h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"Many fathers died in WW2. I don't recall anyone bemoaning the lives of those children a decade later! "
Listen to The Wall the album/opera by Pink Floyd

I personally take great pleasure in giving pleasure to others. Who says I need to have sex with them to do so?

I am a child in a single-parent family, and we live on the brink of financial collapse. My step-family were, for the most part, abusive, and I was subjected to abuse that certainly counts as illegal at their hands. I was almost driven to suicide. It was at their hands that some of my less savoury mental aspects came to medical attention - paranoid delusions and depression among them.

Yes, that's only my experience. I simply wish to point out that it differs significantly. I have some studies somewhere that I'll look out in the future to demonstrate this more adequately.

And I would rather my mother waited until she had the right man and was in a stable situation. She had a future until I was born, when she was only 16. My biological father couldn't cope, and I have never met the man. He took no responsibility in raising me.

And I recall just such regrets concerning children being voiced a number of times into my education - during primary school history, English when reading through 'Carrie's War,' and in Social Studies when analysing the effects of the war. (In fact, there were many more children born - complete with fathers - afterwards; haven't you heard of the 'Baby Boom'? )

- Jordan

glad to know that you are now though

Re: abortion etc

Not long ago a 12-year-old girl became pregnant and wanted to keep the baby.

The Catholic Church stepped in to give adequate financial and practical support so that she was able to be sucessful in that choice.

And the media slated the CC for its attitude. Apparently the girl should have been encouraged to kill the unborn child...

What's gowin' on with this world?

Bod

"Would you rather not have been born than not have a biological father around?"

Philosophically difficult, as when comparing existence with non-existence, where is the common agent in each case who is able to consider a preference between the two?

Anthea: Yep, I'll be hickory-dory, if I just get a bit of sleep...

Bod: Intriguing! It's not totally unexpected, though. The Catholic Church, it appears, can do no right in the eyes of the media.

- Jordan

Bod
We didn't get to hear how this 12 year old got into such a situation.
Perhaps a 12 year old is way too young to make the choice of what she should do.
but I'd say if the CC were offering a choice then that was alright, if they were being controlling then not so much

Weren't the media trying to /limit/ her choices?

- Jordan

In that case, Bod: presumably you don't know whether you would rather be alive or dead!

"I am a child in a single-parent family,"
jordan
you're now an adult ?

Muzaakboy, my guess is,that one of those seven countries is the USA, correct?

Way too much information, toxxin! (I come from a family of girls - okay,we had a brother but he was way younger (still is younger than me, for that matter!))
Yes, I was married and I have sons, but there's still a lot I don't know...

Hi Della. Did you type the wrong name? Don't see how your message applies to me.

Thanks for your enquiry, Alji, but the main problem in NZ seems to be *humidity*! The embarassing old cliche about knowing when it's going to rain is true!'I feel it in my old bones' (cackle, hee hee hee)

Erm...morning erections, that's what I was referring to. Myabe I am embarassed just because I am *old*! (As Jimmy says..)

Sure, Jordan. My sister is a baby-boomer. Many servicemen had home leave or worked in the UK (eg; RAF ground staff). True, the latter spent the war in comparative safety.

Sorry, Della. I too am 'old'. However, when I have relevant knowledge I like to share it. I have never been upset by the human body except in cases where it is particularly ugly and yet excessively 'in your face'.

Toxxin, I just cannot believe that you are saying what you say!
>>Dagnammit Jordan. It's OK to have sex after one minute's acquaintance if both partners consent. What difference does it make if nothing has changed but the time?

I've had it off with up to 3 girls in a 24 hour period in the rather distant past. Quite honestly, what I regret now is the times when I had the chance and didn't take it. That wasn't often, but I recall the occasions with regret. I would always be up for a possible relationship, but it's so much simpler to get the physical stuff sorted out first. If that's OK, you're half way there. Why do the time-consuming stuff first and then find that it's been a waste of time?<<
As a woman,I don't know where to begin! First, there's my Christianity, second my feminism. You're talking about using people as things here,you might as well go to aprofessional, but that she'd charge you money for the privilege.
When I was a teen, I got screwed over by more boys and men than I can count. It was said then, that boys use love to get sex, whereas girls use sex to get love. I had less self respect then, and so I would "consent" after one evenings' acquaintance because that was the price I (thought) I had to pay the boy in exchange for a night out, or even his attention to lowly me! Many girls I knew then felt similarly, the boys were the Kings and we girls could be their lowly hand-maidens, if we agreed to sex without questioning the boys' honesty or motives. Every girl or woman if she is honest, can remember crying over some useless todger who *didn't* call her in the morning (or at any time) after she had sex with him (with a greater or lesser degree of willingness or enthusiasm.)
You may say that I say this simply because of my self esteem problems or my being old, but girls like my niece (19 y.o.) have similar experiences in the 1990s and early 21st century. The fact that many, perhaps most, boys and men still expect to get their leg over as the price of a few crumbs of their precious attention, is still true.
In fact I had a scumbag I was used and dumped by 8 years ago, come back into my life on Wednesday. He phoned then, we met yesterday, and the tosser wants to take up where we left off! I asked him if he did not remember what bad terms we parted on, and suddenly, he couldn't speak English too well. (He's French). He dumped me originally, because, as he charmingly explained "it wasn't serious, just sex really, you should have known that". I am 8 years younger than him, and he was upset thatI might have got pregnant and "trapped" him. I told him to find a woman his own age. He obviously hasn't.

>>I'm more interested in the use of the terms 'sie' and 'hir'. I assume that these are the politically correct shorthand for 'she or he' and 'his or her'. Does anyone else agree with me that such terms are semantic madness (and pretty ugly to boot)?<<
Matholwch,I couldn't agree less with you,I love that Jordan uses these terms! I am doubly amazed given that he's an
American. It has been my observation that in books/TV/film/magazines etc., Americans are still determined on generic 'he/him/his', what Dale Spender, the Australian writer, calls the He/Man syndrome. After a lifetime as a woman,biting my lip when I hear 'he' used as a generic, even by a kids' programme presenter referring to a cow being milked in front of his eyes (!), asking for clarification regarding school/university rules ("Does that apply to women too, only it says 'the student...he'")discovering that the Bible is *not* the exclusive male-only thing it seems... sie/hir should be more wide-spread!

Your assumption isn't quite correct, Della. I was going out with Pat, Jill and Val at the same time and in that order of priority. At the time, I found that the girls one didn't have tended not to be interested in further dates. Better to try and fail than to be rejected for not making the attempt and, I flatter myself here, impressing them by doing a caring and considerate job.

I was something of a theoretical as well as a practical expert in these matters. It rarely went unappreciated! This was mainly back in the 70s and I only ever went for girls that I found really attractive. Don't think I ever left it at a one night stand.