Secrets of the City

… minorities make up more than half of the population of nearly 10 percent of the nation’s more than 3,000 counties

Wouldn’t that make them the majority then? You know, when is the press going to start referring to “minorities” with a term that’s a little more descriptive? Because the author of this piece insists on using “minorities” instead of african americans, or african immigrants, or hispanics, or native americans, or whatever, we don’t learn nearly as much about this phenomenon as we could have.

Are hispanics who work the farm fields buying homes in the burbs instead of the cities because it’s closer to work? Are new immigrants being directed to seek housing in the burbs because there’s cheaper and newer housing stock to choose from? Are first generation african american professionals buying homes in the nicer part of town now? Are more people of color voting republican??

I mean, there’s a whole host of potentially interesting reasons why this is happening but we never learn of any other than the obvious one about cost, and a dated, racist comment that suburban employers are now willing to hire “minorities” (there’s that word again). Come on.

You have a point, Maz. This exodus isn’t entirely surprising, considering there will be some who like the city and some who like the suburbs, regardless of who they are or where they are from. It would be nice, though, to have your questions answered.

Without going on one of my big atheist rants that always get me in trouble, I really hope we can all agree that the faith-based stuff is completely bogus.

I think the criteria for getting federal funds should be the ability to administer and handle the task. If the organization is one of the so-called Faith Based groups, they should be considered based on that criteria. I’m sure they are capable of handling programs without judgement or preaching or some other type of indoctrination that you seem so scared of.

Like faith-based global warming efforts?

I’m sure they are capable of handling programs without judgement or preaching or some other type of indoctrination that you seem so scared of.

Highly unlikely. If they want to help people, they can start a secular organization.

Maz, don’t know exactly what you’re getting at, but I admit I think I’ve seen some of those.

The original reason behind the faith-based initiative was to correct the old policy of disallowing any federal funds to go to social organizations simply because they had a religious foundation.

This is counterproductive when AA has a better record of helping alcoholics than other programs and people like Mary Jo Copeland who is working miracles on a shoestring are struggling financially, yet other programs with less success have access to government money.

The question becomes, do you fund what works or not?

Highly unlikely.

A statement I’m sure you have tons of evidence to back up.

Actually, getting federal funds probably come with requirements that faith based groups may not like. I wonder if some opt out because of that.

I always look to WCCO for my diaper-wearing biting monkey coverage. There’s a new station motto in there somewhere.

The increased diversity of the suburbs is something I’ve seen firsthand. In fact, the Strib interviewed me on the subject, as I had written an op/ed on the community’s changing face for the Strib’s northern ‘burbs edition.

Maz has a point. When the Strib says “minorites,” it could mean just about any group: men, gays, Republicans…

Hey Maz -

Why the hell is a Conservative like you for funding religious institutions? Smaller government means smaller government.

That’s what kills me about Republicans. They want smaller government unless they need it.

A statement I’m sure you have tons of evidence to back up.

All it takes is a little consideration, really. A faith-based group is helping people because they think it pleases Jesus (or whoever else, but here, usually Jesus). I know if I were helping someone because I thought Jesus was telling me to, I’d consider converting them my very next priority. Here’s a brief wikipedia rundown.

Why the hell is a Conservative like you for funding religious institutions?

I’m not. I was simply explaining to jeff what it was all about. But if the government is going to fund social programs, the conservative in me says they should fund programs that work.

The term “minorities” is such a relative term that I’m surprised news organizations would use it. It exposes the fact that journalists are always speaking from what they believe is the “majority” view.

Imagine the coverage if it was a diaper-wearing woman biting monkeys in Madison! Wha? Sorry…not enough sleep and too much coffee this morning…

I know if I were helping someone because I thought Jesus was telling me to, I’d consider converting them my very next priority.

That’s because you’re an atheist.

This is counterproductive when AA has a better record of helping alcoholics

This is complete and utter bullshit! AA has some where around a 1-5% success rate. Why would we fund something that obviously does not work.

Even before Bush’s Faith Based Iniative government paired with religious groups for Social Services. The salvation army runs the homeless shelter for single adults that Hennepin County pairs with (and pays lots of money to.) A lot of religious groups run job placement services that the Counties use also.

And if a non-profit is completely filled with Christian employees and does the work Jesus has called them to do, but they call themselves a non-profit instead of a religious organization, what is the difference.

And quite frankly, I think I do the work of a good Christian everyday, and I work for the government. I promise, I’m not trying to convert anyone.

BTW, Mary Jo Copeland’s organization reported more than $18 million in the bank in their last financial statement, maz. That could buy a lot of shoestrings…

That being said there are faith based groups that do a lot of good as the article stated. Catholic Charities and Luthern Social Services are extremely well run programs that do not discriminate.

Technically, Maz, unless the media are talking about specific areas, minority is still correct. Not particularly descriptive, but correct. If you start getting more specific it’s a different story. If you point to an urban school district, for example, minority definitely isn’t the right term — unless you’re talking about the white folks.

We fund lots of things that don’t work. Abstinence based sex-ed, anyone?

If you start getting more specific it’s a different story.

Well, I agree rich, but at least then you have a story. What did you learn simply from the assertion that “minorities” now make up a larger % of the burb population? Anything?

You learn a lot of things, Maz.

1) That the first gen folks have done well enough for themselves that their kids can move beyond the urban areas their parents have settled in.
2) That immigrants (and Minnesotans) are starting to grow more comfortable with each other, at least enough so that the Hmong/Mexican/Somali/etc. enclaves aren’t the rule anymore.
3) That this strikes Minnesotans (or at least Minnesotan news editors) as being strange enough to be news.
4) That the Strib can’t figure out a way to write a succinct headline that gives more information on which minorities we’re talking about here.

Need more?

But were those first two things actually in the article or did you make the leap that that was what the information meant? IOW, those are your conclusions, but they weren’t actually spelled out in the piece.

Point being, if the writer doesn’t say those things explicitly, then different people can come to their own, different conclusions.

I could say for example, that since the burbs are a known hotbed of republicans, the increase in people of color says that more of them are voting republican and they want to be with their ideological soulmates. That’s as valid a conclusion as yours.

That’s because you’re an atheist.
Apparently I’d be a really good Christian, then, spreading the good word and all.

AA has some where around a 1-5% success rate
Not only that, but “Studies in the 1950s that used LSD to treat alcoholism professed a 50% success rate.” Maz, care to put your money where your mouth is on the whole “I’ll fund the most effective” thing?

Not to mention that if you help someone at the cost of converting them, I think there’s a net loss there anyways.

I have no personal experience with AA. I only used them as an example because it seems to me I’ve heard that their success rate is better than other programs. If I’m wrong, I stand corrected, but 1-5% may be bad but it may still be the best. Who knows.

Is it that hard to choose a file photo that matches the description? The article says the monkey was a foot tall with a prehensile tail. The file photo is a chimp, which is an ape, not a monkey.

Not to mention that if you help someone at the cost of converting them, I think there’s a net loss there anyways.

You’d rather see people destitute and without religion and with a religion and not destitute?

If so, no wonder militant athiests so often look like suspicious kooks in much the same way they probably see religious people.

It’s a parental rebellion thing. He resented having to get up on sunday morning to go to church so now he’s an atheist so he has an excuse.

Not really, Maz. I’m drawing those conclusions because I have some significant background in the issue outside of what is offered in the article, and I’m applying the stats I know and discussions I’ve had to the information in the headline.

What annoys the hell out of me is that the Strib provides no depth whatsoever in this piece. No explicit or specific information about which minorities are establishing themselves as significant suburban presences, and in what kind of numbers.

Hmmm…I always thought that was the excuse of agnostics, Maz…it was mine for several years…heh

Dammit, maz is onto me. Nah, actually, they never made me go.

I suppose it depends how destitute. At least it should be factored in to the equation.

He resented having to get up on sunday morning…

I didn’t like it either, but unlike my friend Ryan Holland I didn’t have to get up and shovel out the pastor’s sidewalk and driveway in the winter.

I’d see Ryan and think: You poor bastard.

Hey, when I was in navy bootcamp back in the Johnson years, I was forced, forced I tell you, to go to a religious service “of my choice” (as long as it was catholic or protestant) on sunday morning.

No exceptions.

I wonder if that’s still the policy now that we have an alleged bible thumper in the white house.

I always found that going to church was creepily cultish. Everyone saying/singing phrases together in praise of some imaginary being. Then eating and drinking the body of said imaginary being. I was always waiting for the magic Kool-aid to come at the end of the service.

Maybe they just put some hypnotic drug in the wine?

Bet your happy to be free of that discipline, right Creep? You can adequately sleep one off or play golf on Sunday morning. Eat a leisurely breakfast.

No concerns or requirements. Educated and fancy free.

Speaking of wasting tax dollars, Baby Bush is against spending any money on roads and bridges but is for $1 trillion for a bunch of 3rd worlders…….

Baby Bush is against spending any money on roads and bridges but is for $1 trillion for a bunch of 3rd worlders..

And your point is?

Did anyone else raise an eyebrow at the term “service monkey”?

Service monkey! I want one.

Also, is that chimp in the file photo smoking a cigarette? Bob, your thoughts?

I too have witnessed the increased diversity in the suburbs and found the article not surprising at all. I live south of the river, and within five minutes of my home are six ethnic groceries — three “Asian” (usually Thai/Vietnamese/Laotian/Cambodian), two Russian/Eastern European, and a Mexican. There’s a growing number of other immigrant-owned businesses as well.

pretty sure the monkey in the file photo is toking a jazz cigarette.

The American Lung Association of Minnesota encourages all primates not to smoke.

A planet where diaper-wearing apes evolved to smoke marijuana?

You fools! Damn you! DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!

I’m guessing this would more likely be the type of monkey!

I don’t think the russians count since they’re caucasian and not generally included in the category of “minorities.” But I swear there’s more Somalis in Burnsville than in bleeping Mogadishu.

“Not only that, but “Studies in the 1950s that used LSD to treat alcoholism professed a 50% success rate.”“

Well, no shit. You try drinking a beer and arguing with it at the same time.

The “minority” article is just another example of how most journalists/reporters in MN are out of touch. If the cultural landscape is indeed changing and becoming a larger percentage of the reading/viewing audience; wouldn’t you want to know how to speak to your audience?
Using the outdated term “minority” when referencing races other than “white” is insulting at best. And to use it in such a broad term when referring to multiple ethnicities is maddening.
Time and time again I read articles or see coverage on what someone deems “newsworthy” and it turns out to be racist and misleading. I’m all for articles that discuss MN becoming more culturally diverse, but not at the expense of the “minority” being negatively represented only as the downtrodden or criminals.

“Minority” is no longer a quantitative term. It’s simply a safe, race-neutral way to refer to race. In this PC age, such terms are valuable.

And I do love how the article speaks of the growing minority presence in the ‘burbs, and gets quotes from all the foodshelves to prove it.

A planet where diaper-wearing apes evolved to smoke marijuana?

Oh, that’s not a planet, it’s a house. I partied there once. I think it’s in Dinkytown, somewhere on 4th. It’s called “The Monkey House” or something, isn’t it? I think there’s a Hold Steady song about it.

Anyway, yeah, those gorillas sure know how to party. Duder.

And I do love how the article speaks of the growing minority presence in the ‘burbs, and gets quotes from all the foodshelves to prove it.

Exactly! A thinly veiled way of saying: “They’re coming and sucking up our resources and bringing in their poorness and criminal ways so watch out.”

Another example of creating the division between us and THEM.

I mean, there’s a whole host of potentially interesting reasons why this is happening but we never learn of any other than the obvious one about cost, and a dated, racist comment that suburban employers are now willing to hire “minorities” (there’s that word again). Come on.

“largely about affordable housing,”

Gee maybe It is section 8 housing in the suburbs that is encouraging this. They are running out of it in the city so what the hell come one come all free free free. The Met council has a lot to do with this trend. It is part of their policy to encourage social engineering through welfare.

““They’re coming and sucking up our resources and bringing in their poorness and criminal ways so watch out.” “

Yep, like our new neighbor Somali Guy. Since he and his huge family moved in a few houses down, the entire neighborhood has been talking about how people are afraid to walk around outside because of him, and also because of his two older sons, who scare people.

Mostly because Dad drives his new Escalade like a maniac, and he bought his two sons their own crotchrockets.

Well, no shit. You try drinking a beer and arguing with it at the same time.

LOL!!!!111!!!

“Gee maybe It is section 8 housing in the suburbs that is encouraging this. They are running out of it in the city so what the hell come one come all free free free. The Met council has a lot to do with this trend. It is part of their policy to encourage social engineering through welfare. “

Or, maybe people who come here from other countries tend to quickly adapt, and they work hard to improve their own lives, and get educated, and become employed and sometimes overemployed, and pretty soon they’re in the economic groups of people who just naturally look for the more wide-open, safer, higher-cost ‘burb life.

here’s the source of the smoking monkey photo. (Warning…Video NSFALAMN)

Attacking monkey? Horrifying.

Gee maybe It is section 8 housing in the suburbs that is encouraging this. They are running out of it in the city so what the hell come one come all free free free. The Met council has a lot to do with this trend. It is part of their policy to encourage social engineering through welfare.

*Covers eyes and walks away pretending she DID NOT just read such an ignorant statement*

Apparently, Charlie the Chimp hides his cigarettes from his zoo keepers. If you ask me, that monkey needs a good spanking.

Swandog, in my area many of them live in single-family homes or nice condos.

It’s simply a safe, race-neutral way to refer to race. In this PC age, such terms are valuable.

The term “minority” is not safe nor race-neutral if you’re sitting on the other side of the white fence. It’s a white construct used to perpetuate discrimination so it’s value is lost on me.

Well, steady on there. I think the term “minority” can be quite reasonably used to differentiate a subsection of any group from its “majority”. It isn’t very revealing, other than that though.

I don’t deny that it can be used as a coded slur, but is a question of intent rather than terminology.

I’m confused by all this. Am I no longer a minority?

We fund lots of things that don’t work. Abstinence based sex-ed, anyone?

*spittake*

Thar’s comic gold in these hyar hills!

Well, steady on there. I think the term “minority” can be quite reasonably used to differentiate a subsection of any group from its “majority”. It isn’t very revealing, other than that though.

I don’t deny that it can be used as a coded slur, but is a question of intent rather than terminology.

Reasonbly from whose vantage point, teucer? In regard to the article, I think the reporter wrote from a pretty insensitive and ignorant viewpoint. I’m tired of people giving everyone the benefit of the doubt when it comes to racism — unknowingly or not I expect more from journalists or reporters.

As it has been discussed a number of times on mnspeak, bias in the media is rampant, but it doesn’t mean we have to accept it or smooth it over.

I know I sound like some race card dropping fanatic, but I’ve been reading and watching a lot on the growing diversity within the Twin Cities and each time I am shocked at the incomplete and lazy reporting that is done. It’s quite disheartening.

We fund lots of things that don’t work. Abstinence based sex-ed, anyone?

Yeah, only the government schools could take a simple concept of telling kids that kids shouldn’t have sex, and turning it into a multi-million dollar government program that didn’t work.

It doesn’t seem to work very well in private schools either, Maz.

Which maybe tells us that such a subject doesn’t even belong in schools.

It’s what happens when your journalists all come from little all-white towns in [fill in the farm state] and attend university classes with people who look and think just like they do.

I blame God, Maz. Why did he have to make sex so sexy?

Which maybe tells us that such a subject doesn’t even belong in schools.

Why not, pray tell? If you’re already teaching anatomy/biology/the human body, it’d be weird to just leave out the whole bottom system. Kids would be wandering around thinking they’re the only freaks with genitalia, and everyone else is crotchless like Ken and Barbie.

(lol@max)

Hey, when it comes to sex, I lived in ignorant bliss for most of my childhood … and most of my adulthood too, as a matter of fact.

It may also have something to do with the demographics they’re writing for, Maz.

Kids would be wandering around thinking they’re the only freaks with genitalia, and everyone else is crotchless like Ken and Barbie

You sound as if you believe that sex education was always part of the k-12 curriculum. It wasn’t. It’s a relatively new phenomenon. I’ve noticed that it didn’t adversely affect the procreation of the species prior.

Well, now I’m on a sex-ed rant: seriously, teenagers have been boning each other since the beginning of time, and they’re going to keep boning each other no matter how much you tell them to keep it in their pants, so why not give them the tools to bone each other as safely as possible?

In my mind, comprehensive sex education and the availability of birth control leads to fewer unwanted babies born to undereducated/underage parents, which leads to fewer of those parents depending on government services for support, which leads to less of a burden for taxpayers, which makes everyone happy, right?

(Maz, it’s entirely possible I was exaggerating for humorous effect with the Ken and Barbie comment. Ponder that, will you?)

so why not give them the tools to bone each other as safely as possible?

Because parents don’t want you too.

In my mind, comprehensive sex education and the availability of birth control leads to fewer unwanted babies

Well, except that, I would guess that there’s more babies born out of wedlock today, guaranteeing poverty for that mother and child, than in any previous generation, especially including those generations when there was NO sex educatrion in the schools.

Something like 60-70% of births born to black teenage mothers in Mpls are illegitimate. That figure is an outrage.

Keep in mind, Maz, that before sex ed, kids didn’t have much understanding of what to do when it came time to speak up and say “it hurts when I pee.” And girls often went “on vacation” for a few months when they were indiscreet and lacked mastery of the almighty condom.

Basically, I’m with Josie — kids are going to bang their brains out if they want to. Might as well arm them with answers on how to stay safe. Knowing is half the battle.

Yo Joe!

I don’t think schools should teach kids anything. That’s why I steadfastly refused to study when I was in school. It was a tax protest.

Hey, when it comes to sex, I lived in ignorant bliss for most of my childhood … and most of my adulthood too, as a matter of fact.

There he goes again with the hilarity. Something is seriously wrong here people.
————-
Sex is so hot.
————-
I don’t think schools should teach kids anything. That’s why I steadfastly refused to study when I was in school. It was a tax protest.

Gawd, max, you just turned me against public education.

Well, except that, I would guess that there’s more babies born out of wedlock today, guaranteeing poverty for that mother and child, than in any previous generation, especially including those generations when there was NO sex educatrion in the schools.

Your out of wedlock figures are likely misleading, Maz. A pregnancy back in those days generally resulted in a (unhappy) marriage. I can dig up the statistics if you want, but during the Clinton era, when comprehensive sex-ed in public schools was the norm, teenage pregnancy took a dramatic dip. Since the abstinence only programs were put in place, pregnancy has rebounded in spades.

But I’ll agree with you on the teenage mothers in Mpls. It is an outrage. But it’s not just urban blacks. The lower the income bracket, the more likely it is you’ll see illegitimate children, for any number of reasons.

Well, Maz, I would argue that a lot of those young girls having illegitimate babies are coming from school districts with underfunded or non-existent sex ed programs. I went to high school in an upper middle class suburban bedroom, graduated with 500 people, had sex ed every year from 5th-10th grade, and we had one girl who had a baby.

I doubt that number would hold true for a school where the only sex ed is that day in gym class where the girls watch the film about menstruation and the boys learn about wet dreams.

Well, here’s my take: One of the roles of public schools is to teach kids how to avoid poverty. They do this traditionally by providing them with an opportunity to find work or advanced training by making them literate and somewhat proficient in math and science.

The other way that schools can teach kids to avoid poverty is by teaching them what causes poverty:

1) becoming addicted to intoxicating substances
2) not having a job, any job
3) having a child out of wedlock
4) attempting to raise a child alone without adequate income

It seems to me that if they teach those things, the lesson in how to avoid getting pregnant would be included. But it should be in that context, not in a context of “here’s how to do it right, since you’ll be doin it anyway.”

Well, now I’m on a sex-ed rant: seriously, teenagers have been boning each other since the beginning of time, and they’re going to keep boning each other no matter how much you tell them to keep it in their pants, so why not give them the tools to bone each other as safely as possible?

hmm, sounds more like a boning rant to me:0). Either way: Funny.

I agree with your point that education and availability of resources is always the best route rather than pretending it doesn’t exist.

“Why not, pray tell?“

The subject is complex enough without you trying to roll religion into it too.

“Reasonably” from a purely statistical viewpoint. I take your point about regarding that particular story and others of its ilk, but I don’t know that removing the term “minority” from conversational English is really tackling the underlying issue.

My preference is for evolutionary change rather than the policing of language. But you are right, your viewpoint regarding word meaning will likely be different to mine.

I would suggest that, for many, the ignorance is a lot less blissful when functional adulthood is achieved.

All I know is that I wish I had paid attention in sex ed when they were talking about wet dreams, because I never mastered them. But I didn’t pay attention. Why? Tax protest.

But Josie, how many got pregnant? Probably lots more, but mom and dad had money to make it go away.

And it isn’t like those inner city girls don’t know how to protect themselves, many choose not to. Wanting to have a baby at 16 isn’t uncommon with young girls. They get a baby, a welfare check, and get to “be an adult.” There are lots of girls who protect themselves, but a lot try and get pregnant too.

Well, Bobby, sometimes you see God.

It seems to me that if they teach those things, the lesson in how to avoid getting pregnant would be included. But it should be in that context, not in a context of “here’s how to do it right, since you’ll be doin it anyway.”

If the lesson includes information about safe sex, birth control, etc. then for the first time, I agree with you, Maz.

You’re right, kc, I don’t know how many girls got pregnant.

But is an inner city girl “choosing” not to protect themselves a function of them really, truly wanting a baby, or rather a function of an unavailability of protection, being too embarassed to seek it out, and/or not having the resources to obtain it. I can understand the cultural divide between the high school I attended and the inner city, but I doubt that many sixteen year old girls would truly want a baby if they were given more options.

I think the issue is more:

4) attempting to raise a child alone without adequate income

than it is:

3) having a child out of wedlock

I’ve done both, simultaneously, and seen several friends who have been married and still qualify for #4. Money makes an ungodly difference.

then for the first time, I agree with you, Maz

Ah well, you’re young and new here.

Teucer: agreed that policing language is not the answer. It’s all contextual to me.

Josie, kc! is right. Lots of poverty stricken women take that route. Many times because they don’t understand the responsibility and just want someone to love them unconditionally, or want to try to keep their man, etc.etc.etc. Condoms at the very least are available, but the lack of education and cascading social issues make it so their use is anything but guaranteed.

Cat: True enough.

I always enjoy it when you get the occasional fundamentalist or extreme righty who says they want to reclaim the word “gay”. Good luck to them, I say.

I have heard girls on the bus wishing they had a baby too.

I think it also has to do with a culture of poverty. Just as if you don’t have someone who models going to work everyday you will have a harder time being a good worker, if you don’t have some who models waiting until marriage to have a baby, you will have a harder time waiting yourself.

I’ve been trying to reclaim the word “queer,” but so far have met with a queer sort of failure.

if you don’t have some who models waiting until marriage to have a baby, you will have a harder time waiting yourself

This is the generational point I was trying to make. I grew up in a predominantly black neighborhood. But most of those households consisted of employed, married adults with disciplined children.

They were the norm. Today, that’s the exception.

I went to high school in an upper middle class suburban bedroom

Well if you went to school in a bedroom, comprehensive sex ed seems wholly appropriate. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I made fun of yer typo.
—————
My parents never had kids until they started having sex with each other, which made it much more likely that they would someday have kids. Sure enough, they got four.

I, for one, hate the whole reclaiming of anything movement.

Unless it’s my lost winning lottery ticket, then heck yeah, I’m reclaiming.

For a moment there, I thought you had typed “Sure enough, they got flour.”

not to toot this loser’s horn but: href=”http://minneapolis.backpage.com/personals/classifieds/ViewAd?oid=oid%3A508849&name=men%20seeking%20women” target=”_blank”>

“Suburban bedroom” is a phrase, not a typo, silly.

Valiant effort, though!

My parents never had kids until they started having sex with each other.

We’ve calculated that our oldest was conceived on our wedding night. Pheww!

perhaps we should force at-risk teens to get married. in my experience, it seems to be an effective means of inhibting sexual behavior.

“Well, Bobby, sometimes you see God.“

And, when you combine my ADD with my borderline dyslexia, sometimes you forget you saw dog.

ok- that didn’t come our right. and before i get flak for this, reading the personals amuses me. so take 2.

Un-married skanks!! – 35

Minneapolis women are easy,crazy and just downright nasty. In 28 years I have only met 2 virgins. The rest had no problem opening wide for some idiot who just wanted to get off. Damn ladies get yourselves some self-respect and you just might meet a decent man instead of a guy who is just out to get what he wants which is usually your dirty used snatch!!
Location: Minneapolis
Poster’s age: 35

For a moment there, I thought you had typed “Sure enough, they got flour.”

Sometimes, I’m sure they wonder…
———–
J-dog, here is your full sentence (emphasis mine): I went to high school in an upper middle class suburban bedroom, graduated with 500 people, had sex ed every year from 5th-10th grade, and we had one girl who had a baby.

Maybe it’s cause I only gradiated with 70 people, but I didn’t know “suburban bedroom” meant anything other than where suburban people keep their beds. Do enlighten me, Josie dearest.

Sex ed?

How many teens have kids because they’ve not been taught what the parts are or how to use them or what happens during use or what neat consumer products are available and in what flavors?

vs

How many teens have kids because they’ve not been taught that wanting a puppy is different or that there are better ways to cause love to appear in your life or that they do have enough value and worth as a human to risk saying no, or that there does exist a chance of future success and achievement for them and so they really are giving something up when they become parents at 13 . . .

It’s not the mechanics. Kids don’t need to read “I am Joe’s Uterus.” Kids need to know that the opinion of this one person pushing them to go play isn’t that important, and that they. themselves, are important, and that life gets better if you work for it.

You farm kids. “Suburban bedroom” is a way of saying comfortable, well-off suburb. When you search for it on Wikipedia one of the results is “Burnsville, Minnesota.”

As far as the personals guy, if most men prefer virgins, why they be bothered wit pluggin’ skanks?

As far as the personals guy, if most men prefer virgins, why they be bothered wit pluggin’ skanks?

my sentiments exactly. one thing’s for sure- the guy’s got PRRROBLEMs.

Okay, fine. Jab retracted. Rest assured we farm kids don’t have any double-meanings for “in the shed with the piglets”.
————
“Well, Bobby, sometimes you see God.”

“See God, Kai.” – John, from Cincinnati

You farm kids. “Suburban bedroom” is a way of saying comfortable, well-off suburb. When you search for it on Wikipedia one of the results is “Burnsville, Minnesota.”

I think you meant to say “bedroom community”, dear.

“My parents never had kids until they started having sex with each other.“

And the dog was a lot happier after that point, too.

Sofie: I’m assuming that ad is from Craigslist? If it is, it only shows that Craigslist remains a haunt for the freakishly maladjusted.

I wish I’d never posted it now.

Should have read the post above it…

I see it’s from minneapolis.backpage.com. Someone is stealing my best come hither material, the bastard.

“nor do they realize that most men would prefer to marry a virgin . . .“

Uh huh. Right. I had sex with a virgin once. It was awful – the screaming, the crying, the recriminations and fears and unjustified guilt and self-loathing – it went on and on and on. Luckily, she was eventually able to quiet me down and take me home.

Never again.

Bobby_b: “And the dog was a lot happier after that point, too.”

You mean “God” right?

Also: “Kids don’t need to read “I am Joe’s Uterus.”

But it sounds like a gripping read.

teucer- it’s from the citypages personals.

i learn something new every time i browse the personals; mostly about which creeps to avoid when i’m trolling (of sorts).

i agree with you all that 14-16 year olds purposely getting pregnant should be shot.

My parents taught me to steer clear of sex the way they taught me to steer clear of cigarettes. They brought me behind the barn and made me smoke a whole pack of cigarettes until I threw up, and then they brought me round behind the barn and made me sleep with gorgeous females until I passed out.

Best night of my life.

Nope, I meant suburban bedroom, pumpkin.

seriously, the car story rules. i would have so loved to be that guy who saw my own stolen car. I wish he could have exacted revenge on the scumbag though. I guess he did in a way, as long as the thief will be adequaetly prosecuted.

Teucer:
Here’s an article from twincites.com on the same topic of suburban diversity and uses the term “minority” but within the context of the article it is relevant.
I have not been a fan of PiPress in the past, but this article is well written compared to the Strib article that was, well, we’ve had that discussion.

Headline:
Suburbs the new melting pot

We in a blue state subsidize the red states. Why? Because of ‘abstinence only’ education……

Every ’sin’ blue states are accused of supporting happens with far greater frequency in red states: divorce, abortions, etc.

I don’t know what AA’s success rate is with sobering up a drunk, but I know a lot of people who go there after they’ve completed rehab some place else. It keeps them from back sliding. I’ve talked to people who go to meetings several days out of a week just to stay on track. They don’t know what they’d do if they didn’t have that support system. Some people just go once in a while, when they’re going through a rough patch and feel like drinking.

Pumpkin? Suburban bedroom? I am hopelessly lost and will assume this is some modern retelling of Cinderella.

Craigslist?

Buddy of mine put my name down as having a garage sale starting at 5PM in the flipping morning. Needless to say it was BS.

I know it sounds funny, but that damn website has no controls. At least with the paper they have a credit card prepay policy. You can believe those ads.

I’m frantically searching for my lost glass flip-flop.

Or as a former boss of mine called them, “thongs”, which caused me a moment of horror until I realized he was referencing my footwear.

Oh my god, that IS funny, Craigslist Hater!

I have a roommate. Sometimes he doesn’t like to clean stuff, which makes me anxious and uncomfortable. If people started knocking on his door at 5 am wondering about a garage sale, I bet he’d get really anxious and frustrated, too. Meanwhile, I would be sleeping soundly and blissfully in my basement dwelling…

Hmmm…

If you’re thinking of doing anything like that, please do it on a day where I haven’t spent the night before. Much appreciated, RichG’s roomie.

Back in my day we studied bedroom communities in urban planning class. Many/most of these bedroom communities are suburban, but we never shortened the descriptor to ’suburban bedroom’.

(Heck, looking at the list of bedroom communities listed under the Minnesota section of that link I’d say none of them are suburban… and wikipedia cannot be questioned for it is all knowing.)

I think that our dear personals poster from the CP needs to have a certain group of “mysterious professionals” come to his house and remove a few things. Can we run an ad for that on CL? Sort of like a garage sale, right?

Seriously I do NOT want that man to breed, ever!

So, I actually had to attend this Faith-Based Initiative Conference at my supervisors request. As I do work for just such an agency; We have a grant from the Feds to provide Transitional Housing to Homeless Veterans. I can speak to the fact that there is absolutely no requirement for my clients to go to church or participate in any type of religious programming.

My employer is one who is usually talked about with disdain on this site.
However, I don’t ever feel the need to defend them or that is my place since I am personally a left leaning person and don’t agree with the “church” part of the organization – However, there is no pressure or expectation that either employees or clients should agree with their religious views.

Ok, Any questions about the conference it was somewhat interesting…

Suburban bedroom (when used in reference to the suburb I grew up in) makes just as much sense as “suburban bedroom community” or “bedroom community.”

A little late here, but I can’t help but observe that only the token Republican could, in one post imply that sex ed. shouldn’t be taught in schools at all, and in the next bitch about the rates of teenage pregnancy. What a world he must live in.

The world is full of shit to learn, and I don’t advocate holding anything back from kids – especially things that directly affect their well-being.

J-dog, that’s just another one of the lies you tell yourself. Right up there with “It’s not okay to be sexually aroused by kwatt’s comments.”

Amber, you are so not nice.

I believe that this conference did, in fact, take place.

A little late here, but I can’t help but observe that only the token Republican could, in one post imply that sex ed. shouldn’t be taught in schools at all, and in the next bitch about the rates of teenage pregnancy. What a world he must live in.

Because as a republican, I know that the government schools are not the solution to the problem of teenage pregnancy. In fact, they’re probably the cause. I’m not surprised that a collectivist wouldn’t get it … you think the government is the center of the universe and the solver of all problems.

How in sweet bleeding hell are schools the cause of teen pregnancy? Because you put horny teens together in the same building for six hours a day?

$&%#@, Maz, that statement makes my head hurt.

Or, maybe people who come here from other countries tend to quickly adapt, and they work hard to improve their own lives, and get educated, and become employed and sometimes overemployed, and pretty soon they’re in the economic groups of people who just naturally look for the more wide-open, safer, higher-cost ‘burb life.

I hope people that come to MN do succeed. However, the way the “social safety net” is constructed the taxpayer will foot the bill for ESL, health care, housing ect. Our economic system cannot continue to pay for those that come here without any means to support themselves. It may be un-pc, but hey, I am sick of paying for it. I hope all can move to the “higher-cost burb life” but they should earn it, not be given it. I as a tax-payer should not be expected pay for anyones journey to the American dream.

How in sweet bleeding hell are schools the cause of teen pregnancy? Because you put horny teens together in the same building for six hours a day?

Now that you mention it, I wonder what the teen pregnancy rates are for home-schooled kids vs. government school kids.

I know I can’t prove cause and effect but I do know that schools are more the problem than they are the solution. Ask any parent of a pregnant teen what circumstances got her kid pregnant and I bet they’ll say the kids she hangs with.

what circumstances got her kid pregnant

Dude, if you don’t know by now, I can’t help you.

You know what I mean smarty pants.

Hey, you leave the door open, I’m going to walk through it.

Hey, you leave the door open, I’m going to walk through it.

That’s another way to get someone pregnant.

“Ask any parent of a pregnant teen what circumstances got her kid pregnant and I bet they’ll say the kids she hangs with.“

After having a few conversations with classmates of my 13-yr-old daughter, I can tell you that one factor in the rising kids-with-kids population is that, today, 13-yr-old boys lack that healthy and realistic fear that we all had at that age that the father of any girl we might touch in unapproved ways would beat us to a bloody, Family-Services-disapproved pulp.

(Except, now, for a couple of boys I know, who still come around just as much, but seem to act more respectfully towards all the girls in the group, and seem to like that the girls now treat THEM more respectfully, too.)

Maz – You’re smarter than this:

Something like 60-70% of births born to black teenage mothers in Mpls are illegitimate. That figure is an outrage.

What’s your point? That most teenagers aren’t married? Isn’t that true for teenagers of any race, anywhere in the U.S.? Are you saying that the percentage is different for white teenage mothers in Eagan? Because I’m guessing that most of them aren’t married either.

“Now that you mention it, I wonder what the teen pregnancy rates are for home-schooled kids vs. government school kids.”

Obviously public schoolers get laid way more because they are not as completely socially inept as the home schoolers.

I volunteered with at-risk teens a couple of years ago. One of the girls in my class just broke my heart when she told me she was pregnant. When I tried to talk to the kids about college (and these kids were definitely smart enough to handle college) they looked at me like I was on fire. Babies? Standard. Everybody knows the process for that.

Yeah, it would be super if the government didn’t have to step in. But this girl’s mom was in the hospital, they were about to be evicted, and dad was MIA for many years. What are you going to do? Someone’s got to try to get through to kids who don’t get it at home. If I had the cash, I would totally fund this girl’s education- she’s one of the most clever people I’ve ever met. Too bad no one told her, before my half-assed-ranting-white-lady attempt.

Something like 60-70% of births born to black teenage mothers in Mpls are illegitimate. That figure is an outrage.

What’s your point? That most teenagers aren’t married?

You’re right, I misspoke. The figure is 70% of all black births in Mpls are to unmarried women.

Obviously public schoolers get laid way more because they are not as completely socially inept as the home schoolers.

Bingo.

Frankly, it’s much for the best that the home schoolers aren’t getting laid. That would be gross.

Ew! I hear the theme song to Deliverance playing.