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<P:\>erson\Guy.exe -PersonGuy *pERSONgUY.cfg
http://www.go.to/personguy

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PEBKAC: Problem exists between keyboard and chair.

i think it's stupid that social expectations should dictate (or at least influence) what we do with our own bodies and make us feel ashamed for trying to amuse ourselves.

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PEBKAC: Problem exists between keyboard and chair.

Your obsession with this topic strikes me as a desperate plea for help. Go here and all of your problems will be solved.

"When in bed, if that is where you have your problem for the most part, dress yourself for the night so securely that you cannot easily touch your vital parts, and so that it would be difficult and time consuming for you to remove those clothes. By the time you started to remove protective clothing you would have sufficiently controlled your thinking that the temptation would leave you."

(Can you say 'wetsuit'?)

"In the field of psychotherapy there is a very effective technique called aversion therapy. When we associate or think of something very distasteful with something which has been pleasurable, but undesirable, the distasteful thought and feeling will begin to cancel out that which was pleasurable"

(And later in life when you're married and your wife wants to get it on, you want to puke, if she touches you.)

I s'pose it depends on how you look at it, self-abuse or self-gratification.
If your religion of choice says it's wrong and you chose to follow that teaching, just obey it or you'll condemn yourself to a life of despair over why you feel the urge to do something quite natural in its origin/motivation.
If it doesn't, then go for it. Discover what makes you tick and use this info to gain pleasure from your partner and to offer the same to them.
Masturbating in front of children in the local park is liable to get the shit kicked out of you.

Moral of the story: All things have their place, all things in moderation, and, different strokes for different folks. (if you'll excuse the pun.)

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"I'm going to the backseat of my car with the woman I love, and I won't be back for TEN MINUTES." Homer Simpson

Anyway, I take pride in my masturbation, and I'm not trying to quit... I doesn't cut into my social life, so I don't see it as a problem. In fact, it makes me appriciate my body more, and gives me a sence of self-asteem!

Now, about religion... it IS a "mind virus" but I don't look at it in a bad light. Just like the flu virus... it isn't usually the fault of whoever catches it, but usually it because of being in a high risk zone; they make me want to keep my distance so I don't catch it; they have dissadvantaging symptoms.

Now, don't get me wrong, I think everyone has the right to belive whatever they want, and I have tons of friends who are religious. I don't think any less of them, because I belive that all religions are a complicated version of what's REALLY going on. I love the fact that it teaches people to be good OR ELSE. However, I despise the fact that it gives people an excuse to treat me, or any other non-belivers like shit. I'm not a bad person, I just have different views on the world... why can nobody see that?

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<P:\>erson\Guy.exe -PersonGuy *pERSONgUY.cfg
http://www.go.to/personguy

quote:

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Originally posted by Happyfish:
...If someone treats you like shit because you don't believe what they do it isn't the fault of the religion. Didn't you say it teaches ppl to be good? How does that involve treating others like shit?

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(Boy. You are going to hate me. First I argue with you over evolution, and now this. Oh well. Try to hear me out, and tell me what you think)

You are correct. There aren't too many religions that explicitly encourage their faithful to treat others badly (in terms of writings and such). Despite this, it is unfortunately the case that many 'religious people' do tend to treat others badly. The reason for this, as I see it, is because a religion sets down standards, rules, and edicts for its followers to live by. And it is often the case that a 'religious' person will apply these standards to others and judge them accordingly. Consequently, you often see 'religious' individuals treating non-followers prejudicially.

As for explicit cases where a religion encourages persecution, homosexuality is a good example. I'm sure you heard about the 'Christian' protestors who picketed a gay man's funeral. What makes it even worse is that this man was a murder victim. I know that you don't condone such actions, but some sects do. Therein lies the problem (other examples: witch-burning, inquisition, jihad).

Finally, religion encourages prejudice because it fosters an air of exclusivity among its followers. Looking at the world in terms of 'us and them' tends to produce a negative view of those outside your exclusive circle.

I suppose the real problem is not religion itself, but the organized aspects of it. I see no problem with religion on an individual basis (where groupthink isn't a problem), just at the organized level where these negative effects tend to crop up.

Anyhow, those are my thoughts on the matter.

about religion...i personally am an athiest completely. i have no belief whatsoever in any higher power or whatnot. I basically agree with Bozeman on this. religion isnt really bad until people use it to justify a war or killing or some shit.