Getting out of the house/Links

[enismirdal]

Woke up this morning feeling grumpy and weird. Decided that before I started worrying it was hormones and overreactig, considered the possibity that maybe it was because I hadn't left the house for 3 days. So I hopped on a tram and went to see if fairypants was at her usual workplace. She was, so I moved in with a cup of coffee, and enjoyed an atmosphere somewhat like a less-busy version of Central Perk off Friends.

Soon after, i_eat_bibles popped in too, so we had a moan about the bad things in life, an enthuse about recent good developments, and stuck around till closing time. Walked home, fairypants showed us a place she was interested in, and altogether I got much good company of the face-to-face variety, which is sometimes necessary, I think, in order to remind me that I cannot answer in everyday speech with "LOL" or "OMG". Thanks, girls, you perked me up loads!

Additionally, let's have some links.
Firstly, this amazing, powerful post:
No Pity. No Shame. No Silence.
The writer of this post has my greatest respect and support; by writing this post, she has helped to break down taboos and, I think, give hope to many people. I'm fortunate enough not to have ever been a victim of sexual violence myself, but I want to show my total support for the cause and for survivors everywhere.

Thanks to doltaghey, on whose LJ I saw the link originally, and ghoti and erestor for echoing the sentiment.

Secondly, was reading this very interesting but utterly homophobic article on gay sex. It's from a Christian organisation, so it's rather somewhat biased, and also somewhat out of date, but has some interesting 'facts' in (statistics, if you ask me, are far too easy to use to prove any point you like).

It's nice to know that, contrary to what my dear ol' mama believes, 'buggery' for girls is not illegal.

Today is one of those days that's both cloudy and incredibly hot. It's wrong, just wrong!

Comments

[naath.livejournal.com]

Given that the article is about the age of consent...
Age restrictions are *shite*, made even more shite by their varied nature - if there was an age at which you become able to make you own decisions, wouldn't be the same for *all* decisions.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights starts;
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Now, I don't see it there saying that just because you're 15 you don't have any rights (for that matter I don't see it saying that just because you're gay you don't have any rights).

Let people make their own decisions as to when they are ready to do $thing.

[enismirdal.livejournal.com]

I agree with you there; I've known 15-year-olds who are easily mature enough to be sexually active quite safely (i.e. as safe as it's possible to be if sexually active), whilst I've known/known of 18- and 19-year-olds, and even older people, who really don't seem to have a clue what they're doing.

I think there is a problem that sex ed just doesn't get through to some people. Possibly, the main points need to be hammered home harder to some people, having it impressed upon them that THEY are not automatically immune to risks like STDs, pregnancy or abuse.

I think the age restrictions are really there to provide a general limit that will (theoretically) offer vulnerable young people some protection from abuse. There is such a fine line between choosing, yourself, to have sex, and being persuaded/pressured into it and suffering consequences for it; I suppose if you drew a graph, the people most at risk of the latter would be mostly under 16.

Trouble is the incredibly large numbers of exceptions to the 'rule'. *sighs* I can't think of an idealised system to work for everyone. *snorts* Maybe a chastity belt that only unlocks if you can pass a test on sex ed?

[melime.livejournal.com]

...in order to remind me that I cannot answer in everyday speech with "LOL" or "OMG".

What, you don't do that? *coughs* I mean, not like I do or anything. *cough, cough*

[enismirdal.livejournal.com]

Erm...*cough cough*...of course not! XD

[tuxedo-elf.livejournal.com]

I was getting quite irritated as I read that! I believe a person is born with their sexuality, to repress it is wrong.

I was raised as a Christian, yet as time goes by I question more and more of what I've been told. In my opinion, love is love, gender has no bearing on it.

Have you read this?
http://www.religioustolerance.com/hom_bmar.htm
It points out that there may have been homosexuality in the Bible and is far more unbaised than what I've just read!

[enismirdal.livejournal.com]

I hadn't seen that before...wow! It's fascinating! It's tenuous, I admit...but certainly suggestive. Ought to show that to my parents.

I also didn't know Daniel was a eunuch...how cool.

Isn't that quote from Ruth and Naomi paraphrased in a slashfic? I think it may have been that Figwit/Haldir by Celandine Brandybuck...

[megamole.livejournal.com]

There's also discussion as to what the term "eunuch" means in the Old Testament, one perfectly valid interpretation being "man who prefers the sexual favours of other men". Look at Potiphar the eunuch, who had a wife...

[beckyc.livejournal.com]

I know you know this already, but not all Christians are homophobic. In fact, I've discovered fairly recently that there exists at least one Christian organisation that isn't opposed to homosexuality.

[enismirdal.livejournal.com]

*nods* Agreed. *points at a number of lovely and wonderful non-homophobic Christian people on Friends List and grins at them* This particular group, however, seems to take a very similar, somewhat narrow-minded view to the one advocated, at least in theory, by my parents.

Thankfully, my parents, in practice, are prepared to take whatever I throw at them, with the odd priceless and actually rather amusing comment, but without actually forbidding me/others from pursuing any 'lifestyle choices' we so choose.

[senji.livejournal.com]

*grins back -- self-identifying with non-homophobic and Christian and person, at least*