Like it or not, we're all judged by the way we look, to a certain extent. But, in keeping with the spirit of the Festive Season and the
theme of 'Love' of this thread I'll keep it light and tell you a story:

An old man was sitting at a bus-stop patiently waiting for a bus,
when up walked a teenager with the most outrageous haircut ever.

Not only was it a giant mohawk, it was done in these brilliant
multi-coloured layers, from yellows, oranges, greens, reds, blues,
whites, and even blacks.

Anyway, the young man sat down next to the old man on the bench,
and very aggressively said, "What are you looking at?"

The old man just sat there and stared at the young man.
The young man got even more annoyed because the old man hadn't
replied. Again he asked, "What are you looking at, you old fart?"

Again, the old man continued to sit and stare at the young man.

The young man was getting angrier by the lack of response from the
old man. So, he leaned towards the old man and shouted in his ear,
"What's the matter, you deaf? I bet you haven't seen anything like
me before, eh?"

And, this time the old man, cleared his throat and in a quiet
distinct voice replied, "Oh yes, I have laddie, that's why I'm
staring at you. I once shagged a parrot, and I'm wondering if you're
my son!

It's a fine line, Boaz.

>>You see.. Romany and Pericles.. (and a partial from Botheration) you folks have actually done the very thing you claim I did.. 'judged me':)<<

Not really. To use your own words:

>>What you are doing, is confusing a 'general observation and assumption based on a lifetime of reality' with 'judgmentalism'... <<

Have a great day

Dear Botheration,

I meant to reply to your post earlier. Yes, I did see it. But I got into the Christmas spirit theme instead - which is what I believe Boazy meant for us to do.

Don't feel guilty. I think Romany is over-reacting just a tad.
Her post surprised me by its emotion - I think she must have been
having a bad day. Not her usual self at all.

Yeah well...bad day, bad week. All mid-December means here is that we are starting exam period: papers to set; angst-ridden undergraduates to mediate between, invigilating duties, temperatures never out of single figures and what appears to be a double abcess in my mouth. Cant eat, much pain, can't swallow properly, and now inflamed throat so lectures are a nightmare. Boo-hoo.

So yeah, I try normally to be objective and not write personal stuff but, having got that lot off my chest I can honestly say I don't regret it. I expect I sound like some Scrooge-y bah-humbug type right now because, yes, my timing is right off. This post just happened to be the straw that broke this particular camels back.

Or perhaps none of the above actually has any bearing on the matter and I AM am turning into an actual Scrooge-y bah-humbug type after all?

Anyway, enjoy the silly season: and if the Muzak Xmas songs are driving you crackers? Just try to imagine what its like in the land where the only musak we're hearing is The Back Street Boys and Celine Dion. (Exit stage left, clutching head and screaming "The Voices, the Voices.")

Welcome back Romany - no, you're not turning into scrooge. I was finishing up my Christmas shopping yesterday and I was in Myers here in Melbourne, when I commented on the music being played throughout the store.
The salesgirl pulled a face, and said, "If I hear jingle-bells one more time ... try listening to it being played over and over again, all day!"

I'm having a few problems as well. Apart from my health - being lousy at the moment (I've got good days and bad) I've got two parents galloping towards their 90s (one with alzeimers). One in a high-care nursing home - who can't speak due to a stroke. My two sons and their partners, their in-laws, all at my place for Christmas Eve (European tradition - traditional food etc), and Christmas Day lunch. And its all on me, with thankfully my husband's help, to make sure that everyone has a Merry Christmas. No pressure.

Thanks for all your inputs into my threads during my time on the forum
you've been great and I've enjoyed them. Have a good holiday and here's to a good year 2008! Take care.

Christmas is a reminder that the incarnation of the spirit of the eternal God is in human flesh. We through our devotion are showing admiration of the character of God whose image we see revealed in man. Character we ourselves desire to emulate as the highest. The highest of those aspirations of that character are self-sacrifice for the salvation of others. Serving others unconditionally.

We by our focus worship the spirit that gives to the real needs of others who are poor in spirit and lost. He taught us the greatest among you should be your servant, not the one sitting on the throne demanding accolades of praise from poor subjects. Our God is not as Johnny Rotten or digiwigi imagine. He is incarnate in human character, attitudes and actions that we admire as supreme purity. These character traits are eternally admired, as the ancients spoke of and Buddah later adored.

True Love is the sacrifice of oneself for the blessing of a truely needy one. Endeavour to bless someone this Christmas with true charity.