It's a good question. Plenty of people have their own personal reasons as to why they, as independant agents, have objections to homosexuality, bisexuality, transgenderness, nonprocreative sex, etc. Some people even have a moral problem with intersex conditions, as wild as that sounds.
The "good question" is what the rationally ethical explanation could, would, or should be for such objections. It's not terribly hard to at least wedge some type of anti-LGBTI sentiment into a system of morals. What's hard is figuring out why it ought to be there.
Put simply, this is one of those things that many people have an irrational objection to. And so, there is a lot of effort to find a decent rationale for it.
I'm not convinced that there is one, in the same way I don't believe there's likely to be a good rationale for there being something wrong with being tall or interested in comics or a feeler instead of a thinker.
I'm both weakly and strongly opposed to the notion that any kind LGBTI-ness is wrong. Weakly, because I'm still waiting to hear a reasonable explanation as to how it could be. Strongly, because I assert that such a belief is principally harmful.
There's an argument that LGBTI-ness somewhow goes against what's healthy according to human nature (that is, the teleological argument), but it's a weak argument at best. Such a claim is not impossible to substantiate, but it hasn't been substantiated. The claim doesn't evidently match any useful way of defining what's healthy or what's "intended" for our bodies, emotions, and interactions.
In short, while I can see why people can think there's something wrong with it, ethically I can't see how that's not unconscionable, let alone justifiable.
My parents are worried about me possibly becoming an alcoholic. I'm not sure if I find that more troubling or endearingly amusing. I'm not that much of a boozer. I only drink when I take the effort to go buy some alcohol and have it at home, and that's like, not even once a month or even once every two months. I admit I sometimes consume a, ah, good bit of it when it's there, but only considering I'm rather a lightweight. I've never been more than tipsy, never drank the night before going into work early, never had a hangover, and so on.
Okay, I will say that at times I have drunk to "dull" emotional distress. Which isn't really a good habit. I'm pretty much quitting the stuff anyway, since I don't want the extra calories that comes with alcohol. Pain free.
I have only read one Discworld book (Sourcery) and I loved it.
About Indiana Jones - I'm sure my dad will love the new movie, I'm surprised he hasn't fanboyed over it yet.
In related news: there had been some worry that our parents were less than accepting about the sexuality issue of having a trans kid and a gay kid. However, it appears now that it's not an issue, or at least a very big issue. So, yay.
I need some bed, now, too. Time to curl up with my teddy bear and see what Veronica Mars is up to.
I'll still use, "That's so gay" out of habit, but usually I clarify it ala;
"And not a good, George Michael gay. An evil, George Clooney gay."
A lot of people I know use it, including my younger brother. Typically it doesn't actually bother me in any significant way, but you know.
I happen to get a kick out of that catch phrase of yours. I remember the first time you used it, it was a bit meaner. Kind of deserved, though.
Quote from Bitsy »
I love men. The only woman I can really relate to is Sakura. Other women think I'm weird. Of course Sakura think's I'm weird too. But since she's Sakura I'll make allowances.
I love men, too, but . . . are you saying you can't relate to me? *sniff*
It's just a survival thing. Mammy-kins comes home drunk and beats me frightfully if I don't.
Hmph.
You call that a beating?
Quote from Sakura »
Girls, give him your sex and devotion,
No!
That was a beautiful song you posted.
Quote from Psi »
It wasnt meant to be like that. It was just meant for me to say goodbye, I didnt expect nor really wanted any responses from it.....but thats not how its turned out to be...:(.
I wish the thread would just go away now...:(
*hugs Psi*
Just try to relax, okay?
Quote from Photon Eater »
I'm excited, though. I'm pretty sure my parents will hate it, though. But that's another huge, tangled mess of a situation I don't feel like getting into at the moment because emo is a bad color on me.
We'll get through to them. I'm doubting they really be disruptive, rather getting them to have a completely accepting attitude will be the challenge.
It'll be interesting adjusting to a new name, but then again you'll be having that, too.
Or perhaps I'm just overly afraid of my mother, from whom I inherited my Photon powers and unrelenting rage.
Ha. True, though much like you, she's surprisingly able to be flexible.
Quote from Sakura »
You could go real epic as Mr and Mr Mamelon
Separate . . . identities . . .
Quote from Jack »
Don't fall into the trap of trying to defeat the God hand.
. . . .
But we shouldn't stick with nothing but Split Second and 1-or-2 mana spells that are harder to Rune Snag because of this (and those are worse against Stutterspell anyway).
It's a genuine lesson; in both magic and RPGs I've had a tendency to build things to try and answer every possible situation that could come up. It just can't work that way, though.
"And, of course, if the messages are about demonizing white people, hating cops, or glorifying pimping, prostitution, or degrading women, that's limiting your audience, too."
This is exactly what rap is. Annoying, talentless, boneheads, who had no education, talking about objectifying women (they think it's ok...not knowing any better due to dropping out of highschool). A bunch of low lifes.
Mmph. All that stuff is Bad. But rap is a genre and a method - if you've never heard rap that doesn't feature all that, then you've just unfortunately missed out on what the style can bring to a song that doesn't have terrible content.
People keep welcoming me every time I post. I was trying to sneak in unnoticed.
So who's up for a banner commission? I offer up as payment a charming smile and a rakish wink. Depending upon my satisfaction with said banner, there might also be a tip of hosannah-singing.
You tramp.
I'd like to hear the hosannah-singing, actually.
Quote from Tanthalas »
As for sleeping positions? ALWAYS bare-chested, either on my back with my arms tucked behind my head (a hangover from sleeping with one arm tucked under somebody's shoulders), or on my front in a bizarre position (one leg folded up so the foot is against my other knee, and the corresponding arm bent out with the hand tucked under my head.) I end up looking kind of like two triangles :-).
Always, eh?
Sounds like a sleep contortionist! Ever dream of doing yoga (yesiknowitsabadjoke)?
I'm going to refrain talking about my sleep positions, I think.
In other news, I can't wait for the general manager at work to come back! She'll be gone all month, though . . . oh, well.
Aww.. I'm sorry your day was crappy, Mamelon.. *huggles* You'll be alright.
Hmph.
Friday, I ran into what is probably my first work-related issue with beings trans. Our regional coach decided to say something to me about how I "present my lifestyle" at work.
It turned out to be a restroom thing, as a customer saw me coming out of the women's restroom and was "uncomfortable." That's kind of annoying but not a huge deal to me. Our restrooms are private, anyway, so which one I use doesn't affect much. She sure made it sound like it was more than that, though, with the whole "lifestyle" comment.
I had to wonder, "what is my lifestyle, exactly?" I mentioned this to my favorite coworker and he got quite a kick out of it.
I know she was trying to be inoffensive about the whole thing, but I'm still kind of suspicious that there might be more to it.
Also, happy birthday to Mr. Stuff and Sakura! I know Sakura had a good birthday party..
Hey, I'm back on AOL! The main program kept crashing whenever I tried to log in.
Oh, yeah. Many happy returns, Sakura and Mr. Stuff! *confetti*
Millionaire - (Divine, Martial, Ki) Attack [Epic] Daily * Fire, Radiant, Weapon Standard Action - Area blast 5 in 20 squares Requirement: You must be wielding a ranged weapon Target: Each enemy in blast Attack: Dexterity vs. Reflex Hit: 5[W] + Dexterity modifier fire and radiant damage, and the targets are blinded (save ends). If a target has immunity or resistance to either damage type, it doesn't apply unless the target has immunity or resistance against both, and only the lowest resistance applies. Miss: Half damage.
EDIT:
Healing Water - (Divine, Elemental) Utility Daily * Healing Minor Action - Ranged 10 Target: You or one creature Effect: The target recovers hit points equal to 5 + half your level + your Charisma modifier. If the target was bloodied, this power is not expended.
Way of Focus- (Ki, Psionic) Utility Encounter * Healing Minor Action - Personal Target: You Effect: You can spend a healing surge and make a saving throw, adding your Constitution modifier to the hit points regained and as a power bonus to the saving throw. End any penalties to attack rolls, damage rolls, defenses, saving throws, or movement currently affecting you.
The easiest way to go is to make the feats metapower instead of metamagic. However, if one wants more variety, there could be metaspell, metaprayer, metaexploit, etc, feats, most of which duplicate effects but some of which have uses the other types don't have. This gives each type of power-modifying feats special strengths compared to the others. For instance, Photon Eater's Consecrate and Defiled powers could be metaprayer specifically, Dazzling for spells, and perhaps Vital for exploits.
An example or two:
Assuaging Invocation
Prerequisite: Wis 15 or Cha 15
Benefit: Once per encounter, you modify a divine encounter or daily attack power you use to gain the healing keyword. If the power is a burst or blast, you and all allies in the power's burst or blast recover hit points equal to 1d6 + your Wisdom or Charisma modifier (whichever is highest).
Increase the hit points recovered to 2d6 + Wisdom or Charisma modifier at 11th level, and 3d6 + Wisdom or Charisma modifier at 21st level.
Divine Infusion [Paragon]
Prerequisite: Channel Divinity class feature
Benefit: You can use your Channel Divinity ability to enhance one of your divine encounter or daily powers. As part of the action of using the power, you expend your use of Channel Divinity for the encounter. If you do and the power deals damage, increase the damage die size of the power by one (d6 to d8, etc). In addition, if the power is a burst or blast, increase the size of the burst or blast by 1 even if it doesn't deal damage.
Opportunistic Exploit
Prerequisite: Str 15 or Dex 15
Benefit: Once per encounter, when you could make an opportunity attack, you may choose to use one of your martial encounter or daily powers instead of a basic attack (provided the power is not already expended).
EDIT: For fear of overloading a single post, here are the powers I mentioned.
I made them as general powers, which means anyone can choose them if they have access to one of the listed power sources. The power's power source becomes that of the person gaining it (if they have more than one, they choose).
Animate Dead - (Arcane, Divine, or Shadow) Attack Daily * Charm, Necrotic Standard Action - Ranged 5 Target: One creature with 0 hit points or less. Attack: Charisma vs. Will Hit: The creature gains hit points equal to half it's maximum hit points + your Charisma modifier. You dictate all of it's standard, move, and minor actions, and can only make it use basic attacks and at-will powers (save ends).
If the target saves, it is dazed and takes ongoing 5 necrotic (save ends both). Miss: The target regains 1 hit point and becomes dominated until the end of your next turn.
Self-Immolation - (Arcane, Elemental, Ki, or Psionic) Utility Encounter * Fire Immediate Interrupt - Personal Trigger: You are hit by an attack that deals damage. Effect: The attack deals no damage to you. If the attack is a melee attack, the attacker instead takes fire damage equal to the power's damage in your place. You gain resist cold and fire each equal to 5 + your Constitution modifier until the end of your next turn. Sustain Minor: The resist fire and cold persist. You can only sustain this power five times.
Song of Souls - (Divine, Ki, Primal, or Psionic) Utility Daily * Healing Standard Action - Close burst 10 Targets: You an all allies in burst Effect: Until the end of the encounter, targets gain a +2 power bonus to saving throws, regeneration 5, and regeneration 10 while bloodied.
I didn't assign levels to them, but they should be paragon-tier powers at least, I think.
I would be pleased to admit all of you into the inner circle of my recorded musings, should I in future deem it necessary to discriminate in its disclosure. Now, to begin my own subscription list.
I like how you say, "anyhoo," Miss Mage.
*hugs Kevin*
And yes, I imagine I do look rather fetching in a jar. Jellies of the World!
The "good question" is what the rationally ethical explanation could, would, or should be for such objections. It's not terribly hard to at least wedge some type of anti-LGBTI sentiment into a system of morals. What's hard is figuring out why it ought to be there.
Put simply, this is one of those things that many people have an irrational objection to. And so, there is a lot of effort to find a decent rationale for it.
I'm not convinced that there is one, in the same way I don't believe there's likely to be a good rationale for there being something wrong with being tall or interested in comics or a feeler instead of a thinker.
I'm both weakly and strongly opposed to the notion that any kind LGBTI-ness is wrong. Weakly, because I'm still waiting to hear a reasonable explanation as to how it could be. Strongly, because I assert that such a belief is principally harmful.
There's an argument that LGBTI-ness somewhow goes against what's healthy according to human nature (that is, the teleological argument), but it's a weak argument at best. Such a claim is not impossible to substantiate, but it hasn't been substantiated. The claim doesn't evidently match any useful way of defining what's healthy or what's "intended" for our bodies, emotions, and interactions.
In short, while I can see why people can think there's something wrong with it, ethically I can't see how that's not unconscionable, let alone justifiable.
Okay, I will say that at times I have drunk to "dull" emotional distress. Which isn't really a good habit. I'm pretty much quitting the stuff anyway, since I don't want the extra calories that comes with alcohol. Pain free.
Haha, transitive/intransitive wordplay.
Then again, I can't help it.
*snap, snap*
Weirdly and unfortunately, I don't feel like I have much else to contribute to the conversation at this point. Blah.
Anyone ever feel like when some things start to go well in one's life, something else must start to go badly to balance it?
About Indiana Jones - I'm sure my dad will love the new movie, I'm surprised he hasn't fanboyed over it yet.
In related news: there had been some worry that our parents were less than accepting about the sexuality issue of having a trans kid and a gay kid. However, it appears now that it's not an issue, or at least a very big issue. So, yay.
I need some bed, now, too. Time to curl up with my teddy bear and see what Veronica Mars is up to.
I happen to get a kick out of that catch phrase of yours. I remember the first time you used it, it was a bit meaner. Kind of deserved, though.
I love men, too, but . . . are you saying you can't relate to me? *sniff*
Hmph.
You call that a beating?
No!
That was a beautiful song you posted.
*hugs Psi*
Just try to relax, okay?
We'll get through to them.
It'll be interesting adjusting to a new name, but then again you'll be having that, too.
Ha. True, though much like you, she's surprisingly able to be flexible.
Separate . . . identities . . .
It's a genuine lesson; in both magic and RPGs I've had a tendency to build things to try and answer every possible situation that could come up. It just can't work that way, though.
How many save files does the game have?
Majorly important question.
A week ago I wouldn't have expected to see Jack Elgin posting in this thread. Certainly not complaining, though.
You tramp.
I'd like to hear the hosannah-singing, actually.
Always, eh?
Sounds like a sleep contortionist! Ever dream of doing yoga (yesiknowitsabadjoke)?
I'm going to refrain talking about my sleep positions, I think.
In other news, I can't wait for the general manager at work to come back! She'll be gone all month, though . . . oh, well.
Hmph.
Friday, I ran into what is probably my first work-related issue with beings trans. Our regional coach decided to say something to me about how I "present my lifestyle" at work.
It turned out to be a restroom thing, as a customer saw me coming out of the women's restroom and was "uncomfortable." That's kind of annoying but not a huge deal to me. Our restrooms are private, anyway, so which one I use doesn't affect much. She sure made it sound like it was more than that, though, with the whole "lifestyle" comment.
I had to wonder, "what is my lifestyle, exactly?" I mentioned this to my favorite coworker and he got quite a kick out of it.
I know she was trying to be inoffensive about the whole thing, but I'm still kind of suspicious that there might be more to it.
Oh, yeah. Many happy returns, Sakura and Mr. Stuff! *confetti*
I slept all evening today. You think that'd be refreshing, but it really just made me feel like crap.
Sorry I'm in a complain-y mood. Things just seem kind of blah right now. A better update coming soon.
'Kay.
Millionaire - (Divine, Martial, Ki) Attack [Epic]
Daily * Fire, Radiant, Weapon
Standard Action - Area blast 5 in 20 squares
Requirement: You must be wielding a ranged weapon
Target: Each enemy in blast
Attack: Dexterity vs. Reflex
Hit: 5[W] + Dexterity modifier fire and radiant damage, and the targets are blinded (save ends). If a target has immunity or resistance to either damage type, it doesn't apply unless the target has immunity or resistance against both, and only the lowest resistance applies.
Miss: Half damage.
EDIT:
Healing Water - (Divine, Elemental) Utility
Daily * Healing
Minor Action - Ranged 10
Target: You or one creature
Effect: The target recovers hit points equal to 5 + half your level + your Charisma modifier. If the target was bloodied, this power is not expended.
Way of Focus - (Ki, Psionic) Utility
Encounter * Healing
Minor Action - Personal
Target: You
Effect: You can spend a healing surge and make a saving throw, adding your Constitution modifier to the hit points regained and as a power bonus to the saving throw. End any penalties to attack rolls, damage rolls, defenses, saving throws, or movement currently affecting you.
An example or two:
Assuaging Invocation
Prerequisite: Wis 15 or Cha 15
Benefit: Once per encounter, you modify a divine encounter or daily attack power you use to gain the healing keyword. If the power is a burst or blast, you and all allies in the power's burst or blast recover hit points equal to 1d6 + your Wisdom or Charisma modifier (whichever is highest).
Increase the hit points recovered to 2d6 + Wisdom or Charisma modifier at 11th level, and 3d6 + Wisdom or Charisma modifier at 21st level.
Divine Infusion [Paragon]
Prerequisite: Channel Divinity class feature
Benefit: You can use your Channel Divinity ability to enhance one of your divine encounter or daily powers. As part of the action of using the power, you expend your use of Channel Divinity for the encounter. If you do and the power deals damage, increase the damage die size of the power by one (d6 to d8, etc). In addition, if the power is a burst or blast, increase the size of the burst or blast by 1 even if it doesn't deal damage.
Opportunistic Exploit
Prerequisite: Str 15 or Dex 15
Benefit: Once per encounter, when you could make an opportunity attack, you may choose to use one of your martial encounter or daily powers instead of a basic attack (provided the power is not already expended).
EDIT: For fear of overloading a single post, here are the powers I mentioned.
I made them as general powers, which means anyone can choose them if they have access to one of the listed power sources. The power's power source becomes that of the person gaining it (if they have more than one, they choose).
Animate Dead - (Arcane, Divine, or Shadow) Attack
Daily * Charm, Necrotic
Standard Action - Ranged 5
Target: One creature with 0 hit points or less.
Attack: Charisma vs. Will
Hit: The creature gains hit points equal to half it's maximum hit points + your Charisma modifier. You dictate all of it's standard, move, and minor actions, and can only make it use basic attacks and at-will powers (save ends).
If the target saves, it is dazed and takes ongoing 5 necrotic (save ends both).
Miss: The target regains 1 hit point and becomes dominated until the end of your next turn.
Self-Immolation - (Arcane, Elemental, Ki, or Psionic) Utility
Encounter * Fire
Immediate Interrupt - Personal
Trigger: You are hit by an attack that deals damage.
Effect: The attack deals no damage to you. If the attack is a melee attack, the attacker instead takes fire damage equal to the power's damage in your place. You gain resist cold and fire each equal to 5 + your Constitution modifier until the end of your next turn.
Sustain Minor: The resist fire and cold persist. You can only sustain this power five times.
Song of Souls - (Divine, Ki, Primal, or Psionic) Utility
Daily * Healing
Standard Action - Close burst 10
Targets: You an all allies in burst
Effect: Until the end of the encounter, targets gain a +2 power bonus to saving throws, regeneration 5, and regeneration 10 while bloodied.
I didn't assign levels to them, but they should be paragon-tier powers at least, I think.
I do have some custom powers based off of spells from Minstrel's Song, if anyone wants to see them.