I am a Southern, white male. I am unemployed. I am a stay at home dad. I am a Christian. I have an SUV. I'm in debt up to my armpits. I am obese. I am a college drop out. I am an underachiever. I don't see my parents enough. I am Pro-life. I pay my taxes with a bit of a grumble. I support our troops. I can't be either a Liberal or a Conservative in good conscience. I was a part of the media and will be part of it again. I don't own a gun, but don't mind if someone else does. I don't drink. I used drugs a long time ago. I believe that an illegal immigrant is breaking the law, whether they are a tomato-picker from Mexico, an Al Qaeda operative from Pakistan or a doctor from Sweden. I believe in smoother legal immigration. I believe that a court should decide guilt or innocence. I believe that sin and Evil do exist. I believe that each should decide their own sexuality. I believe that sexuality shouldn't be the cornerstone of a person's public being. I believe politicians lie and that power corrupts. I believe in America and what it stands for. I believe a man can change and that change can come from a man. I worry more for the people I know than those I have never met. I believe hard work is the best road to success. I believe in help rather than handouts. I am responsible, purely, for who I am and for who I will be. I refuse to blame my parents and society. I love my wife and believe in the sanctity of marriage. And I am going to raise my daughter to be happy with who she is and to strive to make her dreams come true. And I believe, finally, that apparently I am what is wrong with America, for all of these reasons and more.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Whew! Glad to know where the problem is. So if we kick you out all will be be well?
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
If you just wrote that yourself, instead of copying it from somewhere else, you aren't what is wrong with America.
Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
quote: I am unemployed. I am a stay at home dad.
You're not unemployed =)
Aside from the SUV and the "sanctity of marriage" codeword you sound like a great guy to me.
(You probably aren't really obese, they just keep redefining what it means. Shqauile O'Neil is officially obese I hear tell.)
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:Aside from the SUV and the "sanctity of marriage" codeword you sound like a great guy to me.
What's wrong with believing that marriage is a holy thing?
Posted by Jim-Me (Member # 6426) on :
I'm fairly sure that I've got you beat, starting with "I don't have the courage to publically list off why people might hate me."
Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
mph: Cuz too many people hide behind it to justify a belief that gays shouldn't have the same rights as heterosexuals. But then, Sopwith said some non-phobic things earlier so I don't think he fits into that group.
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
your name is the name of a crappy WWI Bi-Plane that in of itself is reason enough.
p)
Nah your probly not obbeese, thats like 260 pounds? your probly 190.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
People use [insert good thing] to justify [insert bad thing] all the time. That doesn't make [insert good thing] bad.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Also, since I'm tired of feeling that one side can always express their POV and that my side isn't allowed to, I'll go ahead and say that I disagree with you that limiting marriage to man-woman parnerships is a bad thing.
Posted by vonk (Member # 9027) on :
uh oh
Posted by Irregardless (Member # 8529) on :
Nor is it a matter of not having "the same rights as heterosexuals", for that matter.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
quote:What's wrong with believing that marriage is a holy thing?
I too believe that marriage is a holy thing. I just believe that holiness, that sanctity, can exist in a couple who happen to both be men or both be women.
I guess that makes me also what is wrong with America.
[ April 13, 2006, 01:21 PM: Message edited by: Dan_raven ]
Posted by Xavier (Member # 405) on :
I would be obese if I gained eight pounds. Right now it says I am overweight.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:I too believe that marriage is a holy thing. I just believe that holiness, that sanctity, can exist in a couple who happen to both be men or both be women.
I guess that makes me also what is wrong with America.
That's just confusing. How can we polarize all of America with people like you around?
I'm sorry, but you've got to go.
I'd do something about it if I could, but my hands are tied.
I'll be sorry to see you go. Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
quote:I'd do something about it if I could, but my hands are tied.
I am living on a need to know basis. Why are your hands tied? I don't need (want) to know.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Ouch! I've been out hyperliteraled!
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
I don't understand. What is the referent for "what is wrong with America"? Was there some checklist published in a mass media outlet?
(I'm not making fun, I'm serious. I have a feeling I missed something big, because I have no idea where this is coming from. )
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
It's a joke.
Every thing he posted is something that someone considers one of the things that is wrong with America.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
Ohhhh. Thank you.
I am having another stupid day. Dopey on top of hyperliteral is really not a combination to be posting with. Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Welcome to my world. Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
Just to clarify...
I think marriage is one of the most important things in the world. The commitment to another person that that represents is a key building block of that relationship, ones own self esteem and therefore, happiness.
I can't say it's holy or sacred because I don't believe in god. But if I did, I Would say that becuase it's that important. Regardless of the sexes of the two people in love.
My ONLY objection to the statement comes from people who use it to hide their distaste of homosexuality in a holy wrapper.
Pix
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
*laughing
----
Edited to add: response to mph, not Pix. Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:I can't say it's holy or sacred because I don't believe in god. But if I did, I Would say that becuase it's that important.
I do believe in God, but holy doesn't mean just that it's important.
It's important to stay out of needless debt. It's important, if you live in suburban Amercia, to know how to drive a car.
Neither of this things are holy.
Being extremely important doesn't make a thing holy.
Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
Pix didn't just say "important," though, she said "one of the most important things in the world." Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
My point is still stands -- importance does not imbue holiness.
Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
I would say Marriage's Holiness derives from Love, for love is of God and everyone (not just hets) who loves is born of God and knows God. =)
You can have loveless marriages and you can have love without marriage but having both together is important. Does that clarify my position, MPH?
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
I think so. You aren't just saying that you'd think that marriage is holy if you believed in God. You're saying that you'd think so if you believed in God AND believed some other things (which I may or may not agree with -- I don't understand them enough to say) concerning God and love.
Am I correct?
Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
quote:Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head: My point is still stands -- importance does not imbue holiness.
No, but holiness presumably imbues importance. I don't think Pix suggested otherwise.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
If so, I misunderstood.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
I agree with MPH on the holyness question, and with Pix on the civil question.
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
BMI is a terrible way to measure obesity, and Shaq is terrible example of someone who's wrongly considered to be obese.
Terrell Owens is a better example of an athlete who's obese according to BMI but in reality is anything but.
Posted by dab (Member # 7847) on :
according to BMI i would have to weigh 136 pounds or less as a 6 foot tall male to be considered underweight... If I weighed 136 pounds I would probably be near death...
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
The Sopwith Camel was a splendid aircraft, it won the air war in the West. Posted by Destineer (Member # 821) on :
quote:I worry more for the people I know than those I have never met.
Do you think this is a sensible attitude? Does the completely coincidental fact that you've never met or gotten to know someone make their well-being any less important?
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
I think it's pretty much impossible for a human to worry/care for people you've never met as much as for those whom you know well.
Posted by Jonathan Howard (Member # 6934) on :
Yeah, umm, Sopwith, you suck. Posted by Destineer (Member # 821) on :
MPH, that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to combat our natural inclination at least a little bit.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
I haven't seen any indication that anybody on this thread disagrees.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
quote: I believe hard work is the best road to success. I believe in help rather than handouts.
Why do you insist on setting yourself up as some kind of common man martyr. I've unfortunately run across a few of these little lists, and I've generally shaken my head at the intent the person is try to convey.
While its introduced as sort of self-depricating, maybe a little sad, it soon turns into a list of meaningless rhetorical statements designed to suggest that if you are NOT a white southerner, you somehow support the idea of people not working for a living. Or the idea that if I am pro-choice, then that is somehow connected to my ideas about having happy children... ridiculous!
I would feel insulted for myself, if I didn't already feel disgusted at the attempted manipulation, and sorry for anyone that thinks a belief statement like this one is a somehow heroic, or even enlightening thing to write. I for one, feel sorry for you for the one thing that isn't on your list:
You believe that others are too stupid to see through your narcisism.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Wow. That came out of nowhere.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
It certainly didn't come out of what Sopwith posted.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
I just get REALLY tired of these things. Its my problem, mostly.
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
Maybe Sopwith's wrong; maybe Orinoco's what's wrong with America. Posted by Stan the man (Member # 6249) on :
Maybe. According to that BMI calculator, I am .3 into the low end of normal weight.
An' Sopwith, if you are what's wrong with America these days, then we could use more people like you. Maybe not exactly, but generally overall.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jon Boy: Maybe Sopwith's wrong; maybe Orinoco's what's wrong with America.
Hear, hear!
-pH
Posted by Sopwith (Member # 4640) on :
I've been posting less here recently and offering my opinions in the real world a bit less here of lates as well. About a month ago, I thought I would just spend a bit more time listening, just listening.
Am I a common man martyr? Nah. Common, very. Martyr, doubtful, my life is too comfortable as it is to claim any sort of martyrship. I'm just part of that nameless majority of Americans that just pisses some people off (maybe not all of the time, but definitely some of the time).
And btw, my take on the sanctity of marriage deals a lot more with fidelity, love and respect than who marries whom.
Oh, and 6-feet tall and 340 lbs. kinda pushes me beyond the "Husky" section of the clothing store...
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
What is the common man anyway?
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
But what do they mean by phrases like that? They don't really make any sense to me...
Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :
Okay, I'm feeling a little sympathy toward Orincoro - if not toward his style.
What was the point of printing a list of basically good things about himself under the heading "I am apparently what is wrong with America" if not to get people to respond with how, of course, he is wonderful and America needs more of him? I'm sure sopwith is a great person and we likely do need more of him, but it sounds like the nationalistic version of, "Oh, you don't need to bother with me; I'm just your mother." Or, "Call me old-fashioned, but I love my famiy."
Although I'm sure that sopwith intended nothing of the sort, it can have the effect of making those of us who aren't just like him, or may not agree with him, feel manipulated and guilty. As if we had accused him of being "what's wrong with America."
As I said, I don't thin sopwith intended this, but I can understand Orincoro's reading it that way.
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
But what do they mean by phrases like that? They don't really make any sense to me...
Those weren't phrases; they were just links.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
quote:Originally posted by pH:
quote:Originally posted by Jon Boy: Maybe Sopwith's wrong; maybe Orinoco's what's wrong with America.
Hear, hear!
-pH
You cut me real deep pH.
I think I hear the phone ringing hang on....
-species 8472? -yah -oh -no, actually she's here -I can't say THAT! -that's not fair -no she is NOT -Well, if you put it that way i can see... -uhuh. -really? -Oh.
Hey pH. I am disgusted at you.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
quote:Originally posted by Dr Strangelove: Orincoro, did you know that your name, if tweaked a bit, could be an interesting palindrome?
I don't see it. Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
I disgust a lot of people.
-pH
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
quote:Originally posted by kmbboots:
Although I'm sure that sopwith intended nothing of the sort, it can have the effect of making those of us who aren't just like him, or may not agree with him, feel manipulated and guilty. As if we had accused him of being "what's wrong with America."
As I said, I don't thin sopwith intended this, but I can understand Orincoro's reading it that way.
I did think that was what was intended, so while I might be harsh, well I AM harsh, its for a reason. I would like Sopwith to think about what this list is really meant to say about him. If I judged too quickly, I'm sorry, but I think I am justified.
But I nevertheless retract my asessment of Sopwith's narcisism if this list was truly just the product of a spur of the moment whim that was never really thought to its innevitable conclusion. It happens.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
quote:Originally posted by pH: I disgust a lot of people.
-pH
I used to discuss alot of people, now I generally avoid gossip. Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
quote:Originally posted by Dan_raven:
quote:I'd do something about it if I could, but my hands are tied.
I am living on a need to know basis. Why are your hands tied? I don't need (want) to know.
Then why ask, Dan?
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
Yeah, sorry Orincoro, I wasn't at my most lucid when I posted that. Lets see ... ummm ...
Orincniro
Yeah, that's all I got. If you're dyslexic maybe it'd work ...
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
What a tease I thought you had something good.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Oriniro? Oronoro? Oroncnoro?
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
See, I always think Orinoco, like Orinoco Flow...
Sail away, sail away, sail away...
Wait, that's not it...is it?
-pH
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
That's what I always think of as well.
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
All joking aside, I do think some of these really are problems :
quote:I am a Christian. I have an SUV. I'm in debt up to my armpits. I am obese. I am a college drop out. I am an underachiever.
And, incidentally, strongly correlated.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
That list kind of annoys for some reason But most lists like that tend to bug me.
Posted by prolixshore (Member # 4496) on :
Yes. Because all Christians are fat. People who finish college never get into debt. Underachievers always drive SUVs.
--ApostleRadio
EDIT: Before it is inevitably pointed out, you are correct. You said correlated and I took it to the extreme of saying always and never. I shouldn't have done that, as your statement is ridiculous enough as it stands that there was no need for exaggeration on my part.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
quote:Originally posted by pH: See, I always think Orinoco, like Orinoco Flow... Sail away, sail away, sail away... Wait, that's not it...is it? -pH
It is in fact based on that. It was originally that, however many years ago I lost the code to my "Orinoco" AIM screename, and had to devise an alternate which would be recognizable to friends, so that the change would go unnoticed (also a helpful tip for stalkers attempting to masquerade as somebody's actual friend.... I've said too much. J/K I've never tried that. Seriously.)
Anyway Orincoro it became for some reason. I only noticed when people here started saying Orinoco that it seemed like an ingenious play on "Hatrack River." Alas no, I have been Orincoro since 2000 or so.
Posted by Sopwith (Member # 4640) on :
I smoke. I've lied before. I've told the truth when I shouldn't have. I've given money to a beggar. I've turned my back on someone in need. I waste time when things have to get done. I've been known to be lazy. I've held a grudge or two. I've shot my mouth off. I've held my tongue when someone needed me to speak up. I've voted for a candidate or two that I didn't know. I've let someone's appearance prejudice my opinion of them. I have been vain. I have planned for tomorrow, but never followed through on it.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
And who by fire? Who by water? Who in the sunshine? Who in the nighttime? Who by high ordeal? Who by common trial?
Posted by vonk (Member # 9027) on :
Hey! That BMI calculator is incredibly insulting! I am not obese. I mean, yeah, I'm a little soft around the middle, and I'm approaching A cups, but obese? I don't think so. 6'2" @ 240lbs is not obese.
Posted by prolixshore (Member # 4496) on :
BMIs do not work a lot of the time. For example, As a 6'1" 190 pound 22 year old male, I am slightly overweight? It fails to take muscle mass into account.
--ApostleRadio
Posted by Chungwa (Member # 6421) on :
It's interesting that you list "giving money to a beggar" in a list of otherwise negative actions.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Some consider it negative as it can reinforce negative habits (drug use/alcoholism/more begging) from the recipient.
Others see it as a good thing.
Posted by Chungwa (Member # 6421) on :
Sorry. My post was intended to point out that while some people view it as negative (for the reasons you listed), others view it as positive (for, in my opinion, much more rational reasons).
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Yeah to Ornicoro for using "species 8472" in a post!
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
quote:Originally posted by vonk: Hey! That BMI calculator is incredibly insulting! I am not obese. I mean, yeah, I'm a little soft around the middle, and I'm approaching A cups, but obese? I don't think so. 6'2" @ 240lbs is not obese.
actually that's quite a hefty build if I do say so myself- 6'00 210 and I'm not a small man
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
Am I the only one who's reminded of that Bowie song by this thread title?
I'm afraid of Americans...I'm afraid of the world...
-pH
Posted by Kristen (Member # 9200) on :
According to that BMI calculator if the ratio goes up .1 more, I am OVERWEIGHT. Thus, doomed to societal consternation and prone to be videotaped from the neck down innocently walking down the streets of Chicago to be used in the news reporting on the 'obesity epidemic'.
But for now, as long as I stay at 24.9, I'm HEALTHY and I get a pat on the back.
...
Sopwith, I don't understand how you can list all those attributes equally. "owning an SUV" seems to be an entirely different kind of trait that "raising your own child".
Yesterday I had to deter a 6 and 10 year old from BEGGING because they had no food. You should be proud of yourself for being a stable, loving parent, and giving your child support and love.
EDIT w/ respect to Bao: Oh...you were being flippant? Well, I guess I exhausted my critical reading skills in class today. Still, the idea that anyone finds anything wrong with being a considerate and loving parents makes me extremely vexed.
[ April 14, 2006, 06:58 PM: Message edited by: Kristen ]
Posted by BaoQingTian (Member # 8775) on :
Oh please, everyone lay off Sopwith. He was just having fun making a list with things about himself that some group or another have said negative things about.
I don't think it was intended to manipulate as some have suggested, be a comprehensive list, or even all be important things. 'Twas just a little fun folks.
P.S. That BMI is a joke. I hope people don't really take it seriously. I'm 6'3, 192 lbs and I have a BMI of 24.9. I work out 4 times a week-10 minutes of running and about 1/2 an hour of circuit type weight lifting. Muscle is 22% more dense than fat. You can get skinnier and still gain weight. I'm sure everyone out there knows that, but just didn't want anyone going anorexic.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
My BMI is 18.3.
I guess I'm anorexic then.
I'm gonna go finish off my Nestle Crunch ice cream.
-pH
Posted by SoaPiNuReYe (Member # 9144) on :
Sop just reading your list made me list a thousand things about myself that made me worse than you .
Posted by Julia (Member # 9244) on :
Looks like i'm still under weight. You know, you'd think that eating like a pig would pay off sooner or later. Dang that metabolism of mine!!
My stance on the marriage thing is this:
Marraige between a man and a women is sacred. I don't really mind if homosexuals go off and get married, but I don't consider that type of marraige sacred.
[ April 14, 2006, 07:45 PM: Message edited by: Julia ]
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
I love despair.com's demotivators. For some reason that's what this thread reminded me of. The one I'm most laughing about right now is this one.
Dysfunction The only consistent feature of all your dissatisfying relationships is you.
I can't read it without cracking up. So true, so true! Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Compromise could be the hatrack motto. Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Confused]](confused.gif)
)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Mad]](mad.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Grumble]](graemlins/grumble.gif)
I thought you had something good.
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)