guys over 30, were you an idiot during young adulthood?

i kinda like running wrote:

agree that some religious and spiritual beliefs can be poisonous

In my opinion, ALL religious and spiritual beliefs are poisonous. They all depend on irrationality at their root. Once you don't have to support your beliefs and actions by reason, you can do *anything*, as has been shown all down through history. Burn people at the stake, drown witches, murder people with other beliefs or people with no beliefs. Religion is one of the most dangerous forces in the world, and always has been.

That said, even I can admit that many people have lived good lives and done good things which they ascribe to their religious beliefs. I support 4 children through the Christian Children's Fund. They are doing good work, even if it *is* for completely wrongheaded reasons. But you can be sure I checked that there was no religious indoctrination involved before I signed up to give them my money.

holy warrior wrote: The changes in your life, which you attribute to your good buddy J.C., are most likely due to the psychological impact of religion. In otherwords, being able to believe there is a greater purpose to your life or belonging to a group (chruch) which exerts social presure to conform.

Of course. And what's so wrong with that?

People try a lot of other things to attain happiness, cope with depression and anxiety and whatever else, etc. Eating ourselves happy, spending ourselves happy, drugging (recreational or pharmaceutical) ourselves happy, on and on.

Religion is clearly a very effective road to wide-ranging lost-lasting positive change for some people. As long as their religion of choice isn't some virulent extremist form of Islam or Christianity or Scientology, this atheist sees that as a good thing and, for many, a more powerful option than anything rooted strictly in the modern world of scientific rationality can offer. Is it any more rational to say "you were better off miserable and aimless, but godless?"

From the dreaded NY Times:

The Odyssey Years

By DAVID BROOKS

There used to be four common life phases: childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age. Now, there are at least six: childhood, adolescence, odyssey, adulthood, active retirement and old age. Of the new ones, the least understood is odyssey, the decade of wandering that frequently occurs between adolescence and adulthood.

During this decade, 20-somethings go to school and take breaks from school. They live with friends and they live at home. They fall in and out of love. They try one career and then try another.

[...]

Almost all people from 14-24 are know-it-all blithering idiots.

There is a saying that the only thing these people are truly good for is "looking good".

So if you're in this age group - strike a pose, and shut the f*ck up.

:)

I was smart. I avoided the Army. Who'd be so stupid as to fight and die for nothing. I'm a big U.S. patriot now though. Vote for me !

I have an inclination to agree with you. In which case, I would have no hesitancy in telling a born-again Christian that their beliefs are based on fiction. However, I simply can't say with 100% certainty that there is no God and that a person's Christian beliefs have no basis in reality. Call me a fence rider. But for that reason, I won't flame someone for their spiritual beliefs and practices if they aren't harming anyone else. I don't know for a fact that they're wrong. If someone asks me, I will tell them what I beleive (or don't believe) and why. But I don't feel the need to automatically go on the offensive the minute I find out someone goes to church.

You, on the other hand, are more certain than I am that all religious ideations are total nonsense and should not be tolerated. So I can see why you would more readily try to stop the spread of religious ideas and practices.

please dont squeeze the garmin wrote:

Of course. And what's so wrong with that?

People try a lot of other things to attain happiness, cope with depression and anxiety and whatever else, etc. Eating ourselves happy, spending ourselves happy, drugging (recreational or pharmaceutical) ourselves happy, on and on.

Religion is clearly a very effective road to wide-ranging lost-lasting positive change for some people. As long as their religion of choice isn't some virulent extremist form of Islam or Christianity or Scientology, this atheist sees that as a good thing and, for many, a more powerful option than anything rooted strictly in the modern world of scientific rationality can offer. Is it any more rational to say "you were better off miserable and aimless, but godless?"

Nothing is wrong with that and I agree with you that religion can cause a postiive change.

However, people should recognize that this change attributed to divine intervention by Jesus is actually a change resulting from the psychological and social aspects of the religion associated with Jesus.

In my opinion, it would be better for people to take some credit for their positive change instead of attributing it to Jesus. As a corollary, responsibility should be taken for negative actions instead of claiming that since Jesus has already been asked to forgive, all personal fault has been absolved (this seems to be the attitude of some very religious friends). Here starts the slippery slope that leads to extreme actions such as abortion doctor killings.

I am a f***ing 29 years old virgin. Never kissed a girl. Only in the past two years have gotten to know myself. My self confidence has skyrocketed during these two years mainly because of career success, but it feels like it\\\'s too late. I am now ready to start my life as a 15 old guy except that I am 30 next February. :( I want my testosterone years back. Success, money, life in general... it\\\'s all pointless when you get older and lose your looks and your testosterone. :(

well i think to be honest that if you're getting to

24/25 with ever having laid a girl then you've just gotta give it a whirl with a hooker or some other dodgy bitch.

That must be playibng hell with your general health been 29 and never ever having shagged a girl in any state or form.Didn't you have parties and rock festival or whatever when you were 18-21 , never go on a young people's holiday or something, if not get yourself over to the UK, 18-30s

holidays, i think you're guaranteed to score in the small print of the holday brochure.

Other than that your problem could be

T

R

O

L

L

Go to a Latter Day Saint singles ward, you will meet some women who dont mind that your not experinced.

vandergraafgenerator wrote:

well i think to be honest that if you're getting to

24/25 with ever having laid a girl then you've just gotta give it a whirl with a hooker or some other dodgy bitch.

That must be playibng hell with your general health been 29 and never ever having shagged a girl in any state or form.Didn't you have parties and rock festival or whatever when you were 18-21 , never go on a young people's holiday or something, if not get yourself over to the UK, 18-30s

holidays, i think you're guaranteed to score in the small print of the holday brochure.

Other than that your problem could be

not a troll. and I am not ugly. there sure were and still are many pretty young girls interested in me. that is not the problem. I had serious issues, was very insecure and terrified of girls. even the pretty ones. if somebody tried to get close to me I ran. I did not know how to appreciate primitive things. was even afraid of them. now I have discovered the primitive part of myself. and I also have discovered how sad aging really is. I always thought I had time to work on my problems. and I also am a hopeless narcissist. I am not really interested in sex or women. I am only interested in how attractive all the women find me. :) I have no future being a middle aged man. not interested in having kids or getting married. only interested in being a young man.

well i can see that you're suffering O29, so here's what

you do :

Tonites saturday right, so you hit then town,you could even call up one of those pretty girls, i'm sure she'll be flattered and go to a nice restaurant and then to a club and just take it from there. Have some decent wine,2005

should be hitting the racks now, good year for many regions.Just give it a go,you might like it, never put off till tomorrow what you can do today,cos if you like it well you can do it again tomorrow.Go on you know you want to.

old_guy29 wrote:

I did not know how to appreciate primitive things. was even afraid of them. now I have discovered the primitive part of myself. and I also have discovered how sad aging really is. I always thought I had time to work on my problems. and I also am a hopeless narcissist. I am not really interested in sex or women. I am only interested in how attractive all the women find me. :) I have no future being a middle aged man. not interested in having kids or getting married. only interested in being a young man.

I've got good news for you. At 29 you're still a young man. Plenty of time yet to have fun. Quit weeping and get out there.

Through my teenage years I was convicted of theft, assault, and breaking and entering. I drank constantly, did drugs and whatever else I pleased. I figured since I believed in Jesus Christ all would be forgiven as it says in the bible and it really didn't matter what I did. The day I gave up religion I started acting like a caring human being for the first time. I now respect different people from all walks of life, have gotten into no trouble, and have done very well financially. All that, and I'm not slave to anyone's stupid Bronze Age myths.

just don't tear your foreskin off.

I know guys in their 40s who are still meeting and rocking 20 something chicks. Most guys don't lose their looks too much when they get older if they stay fit. As long as you stay in shape you sure as hell aren't too old, but you clearly do have some anxieties that need to be worked out. I would go talk to someone experienced about it. Or just go to Vegas, find a hooker and blow your load a few times.

The more we Learn the less we Know.

We all do stupid things when we are growing up but it helps to make us what we become.

Do Nothing ,Become Nothing.

Do not be afraid of making Mistakes.

On Women.

My biggest scoring years were 49-50 years.

After the break down of my marriage.

When you are 50 a 40 year old is a young Women and I pulled plenty.

It is all relevant.

At 50 you are still the person you always were and your outlook on life is not a lot different than when you were 25.

Other people may see you differently but your own perspective is pretty much the same.

The big difference is that you now have a lot more confidence.