OBLIC'S PROFILE

Holy shit snacks! That is one badass meteor!

I know that everything I have posted on the forums so far has been controversial, but I'd like to get away from that.

I have thinking a lot lately about some philosophical stuff and have been examining things in my life very closely, trying to understand how I got to where I am. One of the basic things I realized was simply that we get to where we are through experiences (obvious, right?). Yet, for the most part, the little things don't cause great change or alter the course too greatly. So then I started looking more closely at the bigger experiences, the ones that DO alter the "course" or "path" we were on before we had that experience. I narrowed it down to two categories: terrible things and beautiful things.

Being a pessimist, I looked at the terrible things first, trying to figure out how these things affect us, and more specifically myself. I came to the conclusion that, for the most part, terrible things don't really change the course so much as they make us avoidant of certain situations. Yes, they can make you do something you normally wouldn't otherwise, but I am more interested in actual decision making to DO something.

I then realized that the good or beautiful things are really what change us and open doors to new things. Seeing the sunrise, a rainbow, or a butterfly; holding a newborn; something along those lines. I think these are truly the things that make us into who we are.

TLDR

What is the most beautiful thing that you experienced that truly changed who you are or how your life has turned out, and how/why did it change you?

Wow... I don't even think I have this much pirated music! Kidding, kidding... or am I?

So how can the files that go into a game be greater than its actual size...? Probably a dumb question, but I have to ask.

Hmmm... I feel like we're really getting off track here. I know I said some... not so well supported statements about polygamy and human-animal relationships, but I only tried to use those as examples of how I felt about freedom. I guess some people took those comments a bit more seriously than meant them to be taken.

Anyway, I'm still interested in what people think about the whole "changing the name of marriage for legal reasons" thing. Any new thoughts?

Okay, for starters, the goat thing was an extreme example of how I feel about freedoms. My point was, as long as no one is being TRULY hurt by your actions anything should be okay (being offended as a "bigot" or otherwise soft skinned individual doesn't count; grow up and walk away from the things that bug you; don't piss in others' cheerios just because something is "icky" to you).

author=emmych
If we're changing it to civil unions, make the straight people have civil unions as well.

So much this! I completely agree here. LockeZ said something about doing this would cause an assload of paperwork because laws would have to be redefined... so what?! I would much rather have a "civil union" with a woman than to be "married" to her. Again, as long as both received the same benefits or what have you. Let me be more clear about this...

I recently went to a friends wedding - a very religious friend - to whom I very close. Although we have butt heads, although lightly, on the religion issue, I still wanted to go and support him and his new wife. But, not having been to a wedding in quite a few years, I was... I guess appalled is a bit harsh, but it's the word that comes to mind. I was appalled to hear the priest, or whatever he's called, say the things about the "woman in this holiest of unions". It was worse than demeaning. It made her sound like she was to be his slave! I know most of it was just tradition and what not, but it was still rather fucked up.

So... I don't want to be a part of that. Marriage to me is a bit of an archaic tradition that was more geared toward building bonds and stopping wars than it was about love and companionship. Yes, things have changed over time, but some of those traditions are still there. When (and more importantly IF) I get "married", I want it to be on equal terms with my wife/spouse/significant other rather than be the "dominant figure". To me, the act of "marrying" someone is a way of entering a partnership, not a way of owning the other person or vise versa.

I hate to keep repeating this point, but I think marriage should stay in the churches. If a church will honor a gay couple, awesome. That would really help me respect at least that specific church much more. But since most of them are too snotty and dickish to let the gay community into there "club", let's change the legal bit so we don't have to get the crazies riled up.

Also, Emmych, thank you for throwing in your two cents. Like you said, we, as heterosexuals, can never understand how this truly affects the people involved. I both respect and appreciate you voicing your opinion here. Thank you!