stepchook

@CEOofmyhouse56
I guess the meaning of 'Cultural Muslim' depends on your intention. My wifes family are Cultural catholics which I understand to mean they are raised in the culture of catholicism with all its history, language and practise, but they are not church regulars.

@wscholermann @Seagoon_ Fatherhood means - after a while you prefer the crust. All relationships involve some form of compromise. It takes a lifetime to find a good one and maintain it. My marriage and family life is worth it. I see more material on throuples and other arrangements, but that stuff is for my kids gen to work out - looks like a lot more work

@CEOofmyhouse56 a "Almost Muslim" is an emerging new denomination indeed. I saw an episode of 'insight' on SBS where people identified as non-practising Muslim or cultural Muslim. I guess it is to be expected in liberal democracy that moderate and progressive beliefs are tolerated to some extent. The Sydney mardi-gras had a christian float recently. religion can and does change over time. The scientific calender etc.

@naevaTheRat Still getting my head around concept of anarchy. To some extent, it seems like the ultimate extension of 'separation of powers' in that decisions are decentralised. Not only to each individual, but each moment.

@Gibsonisafluffybutt @Seagoon_ I am vaguely Quaker. Humanistic agnostic and very moderate, but still believe the universe is a mystery. My wife is lapsed catholic and dabbles in psychic and magic practises.

Ahmadi, Sufi, Wahabi, Shiite, Sunni are all denominations of islam I believe. I heard the call to prayer a few times, but even if we're to revert to Islam, it would be as humanistic agnostic progressive lukewarm sort of Muslim. "Almost Muslim" would be a new denomination I think.

@LowExperience2368 @Seagoon_ piano and guitar? At the same time? Soprano ukulele fits in overhead luggage.

@Force_majeure123 @Seagoon_ representative media would include couples who are three percent Aboriginal, six percent chinese, half a percent italian, ten percent queer, sixty six percent working class etc. That would be representative. Pretty difficult to cast.

@naevaTheRat Not really familiar with the Zapatista movement. "Can you even fire the government?" Was your question. What is the point of having ideal governance if it can be fired? You are correct in that we vote seldom for a party rather than for policy. I am not sure anarchy is a great alternative

@naevaTheRat violent overthrow is one way of changing government. Conservative forces can also stage a coup. Once the new government has power, what then? Appoint ourself as the head of secret police. Then we are back at the start. Just different people being oppressed. I confess my outlook is far more menshevik and gradual. Apologist really. A gradual conservative coup seems to be under way in Australia.

@naevaTheRat democratic decision making doesn't mean you all get what you want. To the extent that government is democratic - to that extent we submit ourselves to the will of the people. Quite often having to abide by decisions we don't agree with. Often our elected representatives are Slaves to compromise and party policy.
I thought you could give an example of a government sized democracy doing better.

@naevaTheRat "Actual democratic institutions which work by direct representation"

...such as?

@oztrin @Seagoon_ drat! I have just gotten into buying female Aurealis award winners. Without a local distributor, Aussie fantasy writers will have a harder time finding publishers. Fish pond can be a bit steep.