tom, you raise some interesting points. I will attempt some answers. If one or more of the answers are terse, it is a function of the hour (too late for lunch and too early for scotch) and does not reflect on the quality of your questions or the depth of your interests.
tomtomtom wrote: I'm not into the whole fetish side of it, but I am into the self help section.
Excellent. Think of this site as one of the world's most varied smorgasbords....and at a price impossible to duplicate elsewhere. Choose whatever you like and leave the rest for others. On your second helping, you might become a little adventurous, but that's up to you.
tomtomtom wrote: Do you think it is a little bit satanic? I'm not religeous but I dont like to go out of my way to anger the lord so to speak (dont really believe in it, have had sex with many different people, drink, etc.) hard to explain realllly..
A new image. A world-class supermarket in an upscale area. Any cut of pork you desire. Twenty brands of bacon. Hams imported from Denmark and the Netherlands. In the frozen food section, breakfast ready for the microwave including cheese biscuits and sausage. Don't forget the steaks. Every cut you can imagine, graded at Choice or Prime or higher. And don't overlook the wide assortment of domestic and imported beers and wines.
Orthodox Jewish customers don't consider the frozen combination of dairy and meat products "satanic", but they do believe it offends God, whose name they (and I) capitalize. The Muslims walk past the pork because they believe it is "haram" (forbidden) and displeases God. I doubt that they think it's satanic. The Hindus don't touch the steaks. Have you noticed how ecumenical alcohol can be? Both the Muslims and many American sect members will hurry past, the Americans much more loudly than the Muslims. The other difference is that the Muslims pay for their purchases and leave. The American sect members, or some of them, wait until almost closing time and grab some beer and wine after they're sure their friends have left the store.
None of these people, with the possible exception of the native-born Americans, have gone out of their way to "anger the Lord." They have quietly walked past temptation. Willpower in the face of temptation is not new to them. Willpower in the face of genuine persecution and even torture is not new to some of them, either.
Your reaction is not hard to explain really. You're shocked at something to which you're not accustomed. That's your choice, although it's not very sophisticated. Don't misunderstand me on that point: the Amish are not shocked to see cars, but they still won't ride in one. The shock itself is unsophisticated....rather like the country boy who gazes skyward on his first trip to Manhattan. Speaking of which, if you had seen Times Square five or so years ago, this site would look to you like the Christian Science Reading Room.
tomtomtom wrote: Also is there any damage I could do to myself I was looking at some of the files and it was like permantly turn your self into a baby, to me that seems odd could someone explain to me why you would want to do that?
Tom, I wish I had a bridge for sale. Surely, living in this country of all places, you have learned to distinguish one advertising claim from another. You say that you "don't really" believe in religion, but you're content to entertain the notion that a series of 1's and 0's sent down a wire to your PC might conceivably, possibly turn you into a baby. Interesting choice you make, in terms of belief systems.
Nobody can turn himself into a baby. Many may like the capability to feel as though they were a baby. It doesn't appeal to me, but I am careful about judging lest I be judged...a turn of phrase with which you may be familiar.
tomtomtom wrote: Also anyone had any experiance with the notshy thing, I only started it today (been doing this hyponotism gig for a few days now)
Tom, two comments here.
First, I don't think you need the "notshy" file. After all, consider what you've accomplished. It's more brazen than shy. You became a registered user at this site on Monday, June 27. Later that day, you wrote your first post, wondering whether the site was satanic and asking how in the world something without appeal to you could possibly appeal to anyone else. Et cetera ad astra. Self-centered? Perhaps. Incautious? Absolutely. Observant and self-aware? Doubtful. Shy? Not a chance.
Second, if you genuinely feel that your presence here will "anger the Lord," by all means choose another site. Better to make that choice sooner rather than later. Personally, I hope you will make the choice that's right for you. Shock, willpower, temptation, choice--those are weighty concepts for anyone to ponder. You might also consider the various ways to measure age...intellectual, emotional, and chronological.
A final note. Something about your post leads me to believe that you're familiar with the concept of "wet" and "dry" counties. The names make them sound as though they are reverse sides of the same coin.
Nothing could be farther from the truth. In a "dry" county, those who oppose alcohol win the local referendum and make it impossible for drinkers to purchase beer, wine, or liquor. In short, the non-drinkers force their belief system on those who disagree. In a "wet" county, those who favor the legal sale of alcohol win the local referendum and then allow everyone to choose whether or not to buy alcohol. No belief system has been forced on anyone.
Two very different concepts. One is dictatorial; the other, voluntary. One is profoundly unequal; the other gives everyone an equal choice.
I myself have no management responsibilities at this site. It doesn't belong to me. But I think I speak for many when I express the following personal opinion. I believe in reciprocal equality. I won't mention my belief system to you, and I hope you will show me the courtesy of not mentioning another word about yours.
Under normal circumstances, I would sound and feel more tolerant. Recently, however, a new acquaintance obtruded on my notice and sensibilities. Even from a distance he gives me the creeps. My understanding is that he used to be a missionary for a certain denomination, but that they had to drop him after numerous complaints about obsession and harassment. I caution that my statement is only as reliable as my source in Florida.
At your relatively (and obviously) young age, I urge you to avoid the pitfall into which many moralizers are wont to fall. They develop an overwhelming, obsessive fear.
They live in dread that....
...someone, somewhere might--just might--be having a good time. :wink: