DeadPoolX

I wonder how many will actually mispronounce Carl Jung's name...

That's only true if you discount that the individual's personality might be reflected in their choice of occupation.

Well, I've already said I'm not counting personality. I'm basing this on career choice and that only. My point was to demonstrate the divide between what society often views as "monetary status" and "social status."

I get that, but I don't think the two are separable. Without wanting to get into stereotypes - I think that a person's personality is reflected (to some degree) in their choice of occupation. Obviously there's a lot more to it than just that - but in terms of who would be more successful at scoring with a girl - that will depend more on the girl and the venue, rather than "I'm not going to talk to you because you're a plumber and I look down on that".

Occupation often comes up when dating. It may not be a deal breaker to some, but if a woman is highly concerned with status and the overall status of a potential partner, she might based part -- even most -- of her decision on the guy's career choice.

I don't mean to say all women are gold diggers. They're obviously not. My point is that career status is often a factor in choosing who to date (even if that's a poor representation of that individual's personality).

Yeah but the class thing applies to women as well. Point being that the plumber might frequent different establishments to the office worker and isn't likely to meet the same woman.

Hmmm... good point.

I think I was basing this on the assumption these two individuals would visit the same places and attempt to date the same woman. While that might be true in some cases, I can definitely see what you're getting at here.

There will always be rats.

Mmmm... rat on a stick and mouse in a box. Rat McNuggets? Rat tail pasta. I can see this going somewhere (and that's probably in the toilet after people realize what they've just eaten).

That's only true if you discount that the individual's personality might be reflected in their choice of occupation.

Well, I've already said I'm not counting personality. I'm basing this on career choice and that only. My point was to demonstrate the divide between what society often views as "monetary status" and "social status."

I get that, but I don't think the two are separable. Without wanting to get into stereotypes - I think that a person's personality is reflected (to some degree) in their choice of occupation. Obviously there's a lot more to it than just that - but in terms of who would be more successful at scoring with a girl - that will depend more on the girl and the venue, rather than "I'm not going to talk to you because you're a plumber and I look down on that".

Occupation often comes up when dating. It may not be a deal breaker to some, but if a woman is highly concerned with status and the overall status of a potential partner, she might based part -- even most -- of her decision on the guy's career choice.

I don't mean to say all women are gold diggers. They're obviously not. My point is that career status is often a factor in choosing who to date (even if that's a poor representation of that individual's personality).

I see it this way: NO media organization is unbiased. All forms of media -- newspaper, TV, radio, Internet -- are run by people. As much as some people might like to believe they're nonpartisan and objective in their reporting, they simply can't be that way. Why? Because we're human beings and as such, we all have our beliefs. Those beliefs often come through when the news media reports on a situation. Even if the bias was unintentional, it still shows through at some point.

Good quality meat is expensive, so I see limiting my meat intake as an economic decision rather than an environmental one.

That's only true if you discount that the individual's personality might be reflected in their choice of occupation.

Well, I've already said I'm not counting personality. I'm basing this on career choice and that only. My point was to demonstrate the divide between what society often views as "monetary status" and "social status."

The US is very right wing - certainly compared to what I'm used to (and the UK is hardly "far left"). If you seriously think that the political parties are not right wing enough - its probably time to get yourself an swastika armband and grow a one-inch mustache.

Oh I see - I'm a Nazi now. You must have forgotten that Hitler based his views on survival of the fittest - and survival of preferred races.

Jews were on the same level as apes, as were blacks. He was indiscriminate of political ideology. He slaughtered 10 million Christians as well.

I guess if I am Hitler, then you are Stalin and Mussolini

Hitler based his views mostly on the need to have a scapegoat. Germany lost WWI and was not only torn apart by war, but the Treaty of Versailles. Germany was looking for a way to reclaim their lost self-worth and Hitler provided it for them. He claimed the German people were not to blame for their loss, but it was the Jews who secretly caused it. Nothing rallies people faster than shifting the blame to another group.

What I also find interesting is the divide between monetary and social status.

Compare your rank-and-file office worker versus a plumber. Who makes more money? More often than not, it's the plumber. But who is given higher social status? The office worker.

Let's say the office worker and the plumber try to pick up a girl. I'll bet a bag of dark chocolate espresso beans that -- purely based on social status -- this woman will automatically find the office worker more appealing. This scenario doesn't take into account someone's personality. So if the office worker is a real jerk and the plumber is nice to her, she'll probably choose the plumber. But comparing just social status and society's expectations, the plumber will receive less consideration than the office worker, despite the plumber actually earning a higher wage.

Has anyone here read The Omnivore's Dilemma? If not, I'd suggest picking it up. It explains, in detail, the long term effects of mass production farming (in reference to meat and the overproduction of corn) and how the living conditions for cows are horrendous. They often stand in areas with little-to-no room and are surrounded by their own feces. Eventually these cows acquire an infection or two, so antibiotics are given -- which apparently get absorbed into the cow's meat and can trickle down into those who eat the cow later on. The cows are also given growth hormones which adversely affect them.

Sustainable farming, that which allows cows a pasture to room and eat on, produce healthier animals and therefore, better quality meat. The real problem isn't the expense (most farmers wouldn't need government subsidies if they worked this way), but the time and effort. Penning cows up is an easier solution for the farmer.

In today's world, I believe there's far less racial discrimination than socioeconomic discrimination. In a country based upon capitalism, the poor are looked down upon while the rich are idolized. In some cases it's the reverse (it really depends on the situation), but look at the so-called "American Dream." It's to become successful and success in our world (particularly the United States) is often equated with monetary gain.

When someone can't achieve this ideal, other non-related qualities are usually attached. So if a poor family is Hispanic, many start to think that all Hispanics are inherently poor. The poor are given low status in the U.S. and therefore, Hispanics are discriminated against primarily due to economics and then whatever racial issues may apply.

Interesting comparison, especially considering how Caesar's reign ended...

I just like the "Share on Facebook" icon. What're you supposed to do, let everyone know that you've ordered a pizza?

Len,

I think what some people are getting at here is BE AWARE of your surroundings and WHO you're with at the time.

No one is suggesting that "she asked for it." As you said, Len, no one asks to be raped. However, she DID choose to go off alone, in a dimly lit area and chug alcohol. She didn't HAVE to follow them.

She made a bad decision and now she'll have to live with it. Hopefully she'll be more cautious next time and even better, inform her friends and family so they don't end up making a similar mistake.

(Five bucks says at least one person will misinterpret my comment as "she deserved it" or "it's all her fault." )

Yeah, it's called The Beach and the main star is Leonardo DiCaprio.

Joseph is going to be Superman and Jonathan is going to be a Ninja Turtle (Leonardo). I let them pick out their costumes.

I will be dressing up as a mom who actually has the energy to trick or treat with her kids... lol Luis is going to wear a mask of some sort.

I went trick-or-treating as Leonardo back in 1988. I guess the ninja turtles are still popular.

Leonardo must be a favourite....lol the 4 year old I babysit is going as Leonardo this year

I think it's because he wields two katanas. Kids like swords. So do "big kids" as I have a sword collection.

Atlanta and Charles De Gaulle were the worst for me. Lyon wasn't great either - all those French regional airports don't bother to put signs in French and English.

Kind of like Quebec

I thought Quebec was required to post things in both English and French. The rest of Canada has to do that, so why not Quebec?

So my TD Visa information was stolen and $1,000 worth of purchases were made at different Walmarts in Duluth, Georgia on Monday. I have never been to Duluth, Georgia. In fact, I was distinctly in Ontario, Canada on Monday. The last time I used that card was over a year ago in Europe. I have been reviewing old statements trying to find where it could have been compromised. The Visa Fraud people say it could have been that my card information just got into the wrong hands because I still, physically, have that card. I feel so violated.

I know how that feels. The first credit card I ever got was stolen and someone used it for thousands of purchases. And by "stolen" I mean the number, not the physical card. I wasn't held liable for it and I was issued a new card. Even so, it was extremely annoying.

I spoke to my Dad and he strongly suggested my wife and I get the H1N1 vaccine. He said that flu has been primarily affecting people under 60 (which includes him as well). The most deaths he's seen in the hospital have been from those in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Not those with previous health issues, but normally healthy individuals.

My wife is resistant to even getting a normal flu shot, let alone the H1N1 vaccine. The chances are slim that she'd catch it, but there's always that chance. If younger people are dying, I'd really prefer her get the shot too.

Prolly impacts their drug deals too......

And ####### happened to pagers? Remember when drug dealers had beepers? Now the only people who carry those are physicians. Maybe we should give out free pagers.

Most physicians don't use those anymore, either. They tend to use their cell phones.

Is it still the case that Viagra is covered more than birth control pills?

Maybe they figure that if the man can't have an erection, there's no need for birth control pills.

...your sewage line was cut beyond your property and you could no longer use your toilet or let your gray water (shower, sink, dishwasher, clothes washer) go down the drain?

Make use of the neighbor's backyard and pool.

Who says you can't spank your child? I've seen people do it - though if you go at it in public with a leather belt wrapped around your hand, its a fair bet that someone is going to say something.

I don't agree that violence is necessary to keeping a child in line - trying to solve discipline problems with your fists is the lazy way out.

Hitting a kid with a leather belt is a far cry from spanking. I know that many parents are worried that if they spank their kid, they'll somehow get child services called on them. All the kid needs to do is say something to the tune of "My mommy/daddy hit me" to a teacher.

I don't think violence is necessary in MOST cases. As I said before, there are SOME cases where it might be the only viable solution.

Being denied entry won't affect your visa at all. I doubt your husband's comments will make a difference one way or the other.

The major problem with our teens is that parents have become ineffective for many reasons. The governments choose to hobble parents from actively disciplining their child/ren, by enforcing the "no smacking" rules to prevent physical abuse. How many children can be effectively disciplined with words? Has that EVER worked? Many parents are intimidated by their own kids these days. Menaced for pocket money that is unearned and undeserved, simply so it can be spent on the next "big thing" and making sure they have parity with their friends.

Drugs are a growing problem, but they are merely a symptom of society's excesses. When one has everything available, what's left to want except the illegal and immoral? Before you bash me as homophobic, isn't the reason that powerful figures in society turned to boys is because they could easily procure the girls and need stronger titillation? There's a difference between someone whose genuine mutual attraction is to their own sex and someone who is "experimenting" with a vulnerable victim.

Celebrity culture has effectively disposed of morals in society. We see them barely clothed, behaving badly and expect kids not to emulate their icons. Some hope of that. Drugs, gangsta-rap, shootings have existed for decades, but when the pop stars and celebrities glamorise them without the heavy hand of a morally upright parent to balance the logic behind it, we're going to experience depravity in our culture.

For those who are saying it's a new phenomenon, look back through civilisation. It's not a new problem, it's simply on a much larger scale now that the global population has skyrocketed and the publicity is ever present with the advent of instant 24/7 news. How much GOOD news is ever shown, versus the dramatic headline grabbing disasters and disgusting behaviour?

Still, societal values change every 20 years or so. We can but hope that someone makes these Sports, Hollywood and Pop icons realise they're nothing more than today's fad and their value to society is negligible if they are contributing negatively to it. Instead of letting the lawmakers ease their path through the criminal prosecutions, castigate them openly and publicly to demonise their behaviour and make sure they are seen to be paying the (deserved) price for the low moral standards they introduce.

Violent movies, violent video games, no facing up to the dirty side of death and it's emotional consequences. Children have become so accustomed to violence that it ceases to make them draw clear moral boundaries. When an action has no consequence, how can any lesson be learned?

And the solution to violence in children/teens is to inflict violence on them to teach them that violence is not acceptable?

It is perfectly possible to effectively discipline a child without using violence and it is perfectly possible to teach them that actions have consequences. Parents today have great tools and morality has not disappeared up Paris Hilton's snatch.

I think the point is that although corporal punishment is generally something to be avoided, there might be times with some kids where it's not only warranted, but the only solution available. Since parents can't do anything like that today without the risk of being charged with child abuse, their kids know that they can do almost whatever they want.