Let's Talk

[Guy Incognito]

Alright, let's talk.

While a good film, The Hobbit mostly suffers from excessive length. Now, I know Return of the King was 3 1/2hrs, but stuff was happening the whole time. In The Hobbit, we spend an awful lot of time at Bilbo's pad, and only two things worth noting happen; we're told why we should care about some of the dwarves, and the dwarves sing a sick tune. But seriously, we're there 40mins, it coulda been cut to 20 - 25mins, and then we could get on with the story. Some parts were WAY too similiar to Fellowship, but other parts were fantastic...like when Elrond shows up, and the awesome Gollum/Bilbo riddle part. Radagast was pretty cool too.

Like I said, a good flick, but not great, and not on the level of the other 3 films.

 

[MehGuy]

The Lincoln movie is still downloading.. going to take about 8 hours. This better be in HD..

 

[Calvinator]

Alright, let's talk.

While a good film, The Hobbit mostly suffers from excessive length. Now, I know Return of the King was 3 1/2hrs, but stuff was happening the whole time. In The Hobbit, we spend an awful lot of time at Bilbo's pad, and only two things worth noting happen; we're told why we should care about some of the dwarves, and the dwarves sing a sick tune. But seriously, we're there 40mins, it coulda been cut to 20 - 25mins, and then we could get on with the story. Some parts were WAY too similiar to Fellowship, but other parts were fantastic...like when Elrond shows up, and the awesome Gollum/Bilbo riddle part. Radagast was pretty cool too.

Like I said, a good flick, but not great, and not on the level of the other 3 films.

I quite enjoyed The Hobbit movie. It was a little long, but that didn't bother me so much, and I enjoyed the lengthy starting section at Bilbo's place. There were a few Hollywood(y) type things in the rest of the film, especially during some action sequences that I thought detracted from it, but overall, worth the watch. Not on par with the Trilogy movies, but walking into the theater to watch it I already had my expectations lowered.

A friend of mine, who is a big LOTR and Hobbit book fan, hated it.

 

[pressingon17]

I still haven't seen The Hobbit and I'm a LOTR NUT!!!! :O

 

[Jupiter Drops]

Opinions are what I asked for.

Opinions...

 

[Calvinator]

Opinions...

Yes. From what I've seen here, this is a fairly conservative group for the most part, but in any case it's Christian, and I've even had people drag up Romans 13 when it happens to suit their particular views. I'm no fan of Paul of Tarsus on the whole, as I've made clear, but I don't disregard everything he says. I do disregard R 13 (1-7) though, because it is utter nonsense, imo.

But anyway I've even talked to well educated atheists who have misconceptions and think that using Cannabis destroys your brain, makes people have chemical imbalances, etc. I've even heard it assumed that it causes brain cancer, depression, general mental problems, and bi-polar.

So, that's why I'm asking. It's clear that I sometimes partake in this substance - I've joked about it and my icon isn't subtle about it.

Lets hear your opinions.

 

[jess9450]

Do you guys think that it's too old to graduate at the age of 25-26 for Bachelors?

My friend graduated high school when she was 24, but it was because her family traveled extensively. On the other hand, I went to college early but got sidetracked and disillusioned by the industry that I was going into. Plus, I had a lot of pressure from my family...

How old are you now? LOL, Naw it's never too old. My graduating class this past year from teacher's college had quite a few students who were much older than the other students...like in their late 40's. My own section had a few ppl that were 29, 30, 32, and we all got on REEALLY well!

 

[Saucy]

Of course you say it's all misconceptions...because you partake in it. No one that I've ever met who smokes it thinks it does anything wrong. Like people who drink. Like people who do harder drugs. Like people who have sex outside of marriage. Like everyone who tries to justify their sins.

 

[Calvinator]

Of course you say it's all misconceptions...because you partake in it. No one that I've ever met who smokes it thinks it does anything wrong. Like people who drink. Like people who do harder drugs. Like people who have sex outside of marriage. Like everyone who tries to justify their sins.

Thank you for sharing your opinion. I don't want to argue with anyone over this, I'm just asking for opinions. I suspect I'll get a few more that more or less agree with your view.

When enough are posted, then I'll share something I thought was cool and real news to me.

 

[jess9450]

I randomly came across this on tumblr and thought it suited the current topic....

 

[Calvinator]

I randomly came across this on tumblr and thought it suited the current topic....

Bwahahahaha.

What is that gif from? I would not at all be too surprised if it was from some early anti-marijuana propaganda film. Have you seen the anti-Cannabis film "reefer madness"? Here's a spoof on it:

That 70s Show REEFER MADNESS 1938 - YouTube

 

[Jupiter Drops]

Yes. From what I've seen here, this is a fairly conservative group for the most part, but in any case it's Christian, and I've even had people drag up Romans 13 when it happens to suit their particular views. I'm no fan of Paul of Tarsus on the whole, as I've made clear, but I don't disregard everything he says. I do disregard R 13 (1-7) though, because it is utter nonsense, imo.

But anyway I've even talked to well educated atheists who have misconceptions and think that using Cannabis destroys your brain, makes people have chemical imbalances, etc. I've even heard it assumed that it causes brain cancer, depression, general mental problems, and bi-polar.

So, that's why I'm asking. It's clear that I sometimes partake in this substance - I've joked about it and my icon isn't subtle about it.

Lets hear your opinions.

How is Romans 13: 1-7 nonsense?

Is it legal to use Cannabis in your state?

IMO, I hate it for its nasty smell. I also don't see the point of using it.

How old are you now? LOL, Naw it's never too old. My graduating class this past year from teacher's college had quite a few students who were much older than the other students...like in their late 40's. My own section had a few ppl that were 29, 30, 32, and we all got on REEALLY well!

I guess I'm waaaay younger than those guys lol.

Further your passion and education, they said.

Of course you say it's all misconceptions...because you partake in it. No one that I've ever met who smokes it thinks it does anything wrong. Like people who drink. Like people who do harder drugs. Like people who have sex outside of marriage. Like everyone who tries to justify their sins.

This.

I randomly came across this on tumblr and thought it suited the current topic....

Wow Justin, you've changed so much. You look about manly as Humpty Dumpty now.

 

[redblue22]

When one is changed inside, it is hard to see what one was before because memory of self is now through the new person. I think this is going on during growth, sin, effects from relationship, education, drugs, etc.

 

[Calvinator]

How is Romans 13: 1-7 nonsense?

Ok, out of the scope of the current discussion, probably deserves it's own thread.

Here's the short version of why I think it is nonsense(I tried to be short, but it's not short, and does not include all my thoughts):

If we accept that the bible, specifically Paul's letters are meant for any Christian in any part of the world at any time, this would mean that:

The Governing Authorities Paul talks about in Romans 13 include:

Hitler's Nazi Germany
Stalin's Communist Russia
The Taliban in Afghanistan
The Dictatorship of N. Korea

etc etc

Even...

The British Rule over the American Colonies pre Revolutionary War

...were all appointed by God. And further - that any rebellion against those authorities (again, according to Paul's words in Romans 13), is a rebellion against who? Against God. Yep. That's the plain reading of it. One could even argue, using Romans 13, that the USA is not a legit country, since it was founded on rebellion against a God appointed Authority (British Monarchy)

Outside of that.

God, who sets up these authorities to which we must not rebel against, apparently changes His mind a lot as well. Some noteable examples:

- God decided to ban alcohol in the USA, then changed His mind later.
- God thought it wise to include Cannabis in many different medical formulas pre- 1930's, then decided it was a terrible drug
- God was ok with having people trade using gold and silver, then changed His mind briefly in 1933 and outlawed that.

Let's not beat around the bush and say people made those laws. Not according to Romans 13. God put those people in authority, and they were thus acting on His behalf.

Then there is the issue of wars. Countries, who's authorities are (according to Paul) are all set up by the Lord, fight and kill, murder, maim each other in the name of, and following the authority of - their leaders, who are appointed by God to govern.

Is it legal to use Cannabis in your state?

In my view, God made ALL the plants, and no man nor organization has the legal authority to ban any of them. Extracts of plants that are dangerous? Like cocaine? Sure. The plant itself? No. Most of the drug laws that exist (excepting a few) benefit large Pharmaceutical companies. They get to steal from Nature and isolate compounds in plants, or copy them synthetically, then ban the plants so anyone who want's the plant's medicinal value must go to them.

IMO, I hate it for its nasty smell. I also don't see the point of using it.

This.

(The above quoting Saucy's response)

Thanks for sharing your view.

 

[Paulie079]

Ok, out of the scope of the current discussion, probably deserves it's own thread.

Here's the short version of why I think it is nonsense(I tried to be short, but it's not short, and does not include all my thoughts):

If we accept that the bible, specifically Paul's letters are meant for any Christian in any part of the world at any time, this would mean that:

The Governing Authorities Paul talks about in Romans 13 include:

Hitler's Nazi Germany
Stalin's Communist Russia
The Taliban in Afghanistan
The Dictatorship of N. Korea

etc etc

Even...

The British Rule over the American Colonies pre Revolutionary War

...were all appointed by God. And further - that any rebellion against those authorities (again, according to Paul's words in Romans 13), is a rebellion against who? Against God. Yep. That's the plain reading of it. One could even argue, using Romans 13, that the USA is not a legit country, since it was founded on rebellion against a God appointed Authority (British Monarchy)

Outside of that.

God, who sets up these authorities to which we must not rebel against, apparently changes His mind a lot as well. Some noteable examples:

- God decided to ban alcohol in the USA, then changed His mind later.
- God thought it wise to include Cannabis in many different medical formulas pre- 1930's, then decided it was a terrible drug
- God was ok with having people trade using gold and silver, then changed His mind briefly in 1933 and outlawed that.

Let's not beat around the bush and say people made those laws. Not according to Romans 13. God put those people in authority, and they were thus acting on His behalf.

Then there is the issue of wars. Countries, who's authorities are (according to Paul) are all set up by the Lord, fight and kill, murder, maim each other in the name of, and following the authority of - their leaders, who are appointed by God to govern.

No, God did not put those legislations into effect, the leaders did. God is not responsible for what political leaders do, but He is sovereign over it. The point of Romans 13:1-7 is that God ordained for certain political leaders to be in place and that He is sovereign over them, so we must show them respect as individuals in authority over us.
But you also have to read each passage of Scripture in light of the whole thing (instead of just throwing passages out, which is completely wrong and lacking in faith), so obviously there have been points in time, and there likely will be points in time again, where the laws of government were ungodly. Consider the fact that Paul, the person who wrote Romans, was jailed over and over again and then eventually beheaded because he continued to preach the gospel. Was he respecting the government leaders when he went right back out to preach upon being released from jail? Yes, because you can disagree and oppose legislation while still respecting the individuals who put them in place. You can have the suckiest boss in the world who is just a complete jerk to you, and he might even tell you to do something immoral on behalf of the company, but you can still respect him as you respectfully decline to carry out his request.

 

[Calvinator]

Hi Paulie079,

I didn't want that passage in Romans to be the focal point of the discussion, and I knew there was a danger in me answering the question asked by JD, but it is what I believe, and I felt I had to address it. We could go back and forth discussing it, but I'd rather stick to my original question about Cannabis without it entering the discussion.

Romans 13: 1-7 probably best left to another thread. I think my motive in addressing it with regards to this subject is clear.

I am more interested in people's opinions on Cannabis and Brain Cells. If you could answer that, then lets keep the discussion going k?

 

[Paulie079]

Hi Paulie079,

I didn't want that passage in Romans to be the focal point of the discussion, and I knew there was a danger in me answering the question asked by JD, but it is what I believe, and I felt I had to address it. We could go back and forth discussing it, but I'd rather stick to my original question about Cannabis without it entering the discussion.

Romans 13: 1-7 probably best left to another thread. I think my motive in addressing it with regards to this subject is clear.

I am more interested in people's opinions on Cannabis and Brain Cells. If you could answer that, then lets keep the discussion going k?

Well, in order to answer your question, I need to know one thing: Do you smoke pot?

 

[Strider1002]

I am more interested in people's opinions on Cannabis and Brain Cells. If you could answer that, then lets keep the discussion going k?

I have no opinion because I have no scientific or medical training and no idea what kills brain cells.

Are you... feeling guilty for using it?

 

[Calvinator]

Well, in order to answer your question, I need to know one thing: Do you smoke pot?

Paulie, you do not need to know whether or not I smoke pot to answer a question on whether or not it kills brain cells, or the other things I mentioned later that some people associate it with.

I have no opinion because I have no scientific or medical training and no idea what kills brain cells.

Are you... feeling guilty for using it?

No opinion is a position of present tense agnosticism on the issue and that is fine by me for the purposes of getting opinions.

 

[Paulie079]

Paulie, you do not need to know whether or not I smoke pot to answer a question on whether or not it kills brain cells, or the other things I mentioned later that some people associate it with.

But it would at least inform my opinion and make it so much easier to answer your question