I'm against many forms of ageism and believe young people should
get more rights and more of a say in their lives. HOWEVER - when
there is a clear power difference like this, the rules stand as
they are. I also am against the education system attempting to
manipulate children through confusion, timed tests, teaching
things as "facts" when they are not, textbooks with politically
motivated agendas that change from whatever the whims of the
education system is. I believe in teaching free thinking. Clear
thinking. Not just "critical thinking" which is a very specific
technique, but teaching how to spot bullshit, how to spot a
bullshitter, how to discern the difference between good
information and bad information and how to think clearly through
issues and situations and their own lives. So, I see a lot of
education as a form of power abuse as well. I also see some
forms of parenting as a form of abuse. Not physical but
psychological. Even if you remove the "predator and prey"
analogy: you still have a clear power difference. This doesn't
mean that there is overt force either: being charming and suave,
grooming, cool toys, .... and part of being an ADULT, especially
an adult that is in an area of responsibility for children: and
all adults ARE RESPONSIBLE for the welfare of all children...
... is to NOT make your ADULTHOOD become part of their
CHILDHOOD. You HAD yours. Let them have theirs. If you're going
to involve yourself in children's lives, do so as a mentor, a
role model, someone who is guiding a member of the next
generation into becoming a better citizen, a better human being,
helping someone self-actualize. But sexually? No. Just... no.
No. Recalibrate because you're an adult. You had your childhood.
Let them have theirs. === Causation aside (nature/nurture), you
have responsibilities as an adult. Let's say you hold a "no free
will" position. Doesn't matter. You're still responsible for
your actions. That's part of being an adult. Want to eliminate
your responsibility? Eliminate adulthood. Until then, you're
responsible. == I don't think causation makes a difference.
You're equally morally culpable. Victim of genes? Victim of
circumstance? Doesn't matter. The culpability remains equal and
equivalent. The victim angle is just a nice story you can use in
court to defend your actions and maybe convince a jury but part
of being an adult is culpability. == Oh it was clearly a troll:
I just like tallying up my likes with my marvelous argumentation
because, really, I do present a strong case that deserves 10x
more. == If the student isn't learning, the teacher needs to
change tactics. It's not the students fault, Terrance. Everybody
is teachable. == I've been online since 1989 in thousands of
discussions about everything. I can be persuasive and
convincing. It's not difficult. That being said, yes, you have
people who like to "shoot and leave". But they're like hecklers,
ignorable. == ''you do realize you just disagreed then agreed
with me, but in a way to be manipulative to pressure your own
point, correct?" I work for the light side. Committed. I would
be a horrible person if I switched over. == I'm what a reformed
troll would look like, except I've never been a troll... if that
makes any sense. == I haven't used the term asexual for myself -
I generally don't stick a name on it - but I gave up dating in
my early/mid 20s because of relationship turmoil. It was
bringing out the worst sides of me. I said, "screw this" and
just stopped. Just like that. Focused on life. 44 yrs old now,
no regrets. Best thing for me. Not for everybody of course.
[we'd have no population then!] but I'm glad I did. == Yup. It's
freedom because I can talk to and deal with anybody. If they
have assumptions, well then they'll just have to learn that SOME
guys aren't looking for sex, not from anybody. From an
'outsider's' perspective for a while now, it's amazing how sex
and relationships in general are more akin to PTSD than anything
else.
