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Foochar (129133)

Foochar
  `moc.liamg' `ta' `rahcoof'

Journal of Foochar (129133)

Getting to know you

[ #12149 ]
Thursday September 05 2002, @02:53PM
User Journal
After looking through Com2Kid's journal I was struck by just how much many of us in the journal subculture seem to have in common. Or maybe its just that I only notice the commonality and miss all the things that we are all worlds apart on. But anyway, I thought I'd throw a little "survey" out and see what kind of responses I get.

If any of you more connected people want to take this and put it up in your journal feel free. I just want to see what the results look like. Feel free to add your own entries to your replies.

Gender: M
Age: 22
Religion: Christian
Political Affiliation: Democrat
Occupation: IT
Marital Status: Single

Update

Looking through the responses a lot of people seem to be political "basket cases" to steal a phrase from Kieth Russell. So lets break this down a little more. Some of these skirt the political/religious line, but I'm willing to bet that a lot of our politics are strongly influenced by our religions. So...

Abortion: Opposed to it on a personal level, but don't feel it is my right to decide for someone.
Gun Control: Strongly in favor of background checks. Don't see a need for private ownership of assult weapons.
Enviornment: Good stewardship of the earth is a must, but moderation should be practiced in all things.
Social Programs: Strongly in favor of, belive that those who can work should work.

Once again, feel free to add to this list, these are just here to get the discussion started.

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  • Gender: M
    Age: 19
    Religion: You don't what to know ... ;)
    Political Affiliation: Anarchist. (good for you people I don't get to vote)
    Occupation: IT
    Marital Status: Single
    • Abortion: Same as you pro-choice in law. Pro-life in morals.
      Gun Control: I like gun control in my country. The only problem I have with it here is that it would undermine the constitution. I'd rather not go down that road.
      Enviornment: I usually tell the greenpeace solicitors. "My dads a lumber jack." Not true but it's too much fun. I like the environment. But I also like my GTO and if I had to pick one of the two...
      Social Programs: I want to reverse this privatization bullshit. Fuck the economy! If you notice while the GDP is doing great the average quality of life is going down. Wer'e working more, earning less, and for what? The average family in america owes more than they own.
      • You're not playing the game right. The point is that we want to know. Now, fess up!

        Okay fine. My parents are Scientologists. My grand parents are Protestant. I choose to abandon both of those religions. Not quite sure what that makes me. Other than confusing. There, happy?

        Something tells me I should have just kept that to myself.
  • Alrighty, this doesn't look too hard

    Gender: F
    Age: 27
    Religion: Ex-Catholic, now I can't really classify myself. Pagan maybe? *shrug*
    Political Affilitaion: I tend to vote Democratic or Green, but it's person dependent
    Occupation: Software Engineer (playing with linux all day is fun!)
    Marital Status: Single

    Sorry for the ABBA reference. I'm gonna be singing that song all day now...

    • Sorry for the ABBA reference. I'm gonna be singing that song all day now...

      No, you should be sorry for the ABBA reference, because we're gonna be singing that song all day! :-)

      But there's hope. Somebody at work turned me on to this trick for getting a song unstuck from your head: Imagine it being sung by B-52s lead singer Fred Schneider. The darker the song, the better it works. Take Tool, for instance. "I know the pieces fit, I know the pieces fit..." just evaporates when sung in the same voice as "I got me a Chrysler, it's as big as a whale, and it's about to set sail!"

      Unfortunately, the B-52s trick leaves this little koan behind: What if you get a B-52s song stuck in your head?

    • Sure, now you go and ADD topics...

      Abortion: I am now at a point in my life where I wouldn't have one. I can't say the same for myself 5 years ago. Nor do I feel I can decide for everyone else. But it's really sad that more options aren't seriously considered...I suppose that's what you get from an instant gratification society.
      Gun Control: In my own little world, there would be no guns. That being said -- the entire 2nd amendment doesn't simply state "The right to bear arms" -- I agree with the wording of the amendment, not the way the Supreme Court has interpreted it.
      Environmentalism: We make too much waste. Period. There isn't enough research in how to effectively recycle things (and not enough education either, since most areas of the country still don't)
      Social Programs: Big fan. But welfare isn't working, because it doesn't provide a way for people (namely single parents) to get out...nor is there incentive to get out of the program.

        • Heh, I just like the fact that I have an Anonymous Coward Stalker...err...Fan Club. :) Maybe I should hold a "Who Wants to be a Stalker?" game -- I show up with the right /. available search terms on Google.
        • Well, Josh, since you posted your mug I'll be brave and post mine.. Here's a bad pic [bestcoding.com] of me but I had it up on my web site. Of course, I already knew what you looked like and vice versa, so I think others need to chime in here! Would be nice to know the "faces behind the screens" :) Of course, I can understand if/why anyone would want to keep anonymous so that's cool too. Not everyone can be a studly Italian like Josh... :)

  • Gender: M
    Age: 20
    Religion: Catholic
    Political Affiliation: Democrat
    Occupation: Student/CompSci
    Marital Status: Single, looking
  • Gender: M
    Age: 24
    Religion: Lapsed Catholic
    Political Affiliation: Green
    Occupation: IT
    Marital Status: Dating

    Kind of weird to sum up an entire human life in six lines, isn't it? Has a very Logan's Run feel to it.
  • I am one of the readers at FortKnox's journal. So if you don't know me, that's how I managed to get here.

    Gender: M
    Age: 29 [just turned 29 on August 4th]
    Religion: Christian [very conservative right wing views]
    Political Affiliation: none now; used to be an official member of the Christian Heritege Party in Canada
    Occupation: unemployed. want to join the Canadian navy.
    Marital Status: perpetually single; I can't seem to get unstuck
  • Gender: M
    Age: 30
    Religion: Protestant
    Political Affiliation: Republican, but it's a marriage of convenience. By America's two-party standards, I'm an ideological basket case. :-)
    Occupation: Programmer/Analyst
    Marital Status: Single
    • Abortion: A woman has the right to choose, even when she's choosing something morally wrong.
      Gun Control: The 2nd Amendment doesn't exist just to fill the gap between 1 and 3. I just wish gun charges weren't the first ones plea-bargained away in every stinkin' criminal case around. The right to bear arms would be even stronger if there were truly grave consequences for abusing that right.
      Environment: Humanity's collective Bi-Polar Disorder in action. What is it about the environment that won't allow anyone to compromise?
      Social Programs: The system works best when it supports citizens who need help, but only when that assistance works toward getting that person off the dole.
  • Gender: M
    Age: 26 [just turned 26 in June]
    Religion: Christian [Baptist, conservative but not a legalist]
    Political Affiliation: I tend to be republican, but not on all the issues (especially environmental)
    Occupation:Sr. Developer at NFO worldgroup, a market research company (basically I do .NET programming)
    Marital Status: married, just had a 3yr anniversary!
    • Was it not a republican (Nixon) that setup the EPA in the first place?
      • Was it not a republican (Nixon) that setup the EPA in the first place?

        I'm not 100% sure but I believe so.

        For whatever reason though, Dubbya isn't too great on the environment. He's trying to undo all the stuff done under the Clinton era in terms of environmental protection laws (like parks and stuff). That and he wants to drill Alaska.

        Anyway, I wasn't as big into the environment, but then I went and married an environmentalist so she has since convinced me :)

        It is true though. There is so much waste going on. It really ticks me off when people flick a ciggy out the sunroof, or toss trash from a McDonalds shake out the window.

            • The problem is though, is that companies aren't even allowed to test for oil there. Nobody knows how much oil is in the ground, only the test will say for sure how much oil is in the ground. Also, ANWR was wet up as a wild life reserve, but it also had land set aside for oil drilling if it is seen as nesscessary. It is that area that people want to test and possibly drill.
    • Ok, more info:

      Abortion: Totally opposed except in the case that it would 100% kill the mother. The reason I say that is because if I had to choose between my wife and an unborn baby, I'd choose my wife. However, I don't think there are many cases that this could happen.
      Gun Control:In favor of background checks, but I think I should be able to own whatever firearm I want. The "criminals" can and will get AK-47's, why shouldn't I be able to? :)
      Enviornment: Keep it clean. I posted more on this somewhere else.
      Social Programs: Welfare is a mistake, but I understand that some people are just in those kinds of circumstances. However, I think the Church should be more involved with meeting the needs of people in the community. Government by nature is just too bulky to do it efficiently and usually only ends up helping those who know how to "work the system".

      Any other stuff.. Well, I'm a pretty busy person but I like it that way. I'm currently working on my Masters at the university of Toledo. I'm active with my Church where I serve as a Deacon, and I lead the music service at a new baby Church in Michigan. I play a bunch of different instruments (my favorites being guitar, piano, and trumpet) and am currently working on a praise and worship cd. I'm president of the NW Ohio .NET User Group. I have a pet dog (Vizsla) who just turned 1 years old. He's great. My wife and I give him walks and take him to the park. Much to my wife's dismay, I'm also a hopeless computer addict that loves playing games in my spare time, which unfortunately isn't much.

      I think thats about everything about me that anyone would want to know! :)

        • I enjoyed our "Leach fests" as we called them.. I guess it was really nerdy back then, but hey, it was fun. Not too many people now days can even know what a null modem cable is used for :)

          I remember how I found your site. Sometimes I go to google and search for people that occasionally pop in to my mind and I think "Hey, I wonder what happend to so and so...". I was always horrible about keeping in touch.. in fact, there are probably 2 people that I talk to from HS, Josh being one of them.
        • As you just read, glh plays trumpet, as do I, and we met in marching band.

          wow. more fellow marching band dorks (i played trumpet as well...although it was my 4th and probably worst instrument)

      • Hehehe.. I guess once you pass a certain age (for me it was 25), you try to cling on to youth for as long as possible! :)
  • Gender: M
    Age: 21
    Religion: Non Deminational Christian
    Political Affiliation: Republican
    Occupation: LAN Technician
    Marital Status: way to single right now for my own good. C'mon, someone out there has to have a sister or something to hook me up with...

    Anybody?

    • Abortion: I'm against it. My reason why is for the child, it has nothing to do with tell a woman what to do with her body. Giving me that argument is a good way to piss me off when the subject comes up. She can do whatever she wants, as long as the child is not harmed.

      Gun Control: I live in western Pennsylvania, we have lots of guns here, and as many of the bumper stickers read, they only way you're taking them, is barrel first.

      Environmentalism: I'm all for keeping the environment healthy, but if it comes down to rare tree slugs and people, then I vote people.

      Social Programs: are great. Sometimes people need help, and it should be available. There should be a way for people to get off of it easily though, and ways to prevent abuse.

  • Gender: M
    Age: 35
    Religion: Christian
    Political Affiliation: Independent

    Occupation: Web Developer/System Admin/Non-traditional college student.

    What I would do if I could do anything: Play guitar in a progressive rock band, with maybe some jazz and blues gigs on the side.

    Marital Status: Single(by choice, not looking for a relationship atm.)

    Abortion: Its the woman's choice. That said, 1.5 million abortions a year is far too many. I favor society encouraging motherhood and adoption to lessen the abortion rate.

    Gun control: Basic right of citizens to be as well armed as the criminals.

    Environment: Can be balanced with progress. I like to think of caribou hanging around oil rigs and cities full of trees, parks, planted medians, etc. Also, I'm looking forward to the days of clean, renewable sources of energy, like hydrogen fuel cells. I don't particularly care for the call to reduce energy use or to simplify one's lifestyle. To fully reach our human potential, more and more energy must be consumed. So a clean, renewable, and basically unlimited energy source is a must.

    Social Programs: It's really interesting to me that its actually the government and academia, and not private corporations that are the driving force behind technology and progress. I believe there are certain things that are in fact done better by the government. I also believe its the government's job to make sure the economy functions smoothly and that its citizens don't have their opportunities taken away by private industry. That said, I believe that wealth generation happens in the private sector and so it must be allowed to flourish.

    The greatest society is the one that can support the most artists, writers, musicians and beatniks of other flavors. Whether that arises out of capitalism, socialism, liberatarianism, or whatever is of less concern to me than the end result.

  • Direct quote from the Liora user page I'm a Christian 23yo INFJ 5'10" SWF ISO taller Christian 23-28yo INTP SM who is not a loser. Sadly, I'm convinced that he may not exist.

    Some other things I can add... I am a registered Republican who frequently swings Democratic or independent whenever it is a person I know running, or whenever the Republican choice is just terrible. I support waiting periods on arms purchases, I am avidly pro-life, I'm against the death penalty however (which runs counter to Republican ideology). I think social programs are bunk, except in the case of the Department of Child and Family Services, or the Child Protection Agency, or whatever a particular state calls it, just because somebody needs to be out there taking care of things until we institute applications for child-rearing licenses. I think we need to take much better care of the environment, but I also think that there is an efficient level of pollution (I'm an economist, what can I say?). Finally, I think that there are altogether too many laws and government agencies out there, the invisible hand can regulate the markets just fine (go Adam Smith!) and that if people really loved each other none of these things would be issues anyway.

    Finally, I have a BA in Economics but I work at a company where my principal function is making maps of power grids (think electricity). I bought my first house in May, I am single, I am not looking currently because I am sure Mr. Right will show up right under my nose if I just think about other things. I take math and physics classes at the local community college for fun, and my favorite thing on earth to do is sing. I play a lot of instruments just to facilitate that hobby.

    • I'm a Christian 23yo INFJ 5'10" SWF ISO taller Christian 23-28yo INTP SM who is not a loser.

      Okay what the hell does that mean? INFJ = "?" SWF = "Single White Female" ISO = "?" INTP = "?"

      Now for my daily dose of politically incorrect fun.
      SM = Single male. I notice that you you didn't specify white. Do you really not care or are you trying to be politically correct? Don't worry you're not raciest if you only want to date white people. It's all just a matter of who you fancy.

      • Uhh... Christian 23 year old Introverted iNtuitive Feeler Judger (Briggs-Meyer personality type, and gosh Judger looks bad...) Single White Female in search of taller Christian 23-28 year-old Introverted iNtuitive Thinker Perciever Single Male who is not a loser.

        Here's my thought on that other question. I've dated one technically non-caucasion guy. He was technically Hispanic, being an Argentinian citizen and all, but his ancestors were German Jews, so most of his features were essentially white. So on that note, it doesn't really matter.

        I have a friend who is ethnically Filipino, and I couldn't figure out how he was a minority ("uhh... slightly Hispanic maybe?" I remember saying), but now I look at him and I see he is distinctly Asian. I just don't notice. I suppose it's kind of hard not to notice if someone is African-American or something, and truthfully I've never been attracted to an AA before, but I suppose it's not inconcievable. It is more likely that I would fall in love with an African than an AA because I just can't stand most of the AA culture, and if a guy has the accompanying attitude, it would turn me off. Likewise it is improbable that I would fall in love with a Middle-Eastern guy, especially if he were Islamic, because for starters I'm looking for a Christian, and additionally, I do have a small prejudice in that I have an immediate reflexive reaction to AA guys that are bigger than me and Middle-Eastern guys in general; I'm immediately scared of them until I get to know them. This is an entirely nurtured response, and one that I would like to get rid of.

        That said, it is entirely possible that I could fall in love with an Asian or a Hispanic. Now, it is entirely probable that I would fall in love with a Native American, because I think those men are the most attractive ones of the bunch. But white guys are good too, especially if they have classic nordic features, or generous smiles.

        You didn't need to know any of that. I probably shouldn't have answered. :P

          • Well, according to the book Please Understand Me about Briggs-Meyer stuff, I think written by them actually, you are supposed to match up best with your opposite type. But several things have made me look for an INTP instead.

            First of all, I am actually outwardly ENFJ. Most people never realize that I'm an introvert, they don't realize that people tax me, and that even though I am good at talking to people, I usually don't like doing it at all, and half of my thoughts and feelings are never shared anyway. So I test as an I, but I seem like an E to most.

            It is ISTP that is the type that often has criminals or policemen (or spooks), and if I am an ENFJ, that's my opposite type.... and I don't want one of those.

            I have also found that I don't get along very well with S's at all. To me, an intuitive choice is one where you are making a completely rational decision, but it is based on some data your conscious mind doesn't have. People who are S's just usually do not understand me, and we fight constantly. It is not very cool, especially since my mom is one. Fortunately, my dad is an N, and he gets it... sometimes you just have to go with your instincts, even if you don't know why. It helps that I can do this that I'm a F too. I don't have to make all of my ducks line up nicely in a row before I move.

      • In the United States, we have to have licenses to shoot guns. We have to have licenses to drive cars. We have to have licenses to fly planes, operate heavy machinery, and practice medicine. All of these systems are in place because we value human life so much that we want to make sure anyone doing those things at least has a clue what they're doing before we set them loose. It is obvious, as you said, that some people shouldn't procreate because they cannot afford to support their children, or will neglect them, or possibly abuse them, in some instances before they are even born.

        In the case of all of the above licenses, we are saying "we don't trust you with a human life unless you are at least this competent." Why would we entrust children to people without first proving competency? With the system in place regarding child rearing, you have to first demonstrate you are incompetent, already hurting or at the very least endangering a child before you get that right revoked. Do you, like me, value children's lives even more than you do adult's lives? If so, do you see my point?

          • Two points: First, in many instances, medical treatment is also fundamental to the very existence and survival of the race. But still, we would not argue that just anyone has the right to practice medicine, would we? We have the right to vote if we're citizens of this country, but if we commit a felony, that right is taken away from us. Rights can be taken away from people who have mis-used them. Think of the numbers of ex-convicts who do not have the right to bear arms.

            Second, that's not even what I was talking about. I never mentioned permanent sterilization of people! That's like saying that just because you can't pass your driver's test now, you may never take it again and try to see if you're a better driver. That's not fair. By that standard, all of us would be sterilized unless we were childhood millionaires because all of us are biologically able to bear children long before we are able to take fiscal responsibility for them.

            Nay, I was talking about a more open policy, where it is understood that you are not allowed to have children unless you can be a good parent. "Good" could be defined similiarly to negligent, that is, failing to exercise the standard of care that a reasonable person would in the same or similiar circumstances. No action would ever be taken unless someone proved themselves incompetent. If a mother were to prove herself incompetent, I see no reason why mandatory depo shots couldn't be administered until such point wherein she proves she can be a good parent in the future. In the case of father, I can see no easy remedy, except perhaps investigating reversible vasectomies. In such case, there is redemption for the individual whom the law touches.

            Finally, I would like to point out, just for the sake of argument, that stare decisis can hardly be invoked regarding a 1942 decision based only on 1942 surgical procedures. Present-day methods are indeed reversible for females, and could probably easily be such for males, thus nullifying the forever deprived of a basic liberty clause and antiquating the notion of irreparable injury.

  • Gender: M
    Age: 29
    Religion: Episcopalean
    Political Affiliation: Democrat
    Occupation: IT (in the health care field)
    Marital Status: Third anniversary on 9/25

    Abortion: It's called a condom. Look into it. Sometimes shit happens, but usually only if you are stupid. Still, far be it for me to remove your right to be stupid.

    Gun Control: The second amendment is the only thing that protects the first.

    Enviornment: Dump toxins directly into the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Seriously, what kind of question is this?

    Social Programs: Workfare is a lovely thing. Even my deaf, blind, non-walking wife should be working at something. Lord knows she would do a better job than those dumb bastards at the Social Security office.
  • Gender: M
    Age: 20
    Religion: None
    Political Affiliation: Independent
    Occupation: Student
    Marital Status: Single (happily)
    Abortion: pro
    Gun Control: Read the second amendment! It gives the right to own guns to the national guard, not individual citizens! I'm not against all guns, I just don't think it's a constitutionally protected right.
    Environment: I like electricity but wish it wasn't so damaging to produce it.
    Social Programs: Clinton's health care reform would be ideal but failed miserably because it was too complicated.
  • Gender: M
    Age: 24
    Religion: Christian, somewhere between Baptist and Pentacostal
    Stance on Alcohol: I drink, I don't think it is a sin, unless in excess.
    Political Affiliation: Republican, mostly.
    Occupation: Network Administrator/Web Developer (Java, HTML, CGI, etc.)
    Marital Status: Single, currently in "Date around and eliminate the psychos" mode.
    Abortion: The BABY should have a choice in the matter. I think it is horrible that is is used as a birth control method. "Oops! Forgot to make him wrap it up! Guess I'll hit the clinic before I go to the club tomorrow night." Religious/moral considerations aside, the procedure is VERY emotionally and physically damaging to most women.
    Gun Control: Means hitting where you aim! :-) I love guns. I have never shot anyone, and hope I never will have to, but I feel a lot better knowing my S&W is in my nightstand. I have had hunter safety courses, and I'll probably get my concealed carry permit someday.
    Enviornment: I'm all for recycling and reducing pollution, but there is a point where it just gets ridiculous. For example, the paper industry spent something like $11 billion to lower their emissions or some chemical (sorry trying to do this from memory, my Physics prof did contract work for them and was complaining about it one day in class... that was 3 years ago) from like 1 ppm to <100 ppb. The point was it was a ridiculous amount of money to lower something that was already way low.
    Social Programs: I think this should be a responsibility of the churches in a perfect world, but as much as some churches have slacked off... I guess we need something else. However, what we're doing now is screwed up. I think Ol' Dirty Bastard (rapper) went to the welfare office and picked up a check in a limo. He did it to prove a point. I'm of the thought, give a man a fish and he'll bring a friend tomorrow, teach a man to fish, and then he doesn't have an excuse to beg. That sounds a little harsh, but there are too many people abusing the system. Almost everyone can do something. Look at Steven Hawking, he can barely move and he makes mad cash.
    Fav color: Blue. No, yello...aahhhhhhh.... (Monty Python: Search for the Holy Grail) Actually it is green.
    Fav food: Seafood
    Fav Music: I listen to classical, rock, metal, hip hop, Christian rock, almost anything but Country. If I'm singing, I like to sing Swing type music or something jazzy.
    Fav Animal: Wolf
    • Trust your TechnoLust

      Something I've been meaning to ask you. Isn't lust a sin? :)
      • In the literal definition, yes. However in this bastardized English that we use, lust is sometimes used to mean, "want really badly." In other words, I don't want to have sex with computers or technology, I just want the latest and greatest hardware. Like "bloodlust" those Ogres aren't wanting to become intimate, they have a need to spill blood.

        Besides, I've never claimed to be sinless, just forgiven. :-)

      • I have not and will not be put in this position, you are correct, but I have seen this situation more than once, where this was the very attitude of the girl. One of my friends works in a pregnancy crisis center, and she has several girls down there have had 3 or more abortions. I have heard, with my own ears, a girl say, "I hate buying condoms, and [boyfriend's name] hates wearing them, if I get pregnant, I'll just get an abortion." So, no I don't think I'm oversimplifying.

        Is this the attitude every woman that gets an abortion? Absolutely not. Some absolutely hate the idea of doing it, but feel they have no other choice. But I would say the most of the abortions done in the US are simply because it would be an inconvenience to have the baby. I could be wrong, but that's my opinion.

        As for placing the responsibility of birth control on the woman, I didn't do that, society did. I don't think it should be the woman in charge of birth control, it should be the responsibility of both people involved. However, this is not always the case. A lot of guys are insensitive jerks, and are just there for one thing anyway, so what does he care if you are pregnant? You can sure bet if I was a sexually active girl, I would make damn sure he wrapped it up, and I would be on the pill. Girls, you are the supplier of something in demand, that means you get to make the rules. Don't take any of this, "But, honey, I don't like the way it feels," or "Don't you trust me?" Crap. Tell them you don't like the way childbirth feels. If he doesn't care about you enough to buy and use a condom, is he someone you really want to have sex with?

        Girls don't want to be responsible for birth control, but who's body is it going to affect? Yeah, in a perfect world, all guys would be responsible enough to hold themselves accountable for their actions, but the last time I looked this world was far from perfect. If you don't want to get pregnant, don't trust some guy to look out for you, you need to take responsibility.

          • Yes, I've met some girls with a terrible attitude about abortions. That really hurts considering I have 3 female friends who are married who have been told they could not have children and/or have had miscarriages. All three are very active in the church and would consider adoption. Two of these women we have been praying for, and they have both successfuly given birth now. The 3rd is my age, and she isn't ready to have a child yet, but I'm sure when the time is right she will be able to have children, too. It really hurt them to find out that there were women out there who had been able to get pregnant, didn't want the babies, and wouldn't carry them to term and put them up for adoption.

            As for the financial planning, the person is stupid to begin with, because of the risk of disease, but she has that, "it can't happen to me" mentality that a lot of American youth have. She thinks there is no need to worry about it, because she isn't going to get a disease or get pregnant. As far as paying for the abortion, there are groups out there that will help out with that, unfortunately. I can't remember any off hand, but I think someone told me Planned Parenthood would if you were below a certain income, but don't quote me on that, it is just hearsay.

  • Age: 20
    Gender: M
    Religion: [Liberal] Episcopalian
    Politics: libertarian/Classical Liberal
    Occupation: Student
    Marital Status: Single, unattached for several months

  • Gender: F
    Age: 26
    Religion: Atheist
    Political Affiliation: Somewhere between Green and Democrat
    Occupation: Graduate student studying theoretical statistical physics, but going to law school next year.
    Marital Status: Single.

    Abortion: I'd never have an abortion, personally. But I think the real travesty is not that people have abortions, but that things are so shitty right now that there are people that feel that they have no other option. See social programs. If you don't want women to have abortions, don't stigmatize pregnancy. Don't stigmatize single motherhood. Do support programs to make single motherhood easier. Do try and help your friends who are single mothers with the workload. Et cetera. If a girl is raised to believe her life is over when she has a baby, no shit she's going to have an abortion.
    Gun Control: Within reason. Definitely see no need for people to own assault weapons. Personally could never hurt a fly (literally).
    Environment: I try to take a long-term perspective, but also try not to preach. I don't eat (most) meat because I think it's environmentally damaging; I sold my car and bike/take public transit as much as I can, because I think it's better for the environment. But I don't expect you to do the same thing. I try to make as small a footprint as I can on the world by watching what I do, personally. But I'm not going to condemn anyone else for their lifestyle. Politically, I think the environment outweighs inconvenience. If you think the economy will suffer now for environmentalism, imagine what it'll be like if we lose large swaths of arable land.
    Social Programs: I think that if we can help people, we should. In particular, I favor social programs which try to give kids from lower socioeconomic strata a real chance. There aren't many of those out there. I take this to the extent that even if 100% of the welfare users are abusing the system, but if it makes a better life for 1% of their children--go for it. All the way.

    There's a discussion on pictures under daoine's entry. At some point any sufficiently intrepid person could find my home page (my name and affiliation aren't hard to find; I think I've mentioned them in recent posts) so I might as well. This is me. [berkeley.edu]

  • It'd be nice to see a summary of the results (like the median age, religion, etc.). Any volunteers?? :)
  • I'm a white, Irish male, age 27.

    I have no real political affiliation. I believe most of the politicians in our day and age have their own interests in mind before those of their constituents. They all suck equally, and I don't vote. Yeah, I know, weird, but there you have it.

    My stance on abortion is something like this:
    Don't make me choose between my fiance and a child. The child would lose every time. However, as a form of birth control, abortion is not an option. Wrap your wienie. Ladies, take the pill. Pull out! How difficult are these practices?

    I was in the military, so as far as gun control goes, I believe there is no reason to have a fully automatic weapon for personal use. I have several weapons, my mind being the sharpest and deadliest :) Ok, I also have a 410 varmint gun, a couple of .22's (pistol and rifle) and a 30-06. Yeah, I hunt, and fish too. Kind hard to be from the country and not do either of these occupations.

    I am not married, yet. Soon I hope to be. I do know I am the happiest I have ever been, with regards to the dating thing. Yes, I consider myself lucky.

    As far as religion goes, I guess I am a Christian. I don't believe organized religion is for me, nor do I go to church on a regular basis. I believe in God and the golden rule (thank you pre-school).

    I like this topic, and will shoot out a mini rant (Vol III, in stores now!) about a favorite of mine now.

  • Gender: M
    Age: Born in the 50's
    Religion: spiritual... paganish.
    Political Affiliation: Independant. My political philosphy, though, most closely resembles Libertarian.
    Occupation: IT
    Marital Status: Divorced. Now involved in a long term relationship.
    Children: Me: 3, She: 2 - The Brady Bunch of the New Millenium.
    Abortion: Personally, I think it's a bad choice, but it should be a choice.
    Gun Control: Background checks are ok, maybe. But that's about it.
    Social Programs: Not the business of the government.
    Environment: Conservation is good.
        • I think I spelled that correctly. I have my mouse on the right, only because I drink with my left hand, and I usually have a bottle of water or maybe a diet Dr. Pepper while I'm at the computer. We have several lefties at work, and when I go to their PCs I can use the left hand to mouse easily. This usually gets a "I didn't know you were a lefty, too!" reaction, at which point I have to tell them otherwise. The time I've noticed this comes in the most handy is when I'm doing some remodeling or anything requiring a hammer. When I helped my dad build a dock on his lake lot, I used my right hand until my arm/wrist was tired, then I used my left until my right was rested. He had to take a few breaks and thought it was great that I could do it with the other hand. I made him try and he almost missed the 2x6, so we decided it wasn't a good idea to have him hammer like that.
    • err, oops, my bad?

      Heh

      Gender: Since everybody already knows anyways, M
      AgeReligion: Unaffiliated, strong x-stian leanings, believe in God and all that, but err, don't count on me following any one Dogma. :-D I take from everybody, eh.

      Political Affiliation: Mathmatical Moderate. Some extremist right wing, some extreme liberal. Nader rules, otherwise Scorched Earth Party. [armory.com]
      Occupation: Student, IT for spare cash. :-D
      Marital Status: Single

      Abortion: I am for anything that reduced the population. In favor of government mandated abortions for families with two+ children already, then again I am MORE in favor of those couples just doing the responsible thing and not getting pregnant in the first place. . . . (and of course in cases of rape + incest it is just inhumane NOT to have an abortion, forcing a poor woman / child to go through with that. . . . my word. . . .)

      Gun Control: Ask me three months ago, would've said no need for guns, now I say same thing, but am starting to wonder. . . . I do think that they are too accessible though, just any idiot can get to them. Need a higher entrance barrier, like maybe a requirement to mix their own gunpowder or something? :-D

      Enviornment: Without trees, we all die, and that, err, would suck.

      Social Programs: Do whatever is best for the community as a whole, follow proper logical procedure. Help those who need help, and throwing somebody a life raft, a pair of galoshes, and dropping them in the Sahara does NOT constitute teaching them how to fish. . . . (to start seriously mixing metaphors. :-D ) worker retraining programs need some serious retooling before they start to be relied any more. . . .

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