[MarkBadong]

Originally Posted by OiBoyz

This is at least the second time you've changed your story when you didn't get the response you wanted. I think I agree with the person a page or two back... I think we're being played by this guy. I call BS.

You know, I'm eager to discuss the story further but thanks to this guy I refuse. I refuse to continue in this thread. Sorry to everybody who may have more questions but I guess you will never truly understand the story unless you're one of my closest friends. There isn't enough time right now to give details. OiBoyz apparently believes everybody says what they mean to say in their post - never even thought I might see incorrect details as replies come. Nobody's perfect. How dare you call my story BS!!!!

I'm out. I thought fellow Christians would be more understanding but I guess not. I'd rather share this story with my church elders - they'd understand better. GOODBYE.

[Fandrew]

I don't think your story is BS, but I do think there are a lot of issues here that are being "lost in translation", if you will. Your situation and background are from a slightly different culture, and we're having a hard time agreeing on certain points.

It is probably a great idea to discuss this with close friends and church elders rather than anonymous discussion with a bunch of people on another continent. You don't know us, and we don't know you.

However, whether you return or not, I encourage you to not place yourself in a position to be tempted, and I STRONGLY discourage spending too much time alone with your girlfriend.

[BillSPrestonEsq]

And I think my point stands.

Avoid temptation. Do not "test yourself." Temptation will attack you on its own if you try to avoid it. There is no point to seek an enemy out mightier than you. And lust is mightier than you or I. You may win a battle here or there, but if you face it head on consistently, it will win by attrition.

And seriously guys, the being rude to the n00b has to stop! I expressed concern over concepts, but calling people liars just is not cool.

[BillSPrestonEsq]

Originally Posted by MarkBadong

I'm out. I thought fellow Christians would be more understanding but I guess not. I'd rather share this story with my church elders - they'd understand better. GOODBYE.

Actually, Mark, that sounds like a splendid idea. I think after you clarified things a lot sounded like a completely different story, but having had to lay low in a few countries on particular days, (election, and certain holidays) I think a lot more is coming into focus.

I think the pursuit of temptation is foolhardy still, but I think I have a good grasp of what happened. I would be more careful in the future. Lust is one of those things that can never be overestimated.

[OiBoyz]

Originally Posted by MarkBadong

How dare you call my story BS!!!!

I called it that because you've changed it significantly at least twice. Also, you claim to be hindered by language, and yet when it's time to clarify, you manage a really long post, I see no struggling with language at all. And, I'm surprised that someone who doesn't know the language well would even know what BS is. Be angry with me if you want, I didn't present the "facts." You did.

I'm out. I thought fellow Christians would be more understanding but I guess not. I'd rather share this story with my church elders - they'd understand better.

Which is what you've been counseled to do by several of this group in the first place.

[BillSPrestonEsq]

I am just going to say if you take the story as less of a debate, I think I get what happened and I think it is pretty internally consistent. But there were a few key points in the latter post that really made me see things differently. One was spending election day in Mexico by accident a few years back, and being in areas where riots were going on, and also having been to places one incident from a riot. That was kind of critical information.

But seriously guys. Cut the crap.

We can call B.S. but to be honest, (other than the fact that someone probably learns cuss words first in English, just as most of us do in foreign languages) a lot of things were approached harshly.

IMO, there is a very big part of me that thinks we have to trust the veracity of posts unless proven otherwise. I questioned the wisdom and maturity of doing what was described, but that is a far cry from calling someone a liar. In fact my critique is meaningless if the event did not occur.

Calling people liars when they very clearly lie about an objective fact is one thing. Calling people liars over an event you have no external knowledge of is absurd. Were you there? Could you see just how seedy the hotel was? Was it just cheap? What factors went into its choice...

I could go on.

No, I don't believe choosing to tempt yourself is wise, or biblical. But thats a far cry from calling someone a liar because you see inconsistencies in their accounts.

[OiBoyz]

For the record, I never called anyone a liar. I pointed out the inconsistencies in the account. Which were significantly, not incidentally, different. Perhaps it's my background in dealing with D & A people, and inmates, but I'm used to calling out inconsistencies when I see them. In those settings, people need to be accountable for how they present themselves and "truth."

But I take your point, and I will stop posting here.

[BillSPrestonEsq]

Originally Posted by OiBoyz

For the record, I never called anyone a liar. I pointed out the inconsistencies in the account. Which were significantly, not incidentally, different. Perhaps it's my background in dealing with D & A people, and inmates, but I'm used to calling out inconsistencies when I see them. In those settings, people need to be accountable for how they present themselves and "truth."

But I take your point, and I will stop posting here.

I understand. I really have to watch myself and fail in this area as someone who deals with street kids. Oftentimes a nose for BS can be critical there. I am just afraid we need to watch it because when dealing with such things it is easy to read them into all circumstances.

IMO, calling BS is calling someone a liar. You are claiming they are BSing you, which in my experience means feeding you a great big pile of lies AKA BS.

[leeen]

I read the OP and it amazes beyond expression how IDENTICAL your situation is/was to mine...down to the very details you describe about your girlfriend and yourself. Two years have passed, and I come across this post now...

[OiBoyz]

Originally Posted by leeen

I read the OP and it amazes beyond expression how IDENTICAL your situation is/was to mine...down to the very details you describe about your girlfriend and yourself. Two years have passed, and I come across this post now...

Well.... how did it turn out?