@bodhi - https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ … e_movement

Last edited by nest0r (2011 February 13, 1:24 am)

I understand using a gender-neutral pronoun when the gender of a user is uncertain, but that is not the case here.  We all know Nukemarine is a man.  Not sure who would be offended by knowing this.  It seems only courtesy to the person being spoken of.

@bodhi

Offense and courtesy, really? I think that's an odd and severe way to think. I'm not going to start making exceptions to my habit of dismissing gender based on your sensibilities on someone else's behalf, especially on the web when referring to aliases and avatars. I'll refer to a person's biological sex on rare occasions, only when I deem it necessary.

Also, you'll notice I've never asked you to refer to me in a gender-neutral fashion. But if you feel strongly about being courteous feel free to stop using he or she when referring to me.

By the way, I thought you were joking, didn't realize you'd really analyze the singular they and disapprove. How strange! If I'd known I would not have brought up the link (which is only tangential to my own rationale for using the pronoun).

@liosama - I'm not sure what you mean. But I also am not sure what you mean with regards to telling Womacks you're ignoring his and Nukemarine's post, when I don't see a post, then clarifying by saying that in this nonexistent post Nukemarine told you to commit suicide. I can't tell if you're joking but it doesn't seem like it. What's going on?

Last edited by nest0r (2011 February 13, 2:06 am)

I don't follow your logic. If anything, it should be the opposite. To more fully appreciate human beings, don't obsess over gender. It might help if you first don't conceive of the anatomy someone is born with as constituting gender one way or another.

Also, you don't need to have a social identity based in constructed norms like gender in order to treat people with respect as fellow human beings. Also, different modes of communication have the capacity for varying levels of individual interaction. Often, people with differing conceptions of what a given medium entails will interact, such as you and I.

Just because someone doesn't refer to you as he or she, or want to laugh or cry with you on a forum or exchange emails, or lose their temper with the typed words of a nickname and associated icon, doesn't mean they and you can't meet someplace in the middle, or shouldn't hold yourself and others accountable and treat one another with respect, the nuances of which often shifts in tone and context.

I think the best way to keep things moderate is to not get too caught up in places like forums.

So please don't seek to impose your conceptions on others.

Last edited by nest0r (2011 February 13, 2:27 am)

It has nothing to do with anatomy.  If a person with male genitalia prefers to be referred to as she, that is fine and recognizes how the individual views herself.  It is unnatural to view someone as gender-free because that is not who we are in real life.  People can, and do, build friendships outside the cyberworld as a result of these forums.

vinniram wrote:

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in one respect - Egyptians should ignore the constant stream of propaganda coming out of Obama's mouth. Hasn't he got his own country to run?

I doubt any of what he said was directed toward the Egyptian people.  Anything that he, or any leader of a nation, says publicly is meant as political strategy.

Last edited by bodhisamaya (2011 February 13, 2:53 am)

Gender is a real thing for most people, both in a physical and mental sense.  Though, the physical and mental identity may not be the same.   

My former wife is full lesbian and has been for 10 years.  Though, she behaves and dresses very feminine for her new husband, also a lesbian to whom I address as he.    The mother of my child in Brazil is bisexual, but slightly leans toward liking men more.  She also prefers to be addressed as she (or mommy) and would think I was mocking her if I addressed her as they (She is fluent in English).  The singular gender-neutral pronoun just feels very cold and impersonal to me. 

Maybe I am wrong.  Is there anyone else on this forum who would not feel a little awkward using this form?

See my first post in thread.

Blahah wrote:

That has got nothing to do with the middle ages or with democracy. If that's what Egyptians support, they can democratically elect a leadership who will make it legal. That's democracy. People's attitude to punishment is irrelevant to the discussion. Why did you bring it up?

I find those statistics completely unbelievable.  Though, having grown up in a part of America where  a majority of people feared burning in Hell for all eternity so much, they accepted whatever nonsense the church would feed them.   So, I would not say it is impossible.

If the statistics are true, democracy will not work, because the masses would need something that passes for critical thought in their decision making.   

The definition of democracy can include three wolves and one sheep voting on what to have for dinner.

Last edited by bodhisamaya (2011 February 13, 6:37 am)

Internet Usage:
2000  0.7 %
2006  7.0 %
2008  12.9 %
2009  21.1 %
   
Egypt may still be a nation of extremists, but I think that will change quickly as the number of Internet users continues to grow.
http://www.internetworldstats.com/af/eg.htm

Obama can go screw himself. Obama supported Mubarak and called him a 'friend' etc right up until these demonstrations. Egypt received the most US foreign aid after Israel, they supported Mubarak throughout the entirety of his regime.
Why anybody would take anything Obama has to say about human rights and Egyptian freedom seriously here, is beyond me.

Last edited by thecite (2011 February 13, 7:08 am)

Being half Egyptian, I call bullshit on these statistics as well.

No Egyptians I've ever known, nor ones my relatives have known, are like that. But by all means go ahead and judge the whole population based on a single American research study.

Last edited by dizmox (2011 February 13, 7:24 am)

Womacks23 wrote:

phantombk201 wrote:

liosama wrote:

'Religious extremists' will not and cannot take Egypt. It is a secular nation at heart dating back from its Nasserist days who swept the majority of votes. In anycase, this whole "we don't want X to lead their country" is complete farce. It's their country, they can vote for whoever they want, it will be democracy and independence in its utmost purest form.

Thank you for this post
@Ahibba:thanks for sharing your great experience
@everyone else:i call bullshit on those statistics,im a christian Egyptian...........
Also tell Mr Obama to not shove his ass in everything

You are not in any way concerned that the vast majority of your countrymen voice support for making the following laws in Egypt.

1. Death for anyone who leaves Islam. i.e. Joins your religion
2. Cutting off hands of thieves
3. Stoning to death people who sleep around

?

First of all,let me explain something...over 40% of Egyptian people are in poverty,if your are poor in this country,you have about zero chance of getting good education,if any at all,that's why about the same % of people can't even read or write.Islam or not,without any form of education,this kind of stupidity will exist...now i hope that will change soon.

Second,i seriously doubt those numbers,there are extremists here but they do not have as much power as the CNN or whatever other media you watch is trying to show you...you don't live here,i do.

Third,this country will change,as will the rest of the Arab world(or the whole world who knows),the previous government was running this country like the Mafia,unbelievable amounts of money were being stolen,and all this corruption is being brought to light now,you were supposed to shit your pants if you see a high ranking officer on the street.I was almost arrested for standing on the Nile near the israeli embassy,just standing there watching the nile and i didn't even know there was a goddamn embassy there,because you could be arrested for no reason at all really...

PS:i would say this is the right time to learn chinese before the chinese people revolt and take over the world xD,just a thought
sorry for the long post,im usually lazy:S,i'll edit if i get anymore thoughts

dizmox wrote:

Being half Egyptian, I call bullshit on these statistics as well.

No Egyptians I've ever known, nor ones my relatives have known, are like that. But by all means go ahead and judge the whole population based on a single American research study.

HEY HALF BRO!
i would be glad if you give me your facebook お願い