Welcome to Gaia! ::

Alright, those of you that don't remember me, I'm ffzman. You probably don't know me because of the time I have spent off. I'll post for a while, and take a sobatical. Trying to get active again though. I'm naked by choice, so ask for my gold if you want.

Anyway, I'll not even try to outpost the intro Butters did, so here are my standpoints:


1) Abortion.
I haven't really expressed my views about this before. I think it's really situational though. If it's someone that was taking measures to protect against pregnancy, I think there's just cause. Those that just recklessly have sex, however, I think should have to have the kid. I'd hope she gives it up for adoption, because most likely not ready to be a decent parent.

But yeah, basically, depends.
2) Teen sex.
I don't think it's a smart thing. Most of these people don't have the maturity to handle basic life, let alone anything that could happen after sex.
3) Teen pregnancy.
See Teen sex. Unless it is planned, then by all means, do what you wish.
4) Gay marriage.
Personally, I don't care what they do. I don't really enjoy members of the same sex being intimate, but I don't b***h. I just leave them to do what they want.
5) Sexual preference.
Mine? I'm hopelessly straight. Basically, as much as I'd like to have my life worked out, I'm a teenager. That's not at an all-one-sex school.
4) Suicide.
I think it's a really selfish and cowardly choice to make. I realize that it's selfish for me to oppose them, but I feel strongly about it, and don't really care that it's selfish.
5) Self-harm.
I don't really see a morality issue, as much as I see a logic issue. With something that extreme, if you have to do it more than once, it's not working. I personally wouldn't do it, because I just couldn't put something sharp to my wrists without complete insanity.
6) Love.
I really don't know. I'd like to say I know what it is, or if it exists, but I'm not even going to try to think I know. I most likely don't.
7) Drugs and Alcohol.
Again, don't see the point. I can have a good time without it. I don't like to be around people the smoke though. I don't know what's true and untrue about health risks and whatever, I just can't stand the smell.
9) Religion.
Whether it's real or not isn't the big issue to me. I'm all for religion. Some people need something like religion to believe in, to hold onto. I think that, as long as they don't go off the deep end with the belief, there's no downside.

Name: Sara
Age: 15
Sex: Female

1) Abortion. - Yes. Women's chice all teh way. No if's and's or but's
2) Teen sex. - You can't stop 'em
3) Teen pregnancy. - Toldja' so seems fitting
4) Gay marriage. - Pro
5) Sexual preference. - Whatever floats your boat
4) Suicide. - Always a better sloution, just gotta look hard enough
5) Self-harm. - Alwasy a better solution, just gotta look hard enough
6) Love. - Erm...what I have to say would probably piss a lot of people off
7) Drugs and Alcohol. - Can't make 'em stop
9) Religion. - Man's way of explaining what we can't explain with science yet. A pillar to stand on. A way of saying "Everything is not my fault"

Hi! I'm Liera, 18 years old, female. I'm currently a college student studying Biology and History, in hopes of doing infectious disease research. I'm not a doctor, but I might be able to help you in medical areas.

1) Abortion.-- I don't think the government should tell women that they have to have a child. I can think of some very good reasons to have an abortion and I don't think that should be taken away from women.
2) Teen sex.--I'm not a fan of it, but teens will do it anyway. I'd really prefer that they have the sense to use protection.
3) Teen pregnancy.--Well, if you're stupid enough to have unprotected sex, then I guess you kind of deserve it. I feel worse for the unborn child, since chances are their life is going to suck because of what their parents did.
4) Gay marriage.--I really don't care. I'm sure there has to be some way to allow gays marriage rights but not offend others. There must be some possible compromise.
5) Sexual preference.--Again, I really don't care. I'm straight, but that doesn't mean everyone else needs to be straight. The only thing that bothers me is girls who say they're bisexual because they think it's trendy. I know a few people like that.
6) Suicide.--Don't do it! I've been there before and wimped out, and it's a good thing I did. There is always another solution.
7) Self-harm.--Is not a good idea. I know it makes some people feel good, but it's not a healthy way to release emotions.
9) Love.--I believe in love, but you have to be very careful with it. You can easily get hurt in affairs of the heart.
10) Drugs and Alcohol.-Alcohol I'm cool with in moderation. Getting blind stinking drunk is just retarded. As for other drugs, I don't like them at all, especially illegal ones.
11) Religion.--I think faith is very important, but it's a very personal thing. Each to his own, and no one should try to bash someone over the head with their religion.

ALRIGHTY
I AM INTERWIZZ9000
I THOUGHT UP THAT NAME ON THE SPOT A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST GOT AN INTERNET CONNECTION AT MY FINGERTIPS
SO OFCORUSE I WAS NOT AN INTERNET WIZARD THEN SO THERE MUST BE A FEW THINGS I HAVE MISSED NOW
BUT I WILL TRY AND PROVIDE LINKS WHERE EVER I CAN

I AM THE CREATOR AND CURRENT CAPTAIN OF A GUILD CALLED S.H.A.G (http://www.gaiaonline.com/guilds/index.php?page_mode=4&guild_id=4620) AND THIS IS A GUILD FOR SELF-HARMERS
AND PEOPLE WHO WANT SOME GENERAL INFORMATION ON SELF-HARMING
ALSO THE GUILD IS TO CLEAR OUT ALL THE MYTHS AND SUSPICIONS ABOUT SELF-HARM
BUT I DO NOT WANT TO START A RANT SO I AM GOING TO SWIFTLY MOVE ON........

I TRY AND BE AS POLITE AND HOUMEROUS AS POSSIBLE
BUT WHEN A SERIOUS TOPIC COMES I CAN ALSO BE SERIOUS
WEN I GOT NOTHING TO DO I TEND TO BE A LITTLE RANDOM
BUT WHEN I GET DEPRESSED I USUALLY STAY OFFLINE BECAUSE I AM REALLY SARCASTIC AND NOT A VERY NICE PERSON

AND INCASE YOU ARE WONDERING
YES I DO WRITE ALL IN CAPS
ALL THE TIME
I HAVE DONE I EVER SCICE I STARTED THIS ONLINE LIFE AND IF I TURN THEM OFF PEOPLE WOULD NOT RECOGNISE ME
SO YOU CAN TRY AND FLAME ME FOR IT ALL YOU LIKE
BUT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO WIN

SO NO FOR MY POLITICAL VIEWS
PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE ARE JUST MY VIEWS AND THEY HAVE LITTLE IMPORTANCE IN YOUR LIFE...........

1) Abortion.
THIS IS NOT SOME THING TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY
IF I SAY IT IS WRONG AND NO ONE SHOULD HAVE THEM
THEN THERE WOULD BE EVEN MORE OVER POPULATION AND EVEN MORE POVERTY
BUT THEN AGAIN IT CAN BE CLASSED AS MURDER BY A LOT OF PEOPLE
BUT BEFORE WE THINK ON DEATH
WE HAVE TO THINK ON LIFE
IS THE LITTLE THING INSIDE THE WOMB ALIVE????
CAN IT THINK?
CAN IT FEAL???

IF IT CAN THEN IT DOES NOT REALLY DESERVE TO DIE
UNLESS ITS LIFE WOULD BE WORSE THEN DEATH
BUT LOOKING AT RECENT COURT BATTLES
PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE "VEGETATION" STATE (WHERE THEY CAN NOT EVEN MOVE OR THINK RIGHT) ARE NOT ALLOWED TO LET PEOPLE HELP THEM KILL THEMSELF (I AM SURE I HEARD THAT SOME WHERE)
SO IF IT IS WRONG TO KILL THEM WHEN THEY AE HELPLESS
WHAT MAKES KILLING SOME THING SO SMALL AND VUNERABLE RIGHT????
BUT THEN I CAN COUNTER THAT WITH THE WHOLE
"SO WHAT IF IT IS BORN INTO A s**t LIFE???????"

SO THIS IS VERY COMPLICATED
I THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE ALL WEIGHED UP ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS
BUT THAT COULD TAKE TIME
AND ALL THIS TIME THE BABY IS GROWING AND DEVELPING INSIDE
I AM NEVER GOING TO GET PREGNANT
SO I SEE LITTLE POINT GOING ON AND ON ABOUT THIS WHEN I GOT MORE QUESTIONS TO ANSWER

2) Teen sex.
THE NATIONAL AGE FOR CONSENT IN ENGLAND IS 16
BUT I KNOW OF PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR VERGINITY AT 14 AND 15
BUT IS THAT TOO YOUNG?
I THINK THAT IF YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO ACCEPT THE RESPNSABLITYS AND COMPLICATIONS OF SEX
THEN YOU CAN DO IT
IT IS YOUR BODY AND WHAT YOU DO WITH IT IS UP TO YOU
AND IF YOU USE PROPER CONTECEPTION THEN NO HARM CAN COME OF IT (VERY FEW STIS AND STDS CAN GET THROUGH THE LATEX CONDDOM THE ONLY THING I HAVE HEARD OF THAT CAN BE TRANSMITTTED IS PUBIC LICE BUT THEY CAN BE TREAT JUST LIKE ORDONARY HEAD LICE)

3) Teen pregnancy.
ONE OF THE DOWN SIDES TO TEEN SEX
UNLESS IT IS WANTED OFCOURSE
I HAVE LITTLE THOUGHSON THIS ONE
BECAUSE I HAVE NOT REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT
SO THINKING A LITTLE ON MY FEET HERE.......
IF THE BABY IS WANTED THEN IT SHOULD BE KEPT AND LOVED
ALSO WITH AID FROM THE GOVERNMENT SO THAT THE MOTHER DOES NOT HAVE TO MISS OUT ON TOO MUCH EDUCATION
IF IT IS NOT WANTED THEN THE MOTHER (THE DAD SHOULD HELP WITH THIS ASWELL) SHOULD CONTEMPLATE FOSTER CARE AND ABORTION
IT IS UP TO THEM WHAT THEY DO WITH THEIR BABY (PROVIDING IT IS OK BY LAW) BUT THEY NEED THE RIGHT AMMOUNT F THE RIGHT ADVICE

4) Gay marriage.
GAY PEOPLE DO NOT BOTHER MEMUCH
IF 2 PEOPLE OF THE SAME SEX AE WALKING DOWN THE STREET HOLDING HANDS I DO NOT REALLY CARE
AND IF THEY WANT TO GET MARRIED THEN THERE SHOULD BE NOTHING TO STOP THEM
IT IS UP TO THEM WHAT THEY DO WITH THEIR LIFE
AND WHO ARE WE TO STAND INFRONT OF TRUE LOVE?
WHAT PISSES ME OFF IS ALL THOSE GAYS WHO SHOVE IT IN YOUR FACE
LIKE THIS........
"HI" (<- ME)

"I AM A GAY AND IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THAT I AM GOING TO BEAT THE s**t OUT OF YOU
YOU ******** HOMOPHOBE I CAN NOT BELIEVE YOU ARE SO DESRIMINATING I AM GOING TO TELL EVERYONE YOU HAT ME BECAUSE I AM GAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

THAT IS WHAT GETS ME

3) Sexual preference.
IT IS UP TO THEM WHAT THEY DO WITH THEIR BODY
AND IF THEY FIND A LIKING FOR A CERTAIN SEX THEN THAT IS FINE WITH ME

4) Suicide.
SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT THIS IS THE ONLY OPTION
BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT IS NOT
I AM NOT GOING TO LIE AND SAY I WOULD NEVER DO IT MYSELF
SO I CAN NOT REALLY LOOK DOWN UIPON PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRIED IT BEFORE
I NEVER RECOMEND THAT A PERSON DOES END THEIR LIFE
AS THEY NEVER KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPENED NEXT
WHAT ANNOYS ME ARE THE PEOPLE WHO SAY THINGS IKE
"YOU CAN NOT DIE AND LEAVE ME HERE!!!"
THAT IS THE MOST SELFISH THING EVER
WHY SHOULD SOME ONE HAVE TO LIVE A LIFE FULL OF s**t JUST SO SOME ONE ELSE HAS PIECE OF MIND?
OK NOW I AM STARTING TO RANT

5) Self-harm.
I HAVE A WHOLE GUILD FOR SELF-HARMERS AND INFORMATION ON SELF-HARMING
SO YOU WOULD EXPECT ME TO WIRTE LOADS HERE
BUT BASICALLY SELF-HARM IS A COPING METHOD FOR PEOPLE WHO DDO NOT KNOW HOW TO EXPRESS THEMS SELF
IT IS ALSO A WAY OF PUNISHING YOURSELF
PEOPLE THINK IT HELPS
BUT IT IS JUST A SHORT TERM SOLUTION
AND ONCE YOU ARE DONE WITH IT THE PROBLEMS ARE STILL THERE!!!

6) Love.
LOVE CAN BE A GREAT THING
BUT IT ADDS A LOT OF COMPLICATION TO SOME ONES LIFE
AND IT COMES WITH A LOT OF RULES AND REGULATIONS
IT CAN BE THE GREATEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO YOU
BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT CAUSES A LOT OF PAIN

7) Drugs and Alcohol.
BOTH OF THESE GET ME VERY DEPRESSED
SO I DO ONT DRINK AT ALL AND I DO NOT DO DRUGS AT ALL (UNLESS GIVEN BY A DOCTOR)
MUCH LIKE SELF-HARM PEOPLE DO THESE THINGS TO FORGET ABOUT THEIR TROUBLES
AND ALSO LIKE SELF-HARM IT IS VERY TEMPORARY
DRINK CAN BE A GOOD THING!!!!
IT IS PROVEN TO REDUCE THE RISK OF HEART DISEASE
BUT
ONLY IF YOU TAKE THE RIGHT AMMOUNT
TOO MUCH AND IT WILL DO MORE BAD THEN GOOD
TO LITTLE AND IT WILL HAVE VERY VERY LITTLE EFFECT
I THINK IT STANDS AT ABOUT A GLASS OF RED WINE A DAY
BUT I AM NO DOCTOR SO I CAN NOT EB SO SURE

9) Religion.
PERSONALLY
I AM BORN
AND THEN I WILL DIE
BEFORE I WAS BORN IS PRETTY IRRELEVANT BECAUSE I AM HERE NOW AND THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS
AND AFTER.......
WELL WE ARE JUST GONG TO HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE

There is a Chibi in the house. ninja I dont considder myself a LI regular, more like LI regular lurker. I only come out of the shadows when theres a topic i feel i can help the most on. I am 23 years old. Married, college student. I am attempting to complete my B.A. in Art. Because art is the place in the world i feel most content with. It makes me happy...and thats all that matters to me smile

The advice i give, when i give it, 99% of the time, is drawn from my past experiances. I may be young, but i've delt with a lot of crap in my life. Quite literally. Everything from death (would you believe some people have yet to experiance losing a close friend/relitive) to rape. *holds head as high as she can* I am a rape victim. I've also been in a robbery. Thru divorce (my mom left my molestating pig father)...and quite a lot of other things. sweatdrop I also survived middle school and HS when teen angst/depression wasnt "cool"

My stances on:
1) Abortion. In a perfect world. It would only be done in medical emergencies. Some people can die if they become pregnant (thus losing two lives instead of one). I really dont like the concept of using it when someone has an accident. But sometimes it needs to be done. However i frown severly on multiple accidents. I also dont like how this has become a political issue. And how the male population is jumping into the debate. It is the female body. Please let us do what we chose with our bodies. I dont go around to convicted rapists and say "someday you are going to knock up one of your victims...so to prevent that, i am cutting off your d**k". People who may die due to complications from pregnancy, and rape victims, deserve this right to pick. Unfortunatly with that right comes the idiots who get knocked up every other tuesday and twice on weekends sweatdrop


2) Teen sex. in the words of my highschool friend, whom i call Chickie. CONDOMS PEOPLE! USE CONDOMS!!!! If you Think you are old enough to have sex, and enjoy the pleasures of it. Be old enough to wrap yourself up. Ladies, there are spermicides out there, and theres also birth control. Abstinence is a wonderful thing...you can still have foreplay, as frustrating as it is, but babies wont result from it.


3) Teen pregnancy. Mistake one, please learn from it sweatdrop Dont do what my HS friend did. Abort abort abort. She's had THREE abortions since i was a senior. Her reproductive organs, from my understanding, now cannot carry a child to full term. Her last accident, she actually chose to give birth to "So i can have kids in the future". It was adopted off to someone else.


4) Gay marriage. Why is it that people intrest themselves SO very much in the lives of gay people? but can care less what straight people do? Leave them alone! If they chose to live their lives together, let them smile Dont harass them. They deserve to be happy, just as EVERYONE else does.


5) Sexual preference. So? what you do behind closed doors is your business smile If it makes you happy ^_^ then be happy biggrin


6) Suicide. I've thought about this a lot. I've almost killed myself quite a number of times in my life. Its the result of mental problems. Which can be over come. There is a whole life a head of people and they'd just throw it out the window because something bad happened. I am alive today. I somehow still had one or two braincells of sanity left in my darkest moments...i have mental problems, that my husband understands...and it is untreated. I am not like this to get attention (hell my mom STILL doesnt know i've been suicidal). I've been down that road. I know the pains it envokes. But i also know it isnt the answer. Life is a rocky road. and you hurt the people around you a LOT when you opt to take your life. sad


7) Self-harm. Honestly, with the influx of teens who self harm, i am begining to believe its a fad. I used to hurt so much when i was a teen. And i'd go and full on smack my arm (right side) against a wall. a Brick wall. It left no visable scars. It also dulled the pain in my head for a bit. It gave my head something else to focus on. But it seems, now, you arent cool until you have a row of razor marks on your arms, for attention. Quite honestly, i dont know why people do it. I dont even really know why i used to hurt myself. Looking back, it didnt dull the pain so much as cause future problems (yay to carple tunnel in my right wrist).


9) Love. Everyones got someone out there. Whether you find them or not. The world needs more love in it. Not love as in sex. Love as in helping people out of the goodness in your heart. Not for profit, but just because.


10) Drugs and Alcohol. Quite honestly, if you chose to do these, its your choice. Just be aware of the consequences. Alcoholism can ruin a family. Drug addicts can too. My mom is both. My sister and I both hate being at her house.


11) Religion. Everyone has a right to religion. But religion shouldnt dictate everyday life. What i am about to say comes from someone who was raised Christian, converted to agnostic. The bible was written some 2,000 years ago. The world has changed So VERY much since then. So why are we still following text that was written that long ago. EX) Would you use a computer from the 1970's? Yeah i'd muck on it for curiousity sake, cause it was the predicessor to today's technology...but i wouldnt USE it daily. Yes i know religion and technology are two different topics, but it makes a great analogy ^_^ However, my liberal mind wants to point out that everyone is entitled to practice which ever religion they feel they should smile



There you have it. Chibi's thoughts. heart

Hello all! As sone of you that read webcomics may know, I take my name from the title and main character of a very well done webcomic named Dominic Deegan: Oracle For Hire. I have been coming to Gaia since October 31st 2003, even though this profile says different. I used to hang only in the Chatterbox, but I soon got bored of it and started exploring around. One day, I stumbled into the then somewhat small sub forum called Life Issues.

Honestly, I was hooked! I do like to help people in real life. Most of the time, I'm brutally honest with what i think and notice about a person's "issue". Sometimes, even though I still reamin honest, I take on a softer side. It's not that I'm mostly bitchy and sometimes nice, it's actually the opposite. I just feel you need to be told the burtal honest truth with no sugar-coated toppings so you can better deal with a problem or issue. I know most don't want to listen to reason right away or would rather sit back and hope it goes away or just give up on it. I have been in that boat a few times. it doesn't solve anything and makes more problems if anything.

As for more everyday stuff about me: I'm 22, just moved to San Antonio Texas from San Jose California, I just got a job at Walgreen's (full-time, crap pay sweatdrop ) , and I'm moving out on my own for the first time soon. Oh and as I'm writing this, my bf broke up with me . . .

Anyways, on to the issues and my personal take on them! **Remember, this is just my view on it, and I'm not trying to change other people's minds on any subject.** Sorry, felt the need to put that.

1) Abortion.
I can only agree with the option of abortion in certain cases. Examples: 1)To conintue with the pregnancy could kill the baby, mother, or both. 2)Doctors know for a fact the baby will have a very limited and possible disable (mentally and/or physically) life and leave it up to the parents to decide if they should even give the baby a chance. 3)The mother was raped and doesn't want the baby for many emotional and psychological reasons.

Other than that, it really pissed me off when mothers-to-be decide to get an abortion becuase 1)They want to hide it from their friends, family, partner(s) no matter their age when this happened. 2)They want to hide the "mistake" of an affair or fling. I can understand if the mother feels she cannot provide a stable or good enough life for the baby, but I would rather they consider adoption. On the other hand, going through the pregnancy and birth can be more expensive than an abortion. not to mention the mother may be attached becuase she had a baby growing inside her and gave birth to it and now is having that precius gift being taken away. I don't know, that's my ify one.

2) Teen sex.
Well, I would prefer that all teens wait until they are fully ready and mature both in body and mind to handle ALL the consequences of having sex. I would prefer teens do research as a couple and talk about all possibilities and what they would do in "what if" and "just in case" scenarios. Examples: 1)What if she becomes pregnant? 2)What if the condom breaks during sex? 3)What types of birth control should be used. 4)and so on . . . There are many, many things to consider.

I guess it's the attitude that men and woman seem to have about sex when they are younger. Most woman seem to think it is just another way to feel good. Even though they know the possibility of pregnancy and STD's and so on, most would rather use just a condom or let their bf's or guy friend talk them into sex anyways. On the other hand, how guys think about birth control disturbes me. Most seem to think that "she is the one that would have the baby, not me. I wuldn't be the one getting pregnant so why should I have anything to do with birth control?" and they seem to put it all on the woman to research it, get it, and use it. Well, sorry guys, but it takes TWO to have sex and make a baby. You are just as responsibile. Like I said, this seems to be the most preveiling attitudes of younger teens, but I know not all think like this or do this.

3) Teen pregnancy.
As with abortions, I believe the same thing. You got yourself into it, you deal with it! If it is in the situation like "We had sex and now I'm preggers! Help!" then all I can say is, you should have known it would be a possibility and had a plan before hand. In the situation that both people (or atleast the woman) took every precaution possibile but still got pregnant, then I view them in a higher standard. No matter what they do, be it abortion or adoption or keep the baby, atleast they took the time and common sense to plan it before hand.

4) Gay marriage.
I think it is wonderful. I don't see why they can't or shouldn't have the right to marry and have all the "benifits" a married couple should have.

Yeah, yeah, yeah! I've heard all the "but God says it's wrong!" speeches. Well, hey that's fine if you want to believe that. But what about all the christian gays who grew up believeing in a forgiving and merciful God? What about those that believe that God loves ALL His children just like it says in the Bible? What about the Commandment "Thou shalt not judge, lest you be judged" (or somethng like that)?

5) Sexual preference.
I honestly don't care who people prefer. I have a lesbian aunt and a bi sister. Even before I know that's what they prefered, I still didn't care. Love is love. Gender and gender roles shouldn't play a part in it.

6) Suicide.
This may sound harsh, but my thought it: if you are going to do it, then do it! Don't whine and complain or make threads like "I h8 my lif!!!11!" or "I'm going to kill myself . . .". Most serious suicide committers don't tell anyone. They may leave something behind like an e-mail, not, voice recording, video tape, ect, but they don't attention whore the fact they are about to end their life. Those that do try to bring attention to themselves seem to me (if they are serious) that they are trying to ask for help or a way to stop.

On the whole, suicide will not solve anything and only leave more problems and troubles for th eones they leave behind. Everyone has their dark and down moments. Some even think about suicide every now and then, but never do it. Usually the main stopper is thoughts of friends, family, and partner(s) they would leave behind and what it would do to them.

7) Self-harm.
Most inflict self harm to cause physical pain to take thir minds off of emotional pain. it gives them something they can actually see and touch and taste and deal with on the spot. Like suicide, this solves nothing. it is in no way shape or form a good way to deal with problems. It falls into the categorey of "it's easier to give up". The longer a person doesn't face their problems, the more they will have to face and the more it will become unavoidable.

9) Love.
Love . . . Everyone has a different definition of what love is to them. Unfortuantly, I have come to find through personal expirence that love is an emotional like happiness and saddness. it can come and go just like other emotions. I say "unfortunatly" becuase most want to believe in the "one true love" ideal.

Did you know that it has been proven in psychological studies that woman who grow up on fairy tales, especially the Disney versions, are 50% more pron to ending up in an abusive relationship? They figure it goes with the thoughts of "But he's my one true love! I can't leave him! He'll change! He loves me! He's my true love!" and all that crap we learn as little girls from fairy tales.

Lust feels just like love. The only way to tell the difference is that lust fades a lot faster then love or has other more dangerous signs such as obsession.

10) Drugs and Alcohol.
I think it is okay to drink or smoke weed (nothing harder) occasionally and recriationally (sp?). Anything more would be moving towards addiction. It's sad, most think you have to be crazy, a bum, or strung out to be considered an addict. The majority of addicts don't even know when they first started becoming one, it "just happened" to them and suddenly they realized they couldn't live without whatever it is they are using.

11) Religion.
To each his/her own! I'm agnostic and I used to be athetist. I do believe there is some kind of power out there, but I'm leaning more towards a mother nature/natural force/ the "force" type of thing. I don't believe in the Christian God at all. There's just to WAY too many contradictions in the religion, and others as well. Most of them were created by man writing and re-writing the Bible many times over the years.

I don't think a lot of the original "messages" were lost, just warped so much beyond what it originally meant. Like the SouthPark reverend said in one episode: "The Bible is more like a guideline to follow. We don't have to take it literally word for word." I can agree with that. That sounds more like a true religion. Believeing in a practicular God or whatever, but being able to allow everyone to interuprate it how they want so that is works for them. Not forced to follow a certain narrow minded path.

Basically, I don't care what or who you eblieve in. Just don't force it down my throat and I won't make your day a living hell. Thank you, lol!

Introduction
Hello! I have been at Gaia regularly for a few months and have been posting in Life Issues ever since. I feel that as one of the older/wiser Gaians, I have a sort of duty to help out when needed. IRL I am a teacher, so I suppose I have gotten in the habit of helping out and being a role model of sorts. The age level I teach is 7-15, so many Gaians fall into that category. But don't fret! Just because I have gone to "the other side" (teacher, adult(?), The Real World) doesn't mean that I don't remember what it was like to be a kid!

Abortion.
I do not like seeing people use Abortion as a birth control when there are many other safer and cheaper alternatives on the market (The Pill, condoms, etc). Nevertheless, things happen. I think abortion is ok in the first trimester only. After that, abortions should only occur if there is a health risk involved.

Teen sex.
Call me a bit old-fashioned, but I was raised to believe that it was a bad thing. Again, it is the decision of the person, so I cannot complain if it is done safely. Talk to your partner, get tested, have the right contraceptions, and be prepared to handle any consequences that happen because of having sex. This goes for non-teens too!

Teen pregnancy.
Why would someone want to throw away so many opportunities? An accident is an accident, but when I see a 14 year old saying "I want a baby because they are cuuuuute", I just want to smack some sence into her. Yes, babies are cute, but get a babysitting job instead of getting yourself pregnant. Also, wait until you are mature and stable (emotionally, financially) enough to handle a baby.

Gay marriage.
Some gay relationships I've seen are more stable than heterosexual relationships. Why shouldn't they be able to have a legal relationship. The churches can deny gay marriage all they want based on religion, but there is a separation between church and state.

Suicide.
We all go through rough times, but there are better ways of handling it. Plus, all they would be doing is hurting the people around them.

Self-harm.
I am very biased on this, so my apologies. In high school, I dated a guy that had depression and was a cutter. It would tear me up inside to see him doing that. He would also cut himself when we got in an argument or when I was mad at him for something, even if it was something little. Because of the way he used his cutting, he was very selfish. So, I do not like cutting and self-harm, and I think that it is only used as a way to get attention. Very selfish IMO.

Love.
I love the concept of love! It is a great feeling. Just don't confuse love with lust.

Drugs and Alcohol.
You know it is bad for you, so why use it? Ok, so I am being hypocritical. I do go out and have a drink with friends or a glass of wine at dinner. But I do not go out and binge drink, nor to I get to the point where I am incoherant. If you are going to do something like that, please do it in moderation.

Drugs are a very different matter. Many of them are not safe at all and are illegal. How many times have your heard "It was only his/her first time..."? I would stay away from them.

Religion.
I'd rather lable it as spirituality. I think that it is very important to have a spiritual life and to believe in something. It can be very soothing to know that something out there is protecting you or watching over you. It doesn't matter what you follow. As one wise person told me once "all paths lead to the same grassy field".

Text size bigger please? Makes it so hard to read...