Come to think of it, society would probably benefit from abstinence from "hiding behind scripture" as well. That's how wars start.

Nice try though. I'm just speaking MY peace, not some 1500 year old arab's opinion.

[edit on 7/2/08 by cbianchi513]

Since when is quoting something a form of "hiding"? If one is quoting something, then the one quoting is also one who should be upholding its meaning as well. Granted, I'm far from perfect, but I also welcome those who are calling me on it when I'm out of alignment. What wars started from non-judgementalism? Or better still, was scuffle emerged from this scripture here "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"? Bible-grumble all people want, but if many didn't know it came from Christ, that verse would receive a lot more hugs. Yeah, there are other things in the book that make people sweat and tug their collar, but I'm surprised you're faulting the reasonability of this assertion.


[edit on 7-2-2008 by saint4God]

We're not going to derail the thread quibbling about The Book, are we? I know I'm not.
All I'm saying is that the kid needs some serious professional help, maybe the kind that involves several hundred volts of current.

Like I said: My opinion, not a quote from somebody else.

[edit on 7/2/08 by cbianchi513]

Originally posted by cbianchi513
We're not going to derail the thread quibbling about The Book, are we? I know I'm not.
All I'm saying is that the kid needs some serious professional help, maybe the kind that involves several hundred volts of current.

Like I said: My opinion, not a quote from somebody else.

Very well then. My opinion is you're being very judgemental of a person you've never met. Yes, you know the guy's age, congratulations. Can you tell me the color of his hair? His eyes? Surely these would be easy for a judge to answer: Can you tell me what growing up in his house was like? How about how his parents treated him? How his parents treat each other? Does he have brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, or other family? Does Ranbo have a job? How many friends does he have in school? Why does have the friends he does? What is his neighborhood like? Who were his influences? What is his lifelong dreams, goals and aspirations? Where did they come from? What is Ranbo feeling in his heart right now?




[edit on 7-2-2008 by saint4God]

I truly think that both of us know that these questions you pose are rhetorical in nature. Obviously I have no answers to them... in addition to not "knowing" the OP's age. I am basing all I am saying on solely what I have read right here on this thread. No more, no less.
I suppose I am way too jaded by dealing with the youth of America on a regular basis. I suppose my compassion is at an all-time low. Based on my limited experience, blame rests primarily on the parents' shoulders.

Originally posted by cbianchi513
Based on my limited experience, blame rests primarily on the parents' shoulders.

Some questions that can be answered, if I may. How many children do you have? What are their occupations? Have they ever had any 'troubles' growing up?


[edit on 7-2-2008 by saint4God]

The Op only made up a story for a laugh, and you're pigeon holing him as harbinger of all things evil. It's just a joke.


"the solution" is an impossibility. There has to be a levelling of the playing field in world economics, living standards are rising in countries like India and China, subsequently living standards will have to be lowered or radically altered for countries like the USA.

Jobs are created in countries like China, jobs are lost in countries like USA. Job losses mean unhappy citizens, unhappy citizens, means turmoil and crime. We are entering a great recession period for the 1st world.


[edit on 8/2/2008 by Wig]

Originally posted by cbianchi513
I'm but 32 years old, got a little girl in the "oven" now. Her mother and I were both Marines, she is a professional educator now and I am in the, err, "security" field... We won't have any "troubles" with her, if you catch my drift.

Thank you both for your service both militarily and educationally. I have no doubt discipline will not be lacking in your household . I do hope it'll be as you say, no troubles. Although I cannot back it up statistically, I do think that households with enforced disciplines have higher percentages of children raised without problems than those who do not. But, I would also like to add that despite in the 1940's/50's parental strict disciplines, it did give birth to a 60's generation. Something to consider.

Thanks for the concern though, I'm pretty sure our hearts are in the same general area.

Totally agree.

I just see the country going exponentially downhill, and kids like the OP are all too commonly part of the problem. I don't know what the solution is, other than parents being strict and attentive to their children.

Being attentive is key. Listening and discussing works very well for all ages. When that doesn't work however, stronger measures need to be taken. If they know the rules and punishment ahead of time, then parameters have been set in advance. Strict works initially, especially ages 2 through 8 (depending on the child) as I've seen it but dishing out the same exact punishment often times develops a tolerance/immunity. Discipline when administered creatively and fairly was helpful for me and some other parents I know. Overpunishing causes fear initially, but rebellion later when the teen realizes that seemingly no matter what they do the hammer is going to drop anyway, so may as well go hog-wild. Underpunishing can aid in developing a manipulative person who tries to negotiate, lie, and hide a lot of the bad behaviour. Always reward good behaviour at the very least with a "thank you" for doing right.

I was very attentive to my actions and my sister's actions growing up. She was older than I was so I looked at what she did first before trying anything. My parents were fair, making sure we always got the same of everything. Same amount of clothes, toys, rewards, punishments for the same behaviour. My sister sweared, she got her mouth washed out with soap. I sweared, I got my mouth washed out with soap. So how is it then that I had very little misbehavings and my sister was hitchhiking cross-country at age 13? Simply put, no matter what my parents did, her and I had choices to make. She chose to drink and smoke, I chose not to. Even though my parents were heavy-handed when they found out about her conduct, she would work to find ways to continue outside the home and cover her tracks. Having seen how much this messed up my parents, I sided with them in obeying their law. There was a time or two where I did not and went with my sis. The discipline corrected me, but not her. She merely learned how to fight back and threatened to call the state if they so much as laid a hand on her. My parents would ground her, she would walk out the door. My parents called the police, who picked her up and brought her home, she walked out the door. It's a pretty messed up world we live in when a parent is not permissioned to guard their own child.

Having both Marine and educator experience in the household, I look forward to reading your (or your wife's) parenting book in a few decades year. All the best to your family and congratulations on your new addition!

[edit on 8-2-2008 by saint4God]

Originally posted by Wig
The Op only made up a story for a laugh, and you're pigeon holing him as harbinger of all things evil. It's just a joke.

It's not funny. There have been a good number of people wasting their time and resources to help the original poster. This time and effort that could otherwise truly help some who does need help with an actual problem. A person should not call 911, claiming to be dying, then shout "April Fools!". Ranbo isn't the 'harbinger of all things evil' but the boy who cries wolf often gets consumed later. For that I fear for his future, which make me sad and concerned, not angry.

Originally posted by Wig
"the solution" is an impossibility. There has to be a levelling of the playing field in world economics, living standards are rising in countries like India and China, subsequently living standards will have to be lowered or radically altered for countries like the USA.

Jobs are created in countries like China, jobs are lost in countries like USA. Job losses mean unhappy citizens, unhappy citizens, means turmoil and crime. We are entering a great recession period for the 1st world.

You forgot about the price of rice.

[edit on 8-2-2008 by saint4God]

Vassago, in demonology, is a mighty Prince of Hell, ruling over twenty-six legions of demons. He can be persuaded to tell the magician of events past and future, can discover hidden and lost things, and has a "good" nature.

I just posted this on another "demon" thread. I'm posting it again for you. I hope it helps.



Ok...first off you need to calm down. If there are demons (a big IF), then you are probably projecting them yourself. Try to do the following things to generate more love in your life. IF there are demons, they will not be able to stand the increased love resonance. Best of luck to you...


1.First you must forgive, or at least actively try to forgive, all those in your life who you feel have done harm to you. This is very challenging, but the trick seems to be in the way that we choose to look at those difficult experiences. Those who challenge us in our lives are often alerting us to lessons that we should take careful note of. When we become angry that is a very loud alarm signal that our fears are being confronted and we do not like it. Stop and look at the fear that has been unearthed by your anger, grab hold of it and do not let it go until you have analyzed it and understood what kind of effect it is having in your life. Dealing with your fear is absolutely crucial in this, since its resonance seems to stand in opposition to the vibrations of love.

2. Understand that your ego is a societal and cultural construct propped up by your limited five senses. When I talk about ego, I am not referring to love of the self (which is important). I am talking about the self-image that you maintain and calibrate in relation to others. Perhaps you believe that you are “smart,” you believe, maybe, that you are “wise,” maybe you believe that you are “quick to anger,” or that you are a "talented businessman." All of these beliefs must be fed regularly with artificial mental constructs that are often times delusional—these beliefs are a bit like demanding mooches who will not get off your couch. The way to proceed (and caution is required…do not be too hard on yourself) is to actively challenge all of your beliefs until you are left with the most basic thing, or set of things. You know you are making progress if the process feels uncomfortable and a bit destabilizing.

3. Love requires action. Someone said that you know you have made a decision only when you back it up with action of one kind or another. Even in those moments when you feel nothing but contempt for the world, actions of love are still required, and seem actually to be even more effective. Call your estranged siblings (this is one of my big challenges). Give to a charity that means something to you. Hold the door for people. Force yourself to look the supermarket cashier in the eyes, and consider what her life might be like. Think of the child that she once was, and the old woman she will one day be. Imagine what she might be like as a mother, holding her baby and feeling powerful maternal love for the child—all of these thoughts should be background noise whenever you meet someone new. Give them a fair shot. In fact, give them more than a fair shot (this one took me a long time to figure out).

4. Be willing to subjugate your own needs to those of others. By this I do not mean not eating so that you can feed an unemployed friend. It means realistically determining what your most basic needs are and then being willing to sacrifice all but that for others in desperate need.

5. Reserve judgment. There are times when it is crystal clear that someone is behaving in a cruel and thoughtless way. Child molesters are beyond redemption in my mind, but for the vast majority of humans, there is a rich panorama of back-information that we cannot understand or ever be aware of that drives their behavior. As such, we should never be quick to judge and condemn. Every judgment of another person must be made in full and complete awareness of who we are and what our faults are. This cannot be done, so we should be very careful. Reserving judgment takes discipline and work because we live in a society of quick judgments, but it has an amazing transformative power.

6. When you start to make progress and feel the change in your life, do not congratulate yourself too quickly. Never let your ego begin to sing the siren song of “you are great,” “you are an evolved human being, so much better than others.” Trust me when I say this line of thinking is nothing but poison, and it runs in the opposite direction of your progress. A positive and healthy self-image is very important, but it must be balanced against a equally positive and healthy image of the potential of humanity.

7. The planet must also be loved. The planet is here to teach us a series of great and important lessons, and the first of them is to learn to love it as our home and teacher. It is not possible to take the more advanced steps towards a state of living love without also recognizing that the planet is alive and as such very much deserving of out gratitude and deep affection. Get out doors and spend some time in nature. It will make all the difference.



[edit on 12-2-2008 by Silenceisall]

dude isn't that the same symbol on the dude head from stargate atlantis or one of those other space shows....my dad is completely obsessed....i grew up with star trek....yech!

EVERYONE!

THIS HAS PROVEN TO BE A HOAX! Read my last few posts and my research. Ranbo was pulling our collective leg.

Originally posted by behindthescenes
Ranbo was pulling our collective leg.

I've heard of "collective conscious" before, but...

dude.
Demons, no matter how "kindly" or "mellow" are bad news. Maybe you should consider visiting a church. NOT AN EXTORTIONIST! Those things only make the demons mad. Christian and Jews are usually able to do stuff about them though.
It sounds corny and over religious, but if you believe in Christ, you can use the power of his name to tell him to take a hike.

Interesting post and responses. For those who do believe in or entertain the concept of demons here are my comments.
1. Demons do not usualy supply a name unless it is under duress. Knowing the name gives you power to control or banish it.
2. There is no reason to believe that a demon will tell you the truth.
3. If it is "Vassago" I believe that that demon only comes to a person who calls it.
4. "playful" and "helpful" are not usualy contributed to demon activity when the smoke clears, all benifits come at a price.

Originally posted by starskipper
1. Demons do not usualy supply a name unless it is under duress. Knowing the name gives you power to control or banish it.

This is not true. Do you control Satan? He's the "king demon".

Originally posted by starskipper
3. If it is "Vassago" I believe that that demon only comes to a person who calls it.

How does one summon that which they don't know the name of? This seems to contradict your previous statement.

[edit on 13-2-2008 by saint4God]

Originally posted by behindthescenes
Update! Update! Update!


Okay, I'm not even sure how to begin this, other than to say Ranbo's story is officially a hoax.

Thank you for getting to the bottom of this.