AFriendlyFace

I agree

Excellent point, there's clearly a big difference between these two scenarios. I think it's very unfortunate that these things are expected to be black and white. There's absolutely no reason to assume that these two situations are the same, so why treat them that way? IMO, the best solution would be to leave the judges and police with enough leeway to make rational judgments, and then to carefully appoint officials to these positions who will make sensible, rational judgments. However, while I personally think all such matters should carefully take context and individual situations strongly into consideration, I concede that this probably isn't feasible on such a grand scale. So you're probably right, Graeme, drawing an arbitrary line probably is the best we can do

So you mean they're not allowed to cross the line and THEN 'cross the line'? I agree with Conner on this one. As CJ pointed out, they were both in their late teens, and I think she's knew what she was doing just as much as he did. A man with good taste! I think Christina is an extremely talented vocalist AND a very good person (although I still think that's irrelevant in the first place when it comes to singers, actors, and other celebrities). My condolences Jack Personally, I'm very sick of people constantly criticizing celebrities, and athletes for their bad behaviour. Their behaviour is, in my opinion, only relevant in so far as it relates to their particular vocation. In other words the lip-syncing scandal a few years ago with Ashlee Simpson was perfectly acceptable, as is the more recent drama about the use of steroids in sports. Similarly I think it's fine to castigate religious figures for improper/hypocritical sexual behaviour. However as a general rule and unless it does relate to their vocational performance, who these people are sleeping with, how much they're drinking, what they're wearing (or aren't), and how well they're taking care of their kids shouldn't be especially relevant to mainstream America. That should remain the concern of their family, friends, the authorities, and child protective services. Whether or not we approve of their behaviour is irrelevant. This may sound a bit harsh, but anyone who tries to model their personal/moral life on the actions of someone famous deserves to be disappointed. I have much more patience for kids doing this, but I still think it's primarily a parent's responsibility to explain that "X may be a good singer/ballplayer/actor but that doesn't necessarily mean he/she is also a good person" than it is for X to be held under a microscope, or even be expect to behave any better than anyone else in similar circumstances (they may have a personal moral responsibility to do so, but IMO it's ludicrous to assign them a societal responsibility). Anyway, with regards to age of consent, as I said, I think in this case the age of the participants doesn't matter. I also think the double standard with regards to boys is particularly ridiculous. Obviously I'm against any double standard or any difference in expectations for the two genders, at all stages of life (in fact this is a major bone of contention for me). However, if there is going to be a double standard with this matter, I think it's exactly wrong. I remember being a teenage boy, and I remember what other teenage boys were like. I also remember what teenage girls were like. I remember reading a quote awhile back in which someone said something to the effect of "Nowadays we call 16 and 17 year old boys who have sex with 25 year old women victims. We used to call them lucky." I'm not saying I approve, in fact I quite thoroughly don't, but I think there is some truth to that statement. -Kevin

Welcome to the forum, DLP!! It's great to have you here! Another fun section of the site is the blogs! It's a great way to get impartial opinions and advice from people! You'll also want to check out the "Games and Humor" and "Member Q & A" subforums of the Lounge! That's an excellent idea! Here's the link I hope you enjoy yourself here and if you need anything, let us know! Take care and have an awesome day! -Kevin

Happy birthday, dude!! I'm glad you had such an awesome day and I hope the rest of your year is extra fantastic too -Kevin

Fries and Chips for me. However, I don't eat chips. I only eat junk food if it's really good. I don't dislike chips, but they're certainly not good enough to bother with eating. Much like popcorn, any type of soda, or any candy or dessert that isn't a very rich chocolate (occasionally I eat something lemon or lime flavoured). Anyway give me cheese fries any day! Actually sometimes fries without cheese aren't worth eating either, unless they're quite salty or spicy. In fact I've often been in food establishments and canceled my whole order if they couldn't melt cheese on the fries - ideally monterey jack, swiss, mozzarella, or colby. Cheddar and American just aren't that good, especially if they're that icky bright orange colour. Anyway, I'm quite picky about my fries, but I call them fries...unless they are fish n' chips...only I don't eat fish n' chips anyway Those veggie chips Colin mentioned are an exception to my "no chip rule" as are "soy crisps", however, I only eat those two because they're a good source of protein and sometimes I'm lazy. Similarly I'll occasionally mix cottage cheese with a bit of apple cider vinegar, and eat it as a dip with pretzels. It seems ridiculous because I really don't care for pretzels very much and they're nearly devoid of nutritional value; however, once again I'm after the high protein content the cottage cheese has (and I gotta dip something in it, I just feel weird eating cottage cheese straight). -Kevin (who only eats and drinks things that are either very healthy, or incredibly tasty)

Happy Birthday, Dude! I hope it's extra special

What with all these wiki links floating about we're all going to be 'wiki faggots' before long Same here, there's nothing worse than an unkosher faggot. Hmm, I'm not sure but I think you just referred to Hitler and his crew as....

Good Luck with everything

Hmm, I'm pretty ambivalent about the word "faggot". On the one hand I don't particularly have a problem with the word "fag" at all, but "faggot" ticks me off big time Basically though, I'd be fine with the word used in a neutral way to describe gay people. Such as from some rude/ignorant/blunt person who simply says: "I know a faggot from Portland" (or some equally neutral statement) Actually it's very similar to how Jack Nicholson introduced Helen Hunt ('the waitress') and Greg Kinnear ('the faggot'). rude, and politically incorrect, but not indicative of any actual hatred. \ Similarly someone could use the generally preferred term "gay" in such a way that it drips malevolence. Anyway, the point is that just because someone uses the word "faggot" or the word "gay" doesn't necessarily represent there true inner feelings on homosexuality. It may, or it may simply represent how willing they are to be politically correct (which largely is irrelevant if the underlying feelings aren't there). To me this argument actually seems to parallel a much different debate: that about the use of the word "gay" to ssdescribe any generic bad thing or event. With regards to that matter I generally dislike it and wouldn't use it in that way myself, but I don't take offense at all when people do, mostly because so many gay people that I know do it, that the word in that context does seem to have become completely divorced from homosexuality. This case seems to be similar, however much more extreme. In this case, since I already don't personally care for the use of the word "gay" to describe slightly bad things, and since I absolutely hate the word "faggot" - yes, I would have cringed at the use of the word in that song. I would have preferred that it not have been there. However, I probably wouldn't have been significantly irritated enough to avoid the song entirely (assuming I was enjoying the piece in general), and I would have taken the context into consideration. So what I'm saying is I wouldn't have censored it in the first place. However... I quite agree with Conner on this point. I think the BBC did send a bad message by reversing itself, much worse than if they'd simply left things alone in the first place or stuck to their original decision. Yes, it's stupid to stick by something that is a mistake, however, I don't think there decision was a mistake. Surely the reasons for which they did it originally still existed. Furthermore, I think the whole thing was so borderline in the first place that there really isn't a "right" or "wrong" course of action. I'd have been equally disappointed if someone had protested the use of the word, they had refused to take it out, and then had subsequently caved in. Yes, it's important to remain open to new information, and to change courses as the circumstances dictate. Foolhardy stubbornness is nothing but that: foolhardy. However, in cases where there simply isn't a clear correct course of action, the important thing, in my opinion, is to present a consistent, confident, firm front. Just my thoughts, Kevin

Happy Anniversary, Beasty!!!! -Kevin

I loved Running With Scissors!! Because I said So was cute too. These three are all also really good IMO!! I loved Mr & Mrs Smith! I've been wanting to rent it but I always forget! LOL, must have been an amusing sight to see everyone leaning to the side to give it a shot! Ohhh! Is that out yet? I'm quite excited about that as well! I've seen these. They are quite good. I've also almost seen Poster Boy on several occasions. GRRR, I'm dying to see these two and my plans keep getting thwarted lol. EXCELLENT movie! I'm going to watch it again tomorrow night, despite wanting to see the other two lol

Hmm, well nothing came up when I clicked on that link But.... bashing Will Ferrell is something I can get behind! certainly there is no "comedian" - note the quotation marks - more irritating! (although Adam Sandler is certainly doing his best in this regard) YAY! More people with good taste! Normally I would assume that to be an oxymoron; however, I have to admit that that one was pretty decent. Like Jim Carry he's not completely horrible when he tones it down a bit and plays a serious role.

Happy Birthday Jan!!!! I hope you had a very wonderful birthday and may the coming year bring you everything you want!! -Kevin

Oh my gosh! None of my business certainly, but I think perhaps your friend does deserve to be thought less of. I'm certainly not condemning people with HIV, or people that love them anyway, but what your friend is doing sounds pretty stupid to me, and I would think most HIV+ people would agree.

Amen to that! Here's a story for ya, Joe. I was recently at a Christmas party, and I was sitting with several friends at this table. At the next table was this cute guy with one other person. Well, I casually remarked I thought he was cute, so everyone kept telling me to get up and go talk to him. I said it would be strange for me to just get up, leave everyone I was talking to, and go talk to a couple of random strangers at a different table. So then someone came up with a brilliant suggestion...My entire table - six other guys besides me - got up and joined the other table, crowding around. They said if I didn't go with them it would be weirder that everyone but me had gone If looks could kill I'd have significantly fewer friends now. LOL Turns out Mr. Cutie had only recently moved to town...with his boyfriend. Anyway, take it from me, the best way to shut your friends up is to just go hit on the guy. They'll embarrass you worse otherwise anyway Take care and good luck! -Kevin

Oh man! I missed another one! Happy Belated Birthday Benji!!!! I hope it was super-awesome and may this year bring you much happiness! -Kevin

Happy Belated Birthday, Mark!! I hope you had a very happy and special day -Kevin

I LOVE that song, and this is great!! Thanks, Jack!

Aww Shoot! SO sorry I missed it! Happy Belated Birthday, Davey!!!

WOW! Awesome, CJ!

Decided to just evacuate whether than try to fix the situation huh? Actually you can get used to that. I often drive mine with barely more than two free fingers Exactly...wear your seatbelt

Exactly! I wouldn't do that if I were in a relationship, and I wouldn't do it with close friends either. If I'm single, and it's two people I'm comfortable with but not close with...then maybe. -Kevin

Clementine in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. It's one of my favourite modern movie scenes. Take care, Kevin