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[kalohalo]

I have been offline for a scarily long time, for no particular reason that I can think of. However, this time has not been passed unconstructively:

~ I have submitted my application to St Catharine's College at Cambridge (only a week after the deadline - go me!) although I have no great hopes for my chances, because a) wow, do they make those forms

Comments

[aimeesworld]

We watched BfC for year 12 English. I hated it by the end, but it raises some interesting points. And I don't understand people's desire for guns. Really, I don't.

Good luck with Universities!

[kalohalo]

Exactly: why do you want a gun unless you want to kill someone? Even if you use the 'it's for protection' line, you still are going to use it to kill someone. Do they not have police in America?

The luck is much appreciated, and, I assure you, will be used a great deal.

[queenofausten]

i don't ever want to own a gun myself, and i think it does become a hazard in the house when you've got children and such that can get to it. but, i can see why people fight for it. i think someone who is qualified to use a gun should have the right to own one. that can create some awful situations if the owner of the gun isn't careful, but i don't think that's horribly different from other things. like, everybody at age 21 is allowed to drink alcohol, buy alcohol, etc. there are the people who drink responsibly, and then there are the people who end up drunk driving and killing someone, or giving alcohol to younger people, or becoming alcoholics. but we don't take away people's right to have alcohol. that's how i see it!

[kalohalo]

I agree with that - no one should deny you the right to own a gun. But guns are legal over here too - people just don't take up the offer. Why is it that in America, so many people want a gun? Is crime really that high? The most common reason I've heard for owning a gun in America is that it's your 'right as an American'. Brits have that right too, but why do Americans feel that they have to use it?

I like your example of alcohol, and I can see what you mean, but in most cases (excepting things like drink-driving) alcohol damages you, as the drinker. And alcohol can be a fun thing. Guns are used against other people to kill and, well... I can't see the fun side to them.

Sorry for this barrage of questions, but you are the nearest American person, and this is one thing that I just don't get. (Along with your wacky non-ideological political party system - how cool is that?)

[queenofausten]

hehe. i don't mind being asked.. i'm just speaking for myself, tho, i'm sure lots of people feel differently here. i mean, within the US there's the people who want more gun control and people who don't

[kalohalo]

I guess that you can understand the paranoia, although you wonder how many of those guns are actually necessary. And of course, hunting is a perfectly legitimate reason for having a gun.

So, do you agree with gun control? From where I see it, less guns = less gun crime, but I understand that a lot of Americans don't see it that way.

[queenofausten]

it's hard for me to say how i feel about gun control, because i'm not exactly sure what changes it wants. also, let me clear something up. i can't say this for SURE, but, my guess would be that the issue on gun control is very split. the impression i get many times is that people view Americans as all one type, and it's really not the case. half of this country agrees with Western Europe on many things. half the country doesn't like Bush, or probably more than half. the stereotype i often see of Americans more fits Republicans. but i suppose that's so because our president right now is Republican. And i'm sure that happens to many countries, i don't mean to be whiney or something, lol. Soo.. when I give my opinion, I tend to match more with Republicans, except on .. education probably

[kalohalo]

Hmmm, I see what you mean. I guess the perception that most of thw world has of Americans is fairly Republican - I mean, you have a Republican President, and Republican majorities in Congress. I guess I would get annoyed if everyone assumed that people liked our Labour Party government simply because Labour is in power

[queenofausten]

We have our share of Bush-haters, certainly. I've had a number of times in class where that comes out, occasionally from a professor. it's not /supposed/ to come from a professor.. but it happens rather often. Students, too.. I was so paranoid when I did this self-concept exercise in Interpersonal Communication. I had that I'm a Republican on there, and I was sure some classmates hated me after that. lol. Most college-educated people are liberal, statistics show. Maybe that should tell me something

[kalohalo]

I guess that's right, as more young people seem to be liberal. Most of my Politics class is left-wing, although we have one or two who aren't (although we don't hold it against them - every so often someone mutters, "Bloody Tory..." but it's generally all good-natured insults. And it does lead to good debates

[queenofausten]

This is pretty amusing.. The other day, I was talking to my friend Joe(danmanley on lj), and he completely fulfilled the stereotype for you. Even moreso, since he's a Texan. He told me he was planning on getting a gun when he turned 21. I asked why. Self-defense seemed to be the answer. And he seemed quite proud about how easy it is to get a gun and such. Yeah. lol. I'm not too surprised tho, to hear that from Joe. I already knew he was definitely a Texan in the full sense.

Haha, oh yeah, those campaign ads never cease to amuse. I really hope no one listens to that crap. It's .. childish, really. They did this, but I did this! I certainly don't pay attention to them.. I know both sides are just awful. It's too bad there isn't much honest debate about these things.

As for your prisons.. I don't think I had heard of that problem. But I believe we have the same problem. Pretty sad.

[kalohalo]

Well, the stereotype has to come from somewhere. And, so yes, self-defence seems to be the reason for guns. I can't help it - I still find that strange. Feeling safe by getting something that is most definitely not safe at all. But then, lots of people must feel differently to me, if you look at how many guns there are about.

I wish we had campaign ads like that in this country, if only for the amusement factor. (Damn our fair-paly-old-sport British attitude! We need some proper mud-slinging!) Does anybody actually listen to them? I guess they must, because they still keep making them, but I agree, they must get tiresome.