Sin find it somewhat fascinating that that sign is basically designed to be plausibly deniable as an OK sign, and that displaying it in a less overt way sort of makes the message more clear.

Avery I was just reading about Merkel visiting Bush the younger in 2006. She lasted a long time compared to our people.

Yeah, we do not have term limits for chancellor, only for president, who can serve two terms at most. And experience and not rocking the boat are big pluses on the conservative side of the spectrum, so Adenauer, Kohl and Merkel each had long tenures of four terms each.

      Sin shows just how far US civil society has descended.

      Nah, the January 6, 2020 riots, when thugs invaded the Capitol Building, overpowered Capitol police, and chased the vice president and his guards into a bomb shelter is a better example.

        youdontknowme
        I am aware of the position of that office, however, I live in Switzerland not Germany. So giving - as you call it - a damn about who holds that office currently is from where I am perfectly OK. If I was living in Germany of course, I should know and care who is part of 'my' government.

            curious Yeah, only two reasons the world knows so much about about US leaders other than President and maybe Secretary of State is because the current dysfunctional situation has such global impacts and the internet can be very US-centric. I assume German speakers outside of Germany might be exposed to some of the bigger gaffes from our politicians, but all the stuff that works as expected gets fairly little attention.

            Meanwhile, I would assume that if you asked Americans about who the president of Germany is, the vast majority of responses wozld be empty or nonsensical, and almost everyone who did give a sensible response would name a current or former chancellor.

                youdontknowme
                My view on that is:
                Knowing how the political system and government in the most powerful / influential country on this planet works is part of general knowledge that I think everyone should have.
                Who is in a given position at a given point in time, is something completely different.
                It might or might not be relevant for a better understanding of the day to day political issues but is definitely not part of general knowledge that you would expect or at least hope everyone to have.

                  youdontknowme Only that I expect him to be a lot more partisan in the way he runs the house than her.

                  I once read that he would still remain majority leader, so it would be as if "Bundestagspräsident" and "Fraktionsvorsitzender" were the same person, then it is clear that he is more partisan.

                  youdontknowme but considering nobody gives a damn about who our president is when the chancellor handles most of the governing,

                  because both the president and the Bundestag president are purely representative offices in the public perception, but I can tell you that even 50% of Germans would not know if I asked who the Bundestag president is.

                  curious If I was living in Germany of course, I should know and care who is part of 'my' government.

                  it would be nice, most people don't even know which politicians are from which party.

                          7 days later

                          @Ines Re: "Useful links" - Very good post to have in this forum. Good job.

                          However I assume: "Anyone has right..." should be "No one has the right..."

                            Ines
                            Could you add my posting about German law. It helps to get a perspective on one's own situation and helps to put things in perspective.
                            link

                              @Avery I was finally able to take your advice RE the CellMate device.

                                bdsamm I was finally able to take your advice RE the CellMate device.

                                Excellent.

                                    Avery Yes, I had been in it long enough but, it is the most comfortable one except when the erection problem arises. So, I do miss it.

                                      Ines

                                      even if we don't always agree, i have to give you a big compliment here, it's good that you posted these links and that every user can find them easily 🙂

                                        5 days later

                                        Angelina it would be nice, most people don't even know which politicians are from which party.

                                        Which again is telling by itself.
                                        Parties in Germany are no longer the defining factor around politics. It seems rather pretty much all the same and only the degree of self-dealing and dishonesty varies.

                                        If politicians believe and act like there is one set of rules for them and a different one for ordinary people, the system is on it's way to failure. And I am afraid, I see exactly this development in Germany and even more so in the US.

                                            curious

                                            the problem is that many people vote only on the basis of sympathy. if someone does not seem friendly, he/she has almost no chance with the voters, even if he/she would fulfil the office well.

                                              6 days later

                                              @Kaja I don't know anything about Czech politics but Petr Pavel is pretty hot and I for one am glad the Silver Fox is dominating the news cycle! 💓

                                                2 months later

                                                Hi all ya all having fun yeah. Hope you're good.

                                                Ok so I'm sorry I don't really know what I'm saying here I'm just like feeling depressed about chastity - like it's not normal and everyone's having fun and I'm missing out. And I've tried just avoiding anything sexy and the horniness goes away but still - like I feel sad about it. It just worries me so much like I feel like I should give up on it but thinking that worries me.

                                                  Jen

                                                  Hi, Jen.
                                                  First of all, I am glad to have you around, even if I do not like what you tell us, get a ton of hugs from Europe.
                                                  I must tell you that to me what you tell happened to me in two moments, one after one or two years of starting to use the belt and the other last year, which was even one of the causes of my leaving the forum for a few months.

                                                  And what you relate and related to what you say is quite similar to what happened to me last year. I am very used to live with frustration, and I do not see it as a bad thing, that is precisely why we use the belt, and this frustration dissipated after more or less time, and nothing happened.
                                                  But last year it began to generate some heaviness, it happened to me as it did to you. The urgency would go away, but then I would feel bad for several days, thinking about everything.
                                                  It helped me to turn to my boyfriend, to open my mind and start doing certain things.
                                                  I see myself now and I was very taliban, obviously I do not see it well for a newly formed couple, but for one, of years, it is not bad that we take care of our boyfriend.
                                                  The belt is there to taint us with the pleasure of the flesh, but it ca not rob us of our mental well-being.
                                                  Watching him enjoy himself restored my self-esteem and made me enjoy myself immensely, even, ironically though the cravings grew exponentially.
                                                  I felt much better, more relaxed and the step we climbed in involvement as a couple, incredible.

                                                  I, of course, do not suggest anything, because that is absolutely dependent on your ethics and your state of mind.

                                                  If my experience does not help you, you should think, perhaps, to make a pause and see if after a time without a belt to be without it is better or worse.

                                                  A kiss. Cheer up, and let's see if we see you more here, @Jen