Alex J.

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  • in reply to: Large families: none of your business! #35547

    Alex J.
    Participant
    Except that everyone IS being called upon to help support those children. Families get tax breaks for having children which have to be paid for by the rest of society. Depending on the school district, society might be paying up to $100 a day for each child's education. These are public burdens. Then you get into resource consumption. When people talk about overpopulation, they assume the number of people is the problem; it's not. One American uses the same resources as 742 Ethiopians (source: U.S. State Department, 2001). Even a small family is an incredible burden on the world's resources, and a large one is morally indefensible. If these parents truly want to have a large family, they should look into adoption or foster care and turn that loving spirit into something that will help people rather than simply fulfill their selfish desires to pass down their seed.

    User Detail :  

    Name : Alex J., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 17, City : Elkins Park, State : PA Country : United States, Occupation : High School student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 
    in reply to: Is Kabbalah real? #47668

    Alex J.
    Participant
    Kabbalah is a real Jewish belief but not a core one. Nearly all Jews believe that the Hebrew language was given by God to humanity. Because of its holy origins, the language has power. Hence almost all prayers are in Hebrew, the Torah and other parts of the bible are read in Hebrew during ceremonies, and all religious documents are in Hebrew. Here's where Kabbalah diverges. Every letter has a numerical equivalent, but Kabbahlists believe that by understanding the numerological significance of certain words and letters, they can work 'magic' (for lack of a better word). For example, the Hebrew word 'Chai,' made of the letters chet (8) and yud (10) has a value of 18, so 18 is considered a lucky number. Multiples of 18 are considered very fortuitous. Despite this, Kabbalah is not conisdered to be a central tenet of Judaism.

    User Detail :  

    Name : Alex J., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 17, City : Elkins Park, State : PA Country : United States, Occupation : High School student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 
    in reply to: Gothic clothes bugging my parents #15106

    Alex J.
    Participant
    Why are these clothes so important to you? Do you like their uniqueness? Their associations? Do you simply enjoy the cut and color? I am not saying the clothes are unimportant, but before your parents can see there are good reasons to allow you to wear them, you should try and figure out what those reasons are, even if it's as simple as, 'I like them.' Taste can't always be justified, but it will help if you try. After figuring out why you like them, write a letter to your parents explaining why you like these clothes and what being Goth means to you. Be honest. It's all well and good to say, 'My parents don't understand me,' but first you have to try to help them understand. When they understand, they can accept. Then give the letter to your parents. Then talk. Again, be honest. Also, be receptive and willing to compromise. Yes, it's hard and awkward. But I assume you wanted solutions, not platitudes.

    User Detail :  

    Name : Alex J., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 17, City : Elkins Park, State : PA Country : United States, Occupation : High School student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 
    in reply to: Christians and fantasy: what’s the big deal? #35369

    Alex J.
    Participant
    Although I am a large fantasy fan who enjoys fantasy novels, movies and especially role-playing games, I have seen many people take it too far. While most people can recognize that fantasy is just that, there are others who use it as an escape mechanism or who cannot tell the difference between fantasy and reality. For example, many people take Live Action Role Playing (LARP) far too seriously; this is especially dangerous, as the most popular LARP is for a game called "Vampire: The Masquerade." There is a LARP group in Boston, for example, whose members have had their teeth surgically altered so they can 'feed' off each other. While I do not see any danger in fantasy such as Harry Potter, for example, I recommend that parents closely monitor any role-playing in the video games of their children, and recommend even higher that they play these games with their children.

    User Detail :  

    Name : Alex J., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 17, City : Elkins Park, State : PA Country : United States, Occupation : High School student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 
    in reply to: Girls with glasses: what’s the prob? #41449

    Alex J.
    Participant
    I find glasses to be very enticing. They draw attention to the face and highlight the eyes, while also obscuring the face ever so slightly. Given that the face has been repeatedly surveyed as women's most attractive feature, and that the eyes form the focus of the face, it constantly surprises me that more men don't like glasses much. I would suggest the problem is that the frames you have are unbecoming on you. For some reason, whenever you go in for a new prescription, the doctor gives you the drops that make your pupils expand for the next two hours BEFORE you choose frames, and so you can't see very well when selecting said frames. Next time ask to pick out your frames first.

    User Detail :  

    Name : Alex J., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 17, City : Elkins Park, State : PA Country : United States, Occupation : High School student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 
    in reply to: Reverse discrimation unless flipping burgers? #33647

    Alex J.
    Participant
    Actually, while 40 percent of Caucasians believe that reverse discrimination happens in the workplace, only 7 percent claim to have been personally affected by reverse discrimination, and only 25 percent claim to have seen it happen to people they know. (Source: Orlando Patterson, The Ordeal of Integration)

    User Detail :  

    Name : Alex J., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 17, City : Elkins Park, State : PA Country : United States, Occupation : High School student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 
    in reply to: Guys: Whole Truth & Nothing But… #19045

    Alex J.
    Participant
    In regard to 'white lies': I meant to call but I didn't have my phone with me, I can't come to your mother's this weekend because the boss has me working on a special project, I LOVED that movie... These are things we say that range from exxageration to outright lying. I use white lies with women for the same reason I (and most people, including women) use them in everyday life: they don't harm anyone significantly and they make life easier.

    Big lies, on the other hand, I never tell. If there's something so important that I would jeopardize my relationship with someone, my view is that she deserves to hear the reason. However, many men feel big lies are justified in special cases: if the subject being lied about was an accident and will not be repeated (i.e. cheating on someone while drunk), if what happened would be misinterpreted, etc.

    User Detail :  

    Name : Alex J., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 17, City : Elkins Park, State : PA Country : United States, Occupation : High School student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 
    in reply to: Cutting yourself #40383

    Alex J.
    Participant
    About a year ago I began cutting myself on the palm of my hand. I did so for several reasons, the most basic being to prove to myself that I could withstand physical pain so the emotional pain I was in wouldn't matter. After several months of psychiatric treatment I'm all right, but I know a lot people who aren't. If you continue cutting yourself, I cannot urge you enough to see a doctor, or if I can't persuade you of that, at least talk to someone you trust.

    User Detail :  

    Name : Alex J., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 17, City : Elkins Park, State : PA Country : United States, Occupation : High School student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 
    in reply to: Innocent civilians – apparent double-standard? #36093

    Alex J.
    Participant
    The simple answer is that not all Americans are in favor of these actions. Now the in-depth explanation: Despite our claim of being a democracy, we're not. The United States is barely a Republic, but is closer to an oligarchy that must respond to public whim. And the current whim is for revenge. If you study the U.S. newspapers, you see that the politicians are focusing on aspects of the 'war' that do not reflect the human casualties. The country is being presented a view that we are punishing Afghanistan, when in reality we are doing nothing of the kind. I am disgusted at the actions of my government, but until elections I have no way to affect the situation beyond taking part in a few demonstrations.

    User Detail :  

    Name : Alex J., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 17, City : Elkins Park, State : PA Country : United States, Occupation : High School student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 
    in reply to: Am I unapproachable? #26503

    Alex J.
    Participant
    The most significant aspect of being unapproachable is attitude. Are you being shy? Standoffish? Probably, and without meaning to be. You probably lack the experience to respond 'correctly' to attention paid to you, which may put people off-balance. Try being more outgoing. This is the 21st century; you can ask guys out. I also note that at 17 you have two years of college. That probably intimidates guys your age, and your age puts your fellow students on edge.

    User Detail :  

    Name : Alex J., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 17, City : Elkins Park, State : PA Country : United States, Occupation : High School student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 
    in reply to: Worker’s rights and Americans #36923

    Alex J.
    Participant
    The issue is more than one of workers' rights; it's the entire capitalistic outlook. First, American tradition has been pure capitalism. Social Security was not introduced until the 1930s, and even then it only kicked in at age 65; people had a life expectancy back then of 67. Nor was it intended to be a primary source of income, but an income supplement. People were expected to work their entire lives and retire only if they could provide for themselves. Likewise, vacations were reserved for people who could afford them. The American outlook has been that you're not worth anything if you aren't rich, and if you aren't rich, that's because you aren't good enough to be rich. Thus, sadly, everything you've said about America is true. Lately, this has become a near-national crisis as the country divides over who should take care of the sick and elderly.

    User Detail :  

    Name : Alex J., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 17, City : Elkins Park, State : PA Country : United States, Occupation : High School student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 
    in reply to: The truth about stereotypes #34808

    Alex J.
    Participant
    Southerners have a reputation for being racists because much of the Southern economy required slave labor. Any ideals which justified slave labor were bound to be accepted. In reality, Pennsylvania has the most hate groups of any state. Jews are known for being stingy because they have historically been the money-lenders and bankers of Europe. This is not due to the culture but anti-semitism. During the Middle Ages, Jews were not permitted to own land nor to act as serfs. Because the Old Testament prohibits Jews from lending to Jews, and thus Christians to Christians, Christian governments encouraged Jews to become money-lenders and merchants, both vital roles in a strong economy. Furthermore, Amsterdam was one of the most religiously tolerant cities of the Middle Ages and was the banking capital of Europe (the Dutch Guilder was the mark by which all value was compared to for many centuries, succeeded by the British Pound, succeeded by the American Dollar). Asians are currently regarded as being studious because immigrant families from poverty have almost always forced their children to be studious (i.e. the Jewish immigrants of the 1930's). Asians are simply the latest flood of immigrants. It is human nature to generalize because until we know people as individuals we have little else to go on but what we know of their culture.

    User Detail :  

    Name : Alex J., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 17, City : Elkins Park, State : PA Country : United States, Occupation : High School student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 
    in reply to: These kids today… #45708

    Alex J.
    Participant
    The problem goes beyond kids not respecting parents. It is parents not deserving respect. Or rather, not parents, but elder generations in general. How can parents be role models for us if they are never there? And worse is when they ARE there. If you want to see the 'role models' parents provide, go to an elementary school during drop-off hours in the morning. Watch parents cursing each other, cursing other parents' children, having accidents and leaving without accepting responsibility. Or, watch a little league game or any other competition for children where parents are present. My parents have always behaved in a respectable manner, and so I accord them a great deal of respect, more so than they deserve, perhaps, simply because they are so far above other adults.

    There are two ways kids, especially suburban kids, are raised today: One is where the parents more or less leave the kid to fend for himself while they work 12 hours a day. In this instance the child has no reason to develop respect for the parent. In the other, the parents are involved in the child's life, and the child is taught to respect people based on merit, not trivial matters (i.e. age), in which case while the parents most likely will be respected, few other adults will. Rather than ask why so many kids do not respect their elders, ask why so few elders deserve their respect.

    User Detail :  

    Name : Alex J., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 17, City : Elkins Park, State : PA Country : United States, Occupation : High School student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 
    in reply to: Beyond a woman’s physical attraction #13907

    Alex J.
    Participant
    This is your fault. Every woman I know who complains of this has several traits in common:
    1) Limited contact. You're 26, so chances are you're not in school. You won't be meeting any men there. You don't sound happy, so I'd wager you're not in a job you like, so any men you meet there you probably can't relate to. Now, where do you meet men? The men who can relate to women do not hang out in the following places: bars, dance clubs, etc. You may meet some at the gym, but odds are they're not the ones flexing in front of the mirrors.
    2) Dumb standards. Women complain about men being superficial, but you are just as bad (if not worse because you're hypocrites) as we are. You're not going to find a man who can relate if you only speak to men with nice butts. I don't mean purely physical ones, either. A man who spends all his time watching French cinema isn't demonstrating emotional depth; he's demonstrating an appreciation for French cinema.
    3) Just friends. This is the most common pattern I see women with similar complaints follow: Meet man. Relate to man. Become good friends with man. Act shocked and surprised when man likes you. Insist on being just friends to keep from losing man's friendship. Avoid man because being with a friend who likes you is 'too weird.' Lose friend.
    I suggest developing a hobby and joining a community group that sponsors it (i.e. rock-climbing, book discussion, etc.).

    User Detail :  

    Name : Alex J., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 17, City : Elkins Park, State : PA Country : United States, Occupation : High School student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 
    in reply to: Americans vs. Europeans #43337

    Alex J.
    Participant
    There are several factors, the foremost being American tradition, namely, Puritan roots. The Puritans were the original Americans and so set the standards for accepted behavior, especially in regard to sexuality and alcohol. Both of these became ways to rebel against that mindset, and so America has always been facinated by, and expressed strong opinions on, both. The 'usual' seems to be we're facinated by sex but won't talk about it, encourage drinking by almost everyone but condemn drunkenness. I submit, as further examples, the sheer number of sexually enticing ads and at the same time the large number of sexual harrassment suits (not unwarranted). On the other hand, when I was in Europe this summer, although able to drink, I felt no particularly strong inclination to do so. Europe has accepted sex and alcohol as an ordinary part of life.

    User Detail :  

    Name : Alex J., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 17, City : Elkins Park, State : PA Country : United States, Occupation : High School student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 
Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 20 total)