The GOP could have resurrected Reagan in '08, and they still weren't going to win. Her nomination was a last desperate attempt to fire up the base. That's why the choice was so ridiculous. Had McCain actually had a chance, he'd have picked a less polarizing, more reasonable candidate.

Love the "gonna". I'd forgive a savvy politician for using it, in an attempt to be 'folksy.

Yes, ok, your equanimity is noted, but I thought the discussion was about the very gendered claim that women are in constant fear of their safety. Which, if we are going to be fair, men get the shit kicked out of them and raped as well. But that really wasn't the topic. So, I'm game for a discussion if you care to…

No, that's not what I'm saying. Are you being facetious on purpose?

So, just to clarify, you find a heroin addict's overdose more tragic than an 8 year-old succumbing to leukemia? I fail to see your logic.

Agreed. I gave it further thought after I replied to you. It seems that once a women's trust is earned by a man, she completely lets her guard down, which seems to switch these survival instincts off, and quite the other way, almost as if an attachment instinct takes over. And you don't have to lecture me about this…

Yes, I agree with you and understand the issue. It's certainly far from a universal, though. Women seem to be quite terrible at assessing threats sometimes. Their tendency to remain in and rationalize very abusive relationships seems to completely contradict this apparent female conditioning we're discussing

Yes, I agree with you and understand the issue. It's certainly far from a universal, though. Women seem to be quite terrible at assessing threats sometimes. Their tendency to remain in and rationalize very abusive relationships seems to completely contradict this apparent female conditioning we're discussing

Gotcha. I'm unfamiliar with these positions so I won't comment. I don't think we disagree quite as much as it seems. I agree pretty much with everything you've said. I don't think I was making my point well. Ugh. Thanks for the discussion.

Mmmm, actually no. Whoops. I probably agree with most of what you said. Nevermind.

Well, you're correct that I don't understand your position, if you estimate the probability of being raped at random as likely as injuring yourself jumping off a bridge.
It would seem to you that rape is a certainty. I would argue that most women wouldn't even agree that rape is a constant, near certainty.
I would…

On the contrary, I've much more sympathy than Cory had for his loved ones. I didn't hold their emotions hostage or check out with a spoon in my hand, leaving them to fucking a quiet in my wake, letting them think they weren't worth staying around for. I have more sympathy for his loved ones than you do because I…

Which doesn't really apply to your irrational fear of talking to strangers? I'm still fascinated that you believe every stranger is a threat, and hence will not initiate a conversation. Or supposedly engage in one. Unless you know the person.

Ok. Well, at what point did he cease making meaningful choices? The womb?

You have a severe anxiety disorder if talking to strangers plagues you in adulthood.

Yes. I'm aware that children with terminal cancer fight like hell to survive, and still die. I recognize that children have made no lifestyle choices, like smoking, that caused their disease (I use disease here in its literal sense). I recognize this as a tragic and UNAVOIDABLE death worthy of my emotional investment.
I…

Clearly it's bullshit if there is no free will. Clearly he had no choice but to jam his bloodstream with poison that night. But then I fail to understand your position if you feel he couldn't prevent his own death. Your describing inevitably, 18 years in the making. Not exactly a sudden, tragic, or avoidable (in your…

My opinion that Cory shares a large part of the blame for his own death has been met with spirited opinions in opposition. It's as if there was nothing he could do. My amusement at the collective outcry of sympathy for a an unsympathetic person escapes people. People seem all too concerned with wealthy celebrity…

Oh, I get the prohibition to talk to strangers. I just outgrew it.
As for the fear of being attacked, I've been there too, cupcake. You're not fucking unique just because you carry two X chromosomes. Maybe you should own your insecurities so you can rid yourself of them. Seems like a much healthier approach.

Doing well? Apparently not.
At what point is his free-will violated? At what point is his personal responsibility excused? When does he to transition from an autonomous agent participating in his "Doing well" recovery, to a tragic victim of helpless circumstances??