COL.. here are some 'values' which errr...don't exactly inspire confidence in our social condition :)

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23720904-12377,00.html

<<The Sunday Times and Sunday Telegraph reported that an MI5 officer had been forced to resign after it emerged that his wife was one of five prostitutes who took part in an orgy with Max Mosley, president of Formula One's governing body, the FIA.>>

I take it you don't watch 'Spooks' then, Boazy?

Goooood morning CJ... hope you had a good weekend!

Spooks? don't quite see what that has to do with this topic, but.. seeing as you raised it :) (u know..red rag..bull all that kinda thing) (I think I've seen it maybe twice..I even got weary of the constant emotional 'edgyness' of '24')

Remember (this is off topic, but on 'me') you and Perilous are always poo poo-ing my rants and ravings about radicals having a big impact?

You might find this most interesting, as it outlines the connections between vast numbers of terrorist activity and 'one' mosque/fringe group in UK.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95GGrhVgsV4&feature=related

Notice the LARGE impact of this supposedly 'small' band of fringe whackos.

Now.. there is an angle where this can be related to the topic of "Another step downward".

Analoguous (in impact) to "radical fringe whacko's" of the Islamist kind, are those of the 'moral' kind, such as this 'rape dance' incident.

Clearly, it does not take a HUGE organization to have a significant impact socially.

So, I just see this Rape Dance thing as further evidence (as if it was needed) of the decay of our social values, and in the predictable direction of 'down the toilet'.

I find myself asking this "Why... rather than take the sexualized, violent direction, did they not go the other direction, emphasizing say abstinence b4 marriage and true love between faithful people"?

Surely it could not be because of our 'fallen' natures ? :)

DB Self respect, is the value which we place on ourselves.

Reference point 1:They are perceived primarily from parents and secondarily from family and then wider society, diminishing in accordance with regular exposure and most importantly those who the children themselves respect (role models, inspiration for emulation etc).

I suggest your naughty uncle was not the only influence in your childhood, so why dwell on someone you have rejected as a role model?

We all make choices in our lives, in hindsight, we will look back and say some were good, some bad and some may have been better left alone but have been basically inert.

My belief has been, for many years, people only develop and grow through being allowed to make those choices and handling the reward of good ones and dealing with the consequences of bad ones.

If you think that because of things like easier divorce and supposed more promiscuity, society, as a whole is going to hell in a hand basket, I would counter and suggest:

higher divorce rates mean fewer people wishing for their own or the death of a partner in a loveless marriage.

Promiscuity, whilst undesirable is less undesirable than the bigotry and corruption of a repressed society which, through the authorative power of the social apparatchiks like the church, ban brothels whilst ignoring the abuse of the vulernable by the powerful.

“Social harmony” is a reflective measure, not a goal, especially if it is only achieved through repression of the individuals who are measured to assess that “social harmony”

“'self' censorship based on good values as a society.”

Self censorship can only be the product of self control. It is controlled against a set of self assessed values. Once it becomes an authority beyond “the self” which defines the limits of censorship, it ceases to be “self” and the “good values of society” become imposed instead of self regulated.

I am ok with self-censorship, although it is a bit like “lent”, would me, giving up Friday night porn parties equate with someone else who forgoes sex altogether?

HI TO ALL THE FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIANS THE STOLEN GENERATION

AND TO ALL OTHER VICTIMS OF SEXUAL RAPES AND ABUSE

WHILE IN INSTITUTIONAL CARE IN OUR STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES

AND OF OTHER STATES OF AUSTRALIA

" RAPE "

VICTIMS SUCH AS US VICTIMS ARE BEEN DENINED OUR RIGHT FOR JUSTICE AS THE STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES ARE STILL TODAY COVERING UP THE RAPES AND ABUSE THAT WE SUFFERED IN THESE HOMES THROUGH OUT AUSTRALIA

SO ITS OK FOR PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT RAPE IN THIS POST YET A POST I TRIED TO HAVE RUNNING GOT STOP ALSO I GOT BANNED FOR TWO WEEKS BECAUSE I SPOKE OF THE TRUTH OF WHAT THE GOVERMENT OF NEW SOUTH WALES AND THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERMENT HAVE DONE

COVER UP OF WHAT WE VICTIMS SUFFERED IN THESE STATE INSTITUTIONS IN AUSTRALIA AND THAT OF DARUK BOYS HOME

YES WE ARE REAL VICTIMS AND STILL LIVING SOME HAVE PASSED AWAY DUE TO ILL HEALTH OR SUPISIOUS DEATHS OR SUISIDE OR SOME ONE SHUTTING THEM UP

THE STATE GOVERMENT CONTINUES TO COVER THESE RAPES AND ABUSE AND CAN GET AWAY WITH IT FOR ALL THESE YEARS FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE

BUT FOR OVER FORTY YEARS ALL UP THIS GOVERMENT STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES AND OTHER STATES ARE AND WERE RESPONABLE FOR TAKING CARE OF US NOT RAPING AND ABUSING US

ADMITT THE TRUTH NEW SOUTH WALES STATE. OF THE RAPES AND ABUSE THAT TOOK PLACE IN THESE INSTITUTIONS WE WERE PLACED IN

YOU HAD CONTROL OF US YOUR EMPLOYEES RAPED ABUSED AND MISTREATED US

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T BELEIVE ME READ THE SENATE INQUIREIS

THE FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIANS AUGUST 2004 AND THE SECOND REPORT VUNLERABLE CHILDREN IN INSTITUTIONAL CARE AND OUT OF HOME CARE MARCH 2005

BECAUSE THE GOVERMENT DOES NOT HAVE THE BALLS TO TELL THE TRUTH OF WHAT HAPPEND TO US BECAUSE ANOTHER REASON BEING IT IS GOING TO COST THEM DEARLY TO AND LOSE RESPECT FOR THEM

WE ARE REAL VICTIMS AND WANT JUSTICE STOP THE COVER UP NEW SOUTH WALES

FROM A REAL VICTIM OF INSTITUTIONAL ABUSE

REGARDS HUFFNPUFF

huffnpuff,

You seem to have accidently left your caps lock on.

Col,

You're wasting your time arguing with Boaz and Gibo.

Boaz,

Have you still got your anti-terrorism fridge magnet? I was living abroad when The Rodent handed them out, and I'd really like one.

'We believe this is the safest place for it.'

Is sex really that dangerous?

Gibo,

'What a decline in moral standards all over the world since WW2 '

Were moral standards really good around the time WW2?

Foxy,

'The media, for example, extol the virtues of sexual satisfaction and the value of material goods, but adolescents are usually forbidden full acess to both, even though they have the physical maturity to achieve them.'

This is a big problem. I would think that teenagers who are tax payers should have all the rights of adults. It is amazing to me one can pay tax but isn't allowed to vote. One could also once be barred from drinking alcohol, yet be allowed/made to kill for their country. Teenagers get a raw deal all round I think.

To All,

Hey has anyone seen the Lawnmower dance? Or the sprinkler dance, or the food shopping dance?