Question for the Cat Slaves here. Are your cats declawed? If not, do you trim their claws?

wordywalt comments on Mar 3, 2018:

No, my cat is not declawed. Yes, we do trim her claws. We also use cardboard scratching pads sprinkled with catnip to distract her from the furniture. It generally works.

This happened to me during my college days.

wordywalt comments on Mar 3, 2018:

I was stationed at the U.SArmy Hospital in West Berlin in 1960, at the height of the Cold War. West Berlin was 110 miles deep inside Russian controlled East Germany, and surrounded by 300,000 Russian Troops. Late one night, MPs Blocked the entrace to hospital gounds on Faberstrasse and ensured that there was no one between the gate and the outside entrance to the Outpatient Department. They also cleared the Outpatient Department itself, and sorrounding hallways of all people. Then they drove a vehicle to the Outpatient entrance and brougt a man into the hospital and placed him in a private room and locked the door. They gave the key to the doctor who was to be the attending physician and he was the only person allowed to see the patient. I made all of the morning reports for the hispital showing all personnel actions and patents admitted and discharged. For this admission, I was told to simply state "one person admitted - CLASSIFIED. About a week later, the MPs came back and took the person out again in the ded of night in the same manner. I entered in the morning report, "one patient discharged -- CLASSIFIED.. I often wondered who the man was. A defector? One of our spies who got ill and came in from the cold for treatment?

Grown up fun

wordywalt comments on Mar 3, 2018:

The last time I saw snow in Florida was in 1958. Snowball fights are rare here.

How do you rate Trump's performance?

wordywalt comments on Mar 3, 2018:

Trump has already set a new benchmark for worst US president in history.

Would you rather be poor and work at a job you love or be rich and work at a job you hate? Why?

wordywalt comments on Mar 2, 2018:

I was lucky to have work that I loved and get paid decently for it. That was good enough for me.

My 12-yo daughter revealed to me yesterday that she’s gay. Should I...

wordywalt comments on Mar 2, 2018:

You have to be kidding, and your question is so contribed. There is only one choice for the sane, caring person.

Ladies: The egg never swims out to the sperm. Never chase a man.

wordywalt comments on Mar 2, 2018:

The ovum is not biologically equipped to be motile. Women are.

What is the best way to explore human nature: psychology, philosophy, or biology?

wordywalt comments on Mar 2, 2018:

Both biology and psychology help to describe and explain human nature. Philosophy provies us with a vehicle for thinking about things.

Do you make your bed every day? Why or why not?

wordywalt comments on Mar 2, 2018:

If my wife is out of town, no. Why should I?

How many of you are able to maintain good friendships with people of differing opinions and politics...

wordywalt comments on Mar 2, 2018:

+I can if the other agrees that we both will treat the other and his/her opinions with civility, dignity, and respect; or if we agree that certain topics are out of bounds for us.

I've never lived in Las Vegas, but my son lived there three years.

wordywalt comments on Mar 2, 2018:

I agree. Have never been to Vegas and have never wanted to. There is nothing beautiful or natural about the city.

What's something that has never (or will never) changed about you?

wordywalt comments on Mar 2, 2018:

My love of learning.

Please help me choose: 1) Truck Fump 2) Tuck Frump

wordywalt comments on Mar 2, 2018:

Neither. How about Dump Trump!

OK so it's been fun so far but let's try and shake things up.

wordywalt comments on Mar 2, 2018:

Any reports saying that time travel is real iare pure poppycock!!

Is wrong to get your feeling out?

wordywalt comments on Mar 1, 2018:

It is not wrong, but it might interfere with your primary aim. You can't unload on a person and expect them to be cooperative.

Best way to free friends from religious oppression?

wordywalt comments on Mar 1, 2018:

They have to free themselves of religion. You cannot do it for them.

Good words to live by...

wordywalt comments on Mar 1, 2018:

Thye sentiment is good, but the composition is poor.

Kroger to raise age limit on gun sales to 21 - POLITICO

wordywalt comments on Mar 1, 2018:

The fact that Kroger even sells guns is a horrifying example of corporate greed.

We all come from different ethnic and socio-cultural backgrounds yet here we are on an Agnostic ...

wordywalt comments on Mar 1, 2018:

If you will scan previous posts, you will find out that a lot of people have already done that.

Do we need the mind?

wordywalt comments on Mar 1, 2018:

Of course not. The mind is what creates and defines the human being.

I recently became single because my ex decided he couldn't live with my cat.

wordywalt comments on Mar 1, 2018:

You really did need a guy who actred like that.

As of now I'm Agnostic. Wondering if I should fully convert to Atheism. Thoughts?

wordywalt comments on Mar 1, 2018:

It is not a matter of converting. It is a simple matter to deciding that you are certain that you do not believe in any god or religion.When you decide that, you are an atheist.

This says it all, at least til the next one

wordywalt comments on Mar 1, 2018:

He is not mentally ill -- just an egomaniacal, not very bright, l greedy, lying sociopath.

Social classes

wordywalt comments on Feb 28, 2018:

Through my education and work, I am middle class. But, I grew up in the undereducated lower class.

How important is the constitution to you?

wordywalt comments on Feb 28, 2018:

The U.S. Constitution is very important to me. But, many conservative misinterpretations of it I consider an abomination against our democracy and political ethic.

As I've mentioned previously on this site, it is predominantly people from the U.

wordywalt comments on Feb 28, 2018:

Have enjoyed watching live college level rugby games, but never really got into the sport.

Temper Temper..

wordywalt comments on Feb 28, 2018:

I have a temper, but I manage it well. lived with a verbally abusive and manipulative wife with a borderline personality disorder, and was frequently legitimately furious, but never hit her. T I only blow my cool verbally (never physically) when a find a person/s behavior and/or words particularly repugnant. If I get angry , I consider my words and actions carefully and if it is important to me, I fight back with planned strategy of words and action -- and have always won (without violence).

How well do you listen actively?

wordywalt comments on Feb 28, 2018:

Depends on how interesting I find the person and/or the topic.

Can someone tell me why atheists, agnostics and freethinkers are so much discriminated in the States...

wordywalt comments on Feb 28, 2018:

When you noted that there are more churches in the USA than pubs, you begin to get the picture., especially when so many of them are loud evangelicals trying to shove their beliefs down everyone's throat by any means possible.

Which TV News Personality Gets Under Your Skin?

wordywalt comments on Feb 28, 2018:

All members of the Fox propaganda machine!

What are a few things you would say that really improve the quality of your life?

wordywalt comments on Feb 28, 2018:

Music, learning, friendships and good relationships, access to the out-of-doors.

Population problems

wordywalt comments on Feb 28, 2018:

The increasing human overpopulation is , in itself, causing more war, disease, famine, environmental degradation and pollution, than anything else. If not contained, it presents the prospect of making the world unfit for human habitation, and for eliminating many species of organisms.

Have any of you agnostics faced death and how did you deal with it?

wordywalt comments on Feb 28, 2018:

I am not sure what you mean by having "faced death." I was in a serious out accident on a bridge with a 60 foot drop below. IAs the accident was happening, I was fighting with every emotion I had in my head, but then realized that there was not a damned thing I could do. As I let go of the fight, I experienced a total sense of calm and peace. That taught me something.

Well - after reading the many posts on the subject, and after being on other dating sites ...

wordywalt comments on Feb 28, 2018:

If you both can truly respect each other's right to believe as you do, there is a real chance. My wife of 23 years is a staunch Catholic and I am an atheist, and our marriage has been a good one.

Different path?

wordywalt comments on Feb 28, 2018:

I can't go back and change anything, so a don't waste my time thinking about it.

Were/are you more productive at work when you were/are in a relationship?

wordywalt comments on Feb 27, 2018:

I was most productive in my career when in the depths of a long, terrible. marriage. My work, my working relationships, and my successes gave me the affirmation and satisfaction which my marriage could not. It was what kept me going.

Sexual Metaphysics

wordywalt comments on Feb 27, 2018:

No. Spirituality is a himan invention. It does not exist in nature.

When we finally start living in the moon or mars when will those people be classed as another ...

wordywalt comments on Feb 27, 2018:

Your question is moot. The nature of lunar dust makes the possibility of human colonization unlikely.

Psychology

wordywalt comments on Feb 27, 2018:

Unlikely.

Are you in favour of a revolution?

wordywalt comments on Feb 27, 2018:

I find your thinking disturbing and dangerous. Benevolent dictators NEVER stay benevolent.

Is it possible to be in love with multiple people at once?

wordywalt comments on Feb 26, 2018:

Oh, yes. It is just not feasible to act on it in most cases.

Where do you see humanity in a thousand years?

wordywalt comments on Feb 26, 2018:

Who knows. Most human predictions are way off.

Do you think there are more men than woman Athiests or are women more covert about it?

wordywalt comments on Feb 26, 2018:

Good question. I would guess that there are more men atheists. To a greater extent, women are taught by their society to be conformists.

Any superstitions you subscribe to?

wordywalt comments on Feb 26, 2018:

None.

Moving--embracing the chaos. Does anyone have tips on making moving less stressful?

wordywalt comments on Feb 26, 2018:

Plan it carefully, but prepared to play it by ear, Murphy's Law is always in force.

Exercise suggestions?

wordywalt comments on Feb 26, 2018:

How about racquetball? It is a very fast paced, and demanding sport. I used to sweat off 8 pounds in an hour of racquetball. Also, you could try weight machines?

They're ba-ack.

wordywalt comments on Feb 26, 2018:

What she is saying is that secularists would deny those religious zealots the right to tyrannize us.

I thought that the gun-control madness would be over here.

wordywalt comments on Feb 26, 2018:

First and foremost, guns are tools for killing -- of humans or other animals. Second, they are tools for control and intimidation. Third, but leas important, they are tools for self-protection. The simple fact is that the more widespread the ownership of guns, the greater the incidence of human deaths from the use of guns. Mo one can deny that and be in his or her right mind. I own a rifle and a shotgun, but I believe strongly that all assault weapons, automatic and semiautomatic weapons, and pistols should be banned.

There have been several mentions of the "political compass" in politics discussion recently.

wordywalt comments on Feb 26, 2018:

I just took the questionnaire. It is pretty accurate. It showed my to be more libertarian than authoritarian, , more left than right -- but not extreme. I guess you would call me liberal, but not an extremist.

Death or Old Age - Which Do You Fear More And Why?

wordywalt comments on Feb 26, 2018:

At 81 years old, I am in old age. I fear neither.

Statistics published recently suggest 42% of US households have at least one gun.

wordywalt comments on Feb 26, 2018:

I own a shotgun and a rifle, but have not fired either in over 30 years. I am for completely banning of assault weapons, all automatic and semi-automatic weapons, and pistols.

What do you mean by "Spiritual"?

wordywalt comments on Feb 26, 2018:

I do not use the term -- ever.

How do you cope with an extreme crisis?

wordywalt comments on Feb 26, 2018:

Whatever tyou do, do NOT withdraw inward. Make yourself stay active and involved with other things so that you do not become consumed by the crisis. I would also consider counseling, but not psychotherapy.

Do you hate arguing or do you enjoy it?

wordywalt comments on Feb 25, 2018:

I love a good, rational, and civil discussion including different opinions. I detest arguing.

I'm hoping someone can shed some insight for me.

wordywalt comments on Feb 25, 2018:

Your only good option is to refuse to argue with him. If he starts in on the topic, walk away.

What are your views on objective religious philosophy?

wordywalt comments on Feb 25, 2018:

Nothing based on irrational belief can be called objective.

Hope this shows up correctly. Can you guys add any?

wordywalt comments on Feb 25, 2018:

I have no idea of what you are talking about.

China's ruling party (C.

wordywalt comments on Feb 25, 2018:

That is the kind of thing that happens when the government is led by dogmatic true believers in an ideology.

I need to quit smoking.

wordywalt comments on Feb 25, 2018:

I quit smoking 22 years ago. I did it by using the gum first, for a while, then switching to the patch to get off nicotine completely. Remember the rule of 6s: If you make it past the first 6 hours, you have a chance. If you make it past the first six days, it will get better. If you make it past the first six months, you have it beat!

Do you have a favorite decade of music?

wordywalt comments on Feb 25, 2018:

The 1970s -- a decade of meaningful and beautiful music -- folk music, protest music, Baez, Lightfoot, Jim, Croce, Cat Stephens, Simon and Garfunkel and many more.

Do you in some way feel superior to those who are religious or have you remained humble?

wordywalt comments on Feb 25, 2018:

I do feel more in touch with the truth, but I don't rub it in.

Why is it so quiet on here when it's Sunday morning in the US?

wordywalt comments on Feb 25, 2018:

Because people are enjoying their freedom to just take it easy, as opposed to getting ready for church.

If you could have a dinner party with 4 people from history (whom are no longer alive) who would ...

wordywalt comments on Feb 25, 2018:

My four would be Charles Darwin, Hermann Hesse, Carl Sagan, and Jean Piaget -- four of the great minds for the ages.

This one is for all the pro-life people on here.

wordywalt comments on Feb 25, 2018:

All pro-life advocates should realize that to choose a pro0life stance for their own lives is find' but when they attempt to force all people to act in accordance with their beliefs they are acting in a totalitarian manner that, in itself, is reprehensible.

I use to be close friends with a woman that I knew since the late 80’s or early 90’s.

wordywalt comments on Feb 25, 2018:

Perhaps you could have been more tactful, but you were corrct in being truthful with the person.C halk that one up to experience, but don't grieve over it.

This is so well put

wordywalt comments on Feb 25, 2018:

Tiedrich shreds Trumps very thin veneer to expose the fact that there is nothing underneath.

What's are the chances of depriving Tramp of a majority in the house and Senate this year in ...

wordywalt comments on Feb 24, 2018:

Let's do everything we an to see that it occurs!!

Is there any point in arguing with people who do not value truth or evidence?

wordywalt comments on Feb 24, 2018:

No. If they are not going to be rational and objective, don't waste your breath.

Would like to brainstorm ideas for our website's cover text.

wordywalt comments on Feb 24, 2018:

Saying "the" community . . . Is a bit presumptuous. Try "a" community. . .

Atlanta bid for Amazon HQ2 gets new political problem: Georgia adoption bill

wordywalt comments on Feb 24, 2018:

We are seeing some corporations show some moral leadership by distancing themselves from the NRA. Amazon could play a similar role in Georgia. It would be great if responsible corporate leadership would begin to erode regressive and discriminatory politics! It could work!

When someone invites you to a wedding, how do you feel?

wordywalt comments on Feb 24, 2018:

If it is someone I do not know well, or do not particularly like, I beg off due to prior commitments. I have attended 6 weddings in my entire life, including 2 of my own.

What is “worse” to you – being lied to spare your feelings, or being told the truth when the ...

wordywalt comments on Feb 24, 2018:

Told the truth, If I am told in a caring and respectful manner.

Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling.

wordywalt comments on Feb 24, 2018:

As an older man, I believe that I am at Erikson's stage of integrity. That is, I know who and what I am, where I am, and where I am going, an, as a whole, I am content with that. Really happy? On some rare occasions, but still content.

Am I weird?

wordywalt comments on Feb 24, 2018:

I'm a man, but I find wearing such under-tops simply trashy. I feel the same way about wearing baseball and hunting caps backward (particularly indoors).

Feminist?

wordywalt comments on Feb 24, 2018:

I am a man, but I fully support women's rights and equality in all senses.

Would like to brainstorm ideas for our website's cover text.

wordywalt comments on Feb 24, 2018:

What made me want to join was the possibility of participating in ongoing, sincere, respectful, yet probing dialogue about issues with intelligent, civil people. An occasional bit of fun does not hurt, either.

I thought you might appreciate this graphic.

wordywalt comments on Feb 24, 2018:

Love it!

As I age, instances where thoughts of what death is are occurring more often.

wordywalt comments on Feb 24, 2018:

At the age of 81, I do not fear death. Rather, I find the certainty of death and of ceasing to exist comforting. It will be over and done! To me, I cannot understand how anyone would want to live forever -- in any sense.

Honesty.

wordywalt comments on Feb 24, 2018:

I agree that we need to be honest about our beliefs and opinions. But, I am not sure of exactly what you are talking about. Please give real examples of what you are trying to show.

Does this look familiar?

wordywalt comments on Feb 24, 2018:

Superb depiction.

When you left your faith did you continue to seek another truth?

wordywalt comments on Feb 24, 2018:

I think we all seek to define ourselves in a way that we feel comfortable with. I found intellectual and emotional strength in an existential point of view -- not as a set of dogma, but a workable framework.

Time to move on It is very evident to me that my career in aircraft part building is over.

wordywalt comments on Feb 24, 2018:

A stressful time for you. I wish you well.

I'm a college professor and for the past 10 years, I've noticed and my colleagues have as well, that...

wordywalt comments on Feb 24, 2018:

As a retired former high school and college teacher, it is my experience that, as a whole, when students do not perform well or do not meet expectations, it is usually because they have not been taught well or that directions or expectations have not been made clear.

Church

wordywalt comments on Feb 23, 2018:

Except for weddings, no. Even for that, it has been over 20 years.

Besides your home and your work, where do you spend most of your time?

wordywalt comments on Feb 23, 2018:

In my vegetable garden and at the gym

U.S. Citizenship And Immigration Services Removes All References To Citizenship

wordywalt comments on Feb 23, 2018:

All that Cissna and the entire Trump administration are doing is showing that they are stupidly and unpatriotically proving that they are the worst of ethnocentric bigots. Throw the entire lot of them out on their rears!!

Conspiracy Theories - Do you believe in any?

wordywalt comments on Feb 23, 2018:

All conspiracy theories are the products of troubled, paranoid minds.

How important is it to people to have political compatibility?

wordywalt comments on Feb 22, 2018:

I find it difficult to believe that two people with very different political beliefs could have a successful relationship. Religion? That is different, An atheist and a religious person can co-exist well if each grants the other the right to believe as he or she sees fit.

A friend told me today that I am vibrant. I wonder, what does that mean?

wordywalt comments on Feb 22, 2018:

I am an 81 year old man. But, in some ways I am still a 14 year old kid in the rural south, a 24 year old soldier in West Berlin, a 40 - 50 year old educational innovator. My body does not let me do many of the things I used to do, but I stay both mentally and physically active. Some days I feel my age physically, but never mentally.

I have lived in the south for most of my adult life.

wordywalt comments on Feb 22, 2018:

I am a native southerner. who grew up "churched." Today, if someone approaches me with some kind of religious invitation, I simply say, "Religion is not a part of my life.", or something like. They get the message without my using the label.

How the Elderly Lose Their Rights | The New Yorker

wordywalt comments on Feb 22, 2018:

What a horrifying story!

Does belief in assertions that cannot be scientifically proved lead to moral or immoral behavior?

wordywalt comments on Feb 22, 2018:

"True believers" (fanatically fervent and unquestioning believers in any total system ideology -- religious and/or political -- can see the dogma they believe in as grounds for committing horrible crimes. It happens often.

Arming public school teachers.

wordywalt comments on Feb 22, 2018:

I am a retired former educator. I will fight to keep ALL guns off the premises of ALL educational institutions. Trump's suggestion is simply more idiocy from an incompetent and egomaniacal person.

Beliefs

wordywalt comments on Feb 22, 2018:

We are ALL full of beliefs. That can't be the point you are trying to make. Write with greater precision.

To dispute or not to dispute?

wordywalt comments on Feb 22, 2018:

As you said, he has made up his mind. Let him be.

Is trump being silly suggesting to fight fire with fire, ie.

wordywalt comments on Feb 22, 2018:

He is not intelligent enough to really think out any strategy well. It's a Trumpish idiotic gut reaction.

Sadly seems to be true

wordywalt comments on Feb 22, 2018:

Beautiful depiction of Republican hypocrisy.

He Became A Celebrity For Putting Science Before God.

wordywalt comments on Feb 22, 2018:

If they cannot control those character flaws, they will eventually pay the price.I am not surprised. A lot of men who are :"good" men in some ways still have some character flaws.

OK.

wordywalt comments on Feb 22, 2018:

I find it most interesting that not ONE of most rabid and vociferous gun pushing advocates has ever dare to attempt to answer this gentlemen's valid questions? Have his questions shamed you into guilty silence?

OK.

wordywalt comments on Feb 22, 2018:

Superbly posed questions!! Those advocating widespread ownership of all kinds of weapons will not be able to answer your questions with any facts, truthfulness, or morality. But their views are far from rational or moral.