Society

[Mavsfan911]

My town is so small there is no gays, lesbians, transsexuals, so I've hardly ever spent any time around people like that. I know lots of racists, anti-gays, etc, and they piss me off. I have no problems with gays, lesbians, etc, but I dont know how I would react if I was suddenly surrounded by them, like if there was suddenly a large number of them in my school. A lot of people in my school have problems with gays, and I've never heard anyone say "there is nothing wrong with gays", so it'd be weird to suddenly have a large number of them in my presence all the time.
But the thing that pisses me off above all is the people who have the bloody nerve to taunt handicapped people. Since my older brother has autism, I've seen plenty of it. Small towns are better, since everyone cares for each other, but I absolutely can't control myself when I see it.
Now that I read this again, it makes little sense. If I offended anyone, sorry. Just stating the situation I've always been in.
I'm not even sure if this is what this topic is about

[The Hunter]

No gays, lesbians etc in your town? A lot of racists anti-gays and other weirdo's?
Hell, If I were gay there I'd deny it too.

As for suddenly being surrounded by gays all of a sudden: Ever been to a gay bar? I have have. Been on vacation to puerto vallarta (Wors mistake in my wholke life) met 2 gay americans there. Went to a gay bar and really had lots of fun. (Apart from the obvious looks from nearly everyone and even the being grabbed in the nuts at the toilet there).
Even watched the stripshows. Damn, my roomie enjoyed herself.

[Pirog]

Our society (especially the netherlands and scandinavian country's) have been trying to get rid of those outdated social structures. Our modern defenition of "enlightenment" is too see all people as equals, no matter what race, religion, sex etc etc.
So yeah, we've got a long way before us as it stands now, with all the intolerance.

Yes, nowdays the whole concept of enlightenment is dead, but it takes a very long time to change peoples perspectives.
I embrace the post-modern perspective...it's truly beautiful!

Small towns are better, since everyone cares for each other, but I absolutely can't control myself when I see it.

Actually, I would say it is the opposite.
As long as you play along the norms and don't stand out a small town is great, but people who "stand out" have it much easier in larger towns of the simple reason that the large population makes them stand out less...and of course there are more of "their kind" there.

[Mavsfan911]

Everyone knows each other, they're used to each other, no one is a stranger. That's why they are better. Well, that's how it's been for me.

[Pirog]

Everyone knows each other, they're used to each other, no one is a stranger. That's why they are better. Well, that's how it's been for me.

But such a society can be very hard to take if you are homosexual, have a different skin color, dress or behave in ways that no other people in town does. If someone breaks off from the community there is a risk that they become outsiders, and then they stand totally alone.

In a large town where people don't know each other and people are used to seeing strange people the pressure isn't as hard.

[The Hunter]

Yay to offtopicness.

Abt the town/city discussion: There's cityfolks and townsfolks, it's a matter of preference really since they both have their pro's and con's.

But I agree with Pirog. As someone standing out life could be harsh.
And i still don't believe the "No gays, lesbo's etc in our town", unless they all left for the city. (Chased away maybe? Lynched?)

[Pirog]

There's cityfolks and townsfolks, it's a matter of preference really since they both have their pro's and con's.

Oh, absolutely. For someone who doesn't stand out small towns can be great, since you more often know "your place". In large cities life can become very anonymous...and that is not good.

Oh, and as for revealing secrets...it isn't a big one, or even a secret, but I have always had a very exotistic streak. Those african and latino women are just so incredibly beautiful!
That isn't a big thing at all, but if I lived in Hickville in the southern parts of USA it might have been

See...now I have shared too. Feel the bond to me people...

[Chrissy]

I have no problems with gays, lesbians, etc, but I dont know how I would react if I was suddenly surrounded by them, like if there was suddenly a large number of them in my school.

Imagine it being like you were sitting in a class with all brown haired people. Or all blonde. Or all red. A persons sexuality is genetic and pre-determined.

Remember all humans at one time believed the world was flat. Racism is kind of like that. God created all of us. He knows we're all different. The idea that one human would not like another human because of a genetic differance is insane and defies the laws of common sense. Racism is a completly made up human belief that has been passed on generation to generation and is not accurate. All it takes is for one person at a time to break the mold. Break the theory that the word is flat, for this generation.

[Jos Elkink]

In large cities life can become very anonymous...and that is not good.

That's exactly why I like them ... I prefer much more to be living in some big anonymous city, than in a small town where I always feel watched by people. I like to choose my own friends and people I want to be close to, and I do - don't worry , but I don't like to be close to all people around me. Of course, that's just a personal thing.

I do agree that if you stand out, life in a big city is much easier. I'm gay, and although I have never experienced any discrimination or something, and people are relatively open-minded in the Netherlands even in small towns, I still strongly prefer big cities because there are at least loads of other gays and lesbians. Just more interesting when you go to clubs or something ...

But again, I think I would have liked big cities better anyway ... They give energy, whereas countryside is more like ... relaxing ... I think.

[Pirog]

Haha, I know...I was just trying to be nice to the small town folks

Gothenburg is by no means a large city, but I would have a horrible time living in a real small town...they are great for vaccations though.

[SekoETC]

persons sexuality is genetic and pre-determined.

I disagree. Experiences in life, especially in childhood, can mean a lot. It's proved by research that boys grewn without a father are more feminine than the one's who had a father. That doesn't mean they are homosexual but they may be more likely to grow up in that direction. If a girl is beaten by her father, she may either start hating all men and turn into a very feminine lesbian or then she may pick him as a rolemodel and become a mannish dyke, or then she can live trough it thinking not all men are like that and learn to love some of them. (Note! this was just an example, I have not been beaten by my father - getting spanked for playing the piano with my toes doesn't count.) It would be safe to think that everything is caused 50% by the genes and 50% outside experience.

It seems quite clear that my sexuality is unclear and fragile because I was verbally insulted in my puberty, making me hate looking like a woman. But no one will ever know what things would be like if people would have been all friendly towards me.

[The Industriallist]

Saying that something is 50-50 is claiming a great deal of knowledge about it. It's saying much less to claim that it is 'mostly' attributable to some one factor.

(a note from your annoying math consultant)

[The Hunter]

Well, since no one can prove otherwise, her guess is as good as anyones.
But yeah, I agree, it can't be just genetically determined. The "criminal gene" hasn't been found yet either.

Ow... I read something about racists here. Hereby I proudly announce myself a racist. Yup.
No racism gene can be blamed for that, tis just my opinion, based on experiences, heresay and hard facts.
There. I found a vice.

(Now I really want to hear other ppls vices as asked for by Trage, instead of chatting about cities, genes and math).

[Pirog]

Ow... I read something about racists here. Hereby I proudly announce myself a racist. Yup.

Please tell me that was a bad joke...from the political topics you sound like a intelligent person, but that and racism can't be combined.

[The Industriallist]

Er, if we're going to discuss racism, let's be precise, at least. If an opinion is based (in a logically valid manner) on 'hard facts', can it me racist?
Does our definition of racism require it to be unsound?

(Note: I myself do not argue that there are any practical differences between people of different races. Actually, I guess I do, for some value of races, since most or all come with some genetic baggage other than surface appearance. But I won't say that there are or are not ('race' related) genetic differences relating to mental function, say. There could be, but to my knowledge none have been discovered. And chances are that they all assort (more or less) seperately from the genes controling appearance that are used to define race. This does not constitute racism (does it?), just the actual facts of genetics)

That immense parenthetical note said, 'hearsay' and experiences filtered through any sort of preconditioning are the prime (or only?) sources of the unfounded racism that warrents Pirog's response.

Or was it a bad joke?

I don't think I have any 'little secrets'. Well, I don't think democracy is viable with modern humans, but that wasn't the kind you meant, was it.