I don't think being around people who believe certain things will change your beliefs, unless there's something that you find within their beliefs, or something you experience at that time, that convinces you. Everything that's happened to you in the past, determines how likely you are to accept certain things as fact. There are those in some countries who go to villagers and try to scam them as being magickal, or healers who use magick. But the "magick" is really just tricks. Fortunately, there are those who also travel to these villages to help them understand how this magick really works. This is why I believe it's good to question things, and just because something is unexplainable, doesn't mean it's magick or God (and I'm not saying it isn't, either ).

I agree with you that the issue is why I believe humans are meant to be a certain way. It's the logic I've grown to believe, based on those experiences in my life. I remember your example in a previous post about females being considered malfunctioning males, and I agree, that's a false thing.

I also know the people who feel they're neither male nor female, but fall somewhere in-between, believe that they're just another gender, and that gender is based on a scale between male and female. I believe that people are meant to be male or female, but it doesn't always work out that way. I believe we're meant to be able to reproduce, but again, it doesn't always work out that way. I don't believe that being other than the norm means you should be treated as less, dysfunctional, wrong, bad, or broken. I do disagree with some of the beliefs among the differently-gendered. But I would never tell them to hide, or that they're not entitled to the same rights as everyone else.

I haven't always believed this way, or maybe more to the point, I didn't listen to what I really believed. I was more politically correct, even though I try not to be (unless what I believe also happens to be politically correct).

Perspective is exactly what I'm talking about. Any perspective that makes sense to you, colors what you believe. It's important to listen to different views, to keep an open mind, in most cases. Many people believe a person is wrong in certain things, so they deem that person not worthy of listening to, about anything. For example, Sean Hannity was on a news show, giving his perspective on something...I think maybe the war in Iraq. Anyway, people wrote in with things like, "How could you have him on your show?" even threatening not to watch anymore, and complaining about him or calling him names, or criticizing him for things that had nothing to do with what he said. I am not a Sean Hannity fan, but every now and then, I agree with him. I find that, with most people, there are things I agree with, and things I disagree with. There's usually more things one way or the other, but there aren't that many people I've found that I always agree or disagree with. Many people will say they have, but many of those people also don't listen to certain people once they've angered them enough.

Admittedly, "SHOULD" is relative. In past times, certain actions were acceptable that now, we find abhorrent. But I'm not sure what other word to use to say what I mean. However, when I say "should," I don't mean it so much as "there's something wrong with you if you don't or aren't." I mean, this is the way I think things are supposed to be, but aren't necessarily, and being different is okay.

Also, being different from the norm often results in other or increased abilities elsewhere. And, as I think it was you who said, everyone has something about them that's different from the norm.

I absolutely agree with you on the line about psychiatrists. No offense to psychiatrists, psychologists and others in the mental health field, but I really find it appalling that they have so much power. Even physicians can't make someone go for treatment if that person's pain keeps them from living a normal life.