Jamie

No, not at all Sheffette, prejudice free here! Crusty, hmmm perhaps relative to (the jovial all singing all dancing) mostly black congregation across the road.

Damn, and I was just searching this thread for an auto electrician ... Actually a very good idea Tony, I was thinking about something simular myself the other week, having a skills exchange part of the forum. I can do X or Y, in exchange for someone who can do Z for me.

Maybe you should try an alternative mantra Rich? WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF?

Because some things are impossible!? (and in any case, you'd be much better off thinking about something better that you'd like, rather than expending your energy ignoring her). Aside from that, good post Wilf. You don't have to believe in anything, you don't have to engage yourself in the activity of believing, full stop. I'd go so far as to say, that ultimately, whatever you believe, is infact wrong, and is just made up (by you). Probably much more healthy not to think about all this, and to just get on with life, doing what you've been put here to do (!). Mwaahh hah hah.

I don't think anyone has given a satisfactory answer to this point. How many white people, or white christians even, would feel totally comfortable going in to a gospel church full of black people? Equally, how many black people would feel totally comfortable going in to a church full of crusty white people? Isn't this an indication that appearances are all important? Even to supposedly spiritual people? Perhaps we are all racist, to a degree, and have a natural discomfort with people who are different to us? Or does spiritual maturity disolve our differences?

Clearly there's a lot to differentiate between here. Most rapes, not being of the flirty, scantily clad girl on the street, gets drunk, walks home alone variety (have we seen any statistics, or numbers to back this claim up?). Doing what you can, to make yourself safer (you will never be 100% safe), while being a good thing in itself, can also detract societies attention away from doing anything more to address the issue of rape (and therein lies banesmabes objection to such advice?). So what would you like to see happen, banesmabes, to make the world a safer place for women?

Of course, the content of your post was first rate.

Greetings, byronshadow. It is my humble opinion, that expressed opinions beginning 'It is my humble opinion', are anything but humble! I do believe you, sir, have a fetish for flowery writings ...

I was thinking the exact same thing. Just a question of what questions to ask in a poll ...

Quite! It's unfortunate, but (as it seems to me) these things always boil down to some kind of battle between the sexes. People become agrieved for whatever reason(s), and a common tendency is to lump all members of the opposite sex together in to one group (all men are ***** etc). Why does this happen? Perhaps I am just imagining it all ... Advice about looking out for your own personal safety, is just that. It does not imply that women are to blame for being raped. We live in an amoral universe and to be responsible for ones own well being, is to me, paramount. People (well, some people) are only animals, and as such, we're capable of harming each other in a multitude of ways. To my way of thinking, anticipating or expecting, that all other human beings (male or female) will act in a reasonable and fair way towards you, is foolish. You should always bear in mind that some people will have little or no qualms about harming you (to whatever degree), and put your own saftey first. Now you can think 'well they should have respect for me' until you're blue in the face, but that will never change the facts of the matter. Being able to defend yourself appropriately (bite his balls off if you have to), should be top priority. Other than than, better education on the subject, perhaps in school? Hmmmm, OK, I am wondering if what banesmabes is getting at is the following: If we suggest that women should learn to defend themselves and reduce risk of rape by modification of their behaviour, doing these things are of course good, but by suggesting them, it kind of lets society / the establishment 'off the hook' when it comes to having appropriate mechanisms / punishments in place to disuade potential rapists. That make sense?

I have some points and questions, directed to the mods and co-admins. --- 1. What, if any, mechanisms or guidelines do you have in place to ensure that all SF users, are treated the same, when it comes to reprimands and bans etc? Such that any decision to ban, length of ban etc, is consistent with number of previous warnings, severity of crime etc, and not just because you personally dislike or don't see eye to eye with any given user. I think consistency is very important here. --- 2. Why do you moderate? What's in it for you personally? Do you 'get off' on having power over the rest of us? Do you get 'miffed' about suggestions that you're only in it for the power trip?

But isn't there some unspoken law that says white people can't go in to gospel churches full of black people, because they'll stand out too much? I'm sure there is! Please bear with me on this, while I'm being a tad light-hearted at the moment, I do also think there's a more serious point here.

Well, as I travel down city road on some sunday mornings (on my way to the gym), I notice a church on the left is full of black folk (all doing the sing-along with jesus thing, or so I imagine!), and then st aidens on the right, has all the white folk! Why don't they swap and change a bit? See what the others get up to?

I only wondered, because they seem to have churhes for white people and churches for black people? What's that all about? Are they racists at heart? Why don't they share and share alike? Confused, Jamie.

Have U tried to PING it ? Sorry ... bad joke day