To: Lane3 who wrote (20291 ) 8/1/2001 7:03:51 PM From: one_less Read Replies (1) | Respond to "Criteria number 1 for a standard is that it be measurable. You defined a bright line a few posts ago to which I affirmatively agreed with a simple "Yes" response. A certificate is not necessary but it is a helpful visual representation to authenticate the intent of the couple if authentication is important to the community Wrong. When I was four years old, (unlike you) I could not read, but I knew what reading was. I did not begin school until age 6 1/2 and this is where I began. At the end of first grade I did not think of my self as proficient in reading but I knew what that was. I could measure my position on and on throughout the educational process against the criteria called Reading. Now I am pretty good but I do look up words that I am not familiar with and then there are always other languages. I am not just ignoring the standard nor are most other people. When you make the standard a norm referenced standard then everyone who doesn't exactly match it is either a slut, or a prude against the standard and so most might choose to just ignore it. When you make it something that is criterian referenced and based on sound principle then everyone can check them selves against the standard, and if they see ways to improve toward the standard and they are motivated to do so, they will. I see benefits in measuring against the standard, I don't understand the rationale behind enforcing the standard. That is silly. There is no way to enforce many standards. You cannot usually stop murder for example. You can punish the perp after the fact but you can't enforce the rule not to commit murder. There are ways of dealing with behavior that offends or violates. If my sister in law has an adulterous affair with my neighbor, I certainly have recourse. In every situation involving persons who feel that there has been a breach of trust there are situational avenues including divorce, or shunning, etc. As a society we set standards that are legally enforceable such as the prohibition on prostitution. That does not eliminate the practice however. I am a horrible salesman as you may have noticed. Not interested. Yes...completely voluntary. However, can we have a standard that is clear and understood for persons to accept to some degree, or not. And call the behavior that falls in the "not" category "illicit." I've never been much of a critical mass kind of guy. "...it's the best you can hope for." Guess again. There is something to be said for marching to the tune of a different drummer too. That doesn't work for me either, however. I just don't like marching.
