Posts made by Dene

@raphjd:

No one has asked anyone here to apologise for the violence that someone else did.

All that has been asked is that liberals condemn the violence.

Violence is almost always wrong, especially when it's used to prevent the human rights of others, such as free speech.

Sorry - I know you didn't say apologies were needed. I was sort of on a train of thought there.

And yes, getting violent to prevent free speech, or in retaliation for someone peacefully exercising that right, or using free speech as an excuse to be violent is just counter productive, in my opinion.

Hey Guys

I need you all to take a second and send good vibes and cross your fingers for me

I am going for a very well paid dream job tomorrow - got head hunted for an interview but not for the actual job - If I get the job, I will donate part of my first pay LOL

Thanks!

Dene

left/right/up/down - Condoning/accepting ANY sort of violence is abhorrent to me - I am starting to think that people, in general, seem to think that standing up to others has to include violence. People who do not resort to violence, seem to have a stigma put on them, like they are somehow weak.. which is sad.  There are a million ways to protest things that are not violent. I do not even believe those that say violence is a last resort or any such nonsense.

Self Defence is the only way I can see physical altercation being ok.. as in if they hit you and you need to hit back to defend yourself or loved ones etc

Attacking people - verbally or physically in disagreement is too easy to do these days and Politics seems to bring out the worst in people. Emotions create attack and defence modes in people that are just scary - I have been part of that and seen it way too often, most recently on the internet.

I will not apologise for violence I was not responsible for or was inflicted by people I do not know at all. Just because I may sometimes share their political beliefs that doesn't suddenly mean they are miraculously forgiven for doing it or that I would do the same thing or condone it.

I know that some history buffs may point certain things out to me, where violence meant a group or groups got heard etc - but at what cost ?

In Australia - A standard contract between two people, will never replace or can be seen as a marriage contract and no standard contract can ever give benefits as a marriage contract could, even with tons of legal advice, money and loop-holing. Some aspects can be delivered e.g POAs or a Will etc.

In fact, in Australia it is actually a law that all celebrants must state that, as part of a legal obligation, that "marriage is between a man and a woman", as part of any wedding ceremony. This was brought in in 2004 as some states were contemplating going rogue and were going for the legalising of gay marriage & our prime minister at the time was opposed.

Some people have been known to add to their vows that they do not agree etc - most people/guests just see it as a legal thing and do not assume the couple agrees

@kaeyresky:

i just kind of see this confederate flag thing as the result of bad apples spoiling the whole bunch

there are people who use the flag as a symbol of their traditions, sure. there are also people who use the flag as a symbol of hate, racism, or in protest against America. Since I'm not going to go and ask everyone with the flag their intentions, it just leaves a "maybe" in my head about the people who own it.

to me the symbol isn't worth all the negative association connected to it. southern tradition is rich and I don't see the necessity of a flag to symbolize it or any other culture for that matter.

and I don't really consider it erasing history. I don't think many people are out there asking for the flag to be removed from history textbooks or databases. The swastika is arguably a much more offensive symbol and we don't go and see it waved all over the place anymore- that doesn't mean we forgot it. Most people know what a swastika is.

This is how i see it

A symbol used by a minority in a really awful way, that now has tainted any positive light that the flag, could have had -

It reminds me of some small minorities anger over the use of the rainbow and the word gay for gay/lesbian pride
In fact - some people see the rainbow flag in the same way - as tainted

I am of the belief he should have been fired a long time ago. My concern is that we will simply get a puppet in his place that will do no better.

(on a sidenote - in the spirit of  polite and civil discussion, can you call liberals, liberals. libtards is just rude - you have said it like 5 times in your last 3 posts - I know things can get heated in here but I do not think it is a huge ask, for both sides, to be civil.. people seem to be so rude to eachother in this section - no matter their political inclination)

@DCLXVI:

Call Me by Your Name (2017) - 8.2/10
Summer of 1983, Northern Italy. An American-Italian is enamored by an American student who comes to study and live with his family. Together they share an unforgettable summer full of music, food, and romance that will forever change them. (from IMDb)

Opinions? I've yet to read the book, but I'm quite hyped for this film.

I think I saw a trailer of it a couple of months ago.. looks very good imo

@antstorm:

go and download all the Pansy Division albums , every song is about gay life , however Pansy division are an actual band that play instruments and dont sound like cher ..so be aware that it is indie Seattle rock

I discovered these guys because of the game "coming out on top" LOL

I think it fluctuates and i think that the on the internet that a lot of people are gaining voices to discuss politics

The way i see it, in politics/elections anyway, is that 20% of most countries' population are strong liberal and then 20% are strong conservative. the other 60% are varying degrees of it and are mostly centre. The 60% are usually very quiet and they are the ones that have the most power. The 40% are very strong in their beliefs and they are the most vocal. The internet arriving made both sides more visible and the 40% is all the political arguments etc you see

It becomes situational on where the 60% go - depending on the hot topic of the said election or poll - that is why it is very rare to see an election or poll be 80% to 20% etc- it is always steady at 60-40 or closer - especially when it is a "hot" topic

Congrats on the 35 yesars!

and Happy Birthday - you are both spring chickens still! lol

Welcome! Hope you have a blast!

Australia here - but 2 best friends used to live in SF Bay Area - Love it there

I would have been caught in 2.5 secs - our classes were like 20/30 kids, pretty well separated and anything like that would have been way too obvious lol

@Higgs:

I'm a bit sick of the idea that gay people have no choice at all about what we do, as though we're some sort of animal or automaton that just acts out of blind unthinking instinct. Let's be quite clear: we do have quite a bit of choice.

We do not have any choice over who we are attracted to.

We do (normally) have complete control over how we act on our attractions.

We do not have any choice over who we fall in love with.

We do (normally) have complete control over what kinds of relationships we form.

We do not have much control over the way sexuality and 'sexual orientation' are constructed in the culture and the historical moment in which we happen to live.

We do have some control over what sexuality we choose to identify with and how we choose to project that identity.

So let's stop it with this "we don't choose to be gay" bollocks. This is true only in one sense: in the narrow sense of individual attraction.  In many other ways, it turns out we have a fair bit of choice after all.

"We do not have any choice over who we are attracted to." - that is the point of ""we don't choose to be gay" - i am aware that what we do re : how we act etc is all choice but the ""we don't choose to be gay" phrase is simply "i did not choose my attraction to the same sex" - which you, rightly, pointed out is not something you can choose

I am a man attracted to men not women.. the rest is always a choice, in any sexuality.. I didn't choose to be a man solely attracted to men

I think, for me, it is too focused on.. not that i have never done it or never will.. but I just don't see it as the big finale that seems so ingrained in people's heads

The connection I need to feel with someone for that level of intimacy is something I would find very rarely

I kinda like it but, yes, I think it is one of those categories that is open to many "variations" and some filmmakers automatically just assume if they look 5+ years in age difference then all is settled.. imo that is not the case

@cannonmc:

I think perhaps you are taking the description a touch literally.

When you see an actor dressed as a policeman or jail guard it doesn't mean that is their day job.

So 'dad son' is only an indication of the relative ages, not the relatives.

WHAT???

That isn't a real fireman??? NOT a real Cop??

I HAVE BEEN DUPED !!!!
;D

@portboii:

Defo Silence of the lambs.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre original and remake.
I also loved The Blair witch project, first time i saw it.
As for psychological thriller, as a kid i was obsessed with Flowers in the attic

OMG - Flowers In The Attic!!! The books & the film - so epic

@kalayaan:

@JerodParker:

Um, which of these would you recommend?

I'm actually not after indie type gay movies because it might end up being a tragedy or depressing.  I figure action would be good fun and would be easier to see muscle guys, haha. And maybe some cute moments without being too camp.

Donald Strachey's quadrilogy based on Richard Stevenson's book
Third Man Out (2005)
Shock to the System (2006)
On the Other Hand, Death (2008)
Ice Blues (2008)

I can genuinely say I loved all 4 of these films and highly recommend them.. Sebastian Spence, as the boyfriend (Tim Callahan) was so well done

@kalayaan:

There are "action" movies that have gay lead characters. The quality of these films will depend on individual preference.

Donald Strachey's quadrilogy based on Richard Stevenson's book
Third Man Out (2005)
Shock to the System (2006)
On the Other Hand, Death (2008)
Ice Blues (2008)

In the Flesh (1998)
Hard (1998)
2 Minutes Later (2007)
Kiss Me Deadly (2008)
Aaron… Albeit a Sex Hero (2009)
Burning Blue (2013)
Naked Dragon (2014)

ok.. i owe you cookies.. like LOTS of cookies

I had no idea that naked Dragon by GA Hauser was made in to a film.. My fear is that it will impress me as much as capital games LOL (was not greatly impressed by that lol )

@brianboru72:

@Dene:

I STILL haven't seen that - I have not seen a horror movie in a lonnggg time…my mind set is very much sticking to very intellectual things now.. like DC Universe cartoons and a lot of badly acted gay theme films LOL

You have got to watch The Mist! Just be prepared with some nice DC film to take the edge off after. Have you seen Justice League: Dark? That was pretty good and tons of fun! Have it on after watching Mist. You'll need it.  :laugh:

Besides, there's also going to be a Mist TV series coming- and it looks REALLY good too! Be sure to watch the movie first.
Youtube Video

I count Justice League: Dark as one of my favs so far… and will do re : Mist