Dear Col,

Accountants make the best lovers?

That I hadn't heard.

Although I have heard that:

Librarians are novel lovers...

As for "the male being merely a prototype..."
Well, you're close...

As in all creative activity you start with the draft first before
creating the masterpiece. So God started with man before creating
woman... :)

Foxy "So God started with man before creating
woman... "

Yep we obviously source the same joke book....

could be, despite the odd issue, here and there,

we do actually read off the same page sometimes :-)

Dear Col,

I think that many of us have more in common
then we realize, wouldn't it be great if we
could concentrate on what unites us then
on what divides us? Sometimes we get bogged
down on such trivial things. But I guess,
that's human nature. And as Houellebecq said,
it adds "spice."

However, I'm still learning the art of posting
on this Forum - what to do, what not to do, how
to put my point across without causing offense or
demeaning anyone. It's not always easy, as you know,
especially with highly emotive issues that one feels
strongly about. But hopefully I'll continue to learn
and grow.

Anyway, Thanks for your kind words.

Dear Pelican,

Back to the topic of this thread.

"Is stealing ever justified?"

I've been thinking about the issue a bit more,
and I've come to the conclusion - yes, it is
when it saves lives.

While I'm sure that accountants make the best lovers (at least, of themselves), one reason that they have such an unfortunate reputation for dishonesty may well be because of the regular stories we hear like this:

<< THE former president of the National Institute of Accountants, Lynette Liles, a two-time bankrupt, appeared in a Sydney court yesterday over a $5.2 million money laundering and tax evasion scheme. >>

http://www.smh.com.au/national/former-accountants-chief-in-court-on-tax-charges-20090210-83il.html

"former president of the National Institute of Accountants, "

Stealing and lying are equal opportunity sins.

the point to consider is the lady was the "Former" and every professional body can count among its former associates and former office bearers any number of people who have fallen below ethical requirements.

The point to make is, the "fallen" are a matter for public scrutiny and public record, where as, for instance, the process among the priesthood for those who dealt unethically with people was for the organisation to close ranks and cover up.

The public recording of Lynette Liles shortcomings in no way casts a negative light upon the organisation she was formerly president of, quite the opposite....

If she had been among the clerigy, she would likely not be in court and thus her corruption would remain undisclosed.

Every organisation is susceptible to the villany of unscrupulous individuals.

The test of the organisation is in how directly and promptly that organisation deals with that villany.

And the organisations I am associated with handle issues of individual villany promptly, thoroughly and fearlessly, as they should (and just fyi "National Institute of Accountants" is not one of them).

Dear Col,

A certain percentage of Muslims are terrorists.
A certain percentage of priests have committed
sexual abuse.
A certain percentage of police are corrupt.
A certain percentage of business executives are
tax evaders.
A certain percentage of men beat their wifes.

Et cetera, et cetera...

We who live in a civilized society realize that poor
behaviour of a few does not condemn, nor even
accurately reflect the character of the many.