Has anything ever happened in your life that challenged your atheism and made you consider going ...

zeuser comments on May 10, 2018:

Nope

What is the one thing that you appreciate the most.

zeuser comments on May 10, 2018:

You find yourself alone with a problem or some onerous task, things aren't going particularly week, but you aren't giving up. Still progress is slow, you are starting to get tired, you are already sweating, and things don't look good, but there is no going back. Then, when things look the bleakest, a friend's face pops out from around the corner. You had no idea he knew you were here, you surely didn't ask him for help. "Need a hand?" he says. This, this is what I really appreciate. When you need a friend, and a friend shows up. ??

Miss my ex’s dog.

zeuser comments on May 10, 2018:

Yeah, this can be hard. I remember going out with someone who had a cat, a dog, and two parrots. The dog was a sweetie and a snuggler, but the female parrot (Trixie) used to follow me around, sit on my shoulder, jump up on the chair with me. The male parrot (Omar) was a dick. After we broke up, I saw her walking the dog in a local park, and the dog barked at me. It broke my heart. Of course the woman issued a low-end growl, so maybe it wasn't what I thought. But I never saw Trixie again. Good luck, partner, and get your own dog. Plenty of rescues available *today*.

It never gets old..

zeuser comments on May 9, 2018:

Nobody ever says that to me. Really, I don't hear it.

Some of my latest anti Trump creations...enjoy...;)

zeuser comments on May 9, 2018:

Good work, bro! LOL

What do you to make yourself feel sexy?

zeuser comments on May 9, 2018:

Get clean, smell good, pick the pants that fit and the shirt without the hole. And smile. A bit of the herb usually helps. ?

When I was 12 a man I babysat for pinned me up against a wall and called me a cock tease.

zeuser comments on May 9, 2018:

You hear people say go with your gut. You did it, and it stuck. To me, this is bravery, doing what you know is right in the face of your own fear and isolation. I'm sorry it happened to you, but your response was highly commendable. Don't be too hard on your mom, we are all limited by our respective paths. Sounds like she came around in the end, at least I hope she did.

Does anyone else feel like they are destined to fail at relationships?

zeuser comments on May 9, 2018:

Ahh, well. Everyone lives a life that is in large part shaped by circumstances beyond our control. It starts with genetics, your location, socioeconomics, the people you meet, your upbringing, your health, how you make a buck, the list goes on. Are you *meant* to be alone due to any of those factors? I think it may well be an effect, but a lot of those things can change if you try hard enough to do so. We all, however, struggle to know just wtf to change. It ain't easy. A couple of things we can control, attitude and effort. And learning from errors, cuz we all make em. I dunno if that helps at all, that's what I got. Good luck, don't give up!

If Cohen took care of those bills as well?

zeuser comments on May 9, 2018:

"This is another one, sir."

This may sound strange from a 61 year old (I was a lot more sure about love when I was a teenager) ...

zeuser comments on May 9, 2018:

Nothing wrong with infatuation, it *is* exciting. Romantic love, to me, always meant that I felt more like I was me while in love with someone than I would otherwise, like something would be missing from my own self if my love wasn't there. It's all subjective, however.

I've got two kids.

zeuser comments on May 9, 2018:

Different approaches can work for different people. I always let my kids go with their friends to any kind of service they wanted. My boy went to a bunch: a megachurch, a Mormon Temple, a synagogue, a Catholic Church, and a Buddhist temple. He liked the Buddhists the best, he told me, because the food was "awesome". They both turned out more or less like me, compassionate humanists who are atheist af.

What was the best date you ever had?

zeuser comments on May 9, 2018:

Outdoor all day music festival in 2014 or so. Beautiful September day, we were both still infatuated with each other, and the music and food were all just superb. That relationship ran its course, and it was a good run, but that date sticks out as a particularly good one.

Does anyone have any fun telling people you are atheist stories?

zeuser comments on May 9, 2018:

About, oh, I dunno, 4 years ago I was in a bar (don't judge ?) talking with a couple of my drinking buddies and the subject somehow came up. I came out with my atheism, expecting shock or something I guess ( this is NC after all), and each one of the 3 guys I was talking with sort of sheepishly admitted that yeah, so were they. Surprised the hell out of me, in a pleasant way. It confirmed my decision to never shy away from the topic if it comes up, cuz you never know who might be relieved to find out that they are not alone.

What flavor of coffee did you drink today?

zeuser comments on May 9, 2018:

The house blend at the bagel shop.

I think I have seen it all now.

zeuser comments on May 9, 2018:

But this was on Facebook, right? So immediately your expectations ought to be lower.

Help me to figure out, please, how I done wrong on another dating site.

zeuser comments on May 9, 2018:

Well, a lot of people are dishonest and I really don't care for them. Although it raises the chances I'll be burned, I'm willing to risk that to keep it honest. You don't have to remember who you told what, it's just much easier. It frees up the cycles for you to keep track of what you are hearing, too. YMMV

I've stuggeled with whether or not to continue debating in my religious school and among my teachers...

zeuser comments on May 9, 2018:

Good for you, hon. I've also always prided myself on working within the system.

Greetings all, I am totally new to this site! I've been openly atheist for many years now, but had ...

zeuser comments on May 9, 2018:

Climb aboard, partner, and hang on!

Why do we continually want someone we can’t have?

zeuser comments on May 8, 2018:

If you have it, you don't want it anymore because, well, you have it.

Catholics call Met Gala outfits 'blasphemous'

zeuser comments on May 8, 2018:

I'm shocked. That's shocking.

When life gives me lemons I just give them back. Cause I hate holding stuff.

zeuser comments on May 8, 2018:

I just keep em, because hey, free lemons!

Weird wish

zeuser comments on May 8, 2018:

The less you know (and the more you rely on faith), the more certain you are. The more you know (and the less you rely on faith), the more questions you have, not least of which because you are aware that there are things you do NOT know. While I sometimes, like you, envy the simplistic choices enforced by some faith or another, I don't think I'd want to sacrifice critical thinking and integrity, in spite of the uncertainty, for certainty and ignorance.

Every problem has a resolution, every question an answer -- yes or no?

zeuser comments on May 8, 2018:

I've come to realize that every problem usually has more than one resolution, including not resolving the problem. Which is the right way to go? Sometimes getting started on an imperfect solution is better than waiting to find a better one, but other times, that is exactly the wrong thing to do. As for questions, some have pretty straightforward answers, but others are more nuanced and complex, and you get into qualifying your responses. To your question: problems, no, not usually; questions, the simple ones, yes, some others, no.

What’s the most frustrating thing about getting older?

zeuser comments on May 8, 2018:

After exercise, with a hangover, or with some illness, the body simply does *NOT* snap back like I remember. When I was in college, I remember shooting pool til 4 or 4:30, sleeping in my car, splashing water on my face, and making it to a 7 AM class. That just doesn't work the same way anymore. Stuff starts to wear out too. You get aches or pains in areas you were never aware existed on your body.

My father passed away recently and didn't want any fuss, eulogies or services and such.

zeuser comments on May 7, 2018:

Aw man, my condolences on your loss, but your dad left you something beautiful.

What happens at a million points?

zeuser comments on May 7, 2018:

Satori.

I've been pondering the WHY of religion. That is, why does it exist?

zeuser comments on May 7, 2018:

Religion was invented when the first con man met the first fool. This is often attributed to Mark Twain, but he probably didn't say it. Sounds about right to me.

Texas Bill would fine men for masturbation.

zeuser comments on May 7, 2018:

You underestimate the number of jerkoffs in the Texas legislature. Or maybe you don't. ?

What is your preferred method of accessing this site? Why?

zeuser comments on May 7, 2018:

I go to the website on my tablet. It's easier to compose text by dragging my finger than on the phone, and I can get to emojis that aren't available on my PC.

Please post and share a good or bad joke about religion.

zeuser comments on May 7, 2018:

Nun goes into a liquor store and picks out a bottle of whiskey. Cashier says, "Sister! What are you doing?" Nun says, "oh it's all right, it's for Father Dooley's constipation." Later, the cashier is walking home and sees the nun completely wasted in the gutter next to the empty whiskey bottle and says "Sister, I thought you said this was for Father Dooley's constipation!" Nun says "Thash right. When Father Dooley sheez me like thish, he'll shit!" Sorry, that's all I got.

The BEST Giuliani video EVER-Miss P got alarmed I was laughing so much! John Oliver on Rudy ...

zeuser comments on May 7, 2018:

That's hilarious!

Roll Call at the Cabinet

zeuser comments on May 7, 2018:

Funny, not funny. Too true and depressing, but here we are.

Two brothers are curators of a natural history museum.

zeuser comments on May 6, 2018:

Anything with the word bone is funny. Just on general principles.

This is a bit of a bragging post.

zeuser comments on May 5, 2018:

A long time ago, I was in a couple of productions in high school. It is very satisfying when it all comes together, but the director has the toughest job, imho. Good on you and your cast and crew. .?

Any Beatles fan here? Which of their song do you like the most?

zeuser comments on May 5, 2018:

No Reply, the song with that name I mean.

A trump piñata! Ha! A delightful idea! Refreshingly therapeutic!!!

zeuser comments on May 5, 2018:

Yeah, but what's it filled with?

Just wondering how many of you escaped religion on your own,by study and observation, and if any of ...

zeuser comments on May 5, 2018:

I never knew anyone who explicitly said hey, this is all horseshit. But now that I think back, there were plenty of people, trapped in an ethnic cultural religion loop, that I came upon over the course of my past years who felt the same way that I did. And many others who talked with me and let me cut my atheistic teeth, though that was never the emphasis of the discussions.

What Feet?

zeuser comments on May 4, 2018:

?

Paul Ryan and the Priest

zeuser comments on May 4, 2018:

Ok, why the fuck does the house of Representatives even *need* a damn chaplain. But all right, I have a certain respect for Jesuits amongst all the clergy. I am happy the Jesuit stood up to the bully. But I am still not cool with publicly funded pastors. Wow, it's complicated for me.

Wine lovers?

zeuser comments on May 4, 2018:

I drink low end Pinot Grigio everyday, but I base a lot on the venue and the meal. A nice big Zinfandel with a steak, a dry Chianti with a bolgenese, a true rose with a pizza, but a Sauvignon Blanc with shrimp. See? ? I want to try a Gewurtztraminer paired with a goat curry.

He really is Pinnochio

zeuser comments on May 4, 2018:

Ah, but Pinocchio was a puppet.... Oh, wait...

Why is it that we do not hear scientists defend their postions more often.

zeuser comments on May 4, 2018:

My guess is that they do, but the coverage is minimal because it doesn't sell ads to hear a PhD get into the specifics with full scientific reasoning and results about pions or something, much less read about it. Jesus, people go to restaurants where menus have pictures of the food. Having said that, there are a few popular defenders who really do put up vigorous pro-research, pro-science arguments. I'm thinking of guys like Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye, and in the past the late greats Carl Sagan and Isaac Asimov. Now, moreso than in the past but even back then, you have to entertain first and slip in the information and arguments along the way. It wouldn't hurt to emphasize scientific literacy (or just plain old literacy) in the US education system again. To appreciate an argument, you need an audience that comprehends what you are saying.

Over 1,100 leading economists sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging the president to ...

zeuser comments on May 4, 2018:

His soy bean growing base in flyover country is raising a big stink about Chinese retaliation. He will probably hear about that, but whether this moron does anything to change his position depends more on whim than on reason or political calculation.

Is it 'wrong' to love more than one person at the same time?

zeuser comments on May 4, 2018:

Well, not all of us do. To answer your lead question, you can't control who you fall in love with. All you can do is control how you handle it.

My Christian friends don't understand why I don't get romantically involved with religious men.

zeuser comments on May 4, 2018:

Are there any Christian guys you *want* to get romantically involved with? If not, you can tell your nosy pals to watch you not care. About having a smaller circle of friends, be careful. You want to cultivate friendships with younger people, cuz as you get older, your current friends who are roughly your age will die off. My poor 93 year old Dad has this issue. Just something to consider. Good luck!

Kellyanne Conjob actually just responded to a reporter's question with, "read the president's ...

zeuser comments on May 4, 2018:

To be fair, at least this way the talking yam can't contradict her in half an hour.

What is something totally new that you've done or that has happened to you or for you in the past ...

zeuser comments on May 4, 2018:

I retired, moved, bought a house, sold a house, like that.

Desperately seeking Panda-related puns.

zeuser comments on May 3, 2018:

Well, a black and white animal goes into a restaurant and orders dinner. He finishes, pulls out a gun, shoots the waiter, gets up and departs. "What was that??" Says the shift manager. The millennial busboy Googles it and says. " It was a panda. Says here in Wikipedia a panda is a black and white animal that eats shoots and leaves." That's all I got hon.

GADS! After reading LOADS of witty/sharp post responses and reviewing these hilarious profiles, some...

zeuser comments on May 3, 2018:

Your handle is a pun involving a German philosopher. Without a writing a thing about yourself, you've already spoken volumes. Welcome to the monkey house. ?

What is number one on your bucket list?

zeuser comments on May 3, 2018:

I still think I can make Cher very happy.

I just want to be the reason that some woman somewhere lowers her standards.

zeuser comments on May 3, 2018:

Hey hey, that's my territory, bucko!

Must see in DC?

zeuser comments on May 3, 2018:

The national botanic garden is underrated. Arlington it's very sobering, but takes a while if you want to see the changing of the guard and Lee's house. Is close to the Lincoln memorial. Smithsonian air and space museum, and natural history museum of you want to stay close to that area. Lots of good Ethiopian restaurants. All kinds of art museums. The Vietnam memorial too. The Capitol to it's also an eye opener. Argh, too many good things.

@HippieChick58 Hi there, since this is Trump Pinata where we bash to our hearts content to relieve ...

zeuser comments on May 3, 2018:

New to this group, I inadvertently fed a troll here the other day. My apologies, won't happen again. Is trolling here that common? If not, I can put up with it until it gets bad. You can ban certain people based on posts, but that does require someone reading each one and making a decision. If someone is willing to do that, ok.

How do you want to be buried?

zeuser comments on May 3, 2018:

I'd prefer cremation, but I told my kids to surprise me.

I posted this on my main page but also decided to share it here.

zeuser comments on May 3, 2018:

That's beautiful. Well thought out with credibility and integrity shining through. Thanks for your service and for your participation in open discussion.

Is it better to legalize prostitution or keep it illegal

zeuser comments on May 2, 2018:

Honestly, why hasn't this happened already? Too many people making lots of money this way, on both sides of the fence, and we all know who is getting screwed. Would legalizing help? It would help some folks.

Questions: Do you take offense at turns of phrase, such as.

zeuser comments on May 1, 2018:

I use some of these (or variations, like Jesus H Tits) myself. I have taken to saying the less metaphysical Gesudheit when someone sneezes, but it doesn't offend me in the least. And here in NC, "bless your heart" almost never has a sympathetic meaning.

Don't know much about fresh water fish.

zeuser comments on May 1, 2018:

Rainbow trout, wild caught in a mountain stream or lake, cooked in a pan over a wood campfire.

Some samples of my artwork, for those interested...

zeuser comments on May 1, 2018:

Good stuff, very polished!

This might be old, but still true.

zeuser comments on May 1, 2018:

A lot more people are talking to themselves since stable genius started the trend. What a moron.

How do you date?

zeuser comments on May 1, 2018:

Day trips are nice. Outdoor music. Meet for beers or some wine. Get something to eat. You know, the basics.

Take that, Cheetoh Man!

zeuser comments on Apr 30, 2018:

I like the whole vibe of let's take the gloves off here. These vulgar, corrupt, dishonest dickweeds really don't like it when confronted, using their own tactics, just like any other bully. And they complained about political correctness as a fucking campaign issue!! Ok, let's dance, bitches!

Let's play the "What if.

zeuser comments on Apr 30, 2018:

In spite of the signs of the Apocalypse teased in the NT, the answer is "whatever you think the cues should be". There's the beauty of faith based reality. Whatever someone convinced you, or you convinced yourself, without any credible evidence, to be true... that's it. IMO, pizza with pineapple is as credible a sign as I've seen.

When arguing with a faither (a deeply religious person), against the precepts of their religion, ...

zeuser comments on Apr 30, 2018:

You can never go wrong, from an argumentation and debate perspective, in pointing out the lack of evidence for outrageous assertions. I simply ask for verifiable proof and just leave it at that. Getting caught in spurious self referential bullshit is playing their game. I don't do it.

Today marks the ending of the Vietnam war! The fall of Saigon from the rooftop of the US Embassy!...

zeuser comments on Apr 30, 2018:

You can make a good argument that yes we did change, for the worse. Kissinger said that countries don't have friends, they have interests. We've now got chicken hawk warmongers all up and down this current excuse for an administration, and they've got interests all right, all related to profiteerng and post colonial exploitation.

Politness and Courtesy

zeuser comments on Apr 30, 2018:

Doesn't cost a thing, feels good for both you and the other guy. It's a two way street though. If the other guy is a dick, I change my strategy a bit.

This is the front of my fridge. Anyone else got an archeological site like this?!

zeuser comments on Apr 30, 2018:

Mine looked like that when the kids were still at home and in school. It's not so crowded now.

Why is it that people who were not religious before so often "get religion" and start going to ...

zeuser comments on Apr 30, 2018:

I suppose some folks doubt their ability to create a moral structure they can justify to their kids, so they take the easy way out and let religion do it for them. Bad idea, if you ask me, and it's just a guess, but I bet it's true a lot of the times this happens.

What It's Really About.

zeuser comments on Apr 30, 2018:

Sounds like something an ex would have said. "Ya know, if you really loved me you'd buy me the Mercedes."

What’s your usual procrastination?

zeuser comments on Apr 30, 2018:

Filing. I hate it.

Easy to say, hard to do sometimes. Is this easier for women more so than men? Is so, why is that...

zeuser comments on Apr 30, 2018:

I like to move through life like water. Flow around things that are in your way. Wait until your volume allows you to flow over a dam. Always move with gravity, not against it. Not soft. Inevitable. Y'all following me here?

I no longer believe in the institution of marriage.

zeuser comments on Apr 30, 2018:

Well, maybe not for you. I dunno if I'd indict marriage as an institution based on the opinion of one guy, all due respect of course. I was married for 28 years, mostly good. Marriage as an institution gets its legs from people who buy into it, and it is not a simple concept.

Everyone is so quick to pick at their own faults so, What trait do you like the most about yourself?

zeuser comments on Apr 30, 2018:

Quick, and articulate.

Do you find that people don't get your humor?

zeuser comments on Apr 29, 2018:

You have to take risks for comedy. If something flops, there's always the next gag. A giraffe walks into a bar and says "Highballs are on me." Heh.

Hot or cold State

zeuser comments on Apr 29, 2018:

Well, I live in NC now and I used to live in Pennsylvania, and then Colorado. I'd pick NC for the hot state because I'm already here and know where all the good bars are, and I did enjoy my time in CO, so I'd pick that for my cold state. NC has awful pine pollen in the spring and we usually get at least a week where the temperature is above 95 degress every day, but you got mountains in the west and the ocean down east. CO didn't have any fleas, but you could see a foot of snow come out of nowhere in June.

I'm just wondering what other people (around my vintage)think about the lack of civil disobedience ...

zeuser comments on Apr 29, 2018:

People tweet this stuff now, and graffiti is usually used to tag your territory in an urban environment. But it's not dead. Here in NC, at NC State, we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the free expression tunnel. Check it out. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Expression_Tunnel

On being a nerd

zeuser comments on Apr 29, 2018:

I used to work in the tech industry, and by comparison, I was a pure hedonistic party animal. I did know some extroverted programmers. Yeah, those were the ones who looked at *your* shoes when they talked to you. And I can't pass up any episode of any show that David Attenborough narrates.

I did not know where to post this, they don't have a category for something like this.

zeuser comments on Apr 29, 2018:

That's terrible. Time doesn't really help, does it? I'm so sorry for you and all the people left behind to remember.

What's your opinion of assisted suicide?

zeuser comments on Apr 29, 2018:

When they knock you out and pull out the tubes and you are gone in 3 days, it amounts to the same thing. It'd be easier, not to mention less expensive, if they just gave you a quick shot of potassium chloride after you go unconscious.

Anyone up for chatting about the 5th Dimension?

zeuser comments on Apr 29, 2018:

Is Mr. Mxyzptlk in the house?

Hi every one

zeuser comments on Apr 29, 2018:

Yo!

Most ridiculous memory you have of Childhood Sundays?

zeuser comments on Apr 28, 2018:

A fellow altar boy (yeah, I was an altar boy), keeled over from a kneeling position due to heat, dehydration, like that. I never saw anybody just collapse like that. I think it was a may day bvm thing. His eyes rolled up into his head. He was ok, though. He lived, had a life.

Is there any truth to the "laws of attraction"?

zeuser comments on Apr 28, 2018:

Well, a positive attitude it's never a bad idea, but the notion that you can get anything you want just by relentlessly wanting it can become delusional. I do believe that we make our own luck, but that's different than wishing without doing anything else.

How Spicy?

zeuser comments on Apr 28, 2018:

Hot enough to feel it the next day on the down side, edible enough so you can get accustomed to it while your are eating and taste all the flavors.

Odd Shows

zeuser comments on Apr 28, 2018:

The Increasingly Bad Decisions of Todd Margaret is hilarious.

What have you always wanted? Did you ever get it?

zeuser comments on Apr 28, 2018:

Coming up, I always wanted my own pool table. Over the course of the years, I had two pool tables. With my last move, however, I am pool table-less. It's fine, those days are gone.

How important do you think our buying power is?

zeuser comments on Apr 28, 2018:

Well, the 1% use their buying power to purchase politicians. That's a more direct way. But your way sounds more accessible for guys like me.

Which news site you trust most?

zeuser comments on Apr 28, 2018:

Raw Story is a good aggregator. Huff post is good, I like Rachel's MSNBC commentary. WaPo it's usually pretty good, and I also trust the Guardian.

Good morning everyone, rise and shine, another beautiful day to enjoy x

zeuser comments on Apr 28, 2018:

We got some sunshine and the prospect of the mid 70's here in central NC. Got to mow the lawn today while it lasts.

Nice to meet you all! Im Carla, an atheist and have been for over 20 years, im excited to get to ...

zeuser comments on Apr 28, 2018:

Yo Carla! Welcome aboard!

If you could travel back in time and alter any one historical event, what would it be?

zeuser comments on Apr 27, 2018:

I do not want to travel back in time. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana. (Thanks, Groucho.)

How many beers get you drunk?

zeuser comments on Apr 27, 2018:

Too many high demsity craft beers out there. Pick an average craft IPA percentage at 6.8 - 7.5, I could go 4, but I really should have stopped at 3.

I attended my good friends funeral today, I’ve been struggling with the importance of tradition, ...

zeuser comments on Apr 27, 2018:

Sorry your friend is gone, brother. My sympathy. I think you did the right thing, fwiw.

Should I get rid of my Xtian bed?

zeuser comments on Apr 27, 2018:

I voted to keep, unless you have a rational reason for getting rid of it. Just cuz it belonged to a nun doesn't seem like a rational reason to me, but however you want to roll, partner.

Flat Earther relative?

zeuser comments on Apr 27, 2018:

Voltaire said this: Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.

Bill Maher

zeuser comments on Apr 27, 2018:

I like him. He colors outside the lines sometimes, and tends to step on his guest's lines, but his head's in the right place and he is very funny at times.

Should I stay or should I go ?

zeuser comments on Apr 27, 2018:

If I find myself asking this more than once, good chance it's time to go. Sometimes, you just have to book.

Something to consider.

zeuser comments on Apr 27, 2018:

Grant was a doozy of a president (though relatively better than our current guy), however he got this right.

God works in mysterious ways... so this makes sense right?

zeuser comments on Apr 27, 2018:

For the record, mine use "private" financing.

Does anyone else find it bizarre how countries like The US and the UK try and call the shots on ...

zeuser comments on Apr 27, 2018:

You are using two of the world's largest imperial powers in human history in your example. There's your answer. That's what imperialists do.