Materialistic World...
Ahh..it's time for school once again, as I start tomorrow morning! I not only will be a grad student but will also be a grad assistant teaching a biology lab class! yahh :)
Hmm, onto the topic of this msg board..yes, the materialistic world..Well that's a no brainer, because lots of people these days are materialistic. But hey, it's still pretty stupid and annoying. I don't know, but this issue really made me mad in the last few weeks, when my friends have been telling me this or that..and then all they EVER talk about is...well that cost me this much, and geez I need that to look so rich and look so cool. Hmm...it's so weird though, because sometimes I'll sit there and agree with them, but inside me I'm thinking, God, why dont' you realize it's not what you wear or show that makes you, it's what you ARE..Of course, I cannot tell these people what I think, because honestly, I believe in letting someone do whatever they want, and if I tell them what to do, then I'm ruining their sense of individuality.....Most of you might think, hah, not even tell your friends?? Well.....I have told them..but you only tell a friend once, they are old enough to know what's cool, right, and what not...So I leave it up to them...and in the mean time, I look at those fools with everything, who've wasted all their summer savings on looking trendy, thinking they'll get that attention, only to realize how much of a sore loser they are, not only financially, but also in real life! :(

Real Vs. Fake Sun Jan 14 20:14:11 2001
With society these days...you can't ever know if what you see is really what is the truth or what's really there. People can become fake or look very different with make-up, others can get plastic surgery, some can even make sure that their children are going to look pretty or whatever even before they are born. Also, some can even choose the sex of their child before the child is born. The question for me about these matters is whether this is right or wrong..Some out there think it's right, because it holds the key to staying young, or it holds the key to getting what you want, but then again, it's also a form of playing with nature..playing with the real "truth"--the real you, or the real thing.
I know that scientists out there have figured out anti-aging drugs, and others have found the perfect way to do plastic surgery w/o leaving any traces of it being done behind. But then again, I never can understand why that can appeal to anyone. I mean, does it really make sense to see a woman or a man look 20 when you are 2 years old and still have that man look 20 when you are 57 years old? Though that 20 year old might be thinking, "ohh, I'm having so much fun looking 20" you may be getting sick of it! (or maybe not..and I only believe that to be true?)
I guess the bottom line here is this..In our society being young is considered the "In thing"..you have to look 20 or anything less than 30 something to be considered "cool", good-looking whatever (I don't know the words!)..But because of this society held view, we have so many people depressed with their image, and some because of it, go out and seek surgery or some other type of medicine to keep them looking young. It only disrupts nature and gives us something totally out of this world to look at. From my personal perspective, I'd much rather have my grandma looking like she is old, with her wrinkles and her slightly obstructed posture--but I like the person she is, she's wise..and she's a great woman. And I'm glad that as I have aged this past few years with her, she's aged with me. If I was the only one aging while she still looked 50 or something when I was born, then it would only make me second guess what's going on, and it just wouldn't seem right. It's like feeding an athelete steroids to get him/her to perform better than normal--which really isn't the true or the real thing! Nature, the true you should be cherished and loved, and things that make you become more unnatural should just be kept for sci-fi movies.
Another issue these days, which is quite new I've heard about is the fact that these days, parents can choose the sex of their child. While for some people who may want a boy or girl and have never had one after repeatedly trying, it may seem like a good thing to do..I feel that it's also another way of playing with nature. I believe that we should let nature take its course. I know that some people out there who may be reading this may think that I'm against any type of breakthrough to help people have children..but quite the contrary, I believe the opposite. I have to point out that, the only time I believe that science should fiddle with nature is when a couple cannot have a child and scientific methods are required for fertilization. Or else...I believe that, if a couple has had 5 daughters and then suddenly they want a son and they run to the doctor so that they can scientifically guarantee the parents a son, I believe that to be wrong.
Also, though I may seem to be very strictly against plastic surgery because I deem it to be "fake", I must point out that I only consider this type of surgery or medicine bad under one condition. That condition being when the person getting the surgery only gets it done because he/she is fed up with how they look like after repeatedly watching or listening to the media (which may have caused them to get a bad self image)...if the person who has been exposed to a lot of media (well it's hard to avoid I guess!), and then realizes that they don't like themselves because they compare themselves to some twig, or Britney Spears on t.v., then no!, the person should NOT get surgery! Because here the person is only getting surgery to look like others and they "think" that they may gain "acceptance" which to me is the WRong way of getting "acceptance". BUT, if someone out there just doesn't like the way they look because they think wrinkles on their face look funny, and they only want surgery because they want it, and not because that's what our society believes to be good..then I believe that the person should be able to get surgery. Though, I highly doubt that someone would consider wrinkles to be bad if they hadn't been exposed to the media!
Lastly..some out there might argue, that sometimes surgery such as liposuction or stomach stapling is good for the patient, because sometimes overweight people cannot live anymore, because a small heart cannot support a large massive body, and other possible health reasons. Here, I DO believe that surgery is okay, but it's ONLY okay becuase it's for a health purposes--to save a life....it should never be done for a cosmetic reason.
Overall..I believe in truth...the true person, the real you. I do not like "fake" people, or make-up filled, crusty people, or people with augmented whichever bodypart. If only in this world people could understand that the real person is always better than what the fake person may ever be!

To meet alone or know ahead of time..? Tue Nov 28 08:09:45 2000
New topic..I guess this is sort of a pet peeve of mine. I hate it when people will get to know who I am or what I do before they meet me or even say a word to me. I know it sounds a bit stuck up, but I feel that whenever someone finds out about me through someone else, it's never clear or precise to the way I am. The people who get to know me through someone else's words always have a false assumption about how I should be like, totally..though most of the time they aren't off by much, but I just feel it's better to meet the person yourself and have them realize how you are rather than have someone else tell you.
IT's like when you write a paper. YOu want to get the best sources about everything, and not get information from a third party which may not know anything about the source.
The only problem I have is when I have to meet a person who already knows about me "through someone else"..when the time comes to meet, this person has this prejudgement about me. And sometimes in the conversation you hear from the person "I never knew you were like that"...well if they would have met me by themselve without having met me through another person, then they wouldn't have those assumptions about me in their head!
Also...or lastly...think about it..if you were to meet someone on your own..and not get to know them through someone else, maybe there would be less prejudice in this world..or should I stay less stereotyping..because then you'd be learning of the source (first hand), rather than through a third person..that should make a difference, right?

Money takers and stupid people.. Thu Nov 16 12:51:29 2000
So here's the deal. First off I am not writing this to defend anyone here..but I feel the need to voice my opinion on the following issue-though I'm sure there are others out there that totally disagree with me. But hey..if this is my opinion's page, I will say whatever, and all of you can write me back and say whatever you want in response.
So the deal is this. This guy (as I found out) was recently found guilty of fraud, becuase he promised others that he would find them their lost lovers, predict the winning lottery numbers or remove hexes on people. And due to that he's being sent to jail. Okay..here's what I don't get...why is it his fault?? Can't there be stupid people out there, people stupid enough to believe anything. I mean, if you are over 18, you should be considered as a person who can make rational decisions (well in this society)--so then if people lets say over 18 called this man for the winning lottery number--heck they probably did it because they were making a rational decision--and if not..it's the people who called, it is their fault! I just think that if in this society we grant people so much freedom after the age of 18, then if those same people make mistakes and get cheated of their money...then it's that person's fault..not the man cheating thems'--fault.
We all do things to get extra cash or save some. And if this guy wanted to cheat people of their money because that's what he thought was a good idea, then heck he has a great imagination..and he should be allowed to get the money from other people. But people should be SMaRt enough to NOT believe him! Sure that man cheating on others to me (is NOT rational), but if that's the way he thinks of it, and he thinks it's rational, then I think it should be allowed!!!!!

confidence..or egotistical? Thu Nov 2 14:22:40 2000
So here's the new thing I have been noticing. If you are confident in what you do, people think that you have an ego (about yourself). I don't really get that though because, well what's wrong with being confident and liking the way you dress, act (in situations)...they can be good things, most of the time they are good things. But people in our society will point the finger at the man or woman who walks with his/her head up saying "look at that snob"...I'm sure that it's hard not to assume that, since it is somewhat rare to see confident people these days. But then again, we shouldn't welcome confident people by calling them "snobbish" or "egotistical"..rather we should think of them as role models..people we all should follow.
If one can get him/herself to stand up for what he or she believes to be right and isn't afraid to show his/her opinion towards things, then who are we to judge them? I'm sure that the ones out there that do judge only do it because they are jealous of the other 'confident' individual--why else would they comment.
This brings me to another point. Mostly if not all comments made to a person or about a person, are made because the other person is jealous of him/her (being made fun of)..well that's a duh because everyone knows that...
As always....I'd like to say..if you are confident and love expressing yourself...hey..I love you for it! But if you're going to stick around and hide from society because you are scared of others..then I suggest you rethink about yourself..because you know..you only get ONE life to live..live it to it's fullest..and heck be Confident (if you feel) for yourself! Forget what others may think of you for it! :)

Friend or a suck up?? Fri Oct 13 20:38:52 2000
Hmm..I could talk about people on here, but I feel that this posting is not about pinpointing one person, but rather making a general statement. I guess I've thought about this issue forever, or well ever since I met my mom's friend (I'm NOT mentioning her name!). The thing is whether I could even call her a "friend" or a "suck up" or a "stranger" or an "aquaintance". She's just the type of person, who doesn't fit any of the definitions above.
Here's the thing. This women...I feel that she has a hard time making friends, whenever I've seen her, she's the one no one wants to talk to, and I guess it makes her feel bad, but what she does to get friends, is actually really annoying. Her way is to go up to the person she wants to be friends with and just start complimenting them...I mean sure we all love compliments but we only like to hear a FEW of them..not a trillion at once (usually if you aren't dumb you realize that this person is sucking up to you). But the thing is that this women feels that this is the only way she can make friends, and I guess I find that a "sad" way of making friends. I'm sure there are a lot of good stuff about her, but she either doesn't know how to express it or is just a shy person; but I fear the latter is not true, because if she was shy, she wouldn't be giving a trillion compliments/second!
So this leads me to wonder as to whether she is even a friend of my mom's? I mean she sucks up..that doesn't mean they are friends...friends do not suck up (not always or 24/7!)..I feel that I could label her as a stranger but she and my mom do speak sometimes..I guess the only thing she could be is an aquaintance (sp), but I always think of aquaintances as good things, she well I sure KNOW that what she does is NOT good!
I guess my main point here is that if you want to make friends, why not do it by showing others how you really are? Rather than maybe sucking up to them...(like my mom's no-name friend...) I feel that if you just let the other person understand you the way you are, you'll become much much Better friends then being friends based on compliments (which not to mention could be "Untrue" compliments")..I feel that sometimes these people who suck up, compliment for friendship, they don't give a crap about what they are saying! That's all..

Impressions can become deceptions..don't fall for them! Wed Sep 20 14:35:47 2000
I'm not one to brag about anything, but here's the thing. I guess it's been happening to me a lot this school year, than it has ever happened before! School started for me on August 28, 2000. The First week of classes, rather first day of classes, I met up with the people I had spoken with last year, and the thing that came out of their mind was "I thought you had graduated already!" Okay, okay, I wish I DID have graduated and I wish that I was in graduate school by now, but I'm NOT, nor have I graduated. I got this response from about 5 people during the first week, and I'm still getting it even now!
Now today..it's gotten to a point that I had to write about it. Earlier today I had two tests, one in Chemistry the other in Physics. Before I went to take the tests, everyone is like, hey you're "SMart" you'll do good don't worry. Hmm..how do they know I'm smart? I mean, they've never known me well enough to know my GPA, but rather they just assume that. Then just now, I was talking to another person, and he said "you're smart", I guess it made me want to talk about this issue on my msg board because it has gotten way out of hand. But in response to this, this person I spoke to asked me if I'd like it if everyone called me "dumb"...well of course I wouldn't! But why should one be called "dumb" or "smart" isn't there such a thing as being "normal"..being a person, not having to be identified by a characteristic...why not just a name?
I guess the worst part of all of this is that, I know way too many of the teachers on campus, I know them personally enough to talk to them, kind of more like a friendship thing sometimes, though not as deep as a real friendship. But the thing is this, now that I'm taking my classes this year, all 5 of my teachers this semester know me. One I had a class with during my freshmen year, the other I had a class with last year, and have anther class this year with him, another I had a class with last year and this year, another is my dad is friend, and the last one is the one I worked for in the biology dept. But the thing which bugs me is that ALL of these teachers (well 3 of them for sure!), have this image in their mind of me being "extremely smart"..I'm sure all of you out there are saying "Wow, congrats, you're lucky to have teachers think of you like that" but umm..actuallly No I'm not happy. Put yourself in the position once then tell me. Since my teacher think I'm smart, they think that I should know the answer to anything they ask in class..they look at me everytime they ask..they even call on me (who likes that??)! I thought I came to the class to learn..how the heck would I know the answers if I'm still learning just like the other students? Then there's the thing about when my teachers need help for something, hmm...they put me in charge for doing it in the class, it only makes the other students think that I'm a brown noser, which I am NOT! Then when you do bad on a test, this teacher wonders what happened to you..they call you into their office and ask you to talk it over with them! Well if they would have known from the start that I wasn't that good at the subject and had judged me as a "normal" student, then they would have understood my score. Then there's the thing about doing something in class, you're assigned a hard task, and you know what happens...everyone comes running to you...asking you to be their partner, because hey you could pop out those answers faster than them...but not always!
I guess sometimes, it's not too bad to be considered smart, but there is a limit to it. It's not fun being told that you are smart all the time..neither is it fun being told that you are the dumbest kid alive. All of us need to be judged as real people, and not supernatural genius's! If my teachers would just judge me from day one, on who I am..and not the way I dress (I admit, sometimes I do dress a bit like a smartass--but that's just taste in clothing!), then they wouldn't end up breaking the image they get of me later on. I guess all I can say is that it has gotten to a point, in which I go to my class right ON time because I hate being early to class, because then the teacher just talks to you, and asks you about this and that. It has also gotten to a point in which, when I see a teacher walking down the hall my way, I take the longer way to go wherever just to avoid my teacher. Don't get me wrong, I'm not Anti-social, but I'm just sick of all these impressions people start making of me even before knowing me well enough.
So briefly...for all of you out there judging others by their impression..do this--talk to them...see how they are. And if you need to comment, comment on something other than the person you're talking to being smart, because you never know if that person you're talking to might just be annoyed just like me. Btw...or lastly, don't ever make an impression of someone on the first day, and if you do please don't stick to it! It only makes you think more and it makes the person you spoke to, feel bad if they don't match up to what you thought they were/are!
Note: You know who you are...I'm not making fun of you. I just took what you said and made a msg for my msg board out of it. Thanks though..1st :)

Sticky Friends--No Thanks! Mon Sep 4 21:08:07 2000
This message of mine deals with friendship. First of all, I'll define what a Friend is-though I feel that I probably cannot define it properly because there are too many ways/definitions to describe a friend. But I'll give it a shot anyways. Friends are people who are there for you, when you feel down, people who understand you, people you can do things with without having to go overboard to impress, and lastly they are/can be as close as family members if not closer.
The point of this message it to talk about those people out there who may come across as friends, but are rather, to me, defined as "sticky" people. They are sticky because solely for the reason that they are not independent--they always stick to their friends for everything. Don't get me wrong, but I have friends (sometimes too many of them), but yet most of my friends are the ones who aren't sticky! They (my friends) are independent, they do not lean on me for everything. I find that there is a certain distinction between a true friend and a "sticky friend" or a "user". Here's the thing, I talk to some of my friends on campus in college, and they'll be like "hey check out that guy over there walking by himself, he looks like he really needs someone to walk with"...hmm to them "it just seems that way" but to me, I feel that the guy is independent enough to walk on his own, he is independent enough to get his things done rather than wasting him time on friends every second of the day. I mean sure there are times you should spend with your friends, but if one decides to revolve their whole life around "a friend" or a "group of friends" they'll never ever get anything done. Sometimes independence is better; think of how much stuff you get done when you aren't distracted from something, how you feel you have so much time for everything, and even after finishing everything, you still feel like you have time for other things...isn't that what all of us want? Hmm..now lets say that after spending our "extra" time on getting whatever we needed to, and getting it done, we realize that we still have time left over..now to me, this is time to do something with a friend, or something of the sort. I'm not saying that one should forget friends, but that one should realize that there are other priorities in ones' life other than friends...And though yes, friendship is a priority as well, but you need to prioritize everything, including "a friend". And for what I mean by a "user" and a "sticky" friend..hmm, well a friend that sticks with you for whatever you do, hmm..he/she is kinda using you for "Company"..who knows he/she could just hate you, but only sticks to you, because he/she is afraid to face the real world (there are people like that! they cannot walk alone by themselves!!!).
Anyhow..what else did I have to say..A repition--To me, a person is a good person if they do anything and everything independently. And if a friend comes along with this independent person, he/she treats the friend as a friend, and doesn't start taking orders from their friend. A person who lives his/her life under the control of a friend or stuck (sticky) to a friend is not an independent person. Say that friend dies, then what happens?? I always wonder..sure that person will move on, but heck, they'll find another person to stick to. And yes, sometimes you should compromise with a friend as well--I'm NOT denying that!
Here's the thing. I'm not jealous of people who have the bestest of friends, or whatever; I've got enough friends. But the fact of the matter is this, friends should be given time, and not given 24/7 of someone's life! Just like one takes time to do homework, one should make time for friends. And one can still be good friends with someone even if they do not spend each minute with that person! I've been best friends with about 4 people now for the last 11 years, and well I don't spend each minute of my life with them and I guess they are fine with that, and they actually love me for it! They admire me for who I am...And I guess I feel independent enough, that I can make time for my friends, and I can also do other things at the same time.
Independence is something I talk about on this message board a lot..and I just feel that everyone needs to live their life their own way..forget society..forget that "image" thing..you're only messing your head up!

Abortion Hypocracy! Thu Aug 17 20:43:58 2000
In this message, I will post my views on abortion as once I did before and ended up losing the message due to my message board being deleted.
Before I go on to talk about my views on abortion, I'll explain what the topic of this posting "Aborting Hypocracy" means. Well I called this posting that title due to the reason being that some (not all!) pro-life people are in one stance "for life" but yet at other times they are "for death." Allow me to explain myself. Well most pro-lifers say that you cannot equate life to anything, it's a gift granted to us and we cannot play God, but on the otherhand these pro-lifers go out and bomb abortion clinics and KILL abortion doctors! Now how can life be so important in one situation, but not mean anything in another? These pro-lifers, (the ones that bomb clinics and kill abortion doctors) are hypocrites to me, solely on the fact that they don't stick to one thing! Their views contradict!
Now onto another thing about abortion. When discussing this touchy issue, I meet pro-lifers and pro-choice people and while they have good reason to be whatever they choose--I feel there is a problem discussing the matter. The problem is that both sides do NOT talk at the same level and I don't mean intellectual level. I mean it as this, pro-lifers are for life, for the gift of life granted to us by God; Pro-choice people are for the right to choose. But more so, pro-choice people think that a government cannot make our choice for us, and that only a woman should be able to make her own decision concerning her body. Now while one side (pro-life) talks about the fundamental fact of life, the other side (pro-choice) talks about the laws of the government. In order to debate on something both sides must have opposing views, and though a bit of the abortion debate is on opposing views NOT all of it is!! The argument of pro-life vs. pro-choice is somewhat like the argument of Darrow vs. The Board of Education argument. This argument was based on the fact of allowing either evolution to be taught by one teacher in school (1 side) or to pass a law to never have evolution be taught in school (2 school). While one was on one specific case, the other dealt with everything as a whole. I guess I find that in order to debate an argument one has to set limits as well as levels to which the topic fits and thats the ONLY time that such a thing can be discussed. But with abortion it's an endless battle--one is for law,the other for life. If they had one "for life" the other "against life" that would make sense!!!
At times I feel that pro-choice people do believe like pro-lifers in the fact that one choice is life-but yet pro-choice people are only pro-choice due to the fact that someone cannot tell us what to do--that someone being the government.
Now onto my views about abortion. Well I'm pro-life. I , too, simply cannot think that a child could be taken out of a mother only because the child wasn't needed. I feel that life is granted for a reason, only God chooses who gets life and who doesn't-and I feel that we, in the outside world can Never play God!! Some may say that mothers cannot afford to raise the child, well God gave the child life, God will help the child--and there will always be couples out there willing to adopt the child! A life is a miracle, only granted to us, and that miracle is put on Earth for a reason, and there is going to be a way for that child to survive..again we cannot play God and know Exactly how that child will last in this world, if God put it on Earth, God has a plan!
Abortion to me is like murder, in essence we are murdering a child and getting away with it. Why is it that when a child is born and say the mother kills it after birth it's considered muder, but if the child is killed in the womb, it's okay?? To me both situations are the same, a life has been killed!
Though I do believe in life, I also believe that our government cannot tell us what to do. Now to some that may mean I'm pro-choice--but I'm not! I simply cannot think that someone could kill a child and get away with it. I'm stuck in the middle, I hate government control, yet I feel as if life is the most important thing. I guess the reason for me feeling like this, being in the middle of this argument is because of there being NO limits to this debate! It's not defined and it leaves people in the middle! Again, I'm for Life all the way, but yet I feel our government cannot make our choice for us. And though I could be pro-choice, I feel I cannot do that because I'll be agreeing on allowing children to die-hence then I'll be a hypocrite as well-which is something I'm extremely against!
Lastly, just had to say to all of you, I'm not one who would go out and bomb abortion clinics or abortion doctors. I feel that will get us no where, there will always be doctors performing abortions and as immoral as abortion doctors may be-some just do it to earn a living--though it's an extremely BAD choice of profession. Also, bombing clinics or killing doctors both are to KILL, which again, is something I'm against!!!!
Briefly--I'm pro-life, yet I feel that government cannot tell us what to do! Life cannot be equated to anything! And I am against bombing abortion clinics, or killing doctors--because both are for killing people--when I'm for LIFE!

Nature Vs. Nurture Argument.. Sun Jul 30 21:05:11 2000
The argument of Nature Vs. Nurture is used on almost everything these days, relating from sociology, psychology, to biology, etc. And for me to talk about all those issues at once would take me years, and it would make this posting extremely long. So to shorten the posting, I'm specifically going to talk about how sexuality is a mixture of nature and nurture.
Being the sociologist that I am (i.e. believing that we're influenced mostly by our society--environment), I used to think that a gay person or a lesbian person only chose to live that lifestyle because they were exposed to it. But now, I've changed my mind on that. I guess you can't specifically designate "nature" to one issue and "nurture" to the other. It's not as simple as people think it is, as I had thought of it to be as well.
The reason for me changing my mind is because I heard of that John/Joan case the other day on t.v. The case was about twins boys who were born, and while one of them was getting circumsized, the doctor accidently screwed up and there was no way to keep that twin boy a "boy". Doctors at Johns Hopkins decided to make that little boy a girl..and so started the life of this baby boy who was now surgically becoming a girl. Well as the story goes..the parents of this boy (now girl) raised him as a girl, and never told this girl that she was originally born a boy. But the weird part about this is that, all throughout the life of this girl (originally a boy), she always felt like a boy, she hated wearing dresses, she didn't understand why she had to take medicine all the time, while her twin brother didn't. So there came a time during this girls life when one day, the parents eventually told the girl she was actually born a boy, and that's when everything started to make sense for her. She started to understand why she loved to play with toy trucks and not dolls, why she hated wearing dresses, etc. Luckily, this former boy turned girl, finally became a boy again. But now he is given testosterone to make him look more masculine, since his body lacks the hormone (he was castrated).
I guess this case proved to me that somehow we are born as a girl and a boy and we know it, and not everything is based on what our society tells us to be. You can put pink clothing on a baby boy, and hey maybe that boy will still act "boyish" because somehow they are wired to act that way..it's not that by putting pink clothing on a boy you can make them "feminine"! (personally I find that blue for boys, pink for girls thing to be stupid--society screws us from the start!). I guess both nature and nurture makes us what we are....And that's what makes all this (Sociobiology) interesting!

A lie or a set of lies?? Sun Jul 30 20:59:40 2000
Hmm..something I noticed recently. The fact that when one person tells a lie, they don't just tell *one* lie, but rather tell many Lies..Here's the story, I won't name anyone, but I'll say that I've got friends who'll tell me something, and hey I know it's not true...So then two months later, I hear them telling someone else the same story, except the story is a bit changed and in essence my friend is trying to cover up her previous lie to me, with
another lie--hence she lies.
I guess the point of this posting is to say that one should never lie in the first place, it'll save them all the trouble they'd get into..and also, they wouldn't have to keep lying to cover up their previous lies..

Killing in the name of God?? Sat Jul 15 22:21:46 2000
This'll be a short one, but I've realized the following for way too long, that I thought it'd be about time, that I mention it on my msg board! The issue deals with how people in different parts of the world are killed due to them being in a different religion (or believing differently), as compared to someone else. For example, there are cases where one muslim will kill another because he/she thinks that the other muslim believes one specific aspect of Islam to be different from what the other person believes to be true. The thing which bothers me is that in Islam, there is the fundamental rule of not hurting anyone, or not 'causing harm to anyone'. Well if that's the case, then why do muslims kill one another, because one muslim disagrees with the other about an issue??? It makes me question whether they are muslims or not? Talk about hypocrites! The only thing I know is that, the only true muslims out there are the ones that 'do NOT hurt anyone' and actually tolerate others on their beliefs; I mean after all that's what Islam is based on--Tolerance!
By the way, this same case can be applied to Christians, and to Jewish people as well. Until everyone, in this world can learn to realize there are differences (between all of us), I will think of society as a whole to be ignorant, and self-centered.

Euthanasia... Thu Jul 13 22:45:37 2000
I've always questioned my beliefs on this issue. And sometimes I'll go with saying "oh the only person in control of our life is God", than at other times I think "well if the pain is that bad, then we should be to end our life". Yet now a days, I've started to believe the latter, and the following will be the reasons why.
First of all, for those of you who read my posting on capitol punishment and then read this one,
you'll probably think "hey she believes we shouldn't kill people, but here she thinks we have control over killing ourself--she's a hypocrite". Well, actually Not. See, I think that if there is anyone who has control over us, that person is ourself or god. I am strictly against the death
penalty because it's not harsh enough, and also because NO one can decide on putting us to death, except, yes, us and god. But in the case of murder, then that stupid perpetrator put the victim to death, and it wasn't that, there, the victim had a choice. I mean, these days, *most* victims want to live a life, and occasionally you see victims who really did want to die.
Now as to reason for why I'm for Euthanasia or also known as "Assisted Suicide". I think that if someone is in extreme pain, and he/she wants to end their life, he/she should be allowed to do so. Sometimes in these cases, the family members also agree on the assisted suicide but it never follows through because of governmental rules (isn't it our life??). Also, I just know that if I was in pain and felt pain everytime I walked, and just laid in bed all day, I'd rather die than to live that life with pain. That's got to be the worst torture out there (hence my reason for having murderers face life in prison!--except in prison they live a life full of guilt).
As always, most of my arguments relate with the self, and if *one* believes that he/she cannot live his/her life because they are in such extreme pain, then, hey I say, go for it. Now most of you out there will think, hah, she's telling other people to shoot themselves in the head, if they are extremely depressed--well NO. I guess I never defined that "extreme pain" I was talking about..well
the pain I'm talking about is the pain one suffers from some illness, or from being soo sick that they
cannot move and when there is nothing else out there to fix them into some 'good condition'. I DONT mean depression, sure it's pain, but I know that there are drugs out there to treat depression and with help, one can overcome depression. No I'm not cold, but there is a line between treatable things vs. non-treatable things such as cancer.
Also, while I'm at it..and since what I'm going to say does relate to the topic here..I wanted to talk about our government and why it does not allow any of us to freely smoke, drink, do pot, follow through in assisted suicide, ect. Why is that?? It is OUR life, it isn't the stupid government's life, why don't they allow us to do whatever?? There are some things which are just pretty damn stupid!
Anyhow to end this and to re-iterate my point, I believe in 'assisted suicide' only because I believe that a person who is worthy of making decision for him/herself should be allowed to choose the choice between life and death.

Magazines!!! Tue Jun 27 17:36:38 2000
Magazines can be good; like the ones that talk about health issues, or the ones that deal with the news. But yet, despite all these magazines, there are magazines that are about fashion, make-up, etc. Now the only type of magazines that I have ever read and can write about are teen magazines-since I used to read them when I was younger (I was messed up).
I find teen magazines to be very annoying. All teen magazines ever encourage is for people (young girls) to become one specific type of person--a dying skinny, make-up filled, no clothing women/young adult. The only good part about those magazines is when they give helpful advice about things girls face. Or else these magazines are only good when they talk about health issues.
But when these magazines talk about-whats in and whats not, how something should be worn, or how to wear make-up--that's when these magazines get annoying. All these suggestions ever do is form/make a Uniform style that each type of women/girl should follow. All throughout high school, I remember going to school and seeing how each year after summer vacation, each girl would come to school with that bob hairdo, or those capri pants, and that skinny "strip of cloth" called a tank top, etc. It was sometimes hard to distinguish one girl from the other-they all looked the same!! It was as if they weren't "unique" but instead were of a society made of a single uniform type of people!
My suggestion for these people is to follow/do what they believe, what they like, NOT what people in those magazines say is "in". The only way we can all be appreciated as "unique people" is when we start acting like those "unique people." And to be unique, one MUST follow what He/She believes to be "fashionable"!!
The only reason those magazines ever promote those capri pants or those Doc Martens is because those companies of those products are paying the magazine. And by having these people (us) buy those products, we actually are helping these magazines gain/win money! So in a way, when we pay to get a yearly subscription, these magazines probably get three times as much money back through US! Talk about being cheated! Why should anyone ever waste money when they don't gain anything??

Uniqueness comes with being yourself, and not copying whatever everyone else is doing. And that also involves not copying or listening to what magazines may tell you! sure if they give you advice on how to fix "dry hair" or something, then sure, go for their suggestion, but don't just copy the magazine page by page. I used to have a friend in high school, who'd copy every page of the magazine YM...each day she'd be wearing a different type of nail polish because it was 'said' to be 'in', or else she'd have her shirt flarred out because it was said to be 'in'! It annoyed the crap out of me!
Also, another reason why magazines are bad is because magazines cause girls and also men to actually hate themselves. Just because the reader of the magazine doesn't fit with the model in the magazine, we as the reader sometimes, start having bad feelings about ourselves, we lose our self esteem, which leads to depression and sometimes in extreme cases it can lead to suicide. It's almost as if, it's better NOT to read those magazines!!
As always most of my topics on this msg board have dealth with individuality..but that's just what I believe in! Also, I just wanted to note here, that I am NOT jealous of anything! Some readers who may be reading this msg of mine and may think that I'm somebody who cannot do that or this, cannot afford that, or look like that, and hence that's the reason for me writing this msg.But truthfully, it's not. I could do all the things in those magazines, but I simply choose not to, because I'd rather be a'unique' person in this society who sticks out for being 'myself' without having to follow stuff out of a magazine, and I'd rather not walk with the heard of humankind who follows.

Capital Punishment Wed Jun 7 23:37:26 2000
My view on this subject has changed with time. At times I see a case on t.v. and think that the best form of punishment for the offender is the death penalty, yet at other times I think that he/she should be put in prison for life. But lately I've come to one point and only one point, which I keep sticking to over and over again. That being that I believe against the dealth penalty.
The reason I believe against the dealth penalty is as follows. First of all; now days they try to make the 'forms' of death a bit less painful than before, and it's no where near as painful as how much pain the victim of the crime probably went through. The pain the victim probably felt, was the pain of not being able to say goodbye to his/her relatives, the pain of the actual hurt caused by the perpetrator of the crime, the pain of being killed and taken away by someone the victim did not know, the pain of seeing an unknown person as the last face the victim saw when he/she died. Now all that pain does not account to 'some' pain that the perpetrator would feel during a letal injection or an electricution (sp). Due to this, I believe that the only form of punishment for murderers is to let them have life in prison.
I believe that if a person is put in prison for life, he/she thinks about what he/she did wrong. Sure a lot of people out there think that life in prison isn't bad because at least you get to live. But who wants to live in a prison, with no windows, the only contact you have is with other offenders, the thoughts that (I can only predict) run through the heads of those offenders of living their life in the same place forever. I believe the better punishment is when the perpetrator sits around in his/her cell for the rest of his/her life and each night before he/she goes to bed, he/she has to think of what he/she did wrong. I
know for a fact that when I do things wrong, and get punished for it or even not punished for it, I lay in bed at night and think about what I did wrong, and if I wouldn't have done it, I would be a happier person than I am today. But the things I have done are only 'small' kiddy things, no where near as bad as 'killing' others!!
If I had commited a crime, I would much rather have me sent to death than to live a life in pain thinking about the crime I had committed. Thinking about something you've done wrong is the worst kind of torture one can ever get (from my perspective). Though I'm sure there are others out there who probably believe totally differently from me I'm sure.
Please note also; yes I know that the cost of an inmate is high. Yes I know that our tax dollars go out to those inmates who are getting the best they can get for killing someone. And for that I must add as well, that I believe in actually cutting down on that cost..we do NOT need to supply inmates with t.v's, with stereo's, weight room's etc. What we need to give them is a room and a toilet..and some food. That is the only way they'll actually feel the torture of living a life filled with guilt!!!!

Corporal Punishment.. Tue Jun 6 00:10:49 2000
I've written too many speeches on this issue and I've written too many papers on this issue, and I've also spoken of it too much with my friends, that I thought it's about time I mentioned it on here. The topic is of Corporal Punishment. Now that's NOT capitol punishment (some people confuse the two). Here's the thing, Corporal punishment simply put means "spanking a child". Capitol Punishment deals with the death penalty. Now that, that's out of the way I'll talk about my views towards corporal punishment.
From my perspective, a parent shouldn't spank a child. The only thing spanking ever does is that it makes the child more aggressive and makes the child feel rejected and disliked, and stubborn. Studies have shown that parents who spanked their children severly had their children grow up to be adults with low-self esteem. Now this cannot be guaranteed, but it can happen. That's the same with most cases that deal with Behavioral psychology (you can't guarantee something, but you can say that it will be likely!).
Most people think that if you don't spank a child at all, he or she will be a spoiled brat. Well that could be true..but that's not what I believe. In fact, what I'm promoting is that, we *should* spank a child ONLY when it is really really needed. The times when spanking is really really needed is when a child does something that puts the child in danger. Say for example, if the child sticks his/her hand in the electric outlet, or on a hot stove; here spanking could save the child's life. But only here should spanking be used. Otherwise, other situations can be dealth with, without spanking a child. Also, it has been shown through studies, that if a parent does not spank a child, the child grows up to be a less agressive adult. A study done a few years ago by Eda Leshan, proved this. She studied Indian Tribes and some countries in which spanking is against the law. She found that also in these tribes and countries, the crime rate was really low.
Now, to talk about alternate forms of punishment instead of spanking. For one, the parent can send the child to his/her room, they can take away the child's allowance, or they can take away the child's privileges to watch t.v, etc. Now, I know most of you out there are thinking..Huh, so what if I send the child to his/her room...They'll just sit in their room for a bit, and then be done with the punishment (with no harm done!). But another thing I meant to mention is that, in order for this alternate form of punishment to work, the parent MUST talk to the child afterwards, the parent must ask the child why he/she was sent to the room, the parents must ask the child if he/she comprehended as to why they were punished. And if the child understands that, then does this form of punishment work.
Now onto another thing. Even when a parent "must" spank a child, the parent should still give a reasoning as to why the child was spanked afterwards. This reasoning and explanation should follow after the spanking as well, and should also include the child comprehending the reason for the punishment. Here too, will this type of punishment work.
Lastly...I'm not one who believes in totally no punishment, nor do I belive that we need to whip a child everytime he/she makes a mistake. I believe in between a bit...and sometimes that's what can make a child a great adult.
By spanking, I don't mean "whipping" a child to death, but rather I mean it as a parent simply slapping a child on the butt, etc.

social acceptance through children?? Sun May 21 22:51:15 2000
Hmm..well I've seen it happen too much..and this posting of mine is more of an "annoyance" as compared to my other postings, but nonetheless it's still a "thought" of mine :)
So here goes. The story is like this; A parent tells his or her child to do well in school, or on his/her team (the child's) for Basketball (example!). So then when this child does extremely well, I mean, so well that the child is considered the best in the region, state, country, whatever--the parent starts to use this for their advantage. And the story goes from being a child's accomplishment to a parents way of 'showing off' to get attention within their (the parents) group of friends. I really don't like this situation, and never have. Now, I'm NOT saying that parents should never tell their children to do well in school--I'm saying that they should, but I'm saying that when the child does do well, the parent should leave it as an accomplishment on the child's part..an accomplisment in the child's life, and NOT make an accomplishment for themselves (the parent). The parent simply informed, the rest was on the child's part. The child could have either taken the advice thrown it away, or used it..and for those children that use the advice..it does not mean that it's all uh 'because' of the parent, but rather that it IS because of the child.
I can be told to eat garbage for a year from my parent, and I'd say no to it..but till the day I realize that I DO want to eat garbage, I won't do it! Now, in this situation I did follow what I believed...the parent wasn't involved that much to be considered fully responsible for my action--I WAS!
Also..I find that a lot of conversations these days between parents are of--my child did this, and my other one did that--come on, don't parents have anything better to talk about? I Know they are proud of their children..but should they announce it to the whole world?? Doesn't the paper in their town do that...I mean if the child does well, the child's name does come in the paper...
Lastly..I DO believe that a parent should tell others about their child's accomplishment only when asked to do so! NOT, whenever there is nothing better to talk about in a conversation between parents!! If someone asks "how is your child doing" then say "hey, he's doing well..he got this blah blah blah"..but what I hate is when the first thing out of a parent is Hello (obviously), followed by "well ya know, my Johnny keeps winning everything"...HELLO did anyone ask??
To sum up..some parents use their childrens accomplishment to get attention...to gain superiority...to gain social acceptance...why can't those parents do it elsewise?? I always wonder?
That's it...I hope I stated my point clearly..

Note: to all who read..I'm not jealous of anything..I love it when kids do well in school and make their parents proud..I love children who walk the right path..I just HATE parents who don't know how to praise their child's accomplishment in the right manner....

Intelligent...or just a hard worker?? Wed May 3 06:27:14 2000
Every now and then I'll hear at school "oh you're soo smart" and it makes you wonder about whether the person it was referred to was actually smart or whether he/she is just a hard worker and naturally not that intelligent.
Like lately, in my Organic Chemistry class, we had a test, someone did well in it and one of the girls said to the person "oh you're so intelligent" and it made me wonder, because recently in organic lab this person had been whining about how they had been studying for this test for a week and half or so. Now I believe that if anyone studied that much, everyone could get an A, even on an Organic Chemistry test! I don't believe that, that is intelligence, that's truely hard work!! (And NO, I'm not jealous that, that person got an A on the test, and that's not my reason for posting this message!!)
The only distinction I can make between an intelligent person and a hard worker is that, an intelligent person doesn't study too much, but understands the material quickly, the intelligent person gets done with the test fast while the hard worker might take longer (because he/she isn't too intelligent), etc. I believe that there are probably more hard workers out there than intelligent students..I may be wrong..but that's what I perceive...

Elian Gonzalez..come on! Thu Apr 27 21:20:12 2000
Okay so lately in the news there have been stuff with Elian Gonzalez. Well I have one view on it and only one. And that is that I don't understand how people can actually equate relatives at the same level as a parent?? Come on..The only one that has the rights to this child was his mother or his father and that's it!
If the person who had come to get Elian in the US had been his mother (if she hadn't died, and her dad was the one who had died bringing Elian)--then NO one would question whether Elian should be with his mother or not...because that's his MoTher, and in this society they give more rights to the mother..sure she was a caretaker..but so was the father, they both are at the same level! People need to go past their typical stereotype and stop thinking that this father cannot raise a child or something..and to QUit thinking that those relatives of Elian can!! It's just plain old stupid..

old argument mentioned once again... Wed Apr 5 21:24:43 2000
Alright, I've mentioned this before, but I had to talk about it today again, because of what I read. It's about how people will go out and try to blame the tobacco industry because they became smokers and got addicted. Well, my position on this is as follows.
First of all, in the united states, everyone wants to have their own rights to do whatever, we can't wait to be 21, so we can drink, we can't wait to be 18 to buy cigarettes. So I guess when we turn 18, it should be considered good or exciting that we are finally considered "adults" and are allowed to do whatever. And the age of 18 marks the age of becoming independent. Well if that is granted to us, and if we have become independent by the age of 18, then we should be able to make the right decisions (right?)--of course the law thinks so. So then why is that these stupid people out there blame the tobacco industry? They are the ones who made the decision of smoking and became addicted..it's their fault, not the tobacco industry's!! I seriously don't understand it! I mean every company out there wants to make money by selling their products, and now it's the consumers job to know what to use and what not to use!
Sure I guess if someone started smoking at a younger age than 18, maybe the above could be wrong. But then, still that person should be at fault..he/she is the one causing harm to himself/herself..not the company! Why is it that we don't sue companies that make coffee or Mountain dew, or alcohol? Aren't all those addictive as well?? I think that if someone is trying to sue the tobacco industry, they should seriously think of sueing other companies..ones that make alcohol..because alcohol does cause death too! But, STILL, we are the ones who want to be free and be able to do whatever we can do, but when we are granted the right of doing "whatever", we, ourselves Abuse it, and then try blaming others for it! This case with the tobacco industry is purely the smokers fault...I have no remorse for smokers!

note: I am not a smoker..nor would I become one. I did make the right decision, and used my privilege granted to me properly. Others probably do the same, but then when somethin bad happens they think they can blame the tobacco companies..

Racism... Sun Mar 19 23:58:01 2000
My views on racism are pretty basic. And after taking a few classes in biology, I wonder as to how stupid people could have been and still are, to judge others simply by the color of one's skin. It's as if we can help it, if our body produces more melanin, carotene, or hemoglobins (the stuff that color ones' skin)! If we could control the production of those three colorants, then maybe one should be racist or judge us by the color of our skin, but when you have no control over our color what so ever, why the hell do people out there sit around and judge others simply by the "darkness" of ones' skin? It's so damn stupid, and it really does piss me off!
To think that there are ignorant people out there who really believe that the inside of a "darker" person looks different than a "white" person? How stupid! If that idiot, whoever said that would have read at least one biology book or even took one biology class, he/she wouldn't be saying stuff like that!
I guess that racism isn't only based on skin color. The majority of it is based on jealousness. When one type of race realizes that another race or ethnicity is better than them, that group of people starts to hate that other race..they try to find characteristics of them to hate, wheter it be skin color, religion, looks you name it (it's like what Hitler did). And to think that people are still stuck at that childish level of thinking simply angers me! All I can say is that I wish all of you out there would sit down and simply think about what you say or do towards others before you open your mouth and say something which you wish you had never meant...
Racism is something that needs to be stopped..something that should start to decrease during this century, rather than increase....

Selfish Society..or isn't it? Wed Dec 29 19:20:39 1999
Now that I am off and out of school for at least 4 weeks, I've had the time to sit around and deeply think about issues (or well I think I have!). Something I've been thinking about, and by no means am I the only one to think about it, because I've heard others write up on it, is the fact that most if not all of us are selfish. Sure, most of us will go out and do things in the community or do things for others (even I do that!), and think we've done a great deed, but no matter how hard we try to help others, there is usually another motive involved behind our actions. I used to think that I did everything because, sure I wanted to help everyone, and I did, but if I really really thought about it, 1 in the 5 times I've helped someone within a week or so, I've done it to benefit me. Of course there is nothing wrong in doing that, or at least I don't think so now (since I do it too!).
Before I didn't believe in what I stated above..I used to think that there were weirdos out there who made up stuff like that claiming that everyone was/is "selfish", but it took me a lot of time to sit down and really think about it, and realize that sure, sometimes we are selfish. I suppose that god made us to help ourselves get where we want to be first, and on our way to success, it is considered okay to help others. Those of you out there who might think that what I say is just a bunch of b.s., I would like you to sit down and really consider what I've said....Just think that I was in the same position you were a while back and it took me a while to realize that everyone is a bit selfish, and maybe you'll realize it too.
Ever wonder why we have kids? Sure some people say that 'making kids is fun' but the real reason is that we want our "genes" to be passed onto another living being so that we don't end somewhere..or something. That in itself is selfish..yes we want "us" through our "genes" to stay alive through our grandchildren, or even great grandchildren, even after we are dead. It's like saying, "sure we can't live that long, but we can hope that someone can at least carry our genetic info into the next millenium or even later on..".
Note: yes I do realize that there are philosophers out there who've come up with this exact same reasoning before..and in no way am I steeling what they've said..I'm only saying that I'm actually beginning to learn now as to what they meant by it..

Child Rearing...who should do it? Tue Dec 28 21:55:33 1999
Recently I went to my friend's house and I had a few hours to sit down and chat with my friend's mother. I've got to admit that my friend's mom is one interesting person! She talked to me about, how people in this society take children for granted. There are people out there who cannot have children...people who would love to give a child the perfect home..the home that some parents who 'can' have children don't give much about. She talked about how, once in your life you have the chance to mold something into the way you want it to be like, almost like the way you mold clay when you make pottery. It really made me think about how people let others' raise their children, through day-care...by letting ones' children be raised through daycare, the parents are only letting their children learn that the values that should matter to the child should come from what the daycare provider seems to find most fit. Now is that what most parents want? I personally wouldn't think so.
As much as I am for woman working and all when a child is born or even a father working when a child is born (well the father one is a given)..I still believe that when a child is born, one parent should stay home and raise that child, so that the child grows up having the same values that the parent finds to be good/moral. If that is done, and parents do raise their children themselves rather than having a day care provider do it..I'm sure that we'll see less problems between parents and children. I believe that sometimes the misunderstandings between children and parents are based on what the child has been taught or has learned, whether it be from his/her friends, or more so from a day care provider. I believe that this problem could simply be solved if a parent would spend more time with the child when it is born and stop fussing over making enough money to support the family.
Note..though it is true that there are single parents out there, and raising a child can be hard, when the parent also needs to work, etc. Yes, I understand the situation, but I believe that, even that situation can be fixed or something. I mean sure, most of us don't start out thinking that they want to have a child and raise it themselve (though some might)..But if one is the only person raising the child and has to rely on day care while he/she works to make money for the house..what he/she can do is he/she can at least talk to the child or do something like read them a book before they put that child to bed each night. Granted the mother/father might be tired, but hey, I guess that's just one thing that comes with a child. No mother/father has said that raising a child is easy, and no mother/father has ever said that hey, they weren't tired when their child cried, or needed attention. I guess it's a price the parent must pay. (I don't want to sound mean or anything, but most parents do experience what I've stated above..no I'm not a parent, and I may be wrong, but I've heard the above enough to think it's correct).

Perception.....is it a deception? Sun Dec 19 22:32:46 1999
So I got my nose pierced earlier this year, before school started..not because I wanted to come across as a rebel or anything, but because I had wanted to get my nose pierced for the longest time.
But the only thing a lot of people say to me is that I did it because I'm rebellious. I personally don't care that people would say that to me, but I think that what people say is pretty stupid too. Yes again, I may sound repetitive, since most of my postings are on this issue, but people need to stop juding others by what others look like. So what if I have my nose pierced..that does not make me rebellious! It's the perception or stigma of it that's attached to nose piercings in the US that causes others to think that I did it to be a rebel. But in reality if people knew me, they'd know I'm no where near a rebel...
I know that the first impression is usually done by one's appearance, when he/she meets someone. While most will stop at that, and sometimes judge others by just that (bad bad thing to do), what people should do is go beyond that. Yes it does take more time to actually have a person open up, and yes it takes time to see what a person is from the inside but in the long run it's a better 'impression' of the person based on who they are, rather than what he/she looks like.
Sure in this society you do give others an impression of who you are by the way you are (how you dress, look like, etc), but that, from my perspective, is pretty stupid...People should dress the way they want to, I don't mean, dressing naked-sure it might be someone's way, but I'm strictly talking about clothing here, since clothing is a norm, and not dressing at all is against the norms in society. I'm not promoting rebellion, but just saying that people should just start doing things their way which are in the norm of society, but yet are not soo restricted, that the person whose doing whatever is only doing it to please others..BE Yourself, not what others want you to be LIKE! :)


*I hope I made sense there!

What you do..and who you are.. Fri Dec 17 08:19:26 1999
Okay..I was talking to my friends the other day. We started talking about our favorite singers, and I said that mine was Bryan Adams..And some of them said that they used to like Bryan Adams, but they don't anymore, ever since they found out he's racist! WELL I really don't get this. I'm not racist or anything, but I like Bryan Adams..I like him because he sings well, I don't want to think of him as somebody I'd look up to anything (I'm way beyond on that age!).
But it's pretty weird, that people could hate someone solely on the fact that he/she was racist or did actions that made them not acceptable..I, personally don't believe in that kinda stuff. It's like my previous posting about smoking...My friends smoke and I still talk to them, smoking doesn't make a person, it's the personality that makes a person! People need to stop judging others by what that other person does..everyone has a fault...people need to quit picking on it. I'll never hate someone because they are racist (well singers, because I only like them because of their music)..but then again it can be a different story if I choose to associate with this person and be friends with him/her.

8/7/2002-from December 7, 99
This Post is being omitted because it was written about past news, and now days it does not apply.

annoyance Wed Nov 10 14:41:16 1999
I always wonder if people put on 'acts' when they are around others or are they really that way? I know a friend of mine, and she acts as if she's interested in people (certain persons) but in reality I know she's not! I know the type of person she is, and I know her background and I know that no matter what or how she tries to act..she's really not that interested in them!!
The people who put on those acts are pretty stupid, because not only are they being rude to the person they are talking to, but they are also hurting themselves by giving others a 'impression' of them which isn't even correct. I guess it seems odd to me now days to see stuff like this..I wish people would just stick to their normal selves...it'd make everything a lot better, and it would also clear up some misunderstandings.

Beliefs.. Wed Oct 13 13:50:23 1999
It really amazes me on the fact that people will not choose to associate with someone if he/she believes differently than them....it's really quite annoying. I mean, I may think that one's beliefs may be wrong, but that does not make me stop talking to them or rather not talk to them in the first place.
People who try to find others like them who only share their beliefs are making a mistake....Our world is made up of different, unique people, and that's what makes society interesting. If we were to only talk to people who are exactly like ourselves, then we are only boring ourselves (from my perspective). I know that some people out there might love talking to people just like them and I guess that's fine..but I don't do that. :)

from my perspective.. Mon Sep 27 23:49:14 1999
Just something to add today..about what I think/believe..
From my perspective, I believe that everything anyone ever does, or should I say that anything that the majority of the population does, is usually if not always based on the fact that the person is doing it to fit in with society. People commit crimes to get rid of people making fun of them (who cause them to too look like outcasts). People dress like stars so that they look cool. People talk in a certain way to fit in. People follow norms only because if you don't then others' will look at you and be amazed...
While I guess most peope would say that, that's what makes a civilized person and one for society..I believe differently. I guess that if everyone was to follow just about everything the way I said above, then we'd be having a zillion copies of one type of something. And that would really suck because it'd only make it annoying, and non-unique. I guess our society probably likes people who are non-unique or something.
Well enough about my thoughts..they are just for today..tomorrow I'll probably read this, and wish I had revised it! As always I believe in individuality, or independence...always do what you believe is right, not what others tell you as being correct or good!! With that I'll end this....
-Anostica

Evolution! Tue Sep 7 13:46:36 1999
So I'm taking Genetics in college, and took introductory Biology last year in college for Biology Majors (I'm a Human Biology Major). Odd thing I've noticed is that people in my genetics class, are all biology majors, but when my teacher mentions the subject of "Evolution", almost half of the class shakes their head in disbelief! I really dont' understand why!
I find it pretty stupid that people mix religious beliefs with scientific findings! I would personally still believe in evolution even if my religion thougth evolution was wrong! I think that people are just ignorant! And to think that people who are majoring in biology could still believe that we as humans haven't evolved, even if a little!
I guess the only reason I see, which might cause people to not care about evolution is the following. I guess when you are told over and over to believe that something didn't happen, most 'uneducated people' take whatever they are told at face value and don't bother to investigate it themselves.! And when this happens we get people all over believing in the same thing, and when you ask them why they may believe in it, their only answer is because that's what their religion says! I guess if one is ignorant, he/she doesn't really want to know what the other side sees, only because that one person is stubborn enough to not care..and that's what causes resistance and stupidness! If only people were more open and listened to what others had to say, maybe today I'd be seeing more people in my Biology courses who truely knew what evolution was, instead of sticking to what their religion had told them about it!
We cannot have a religion teach us about science, it does not work! Nor can science teach us about religion..they are two seperate things..and should be kept seperate!

Wasting time on education? huh! Wed Aug 25 22:23:17 1999

Okay..so my major in college is Human Biology and my minor is Chemistry for pre-medicine. Though I know I'm going for pre-med and am very much so excited about it, I know that I might someday decide (or have decided) to rather go into the graduate school of medicine and much rather go into research which would still be dealing with the health field! Now, my third plan is that if neither of those work, I'd love to become a professor of one of the behavioral sciences out there (psychology, Sociology, Antropology), or a professor of biology! Now, the thing which annoys are people who ask, "hmm..what's your major" and so I tell them, then their eyes open and they are like "damn you know how long you'll be in school for that?" I mean come on...damn right I knew/know how long I'll be in school for my professions, but I'm not gonna give up just because it'll take me around 11 years or after high school!! People in our society are way too impatient or stupid and people who say crap to me like "wow, what are you getting yourself into" are stupid! I mean, yes there are tons of people out there who are doctors, or professor (my dad is one of Electrial Engineering at my University!)...but hey, they made it that far and they weren't impatient and didn't give up! Why should I..and well that's really not the point, the point is that I want to do what I'm doing!
The only way I'll ever be happy is if I become a doctor or a professor, but that is my goal in life! And that's like my one goal which I really really want to achieve, so why should I give it up! And if god granted me life, why don't I live it to the fullest and become something to help humanity or become something I've always wanted to be! I mean others can get to where they want to be by going to college for 4 years, even others can get to where they want to get by not going to college at all, but I want to go where I've dreamed of and it'll just take me around 11 years (or less)...I should be entitled to fulfill my dream as well..that's all!
Note: yes education is very important to me..but yes I know, that one should also not indulge themselves in only education as well...education is just one thing which is a part of someone's life...and in this argument I was 'only' talking about 'education'..yet there are 'other' things!

perfume.. Mon Aug 9 22:33:58 1999
I'm 19 years old and have been going to school almost my whole life..without a year off, etc. I guess it amazes me about how "school" has become a place to show off your materialistic things rather than a place to learn and study.
It is also a place to meet friends...
I guess one thing which drives me crazy is how women and men (many times females), who wear really really strong perfume! I'm sure all you know what I'm talking about, when I say that the perfume reaks soo bad that it makes the whole room stink...etc. I guess if that's the person's preference, then let it be that. But I guess it's just that, it makes me wonder if school is made as a place to show off yourself? I mean I would never want to get attention of others by wearing such strong perfume that it reaks up the place. I know that some (not all) do wear perfume/cologne only to have others turn around and see whose wearing the "stuff." That's pretty stupid, because why should one try to get anothers attention by his/her smell? Okay, it may be good to smell nice..but should that be the first thing?? I mean shouldn't one be meeting someone by how the person's personality is like...or what the person's views are like..rather than their smell or clothing?
I personally am against getting attention by clothing, or smelly perfumes..and that's why I tend to wear very light perfume..I just like to meet people by their views and their personality, rather than their smell..I guess after I get to know the person better, than it's okay to realize the person may smell good, but that shouldn't be the first thing!!
Though I do realize that naturally, smell and looks are the first thing people notice when you meet someone. But what is bad is that our society judges people solely on those things...and my view on that..is that it shouldn't be like that. People should go beyond someone's looks, clothing, and how he/she smells, and people should look at what the person has to offer from the inside because that's what truely shows what a person is like!
Many people in society may not be able to afford great "materialistic things" but should that make them excluded from others because people are ignorant enough to not talk to them...?? I've seen it happen in some situations to many people..and after seeing it happen for soo long..there comes a time when you just get sick of it!!

Cliques...
I talk with many people from time to time! People from different cliques, etc. Usually what I notice is that, once there is a newcomer to one of the cliques..he/she is usually in the process of transforming him/herself to be just like the rest in the clique! Even if that person doesn't like what the other people are into, he/she just tags along!!
That personally drives me crazy! As when I was younger, and didn't know much (yah there was time like that, perhaps I'm still in it!), I remember I used to tag along with people too, in a clique! Then I realized that to be in a clique really really sucked, because then you are only making yourself be a weirdo..and following what others are doing etc. Cliques only brainwash you into thinking a certain way and nothing else..and the reason being for them is that everyone else in the group is doing it too!
Though I still do stuff with my friends, from different cliques..I always stick to what I like and think is right, and not just what others perceive to be great and correct! I never fall for something because others fell for it too..unless I too thought it was good.
If you gotta live life, you gotta live it your way..not the way others want you to live it! So don't let others control your tastes, personality, whatever..be YOU!

To be (yourself) or not to be (yourself)
Okay, so I have this craze for the color yellow…in fact it's starting to get out of hand. It seems that everything I ever chose to buy has to be yellow and if not yellow, it has to be burgundy/brown. Lately, I've been telling my friends and my family about the color of car I want to buy (when I get enough money!)…that color being Yellow. My family and some of my friends think I'm setting myself up to be a taxi driver. I find that quite absurd because there is nothing wrong with the color yellow, and to be associated with as taxi driver isn't bad either (just not my choice of profession). It's pretty stupid that society attaches things/names to colors. I mean some meanings to colors are fine in some context (say traffic lights), but to say that yellow cars can only be taxi cars is stupid. I'm not going to change my mind about buying a yellow car just because of what others may think of it as.
Now onto another case, which may be somewhat related if not totally. This case applies to other things in society say for example, the view that man cannot have/grow long hair because our society (shamely) may perceive them differently! What the heck does long hair on men have to do with anything? Will that long hair make them stupid or something? Many people in the world, think that long hair is only for girls/woman…well I beg to differ on that opinion.
There is a limit to how long hair can grow. Say for example, a woman growing out her hair, she may realize that her hair once it reaches a certain length, it stops growing. That length can depend on many things, such as nutrition or heredity, etc. I have long hair and I have realized that that once my hair reaches down to my waist it stops growing. Well if this same thing is looked at upon men, one realizes that men also can grow their hair however long (in early age, until they start losing hair, it might be harder to grow it then) too, and many men do (which is good). But the fact is that if men can grow their hair just as long as women, then when god made a man/woman, god didn't care to bother with which sex would have the long hair, and why should we have to bother with that? Why should we stick names to men with long hair and sometimes (now) women with extremely short hair?
One good thing about our society is that it is made up of people with different tastes. But when we see others practicing those tastes (such as men growing out their hair) we start judging them, because of it! Now that to me is obviously very stupid. Why is it that people in our society say…I love/like a person who is just him/her, or who is unique. Well isn't a man growing out his hair himself…or even unique? Or is that considered as something stupid or out of this world? In many ways our society practices doublethink (holding two contradictory views at the same time). This only shows how ignorant, and hippocratic our society really is.
Another thing is that many people follow the latest fashion only because our society conditions us into thinking it looks good through the media, etc. But I do know that there are many people out there who only follow fashion because everyone else is doing it, and not because he/she likes it. For example, a friend of mine, he wanted to get sandals only because everyone had them…I asked him, if he liked them, and he said that it wasn't a matter of liking them, they were just in! That's just one example of how people in our society do things only because others perceive it as good and they themselves may not see it as good/cool. They follow the trend to be accepted, rather than not follow and be criticized; shamefully, that's the truth in some instances. By talking about fashion, I do not mean that one should not follow it at all or hate it; I'm just saying that one should only follow it because he/she DOES like it.
If you like the latest fashion and then follow it, it's fine, but please don't follow it only because others like it and not you. You have control over yourself, not others! You don't ask others about when you can take a shower, you simply take it when you feel like it (to look good, feel better), so do what you want to do and be unique for yourself, while our society may sit there and consider it differently!
Many of you have probably realized my views on these things by now, and they may not fit with the same views the majority of our society may hold. But I'm not going to sit here and change my views, only to make them fit in. I guess that should make me a unique person (considering I am myself)…or um shouldn't it?

Note: I do not say that one should be going against everything even if he/she believes it to be wrong him/herself, that is not my intention. My intention is to say that one should only do what he/she feels like doing just as long as he/she is the one that likes it and not because others like it.

My Life...Your Life..
Many of my friends smoke, but I don't…yet that does not stop me from talking to my friends who smoke. Some people I know, say that smokers are bad people (how can smoking make people bad?) and that associating with them is stupid. I really don't understand that statement. I mean, my view on life is that one should do what he/she feels to do, and that having others tell you what to do is stupid (say to stop smoking). Most of my smoker friends know the dangers of smoking and I have told them about those dangers too, but if that doesn't stop them, then I have no right to not talk to them or judge them by their actions. [I am not resisting or trying to avoid my friend's personal matters by not dealing with them (as if I don't care about my friends), but I simply feel that I have no right to be the one telling them about what is right or wrong either.] Their actions (such as smoking) does not make them bad people, in fact I've been friends with some of them for the last 12 years now and they haven't influenced me. If they know all about smoking and still do it, then let them be the way they are, it is their own life not mine!
Lately, some laws have been passed raising the price of cigarettes, in hopes of stopping people from smoking. I know that the law was passed to stop underage smoking but other people who were affected were people over the age of 18! I talked to a few friends of mine (who smoke and are 18+ ) about this price increase, and they said that the only thing that the law had made them (my friends and other smokers) do was become more stubborn. They said that a little price increase would not help stop their addiction, and that no matter what, they'd still smoke. And why should it stop anything? It is the smokers life, not ours, let them live it the way he/she wants to, not the way we expect them to!
Now onto another case. Some people believe that athletes who beat their wives are bad athletes! But again, I don't get that! How can beating one's wife, make you a bad athlete? It might make you a bad person (morally) but how could that influence one's performance? I mean if someone looks up to the athlete (say a young child), then the person (athlete) may be considered bad, but to say that the athlete sucks (in performance) because he beat his wife is dumb! This case also applies to actors who are good actors or actresses who act well, but yet their personal life may hold many addictions. We as the audience need to judge those athletes and actors/actresses solely on their performance and not on their personal life! As in the case of Hugh Grant being judged on his fling with a prostitute…well what he did was morally wrong (considering he had a girlfriend), but did that affect his acting? Absolutely NOT! He still acted the same. He might have been immoral in his personal life, but that should be none of our business, since he still fulfilled his job of being an entertainer to the public!
In conclusion, we need to realize everyone has a personal life which needs to be kept private, or which needs to be handled individually! And it is none of our business to interfere with it, since everyone is entitled to their own personal privacy and is entitled to make their own decisions!
Note: I realize that with friends, that personal/private life thing is sometimes broken…only because that's what friendship is sometimes about (sharing your experiences, etc).

Hello Everyone! I finally have my message board set up and running again! I will repost what I used to have on here,
and then from time to time I will add more stuff as they come to me! It's funny but I started this message board thing when I was
19 years old, and a sophomore in college, but now I'm 22 years old and a graduate student, and I *still* have things to add and talk about :) Hope you enjoy....