should incest between brothers and sisters be legal?

[Sweets America]

That is just plain dishonest!

I despise such people ;-)

I think you absolutely don't get my point, Lote. And thank you for despising me. How nice.

What I am trying to explain is that I love debating because I love hearing other people's views, and I love when they challenge mine, and TheFifthElement does that in a particularly interesting and intelligent way. This is why I really appreciate discussing with people like her. I can learn too. I have learnt a lot by discussing about dogs with her. It's all about that: learning.

And I also discuss ideas without necessarily be attached to them, I love ideas for themselves, ideas are everywhere, I grasp them, examine them and discuss them, I don't care if they are mine or not. This can sometimes provoke misunderstandings.

When I see that someone has an opinion about something, I love bringing the opposite opinion, even if I tend to agree with the person. I just want to always be open, but sometimes I fail, it's difficult, but at least I try.

Discussions, debates, abstract things, I love that. And if you still think it's being dishonest, there is nothing I can do for you. What I think might be dishonest, however, is to have a guy pretending he's read all the books on everything, visited the whole planet and has a personal experience on everything because he's a scientist.....
I willingly recognize that I know nothing really, I am just discussing and all the doors are opened in front of me, I will not imprison myself in any room.

Oh, Fifth, I'm not sure about my career. My ex-lover thought I would be great in the United Nations as a diplomat. But, I don't know, I think I would be better in a quiet kind of work, with books or something, with words, with the English language...

[Lote-Tree]

And thank you for despising me. How nice.

It was designed to provoke ;-)

[Sweets America]

It was designed to provoke ;-)

You won't need to provoke me any longer because I think I will just stop debating with you from now on. There are other people in here with whom I'll be happy to discuss.

[TheFifthElement]

It is shallow and deceptive.

Oh I strongly disagree. It is, in my opinion, by far the best way to test the validity of your own opinions, by trying to convince yourself otherwise (arguing the opposing view). If you can find holes in your own opinion then maybe your opinion isn't so valid. The alternative is the 'ostrich' method. I know which I prefer.

Mediation is not debate!

didn't say it was, I was just pointing out the similarity. If you'd ever been party to, or seen mediation in action I guess you'd understand. It's all about seeing the other point of view, testing it, questioning yourself. This is very much the process Sweets was describing.

[Sweets America]

Oh I strongly disagree. It is, in my opinion, by far the best way to test the validity of your own opinions, by trying to convince yourself otherwise (arguing the opposing view). If you can find holes in your own opinion then maybe your opinion isn't so valid. The alternative is the 'ostrich' method. I know which I prefer.

didn't say it was, I was just pointing out the similarity. If you'd ever been party to, or seen mediation in action I guess you'd understand. It's all about seeing the other point of view, testing it, questioning yourself. This is very much the process Sweets was describing.

Yeah, you see what I mean. I think the only difference between you and me here is that I don't wish to really have my opinion and to test it, it makes me cringe to have my opinion. I'm sure however that I do have opinions about some things, I cannot help it. But seeing the other's point of view is then a helpful way for me to detach myself and not feel enclosed.

[Lote-Tree]

Oh I strongly disagree. It is, in my opinion, by far the best way to test the validity of your own opinions

I don't debate with opinions. Only with evidence ;-)

Debating with opinions is like deciding on the best flavour of Ben and Jerries icecream

[Lote-Tree]

You won't need to provoke me any longer because I think I will just stop debating with you from now on. There are other people in here with whom I'll be happy to discuss.

No problem lassie.

Go in peace.

[TheFifthElement]

it makes me cringe to have my opinion. I'm sure however that I do have opinions about some things, I cannot help it. But seeing the other's point of view is then a helpful way for me to detach myself and not feel enclosed.

But then, does not having an opinion become a restriction in itself, are you attached to being detached?

I don't debate with opinions. Only with evidence

You've found talking evidence?!! That is impressive

[Lote-Tree]

But then, does not having an opinion become a restriction in itself, are you attached to being detached?

You've found talking evidence?!! That is impressive

Evidence speaks for itself ;-)

[Sweets America]

But then, does not having an opinion become a restriction in itself, are you attached to being detached?

This is a good example of why I love you. You're right here, I am restricting myself in wanting to have no opinion, I am enclosed in this idea. This is terrible, I have always been searching for a solution but there seems to be no possible complete freedom and detachement.

[TheFifthElement]

This is a good example of why I love you. You're right here, I am restricting myself in wanting to have no opinion, I am enclosed in this idea. This is terrible, I have always been searching for a solution but there seems to be no possible complete freedom and detachement.

Oh Sweets, you're so nice! I guess what you describe is similar to my experience with my Mother who was, when I was a teenager, slightly overbearing. I spent a long time doing exactly the opposite of what she wanted, only to realise later than in so doing I was also, in some cases, giving up what I wanted. I spent a lot of time trying to be something, but in the end I figured it's best just to be. Life is hard enough without trying to live up to other people's, or even our own, expectations.

[metal134]

For example,metal134, not to single you out, but sometimes I read your comments and think 'ouch', because, to me, sometimes your comments seem very blunt and sarcastic. Now you may not intend it so, but as a reader that's the 'tone' I pick up. But then that's just me, other people might read what you've said and think nothing of it. For me personally, I think I run the risk of coming across as patronising when, again, it is not intended. I'd hope someone would tell me so (nicely!) if that was the case.

Actually, I am quite blunt. Not sarcastic (at least, not usually) but yes, I am quite blunt and to be perfectly honest, I see no problem with that. I have never be one to adhere to diplomacy, I just calls em' as I sees em'. I wouldn't think that the members on this board would be so non-combative that bluntness would be an issue. To me, unless it gets personal, there is really no issue.

[V.Jayalakshmi]

Dear members,

God!!I feel there should never be anything like this.No question of legalising such a thing too.In Tamil language( From India),too a novel by M.Varadarasan( MU.VA.) dealt with such a situation.The unthinkable should never be legalized.

[SleepyWitch]

Dear members,

God!!I feel there should never be anything like this.No question of legalising such a thing too.In Tamil language( From India),too a novel by M.Varadarasan( MU.VA.) dealt with such a situation.The unthinkable should never be legalized.

hm, but as you can see it is thinkable

[muhsin]

No! Don't have much time to say more but no and no!

Nice piece, Sleepy.