Upon request, here is my contribution to the thread.

I have just turned 40 years old a month or so ago. I live common-law with my soulmate Paul who just turned 30 and as such, we are both suffering recently induced bouts of age-trauma. We've been living together for over eight years now. We both drink, smoke and enjoy smoking pot regularly (and live rather decadently). As for experimentation with drugs, I've probably done just about everything at least once. As for employment, I'm the general manager of a medium-sized manufacturing company - previously, I worked in the advertising industry. I am definitely overpaid and underworked (a very good way to have it).

I have degrees from University of Toronto and McMaster University - a combined honours degree in Political Science and Philosophy as well as a Masters in Philosophy. I'm also just a couple of credits short of having a second BA in History. It is to be noted that I paid for my own university education - no financial assistance from family or student loans (though my Masters was free due to a Canada Scholarship I earned). I declined to proceed to a Ph.D dissertation.

Although I often admit that I'm an arrogant and condescending bastard, that is really only a pose I use on forums like this one where it serves the purpose of keeping out the riff-raff and challenging others to do their best. Over the many, many years I've been frequenting discussion forums, I've found it to be very useful - it never seems to interfere with those who are truly interesting and intelligent in their own right - it only appears to bother those who have psychological issues and ego-problems to begin with. Indeed, my pose is quite efficient in sorting the wheat from the chaff. I have no time for idiots and nothing but contempt for ego-worshippers - I may engage them only for sport when I'm bored.

As a young man, I began as an extreme rightwinger in my political views, though with age and further education, I've slowly migrated towards the mushy middle. As it stands, I am now completely comfortable only with the label of "classical liberal". I am a strong proponent of individual liberty and responsibility in all things, though not to the exclusion of any other potential approach. As far as I'm concerned, governments are identical to private corporations - sometimes beneficial to civil society, but not necessarily so. Both need to be watched, monitored and regulated to keep them under control. I believe that both will seek to dominate and rule society for their own benefit at the expense of human liberty. Indeed, as time goes on, I'm less ideological and much more pragmatic in approach. On all issues, I approach them as a policy wonk, not an ideologue.

I read voraciously, a minimum of a book a week, though only non-fiction these days. I used to read lots of classical literature (which I love), but an inadvertent sampling of some modern novels has put me off reading fiction completely (modernist navel-gazing drivel). My library has to be culled almost every year to make room for the latest additions. I also collect pre-20th century books on history, philosophy and law (as well as a few antique maps - reproductions mostly - I'm not rich!).

As for contemporary political issues, I opposed the US invasion of Iraq from day one on the basis that it was a foolish policy likely to produce a negative security position for the USA and a very high probability of producing a Shi'ite theocracy in Iraq (just like the one in Iran). On matters of foreign policy, I adhere strictly to a policy of realpolitique - a policy originally represented by Catherine de Medici as Queen of France.

As for religion, I am a steadfast atheist as I oppose the principle of godhead as obnoxious to human dignity, but that is my own private opinion. That being said, I am also a dedicated defender of religious liberty as I am a strong supporter of liberty on principle. On pragmatic grounds, I believe religious institutions are an important component of any democratic civil society.

As for gay rights, I personally don't care much for the issue, and if it was entirely up to me, I'd just as soon have homosexuality declared illegal as that would bring back the wonderful excitement of danger, mystery and forbiddeness that makes life more fun and interesting for those of us who are strong enough to handle it and revel in it. The present trend to turn homosexuals into good little suburban consumers disgusts me. I have nothing but contempt for suburbia and consumerism in general. That being said, I have come to realize that my own personal preference ought not to stand as my public policy as my personal viewpoint is harmful to others. Thus, I will reluctantly go along with full support for the importance of full and equal rights for all (though I may not want them).

As it stands, I have to work hard to avoid becoming an elitist (which is my natural inclination). I reject that model and I am a proud believer in democracy on principle.

So you're not keen on gays, but you have a "soulmate" Paul you've been living with for years???

__________________
Power is not a means, it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power.

- George Orwell, 1984

Hey there MM!

OK, here goes...
I'm 34, female, of Celtic and Cherokee heritage (via the Appalachians), and working hard to become as overeducated as my parents are. I screwed around during my first attempt at college (as an art major at Antioch University, which is a great, if expensive, place to screw around). I dropped out, travelled around the US, got married, had a son, and then discovered that I was tired of being poor (it's a much less viable lifestyle as a parent). So I went back to college, this time as a biology and art double major at the local state university. One thing I discovered here is that the quality of an education depends very little on the ranking of the school, and very much on the comittment of the student (at least in college). I also discovered that spiders are really cool critters. In this time period I seperated from my husband (eventually divorced), for complicated and multiple reasons that included his beleiving that I should get welfare so he wouldn't have to work, his not really wanting a kid, and my discovery that I really like women better than men. Especially cute butch women. I also had an intense, if too brief, realationship with an old friend and sort-of ex girlfriend..which I screwed up by not being able to decide what I wanted and what I was doing. I still regret that. We're just now becoming close again after not talking much since then, and she's now 'he', after beginning a sex change. I'm starting to get used to that, but it sometimes makes discussing the past awkward.
Anyway... In the recovery process from that roller-coaster, I met my current partner, who actually sounds a bit like Mark Twains wife- she's social worker, originally, and switched to teaching 10th grade English this year, in an inner city school. Her students are the teenage version of the ones you describe your wife having, and she especially likes the 'regular level' (translation: throwaway kids, not predicted to go to college), I think because she was one of them, once, and beat those odds. That is one of the things I love about her- that she has the courage and imagination to see what she could do, even when no one around her thought it was possible, and the determination not to quit when things get difficult. We've been together for 8 years now, and it's hasn't all been easy (for half of them I was in school- where they told us at orientation that only 25% of relationships survive!), but having the support of someone with a heart like hers makes all the difference. Six years ago her father shot and killed her stepmother (with whom she was close), and we were able to eventually get custody of her younger sister, now 15. It was a near thing- some of her family didn't want us to have her (because we're queer), but weren't able or willing to take care of her themselves. She would have been in a group home. It's still a source of anxiety for me that if someting happened to my partner, I'd loose our daughter, too (and she'd loose her family). She's almost old enough now that I can stop worrying, but it's not an uncommon problem. The same issue still exists for my son (he's 12), that if something happened to me, he'd end up with his father, who never really wanted him in the first place, after being raised by my partner since he was 4 (but that's better than a group home). So.. you can probably guess, as far as gay marriage goes- I'd be overjoyed if we could marry, but I really don't care what it's called, as long as issues like these can be taken care of. When all this happened, I was doing my masters in biology (thesis on the evolution of spider capture thread). Then I went to vet school (see what I mean about the overeducated thing?). I graduated last May, and now I'm an anatomic pathology resident, and trying to put together a Ph.D. project on the relationship between obesity and breast cancer, (did you know that cats get breast cancer that is just like human breast cancer?).

I beleive strongly in personal responsibility; not to be responsible for ones own actions is to give up all power of self determinatin. I also beleive in societal responsibility; it is vital that we ensure that all children get a shot at a good education, so that they have the background to become what they are capable of. This is the ticket to better things, for them, and for society (who knows where the next great scientist, statesman, artist or poet is coming from?). A responsible society also acts for the public health, and does not degrade resources to the point where future generations are damaged.
I think that everyone has something to teach me, regardless of their level of education, as long as I remember to listen and observe.
I dislike TV, and don't have cable. It melts one's brain so that it runs out one's nose. We have a small TV in the house that gets 3 fuzzy broadcast channels, to check school closings and weather advisories.

__________________
please click and help the eggs hatch!

"The only abnormality is the incapacity to love"
-Anias Nin

Hey Otter! Still searching for the salmon eh?

That's about it. I am homosexual. I am not gay. Seems pretty simple and straight forward. And I do like the fact that homosexuality annoys pompus pontificators. One might be inclined to choose it on that basis alone.

Always.
It's the celtic mythological salmon- the one that ate the hazel nuts:
salmon
(this is as good an explanation as any, and better than wikki, which substitutes acorns, thus muddying the symbolism)
I always preferred 'queer', myself. Pompous pontificators...that rolls off the tounge nicely.

__________________
please click and help the eggs hatch!

"The only abnormality is the incapacity to love"
-Anias Nin

Nobody.

Excellent! And yes, I am familiar with Celtic mythology. The Arthurian connection here is new to me - I shall research that angle. Is the salmon perhaps one of the ten treasures of Britain that Merlin was seeking? I can't remember the listing off the top of my head (too much pot smoking!).

Indeed, I've always prefered the term queer - must be our common British culture.
(either that or a shared passion for subversion!)

[quote=Mad_Michael;915073]I'm not certain about the Arthurian connection- I'm more familiar with Finn and Talisin.

Definitely some of the latter... I have been accused of deciding to be queer just to be a rebel. I don't know how accurate that is, but I won't deny that my gut reaction to being given an order is to do the opposite.
My British culture comes mostly vis Tolkien, Monty Python, and Douglas Adams.

__________________
please click and help the eggs hatch!

"The only abnormality is the incapacity to love"
-Anias Nin

All excellent sources, you might also enjoy GOOD OMENS: The Nice and Accurate Predictions of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Very funny British humor and a good story about Armageddon--sort of. It gave me a whole different perspective on the Four Horsemen and obscure Japanese automobiles. As a lover of dogs, I was also delighted by the Hellhound.

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The apocalypse is coming... we're gonna need more ammo.

Greetings and Felicitations,

Finn MacCumahl is one of my favorite mythological characters. I am still working on ducking under and jumping over without getting my hair loose. I don't even want to get into how the spears in a pit thing went over. I also like Cuchulain.

Sincerely Yours,
C. David Neely

__________________

"I'll call him Dog. Saves alot of trouble, a name like that."

__________________
please click and help the eggs hatch!

"The only abnormality is the incapacity to love"
-Anias Nin

This is a very tough question to answer for anybody, really. Who am I...in regards to what aspect of the universe? Perhaps I am to the universe as capillaries in my blood are to my body. Perhaps I am a moat in the eyes of a creator.

Eh, I guess I'll follow suit and explain where I stand on things.

I'm 23 years old and am a college student pursuing my Masters. I speak two languages (English and Spanish) and hope to learn Italian or even Japanese in the future. I love to read about biology, philosophy (recently - Pantheism, Stoicism and Agnositicism) and health related issues.

Generally, I'm pretty much just to the right of the center. Because of faulty education (via parenting), I believe we have become a nation of instant self-gratification (massive amounts of debt, mixing up our priorities WRT personal habits) and it has allowed an exuberant amount of apathy to allow the Federal Government to grow to where it never was supposed to be. MattLarson nailed it with the country's state of personal responsibility.

I believe there is good in every person, but it's up to that own person (through their volition alone) to find the good in themselves and act on it, to do something that benefits their own growth as an individual and perhaps subsequently benefit society at large. I think humans are much more capable than they realize or sometimes even give themselves credit for. I think through everyone setting their own examples, change can be enacted in a society (not via government legislation). Be the change you want to see in others. I've been called a stoic by many people.

I believe in criticism, but not without construction to go with it. Be proactive to a faulty situation. I have little tolerance for mealy-mouthed objections with the person having no real ideas of their own.

Larson nailed it with religion as well. Abortion is a woman's choice - nobody elses.

Killing is justified in my view from an immediate threat to your life. Otherwise, my opinion may vary from case to case.

WRT a God - for most of my life I've been categorized as an agnostic, though the more I get into reading about philosophy and the more I read and experience the world, I've seen myself leaning more towards a Deist/Pantheist outlook on the universe.

I guess that's about it. To find out who I am on issues I didn't mention, just look out for my posts I suppose, or PM me.

The following are three beliefs to which my mind is absolutely closed:

1. Coke is far superior to Pepsi.

2. Dogs, even rat-sized dogs, are better pets than cats.

3. Toilet paper goes onto the holder with the tail end over, not under.

Politically, I am probably best classified as a centrist. I believe in personal accountability and responsibility for ones actions. I believe in the free market system. I believe in respect for others and myself. I am open to opinions other than mine, but only lend credibility to those who argue without insults and generalizations, whether explicitly stated or insinuated. Facts, reason, logic, willingness to learn or educate, and the use of non-inflammatory adjectives and adverbs goes a long way in keeping my mind open to another point of view.

I am not afraid of being wrong and will readily admit it. I am suspicious of the character of those who can't or won't do the same.

I have favored mostly Republican candidates in the past.

I believe there is no such thing as politician who doesn't lie so I investigate, as best as time and sources allow, possible hidden agendas.

I am a lady and a feminist. I do not discuss my age or weight - that's just wrong .

Professionally, I am a research scientist.

Research scientist? Cool, in what general field? I'm putting together a PhD proposal on cell signalling in obesity and it's contribution to the development of breast cancer... or, more accurately, I should be, instead of goofing off on this forum. I love research, I need to get back in the lab, soon.

__________________
please click and help the eggs hatch!

"The only abnormality is the incapacity to love"
-Anias Nin

Hmm I work at a top pharmaceutical company. Science is a great field to get into

__________________
Power is not a means, it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power.

- George Orwell, 1984