cereal:

So the gun debate is in large part urban/rural, ie, something of a class thing.

Jews in America aren't really part of the gun culture.

Then I guess my family was true to stereotype, whereas DH's was true to the rural life stereotype, since he grew up with guns and his side of the family has a bunch of gun enthusiasts. My FiL has a several rifles on a gun rack in his house, but I notice that neither of my kids is interested in it.

I went for an unexpected drive through the country today. I was trying to get to this environmental center where they have exhibits about local plants and wildlife, and a bird refuge. My GPS directed me somewhere completely wrong. I'm not entirely sure where I ended up, but getting there involved a whole lot of driving through several miles of farmland, followed by a clump of about 20 houses, a church, and a few trailers, and then back to farmland, repeated several times. Eventually the GPS had me turn off the paved road, and then, on a dirt road where all I could see were a house, a trailer, a couple of rusted-out cars, and a whole lot of trees, it said that I was at the environmental center. Well, I suppose that I could have learned something about plants there, but I wasn't sure whose land I was on, or whether I was allowed to be there, so I turned around and came home.

My guess is that's why the issue is so "hot:, Connie. Just one of our omnipresent divides.

So the gun debate is in large part urban/rural, ie, something of a class thing.

I am not sure we really have a "gun debate" in the full sense of the word. What we have (it seems to me) is that the gun manufacturers are trying to make (continue making) a shitload of $$. Their best way of dealing with that is to sell more and more guns to people.

1) Rural communities have a different set of problems than urban communities with respect to gun violence, but there are a lot of fatalities and injuries in rural communities as well. We just don't hear about them as much in mainstream media.

2) The vast majority of gun owners either are responsible or want responsible regulation. Something like 85% of NRA members. The crazy laws that are in force in many states are because of the fringe element who advocate arming (some) people to the teeth and not really promoting responsibility.

So, I was just in the large multi-stall restroom. The lady already there was obviously having an unhappy day. I did not see her, she did not see me. She left her stall, did her washing up, then headed to the door. She paused and said, "To whomever is in here, I'm sorry for the smell, but I can't help it," and was out the door.

As I understand Miss Manners, one just ignores the inevitable biological issues related to restrooms. If the lady hadn't scurried out, was I expected to reply? I wouldn't have, in any case.

There's nothing you could really say. I guess it's nice that she tried? I guess I might say "I'm sorry,", but then, am I the American woman who apologizes all the time? Am I drawing attention to a situation she'd rather forget?

As I understand Miss Manners, one just ignores the inevitable biological issues related to restrooms.

That's my take. Everybody poops, and from time to time, everyone has gastointestinal issues that are distressing, and unfortunately, sometimes those don't happen at home.

And really, what could you say? "It's all good, bro! Everybody poops!"

If the lady hadn't scurried out, was I expected to reply? I wouldn't have, in any case.

I think the response would be, "shit happens". Also, some courtesy flushes are nice, unless in serious drought water restriction area.

And really, what could you say? "It's all good, bro! Everybody poops!"

This should totally be the standard response henceforth.