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I Sometimes Wonder What the Hell Is Wrong With People

[center][big]Rape is Natural … really?!?[/big][/center]


Well, this is actually my second attempt at writing this story. The first didn't meet EP's community guidelines and my appeal was unsuccessful. However, EPKimi told me to resubmit so here I am. I suspect the reason the first story was rejected was that I quoted extensively from the EP conversation that prompted me to write this story in the first place. Therefore I've removed most of those quotes and replaced them with a link to where you can find the original conversation (for as long as EP allows such filth to stay in place).

So what is all this about you ask? Well, I met someone on EP a few weeks ago by the name of Pywacket. His views on life could not be more different than mine, which, if you know me, means I wanted to understand him better. He posted a story describing a hypothetical future proof (in the form of a news article) that God does not exist. In his story, he asks Christians, “What will you do then?” So I responded, as I often do on this subject. If you want to read the original story by Mr Pywacket and all the story comments in context, go here: <a href="http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Believe-In-God/5627569" target="ep_blank">EP Link</a>

What followed was 179 pages worth of comments filled with hatred and venom and false claims and just unbelievable animosity toward anyone, especially me, that professed any faith in the Christian God. That’s fine. I run into attitudes like this every day here on campus; I’m used to it. But then Mr Pywacket started digging through my profile and for some reason latched onto my story from 2012 about my ex-boyfriend trying to force me to have sex.

He took excerpts from my 2012 story and its comments and started including them in his responses. Yup, in our discussion on whether or not God existed and whether or not Christianity was a vile and wicked faith, he started sprinkling in disgusting references to that day. I allowed myself to get way too involved in that conversation and I have since pulled out of the conversation completely. However, I need to draw attention to one aspect of it, because I have heard this same attitude toward sexual assault here on campus as well and it concerns me.

There is actually a school of thought out there that we are all just animals anyway and rape is part of the natural order. Yup, you read that right. I have heard these words uttered in person by guys standing in front of me. Of course, in person, such people profess that they would never do such a thing and that societal constructs prohibiting such behavior are mostly a good thing, but that it is none-the-less part of the natural order. Yup. I’ve had these conversations with guys. It’s scary.


It’s scary because it accepts that sexual assault is inevitable and natural and simply part of being the animal that we all are. I don’t want to put words in Mr Pywacket's mouth, so here are a couple of excerpts:
-- “If you weren't such an ignorant religious fanatic you would understand that a hard-wired biological imperative millions of years in the making, and passed down through the evolution of the species was driving his thoughts, his speech, and his actions. And there isn't a damn thing wrong with it. Your body is 'designed' through evolution to be raped and survive it.”
-- “Nature rewards female for being raped.”
-- “Not that long ago, he would have ignored your protests and simply overpowered you, as men have done for 200,000 years. And you would have gotten over it, and wanted him to do it again and again and again.”
-- “Had he accomplished the rape, you would have been all upset because of your beliefs, but you would also have the memory of how good it felt.”


Yes, folks, you read that right:
-- my body was designed through evolution to be raped,
-- nature rewards me for it,
-- if my ex-boyfriend had been successful I’d have wanted it (rape) again and again,
-- and I would have been left with fond memories
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


In my original story I stopped about here intending to let you, the reader, draw your own conclusions and to hopefully start a dialog. However, I’ve since had another week of interaction with Mr Pywacket. In this extra fun-filled week, he has expressed some observations specifically about childhood sexual assault. He gets offended when I call them opinions or beliefs or even conclusions. They are simply his observations of fact. These next quotes (below) come from comments he made on my story about my love for my girlfriend: <a href="http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Want-To-Find-My-Soulmate/5672914" target="ep_blank">EP Link</a>

The story comments drifted far from anything remotely related to the original post and it bothers me that a story like this is ruined by this type of crap. I am very close to violating one of my personal standards here on EP and just going and deleting all his comments on that story. For now, they are there. So here you go, Mr Pywacket on the topic of childhood sexual abuse:
-- “So the millions of girls who had sex with adults and DIDN'T have your experience are all lying? The millions who did NOT have health problems? The millions who loved the sex? The millions who looked forward to it? All wrong?”
-- “I have told you to go to Pandora's and read what the experts have to say. About the girls who had sex starting when they were very very young ... and loved it. And didn't want it to stop. Little girls who instigated it. Initiated it. Yes, they even knew they shouldn't be doing it. But they wanted to. And they did it for years. And never got caught.”
(These comments were directed to some else, not me, who had survived childhood sexual abuse.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


So where does this leave us? How do we respond to attitudes like this? And when I say “we”, I am not referring to “Christians” or to “Humanists”; I am referring to any of us that believe in a just society. I am referring to any of us that believes we all, as human beings, have a right to feel secure in our surroundings.


I currently live on a fairly well known, northeastern USA university campus. My school goes to great lengths to ensure that we all know how to be safe because there is an unacceptable level of sexual violence on American campuses, but that doesn’t even compare to what is happening around the world.
-- We are now one year out from the kidnapping and sexual enslavement of the 200+ school girls in Nigeria by Boko Haram. I hope you’ve tweeted the hash tag: #BringBackOurGirls. I did. Many times. And will continue to.
-- When ISIS stormed Yazidi Iraq, many of the men were forcibly converted to Islam but the girls were sold into sexual slavery to be raped again and again. I wonder how many of them have fond memories of their rapes as Mr Pywacket would have us believe.


I am posting this simply to raise awareness and spur discussion. I think Mr Pywacket’s perspective on and attitude toward rape is dangerous. If he were an isolated voice, then I wouldn't give it another thought, but, as I stated above, I hear this attitude here on campus. I think it is partially behind the problem we have on American university campuses now. Sexual assault is treated by some as inevitable or excusable or simply part of the human condition. Treating it as such lessens the strength of the “society constructs prohibiting such behavior” and essentially encourages it. Yup, this is just my opinion and I have no data to back it up, but I do believe attitudes like Pywacket’s to be very dangerous.


[sep][sep][sep]

[b]About me: [/b]https://similarworlds.com/sarabee1995/info
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bethturner
I did not agree when you continued to talk to him, but now you have set down his opinions and "arguments" I can see how important it is to challenge these in the open. If we do not, it degrades us as decent human beings. Well done, and I hope (and know) you will continue with speaking up on your own campus :-)
sarabee1995 · 26-30, F
My dear sweet sister! Yes, I did continue to engage with him, but I hope you saw I was much more grounded and detached, right? You and my other sisters (and one really great guy) brought me back from the emotional chasm I was stuck in. I just needed that quick hug from each of you to regain my strength.


Once I was able to focus again, it became about this ... about shining a spotlight on this attitude. And yes, you know me well. These guys here on campus are not able to voice their opinions unchallenged ... at least not within earshot of me. :-)
sarabee1995 · 26-30, F
"That is not opinion, that is just making the observation."
Py -- This is the dictionary definition of opinion! Is it (the hypothetical multi-year under-aged sexual relationship) the same thing as rape or is it not? Your OPINION is that it is not the same thing. Fine. Why do you run from the idea that you have any opinions or beliefs? You state them all over the place and yet you always insist you have no opinions and only report fact.
sarabee1995 · 26-30, F
So Py, what are you saying? Are you saying sex with a child is not wrong? You go to great lengths to point out that many young girls wanted and enjoyed the sex. This sounds like you are advocating in favor of adult-child sexual relations. But then you turn around and say that Christians are perverts for passing laws allowing adult-child sex in marriage. So now you say it is wrong.


I'm trying to understand YOUR position here because some of your words on the topic are scary. Is adult-child sex healthy, leaving young girls with fond memories? Or is it a horrific crime that scars girls for life? You can't advocate both positions.
bethturner
Yes sister, you are doing a brilliant job :-) And I am right here behind you with hugs galore and anything else you need to replenish your strength for the fight.
bethturner
Well, I must offer my opinion that there is no substantial difference. This is based on the observations of my career of working with young people and girls in particular, and of my own fairly miserable first experience of sex which came in a desperate attempt to conform to social norms. Sexual intercourse is in essence a violent, selfish act that can only be softened by genuine love and mutual respect.

I am an atheist and my views are not rooted in religious dogma. I have no appetite for punishment or punitive action and would rather that people change their behaviour through empathy and reasoning rather than being separated from society.

It is a fact that most 17 year old girls are emotionally very wobbly. This cannot be conclusively supported by scientific research - but few aspects of human psychology can. But if you, like I, have spent the best part of 10 years mopping up other peoples' emotional messes, you will recognise the difficulty teenage girls have in coping with "adult" relationships and need to be treated more like children by responsible adults. And if there is no personal responsibility, then the law must step in.

I have no illusion of the "innocence of childhood". My beliefs are based on personal experience and empirical evidence. And I would not be so emotionally involved had I not come to the depressing conclusion that sexual predation is at the heart of sexual inequality and the continued second class status of women in most societies.
flowergurl90
Thank you Beth for your addition to this,you are so wise and always make a good points,victims like Sara and myself extend a big thanks to you and others who join in supporting us and understanding the tragedy of being sexually assaulted..,Just like Sara,i was in an emotional chasm for a long time and thankfully i had friends,family and a great counselor who helped me through my ordeal,i wish at the time i had been a member here and received the support from you and others. :-)
Sarahbellas
I first have to say that Sara is my friend. Love that girl. And I stand by what I have said about how I feel that Pywacket acts like an asshole and out of line at times. And that I think that is not useful.

However I have to support much of what he is saying about rape and nonrape and stupid laws and such. Maybe not the more sarcastic bits and few other comments from time to time , and I’m not sure what I think about the women and freedom part… but his facts are quite sound.

And there really are some wacko laws and ideas with loopholes you could sail a barge through out there.

Pywacket mentioned those studies/polls right? Remember? About how so many would rape if they could get away with it…or if it was justified by length of dating relationship or money spent or whatever. Most of those studies of course don’t use language like rape or sexual assault or forcing sex or sex with a minor or whatever…they tend to describe an event involving intentional sexual contact and/or sexual intercourse…and people either agree that it’s ok or not ok, or however the poll is asking for info.

However those descriptions of behavior in the polls are examples that could easily be a case that would fall under various degrees of sexual assault in most laws in the United States. But it stands that those people are (very probably) unknowingly ok with sexual assault even as it is legally stated. Does that mean we need to reexamine the laws or how society deems as moral sexual behavior? Or that sex education is sometimes a load of crap or that Christians are pushing an agenda ...or any variety of reasons that could be a variable here? Or at least that things are never as black and white that special interests groups tend to portray things Idk. And I think that is mostly true. What the fix is for that…idk…or what that means for the future.

Now I have no idea what the laws are in Washington, I have to say that I’m a bit shocked that they even use word “rape”…assuming Pywackett is being accurate. I thought no one used that anymore in legal matters…that they make practically everything fall under degrees of sexual assault and a few other things…like child enticement and child pornography and other stuff. If they are using that term and the law is as he stated… it is a law that does need to be updated and changed.

His point that there are loopholes and that not every “rape” is rape is an important point to make. Or that it’s crap if consequences be the same…or that degrees of harm are the same…or that intent or consent can be accurately judged to the degree that every case is clearcut. I remember saying something similar in a couple of my own stories…where I talk about each situation being unique in a way.

Pywackett…do you think that if the laws were like the ones you describe in the past…things would be better? If not...what would be better?

I do however like the idea of the law being there to protect sort of…when there are cases of violent sexual crimes. Does that mean that I like loopholes? Of course not...but I think they will always exist. Does that mean that there is no such thing as nonviolent sexual crimes? That people are merely overreacting when they happen? Maybe sometimes…but I think…maybe no. There certainly can be nonviolent crimes that do warrant a kind of action plan at the very least…by somebody who has the authority for some cases…And judges do have the authority.. But should those crimes carry the same impact and weight as the other kind? Idk.

You say that some cover it all up with their beliefs. And can’t face that men are a predator…and is what it is. I think it is honest to nature that a degree of sexual aggression and sexual manipulation/exploitation exists in most everyone…both as a self awareness and as a factor in others. Maybe that makes me paranoid. Thinking that there is always a risk of it being too much for me to handle given the right idk…situation? To me…who has had some bad experiences…and as Sara pointed out in her story…as a person who survived childhood sex abuse…that means that I certainly have both a healthy and unhealthy fear of things experience has deemed harmful or manipulative…even as I can recognize much that could be deemed as sexual aggressive as being ok depending on what the relationship is like…not to mention degrees of trust and respect and consent being involved.

But isn't that what experience is for? It helps to teach us what is good for us sometimes...what kind of person and relationship one can handle and deal with? And we deal with it accordingly

And I know that I couldn't have learned that following a conservative Christian environment...exactly...because some Christian groups do I think try to stamp out a great deal about sexuality...but I don't think I'd condemn everything Christian exactly either.

But I'm also not sure I could fault some women for not wanting to wait a million years either, sometimes.
sarabee1995 · 26-30, F
Sarah -- Thanks so much for commenting and I know you know this, but I'll say it anyway....the feelings are mutual!


Okay, so I agree completely that there are many underlying truths to what Py has been saying. I think this is obvious. But from these facts, he draws conclusions and opinions which he states as further facts and this could not be further from the truth. He refuses to own his opinions and beliefs and insists that he does nothing but report facts.


You coined a term earlier that caused me to stop and think a bit. You referred to his style of discussion as "assholery". This made me wonder if everything he is doing and saying is simply an act. It's one thing to point out that not all sexual assault is truly sexual assault. Okay, now that is an issue we can have a serious discussion about. But when you extrapolate to an extreme and make absurd statements like girls would have fond memories of sexual attacks if it weren't for moral indoctrination, then you lose all credibility in my mind. Oh yeah, and want it again and again!
Sarahbellas
You are right, Sara...I just didn't want people to lose some of the good/better ? points that he is trying to make. And like I pointed out...i don't like his attitude about things one little bit. It pisses me off actually.

The problem I have in interpreting what he is saying is due to that confrontational style. It's hard to tell if he really is extrapolating that far...or just wanting to make bold statements like what you mentioned in regard to the specific ideas he has in meshing them together...because then they don't always hold up by themselves. And sometimes it's hard to read what he means...because when he uses the word rape and sexual attack...I don't think he always means a violent act..or even a non-consensual act...and just because it isn't violent or if Christians didn't exist doesn't mean of course that one will automatically have fond memories and want it again and again.

I don't like his point about how you and girls that have been in similar situations should just "get it over it" because someone thinks it's not bad enough to be traumatized by it... I'd abandon my own point about natural aggressiveness in a heartbeat. Because it doesn't excuse asshole behavior or at least one's responsibility of thier behavior. And asshole behavior does effect how people view things...even if it might not always have the same effect as a violent home invasion rape by multiple people or something like that. If things do come down to biology and some sexual assault is natural...a person still has to take responsibility for thier behavior...and if it was far too aggressive...then it was too aggressive. And yeah... Kudos to a person for not just "taking it". I talked only vaguely to you about my last ex...and his behavior towards me in one situation...and while it feels like miles away from what my brother has done and even that time with the knife...it was aggressive enough to freak me out pretty badly...which was good because eventually I just pissed him off and he stopped trying..And because he was ignoring me saying that I didn't want it and we needed to finish talking about something first because I was freaked out by his reaction to something...then he was ignoring me and that needed to stop. . And it was bad all around because yeah, maybe I overreacted a little bit...but he was also overreacting and being way too aggressive in that situation and being very insensitive and arrogant at the time and he admitted so to me later in numerous apologies...not to mention blaming it all on drinking too much. Now was what he did "natural"? According to Pywackett...yeah it probably would have been. we were sexually active. Am I traumatized? idk. Depends on one's definition of that. Maybe for a month or so I was pretty pissed off, and a little jumpier...and it was what caused me to end the relationship. And even now, I'm not too keen to jump into a relationship as fast as I did with that guy. In any case...sexual acts that result in all that is not ideal to say the least. "natural" or not on anyone's part. And I wouldn't have had fonder memories due to anything to do with moral indoctrination in that case...or want "more of it" And like a few have stated on this post...people are more than biology. And I think people are allowed to expect that. Now was Josh's and my relationship broken beyond all repair? No of course not. We might have made it work if I had been more willing to try and give him "another chance". But I simply didn't like it...and so it was a problem. And with my history and the fact that he didn't seem to keen to stop drinking so much anytime soon(which to me was rather important)...I was all done. It wasn't worth the risk of getting hurt. Maybe that meant I was judging him too harshly...idk. But it is what it is, I guess...and we've moved on.

Perhaps Pywackett would think that christians would want my ex in jail. lol.
idk. Or at least whoever those people are he keeps talking about on websites that he goes to. But thankfully my actions aren't dictated by...and the world isn't run by weirdos on websites.
bethturner
I cannot comment on laws in America, but the age of consent in several European countries (Spain -13, Italy - 14, France -15) is set deliberately low to avoid criminalising children who follow their sexual instincts. This is hardly a defence of sex within marriage. I wholly agree that the way in which societies demonise sexual offenders without differentiation is not healthy. Often it can be counter-productive to child protection.

But children are my business and profession and I cannot remain dispassionate. This is not a dry academic argument, it involves real lives. I do not usually take sides, but in this instance I must.

The only way I will ever feel empowered as a woman is when I know that those around me respect me for my words and actions, not merely desire me for the emotions I arouse in them.

I am truly sorry for the injury that may end your singing. I hope you won't take that as a trite sentiment. I am an actress and singer by training and I value my own voice as priceless.
sarabee1995 · 26-30, F
I need to "get over it"? What evidence do you have that indicates I haven't gotten over it? How am I wallowing in it? I just looked at every comment I've made on that 2012 story over the last two years. The vast majority of my responses are simply thanking people for theirs. The only discussions I've had on that story in over two years center on my belief that I panicked and used too much force in defending myself. Yes, I still believe that, but I am not wallowing in that. Instead, I've worked within my taekwondo school to gain greater control (I hesitate to tell you what those drills are like).


So I am on a crusade to fix what I see is wrong with society? Hmmm ... okay, I'll plead guilty on that one. Yes, when I see something wrong, I intervene. I'm not sure I see the problem there?


The claimed epidemic of sexual assaults on American college & university campuses is not my claim. You can Google the topic and see dozens of articles. Whether we call it an "epidemic" or not is not the point, the frequency of assaults is rising. Yes, a portion of that is stupid girls getting drunk & naked and expecting guys to be gentlemen.


Lastly, you don't think stating that I would have wanted him to rape me again and again if he'd been successful was an off the wall conclusion? You don't think saying I'd have enjoyed it if he'd been successful is an absurd extrapolation of your "data"? Please, Py, tell me how those statement fall within the realm of "facts" or "verifiable"??
Sarahbellas
Thank you Pywacket. I am doing ok. Bit of a crazy work week…and then this sort of topic here on EPing in general I have a hard time staying calm about sometimes…especially when I get to thinking too much about my own experiences …and I tend to just waffle on and on. So I apologize for getting a bit out of line at you .


I do think your facts (at least those posted so far on this story post) are sound-as I mentioned previously. They are everything that I have heard for years that certainly are real facts about all of this sort of thing. I do think it’s cool you got ahold of the originals for that particular poll. I was thinking more in a broader sense…and got to thinking about all the numerous polls and studies done since then that I’ve seen that are very similar and have practically the same results.


And thanks for the link to that site for the State of Washington. I want to check it out someday soon.


And ok… it’s maybe not weirdo websites. I guess I was being more than a little pedantic. But tbh…I am inclined to be a bit erked when I hear about a group of people spreading that kind of misinformation around…or not being clear about things.


Oh yeah. DSM-V was a BIG deal. I spent I think a good year loving discussions about all the proposed changes that I knew about and things for a good year before and after its publication to anyone who would talk about it with me and word of many of the changes in the DSM-5 certainly attracted no shortage of critics right? Some useful…some of it not so much.


I do remember talking about that particular controversy for a bit over coffee one time with a colleague from University…and a friend who works as a therapist a couple years back. Not only because of the proposed change you mentioned, but I remember a rumor at that time that they wanted to throw it out of the book entirely and only let it be a footnote in certain sections…but also because it was totally scandalous at the time that the APA backpedalled as it did…Because…the science is the basis…and should be more important then a public outcry


And as for the Rind Study…I’m aware of it a bit. It was the homosexual child/adult sex one right?…and after all the controversy and everything...I think that many people did end up leaving begging the enduring question: Do we regularly see psychological harm to either person involved in (homosexual or heterosexual) adult-child sex as a result of a "pedophile act" or even just large age gap relationships? And they don't have a clear answer yet.

And that's something I can’t answer. And I’m not willing to really listen to what anyone says without doing a significant amount of my own research and such. I do know that in many cultures …relationships between adults and very young adolescents or even children was as common as anything and seen as a very positive thing for all parties and probably was very positive for many at times.


I tend to have mixed feelings about some kinds of large age gap relationships though in general so that muddles things up for me. But in general as it concerns anything regarding sex…I tend to believe that if it isn’t distressing, impairing or harming themselves or someone else and is instead involving mutual respect and trust and caring then I think a person should be able to explore their sexuality and sexual orientation. Does that mean I’d be able to easily tolerate the idea that in theory I’d have to be ok with knowing an adult who has consensual sex with a child…I’d probably have a difficult time of it-but then as you quite rightly pointed out has more to do with my beliefs and ideas about morality and responsibility then facts. And I tend to think that if I’m not hurting someone with those beliefs and ideas…then it’s ok for me to have them.


As for that Kent State University Scientific peer reviewed Journal study…I had almost forgotten about that. I mostly remember hearing that it was like a tornado hit back then when it first became big news…and there was this outcry by a group that all males are suddenly pedophiles that will act on it and be no better then violent criminals…and then many years later a push back with a lot more scientific facts.


I suppose there is something to be said about the benefit of good and well-timed “get over it”s when it comes to increasing quality of life. And yeah people can learn to enjoy life and see worth in living and find ways to be happy after the most unimaginable horrible things.
If someone is obviously wallowing in something that is impairing them or causing depression or causing them to hurt others…then yeah. It very much is good. I’ve had friends help me through some times when I was overly worried, or bitter or depressed or freaking out about something relating to my own experience with childhood sex abuse…and I get too introspective… a version of “get over that” or a “sorry that’s crap and you know it” is helpful to shake me out of the negative stuff a little bit.


Human nature hasn’t changed as you put it…but as a side thought... I wonder if Sara could make a case for a kind of natural inflation in a manner of speaking when it comes to what she says about problems on college campuses?

Anyway...And getting over it and learning to be happy isn’t always enough for some people. Wanting to change something that one sees as a problem isn’t always a bad thing. Like Beth…I’d have to say…that despite all the stuff I say are facts here and the stuff I’ve said about natural aggression in other comments… I often conclude as Beth does :”that sexual predation is at the heart of sexual inequality and the continued second class status of women in most societies.” And so it is something that concerns me at times.


As for the extrapolating thing that I’m mostly thinking of …is that you do sometimes make all encompassing statements that start off like: “Christians would have us all believe…” And I think Christianity and the people who identify as Christians contains so much variety that I think an umbrella statement like that is a stretch…because “Christians” could refer to a lot of things…but it defiently refers to people. And people are unreliable ...and maybe could only means 10% or 50% or 20% or 80% of most Christians. Saying simply Christians...I guess sometimes the way you say write it sounds like "All christians would have us all believe..." But maybe I'm just reading too much into it. Same thing with some digs you made at Sara back on your own post where this all started.

I'm sorry to hear that your diagnosis is as bad as it is...and especially that it may end your singing career...and because it sounds like it's something that you really love to do.
Sarahbellas
Thanks for the clarifications. On both the study and the Christianity thing... It's been a long while since I've last talked or read about much of this, and I've been exhausted all week...so I'm not surprised that my memory is off at times. :/
I've generally not cared about the letter of the law when it comes to Christians making a big deal about marriages being exceptions for things throughout the years...because I believe that with time that will change more and more as people care less about marriage...and because most Marriage laws that I'm aware of in the USA mean that people under the age of 17 have to go through a big hassle with family court and such...and unless I'm mistaken...I understand that it's actually fairly difficult for adult/child relationships to get approved as a legal marriage. But then it's not like I've run down all the public records for marriage licenses to know just how many there are or have been. lol

I hope you are able to live long enough to at least get some respect for your cosmological model and in sueing those people at your ex-job. It isn't right for someone to discriminate and conspire to get rid of someone like that...so I hope you case goes well. I have to admit to being a bit at a baby stage in understanding string theory and most of what you were all talking about so thanks for adding the links, so I can jog my memory on some of these topics . Mostly because I never really was all that interested in it over some of the other things that I'm more passionate about learning and theorizing about. But from what little I do know...it's really great that your model lasted as long as it did...but I suppose that makes sense...since you mentioned it doesn't rely on strings! And If Dr. Suntzeff had some good things to say about it, then I think you ought to feel proud about your work.

It's also very cool that you got into it with Neil DeGrasse Tyson.

I am however very much interested in your theory regarding alien civilization and radio. I would be interested to hear about it, if you'd be willing to take the time to explain it. :-) Because it is not a theory that I've heard much about. Why is it that we might be the only species capable of producing radio? And if that is the case...I guess it makes sense why we haven't found any alien civilizations yet. But at least people have found some interesting things by looking around at galaxies and trying to figure out where the levels of radiation that are detected are from. So that's pretty brilliant itself.
sarabee1995 · 26-30, F
Hey Py -- In so seriousness, I'm also more than a little interested in the lack-of-radio-capable-aliens thing. And I was looking at your cosmological model with my brother last night. To soon to comment, but nice work.
Sarahbellas
You're right, it's not helpful to people in prison. And while I have some sympathy for people in prison when it might be a genuine case of consensual sex with a minor. Espeically if they didn't know it was a minor at the time...I also think it has to be recognized that even if I think the law needs to be tweaked...most of those people knew they were doing something considered illegal. idk. I don't think the whole force of the law for "rape" or whatever the law says for thier state should come down on them...but idk. And I suppose to a point of view...I get why you are comparing it to Sharia law. Our country makes a big deal about separation of Church and State...but it's sometimes muddled together. Some places in Europe do a finer job of separating the two at times, I think. And yeah I agree...I don't think there's a perfect solution either. There will always be innocents who do to jail...and there will always be those chances for abuse.

If there are such cases currently in the USA...a country that seems to always portray child marriages in other countries in the media as this terrible thing, go unrecognized? I might have to do some research some day and say something...if only because if true it is a part of the country that is hidden from many others. And I find that unacceptable.

Thank you, I appreciate that. I don't wish to be reminded either. ;p

Take your time. It will give me at least a week then to ponder about sharks. I will consider it a bit of a riddle to figure out how it applies to radio and humans and aliens during any of my free time. And I consider that to be a very fun little intellectual pursuit. :-)

And I very much look forward to hearing about it when you have the time and opportunity to share your thoughts about it.