, 2019:

purism is not necessarily a good thing. here is what isaac asimov said about it: “I am an atheist, out and out. It took me a long time to say it. I've been an atheist for years and years, but somehow I felt it was intellectually unrespectable to say one was an atheist, because it assumed knowledge that one didn't have. Somehow, it was better to say one was a humanist or an agnostic. I finally decided that I'm a creature of emotion as well as of reason. Emotionally, I am an atheist. I don't have the evidence to prove that God doesn't exist, but I so strongly suspect he doesn't that I don't want to waste my time.” i will add that if you're not sure about god or gods you are equally unsure about the tooth fairy. but the tooth fairy is ridiculous, so of course there is no tooth fairy, but god isn't ridiculous so maybe there's a god, right? wrong. god is every bit as ridiculous as the tooth fairy. the fact that more people believe in a god than in a tooth fairy has no bearing on that fact. g

I'm a long time Dr.

genessa comments on Jan 8, 2019:

i love the new doctor too. the writing... not up to snuff, not even close. the last episode irked a lot of people but the rest of it was so bad, it was actually an improvement (exception: kaboom, or whatever it was called -- that was pretty good. but we're used to better than "pretty good." ...

genessa replies on Jan 8, 2019:

@Lucy_Fehr my second is tom baker :-)) but i also like capaldi. i remember watching syndicated airings, a few years ago, of the vicar of dibley, and seeing an extremely gorgeous young man guesting on it, and turning to the friend who was also watching, and drooling, "who's THAT?" we watched the end credits eagerly. the young man was named peter capaldi. g

I do not know if I believe this is all circumstances, but someone once told me that, "There is no ...

AnneWimsey comments on Jan 8, 2019:

So does this mean you never laugh?

genessa replies on Jan 8, 2019:

@AnneWimsey oh no all jokes are fictional! all good jokes are at least partly true, if apocryphal. meanwhile, hyperbole is one of my hobbies. g

Maybe people believe in God because they are cowards with themselves.

genessa comments on Jan 5, 2019:

and maybe they believe in god because that's what they were taught and they've not yet had a reason to question what they've been taught. that makes them unadventurous at the very least but it does not make them cowards. g

genessa replies on Jan 8, 2019:

@Williamcristiano how do you know that most of the time they stick their heads in a hole? some undoubtedly do. many undoubtedly do. most? and how do you know that the reason is cowardice? not all fear is cowardice. g

I do not know if I believe this is all circumstances, but someone once told me that, "There is no ...

AnneWimsey comments on Jan 8, 2019:

So does this mean you never laugh?

genessa replies on Jan 8, 2019:

@AnneWimsey you know what kind of humor, apart from racism crap and all that, irks me? humor that relies solely on embarrassment. i don't watch sitcoms much (i adore murphy brown, though). sometimes i couldn't even watch i love lucy. it was so often "will ricky find out?" the best episodes of the latter bypassed that chestnut and focused on something else: the harpo episode, the grape-stomping, the vita veeta veggie thing, and of course the chocolate factory. once in a while a rare sitcom i like falls back on embarrassment and guess how i feel? embarrassed! g

If you were visiting someone at their home and on Sunday they asked you to attend church with them ...

Marine comments on Jan 8, 2019:

I would most likely attend their services with them. I do not believe that I would risk this friendship over one church service. Attending the service would gratify my friends and not change anything for me.

genessa replies on Jan 8, 2019:

if they are the kind of people who would be terribly hurt by your not going to church with them, in what way are you close? how are they close to you if they don't already know you don't want to go to church? how close can they be if your saying no would endanger the friendship? g

I'm a long time Dr.

genessa comments on Jan 8, 2019:

i love the new doctor too. the writing... not up to snuff, not even close. the last episode irked a lot of people but the rest of it was so bad, it was actually an improvement (exception: kaboom, or whatever it was called -- that was pretty good. but we're used to better than "pretty good." ...

genessa replies on Jan 8, 2019:

@Lucy_Fehr i don't think it was smith's fault. i think two elements were at play: 1. tennant was a damned tough act to follow! and 2. the writers didn't know how to write for smith. well, okay, a third element: 3. the impossible arcs, convoluted beyond belief and not always pleasant to experience. the best 11 episode had other doctors along for the ride and smith played against tennant marvelously, so i know he could do it. g

PLACE YOUR BETS HERE - Will Trump declare a state of emergency in his address tonight so he can...

genessa comments on Jan 8, 2019:

i think we know he will. the real bets are twofold: 1. will the dems be granted equal time, as they've requested, or is it hopeless? and 2. how many lawsuits will immediately be pressed if and when trump declares his fake state of emergency? g

genessa replies on Jan 8, 2019:

@Sgt_Spanky it doesn't matter what it is to him. what matters is that he is stopped from taking the money from where it should go and building a wall with it. so the lawsuits ARE important. g

I do not know if I believe this is all circumstances, but someone once told me that, "There is no ...

AnneWimsey comments on Jan 8, 2019:

So does this mean you never laugh?

genessa replies on Jan 8, 2019:

there is always only one person who doesn't laugh at someone slipping on a banana peel, and that's the slippee. g

I do not know if I believe this is all circumstances, but someone once told me that, "There is no ...

genessa comments on Jan 8, 2019:

that is why i don't buy the "i was only joking!" thing when someone tells an offensive joke. jokes don't innoculate against offense, and i'm not talking about just being super-sensitive -- i'm talking about jokes that are designed to put down a portion of the population that doesn't deserve to be ...

genessa replies on Jan 8, 2019:

@t1nick funny how that works! g

I realized something the other day.

genessa comments on Jan 8, 2019:

i always reacted that way to god's early statement (in the hebrew bible) that he is a jealous god. if he's the only one, of whom is he jealous? g

genessa replies on Jan 8, 2019:

@IAJO163 maybe it happens on the wwe! g

So I have to post and do stuff like that to gain levels?

genessa comments on Jan 8, 2019:

yes. the idea isn't that you do this to gain points. the idea is that you do this because you find the site interesting, and then the site rewards you with points that let you participate even more, because you've shown that you're into it. the points are not the point (pun intended). ...

genessa replies on Jan 8, 2019:

@Fernapple there is no way that anyone would get any points if staff had to determine the quality of a post, and length wouldn't be a good marker because someone could type lololololo for miles and miles. so all comments end up being counted equally, i guess. being first... well, the idea is probably so no one gets ignored. it doesn't always work, and there are abusers. g

So I have to post and do stuff like that to gain levels?

genessa comments on Jan 8, 2019:

yes. the idea isn't that you do this to gain points. the idea is that you do this because you find the site interesting, and then the site rewards you with points that let you participate even more, because you've shown that you're into it. the points are not the point (pun intended). ...

genessa replies on Jan 8, 2019:

@ATDayHiker a lot of people answer their own posts fast just to get the double points! i've been known to post in response to myself when no one else has, but not often, only after a while, and when it seems wiser to do that than simply to edit the original post (or when the time has passed for that). g

I realized something the other day.

genessa comments on Jan 8, 2019:

i always reacted that way to god's early statement (in the hebrew bible) that he is a jealous god. if he's the only one, of whom is he jealous? g

genessa replies on Jan 8, 2019:

@irascible i would never be so demanding! g

Living in San Diego and on the beach and still looking for a girlfriend.

seafarersd comments on Jan 7, 2019:

Thanks for all your comments. Learned a lot but....... I know with whom I get along and with whom not. A couple of nice comments but most ridiculed me....... so who cares. BTW ladies........ I don't mind some wrinkles but not all of them after 60 or so. Some of you will look good after that age ...

genessa replies on Jan 8, 2019:

i can see from your response you learned nothing. you care only about how someone looks, which is what you indicated in your initial post. you don't care who ridicules you. that can be a good attitude, or it can indicate that you have not yet figured out how ridiculous your post was. you want, you want, you want, but we have to click through to find out what, if anything, you have to offer. so then what is the profile for? what is the comment for? what are the majority of your posts, about looking for someone, for? we have to go somewhere else? you're so interesting SO far we're tempted to click? g

Mythology was never intended to be taken literally.

genessa comments on Jan 4, 2019:

well, yeah, it was intended to be taken literally at first, because mythology is just the name we give to someone else's religion. the longer ago it was practised, the more easily we label it mythology. should we take it literally now? of course not... but that applies to current religions too, ...

genessa replies on Jan 7, 2019:

@skado why in the world would we assume that it was the work of a single mind or committee? as for your explanation of what you meant, is there some clue in your original post about that? i don't see any. not trying to be insulting. i just really see none. g

I just watched a story on the news that said in the near future, we humans will be nothing more than...

JackPedigo comments on Jan 5, 2019:

This just came out https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2019/01/personalized-medicine-transforming-your-health-care/ Our genetic make-up can now be downloaded and analyzed.

genessa replies on Jan 6, 2019:

@JackPedigo they already know. g

I just watched a story on the news that said in the near future, we humans will be nothing more than...

JackPedigo comments on Jan 5, 2019:

This just came out https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2019/01/personalized-medicine-transforming-your-health-care/ Our genetic make-up can now be downloaded and analyzed.

genessa replies on Jan 6, 2019:

@JackPedigo ever. not from that data. people are not made out of data. they can be studied that way. you cannot build flesh and blood that way. g

I just watched a story on the news that said in the near future, we humans will be nothing more than...

JackPedigo comments on Jan 5, 2019:

This just came out https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2019/01/personalized-medicine-transforming-your-health-care/ Our genetic make-up can now be downloaded and analyzed.

genessa replies on Jan 6, 2019:

downloaded and analyzed as data, but not reproduced as people. g

I just watched a story on the news that said in the near future, we humans will be nothing more than...

genessa comments on Jan 5, 2019:

when you say news, what news do you mean? and even on a news show, some parts are information and other parts are opinion, sometimes based on facts and sometimes highly speculative. this sounds extremely unlikely. it sounds like fear-mongering ludditism. g

genessa replies on Jan 6, 2019:

@IAJO163 it was done 25 years ago predicting today's tech? and how accurate were they? (and i still want to know whose piece it was, which is what i meant by asking about news; what was the source? this does not sound right at all. g

Mythology was never intended to be taken literally.

genessa comments on Jan 4, 2019:

well, yeah, it was intended to be taken literally at first, because mythology is just the name we give to someone else's religion. the longer ago it was practised, the more easily we label it mythology. should we take it literally now? of course not... but that applies to current religions too, ...

genessa replies on Jan 6, 2019:

@Realist9 i don't think it was a joke, cruel or otherwise. it's just that it's got so many authors and editors. consistency? fat chance! between the gazillions of authors and editors and the political aspirations of the latter, and the general ignorance of the multiple times in which it was written, there is no way it could possibly hold together. g

Is there something that you've dreamed of doing for a long time?

genessa comments on Jan 4, 2019:

yes, i want to found a shelter for abused women and children who could benefit from equine therapy. why haven't i done it and why not do it right away? money! i have none. in fact i may lose my home. so... nope, no plan to do it. g

genessa replies on Jan 6, 2019:

@nicknotes think about that for a moment. you're telling someone you don't even know to change her dream. just ponder that. g

What's your future hold?

genessa comments on Jan 5, 2019:

i know! it's not as if people need doctors, right? forget med school. who knows if there'll be a world by the time you graduate! and you wouldn't want to plan approximately when to have kids. have them all now, don't wait. planning is too unrealistic. after all, once you made a plan, if you ...

genessa replies on Jan 6, 2019:

@Captnron59 you did not specify, age in your question. i gave good examples but they were not the only possible examples (and they did not apply exclusively to 20-with-mommy either) besides, i don't speak only to people my own age. that would be ageist. at any rate, i gave what occurred to me in the moment. i still contend that i am not wrong to have long-term plans, even if they never come to fruition. one should always aspire to something. they don't have to be grand plans either. my guy has alzheimer's i need to plan for when he needs more help than i can give him. how and where will we live? living only day to day ignores one of many issues that need to be resolved. everyone has different reasons to plan, or not plan. i would not dare say it was foolish for someone to plan ahead. g

Atheism???

genessa comments on Jan 5, 2019:

i don't know what everyone else thinks but i don't. it's not a magic thing that leads anywhere. it's just a realization that there aren't any gods. i have seen enough republican and libertarian atheists to know that higher consciousness isn't an inevitable result of that realization... nor should...

genessa replies on Jan 6, 2019:

@sammidenver for you that's path. okay. you do realize that it doesn't mean that for everyone, and we can't tell by your words that that's what you mean? anyway that does clarify things somewhat. i have a much simpler answer, then, to your question: no, i do not think that atheism leads to higher consciousness. nope. it may be a part of it. it doesn't lead to it. by the way, the state of being god would be the state of not existing, so no, i hope that it doesn't lead to that, but all life leads to not existing anymore, so oh well. nor am i one with everyone and everything, nor will i ever be, nor do i want to be. the thought of being one with, say, donald trump, makes me rather queasy. g

Religious fanatic-lunatic poisoning my life. What do I do?

RavenCT comments on Dec 28, 2018:

**Members I'm just going to put this out there. This could be a real person and great if it is - give them all the information that could help.** **However this also has all the earmarks of being a scam for money. ** (**Trapped in another country - abusive husband - child involved in harms way)....

genessa replies on Jan 6, 2019:

at first i was interested and then... it looked scammier and scammier. notice that she has not once responded to anyone's comment. if this was real, don't you think she'd at least have said thank you to those trying to help and maybe something indignant or worse to us? no. she is looking to see who is buying this and deciding whom to hit privately. i also can't help noticing that some sympathetic responses are coming from people who obviously have not read the whole post (telling her to run, when she has in fact already -- she claims -- gone back to russia). they will make nice targets. g

Oh today I had one of those moments.

genessa comments on Jan 4, 2019:

you did fine. don't let it bug you. the guy was buggy. g

genessa replies on Jan 5, 2019:

@Zoohome judgmental people plus guns, especially dangerous! judgmental people plus a job in radio, omg, really dangerous! g

Leo Kottke "Blue Dot" Got to see him live at the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach, CA Late 70's ...

genessa comments on Jan 5, 2019:

isn't he a trip? i had the pleasure of meeting him once, and that meant i got to tell him a story concerning a concert of his i'd attended some decades earlier. i'd brought a friend with me; i'd subjected her to his albums so she was familiar with his work, but her jaw still dropped. she ...

genessa replies on Jan 5, 2019:

@Boxdoc lol they move fast. g

What's your future hold?

genessa comments on Jan 5, 2019:

i know! it's not as if people need doctors, right? forget med school. who knows if there'll be a world by the time you graduate! and you wouldn't want to plan approximately when to have kids. have them all now, don't wait. planning is too unrealistic. after all, once you made a plan, if you ...

genessa replies on Jan 5, 2019:

@Captnron59 older than you! i will be 67 next month. what has that got to do with the price of beans? (and how do you KNOW most of us are older and have lived our lives, and what makes you think that at 67 i have lived my WHOLE life?) g

Is there something that you've dreamed of doing for a long time?

genessa comments on Jan 4, 2019:

yes, i want to found a shelter for abused women and children who could benefit from equine therapy. why haven't i done it and why not do it right away? money! i have none. in fact i may lose my home. so... nope, no plan to do it. g

genessa replies on Jan 5, 2019:

@nicknotes i always have it at the back of my mind but i'm 67 next month, i'm broke, i'm sick and... well it would take a miracle and i don't believe in miracles. but it's always there, nonetheless. g

Is there something that you've dreamed of doing for a long time?

genessa comments on Jan 4, 2019:

yes, i want to found a shelter for abused women and children who could benefit from equine therapy. why haven't i done it and why not do it right away? money! i have none. in fact i may lose my home. so... nope, no plan to do it. g

genessa replies on Jan 5, 2019:

@nicknotes not as hard as getting the money to establish the entity to begin with. it would be a proper foundation, not a one-woman job. i would have paid employees. but again... it's a dream and it's never going to happen. i don't buy lottery tickets. g

Atheism???

genessa comments on Jan 5, 2019:

i don't know what everyone else thinks but i don't. it's not a magic thing that leads anywhere. it's just a realization that there aren't any gods. i have seen enough republican and libertarian atheists to know that higher consciousness isn't an inevitable result of that realization... nor should...

genessa replies on Jan 5, 2019:

@sammidenver atheism is not alone in just being a word. each word we type here is just a word. atheism, like other words, MEANS something. your question didn't ask about a path. it asked about atheism. so NOW you're asking about a path. okay. sometimes. sometimes not. so... not necessarily. my path was to question everything i believed. some beliefs survived and others did not. what survived was a promise i made to myself to reexamine everything periodically, especially as new facts came into play. is that higher consciousness? that's something you haven't defined, and everyone defines it differently. some might think that's what you get when you take lsd. others may say it's a connection with the god of their choice. i don't put a lot of stock in higher consciousness. i've seen too many trumpkins. g

Is it possible that the key fundamentals of all prominent religions and cosmologies can ...

genessa comments on Jan 5, 2019:

no. it's not. the thing they all have in common is that fundamentally they're NOT true. well, there is some truth in some of current cosmology -- but it hasn't got that in common with anything else on the list. g

genessa replies on Jan 5, 2019:

@Morty_Frey speak for yourself! you don't know what i do or don't know :-)) besides, some of the "fundamentals" don't actually exist, in this world or any other. they're made up. g

We've had quite a bit of political sniping going on with our great community in the past two or more...

genessa comments on Jan 5, 2019:

sorry, i won't be posting my entire political leanings and stance here, with reasoning. that's not a one-liner. that's not even a one-paragrapher. simple? no. the best i can do without writing an essay is to label myself a liberal, progressive, social free-enterprisist, noncapitalist ...

genessa replies on Jan 5, 2019:

@Seeker3CO you may invite me over but i'll have to leave my guy at home; he won't eat ham! g

We've had quite a bit of political sniping going on with our great community in the past two or more...

genessa comments on Jan 5, 2019:

sorry, i won't be posting my entire political leanings and stance here, with reasoning. that's not a one-liner. that's not even a one-paragrapher. simple? no. the best i can do without writing an essay is to label myself a liberal, progressive, social free-enterprisist, noncapitalist ...

genessa replies on Jan 5, 2019:

@Seeker3CO yep. but sometimes the cancer acts like... well, linda blair in the exorcist lol. g

Well, I didn't get the job I applied for ….

genessa comments on Jan 5, 2019:

it isn't even necessarily about you. they could've just hired someone they liked even better, even though they liked you quite well. you never know. (isn't "supposed to happen" kind of a religious phrase in this context?) g

genessa replies on Jan 5, 2019:

@AzVixen52 i don't have any desires connected to your comment. it struck me as being religious. that kind of phrase always does. it has nothing to do with what i want. i didn't write it and i don't filter other people's words through what i do or do not want. that would be delusional. g

Me tonight "You mean to tell me Bob Ross was STONED?

genessa comments on Jan 5, 2019:

except he almost certainly wasn't. people who worked with him say they never saw any indication that he was high. okay, so maybe not a single one of them was particularly observant -- but on the other hand, he painted an entire season in under three days, and painted each work three times, and did...

genessa replies on Jan 5, 2019:

@RavenCT why would you be ON the hook for finding humor? but it's still an assertion that people here are taking seriously when there is no basis for it. no one is actually discussing the humor; they're discussing it as a serious assertion. g

Oh today I had one of those moments.

genessa comments on Jan 4, 2019:

you did fine. don't let it bug you. the guy was buggy. g

genessa replies on Jan 5, 2019:

@Zoohome sometimes being polite is inappropriate behavior. i probably would've laughed and felt good about it! but that's just me! g

Is there something that you've dreamed of doing for a long time?

genessa comments on Jan 4, 2019:

yes, i want to found a shelter for abused women and children who could benefit from equine therapy. why haven't i done it and why not do it right away? money! i have none. in fact i may lose my home. so... nope, no plan to do it. g

genessa replies on Jan 5, 2019:

@nicknotes yes, and until the shelter part is possible it doesn't matter what imaginary therapy there is. but i am specifically devoted to equine therapy. i mean, you may as well tell me, if my dream were to be a dentist, to go into podiatry. it's not the same thing. no, providing shelter and any old therapy is not my dream. providing shelter and equine therapy, not randomly chosen therapy, is my dream. compromise is one thing. letting someone edit my dream, already well beyond reach for reasons that have nothing to do with the type of therapy involved, is a bit crazy. g

Me tonight "You mean to tell me Bob Ross was STONED?

genessa comments on Jan 5, 2019:

except he almost certainly wasn't. people who worked with him say they never saw any indication that he was high. okay, so maybe not a single one of them was particularly observant -- but on the other hand, he painted an entire season in under three days, and painted each work three times, and did...

genessa replies on Jan 5, 2019:

@MarvelAnn i don't see it as a bad thing at all either, nor did i say it was. it's just that we have zero evidence that he was stoned on the air, and some anecdotal evidence that he wasn't, and the poster made a positive statement that he WAS (and i think that statement was based on a stereotype; it wasn't based on any evidence!) g

Is there something that you've dreamed of doing for a long time?

genessa comments on Jan 4, 2019:

yes, i want to found a shelter for abused women and children who could benefit from equine therapy. why haven't i done it and why not do it right away? money! i have none. in fact i may lose my home. so... nope, no plan to do it. g

genessa replies on Jan 5, 2019:

@nicknotes substitute them in my dreams? because i haven't got the money to buy the land, build or operate the facility -- if i did, i think horses would be fine. meanwhile, equine therapy is very specialized. it is difficult to ride a dog or cat. g

Me tonight "You mean to tell me Bob Ross was STONED?

Sydland comments on Jan 5, 2019:

I was rather young when I watched him and just thought, something’s going on with him. That I’d cross to the other side of the street if I saw him. Now, knowing he was high, it’s like, oh! Good for him!

genessa replies on Jan 5, 2019:

@Kafir i looked at a lot of websites before making my comment so no, i don't remember which one said that. the only one i remember offhand is mental floss, and only because it has such a funny name, but i can't guarantee that is where the comment about his coworkers came. now, you say it is POSSIBLE he was stoned... but how does that support the assertion that he WAS? from your description, anyone, anywhere, any time could be stoned, but why single out bob ross? yes, he was funny. yes, he was mellow. if someone wants to make a positive statement such as that he was stoned, the burden of proof lies with the person making that assertion. i can find nothing to support it and some bits that deny it. so... it's not impossible but i argue with the assertion, and by the way, there is no indication that for most of his life bob ross hurt and needed pot to hurt less and thus get more done. so sure, if he hurt and that stopped him from working and pot helped, that would be a good theory, but there is not a shred of a hint of a peep that this was the case. g

Me tonight "You mean to tell me Bob Ross was STONED?

Sydland comments on Jan 5, 2019:

I was rather young when I watched him and just thought, something’s going on with him. That I’d cross to the other side of the street if I saw him. Now, knowing he was high, it’s like, oh! Good for him!

genessa replies on Jan 5, 2019:

@Kafir except he almost certainly wasn't. people who worked with him say they never saw any indication that he was high. okay, so maybe not a single one of them was particularly observant -- but on the other hand, he painted an entire season in under three days, and painted each work three times, and did not ad lib any of his comments. how could he do that if he were high? i'll tell you something else: when i was a freshman in college, some of my dormmates offered me some grass. i declined, admitting i had never tried it. they were astounded. they confessed that they thought i was tripping every time they saw me. (i wasn't.) so... you may look at him and figure he's got to be stoned, but what you are observing is his personality. did he smoke at home in private? i have no idea. would i think any less of him if he did? nope, and i hope he wouldn't have thought less of me if he knew i did. but was he stoned on the job? it's highly doubtful. i am posting this as a general comment as well. pardon repetition. g

Mythology was never intended to be taken literally.

genessa comments on Jan 4, 2019:

well, yeah, it was intended to be taken literally at first, because mythology is just the name we give to someone else's religion. the longer ago it was practised, the more easily we label it mythology. should we take it literally now? of course not... but that applies to current religions too, ...

genessa replies on Jan 5, 2019:

@skado sorry, but we are not friends. i'm not saying we're enemies, but we're not friends, and i totally believe you when you say you cannot follow my train of thought. maybe reread all this when you have NOT been drinking. best wishes back atcha at any rate. g

Mythology was never intended to be taken literally.

genessa comments on Jan 4, 2019:

well, yeah, it was intended to be taken literally at first, because mythology is just the name we give to someone else's religion. the longer ago it was practised, the more easily we label it mythology. should we take it literally now? of course not... but that applies to current religions too, ...

genessa replies on Jan 5, 2019:

@skado of course a quotation from the bible is a mention of the bible. in what universe does it not invite a responsive mention of the bible? you have to say the WORD "bible" or else i am out of line referring to it? that's ridiculous! just because the begatting chapter was INTENDED to be taken literally that doesn't mean it is not mythological. we're talking about intention, not actuality. i give up. if you think quoting the bible but not saying the word "bible" means you were not including the bible in your mythologies, then we are not living on the same planet and i don't want a drink (with you or at all). if you're drinking, that explains a lot. g

Mythology was never intended to be taken literally.

genessa comments on Jan 4, 2019:

well, yeah, it was intended to be taken literally at first, because mythology is just the name we give to someone else's religion. the longer ago it was practised, the more easily we label it mythology. should we take it literally now? of course not... but that applies to current religions too, ...

genessa replies on Jan 5, 2019:

@skado sorry, but you DID mention the bible. "'And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.'" is that not from someone's bible? as far as i know ALL of the bible is mythological. which part were you thinking wasn't? g

Mythology was never intended to be taken literally.

genessa comments on Jan 4, 2019:

well, yeah, it was intended to be taken literally at first, because mythology is just the name we give to someone else's religion. the longer ago it was practised, the more easily we label it mythology. should we take it literally now? of course not... but that applies to current religions too, ...

genessa replies on Jan 5, 2019:

@skado some come from the subconscious. the ones written down, such as the ones in the bible, come from the subconscious, but all it takes is a glance at the begatting chapter to see that these things were intended to be taken literally (what can we learn, emotionally, from that nonstory?) the same is not true of fairy tales, but we're not talking about fairy tales -- at least you didn't mention fairy tales. um... did i mention conspiracies or controlling the masses? did i even intimate anything like that? saying that the writers intended their work to be taken literally has nothing whatsoever to do with such conspiracies. geez. reading things into what i said, are we? g

Mythology was never intended to be taken literally.

genessa comments on Jan 4, 2019:

well, yeah, it was intended to be taken literally at first, because mythology is just the name we give to someone else's religion. the longer ago it was practised, the more easily we label it mythology. should we take it literally now? of course not... but that applies to current religions too, ...

genessa replies on Jan 5, 2019:

@skado right, not for us, who know better, to take as factual history, but that does not apply to the intentions with which they were created. g

To all who celebrate it, in whatever way, have a Very Merry Christmas, or whatever you call it.

genessa comments on Dec 24, 2018:

i am curious. what do you think people call christmas besides christmas (or yule, same thing, right?) i mean, that phrase threw me. is there some secret name of which i am unaware? g

genessa replies on Jan 4, 2019:

@KevinTwining i may be inimitable but i am not condescending, nor was i digging at anything or anyone. if you feel condescended to, or dug at, by someone's disagreeing with you, and expressing that (gosh, someone disagreeing and expressing it, in a forum, wow, how dare anyone!) then maybe you have a little self-esteem problem. that, though, isn't MY problem, since YOU are irrelevant to me, and yes, that's a dig. i don't need to be addressed as you are addressing me. when you make something personal that shouldn't be, you make yourself irrelevant to me. BYE. g

Do you think I should try pot ?

genessa comments on Jan 3, 2019:

you've been advised not to smoke too much the first time. the truth is, you will need more to get high the first time than ever again because it is the opposite of addictive. i didn't get high the first five times i tried! the sixth time, a friend was determined to get me high and we smoked all ...

genessa replies on Jan 3, 2019:

@nvrnuff well, this is true enough! sort of like salt in a recipe. g

How do I approach racism in a friend of mines family

K9Kohle789 comments on Jan 2, 2019:

When training a puppy you ignore behaviors you don't like and reward behaviors you do. For example, if a pup jumps on you turn away from the pup and walk off. Apply to people. When racism comes up, either say I'm not comfortable with this topic, ignore their statements by changing the subject, or ...

genessa replies on Jan 3, 2019:

@K9Kohle789 yes it is hard to change minds BUT one might have an effect on others in the room, AND if you can't change minds you can at least change behavior, which then affects others. look how trump enables racists by saying aloud what they used to think to themselves. it's definitely worse when they're enabled. it is important to let people know it's not acceptable, even if they never understand why. g

I am so annoyed that this kind of behavior is found funny.

jondspen comments on Jan 2, 2019:

Honestly, who F-ing cares about a comedian making a poor tasting joke?!?. Don't go to his shows - very simple way to protest if you don't like him. In the meantime, check out the below three links where there is plenty of real world shit going on to be upset about - maybe even try to make a ...

genessa replies on Jan 3, 2019:

@jondspen without insult or attack? "Honestly, who F-ing cares about a comedian making a poor tasting joke?!?" yeah that's not insulting at all, is it? because some of the people here apparently DO care. that's who fucking cares. "Don't go to his shows - very simple way to protest if you don't like him." so don't go to this kind of post. very simple way to apportion your attention to the things that matter to you. obviously what people say about a comedian matters to you. you're done reiterating your point? yes, i can tell, since you have nothing useful or even true to say. that's not an attack; it's a fact. it might be an insult. it depends on whether or not you f-ing care. g

If you are in a relationship and could have sex on the side and be guaranteed not be caught, would ...

genessa comments on Jan 3, 2019:

why would i want to? if i wanted to, then why would i be in the relationship? g

genessa replies on Jan 3, 2019:

@nicknotes and if it's not, why stay in it? g

I am so annoyed that this kind of behavior is found funny.

jondspen comments on Jan 2, 2019:

Honestly, who F-ing cares about a comedian making a poor tasting joke?!?. Don't go to his shows - very simple way to protest if you don't like him. In the meantime, check out the below three links where there is plenty of real world shit going on to be upset about - maybe even try to make a ...

genessa replies on Jan 3, 2019:

@jondspen " I asked a question, and you still didn't answer directly - just said 'several times'. " oh sorry, when i was participating in the democracy of my country, i forgot to count how many times in case someone asked me online. i think "several" was a perfectly adequate answer, and more than you deserved, as you asked it as if you WERE assuming we had not done so at all. as for credentials, you admit media is influential, and that is the basis on which one may criticize a comedian. you've supported our point. you're making a much bigger (and less honest) fuss about people's complaining here about a comedian than the complaints themselves are making! don't you have phone calls to make to your elected representative instead of chastising us (i say us even though, as i pointed out, i had actually declined to say anything at all about the comedian or what he said; my only comment was about your reaction to this topic!) g

I am so annoyed that this kind of behavior is found funny.

jondspen comments on Jan 2, 2019:

Honestly, who F-ing cares about a comedian making a poor tasting joke?!?. Don't go to his shows - very simple way to protest if you don't like him. In the meantime, check out the below three links where there is plenty of real world shit going on to be upset about - maybe even try to make a ...

genessa replies on Jan 3, 2019:

@jondspen i don't know how many times. i didn't count. several times, anyway. sorry, your assumptions are based on facts not in evidence and at least in my case are patently false. in addition, i did not come here and rant about a comedian. show me where i even MENTIONED a comedian! i responded calmly and logically to what YOU said when you were ranting about a discussion about a comedian.. there is a difference. in further addition, shall we now no longer discuss anything except what YOU consider important, for fear you might think we have no other concerns in our lives? to use a religious phrase, who died and made YOU god? g

How do I approach racism in a friend of mines family

K9Kohle789 comments on Jan 2, 2019:

When training a puppy you ignore behaviors you don't like and reward behaviors you do. For example, if a pup jumps on you turn away from the pup and walk off. Apply to people. When racism comes up, either say I'm not comfortable with this topic, ignore their statements by changing the subject, or ...

genessa replies on Jan 2, 2019:

ignoring the behavior doesn't work in the case of racism since that is often taken as tacit approval or at least acceptance. puppies jump for attention. racist remarks can be made for that purpose too but in general are expressions of actual racism. ignoring that teaches nothing. g

I am so annoyed that this kind of behavior is found funny.

PalacinkyPDX comments on Jan 2, 2019:

Countdown for some genius to explain how "humor" is totally different, his first amendment rights are being attacked and he's being called-out by the "pc police." This is one reason why I find myself being really bored by 99% of stand-up these days.

genessa replies on Jan 2, 2019:

@PalacinkyPDX lol i am only superficially white, and definitely not a man, so i figured they don't apply to me, whatever they are! but i have often noted that some people's idea of freedom of speech is "i have freedom of speech so you shut up!" g

Russia Investigation: Jill Stein Explains Her Relationship to Putin, Trump and Hillary Clinton

Jay1313132018 comments on Dec 31, 2018:

We have a 2 party system that represses all third parties. If you accept that it will always be a 2 party system, then “they” have done their job of repression. In order to affect change in our current system, we have to both work from within and from the outside. From the inside, we must elect...

genessa replies on Jan 2, 2019:

@Jay1313132018 well, thanks for dismissing me. i do not post propaganda. i stand by my assessment of your assertions. if you have nothing further to say, fine with me. your choice. g

I am so annoyed that this kind of behavior is found funny.

jondspen comments on Jan 2, 2019:

Honestly, who F-ing cares about a comedian making a poor tasting joke?!?. Don't go to his shows - very simple way to protest if you don't like him. In the meantime, check out the below three links where there is plenty of real world shit going on to be upset about - maybe even try to make a ...

genessa replies on Jan 2, 2019:

1. some people care. they're allowed to care. 2. caring about one thing doesn't prevent or stand in the way of caring about other things. some of us can multitask. 3. are you in charge of what we should care about? if you don't care about this, why are you commenting? g

I am so annoyed that this kind of behavior is found funny.

PalacinkyPDX comments on Jan 2, 2019:

Countdown for some genius to explain how "humor" is totally different, his first amendment rights are being attacked and he's being called-out by the "pc police." This is one reason why I find myself being really bored by 99% of stand-up these days.

genessa replies on Jan 2, 2019:

you know, every time someone is unhappy with what someone else says, and says so, we cry "oh his first amendment rights are being violated." we have a right to express ourselves. we do not have a right to do so without reaction from others, or consequences if appropriate. we have a right to express ourselves without being arrested, not without being criticized! and venues have a right to be disgusted if they feel that way, and not hire whoever it is disgusting them. none of that violates anyone's first amendment rights. it is not written "you can say any old shit about any old thing or any old one and no one has that same right to say 'boo' to you." it simply isn't. g

Not necessarily a Trump fan, but not a foe either

RiverRick comments on Jan 2, 2019:

You remind me of the vapid sort that hangs out on Facebook that believes anything that gets posted online. Do you have a credible link that backs up your claim here or are you all about becoming the spoon that stirs shit up?

genessa replies on Jan 2, 2019:

@Minos oh what an intelligent comment! you've convinced me with your logical reasoning and refined method of expression. oh wait. what i meant to say is you're a fucking moron. yep, my bad; that's what i actually meant to say. g

Not necessarily a Trump fan, but not a foe either

Dhiltong comments on Jan 2, 2019:

If they did donate that amount to the Clinton Foundation, so what!! It for the most part would have gone to charitable causes. On the other hand they probably didn't donate to Trumps foundation because they're smart enough to know a fraudulent charity when they see one.........

genessa replies on Jan 2, 2019:

not arguing with your point, as i totally agree, but i want to point out something many people don't know. the clinton foundation's funds mostly do not go out to other charitable foundations because it is, itself, a charitable foundation, not a collection point for funds to be redistributed hither and yon. the foundation does a lot of good work around the world, using those funds. most notable is its fight against aids. but since putin despises clinton, if russians gave money to that foundation, surely it was not anyone in the actual government. this renders the issue moot. g

The four of us are off to 42nd street tomorrow, it's showing in London's West End.

genessa comments on Jan 1, 2019:

did you use the half-price ticket stand in leicester square? half price plus one pound, to be exact. g

genessa replies on Jan 2, 2019:

@Petter i am sad to hear it. it used to be half the going rate plus one pound as their fee, no hidden costs except if you don't live in london and have to pay to get there lol, which you would anyway because the tickets are only available on the same day as the performance. what hidden costs? g

Russia Investigation: Jill Stein Explains Her Relationship to Putin, Trump and Hillary Clinton

Jay1313132018 comments on Dec 31, 2018:

We have a 2 party system that represses all third parties. If you accept that it will always be a 2 party system, then “they” have done their job of repression. In order to affect change in our current system, we have to both work from within and from the outside. From the inside, we must elect...

genessa replies on Jan 2, 2019:

@Jay1313132018 yes i saw them. i don't know what news you watch. i hear stuff you say you don't hear. there are corporatist democrats but the party as a whole is NOT. you're wrong. the way elections are run has to be by raising money because that's what it currently takes. legislation could fix that. the democrats have talked about such legislation. the republicans adore the current methods and would never dream of changing it. i have no idea whom super delegates represent. i expect them to be dispensed with as soon as dems are in complete power, not before. i have drunk no kool aid, but you know, if you don't know what you're talking about, then telling the other party they've drunk the kool aid is effective, right? oh wait... no, it's not.... it just makes you look like a fool who ran out of arguing points. how sad. g

It seems that 90% of the women in my search range haven't signed in since October or before.

genessa comments on Jan 1, 2019:

this site is different from other dating sites. it's not just that it's a dating site AND a community. it's that the dating site, like others, really isn't that effective on its on, nor should it be. a dating site is a terrible way to find a date! but combined with community it could be great. ...

genessa replies on Jan 1, 2019:

@JoeH1A well, of course one cannot control that. my advice still stands. g

Russia Investigation: Jill Stein Explains Her Relationship to Putin, Trump and Hillary Clinton

Jay1313132018 comments on Dec 31, 2018:

We have a 2 party system that represses all third parties. If you accept that it will always be a 2 party system, then “they” have done their job of repression. In order to affect change in our current system, we have to both work from within and from the outside. From the inside, we must elect...

genessa replies on Jan 1, 2019:

@Jay1313132018 i don't know ANYONE who says the solution is just to punish russians, or that there even is a solution, or at least an easy one. as for evidence, there is lots of evidence out there re stein, pictures of her dining with putin, videos of her speeches, her deleted anti-vaxx tweets when she realized that everyone could see them and not just the anti-vaxxers she was wooing, her public defense of trump, her pre-election assertions that trump would be a better president than hillary.... those are all readily available. of course one of the biggest problems is that politics and the rest of it are controlled by money. but which party is fighting to overturn citizens united, for example? there is one party doing that, you know. there are corporatist democrats. the party itself is not corporatist. the entire "both parties are the same" crap really IS crap. g

Russia Investigation: Jill Stein Explains Her Relationship to Putin, Trump and Hillary Clinton

Jay1313132018 comments on Dec 31, 2018:

We have a 2 party system that represses all third parties. If you accept that it will always be a 2 party system, then “they” have done their job of repression. In order to affect change in our current system, we have to both work from within and from the outside. From the inside, we must elect...

genessa replies on Jan 1, 2019:

@Jay1313132018 your assertion that both parties are full of corporatists, whether true or not, is not evidence that third parties are suppressed. you have a leap of logic there, and perhaps an incorrect definition of "evidence." media is plural, media "are controlled" is what you mean to say. not all media. and bernie got plenty of coverage from msnbc. stein is spelled stein, not stien. if the local green party is good, then it should disassociate itself from stein, who is owned by the russians. her policy isn't far left. it is far pay-me-and-i-will-dance. she is a fake. yes we've been fucked for a long time, but no, the russian interference may have been inevitable but it is more than business as usual, and it's losing, not loosing, our shit, which we SHOULD have done before the 2016 election. i don't know what "she may be u. Ser attack like Bernie was" means. g

If I move to Israel, would I have to join the military?

Green_eyes comments on Jan 1, 2019:

I have no love for Israel. It’s a near apartheid state. You can choose to serve and murder whom you wish but Netanyahu is as dirty as 45.

genessa replies on Jan 1, 2019:

@Green_eyes well of course not! and i am not doubting their sincerity, either! it was their grandparents or great-grandparents perhaps, certainly not the current generation, who declined israel's invitation to stay and be full citizens when israel became a nation. the other arab nations told them (the grandparents) that the jews were going to kill them all. they fled to jordan, which had been set aside for them, but the jordanians already there rejected them. instant homelessness. so whom to blame: the jews, who invited them to stay, or the jordanians, who rejected them? but as i say, the current generation had nothing to do with that. all they know is what is happening NOW, which isn't pretty, and what they've been told about the past, which is neither pretty nor true. g

If I move to Israel, would I have to join the military?

Green_eyes comments on Jan 1, 2019:

I have no love for Israel. It’s a near apartheid state. You can choose to serve and murder whom you wish but Netanyahu is as dirty as 45.

genessa replies on Jan 1, 2019:

@Green_eyes to be clear, which maybe i wasn't: i don't mean that the palestinians want israel gone from gaza and the west bank. i mean they want israel gone from the face of the earth. g

If I move to Israel, would I have to join the military?

Green_eyes comments on Jan 1, 2019:

I have no love for Israel. It’s a near apartheid state. You can choose to serve and murder whom you wish but Netanyahu is as dirty as 45.

genessa replies on Jan 1, 2019:

@Green_eyes i said excluding the territories. and they do not WANT israeli citizenship. they want citizenship in their own country, and yes their movements are restricted, but we were talking about citizens in israel. that is something, it's not something good, but it's not apartheid and it's not near apartheid. it's a totally different thing. the palestinians don't want to be israeli, with full rights. they want israel gone. there is a difference. g

Advertising and academia are controlling our thoughts. Didn’t you know?

Gwendolyn2018 comments on Jan 1, 2019:

Bullshit. I teach for three institutions of higher learning and have worked for several more. I am also lead teacher for one and evaluate other instructors. I have never, not in 18 years of teaching on a collegiate level, seen an instructor try to control the thoughts of anyone. The purpose of ...

genessa replies on Jan 1, 2019:

@jerry99 but that's not academia. that's anti-academia. g

If I move to Israel, would I have to join the military?

Green_eyes comments on Jan 1, 2019:

I have no love for Israel. It’s a near apartheid state. You can choose to serve and murder whom you wish but Netanyahu is as dirty as 45.

genessa replies on Jan 1, 2019:

netanyahu is not israel any more than 45 is america, and although the palestinian situation is bad and has innocent palestinian victims, apartheid is not an apt comparison. palestinians do not live segregatedly within israel itself, excluding the palestinian territories from that description. arabs serve in the knesset. arabs within israel have full rights. apartheid is an easy word to fling about but it indicates something within israel that simply isn't true. this is not to deny the actual horrific problem but don't call it something it isn't. g

Happy new year, all.

Freedompath comments on Jan 1, 2019:

Life surely does creep up on us! It is mind bending when you hear the ages of your darling little grandchildren...they are now late 20s and 30s and even 46!

genessa replies on Jan 1, 2019:

@Freedompath they are indeed! i misspoke though; two are grandkittens and three are my furry kitty kids. and there is a young dog there too who thinks they're HER cats. g

Happy new year, all.

MissKathleen comments on Jan 1, 2019:

{{{{ @genessa }}}} have some hugs, honey.

genessa replies on Jan 1, 2019:

@MissKathleen i have fibromyalgia but cyberhugs don't hurt :-)) g

Happy new year, all.

tartanathiest comments on Jan 1, 2019:

Nowt wrong with a little cry now and then. It keeps us grounded in our humanity and makes us better people.

genessa replies on Jan 1, 2019:

doctor who says: "happy crying: humany wumany." g

Happy new year, all.

Mitch07102 comments on Jan 1, 2019:

Aging is not horrible. So long as one has health, it is actually pretty cool. I find wisdom compounds with age. I will be 64 this month.

genessa replies on Jan 1, 2019:

i don't mind age. health, though, i do not have. when i turned 64 i began to sing a different beatles song to myself every day. i stopped the day i turned 65. g

Happy new year, all.

ProudMary comments on Jan 1, 2019:

Oh, I so know what you mean. Documentaries about events and people from my younger years always get to me. I tried watching the Ken Burns PBS documentary on the Vietnam War and couldn't even make it through the first episode. As for the Beatles, here is a photograph that breaks my heart right in ...

genessa replies on Jan 1, 2019:

george was my favorite too. 'sigh g

Happy new year, all.

Freedompath comments on Jan 1, 2019:

Life surely does creep up on us! It is mind bending when you hear the ages of your darling little grandchildren...they are now late 20s and 30s and even 46!

genessa replies on Jan 1, 2019:

my grandkittens range from 14 and a half to almost 17. does that count? i never had human kids. g

Happy new year, all.

DenoPenno comments on Jan 1, 2019:

I remember them well. I was not an instant fan and they had to grow on me some. Today I still listen to the Beatles from time to time.

genessa replies on Jan 1, 2019:

nor i, but 1967 was a formative year for me and they were a part of it. g

Happy new year, all.

242Foxtrot comments on Jan 1, 2019:

Their appearance on Ed Sullivan was the kind of instant impact that cannot be comprehended if you missed it. Even if you missed the telecast, you couldn't possibly escape the excitement, chatter and singing the next day in school. They would change the world in many ways. Musically, they ...

genessa replies on Jan 1, 2019:

@MissKathleen i didn't care for them at all until 1967 but i like their older stuff too, in retrospect. penny lane is what turned me. g

Happy new year, all.

MissKathleen comments on Jan 1, 2019:

{{{{ @genessa }}}} have some hugs, honey.

genessa replies on Jan 1, 2019:

thanks, and 'hugs back atcha! g

Happy new year, all.

sloryd comments on Jan 1, 2019:

Their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan show is etched in my mind.What year was that?

genessa replies on Jan 1, 2019:

they showed that in the documentary (of course). g

Happy new year, all.

Gwendolyn2018 comments on Jan 1, 2019:

Sometimes, I go to Youtube and listen to the Mamas and the Papas and wax sadly nostalgic. I listen to other groups of my youth, as well, but for some reason, the the Ms and Ps are what do it for me. It reminds me of friends who died early and of a time that somehow, was horrible for me and yet, ...

genessa replies on Jan 1, 2019:

i know the feeling somehow! i go to an adult daycare thrice a week because my guy with alzheimer's won't go regularly without me. he wouldn't start going without me; i've been sick and he's been going without me now for a week or more, but he won't continue unless i at least plan to go back when i'm better. so i bring my computer and i have my youtube playlists and i am acknowledged there as the vj. the music therapy they had there before i came was stuff that was old when my parents were young! the ages of the other clients range between 63 (younger than me!) and mid-80s. they need songs from their youth, not their grandparents' youth! i have an awful lot of 1960s' songs on the list and they seem to dig it; some of them sing along. the staff are sometimes boogeying along to it, too! keeps me from going mad. there is only so much bingo one can take. g

Happy new year, all.

David1955 comments on Jan 1, 2019:

I'm a couple of years younger, but I get you on this. In fact I feel it more and watching TV shows and listening to this era music, and other media. Without wanting to insult McCartney and Starr, I also feel the loss of the lost two; Lennon, extraordinary, for all his faults, a Harrison, who was ...

genessa replies on Jan 1, 2019:

they transcend generations, the way shakespeare does! g