Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially history!!

[TroutBum]

I didn't feel that my personal baggage really represented who I am and it didn't make me happy, so I had it removed. Now I only use Samsonite for my personal baggage.

I was way off.

 

[Deleted member 365]

I deleted my most recent posts. I made the mistake of bringing my personal baggage into this thread.

When haven't you brought personal baggage into a thread?

And I'm not trying to be a jerk. It's a serious question that perhaps causes you to reflect. Plus, I'm actually real interested in your answer. Could you provide a post where you didn't bring personal baggage in the thread?

 

[Archie Moses]

This thread is gold. It shows how amazing people are while on the web.

 

[Deleted member 365]

This thread is gold. It shows how amazing people are while on the web.

What do yo mean?

 

[Deleted member 365]

Love the sinner, hate the sin

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

<cues Goodbye Horses>

 

[moevillini]

actually I think most of us carry our personal baggage where ever we go...

and honestly, watch the tendency to over-generalize, Katie may bring her "personal baggage" into topics related to this particular issue, but her posts in other topics are "baggage free"

 

[One Brow]

Just from knowing a few soldiers and knowing their opinions. I am okay with getting rid of don't ask, don't tell and I hope I am wrong and there aren't any incidents. I guess we'll see.

I don't think any of them were alive, much less serving, during integration in the 1940s-50s. So, how do they know what they are comparing it to? Are they military historians?

 

[One Brow]

Transport yourself back in time to just before racial integration of the armies and ask yourself, "What's the big deal here? Why can't these guys who *want* to serve in the army be allowed to do so?

It wasn't even that bad. They were allowed to serve, but only in segregated units, and because some specialties were not numerous enough to allow segregated units, those specialties were not open to heavily pigmented people. The recent treatment differences in DADT are far worse.

 

[One Brow]

if being gay was genetic or whatever wouldnt the gay gene be extinct by now? its just a choice. easy peasy

You fail biology.

1) There are three or four different evolutionary mechanisms that could ensure the continued existence of gay people even though they do not reproduce. ONe of the recently defened mechanisms is sexually antagonistic selection.

2) There are some 15-20 biological differences between gay and straight men.

3) There is much time and much development between "gene" and "choice".

 

[One Brow]

also if homosexuality isnt a choice. pedophilia isnt either.

That may be true. There are studies that pedophilia is also not a choice.

However, any act of pedophilia involves a partner not capable of forming consent, and is thus an act of rape. Homosexuality does not bear that burden. soit's easy to explain why a government would ban acts of pedophilia. You need to explain why they should not recognize homosexual marriages.

 

[One Brow]

so what is different between a "pedophile" from germany who has a 14 year old girlfriend. is that relationship wrong?

Unless the girl's development has been considerably delayed, by the age of 14 she will have entered puberty, so the result is no longer pedophilia (the term hebephilia has been used for men who focus only on young teens).

I think 14 is probably too young for the age of consent, at least with an adult. Again, even if the desire is not a choice (this is harder to argue for hebephiles, since they are attracted to signs of sexual maturity), the partner does not have the capability to form consent at 14.