CuriousByNature

My opinion is different than yours.  Erections are physiological responses that can have little to do with attraction.  For example, those who are abused by another guy may experience the physiological response of an erection during the abuse, even though they have no same-sex attraction.  It's part of the reason why many of us who have experienced abuse are left feeling very confused about our orientation.  

I wonder if he does a 4-hand massage with Greg?

My opinion is different than yours.  Erections are physiological responses that can have little to do with attraction.  For example, those who are abused by another guy may experience the physiological response of an erection during the abuse, even though they have no same-sex attraction.  It's part of the reason why many of us who have experienced abuse are left feeling very confused about our orientation.  

My opinion is different than yours.  Erections are physiological responses that can have little to do with attraction.  For example, those who are abused by another guy may experience the physiological response of an erection during the abuse, even though they have no same-sex attraction.  It's part of the reason why many of us who have experienced abuse are left feeling very confused about our orientation.  

She's amazing.  I hope she carries on with the show for many more years, at least until Olivia Benson enters a care home. lol

He constantly apologizes to you during the massage.

He constantly apologizes to you during the massage.

Sex with a condom doesn't count as sex?  That's a new one for me but maybe I'm getting old. 

Depends how kinky he is.

I think it's a really good point you raise about our perspectives being based on the various types of privilege we experience - both those we are aware of and those we might not be aware of at the time.  I understand that many people saw this case as being bigger than an accused person and two fatalities, and that it represented something deeper in their hearts and minds.
But my thoughts keep coming back to the victims and their families.  I can only imagine how painful it must be to lose family members, and then watch as a jury of hundreds of millions of people weigh in on the possible guilt or innocence of the accused.  And then to realize that a majority of people believed in the guilt of the accused, but that many of those were still satisfied with the verdict because of what it meant in a much larger, historical-sociological context.  The context and loss for the Simpson and Goldman families was much more personal, but they were the ones who had to bear the burden of historic wrongs when OJ was acquitted.

I need to find new friends.  I get invited to birthday bashes at Chipotle's and Pizza Hut.

I need to find new friends.  I get invited to birthday bashes at Chipotle's and Pizza Hut.

I think it's a really good point you raise about our perspectives being based on the various types of privilege we experience - both those we are aware of and those we might not be aware of at the time.  I understand that many people saw this case as being bigger than an accused person and two fatalities, and that it represented something deeper in their hearts and minds.
But my thoughts keep coming back to the victims and their families.  I can only imagine how painful it must be to lose family members, and then watch as a jury of hundreds of millions of people weigh in on the possible guilt or innocence of the accused.  And then to realize that a majority of people believed in the guilt of the accused, but that many of those were still satisfied with the verdict because of what it meant in a much larger, historical-sociological context.  The context and loss for the Simpson and Goldman families was much more personal, but they were the ones who had to bear the burden of historic wrongs when OJ was acquitted.

I need to find new friends.  I get invited to birthday bashes at Chipotle's and Pizza Hut.

Moderator comment: the moderators have received a few reports on this thread. Let’s be sure and discuss this topic in a non-political manner, and try and avoid any attacks against other posters or hateful comments.
Moderators are following this topic/thread.

It seems like OJ will always be a polarizing figure.  It was one of the first instances I can recall where a human tragedy became fodder for reality tv sensationalism.  It may have been the beginning of court cases being used for entertainment purposes and the rise of celebrities that are famous for being famous, like the entire Kardashian family.  I see a definite division between the pre-OJ trial tv age and the post-trial age, and I can remember getting sick of seeing it broadcast day in and day out for what seemed like years.  I was glad when it finally came to an end, but it still opened the door for all sorts of reality tv that followed, shows that are premised on the public being looky-loos without the capacity to think objectively about what they are watching.  

It seems like OJ will always be a polarizing figure.  It was one of the first instances I can recall where a human tragedy became fodder for reality tv sensationalism.  It may have been the beginning of court cases being used for entertainment purposes and the rise of celebrities that are famous for being famous, like the entire Kardashian family.  I see a definite division between the pre-OJ trial tv age and the post-trial age, and I can remember getting sick of seeing it broadcast day in and day out for what seemed like years.  I was glad when it finally came to an end, but it still opened the door for all sorts of reality tv that followed, shows that are premised on the public being looky-loos without the capacity to think objectively about what they are watching.  

That sounds hella racist. Blacks? Racial vengeance? What the hell is that? Again, people in the 90s likely hold a different view than now. Just like the George Floyd and even BLM. More Whites are cognitive to injustice than back during those times. 
 
I had an Arab friend get a felony for spray painting racist Chinese slur on his brother’s/sister in law’s (who was Chinese) garage. He got off with no jail time (even though he did spend like a year in jail awaiting to see a judge). 
Sometimes people get too wrapped up in other people’s affairs. I was young when all this broke out, but I remember hating hearing the news about it every fucking day. At the end of the day, it was a family dispute that turned sensational. OJ didn’t go out and kill some person at random. That doesn’t lessen his possible motives, but it shouldn’t have been seen as a race bait by any means. What if the wife and friend were Black, would it make it any less sensational? 
Not to mention, stuff like privilege is how people like Jeffrey Dahmer and the NYC serial killer both got off for a LOOOONG time and killed SEVERAL before finally being taken down. Sometimes one’s ethnicity, or Celebrity status, even wealth is a privilege in itself: 
How Jeffrey Dahmer was able to escape justice for so long
WWW.UNILAD.COM Experts have weighed in on how the serial killer evaded justice. A friend of mine told me the other day: you always seem to go for White guys, maybe that’s why your dating life is rough. I told him, no…I don’t specifically look for White guys. If they want to talk to me, they talk to me. I may reciprocate, but I don’t often initiate. Because I already know, most White guys won’t give Black guys the chance unless they have an affinity for Black guys. Sad but true. But I have seen people of various backgrounds. 

You're missing the deeper, and may I say, profound meaning of photo #2.  Notice how the right foot is angled slightly more outward than the left foot, suggesting he is not a rigid perfectionist and is open to new experiences.  🤣

Even though I am a Christian, perhaps surprisingly to you and others, I agree with much of what you are saying.  However, I don't think 'Christendom' has existed for at least several hundred years, anywhere.  And it never should have in the first place.  It is not about creating an earthly kingdom of 'believers'.  One of the worst things that happened to Christianity was making it a state religion in the late Roman and Byzantine Empires because faith no longer had a personal cost.  People could benefit greatly in this life, and in worldly ways of power and wealth, from simply adhering to the identity of being 'Christian'.  I don't believe that is what the Church was ever supposed to be, nor do I think it reflected the character of Christ.  Rather, I think the Church should have remained an outlier of people (even in the majority) who lived their lives in a way that set them apart from the rest of the world - not becoming the rest of the world.  The accumulation of power, wealth and influence is what led directly, I believe, to the many atrocities the Church has been responsible for.   As for Islam, it has not yet experienced a Reformation or Counter-Reformation, as the Church did.  It would be very interesting if that were to happen, and what the effects could be.
Again, apologies if this response crosses any lines.  I do wish the politics and religion forum could be brought back with strict guidelines that insults and bad behaviour would result in a ban.... but I'm not a Moderator, which many are probably thankful for! 

Perhaps even more than this, I do not think there is any such thing as a 'Christian' country - except perhaps the Vatican.  There are countries with a majority Christian population, but most of these are very secular and humanistic when it comes to both domestic public policy and international affairs.   That said, many churches have changed their views over time with respect to scriptural passages about sexuality and how these should be applied today versus how they were applied in the Middle East two or three thousand years ago.   Sorry if this response has crossed the line and ventured into religion and politics!  Moderators please delete if so desired