God hates porn?

mordant comments on Mar 24, 2018:

Wow, this cartoon seems to have garnered some sort of world record number of "likes"! Now I know that god is dead, because if he watched me having sex, he'd die laughing.

paul1967 replies on Mar 25, 2018:

@mordant I appreciate your reply, and I agree with most of what you said, and please don't take this as an insult because I'm an off the wall kind of guy myself, but that reply was a bit random. I was replying to @VictoriaNotes willingness to open up to something most women find embarrassing. I rarely see that in people, and it gave me a measure of enjoyment. However, despite that, I found your thoughts about humanities vision of Gods proclivities towards sexuality, fascinating, and I appreciate your willingness to use self-deprecating humor to make your point.

How old were you when you got married for the first time?

Rugglesby comments on Mar 24, 2018:

20 years and about 8 weeks in 1979. Pretty young given 1970 was my last year of primary school.

paul1967 replies on Mar 24, 2018:

@VictoriaNotes Wait.......You were 20 in the late 70s? You don't look more than 40 in your picture.

God hates porn?

mordant comments on Mar 24, 2018:

Wow, this cartoon seems to have garnered some sort of world record number of "likes"! Now I know that god is dead, because if he watched me having sex, he'd die laughing.

paul1967 replies on Mar 24, 2018:

@VictoriaNotes I love that you can admit that. You're freaken awesome. Where do I find someone like you around here? lol

To which Hogwarts house do you belong?

paul1967 comments on Mar 24, 2018:

I have no idea what Hogwarts is but as a kid back half a century ago I used to watch HR Puffinstuff so I picked Hufflepuff because it reminded me of that show I didn't find out until years later HR stood for Hand Rolled "Puffinstuff" aka pot.

paul1967 replies on Mar 24, 2018:

@farmboy2017 I loved Freddie Flute. I still own a freddie the flute toy.

Have you ever been asked, "What Church do you go too?' by your boss?

nicknotes comments on Mar 23, 2018:

What is really bad is if after your Doctor examines you he asks..."Are you religious?"

paul1967 replies on Mar 23, 2018:

What did you say and why did he ask?

Have you ever been asked, "What Church do you go too?' by your boss?

Cassandra comments on Mar 23, 2018:

By people at work all the time when I was working. Maybe not by a boss specifically. At least not for a while. I did find an answer that is honest and seemed to satisfy everyone. I just say, "I don't have a home church right now." Very rarely I've been asked why, which I can also answer ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 23, 2018:

When they ask you to join their church it's not just for your sake it was their entire reason for asking the question from the start, it's a means to elevate their personal status in the church. Bringing in new members to the flock gets you major respect points with the leadership of any church. It shows them that their doing their part to spread the word and the best place to get the word is their church.

Have you ever been asked, "What Church do you go too?' by your boss?

Mannym comments on Mar 23, 2018:

You got off easy!! I had a job where the boss/owner (super Christian nutcase) would ask all his potential employees if they masturbate and if they watch porn. In retrospect, that should of been a major red flag for me.

paul1967 replies on Mar 23, 2018:

Yeah, I think I might have left, that's a boss too much in my personal business. If he's asking people, "do you masturbate?" then all he's really asking is for people to lie to him.

Have you ever been asked, "What Church do you go too?' by your boss?

GinaMaria comments on Mar 22, 2018:

My daughter was recently asked, "Do you know the lord?" by a customer at her new job. She's not particularly tactful, and just said she's not religious, which was apparently offensive to him. He proceeded to show everyone else a [photoshopped] image of clouds that appeared in the shape of a horse, ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 23, 2018:

I explain it with photoshop and even if it wasn't how do you get from a cloud shaped like a horse to a God? Walk me through that logical argument if you can.

Have you ever been asked, "What Church do you go too?' by your boss?

AcuteObstinance comments on Mar 22, 2018:

I used to live in a small town in the north Georgia mountains. When I was an older teenager, I was constantly asked by neighbors what church I went to. I responded honestly and said I didn't go to church, but that was a big no-no for them. I tried going to a Baptist church with a neighbor just to ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 23, 2018:

OH I don't mean to laugh and I'm not laughing at you but that feeling is daily with me and the way you said that just made me bust out laughing "I'M AGNOSTIC FUCK OFF!"

Have you ever been asked, "What Church do you go too?' by your boss?

GwenC comments on Mar 22, 2018:

I wouldn't be wanting to know from my boss how that is relevant to my job.

paul1967 replies on Mar 23, 2018:

I can tell you the answer he/she would give. He/she would say it has nothing to do with your job, just making small talk that's all.

Have you ever been asked, "What Church do you go too?' by your boss?

ashley44 comments on Mar 22, 2018:

I think it is illegal for an employer to ask about whether or not you go to church. It would seem to be a violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. I think the best way to shut down the employer would be to remind them of the First Amendment. I think they would understand the ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 23, 2018:

@ashley44 You're very kind. Birmingham has about 200,000 people so it's not New York City but it's not a small town either.

Have you ever been asked, "What Church do you go too?' by your boss?

AuntieMame comments on Mar 22, 2018:

I also grew up in the Bible belt, Texas to be a little more specific. I've lived here my whole life. When I was younger, I used to dodge the question. After years of becoming more and more offended by the presumptions of evangelicals, I think differently about it now. When a boss or co-worker asks ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 23, 2018:

I say this with all sincerity. You are my HERO!

Have you ever been asked, "What Church do you go too?' by your boss?

obtusethevague1 comments on Mar 22, 2018:

That's nuts. Can not believe that's allowed at all down there. I'm effin flabbergasted

paul1967 replies on Mar 23, 2018:

LMAO- I came to KC from LA in 2004 and recently moved to Birmingham and let me tell you it's an entirely different set of rules down here. I see crosses in public parks; I see public high school teams praying before the game and quoting Bible verses at half-time. I see skinheads with swastika's on their heads and hands walking around stores and bars. It's just a Trumpland full of hate and ugliness that has been around for so long nobody seems to mind. It's not all bad, I don't want to paint an unfair picture of Alabama, but it's got plenty of things that shock me for sure.

Have you ever been asked, "What Church do you go too?' by your boss?

Ellen comments on Mar 22, 2018:

Hi we in NewZealand ,would never ask as it is deemed personal ,

paul1967 replies on Mar 23, 2018:

All I can say is I wish I lived in New Zealand for more reasons than that. I've never in my life been to any place more amazing than New Zealand. It's so jaw-droppingly beautiful and dare I say almost magical. (figuratively of course)

Have you ever been asked, "What Church do you go too?' by your boss?

Neill comments on Mar 22, 2018:

I don't think any of your responses are at all manipulative. Clearly I'm lucky to be living in Australia, where that kind of question would make an employer potentially vulnerable to an allegation of discrimination. And where most people really don't have any interest in organised religion in any ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 23, 2018:

Well, the manipulation I was talking about was that I'm quoting Bible verses leading my boss to believe I'm Christian but picking just the right Bible verses that tell him to shut up.

Have you ever been asked, "What Church do you go too?' by your boss?

ashley44 comments on Mar 22, 2018:

I think it is illegal for an employer to ask about whether or not you go to church. It would seem to be a violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. I think the best way to shut down the employer would be to remind them of the First Amendment. I think they would understand the ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 22, 2018:

Good luck doing that here. I'm not trying to be snaky, but if you said that here you would, a few months down the road get fired, and it's a slow process that is very difficult to fight especially in the right to work states, which really means the right to fire states. It's not only that, but you're also going to be intensely disliked and shunned by almost all your coworkers.

Have you ever been asked, "What Church do you go too?' by your boss?

birdingnut comments on Mar 22, 2018:

I've never been asked that question in the US, but a couple of times. my Thai students have assumed I"m Christian, and I corrected them. When asked what I am, I shrug and say "sort of Christian-ish, mixed with Buddhism." That seems to satisfy them. But if an American asks me seriously, I usually ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 22, 2018:

Interesting and confusing but not in a negative way :)

Have you ever been asked, "What Church do you go too?' by your boss?

Ella comments on Mar 22, 2018:

This is very foreign to me. A boss has never asked me which church I go to and even if they did it wouldn’t occur to me to answer in any way other than “I don’t.”

paul1967 replies on Mar 22, 2018:

@Lauren I have about nine more months before I get out of here and head back to California. In some ways, it's a trade-off. There are things here I like better than California, but there are too many people in Birmingham that say things that make me want to scream, "ARE YOU FREAKEN SERIOUS? ARE YOU TRULY THAT STUPID?" the sad answer is they're not stupid, they're intelligent, and many are well-educated people, but also well indoctrinated to believe some extraordinarily unbelievable and in some cases cruel things.

Have you ever been asked, "What Church do you go too?' by your boss?

Maerin comments on Mar 22, 2018:

Great answer, but someone is asking to get sued!!!

paul1967 replies on Mar 22, 2018:

You would think, but it's just not a concern when you live in the deep south.or really anywhere in the Bible belt.

Have you ever been asked, "What Church do you go too?' by your boss?

Ella comments on Mar 22, 2018:

This is very foreign to me. A boss has never asked me which church I go to and even if they did it wouldn’t occur to me to answer in any way other than “I don’t.”

paul1967 replies on Mar 22, 2018:

I grew up in LA, so I understand what you're saying, but there is a HUGE cultural difference from Los Angeles to Birmingham Alabama. People here use the N-word publically, and nobody bats an eye. You go to Church, or you're considered untrustworthy. It's something you would have to experience to appreciate fully. At some point, after people get to know me better I'll tell them I'm an Atheist, but if I start out on day one admitting it, nobody will give me a chance, and that is just a fact you have to live with when you live in the Bible belt.

Have you ever been asked, "What Church do you go too?' by your boss?

Deb57 comments on Mar 22, 2018:

Where I live, that's a common question that even strangers feel entitled to ask. Nobody ever asks "Do you go to church?" It is just assumed that you do, because "surely there are no atheists around here, and if there were, we would recognize them because of the horns protruding from their ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 22, 2018:

LMAO That is precisely right. Everything you said, is so true.

Do you fear clowns?

Lisav1961 comments on Mar 22, 2018:

Bozo died yesterday. I’m ok with them on tv but in person they are very scary and I really don’t understand the fascination with evil clowns *shudder*

paul1967 replies on Mar 22, 2018:

I didn't know that. I remember watching Bozo as a child. I remember not being afraid of Bozo butt feeling like there was something off about him.

If your pet were human for a day, what would they be like?

TrailRider comments on Mar 21, 2018:

Much as they are now I suspect. Lovable fools in search of their next meal.

paul1967 replies on Mar 21, 2018:

@TrailRider I think your black and white cat looks a lot like my Jewish uncle, Sal.

Tired of people thinking liberals are so bad.

paul1967 comments on Mar 21, 2018:

libtard noun /libˈtärd/ 1. an individual, whose thinking process has been rendered impaired by political correctness and the failure to understand that people are responsible for their actions and the world does not owe lazy or stupid people a living. I also got this: As repetitive...

paul1967 replies on Mar 21, 2018:

@mistymoon77 Conservatives have tried to make the word liberal a bad thing. I'm a proud liberal and I'm not out of touch with reality. I just want to fight for justice and equality. If we give that fight up to the conservative agenda this country is lost. The world is headed back to the dark ages.

I went down to Orange Beach AL and I thought I would share some of the pictures I took.

Donna comments on Mar 21, 2018:

They are all good, but my fav is the sunset.

paul1967 replies on Mar 21, 2018:

I like that one too.

Do you feel as lonely as I do?

paul1967 comments on Mar 8, 2018:

Go to church with your friends. I go

paul1967 replies on Mar 21, 2018:

@pictomaniac It does come up, and when it does I tell them I'm here for different reasons, and that usually ends it, but if they inquire further, I will say, I'm not convinced there is a God.

Good news for Grammarly app users

VictoriaNotes comments on Mar 20, 2018:

@Paul1967

paul1967 replies on Mar 20, 2018:

Thank you, that was incredibly thoughtful. You are amazing.

I went down to Orange Beach AL and I thought I would share some of the pictures I took.

VictoriaNotes comments on Mar 20, 2018:

Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

paul1967 replies on Mar 20, 2018:

Anytime, and thank you for those kind words.

I went down to Orange Beach AL and I thought I would share some of the pictures I took.

walklightly comments on Mar 20, 2018:

i wanted to give it 5 likes, one for each pic. i love them all, & especially the lil snail :) thanks for sharing, Paul.

paul1967 replies on Mar 20, 2018:

walkinglightly, you always say something that makes me smile and I want to thank you for that. Life has been a challenge for me lately and having someone like you to put a smile on my face makes a huge difference.

I went down to Orange Beach AL and I thought I would share some of the pictures I took.

Lisav1961 comments on Mar 20, 2018:

Great photography! I miss the beach!

paul1967 replies on Mar 20, 2018:

Thank you, Lisa. I know it's not always in the budget but sometimes in life, you just need to throw caution to the wind and go. Life is ticking down, and I'll be damned if I'm going to live it just paying bills and working 9 or 10 hours a day five days a week.

I went down to Orange Beach AL and I thought I would share some of the pictures I took.

Junkyardliv comments on Mar 20, 2018:

Very nice! U do good work!

paul1967 replies on Mar 20, 2018:

Thank you. When I have a camera in my hand people think I'm ridiculous, I don't see or hear them around me, I just see and hear nature. I'll lay down on my belly or my side in a crowded pool because I see a tiny snail making it's way to its next meal, and I want to look at life from the perspective of whatever it is I'm shooting. People might think I'm weird as they walk by or over me, but that never bothers me.

I went down to Orange Beach AL and I thought I would share some of the pictures I took.

NothinnXpreVails comments on Mar 20, 2018:

Snail pics rule

paul1967 replies on Mar 20, 2018:

Thank you

Should religion be taught in schools?

Alana comments on Mar 14, 2018:

Children can be taught about religion, I.e. study all different religions in an objective way. Children should not be taught or encouraged to be religious in public school. Separation of church and state!

paul1967 replies on Mar 14, 2018:

I agree theology is an aspect of humanity and excluding that would be silly, but the study of religion should never be confused with the endorsement of any religion.

Would you want a Christian God to be real?

Humanity4all comments on Mar 14, 2018:

In the Words of Christopher Hitchens: "A kind of Celestial North Korea"....where you spend all your days worshipping and praising your dear leader...what kind of existence is that???

paul1967 replies on Mar 14, 2018:

I've often wondered if all the biblical nonsense were correct, I'm pretty sure the Christians are backing the wrong horse. Lucifer probably saw the evil in God and rebelled against him. Perhaps hell is the place you go for an existence worth living and Heaven is the place you go to become a zombie, or an oblivious automaton with one thought in your head, worship the dear leader.

@snifflz @Donna @TheInfiniteChris @Junkyardliv @DumbsDayProphet @blastofhotair @Mistymorn42 ...

Junkyardliv comments on Mar 13, 2018:

Sounds great to me; my schedule is generally open on weekdays, busy at night tho. What if we set a tentative date for say may 15th? Not looking at a calendar...we can adjust the date and time as needed

paul1967 replies on Mar 13, 2018:

May 15th is a Tuesday and I can tentatively, I'm not sure of my work schedule yet, but I'll say yes for now.

Well, let me be the 1st to make a post since there are none! 1st, thanks for being thoughtful! ...

paul1967 comments on Mar 12, 2018:

@snifflz @Donna @TheInfiniteChris @Junkyardliv @DumbsDayProphet @blastofhotair @Mistymorn42 @RyanDerrick @LadyLiLi @Brandizzle @TPettway @Caffee38 @hrichardson8 I'm trying to email all the people that live in Alabama who are on this site. I would like to get something going as soon as possible. ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 13, 2018:

@Junkyardliv As far as I'm concerned you are welcome to be apart of this. I look forward to meeting with you.

Do you read the bible to get knowledge about it, and to be able to understand why it is fiction?

paul1967 comments on Mar 12, 2018:

I did, and I rather enjoyed reading it. I read it like I would read any book, I started on page one and suffered through the "be gots" so that I can claim I read the entire book. I don't know why but it was necessary for me to be able to claim I read the whole book. I did it because some theist ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 13, 2018:

@fathercat Well don't get me wrong because they are both complete fiction but The Book of the Dead is a whole lot more believable and useful than the Bible and a heck of a lot less violent. Basically, all it's saying is you need to stand up and accept that you're not perfect and don't be afraid of the demon standing in your way to rebirth. I think it's more metaphoric and if you have to choose between reading the Bible and Book of the Dead I advise the book of the dead 100 fold over the Bible

Describe your real self, warts and all.

walklightly comments on Mar 12, 2018:

the number one discrepancy in being me would have to be my age. it doesn't bother me in real life, on the contrary, people more often than not guess me between 10 & 15 years younger than it says on my birth certificate. i really like it, but ... on an online forum the typed number, not the physical ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 13, 2018:

@walklightly LMAO I just had a very rare barrel laugh. I'm sure your bum looks just fine. :)

Well, let me be the 1st to make a post since there are none! 1st, thanks for being thoughtful! ...

paul1967 comments on Mar 12, 2018:

@snifflz @Donna @TheInfiniteChris @Junkyardliv @DumbsDayProphet @blastofhotair @Mistymorn42 @RyanDerrick @LadyLiLi @Brandizzle @TPettway @Caffee38 @hrichardson8 I'm trying to email all the people that live in Alabama who are on this site. I would like to get something going as soon as possible. ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 12, 2018:

@Junkyardliv Absolutely! That sounds like a great idea. Let's see if we can get a few people to commit to it. I'm in for sure.

Describe your real self, warts and all.

walklightly comments on Mar 12, 2018:

the number one discrepancy in being me would have to be my age. it doesn't bother me in real life, on the contrary, people more often than not guess me between 10 & 15 years younger than it says on my birth certificate. i really like it, but ... on an online forum the typed number, not the physical ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 12, 2018:

I can certainly identify with the awkwardness. I say the most inappropriate things at the most inappropriate times, or so I'm told. I see it differently, but after virtually, everybody I know accuses me of that, I have to assume I'm missing a cultural compassion gene. I have never said this but just to give an example of something I could see myself saying. If in a crowded room someone asked me quietly "do I look fat in these pants?" I might.. No I would say (if they did) yes you're overweight so yes you look overweight. I know that sounds mean, but it isn't mean in my head, and I did not say it with malice. They're asking me a question that has one honest answer. You can sugar it up any way you want but if the answer is yes and you don't want me to say yes, don't ask. Don't put me in that situation. I'm overweight, and I look at myself every day and say to myself you have a choice and not everybody does but you do and you are choosing to be overweight. I don't lie to myself and pretend it's glandular or that it's not my fault for some other imaginary reason.

What is one thing about your spouse or girl/boyfriend that is a source of pride?

Santaclause comments on Mar 12, 2018:

Mine is.... "SHE's GONE!"

paul1967 replies on Mar 12, 2018:

LMAO I get that, I really do

What is one thing about your spouse or girl/boyfriend that is a source of pride?

birdingnut comments on Mar 9, 2018:

My ex: I'm proud of his being a former Navy pilot and airline pilot, and helping to design B2 bombers, looking like a Las Vegas male stripper, licensed in foot and face massage, which he gave me daily, his being a great dancer. (I'm proud of MYSELF for designing and sewing the ballroom gown I'm ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 10, 2018:

That is one beautiful dress. I love the color and the cut.

What is one thing about your spouse or girl/boyfriend that is a source of pride?

EllenDale comments on Mar 9, 2018:

Only one? I'd say sexy intelligence. I'll have more later.

paul1967 replies on Mar 9, 2018:

@EllenDale There's nothing quite like the anticipation. Is this going to be the first time you meet in person?

What is one thing about your spouse or girl/boyfriend that is a source of pride?

EllenDale comments on Mar 9, 2018:

Only one? I'd say sexy intelligence. I'll have more later.

paul1967 replies on Mar 9, 2018:

I look forward to it

What was your favorite story book as a kid?

Qualia comments on Mar 9, 2018:

Where the Wild Things Are. The artwork still gets me to this day.

paul1967 replies on Mar 9, 2018:

@Qualia It's funny you say that because my girlfriend does that type of art and she has her son and daughters room like that. It's absolutely amazing. I wish I had a picture of the room on my computer, but I do have sketches she used to paint the walls.

What was your favorite story book as a kid?

Qualia comments on Mar 9, 2018:

Where the Wild Things Are. The artwork still gets me to this day.

paul1967 replies on Mar 9, 2018:

That book was magical. My imagination was energized by that book.

What was your favorite story book as a kid?

Nurse-Quantros comments on Mar 9, 2018:

The Old Man and the Sea.

paul1967 replies on Mar 9, 2018:

I love that book

What was your favorite story book as a kid?

Maiasaura comments on Mar 9, 2018:

• All of the Dr. Seuss books. • Walter Farley's "Black Stallion" series. • "Black Beauty" by Anna Sewell. • The Nancy Drew mysteries. • The Wizard of Oz books- kept them all. • "Island of the Blue Dolphins" by Scott O'Dell- my daughter was so entranced by this fictionalized account of ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 9, 2018:

You are a reader. I collect good educational children's books but they must teach something more than some random silly lesson.

What was your favorite story book as a kid?

DarwinistOne comments on Mar 8, 2018:

I didn't have any. The only reading literature we had around the house at any time I can think of was True Detective magazine. What I remember vividly about these magazines was there was always an horrific picture on the cover of a man strangling a woman or something else equally as horrible...food...

paul1967 replies on Mar 9, 2018:

My father had these terrible magazines too. It freaked me out then, and it freaks me out now

Do you believe unconditional love is possible?

sassygirl3869 comments on Mar 7, 2018:

I have two daughters who I love unconditionally. One is 35 with special needs and one 22 yr old who lives back with me again with her BF and his family.

paul1967 replies on Mar 7, 2018:

@sassygirl3869 Thank you for sharing that.

Do you believe unconditional love is possible?

girlwithsmiles comments on Mar 7, 2018:

Yes, at a distance.

paul1967 replies on Mar 7, 2018:

LMAO so that's a no.

Do you believe unconditional love is possible?

sassygirl3869 comments on Mar 7, 2018:

I have two daughters who I love unconditionally. One is 35 with special needs and one 22 yr old who lives back with me again with her BF and his family.

paul1967 replies on Mar 7, 2018:

@sassygirl3869 and you will always be his/her mummy and with all the love and appreciation that goes along with that title. How can you put condition on that kind of love? You can't.

Do you believe unconditional love is possible?

VictoriaNotes comments on Mar 7, 2018:

There's some evidence that it exists, but I don't think it necessarity lasts -- and that includes one's offspring. https://institutpsychoneuro.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Beauregard2009-Unconditional-love.pdf

paul1967 replies on Mar 7, 2018:

@VictoriaNotes Damn your good Victoria. That's a lot to consider, and even more for me to research thank you.

Do you believe unconditional love is possible?

sassygirl3869 comments on Mar 7, 2018:

I have two daughters who I love unconditionally. One is 35 with special needs and one 22 yr old who lives back with me again with her BF and his family.

paul1967 replies on Mar 7, 2018:

I don't doubt you one bit for your sincerity, and you brought another aspect to the equation that I hadn't considered, kids with special needs. Not because they are disabled but because in my experience with down syndrome and other kids with special needs, they are uniquely qualified to be better than most of us at loving.

Do you believe unconditional love is possible?

BlairAlena comments on Mar 7, 2018:

As a mother, there is nothing my daughter could ever do to make me love her less. I do believe that a parent's love for their children can be unconditional, but that does not mean that we will agree with everything they do. If my daughter became a murderer, I wouldn't love her any less than I do ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 7, 2018:

@RachelLiz Well put and thank you for your time and effort to explain to me how you view your love of your daughter. You made me understand something that I hadn't considered which is pride and disappointment being separate from the core of your love for your daughter.

Do you believe unconditional love is possible?

Thefixisin239 comments on Mar 7, 2018:

That's s tough one...I believe even your child could do something so atrocious and evil that the love bond can be broken. If you are true to yourself I would find it hard to love someone inherently evil.

paul1967 replies on Mar 7, 2018:

I agree, and to those saying otherwise, I suspect the knowledge that their children aren't evil prevents them from imagining how they might feel if they were. However, I do have second-hand knowledge of how I might be wrong. My current girlfriend had a daughter who tried to run away several times, and when she kept getting sent back to her mom, she decided to stab her mother to death (which she obviously failed to do.) My girlfriend claims that even though she refuses to allow her daughter back into her life, she still loves her and wants the best for her. So this isn't conclusive evidence one way or the other, but it does cause me to wonder how evil would a child need to be to break that love bond.

Do you believe unconditional love is possible?

Mark9393 comments on Mar 7, 2018:

Yes

paul1967 replies on Mar 7, 2018:

You say yes, but yes to what? Unconditional love exists for both your spouse and your children or just one or the other? You know yourself better than I do so if you're saying this is true for you then it's true for you, and I won't question it. I would like you to consider some conditions that I place on my spouse. She needs to share my love. I can't maintain a love for someone who doesn't feel love for me. My physical well being must be nearly as important as her own. If she decides my life insurance policy is of greater importance to her than my life, I will fall out of love with her. She must be honest with me. If she's out sleeping around with other people I will fall out of love with her. I don't have children so I can only assume that those with children have a better understanding of that love. Thanks for taking the time to read my response.

Do you believe unconditional love is possible?

VictoriaNotes comments on Mar 7, 2018:

There's some evidence that it exists, but I don't think it necessarity lasts -- and that includes one's offspring. https://institutpsychoneuro.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Beauregard2009-Unconditional-love.pdf

paul1967 replies on Mar 7, 2018:

@VictoriaNotes I don't mean to be funny here, but knowing that really takes a lot of the joy of love away from being in love. Having this insight is an example of knowing too much being an inconvenient thing. It does explain a lot of my irrational behavior lately being in love. I find myself accepting things that are otherwise unacceptable and being so confused as to why I'm so willing to abandon some of my more valued moral convictions. (That sounds worse than it is) That did help more than you know, Thank you.

The "Force" Behind Hope and Faith

paul1967 comments on Mar 7, 2018:

That is crazy interesting. It goes to show how easy it is to manipulate people.

paul1967 replies on Mar 7, 2018:

@VictoriaNotes That is mind-blowingly true, and the terrible truth is that it works on almost all of us, religious or not.

Do you believe unconditional love is possible?

Lucy_Fehr comments on Mar 7, 2018:

My daughter used to be a bad person. I eventually turned my back on her and cut off contact. All my anger and bitterness toward her that sometimes seemed like hatred were born of the love and disapointment I had for her. So I believe you can love a child unconditionally but perhaps your support ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 7, 2018:

LMAO "Hell naw" well said.

Do you believe unconditional love is possible?

DarwinistOne comments on Mar 7, 2018:

I think that IS the meaning of real love just as we love our children unconditionally, not only if they behave according to certain rules.

paul1967 replies on Mar 7, 2018:

I'm not trying to be combative in any way, but I want you to reconsider what you're saying and ask yourself if it's accurate. Could your spouse behave in any way, meaning could she/he do anything that would eliminate your love for her? If the answer is yes, which I suspect it will be, then you have just placed a condition on that love. These conditions would include her/him falling out of love with you, infidelity, deception, theft, purposeful endangerment of your well being and many others.

Do you believe unconditional love is possible?

KKGator comments on Mar 7, 2018:

No. I do not believe unconditional love is possible.

paul1967 replies on Mar 7, 2018:

You might want to review @VictoriaNotes post. VictoriaNotes includes a link I hadn't considered which is temporary unconditional love. Which would mean for a period, the brain is capable of forgiving anything with no loss of affection. I can say it's interesting, but I'm not entirely convinced that it's reliable in the natural world. I think it may be possible to influence the brain enough in laboratory conditions to show these results.

Do you believe unconditional love is possible?

BlairAlena comments on Mar 7, 2018:

As a mother, there is nothing my daughter could ever do to make me love her less. I do believe that a parent's love for their children can be unconditional, but that does not mean that we will agree with everything they do. If my daughter became a murderer, I wouldn't love her any less than I do ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 7, 2018:

I do not doubt you. I'm just asking you to consider something. You said nothing she did could make you love her less. Could she do something that would make you love her more? If that's possible, I would argue that she could do something that would make you love her less. I don't mean stop loving her. I just mean that how intensely you love her can vary based on her actions. I'm only asking not asserting if this is true.

Do you believe unconditional love is possible?

VictoriaNotes comments on Mar 7, 2018:

There's some evidence that it exists, but I don't think it necessarity lasts -- and that includes one's offspring. https://institutpsychoneuro.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Beauregard2009-Unconditional-love.pdf

paul1967 replies on Mar 7, 2018:

I hadn't considered a temporary unconditional love. I got the primary points of the article you posted, but it was a little too technical at my level of education to comprehend how they came to the conclusions they did. I will just have to take it on "faith" that their findings are based on substantial evidence and reasoning.

The "Force" Behind Hope and Faith

MikeEC comments on Mar 7, 2018:

Excellent video. I guess this means that the members of the site are not monkeys? The message I got from the portion of the video right up to when he switched to religion is: Being a tease is a good thing.

paul1967 replies on Mar 7, 2018:

I thought that same thing. How can I romantically use this to improve my love life?

Is the love of the Abrahamic God an example of Stockholm syndrome?

Trajan61 comments on Mar 6, 2018:

The bible is more ruthless than Hitler in some ways and I can’t understand how come religious people can’t see that. To much indoctrination at an early age maybe?

paul1967 replies on Mar 6, 2018:

Of all the evil people humanity has known, Hitler ranks pretty high, and even he doesn't deserve eternal punishment.

Would You keep dating someone who felt it was necessary to keep you a secret from their kids?

Betty comments on Mar 4, 2018:

I think a mother who puts the safety and security of her children first is a good mother. You haven't mentioned if the relationship is serious or how long you've been dating, neither have you mentioned how old the children are. When she feels comfortable that the relationship is solid she will want ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 5, 2018:

@Betty She is the most important woman in my life (short of my mother). We've known each other since we were 15 and I'm 50 now. When we were together years back she was that rock in my life I could always count on, and I think I was that for her. We did lose touch, for much of that 35 years because life moves on and people get married and have kids. I just think that sometimes people are better off staying friends, but even that is confusing to me because I love her so much and I'm attracted to her as well. I shouldn't be bothering you with these details, but you helped, so I wanted to fill in some more parts of the story. Thanks again for all your advice.

Did you grow up with religion?

paul1967 comments on Mar 5, 2018:

No, I had very limited indoctrination with religion. I handle my disbelief in God the same way I handle my disbelief in the tooth fairy.

paul1967 replies on Mar 5, 2018:

@Remi I live in the deep south, and people here have no respect for anyone who doesn't believe in a God. They don't care too much which God you pick as long as you have a God

Would You keep dating someone who felt it was necessary to keep you a secret from their kids?

Betty comments on Mar 4, 2018:

I think a mother who puts the safety and security of her children first is a good mother. You haven't mentioned if the relationship is serious or how long you've been dating, neither have you mentioned how old the children are. When she feels comfortable that the relationship is solid she will want ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 5, 2018:

@Betty Thank you, Betty, for taking the time to help advise me. It was excellent advice.

Would You keep dating someone who felt it was necessary to keep you a secret from their kids?

AMGT comments on Mar 4, 2018:

I did this when I was a single mom.. My reason had everything to do with my kids being my priority. Maybe the unknown where you’re concerned is still too big a factor. It takes time to be willing to risk, and it’s ALWAYS a risk, **especially** when kids are involved. Depending on how long ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 5, 2018:

@AMGT 13 boy 15 girl 16 girl

Would You keep dating someone who felt it was necessary to keep you a secret from their kids?

Betty comments on Mar 4, 2018:

I think a mother who puts the safety and security of her children first is a good mother. You haven't mentioned if the relationship is serious or how long you've been dating, neither have you mentioned how old the children are. When she feels comfortable that the relationship is solid she will want ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 4, 2018:

Five months and I moved out of state to be with her.

Would You keep dating someone who felt it was necessary to keep you a secret from their kids?

Heart_Truth comments on Mar 4, 2018:

I agree with the single mom theory. It depends on how long you have been together and if it is expected to be permanent / long term or not. As a single mom, I don’t tell my kids who I am dating unless I think it will be long term. They have met a few guys and it gets complicated fast. They are...

paul1967 replies on Mar 4, 2018:

This relationship has been going on for five months, I moved to a new state two weeks ago to be with her, and it's been a rough ride ever since I arrived. There has been considerable highs and dramatic lows. I will say this her priorities are in the right place. She's an excellent mother from everything I know and I respect her for that more than anything else, but I guess I just want more and I need someone who is willing to offer it. I feel terrible because it's not her fault, she's got an important job to do and I get that. My excuse is I'm 50 and her youngest just turned 13. I don't want to be the secret boyfriend for another five years.

Would You keep dating someone who felt it was necessary to keep you a secret from their kids?

MarqG comments on Mar 4, 2018:

If you're dating a single mother you've got bigger problems than you realize. Been there done that. I wouldn't do it again.Why not just flush your time, money, and emotions down a toilet? 15 Reasons to Never Date or Marry Single Mothers ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 4, 2018:

She's a good woman struggling to make it with three teenagers and a job that doesn't pay much. She loves her kids with a passion, but I got to a point where I just wasn't a big enough priority, so I ended it tonight.

Would You keep dating someone who felt it was necessary to keep you a secret from their kids?

marga comments on Mar 4, 2018:

How long have you been in a relationship? If it's still pretty new, it may be that she just doesn't want to introduce them yet. I was a single mom, and I was very careful about whom my children met. I suppose it depends on her reason(s) for keeping you a secret; has she said why? On the other ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 4, 2018:

Her reasons were reasonable for a time but it has been five months, and now I just feel dragged along. I ended things with her tonight, so it's not worth making it an issue

Would You keep dating someone who felt it was necessary to keep you a secret from their kids?

evergreen comments on Mar 4, 2018:

How long have you been dating ? and how old are the kids ? Many Moms are cautious about a recent man - and rightly so .

paul1967 replies on Mar 4, 2018:

Five months, but it's a mute point now because I ended it tonight.

Would You keep dating someone who felt it was necessary to keep you a secret from their kids?

AMGT comments on Mar 4, 2018:

I did this when I was a single mom.. My reason had everything to do with my kids being my priority. Maybe the unknown where you’re concerned is still too big a factor. It takes time to be willing to risk, and it’s ALWAYS a risk, **especially** when kids are involved. Depending on how long ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 4, 2018:

5 months

Would You keep dating someone who felt it was necessary to keep you a secret from their kids?

Sticks48 comments on Mar 4, 2018:

No problem. Some people's kids are not likeable no matter what mom thinks, and some are just assholes. Most children grow up to be adults you don't like anyway.

paul1967 replies on Mar 4, 2018:

Thanks but this is.... was an important relationship, but as of tonight it's a past relationship.

Grammarly disabled since latest update

Admin comments on Mar 4, 2018:

Hi Victoria. Hmmm. We didn't realize that 3rd party software might not like the new text editor. We'll have to figure out a way to make it work or allow members to toggle it on/off. Will put this on the list. Thanks!

paul1967 replies on Mar 4, 2018:

Thank you. I really want to be able to use the Grammarly app

Would You keep dating someone who felt it was necessary to keep you a secret from their kids?

psycheworks comments on Mar 4, 2018:

@paul1967 if it's only been a few days then fine, or if she needs a few days to break it to them that she's seeing someone, however if neither of those two apply then perhaps she's not confident that the relationship is right for her. Also I think it depends on how old the kids are and how long ago ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 4, 2018:

I've known her for 35 years we've dated for 5 months

Which of these quotes is your favorite?

jonds56 comments on Mar 4, 2018:

The Twain quote remind me of Trump voters.

paul1967 replies on Mar 4, 2018:

When I first read your response, I thought to myself, how the hell does this guy compare the words of a great writer like Twain to something a Trump supporter might say. I took a moment, and it dawned on me what you were really saying.

Describe your real self, warts and all.

Liviu comments on Mar 3, 2018:

I try to be as honest as possible in my dating profiles but unfortunately that option is 100% out of the question. You can see my profile if you click it. I used to have at one point a profile in a much more negative manner, saying how I had zero self esteem. That's the truth, and having no ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 4, 2018:

@Liviu I understand it from both perspectives. I think it's one of those things where you need to stand up, move forward and accept and even embrace the things you can't change and work on the things you can change

Describe your real self, warts and all.

Liviu comments on Mar 3, 2018:

I try to be as honest as possible in my dating profiles but unfortunately that option is 100% out of the question. You can see my profile if you click it. I used to have at one point a profile in a much more negative manner, saying how I had zero self esteem. That's the truth, and having no ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 4, 2018:

I feel your pain and share it

Describe your real self, warts and all.

MrLizard comments on Mar 3, 2018:

I can't tell all here. Not enough time. But... let's see... I've got man-boobs, I don't exercise, I get depressed and axious, at times, and I am way too honest. (Go ahead. Test me)

paul1967 replies on Mar 4, 2018:

I absolutely love this reply!

Describe your real self, warts and all.

Benthoven comments on Mar 3, 2018:

Alas, I've never met my real self. We stare at each other in the mirror from time to time, but we've never worked up the nerve to talk to each other.

paul1967 replies on Mar 3, 2018:

That's an interesting way of looking at yourself.I have the opposite issue. Sometimes I spend too much time talking to myself in the mirror.

Describe your real self, warts and all.

Lisav1961 comments on Mar 3, 2018:

I’m not quite sure what I am. I think I’m nice and clean up okay. I’m somewhat intelligent but deal with short term memory loss which is a birch when you start a new job. I’ve never really “fit in” anywhere. I’ve been single since 2003. I’ve had a handful of dates but nothing ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 3, 2018:

I very much enjoyed reading your analysis of yourself, it felt honestly.

If matter/energy can't travel faster than the speed of light how did something the size of an atom ...

josmi6699 comments on Feb 25, 2018:

Light moves within space. When we talk about the expansion of the universe, we talk about the expansion of space itself not the movement of anything within space. The speed of light limit does not apply to the expansion of space. We know that there are objects in the universe which move away from ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 3, 2018:

@josmi6699 Honestly, I never really thought it was an explosion, not because I'm smart or informed, but because it's just not how I envisioned it. I'm going to expose my ignorance here a bit and describe what I picture (This is just the mental silly workings of a novice.) I envision a lack of any"thing," meaning matter or energy. I would describe it like layers of sheets (I'm going to call it sheets for lack of a better word) of emptiness, with dimensional potential, distance potential, and thickness and finally a potential charge. Each sheet, having different possibilities and properties, with the potential to merge, a lot like DNA. The fusion of these unique layers at a point on these sheets creates the illusion of an explosion as they "bang" into each other. I don't think of the universe as being alive, but with the properties of something that grows, get's old and, not dies, but ends. I know, I'm adding my own imagination and information that probably has nothing to do with reality, but it's the only way I can describe how I envision the big bang.

What in your opinion is the craziest ungodly Bible Quote

alanalorie comments on Mar 2, 2018:

The Old Testament stuff. Some of it freaks me out: if an engaged women is raped in the country she the rapist gets put to death. If it happens in the city, someone should have heard her scream. so she and the rapist is put to death. Of course, If she is a virgin, the rapist pays her father money ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 2, 2018:

Well done!

Yes do explain how this is going to work.

paul1967 comments on Mar 1, 2018:

If guns were illegal it would be harder to get one and when caught you would go to jail.

paul1967 replies on Mar 2, 2018:

@mistymoon77 I have no issue with that. My concern is with assault weapons. I'm not trying to be abrasive. I feel like I made that point clear and maybe I'm wrong, and it's nothing, but it feels like it's a valid supportable and reasonable argument and nobody wants to talk about it because they don't want to acknowledge that we need to do something about it. Honestly, I'm not singling you out, but this seems to be a common trend when I discuss gun regulations with pro-gun supporters. They focus in on what I'm not saying or what I have previously conceded too and, ignore the point I am making.

Yes do explain how this is going to work.

Druvius comments on Mar 1, 2018:

Gotta love how opponents of gun control spew every false argument known to mankind. When you have no good arguments in your quiver, doesn't really leave them much choice. Tiresome really.

paul1967 replies on Mar 2, 2018:

@LEPeff That may be true, and perhaps there is inadequate enforcement, and the cure is as simple as the government improving its system of regulating guns. I still have an issue with military grade weapons in the hands of civilians, and I think we all should support a ban on owning these types of weapons.

Which of these quotes is your favorite?

TheMiddleWay comments on Mar 2, 2018:

Since "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die" was missing, I went with Feynman.

paul1967 replies on Mar 2, 2018:

Unfortunately couldn't include that one because it's just so obvious that is the best one.;) and no other quote has a chance to be recognized.

Yes do explain how this is going to work.

paul1967 comments on Mar 1, 2018:

If guns were illegal it would be harder to get one and when caught you would go to jail.

paul1967 replies on Mar 2, 2018:

@balou I genuinely mean no disrespect, I admitted that I don't like any type of gun, but in my post, I also recognized that what "I like" or don't like is not something that holds any relevance to the argument. I am only making a case here for military grade weapons in the hands of civilians. Not all guns.

Which of these quotes is your favorite?

VictoriaNotes comments on Mar 2, 2018:

**Feynman**. I've always resonated with that quote. Growing up I learned very quickly that answers to my questions were not to be questioned --- that was considered disrespectful to authority. #8 #2 Boom. https://youtu.be/VxmmcwvkZeM

paul1967 replies on Mar 2, 2018:

Thank you for posting that video. I've never seen it before.

Which of these quotes is your favorite?

VictoriaNotes comments on Mar 2, 2018:

**Feynman**. I've always resonated with that quote. Growing up I learned very quickly that answers to my questions were not to be questioned --- that was considered disrespectful to authority. #8 #2 Boom. https://youtu.be/VxmmcwvkZeM

paul1967 replies on Mar 2, 2018:

Thank you for posting that video. I've never seen it before.

Yes do explain how this is going to work.

Druvius comments on Mar 1, 2018:

Gotta love how opponents of gun control spew every false argument known to mankind. When you have no good arguments in your quiver, doesn't really leave them much choice. Tiresome really.

paul1967 replies on Mar 2, 2018:

@Druvius @mistymoon77 @LEPeff I have a lot of respect for all of you. You all have given me great feedback, and I have enjoyed reading your posts. I'm never going to agree with anyone 100% of the time, and I do think that your statement, that we who oppose guns spew every false argument is in itself false. I think there are very valid arguments to be made to ban guns (if not all at least ones that can kill large groups of people in a few seconds.) I think just like politics both sides get so invested in their position that neither takes a minute to consider what the other is saying. Here is a statement I think we can all agree on. Americans are divided on whether the country’s gun deaths could be reduced through tougher laws on gun ownership. "Some people" argue that legal restrictions on gun ownership could save lives. "But, others," say that stricter gun laws would do nothing to change the behavior of violent criminals. * This paragraph was pulled from an online article, but I made a small change to this paragraph. It pitted liberals being all for and conservatives being all against and since that is fallacious and useless point I changed it to "some people" and But, others: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/15/so-america-this-is-how-you-do-gun-control Here is my take on this and then I'll listen and consider your response. Both statements are likely correct. My argument would be: Would we see few deaths, by accidental gun-related killings, violent criminals (less likely to be able to act on impulse control issues) and irresponsible, violent people who let their anger control their actions?

Yes do explain how this is going to work.

paul1967 comments on Mar 1, 2018:

If guns were illegal it would be harder to get one and when caught you would go to jail.

paul1967 replies on Mar 2, 2018:

@balou I understand that some people carry it merely for the thought that it may one day protect them, but if that gun is an AK47 assault rifle with a bumpski stock, I think you're taking things too far.

What in your opinion is the craziest ungodly Bible Quote

pnullifidian comments on Mar 2, 2018:

Ezekiel 23 is indeed one of the more bizarre chapters in the Bible. It's a fantasy of mine to hear it read in church ... but then I suppose I'd have to attend. And don't forget the 21st verse: "So you longed for the lewdness of your youth, when in Egypt your bosom was caressed and your young ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 2, 2018:

That is some crazy stuff to put in the Bible. I can just imagine if I said out loud, Yeah, she likes giving blowjobs while he patted her butt and squeezed her breast right in the middle of a church. The shock and looks I would get. I would need to reply, what? I'm just quoting Ezekiel 23:21

What in your opinion is the craziest ungodly Bible Quote

ScienceBiker comments on Mar 2, 2018:

Numbers 22:7 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.

paul1967 replies on Mar 2, 2018:

That is a good one

Yes do explain how this is going to work.

paul1967 comments on Mar 1, 2018:

If guns were illegal it would be harder to get one and when caught you would go to jail.

paul1967 replies on Mar 2, 2018:

@mistymoon77 I personally hate guns. I don't understand the enjoyment people get from killing things. However, I'm not other people, and my likes and dislikes don't matter much to those that enjoy it. I would be in favor of MUCH stronger gun laws and outlawing military grade weapons for private use is right at the top of the list. If you want to shoot a military grade weapon, then join the military. Do I think people will break the law? Yes, I do, but there must be substantial consequences for people who do. That's just an opinion I hold.

If matter/energy can't travel faster than the speed of light how did something the size of an atom ...

josmi6699 comments on Feb 25, 2018:

Light moves within space. When we talk about the expansion of the universe, we talk about the expansion of space itself not the movement of anything within space. The speed of light limit does not apply to the expansion of space. We know that there are objects in the universe which move away from ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 1, 2018:

@josmi6699 Sounds like a very valid point.

If matter/energy can't travel faster than the speed of light how did something the size of an atom ...

josmi6699 comments on Feb 25, 2018:

Light moves within space. When we talk about the expansion of the universe, we talk about the expansion of space itself not the movement of anything within space. The speed of light limit does not apply to the expansion of space. We know that there are objects in the universe which move away from ...

paul1967 replies on Mar 1, 2018:

@josmi6699 I'm switching gears here, and this is probably going to come across as an anti-big bang comment, and it's not. I do understand that the best evidence we have points to this model. I don't like using the term theory for a model that has as many gaps in knowledge as this model does. It seems what we know is a thing happened, and it happened fast. Shortly (less than a second) after it happens we have the workings of spacetime and matter, and that is understood well. We know what it is and how it works. My issue is that the critical moment that started all future moments is poorly understood and that is the "bang" in the big bang (poorly labeled or not.) To the lay people like myself, the Big Bang Theory isn't the moments after the Big Bang, it's the event itself. It would seem to get it's, designation as a theory because of all the stuff that occurred after the big bang. I wish we could revise our labeling system in a way that communicated to the masses our level of understanding. To me, The Theory of inflation, even though I don't understand it, science does, and I'm okay calling that a theory. The Big Bang Theory and String Theory, to me, don't reach the level of theory, I would think it would be more honest to call these models, hypotheses.