I meet this girl...

[marurun]

You know, I was a virgin for a long time, until I was probably 23, 24 or so. I'd fooled around, but it just hadn't been right. It wasn't so much that I put it on a pedestal as it carried risks and entanglements I wasn't, or felt I wasn't, in a position to deal with.

Now I'm married and 30 years old.

Some people get over their hangups, and sometimes those hangups aren't all you assume them to be.

Stay with it. If she's cool and you like spending time with her, do just that. Let her dictate the pace of the relationship. If you occasionally push a few boundaries that's fine. Just respect if she says no.

Sounds like you've got a good head on your shoulders. You don't need advice from me or anyone else in here.

[Gamerforlife]

I didn't read all the other posts in this topic, but I'll say this. I'm always regretting things in life I didn't try. Possible opportunities I didn't pursue. I know people say this all the time, but it really, really sucks when you're stuck wondering what could have been when thinking back on certain opportunities in your life and NEVER, EVER knowing what could have been.

That's the worst thing in life, it's the not knowing. If you pursue things with her, you'll never look back and wonder what could have happenned between the two of you.

Oh, and speaking of Tauruses, there's one I never completely got over. So yeah, they're pretty cool. Not that I'm a firm believer in astrology, but she was a Taurus and she was special. Really miss her sometimes.

[lordofduct]

LOCKED...

because I say so.

[Mozgus]

[lordofduct]

should I not of locked this?

[Ivo]

Back on Astrology (I'm not getting in the other part of the topic, I think you already know what is right for you, better than anyone else)...

What can the positions of planets, stars or whatever, on the time of your birth, do to influence your life? Gravity is the weakest interaction, the other interactions won't reach you except light (and that's the faint one you see on the night sky only). Much more light and gravity come from Earth itself. Not to mention, the sign comes (from what I know) SOLELY from the date and time of birth - and (again from what I know) the Astrologers don't compute the movements that the Earth has had in the Galaxy to see where we are now when they make predictions for you, 24 years later.

And if you are going on faith (which is a valid choice), then perhaps you should believe in some religion (I do, personally) instead?

Anyway, it's your choice. If you find it fun to read and see how many of the (extremely general) "predictions" they got right this week (or the next), or which parts of your behavior are correctly "predicted" I understand better how a smart guy like you spends time with it. I bet there are statistical studies showing that the predictions for (say) Tauruses (Tauri? ) are on average about as correct for actual Taurases as they are for any other sign (given a suitably large sample).

Ivo.

[lordofduct]

Back on Astrology (I'm not getting in the other part of the topic, I think you already know what is right for you, better than anyone else)...

What can the positions of planets, stars or whatever, on the time of your birth, do to influence your life? Gravity is the weakest interaction, the other interactions won't reach you except light (and that's the faint one you see on the night sky only). Much more light and gravity come from Earth itself. Not to mention, the sign comes (from what I know) SOLELY from the date and time of birth - and (again from what I know) the Astrologers don't compute the movements that the Earth has had in the Galaxy to see where we are now when they make predictions for you, 24 years later.

And if you are going on faith (which is a valid choice), then perhaps you should believe in some religion (I do, personally) instead?

Anyway, it's your choice. If you find it fun to read and see how many of the (extremely general) "predictions" they got right this week (or the next), or which parts of your behavior are correctly "predicted" I understand better how a smart guy like you spends time with it. I bet there are statistical studies showing that the predictions for (say) Tauruses (Tauri? ) are on average about as correct for actual Taurases as they are for any other sign (given a suitably large sample).

Ivo.

Before anyone get's confused. Astrology is not my belief system, I am Atheist. I love studying theology and other religions and the sort, and I enjoy the novelty of some of these beliefs.

I don't really consider the stuff to be harden fact. Its, fun... that's all. As for the Sunday morning horoscopes (that is only a small part of astrology) in your newspaper, yeah, they are generalized BS that can be applied to just about anyone. Those are more like fortune cookies, yeah they aren't true... but we all read em' anyways! IF someone truly believes in astrology that much that they think it can read their future perfectly to the tee like that, well they shouldn't be reading the newspaper. Their are astrologers out there that (for a fee... heh! fuckin' hippies) will map out your sign through each house (your date isn't the only part of it, time of day, year, parents, and all kinds of stuff effect your sign... for instance there are 3 main houses, I am Scorpio in all three... my uncle, who's birthday is the day after mine is only a scorpio in one house). After that they do take everything into mind to do a "reading", but most logical people would really look at this more like a tarot card reading or something... it's fun. Take it for what it is... shit, I'd NEVER pay for it personally. But hey, we buy videogames!

As for how could they effect us?

I don't know... but that's the thing. No one knows. Do we really know if God exists (for those of you that are religious). Astrology is like an Almanac of personalities and traits, that is all... people one day decided to watch the stars and people, they wrote it all down. They thought that certain things were to coincidental to be just that, and decided that they could use this to predict certain things about people and what they'll do. It went even further to believe that the heavens influence everyone as a whole even after birth and that that total influence spanned across everyone on a daily basis can influence a society to move in a certain direction.

but only possibly, a process that could be altered when recognized. Astrology also is a theology that grows and is periodically updated.



As for the physics of it... planets pulling on us. Well, Astrology does consider that the Earth, moon and sun have the largest influences on the body... which their gravity alone does yank on us a lot, shit the moon moves entire oceans. Nevermind that gravity isn't the only forces the enact on us... like radiation and the sort. Planets also do effect us a lot, the placement of 1 planets orbit (which is not a perfect circle, but more elliptical) is strongly decided by the other planets placement in the solar system. When we initially discovered Pluto, it was because we noticed a strange pattern in Neptune's orbit that was indicative of another body out there. And we all know that our position in the solar system greatly effects the different forces the earth, sun and moon can inflict on us (from temperature/radiation, to gravity).

Then time moving on can effect us further, the placement of stars out in the universe might not have massive influences on us. But that's not the only thing those stars tell us. The placement of the stars in the sky can tell us the time of year, time of century, time of whatever. It can inform us not only of our own Earth time, but of our universe time. Did you know that the solar system we are in isn't stationary in the galaxy, nor is just orbiting around the center of the galaxy like we once believed. Actually we kinda wave up and down as well... kinda as if our galaxial (is that a word?) orbit was a SIN wave in a circle around the center.

Some scientists are trying to see what kind of influences this movement can cause us. They believe it might play a part with some of our temperature changes or even mass extinctions.

Not to say astrologer are physicists... but they could of just noticed that these bodies in space influence us a LOT more then we originally believed millenia ago.


The other thing I like about astrology, it never says that it is fact. It simply says these are predictions, they can change, we can be wrong... we aren't perfect as humans, nor is our process of reading the world.

I like that, it's like science meets theology. It's based on study and experiment, but on a spiritual level instead of practical level.



[EDIT]
How about an example...

from the link earlier to parts of Linda Goodman's book "Sun Signs"

Scorpio is deeply interested in religion, intensely curious about all phases of life and death, passionately concerned with sex and violently drawn by a desire to reform.

...

If you're in love with a Scorpio male and the word passion frightens you, put on your track shoes and run as if King Kong were pursuing you. He is.

I'm not speaking of romantic passion alone, though that may be at the head of the list. I also refer to pas­sionate intensity about politics, work, friendship, religion, food, relatives, children, clothing, life, death and any other categories you can think up. A Scorpio man is not exactly what your psyche needs if you're repelled by emotional excess. Don't look back. Just run.

...

If you're sensitive, don't ask his opinion or advice. You'll get the naked, brutal truth. You asked him, hell tell you. Scorpio will not pay a false compliment to gain a point or win an ally. It's beneath him to flatter. When he says something nice to you, treasure it. You can be sure it's sincere and unvarnished.

Just think about what you know about me... then read that again replacing Scorpio with LordofDuct.

I shouldn't even have to desribe line 1... this whole post is about theology.... damn this whole thread could be summed up in that line.

Second line - Seriousily? How passionate am I? Abnormally so, I will rant, rave, explain, describe, lecture and everything about so many different topics. Just because, because I LOVE it. Because it is what drives me... it also seems to drive most Scoripios so this says... hrmmmm

Third line - You guys probably never noticed this. But I remember as a child, my mother was the unnerved women who couldn't decide what to wear. She'd come in and ask for my siblings and my opinions about it. My retort on several occasions was, "Ma, if you need to ask my opinion... you must look awful and should pick something else."

Most of my girlfriends are equally unnerved by my supposed "bad temper". Because they'd come home from a bad day or something, "oh poor me, my tire went flat, I was late to work, and the professor gave us this paper to write by Monday. Ohhhh, hold me."... and? you want my console? If you want me to fix your tire, just ask... if you want me to help with your paper, just ask. But if you want me to give you hugs and kisses telling you how everything will be OK... fuck off, fuck you, you're an adult and you can handle it. That isn't that BAD.



My fav line in the entire book though is when she describes Capricorn. My buddy Adny is a Capricorn and he totally got the joke.

It won't do any good by that time to complain that he never tells you he loves you. He'll just look at you in injured innocence or grumbling disgust (depending on how strong Saturn was at his birth), and patiently explain that "You're crazy. I distinctly remember telling you I loved you when I gave you your engagement ring and again when little Calvin was born."

[Mozgus]

Most of my girlfriends are equally unnerved by my supposed "bad temper". Because they'd come home from a bad day or something, "oh poor me, my tire went flat, I was late to work, and the professor gave us this paper to write by Monday. Ohhhh, hold me."... and? you want my console? If you want me to fix your tire, just ask... if you want me to help with your paper, just ask. But if you want me to give you hugs and kisses telling you how everything will be OK... fuck off, fuck you, you're an adult and you can handle it. That isn't that BAD.

Wow. It's amazing you can still pimp with that attitude, let alone have any kind of girlfriend. I guess you know what you're doing. IRL, if it's someone I even remotely care about, I'll always go out of my way to cheer them up if they're down, but you're right. It doesn't work. It almost always backfires. But I continue...

[lordofduct]

Most of my girlfriends are equally unnerved by my supposed "bad temper". Because they'd come home from a bad day or something, "oh poor me, my tire went flat, I was late to work, and the professor gave us this paper to write by Monday. Ohhhh, hold me."... and? you want my console? If you want me to fix your tire, just ask... if you want me to help with your paper, just ask. But if you want me to give you hugs and kisses telling you how everything will be OK... fuck off, fuck you, you're an adult and you can handle it. That isn't that BAD.

Wow. It's amazing you can still pimp with that attitude, let alone have any kind of girlfriend. I guess you know what you're doing. IRL, if it's someone I even remotely care about, I'll always go out of my way to cheer them up if they're down, but you're right. It doesn't work. It almost always backfires. But I continue...

I have come to the conclussion that for the most part, people love my honesty.

Like the quote from Linda Goodman says, "When he says something nice to you, treasure it. You can be sure it's sincere and unvarnished." It's not just sincere and unvarnished... it sounds it too. You know when I appreciate something, and if you've done something for me, I will go out of my way to repay any debt I feel I may be in.

I'm not a grumpy bastard all the time, and I can be just as sweet, happy and talkative as any other person. And if you have troubles and need help, I am more then willing to assist... you just have to ask. But coddling, and vapid console... not thank you, I don't play those stupid games. Appreciate that I drove 55 minutes to fix your car on the side of the road so you can make it to the art show in Miami... don't be upset that I didn't say, "poor girl, I know, the world is crushing in on us all."


funny story about fixing cars. So my friend got a phone call once and it was a girlfriend of his, she had car troubles, so I went and helped her out, got her POS Saturn back on the road and she was greatful... a bit too greatful. She fell in love... 1 year later I finally got her away from me.

Fastforward 3 years. I'm in a bar chatting with this girl. And we get on the subject of room mates. She starts telling me about this horrible room mate she once had and how much of filthy cunt she was. She say's her name... and I laugh... you know "so and so".

"oh, my, God... you're THAT LordofDuct. *so and so's* ex-husband!"

COUGH!... I couldn't hold it back. My eyes went bugger out and fell on the floor. My God did this girl not even tell her sister (my best friends Lyn's closest friend) I slept with her... but also told other's we were to be married. EW!

[Mozgus]

...wow...

Anyways, I'm constantly honest, but it never really works out well for me. But trying to make someone's day better is no form of a lie.