Juvenile death penalty unconstitutional

[dissention]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Well, my acceptance of myself depends on your opinion of course

Naturally.

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I will sound like a 60 year old here, but - I used to strive for acceptance. I used to want people to reward me so to speak. But, in my 38 years on this rock, I have learned that only I can do that. Sure it is nice when others do it - everyone likes that. But, I like me a whole lot more and that is all the acceptance I need. I am not sure I am describing this correctly

I totally agree here - it just doesn't work to strive for acceptance from everyone - all the time - you'll never be happy if that's what you're working for.

Sure- it would be nice if more people were accepting - but I don't know - I guess when it's all said and done all that matters is whether you're happy with yourself

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

You're right about that. But, isn't it something that you would want to strive for from the people with which you associate in your life as opposed to total strangers?

Yes. Hillary, be very choosy with who you allow in your life. If they are not accepting and understanding then they're out. Period. Jason is right, you cannot expect acceptance from all people, you can only give it to yourself. And some people, the good ones, will give it.

You've got to thicken your skin and let the bullsh*t roll off of you. Which is easy for me to say, I suppose. But, in a way I am qualified because I used to be very anxious and a general weirdo and had a lot of trouble with acceptance. I was paralyzed by what I thought people thought of me. Really, I was just projecting what I thought of myself onto these people. But I did eventually learn how to feel good about myself and associate only with people who were supportive.

You can get there. What other people think of you is irrelevant. It is what you think of yourself that is important.

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

Yes. Hillary, be very choosy with who you allow in your life. If they are not accepting and understanding then they're out. Period. Jason is right, you cannot expect acceptance from all people, you can only give it to yourself. And some people, the good ones, will give it.

You've got to thicken your skin and let the bullsh*t roll off of you. Which is easy for me to say, I suppose. But, in a way I am qualified because I used to be very anxious and a general weirdo and had a lot of trouble with acceptance. I was paralyzed by what I thought people thought of me. Really, I was just projecting what I thought of myself onto these people. But I did eventually learn how to feel good about myself and associate only with people who were supportive.

You can get there. What other people think of you is irrelevant. It is what you think of yourself that is important.

Yet again someone says it better than I ever could

I used to have this friend who had very few friends, her reason was "why should I waste my time of people I don't really truly want to be around - my time is precious and I want to be with people I want to be around..." or something to that effect - I always thought she was being anti-social and bitchy - NOW I totally see her point of view and have employed that philosophy into my life.

Life's too short to sit around and fight with people about yourself trying to make them accept you - if they don't then send 'em packing....I've found that more open-minded and accepting people are just naturally better people

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

Yet again someone says it better than I ever could

I used to have this friend who had very few friends, her reason was "why should I waste my time of people I don't really truly want to be around - my time is precious and I want to be with people I want to be around..." or something to that effect - I always thought she was being anti-social and bitchy - NOW I totally see her point of view and have employed that philosophy into my life.

Life's too short to sit around and fight with people about yourself trying to make them accept you - if they don't then send 'em packing....I've found that more open-minded and accepting people are just naturally better people

Exactly. I'll take my own company over some jackass's who thinks poorly of me. And you're right about the open-minded people just being better company. They're nicer people. I was watching Oprah today and this 10 year old girl has cancer and when her hair fell out most of her friends fell by the wayside. But she retained three and they are her closest, best friends. They probably will be for a long time. The other ones, not worth a baby strand on her fine, new head of hair.

[wondergirl9847]

How should we curb murderers without the death penalty?

BTW, which country has the lowest amount of rapes/murders/violent crimes in the world? Anyone know off hand?

[amber]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

Yet again someone says it better than I ever could

I used to have this friend who had very few friends, her reason was "why should I waste my time of people I don't really truly want to be around - my time is precious and I want to be with people I want to be around..." or something to that effect - I always thought she was being anti-social and bitchy - NOW I totally see her point of view and have employed that philosophy into my life.

That was me.
Amber "I'm bored, I gotta go" g.

[The Tower]

Originally Posted by wondergirl9847

How should we curb murderers without the death penalty?

I don't think the death penalty is a deterrant to crime, so I'd consider your question moot.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I will sound like a 60 year old here, but - I used to strive for acceptance. I used to want people to reward me so to speak. But, in my 38 years on this rock, I have learned that only I can do that. Sure it is nice when others do it - everyone likes that. But, I like me a whole lot more and that is all the acceptance I need. I am not sure I am describing this correctly

Oh no, you got it.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by wondergirl9847

How should we curb murderers without the death penalty?

BTW, which country has the lowest amount of rapes/murders/violent crimes in the world? Anyone know off hand?

I think it's India.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by wondergirl9847

How should we curb murderers without the death penalty?

The death penalty doesn't curb murderers to begin with; it's not a deterrent.

I think we should concentrate on what exactly occurs in our society to encourage such violent acts and do something about it. Maybe parents of 11 year old boys should not allow their kid to watch films such as Natural Born Killers.

[amber]

Originally Posted by Lux

Deny them great cinema ::sniff:: I'm not an 11 year old boy, nor have I ever been one so I guess I can't see why that film would encourage violence. But perhaps these viewers can't see the irony in that. Film, it is very filmic.

I just think that if you see certain images over and over, like violence, it can desensitize you to it, especially at a younger age.

[amber]

Originally Posted by Lux

Yes I realise that but he chose as an example, the one film famous for dealing with that exact issue.

oh, right, I got that. I just didn't pay attention..

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

Yes. Hillary, be very choosy with who you allow in your life. If they are not accepting and understanding then they're out. Period. Jason is right, you cannot expect acceptance from all people, you can only give it to yourself. And some people, the good ones, will give it.

You've got to thicken your skin and let the bullsh*t roll off of you. Which is easy for me to say, I suppose. But, in a way I am qualified because I used to be very anxious and a general weirdo and had a lot of trouble with acceptance. I was paralyzed by what I thought people thought of me. Really, I was just projecting what I thought of myself onto these people. But I did eventually learn how to feel good about myself and associate only with people who were supportive.

You can get there. What other people think of you is irrelevant. It is what you think of yourself that is important.

Yes, I think you and Jason are right. I have a ways to go in many areas. I guess I just can't get past the fact that if I declare that someone's opinions of me and others are unacceptable to me and what that person stands for is also unacceptable, someone is going to crucify me for that. I feel that I'm justified when I make such an assertion, but I've been criticized for strong opinions again and again. Yet, when Lux expresses hers, it's like it's okay. (This is not a slam on you at all Lux). I just don't understand this.

Also, when I spoke of acceptance and understanding, I was also talking about others besides myself. I'm looking out for the whole GLBT community and saying that we should all be accepted and understood. We deserve that. We all need to believe in ourselves beforehand and know that we are just as good as the next person for ourselves, not because of what anyone else says, but at the same time, I think we need others.

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

Yet again someone says it better than I ever could

I used to have this friend who had very few friends, her reason was "why should I waste my time of people I don't really truly want to be around - my time is precious and I want to be with people I want to be around..." or something to that effect - I always thought she was being anti-social and bitchy - NOW I totally see her point of view and have employed that philosophy into my life.

Life's too short to sit around and fight with people about yourself trying to make them accept you - if they don't then send 'em packing....I've found that more open-minded and accepting people are just naturally better people

Yes, I agree. And I do live my life in that way that your friend does. People comment on how few friends I have, relative to others, but they are very close friends. I choose wisely and I feel like I'm able to have deeper relationships with people because of that. But, the online world can be so different. I talk to quite a few more people online than at school or at home. You said, "If they don't then send 'em packing"...well, it seems that that isn't always an option on here or any other message board, for that matter. And I don't mean that I think I should have the right to force someone to leave a message board. I don't feel that I'm that important at all. I'm saying that I want to be able to openly oppose someone without guilty plaguing me. You know, like Lux does. Lux is my example of the night.