Sanzon

Sorry folks, I accidentally deleted this post while trying to quote it!

WWROA, the fact that you are still laughing about this issue is another testament to your character. You can think what you like, and hold whatever opinions you care to, no problem there. Its in the delivery. One reference to make each of your points, sure. 100 references and I am thinking there is some serious fucking issues going on here. I dont know you. You may have a very human reason for feeling as you do. For example, your brother may have been sexually & violently abused as a child by an adult male, and 20 years later committed suicide by throwing himself off a cliff as you were standing next to him trying to reassure him & reason with him not to. As a result, the feelings and input you have presented here have their basis in that experience. I would feel great compassion & empathy towards you, even with your posts, if that were the case. You dont know me either, though I, or any other member, for example, may be gay and suffered lifelong ostracising from my family and the society I live in & also suffered brutal violence as a consequence of this predisposition at the hands of people who think similar ideas as you do. As a result, I may take great offence to your posts, and percieve your "statement of facts" as hate speech. I may simply be an average Joe in an average life, and read your posts & think you have an enormous amount of hatred to be able to present 100 references about the negative aspects of homosexuality, while none supporting or embracing it. Here is a fact worth considering. You are probably surrounded by LGBTI people & just dont know it. You have probably been influenced by the ideas, ideals & philosophy of LGBTI people & just dont know it. You probably like & have been entertained by LGBTI people & just dont know it. While the Kinsey report is dated, its notions still stand. 37% of males have had at least one instance of same-sex experience to orgasm http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/research/ak-data.html#homosexuality. A surfing magazine here took a poll a few years back, & with the readership being teens & upward, 10% responded as having had, currently having, or being open to same sex experience. My point? Its pretty common & normal human behaviour from my perspective, whether you are comfortable with it or not. I pray this information doesnt make you paranoid, and humour tells me that if this is the case, you better watch your backside. Its just a quick google search as opposed to your dedicated efforts in researching your ideas, but here is a start on realising how LGBTI people may have influenced many areas of your life, without you knowing it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_gay,_lesbian_or_bisexual_people My point? Look at how diverse this range of people is. Sexual orientation is one of a million facets of a human being & their inclinations. Some of these people have been very influential in society and have achieved high levels of attainment in their fields. The issues here for me are human rights & inclusiveness, and to include a positive spin on your posts & references, social & public health. Please feel free to comment. For the record, and as encouragement and solidarity to all LGBTI people, the statement below is where I stand. It is an exciting time in history, and like the civil rights movements, I look forward to seeing perpectives, laws and attitudes in society change within my lifetime.

I am on another forum where clubs within the forum can be formed. Perhaps this is a possibility with your friends list.

Ok, if you find it easier due to terminology, a gay secular marriage then. Look, I am giving you a hard time here. It's ok to say no, you're not into it. You don't have to be. I am giving you a hard time because you have posted 100 references to make your point, which I for one am still not exactly clear on. I have done a Masters degree & pulled apart my fair share of research, methodology & data analysis. You have challenged others to prove you wrong, & I ask, out of your own integrity, have you personally analysed all the research and made objective comparisons with other research, contradictory findings & anomalies? Perhaps you have just searched for and found research to back up your own perspectives. I am not up for the task personally. Some interesting points sure, but the context it has been presented in has been challenging to say the least. Keep posting if youre up for further exploration of this topic. It is good though to work it all through to separate & clarify what are the issues for you minus the negativity. Signing out for now. Skyrim calls.

I dont believe religious organizations own the term marriage. It is a legal commitment, most commonly brought about by two peoples love & commitment to one another. Sure civil unions are ok by you, but what about marriage?

No, marriage in the legal lawful sense. There is a video I posted in the other thread titled "It Could Happen To You" that outlines logistical reasons for marriage in gay relationships. However leaving aside the religious overtones of marriage, it being an affirmation of commitment between two people, and encouraging commitment between two gay men, for example, by making the notion mainstream, and thus having an influence on the level of promiscuity between gay men. Your previous post makes me think this would be a next step in your line of thinking. I am taking a leap of faith here, to excuse the pun.

Would it be an assumption of me then to say you sound like a possible candidate for supporting gay marriage? That legitimizing gay relationships may lead to less promiscuity thus making steps towards a solution to the problem you have presented?

I haven't read your sources & references. You may convince me by stating why is your objective of posting them. Is it to slight all the gay population, or to say that promiscuity is the issue and just happens to be male related by percentage, or perhaps something different?

It's more about bias & delivery from my perspective. Skewed biases shift the context away from what the underlying issues may be. If you have consciously or inadvertently quoted from a site deemed a "hate group", the message presented is a negative one, rather than one based on an understanding of the humanity behind the situation. I can't be more neutral or fairer in my response toward your posts or the intent behind your posts.

Well, I for one, find Aaron's last thread to have nailed the issue here. Just my opinion. I find Seth to be championing a worthwhile cause with personal integrity & honour. Again, just my opinion. However, I have noticed you taking issue with Aaron across the board. I would be ignoring your efforts to engage if I was him too. Again, just my opinion.

Well, if you have something going for Aaron, positive or negative, try a personal message perhaps.

Dude, I think if this thread had an air of acceptance, warm & welcoming sentiments, you might have more luck in asking people who identify with LGBTI to identify themselves to you to make a "legitimate" comment. If you think that one person who is gay can speak for all that are gay, you may be mistaken as well. The term does not apply to a group of people with like minds, but a group of people who share the same sexual orientation, and may be diverse in very other aspect. Just my opinion.

Is this question even relevant?

Being new to TTB & Taoist practice, I would like to hear people's takes on immortality, it's meanings, variations & applications. What types of immortality are there and what different types of immortals are there? Thanks.

Acceptance is possibly only a generation away. https://images.nonexiste.net/popular/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/The-Incredibly-Trauma-That-Will-Happen-When-You-Explain-Homosexuality-to-a-Child.jpeg

I've heard of people sitting on their heel to put pressure against their sphincter, which may inhibit the muscle from contracting.

Sorry mate, I left the Shivering Isles for Skyrim. Currently having a split personality reassessment after realizing the leader of the Greybeards was a dragon....

An education regarding gay marriage/marriage equality, and the reasons why it is as much about equal rights as it is about shared love & commitment between two human beings.

It would be great to hear the perspective of a practitioner of magick on how their system might address some of the topics raised.

Does anyone have any references to a central downward channel within the core of the sushumna?

"If it be for the good of all" Good point cat. I have held a position of caution with magic & ritual, thinking it would lead to entanglement in the fabric of creation if not done with clean intent (and lets face it, even non magical good intent by someone towards another can be seen as meddlesome interference by the other). I was given a grimoire for my 15th birthday, and with the wisdom held by an average everyday 15 year old, used it for less than honorable purposes, revenge, influencing women, etc. I certainly feared karma would bounce back at me, but more so, was never sure I freed myself of entanglements there.BTW I ended up in the healing profession. I would love to hear more on this topic.

I stumbled across this today, havent watched it, but it was topic related... http://thetaobums.com/topic/23882-the-science-of-sex-appeal/?hl=laugh#entry343785

Nine failed fox, I can remember buying a pheromone scented perfume when I was young to do what you are asking, before I was able to actually talk to girls. Like they are saying above, there is no short cut to being real, and learning how to relate to others well. That way you get to sort through those who you connect with & those that you don't, those who work well with your personal style & those that don't. Grow as you gain experience and remember that like trees, slow growth is strong growth too.

Showing genuine interest in the other person often makes you more appealing to them, meaning that you genuinely find them and what they talk about interesting. Being open & conversational about yourself also helps. Add a dash of bantering humour for a basic recipe to connecting & relating.