Cindy, thoughts for you and for your cousin's family.

Bloody catsitting. I keep offering to let Cat #2 out, and he keeps refusing. Then I close the door, and he goes and sits next to it pleadingly. Then I open it, and he refuses to go. Rinse and repeat. Crazy creatures.

Compatibility of values is more important to a long-haul relationship than compatibility of interests.

See, I'm torn on this. The Girl and I have different values - she's a libertarian and I'm a very left-wing liberal, while she's an atheist and I'm a liberal Christian. On the other hand, we have the really important values in common - as particularly proven by her devotion in staying with me when I suddenly became disabled three years ago, and through a number of other difficult things. And we support the same political party, which is not that important, but helps to curb our more spirited political debates. Basically, she's awesome, and having a range of different beliefs doesn't get in the way of that.

That said, I don't know if I could date a really committed conservative. We would do nothing but argue. A very well-informed and intelligent conservative, maybe. But this girl sounds like neither of those... And the cheating/dishonesty stuff - that would absolutely ring warning bells for me.

OK, seriously, I probably wouldn't have taken that bribe just because I wouldn't trust the other people in the class not to suddenly study. Or to know how badly I need to do. Or whatever. If that makes sense. Strictly in a PRACTICAL sense, even BEFORE I got to the "but that's WRONG" thought (because, even if i was wanting to do it for free...which I'd consider, for friends...)

As for the rest of it....these days, I can be friends with people who believe differently than me, but I don't think I could date someone who was a Republican. Maybe Libertarian or Socialist or Green Party or something. But...what can I say? I DO have a Homosexual Agenda. Among other Agendas.

Ya know, my ultra-conservative, Bush-was-too-liberal nephew thinks FDR made good choices under bad circumstances. Because while he revels in his white, male privilege like a dog rolls in a rotting squirrel corpse, my nephew has occasional brushes with reality.

I would have trouble building a long-term relationship with someone who waved so many flags, omnis. The Carlin thing wouldn't bother me much, because I have my own language issues. (Not so much with the swearing, but with not patronizing businesses whose names contain deliberate misspellings, such as Kountry Kitchen.) But the combination of conservative knee-jerk talking points and academic dishonesty (respect for authority except learning-based? how Bushian) would be problematic.

Nothing major on it's own. But the combination. And I get the feeling there is more.

Oh, there's more. I guarantee it. That's straight up wingnut party line she's spouting there. I know people who are reasoned conservatives like Java and others mention, and though I'm much less comfortable with that than I used to be (sing it, erika) that's worlds away from this.

Oh, yeah, Sox, we'd love some of Iris' outgrown stuff!

awesome. i will box and find the post office.

Sparky I am planning a trip downwards to see girlbaby before she is driving, promise.

Corwood, much good health~ma to your friend.

Jars - London interview-ma to you!

Jilli! That's excellent. Cannot wait to read it.

need to find stronger coffee.

The bribe to cheat! "who cares, I was getting an A anyway", it really irked me. So?? Would she cheat on ME if we get into a LTR??!!??

How old is she/how long has she been out of college? Because I did some *seriously* stupid shit in college that I'm not proud of now, and if that disqualified me as a potential long-term partner, I'd be living in a cave right now.

I don't know her, so maybe she is wildly unethical. But maybe she was young and stupid.

As for the rest, the only scenario I would find deal-with-able is if she's just unthinkingly spouting party dogma because that's all she's ever known (i.e., her parents believe that, her friends believe that, etc., etc.). If she's never stopped to think about what she claims to believe, there might be room for healthy debate, and then maybe change on her part. Maybe.

YMMV.

Omnis, she doesn't sound like long term relationship material, but I still say kiss the girl. Snogging is good.

Thoughts of peace and strength to George's loved ones.

Opinions sometimes change with experience, but ethics are not a place I can compromise.

This. Also, that is a lot of flags there o_a. DH and I had massively different opinions on a number of subjects when we met. But we both had open minds and a joy of debate. Over time (22 years!) we have come to the same conclusions on most social and political issues. I keep trying to come up with possible encouraging words that she may not be a hopeless neocon sheep, but I'm failing. If you enjoy her company, enjoy the friendship. But pass on the snogging.

Also, I agree that Carlin is genius, but I can't enjoy much of his work because of the language issue.

How old is she/how long has she been out of college? Because I did some *seriously* stupid shit in college that I'm not proud of now, and if that disqualified me as a potential long-term partner, I'd be living in a cave right now.

The age question is important. Our opinions are more likely to parrot our parents and immediate circle when we are younger. My boys are pinko progressive liberal Obama lovers because of my influence. I expect that they will form their own opinions in time. In fact I already see it starting.

The big issue for me would be how open she is to you holding different opinions. Intelligent debate can be lots of fun, but it can be tough to keep it polite and respectful.

The cheating thing is an integrity issue, and that's either there or not.

::sits with Vortex and the others on this bench::