The Introduce Yourself thread!

[Dormouse]

Darwin Awards? That sounds odd given the 'cultural' basis of modern evolution. Methinks the very celebration of which contributes to that which it supposedly seeks to remove. That is to say, publising the stupid behaviour serves only to increase its likelihood of its repetition. Indeed, the death of some stupid fool is no longer removed from the gene pool - thanks to the "Darwin Awards" where that stupid behaviour gets propagated and immitated. Like I said, seems rather odd.

Either way, welcome aboard.

[Donkey_Left]

Ewww! An Irish guy!

Welcom taw thee auld bawrds than eeh?

[UKfem]

Hi, Im a 44 year old female from England.

I was attracted to the board as there seems to be a very international membership list and therefore a promise of lots of interesting debates!!

[Tim]

Originally Posted by UKfem

Hi, Im a 44 year old female from England.

I was attracted to the board as there seems to be a very international membership list and therefore a promise of lots of interesting debates!!

Yes, there are many here from other nations. Welcome!

[fredricwilliams]

I started working in politics in high school -- managing the election of my best friend as class president, and failing to elect a Republican candidate for Governor of the state of Wisconsin (USA). At the University of Wisconsin I was campaign coordinator of the leading campus party.

I canvassed for Gene McCarthy (opposing LBJ) during the Vietnam War. I've voted in two US Presidential elections -- once against Richard Nixon (1972) and once against George Bush and Bill Clinton (1992). I've volunteered a few times for unsuccessful presidential hopefuls.

I taught at Carnegie-Mellon, worked for NASA for five years, wrote a couple of speeches for Gerald Ford when he was president (1975-76).

These days, I teach speech and debate (and English literature and language) at the most famous prep school (the "school for geniuses") in South Korea -- sending graduates to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc. I am married, and have three children -- a daughter in college, a daughter in high school, and a son in diapers.

Politically I would describe myself as pragmatic Aristotelian libertarian -- that is to say, I believe (1) in being aware of reality and acting accordingly (neither pessimistic nor optimistic); (2) that the purpose of politics is assuring the happiness of all the people; and (3) individual freedom should be maximized, limited only by the responsibility not to impair the freedom of others.

You can learn more about me at http://fredricwilliams.freeservers.com

[JHC]

Hello to UKFem and fredricwilliams.

[Coren]

Hi folks,
I'm Coren. I just found this forum and it looks pretty good!
I look forward to chatting with people here.

I'm a moderate, libertarian-type Republican and while I very much enjoy debates, I no longer have the stomach for shouting matches.

I'm in grad school in VA, working on an MA in International Affairs. My undergrad was in History and Middle Eastern Studies.

I spend my Saturdays volunteering with an animal rescue group, which means I hold dogs at adoption fairs and try to get them adopted. When I graduate I plan on rescuing two of my own. Graduate housing prevents me from having a dog, but I do have goldfish.

I'm also a teaching assistant and work as a "mad scientist" at elementary schools teaching kids science experiments at an afterschool program.

When I graduate I plan on applying to be park ranger. Political science is great and all...but I'm happiest running around outside, playing in the fresh air.

[JHC]

Hello Coren. Welcome.

[Smedley]

Hello,

I'm a male in my 50's living in Southern California. I'm a gun owning liberal who feels this country has been hijacked by corporate interests that have more allegiance to third-world countries than they do America. The GOP and centrists in the Democratic party are responsible. I voted Nader in 2000 and supported Dean in 04. We must get money out of politics. I believe that all lobbying, political fundraising and political advertising should be made illegal.

[JHC]

Originally Posted by Smedley

Hello,

I'm a male in my 50's living in Southern California. I'm a gun owning liberal who feels this country has been hijacked by corporate interests that have more allegiance to third-world countries than they do America. The GOP and centrists in the Democratic party are responsible. I voted Nader in 2000 and supported Dean in 04. We must get money out of politics. I believe that all lobbying, political fundraising and political advertising should be made illegal.

Well THIS should be interesting. Welcome aboard Smedley.

[JHC]

Smedley

[jpsartre12]

Originally Posted by Smedley

Hello,

I'm a male in my 50's living in Southern California. I'm a gun owning liberal who feels this country has been hijacked by corporate interests that have more allegiance to third-world countries than they do America. The GOP and centrists in the Democratic party are responsible. I voted Nader in 2000 and supported Dean in 04. We must get money out of politics. I believe that all lobbying, political fundraising and political advertising should be made illegal.

So, you're a gun-toting, anti-business, anti-first amendment kook lover? Welcome to 4Forums, target.

[jpsartre12]

Originally Posted by Coren

Hi folks,
I'm Coren. I just found this forum and it looks pretty good!
I look forward to chatting with people here.

I'm a moderate, libertarian-type Republican and while I very much enjoy debates, I no longer have the stomach for shouting matches.

I'm in grad school in VA, working on an MA in International Affairs. My undergrad was in History and Middle Eastern Studies.

I spend my Saturdays volunteering with an animal rescue group, which means I hold dogs at adoption fairs and try to get them adopted. When I graduate I plan on rescuing two of my own. Graduate housing prevents me from having a dog, but I do have goldfish.

I'm also a teaching assistant and work as a "mad scientist" at elementary schools teaching kids science experiments at an afterschool program.

When I graduate I plan on applying to be park ranger. Political science is great and all...but I'm happiest running around outside, playing in the fresh air.

Welcome. I'm curious as to just what a "moderate, libertarian-type Republican" is. It sounds like an oxymoron at first blush.

[Coren]

Originally Posted by jpsartre12

Welcome. I'm curious as to just what a "moderate, libertarian-type Republican" is. It sounds like an oxymoron at first blush.

I'm politically conservative but morally liberal.
But yeah, it's not a very common mix, especially here in VA.

[MikeyCNY]

I'm Mikey, I'm 23 and a senior here at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg (about 40 miles south of Washington DC), I'm going to grad school next year at Hunter College in NYC.

I consider myself a social liberal, a pro-business, free-trade, fiscal conservative, an internationalist. 100% Democrat!...I speak German (I was in the military and was stationed in Heidelberg, got out 2 years ago after doing my 4 years).