So I'm Grabbing Some Cheese At The Grocery Store...

[JFN1]

...for grilled cheese and tomato soup (yumm!) for dinner tonight. I'm in a rather sagacious mood, one of those moods in which many things strike me as funny, when normally, they probably would not - which usually leads to many, many bad jokes issuing from my freely flapping gums.

At the checkout I am cheerfully greeted by a middle-aged woman, who scans my few items and pleasantly reports the total. As I am digging through my pocket for change, I notice a "Vote Newt" button on her shirt, peeking out from behind her checker's vest/smock/whatever the hell it is. I hand over my bills and change and almost - almost - ask her if she plans to vote for Mittens - I had a whole routine worked out, along classic "Who's on first?" lines. But somehow, with truly heroic effort, I manage to restrain myself and say nothing.

I grab my bag 'o groceries, and as I turn to leave, the checker calls over my shoulder, "Have a blessed evening!"

Sigh.

The words echo through my skull, and for some reason I instantly think about Tebow's "blessed" football season, and the bible verse he had displayed as part of his uniform in Denver's last (losing) game of the season (ah, the hilarious irony...).

For the record - I am not against anyone having their religion. Really. I do, however, resent having someone else's religion jammed down my throat - I don't like being used in that way. It bugs me. A lot.

And given my mood (smart-ass meter off the scale), before I can muster the discipline to stop myself, I turn, smile broadly at the woman as I catch her eyes, and say, sweetly, "And Satan be with you," then turn, groceries in hand, and head out the door.

As I am leaving, the woman, in a voice decidedly not so pleasant now, loudly calls after me, "What did you say?" And then just as loudly and even more unpleasantly, I hear her ask someone else (I don't know who), "Did you hear what he just said to me?" I am trying so hard not to giggle out loud as I hit the parking lot. Almost made it, too...

I know...I know...and even if I regret the immaturity and lack of discipline which allowed it...man, that was freakin' fun...the look on her face...priceless...I know, I'm so bad...I wonder if she'll be praying for me tonight...

[provis99]

1. may Thor's Mighty Hammer strike you mercilessly!

you've been naughty!

[MattBaggins]

284. Jesus promised to smite the wicked. Odin promised to smite the frost giants.

Seen any frost giants lately?

[Tyrs WolfDaemon]

321. One of my favorite pics from the intertubes

[MADem]

2. Poor woman.

That she's stupid is a given--the Newt button tells you that. On top of that, she works a low-wage job and relies on her faith to sustain her.

She's probably a Tebow fan, too...and cannot understand why Jesus keeps betting on the Patriots.

[roguevalley]

19. telling someone to have a blessed day is not evil. this is sad to me.

she didn't do anything to anyone. so she's for newt. She has the right. She didn't have the right to have her nice comment crammed down her throat. This is just sad.

[emilyg]

31. It is sad, So little

tolerance in this thread.

[Drahthaardogs]

97. Aye.

I always thought sagacious meant shrew and cunning, all I see is wicked-tongued meanness and ridicule of ideas not mutually shared. Just because you are being hateful to things you oppose (like Tebow or God bless you) does not make the hatred any less repugnant.

[PassingFair]

126. He didn't tell her to *uck off or anything. Jeez.

He returned a cheerful salutation.

I REALLY don't see where the "wickedp-tongued meaness and ridicule" comes into it.



Care to explain?

[Drahthaardogs]

188. It was a nasty retort to someone wishing them a good evening.

It is puerile and the whole point was for shock value, not "returned a cheerful salutation"as you stated. Do you really believe that?

[piedmont]

234. As an agnostic, I know that audibly wishing Satan to be with a Christian is a really nasty deed.

It was an over-the-top insult to a person who was genuinely trying to be pleasant.

[PassingFair]

236. Ahem. People on this thread are claiming...

that this is NOT a Christian blessing.

And SO WHAT if the mere mention of another religion is "an over the top insult" to a "Christian"?



Pfffflllttt!

[piedmont]

249. The Satan character is very much a part of her religion and the OP knew it.

Furthermore, unless the OP is in fact a Satanist, he wasn't wishing her well with the same sincerity she had wished him. He was wishing her bogeyman upon her.

I don't fucking care what her religion is. If someone tells me they hope their god gives me a really good day, I'll take it as a sign that person wishes me well, and in return I'll try my best not to be a total dick to them for their trouble.

["And SO WHAT if the mere mention of another religion is "an over the top insult" to a "Christian"? ]
So he was being an asshole-- that's so what. He came here looking for other assholes to brag to and he found a few.

Goodbye.

[PassingFair]

251. I said Good Day Sir!

There are no Bogeymen.

Maybe YOU don't care if someone goes around invoking their gods to
rain supernatural shields of protection over you, but it makes me uncomfortable.

If the person had said "...and Allah (the one and only god) blesses YOU!"
to that
woman, would THAT have been out of line?

[piedmont]

253. You stole Fizzylifting drinks...You get NOTHING!

If the person had said "...and Allah (the one and only god) blesses YOU!"
to that
woman, would THAT have been out of line?

If that person was a Muslim, it would be creeping into boorishness, but at least it would be a genuine blessing. An atheist saying just to get his jollies for the day is WEAK SAUCE. If he really didn't want her to wish him a blessed day he could have just said so in any of a hundred better ways.

It really doesn't matter if he was out of line or not. The OP is the one who will have to deal with the consequences of his actions. The next time he goes in that store they may act differently toward him, probably not for the better. And if he avoids going there because of it that's pretty sad-- he's shut himself off from a public place because the lowest ranking person there told him the equivalent of "goodbye." And now he's posted about it here, and some of us have him on our "might be an asshole" lists.

[PassingFair]

256. Or maybe the clerk will think twice before consecrating helpless shoppers.

That would be the positive result!

As I said, if I were regularly assailed with conjurings from
the supermarket staff, I'd go elsewhere.

Doesn't drive me up a wall, but I just find it irritating.

[MADem]

298. Consecrating? Oh please. Have a little more hyperbole on the side! nt

[Dorian Gray]

330. Consecrating?

For real?

She said the equivalent of "Have a nice day." She dared to use the word blessed. Big whoop. It's not like she said: May you follow in the path of Jesus and do unto others as He would have done" then splashed him with holy water.

[PassingFair]

333. Look, I wasn't there.

But I don't like it when someone says "Have a Blessed Day".

It grates me.

It makes me less likely to return.

If I wanted "Blessings", I would go to a church.

I realize that among Southerners and African-Americans
that the words are used so often that people don't really
register them.

I'm neither southern, nor a church-going African American.

Say "Have a Blessed Day" if you want.

Just realize that it turns some people off.

And if you don't care about that, that's fine.

[Dorian Gray]

337. Like I said in my other response

I don't use that language. It would be strange for me to. It's not natural for me.

[PassingFair]

340. It's probably not "natural" for any non-church goers ...and MOST church-goers.

Here's a blog discussing this issue.

It's funnier than the discussion here.

http://thesecularity.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=468

[lunasun]

235. how was the reply hateful??/? becuz you equal Satan with hate???

shows the bias right up front when one decides mentioning Satan is 'hateful' from the get go but God bless you is 'good' always...........

[PassingFair]

238. +1

[randome]

240. Intentions count.

[Drahthaardogs]

283. The reply was hateful because..

The OP specifically noted that he was sagacious (although it is evident he does NOT know how to use the word) and feeling like quite the "smartass". He did it to be hateful and try to hurt that woman. Sorry, badgering grocery clerks who are wishing you well is a nasty, spiteful, hateful thing to do and serves no purpose other than being mean.

[JFN1]

339. Uh...

I do know how to use "sagacious" - it is possible to be sagcious and in good humor and be a smart ass, all at the same time. Are you sure you know how to use it yourself?

And I was not feeling "mean" when I made my comment, there was no hate in my heart then, or now.

I acknowledge my reply was smart-assed; I acknowledge it was immature.

However, I did not choose to be used by this woman and her need to be publically sanctimonious - and I responded to her selfishness, with a blast of my own. Seems the score is even, to me...so tell me - in what way is it not?

[Drahthaardogs]

343. No, you don't know how to use the word.

sagacious definition = having or based on a profound knowledge and good judgment

sagacious synonyms = wise, astute, perceptive, erudite, knowledgeable, intelligent, learned, discerning, perspicacious, sapient, prudence, farsightedness, judicious, insightfu, shrewd

sagacious antonyms = foolish, silly, unwise, imprudent, thoughtless, irrational, stupid, rash, reckless
derisible

So you see, your behavior (by your admission smart-assed and immature) falls into the antonym of the meaning of the word; but hey, thanks for playing!

[JFN1]

357. Except that I did use it correctly.

Though I was not expecting an English test when I wrote it, perhaps the word I should have used (with necessary changes to sentence stucture) is "perspicacity," as I felt very connected to my world, and had enjoyed some small victories that day requiring insight and good judgement in the use of that insight - which had me feeling positive about myself (which tends to put me in good humor) and confident as I walked into the store. My sagaciousness (or perspicacity, if that meets your approval) was replaced by irritation, leading to my smart-assed comment. Or is it not possible, in your estimation, for a mood to change (and thus related behavior to change) based upon environmental stimuli?

Perhaps if I had been indulging in a little colposinquanonia instead of being a smart ass, I would not be dealing with your exsibilation...or did I accidently cause you to suffer a brief bout of hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia? So sorry, if I did...!!

Or perhaps...perhaps you are just a philosophunculist. I have to wonder, given your autohagiographic tendencies...etc...

[Drahthaardogs]

359. Google is your friend eh?

I guess it is better than "yumm" though.

[cleanhippie]

314. +100000

Christian bias...it's whats for dinner.

[MADem]

49. It was what most would view as unnecessary snark.

It says more about the other person than the cashier--he was threatened by her blessing, so he had to come back with a put-down.

That said, the woman wasn't too bright, poor dear. She will need that faith of hers, because Newt ain't gonna give her crap-all.

[roguevalley]

106. agreed. sad isn't it.

[Lilyeye]

59. I totally agree with you

She may be supporting a total jerk, but she didn't deserve the snarky comment. Its not as though she was rude or made ridiculous right-wing/fundie comments. I don't see how saying have a blessed night is cramming religion down somebody's throat.

[PassingFair]

130. I'll take Satan over Newt.

And really, what is snarky or rude about his comment?

"and say, sweetly, "And Satan be with you."

[justiceischeap]

73. Just curious, if the OP were a Satanist, would you have a problem with his comment?

Let's reverse the situation. Say he's the one working at the store and after the woman is done checking out he says with all sincerity, "May Satan be with you," how would you feel about that? I'd bet someone would raise hell about it, attempt to get him fired, etc.

There's a reason, once upon a time ago, it was considered impolite maybe even impolitic to discuss religion, sex and politics in "polite" company. You never know what kind of hornets nest you'd stir up by doing so.

Some of us are tired of the constant implication that you can't have a good, wholesome life without that Jesus guy. If anything, the prevalence of Jesus everywhere has actually made things worse for our society, not better.

Believe what you want to believe, I'm all for that, but please, please, please allow me the peace to go to the store and not have some person force me to either politely put up with their beliefs, or allow me the freedom to say what I want back without being judged for it because they are afforded the same freedom.

[B Calm]

76. Eloquent reply!!

[SammyWinstonJack]

78. !!!

[siligut]

84. I agree

Thank you for being a voice of reason.

[roguevalley]

102. ffor justiceischeap: maybe they would but not me. I don't care. I had a near death experience

and I know that the only thing that matters is trying to be good to one another. I don't have to always have the last word and I don't think mocking someone who had offered their best wishes is a good thing. We have become so uncivil that it creates so much pain everywhere. I try and imagine the unknown about people. Is someone in their family dying of cancer? Is there a drunk ruling the house? Are they losing their home? How can I pile on one more piece of awful when they only said be well and happy?

The 'Jesus guy' is pretty wonderful. Get a bible and read only the red words. These other people's interpretations are not based on him. They are ego projections and covers for hatred and personal bias. If people actually did half of what Jesus suggested this world would actually be a good place. I do recall Jesus saying if someone strikes you, offer the other cheek. This OP didn't even have a reason to say that to her, Newt button notwithstanding. She didn't offer anything but good to him. She didn't force any belief. She said be well and good. That remark could be Wiccan too.

Go, be rude then. Ignore things that don't matter. I have never had anyone say anything to me at the check out point but kind things. This wasn't religious. Its almost completely secular now. She didn't mention Jesus at all. But in her own way, telling someone she hopes he's well and happy, she was the better person.

She didn't judge him. He judged her.

[white_wolf]

185. Some of Jesus's words are good.

However, the part where he tells you to love him more than your family sounds like something I'd expect to hear from a cult leader.

[roguevalley]

259. I doubt, white wolf that he would say that. Paul is the one who created

the christ. Jesus was just a rabbi teaching us to love each other.

[white_wolf]

265. I agree, Paul was a very bad influence on Christianity.

However, the part I'm talking about are from the Gospels. Matthew 10:37: "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;" Granted, Jesus may have not actually spoken those words, but we really don't know what he said. So much has been lost or distorted.

[MattBaggins]

285. But you said to read only the red words

as if those are actually his words and not what someone else says he said.

[RainDog]

319. actually, there are hundreds of different existing versions of the four gospels

and they have more differences, more errors from scribal translations, than all the words of the gospels put together.

and they were written a hundred years after anyone who lived during Jesus' time. all these variations - hundreds of years later.

and they were written in Greek, not Aramaic.

and they claim different ancestors for Jesus.

and they claim that different things happened.

and, scholars know, some parts were added long after they were translated.

these things are not disputed by anyone who is a reputable scholar.

therefore, it's simply best for people of faith to take the parts that talk about inclusion and caring for others who are different and recognize that there is no way the bible is in any way a "faithful" document about a person who existed long before anything was written about him.

[sabrina 1]

191. Beautiful post, roguevalley, thank you!

[MADem]

111. You can over-work the phrase "bless you" too, you know.

Who's doing the blessing? Why MUST it be Jesus? Why can't it be Aunt Fanny?

"Bless you" is just a generic expression wishing someone well unless you start naming Jesus, Mary and Joseph and all the Saints.

The whole interaction was just shitty, IMO. No winners. A bad day for humanity in the corner of a supermarket.

[Kellerfeller]

159. If it is a genuine gesture of good will,

instead of just being an ass, then it is fine.

It was a gesture of good will on her part, not his.

[DeschutesRiver]

190. Agree,completely. nt

nt

[lunasun]

237. What you said

[MADem]

299. That's not a reversal, though--your "example" is a false reverse-representation of the OP's

encounter.

If the lady had said "May Jesus (or the more generic 'LORD') bless you" then you would have a point. But she didn't invoke a deity at all.

For all you know, she might have been invoking the blessing of George Washington or Casper the Fucking Friendly Ghost.

If you call what that lady said "forcing" you to "put up with" their religion, you are way too sensitive. You probably need to send someone out to do your errands for you, because you are going to meet people of all walks of life, of all sorts of beliefs, living their little lives in their own little ways, if you move about in the real world, and I can promise you, if you interact with people, you are bound to be offended early and often.

You know, I think a lot of these piercings the young kids wear are hideous--the shit in the nose with the snot crust around it, the insane grommets the size of a pie plate in people's ears--I think they are supremely ugly and they do not meet with "my" standard of taste or style. That said, I don't run around wagging my finger at people who enjoy that fashion, though--I just think "Well, that's their stupid choice--ugly ass shit, but they live with it--not me." I don't feel a need to tell them that my sight is offended, I can put that aspect of their being to one side, and feel fortunate that I didn't make the same horrific fashion choice (not that I would at my age, but nonetheless). I take the same view towards people who make other stupid choices, religious, or otherwise. See, I don't spend my life trying to control or "correct" the conduct of others. I buy my groceries, say "Have a nice day" and move on--even if the cashier has something in their conduct and personality that doesn't meet "my" standard. Did I get the right change? I'm a happy camper.

You go to an Islamic home, and when you leave, some devout granny will grab a Qu'ran and wave it over your head, pleading with Allah to keep you safe on your journey. You're going to tell her she's an asshole too, because she doesn't believe what you believe?



Where I get irritated is when government starts subsidizing the proselytization of religion. Near as I can tell, the government isn't subsidizing supermarkets or the wages of cashiers, so no issue here, as far as I am concerned.

What ever happened to Live and Let Live?

[Gormy Cuss]

96. Her "nice comment" should be grounds for being disciplined if not fired.

If she greeted the OP on the street with that comment I'd agree with you, but when working it's wholly inappropriate to make that comment unless one works for a religious organization. Still, it's up to the management to set that limit, not the customer.

So what is the customer's duty? Is the customer required to accept the comment with editorializing? Is the customer supposed to acknowledge it with a positive gesture like smiling? It is immature to say something snarky but the cashier put the customer in an awkward position by assuming that her greeting would be welcomed. Perhaps if more customers gave her negative feedback she'd figure out that what seems like a nice comment to her is off-putting to others.

[roguevalley]

109. wow. fired? Really? I am stunned at the idea that wishing

someone well came to this. Fire an old woman who probably is working when she wants to be retired but can't, maybe supports a disabled husband or kid and wishes someone well using perfectly normal and probably regionally inspired language. WTF?

[Gormy Cuss]

132. Yes, fired. If I greeted customers that way that is exactly what would have happened.

As others have noted, most companies strive to have customer service that won't offend customers. It's the reason most businesses won't let their employees say "Merry Christmas" unless the customer says it first.
"Have a blessed evening" would be interpreted by most as having a nonsecular meaning. It's not equivalent to "Have a nice day." It's more like "Hope the deity blesses you this evening."

That old woman who needs her job wouldn't say "Have a blessed day" if the management told her to not to do so.

[Kellerfeller]

163. PC nonsense

How the heck do you know what definition she was using?

I don't assume to put a deity behind everything a person says. When someone says they created something, do you think they beleive they are a god? After your response, I'm really not sure.

Blessed means ": of or enjoying happiness; specifically : enjoying the bliss of heaven —used as a title for a beatified person : bringing pleasure, contentment, or good fortune "

Anyone who gets upset at that being wished upon them is a moron in my book.

[LAGC]

200. Your Christian privilege is showing, dear.

Oh, and welcome to DU.

[Gormy Cuss]

202. Enjoying the bliss of heaven, and you think there's no deity implied?

A beatified person, and no deity is implied?

So it's not "PC nonsense" but actually based on a dictionary definition of the term. Thanks.

[sabrina 1]

192. Wow, have someone fired for wishing a complete stranger well?

I hope as a society we never come to such a point that our thoughts would be a reason to be fired.

[Dash Riprock]

101. I think she deserves everything she got.

Put the shoe on the other foot. If she was the customer and the cashier told her "May Allah bless you" she would probably have a fit and either go to management or confront the cashier. She should have just kept her mouth shut do her job. I don't go into a grocery store to be proselytize to.

[roguevalley]

103. none of those comments were offered. Just a generic be happy and well. God, fire someone over

wishing someone well is fucked. Jesus wasn't mentioned and all the vitriol here is from others, not her. She just said be happy and well. Sad.

[PassingFair]

133. The vitriol is from YOU. Because you apparently have a problem with...

S-A-T-A-N.




You take yourself far too seriously, and you expect others
to say only what you think is appropriate.

[roguevalley]

258. atually, i just expect manners from people and apparently

you have lower expectations. I don't take myself seriously at all. Have a good day. Generic enough for your judgemental self?

[PassingFair]

260. I have no expectations at all.

And yes, "Have a good day" is lovely.

Thank you!

[quakerboy]

267. Generic?

Hardly.

The response would definitely go down as snarky, even rude or uncalled for.

However, the response was in no way generic, even if a specific god was not invoked in words.

[MADem]

116. But see--she didn't mention ALLAH, or Jesus, or Buddha, or Satan, or Aunt Fanny.

She just said "Have a blessed evening." What if she said "Have an anointed evening?"

You're making an assumption that the only "blessings" come from a Judeo-Christian-Islamic construct, and that's an uninformed POV.

You're probably extrapolating that opinion because she was wearing a Newt button, but for all you know, she could have intended that blessing to come from the core of her OWN being. No way to know without asking her, really.

If you think that her silly little remark was "proselytizing" you are a very sensitive person, indeed.

[Kellerfeller]

161. She didn't say a thing about any god. She said blessed.

blessed: : of or enjoying happiness; specifically : enjoying the bliss of heaven —used as a title for a beatified person

: bringing pleasure, contentment, or good fortune

So yes, I can see how people could get themselves all upset about it. Really stupid and overdramatic people.

[PassingFair]

223. Nice try.

bless·ed
   
adjective
1.
consecrated; sacred; holy; sanctified: the Blessed Sacrament.
2.
worthy of adoration, reverence, or worship: the Blessed Trinity.
3.
divinely or supremely favored; fortunate: to be blessed with a strong, healthy body; blessed with an ability to find friends.
4.
blissfully happy or contented.
5.
Roman Catholic Church . beatified.



You are the poster child for "really stupid and overdramatic".

[Kellerfeller]

289. I'm not sure what dictionary you are using but Webster

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blessed

defines it as:

a : held in reverence : venerated b : honored in worship : hallowed c : beatific

Clearly not the one being used unless she was hoping the OP would be worshipped. Possible, but not hardly likely.

: of or enjoying happiness; specifically : enjoying the bliss of heaven —used as a title for a beatified person
We'll come back to that one.


: bringing pleasure, contentment, or good fortune

Most likely. And no mention of any god.

—used as an intensive <never had one blessed minute of instruction — Charles Scribner Jr.>

Unlikely unless she got a vibe from the OP as to what a jerk he was and was making a subtle dig.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heaven


1: the expanse of space that seems to be over the earth like a dome : firmament —usually used in plural

2: a often capitalized : the dwelling place of the Deity and the blessed dead b : a spiritual state of everlasting communion with God

3: capitalized : god 1

4: a place or condition of utmost happiness
5: Christian Science : a state of thought in which sin is absent and the harmony of divine Mind is manifest


The happiness part is very likely, given the context. 2 and 3 (the ones that mention any god) are not appropriate since 'heaven' wasn't capitalized in the definition.

The only way you can associate her comment to religion is if you stretch the definition or use use a less trusted dictionary like Dictionary.com and ignore the 4th and 6th definitions. So, do you know the cashier's definition of blessed?

[PassingFair]

292. This is not the cherry-picked definition you used before.

You are just proving my point.

It is a religious benediction.

[Kellerfeller]

294. It is the same definition

I just included the irrelevant ones as well and this time spelled out why they are irrelevant.

Or do you believe the cashier was wishing the OP would be worshiped?

Goodbye

Oh wait!! I can't use that. After all, it was created as a contraction for "God be with ye"!!

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=good-bye&searchmode=none

[PassingFair]

316. You are funny.

"...just included the irrelevant ones as well..."




Good bye indeed.

[Shining Jack]

273. I find it ironic...

That you come here and call people "morons" and "stupid" when your definition of blessed is totally inaccurate. (See post 223).

[Kellerfeller]

290. Wrong

See post 289.

Oh noes!!! The Bible also has page 289!! I must clearly be making a subtle to the Bible as well!

At least for people who try to read religion into everything so they can take offense to it.

[Shining Jack]

318. Most of your posts in this thread are very aggressive and some of them are also incoherent.

Calling everyone who disagree with you "stupid", "morons" and at last resort saying to someone to go to hell is very telling. You've been a member for less than a month, with this kind of attitude you probably won't be here for long.

[Kellerfeller]

324. It was sardonic

As I pointed out to the poster it was directed at, it was also supposed to be ironic considering the poster considered it an appropriate response to someone who sends well wishes their way.

[Shining Jack]

326. Sardonic?

I presume that you're talking about your "Go to Hell (nt)" comment. It took you an hour to add something that was attempting to make it look sardonic.

"I can see how people could get themselves all upset about it. Really stupid and overdramatic people."

"Anyone who gets upset at that being wished upon them is a moron in my book."

Nothing sarcastic here, insulting people with broad brush strokes is not funny in my book.

[Kellerfeller]

342. You are correct

I was talking about the original remark. And you are also, oh so observant that I waited to give more explanation behind it until I received a response. But that was my intent all along. Just as the OP shouldn't have with the cashier, you shouldn't presume to know my intentions upon the initial interaction. If I had waited a day or two for a response, it would have been the same.

Yes, I did lump all of those people into categories. That was my intent. If someone does get upset at another wishing them well, they are indeed a moron in my opinion. I stand by that. It's not a terribly broad brush. It was pretty specific. I guess I could have added some gender, hair color, or race qualifiers on it as well but those things don't matter to me. Fortunately, I am not here to entertain you.

And yes, sometimes I am light-hearted, mostly I am unemotional when I post, and sometimes I am aggressive. I simply do not suffer bullies and will respond to them with contempt. If you don't like that or if it hurts your feelings when people respond meanly to bullies, there is always the ignore feature that you are free to use at any time.

[Shining Jack]

351. "Fortunately, I am not here to entertain you."

That's a shame because I was finding you very entertaining but unfortunately I'm beginning to be bored by your broken record. Enjoy your stay.

[Kellerfeller]

354. "Enjoy your stay."

Odd thing to say when someone moves in.

[vaberella]

108. Agreed. You'd think liberals of all people would respect "to each his own." n/t

[BOHICA12]

263. +1 Thanks

[surfdog]

144. She worships a god that wants me murdered

She deserves a zero respect on the issue of religion

[MADem]

149. How do you know that? The answer is, you don't.

For all you know, she was offering the blessing of the Great Spirit, the Flying Spaghetti Monster or the Ghost of Liberace. For all you know, if she even was a "Christian" she could have been one of those Unitarian, All In This Together, Happy-Glad types.

She never mentioned Jesus, God, Allah or a single saint. She didn't associate her "blessing" with any Bigwig Power. So why are you making such prejudiced assumptions about her beliefs, ASSUMING she worships an angry, hateful deity, without evidence? I should think a progressive such as you purport to be would be sensitive to presumptions and prejudices about people, and not make assumptions as to her beliefs without evidence.

Zero respect? Look in the mirror. Hate can be a two way street.

[surfdog]

165. I see your point and it's valid

But let's be honest now

[MADem]

170. Well, people make assumptions about me all the time that are simply not true.

When they come from a place of uninformed stereotyping without malice, I don't mind. When someone's lazily assuming the worst about me, I don't care for it.

You just never know. All politics is local, too--that woman's son could be Newt's gardener, or something, and that's why she supports him; because she wants her son to have a better life.

Until you get into someone's head, you simply can't assume with any authority.

In any event, that lady was at the lower end of the pecking order--who's she gonna hurt in her crappy minimum-wage job? We pity people like that, not excoriate them.

One day she'll see the light--when she needs some of that Obamacare, because her employer isn't giving her any!

[sabrina 1]

193. Nice post, thank you! n/t

[PassingFair]

224. "We pity people like that..."

Nice.

I can tell.

[MADem]

304. Of course you can--you've been so "on the mark" thus far in this conversation. nt

[lunasun]

242. I am already assuming alot by your comments about low wage workers!!!! wow just wow

[MADem]

247. Well, don't be coy, now--if you have something to say, say it. nt

[surfdog]

169. And by the way...

What's wrong with saying "and may Satan be with you" ?

[MADem]

172. It didn't come from a good place, is what's wrong with it.

It wasn't "And you have a nice day too"--it was "F you, B Word whose religious views I am assuming without evidence that you have are not congruent with mine."

But you already know that.

[LAGC]

201. Judging by the lady's negative reaction to his words...

I don't think it takes much assuming to figure her religious views out.

[MADem]

207. So, you first have to insult her in order to "think" you know what her views are?

She might have just thought the guy was telling her, generically, in one of those "generic blessing" ways, to go to hell.

Amazing, how much trouble people think it's OK to go through to prove what they believe is a pissy little point to a minimum wage cashier. I imagine the 'power rush' is just so frigging exciting...



I will state decisively that I think this kind of behavior is both intolerant and the complete opposite of progressive. I can't imagine anyone being proud of themselves for this sort of conduct.

[LAGC]

210. When someone goes out of their way to insert religious verbiage in non-religious settings...

They shouldn't be surprised or offended when others respond in turn.

Sorry, I just fail to see the outrage here.

[MADem]

216. I too, fail to see the outrage, at a word as generic as "blessed."

What I see is rank immaturity and behavior that I think makes the perpetrator of the smackdown look petty.

So, if someone says "Heavens to Betsy" are you going to have a cow, too?

How about "Heavens to Murgatroid!"

No cartoons for you!

[MichaelMcGuire]

147. Pretty much my first thought

[liberalhistorian]

222. Totally agree and I had to make my own comment

on it downthread. I see nothing wrong or "intolerant" in what she said and the OP was the one who was rude.

[annabanana]

252. Don't you have to be holy to bestow blessings?

I didn't think it was up to ordinary people.

[roguevalley]

257. no. you just have to be nice. and my last name is Bishop

[HangOnKids]

274. So Is Mine! Nice to meet you Bishop n/t

[roguevalley]

323. awesome! Nice to meet you back, honey. :)

[Skip Intro]

270. I agree. nt

[Chan790]

275. Some of us do find it offensive.

And I found his response to be amusing. I see nothing but a mutual sharing of tidings in respective belief systems.

An important lesson in life: "If you don't want your personal closely-held beliefs mocked, belittled or questioned; hold them close and don't share them."

Blessed, my ass.

[emilyg]

32. I'm sure many people

think wearing an Obama button is pretty stupid. I bet she relies on her paycheck to sustain her.

[MADem]

46. I can feel sorry for her and still think she's stupid.

Obama button? You've got a hope in hell that he'll be concerned with social programs like equality, health care, pay parity, things of that nature, that would affect a cashier working for at or near minimum wage.

Newt button? He'll exhort you to send him a donation, and then use the money to pay his Tiffany's bill!

Newt's the kind of guy that wouldn't hand the roll of toilet paper under the stall wall to help a distressed fellow crapper out. Too much effort for him.

All that said, I don't think bothering stupid people is necessary or helpful. It's certainly not a challenge.

[ThomThom]

83. she shouldn't be wearing the button at work even sort of hidden

if you are in retail alienating customers is not good business

[MADem]

90. Yep, but that's, again, just stupid, not criminal.

Maybe her boss is a Newt-wit, and she's sucking up.

[roguevalley]

105. nobody here cares, emilyg. they're venting their prejudices. they talk about

vented prejudices and here they are doing the same thing. No one is considering that the woman was nice and wished someone well. They're praising borish behavior. We've gone through the looking glass. We are as uncivil as we deserve.

[MADem]

119. Wow, that's a bit of a broad brush, there. nt

[roguevalley]

128. you're right. Some here do that. Sorry.

[emilyg]

155. Borish behavior - and the op

seems proud.

[arely staircase]

40. i don't care for the patriots

but who am i to judge how god smites tim tebow?

[murielm99]

3. That could have been a Wiccan greeting.

It is a greeting and a farewell in that religion.

[JFN1]

9. Could have been...

but probably was not. Small town, rural Illinois, 27 churches in a town of 7,000 people...not a temple or mosque or anything other than Christian at all...we have farms and coal mines, though...lots of those...and deer hunters, like everywhere...

[Goblinmonger]

11. I hear the Wiccan lobby is strongly behind Newt n/t

[icymist]

13. Of course she's a witch! She turned me into a newt!

.... I got better.

[Goblinmonger]

14. I'm an awesome straight man aren't I?

I lobbed that right out there and you hit it out of the park.

[skamaria]

197. nt

They just want his eyes.

[WhoIsNumberNone]

12. I doubt she's a Wiccan if she's voting for the Gingrich

Last edited Sat Jan 28, 2012, 06:12 PM - Edit history (1)

Also I don't think that's their exact phrase. Way back in the before time I used to correspond with this Wiccan chick, and she would end every email with 'Blessed be'. Maybe it's not set in stone, but I always gathered that was the Wiccan phrase.

Any Wiccans want to set the record straight?

[Kellerfeller]

164. You doubt, but you don't know

And ultimately it doesn't matter.

The bottom line is that she was wishing the OP well and he responded like an ass.

[Aristus]

21. The Wiccan greeting is "Blessed be."

A little different from the banalities uttered by the types of people who pepper their speech with "Thank the Lord"s and "Praise God"s; almost as if they hope to overwhelm you with their demonstrative piety.

[murielm99]

27. I do know this, Aristus.

I have quite a few Wiccan friends.

I was just being mildly snarky.

I don't find the checker's comments any more offensive than, "Have a nice day," or "Good morning."

I guess we all have different thresholds of tolerance.

If the checker had forced religious pamphlets on me or asked me if I accepted Jesus, or any other religious leader, I would not have liked it. The grocery store is not the right place for that.

[Hatchling]

295. Merry meet and welcome be. Merry part and Blessed be.

This is how I was taught.

[cherokeeprogressive]

4. That shit NEVER happens to me.

I guess I go to the wrong grocery stores...

[metalbot]

5. Exactly. She was just jamming that religion down your throat

Next time someone says "bless you" after you sneeze, you can use the same response...

Would you have done the same thing if she'd had an Obama button on her shirt?

[JSnuffy]

75. HA.. Bless you.. @#$ your mother...

[brewens]

6. I have a buddy that likes to wear a Miroslav Satan jersey.

Satan is an NHL right wing (of course he is). Man was I jealous when I saw that! Why didn't I think of that?

[Motown_Johnny]

7. So, just how high were you?

and FYI, My standard response to that type of thing is "Thanks but I have other plans".

[dana_b]

28. lol - I like that one.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

8. Have a blessed day doesn't bother me

I just see it as someone wishing me well in their own way.

And working a low wage job doesn't make someone stupid (not in the OP, just one of the responses.)

[emilyg]

30. Thank you. There

are times when I say "Have a Blessed Day."

[etherealtruth]

85. It doesn't bother me, either

Wish me well in any manner you choose. While we're at it, wish me to have a Happy Holiday [insert the holiday of your choice].

[RebelOne]

93. Doesn't bother me either. I am an atheist, but I just let slide.

I live in North Georgia, where there is a church on every block, and at least once a week a check-out person will wish me a blessed day. I usually just say "same to you."

[etherealtruth]

94. This comes up routinely here ...

Years ago I read a response (on DU) that was perfect. I no longer remember who the poster was. They simply stated in response to one of these threads:

I'm an atheist not an a$$-hole.

I thought it was perfect!

[roguevalley]

110. awesome reply.

[roguevalley]

112. happy birthday, darling :)

[etherealtruth]

115. Thank you!!!

My dear mother has made me a wonderful birthday cake with a huge "50" on it

[PassingFair]

157. It bothers me.

It doesn't ruin my day or anything.

It's just grating. What does it mean? Does this person actually
believe that they are conferring "blessings" upon me?
Do they have superpowers?
Or are they HOPING that I will be "blessed"? By whom?
I don't trust them, either way.

If someone I don't know leaves a message on my phone
and ends it with "Have a blessed day!", I wouldn't call them
back unless I had to.

It's off-putting to me, and if I was habitually hailed this way
by clerks, I'd find somewhere else to shop.

And THAT'S bad business.

[Kellerfeller]

167. Would you prefer

she tell you to have a sh*tty day or F-off and die?

You said "Or are they HOPING that I will be "blessed"? By whom? I don't trust them, either way. "

Why does it have to be by anyone? It can easily be by fate or the randomness of life.

The responses on this thread really disgust me.

We've got a woman who wishes a person well and a bunch of people who would also get offended and cheer the OP responding as an ass.

And then we are surprised that there is so much rudeness and incivility in society. It boggles the mind of the cognitive disconnect needed to take that position.

[PassingFair]

217. You are the one who is getting bent out of shape here.

"The responses on this thread really disgust me."

And NO, I would not prefer that "she tell me to have a shitty day or F-Off and die".

Why is it either/or?

Why can't she just say "Have a nice day", and leave it at that?

As I said, it doesn't UPSET me, but I find it irritating.

I am NOT surprised that there is so much rudeness and incivility in society when
it has been CLEARLY illustrated that it bothers some people (including me) to be given
religious blessings, and people (like you) don't care.

[Hatchling]

296. Why can't she just say "Thank you for shopping at (insert store name here)?

Even "Have a nice day" can be intrusive sometimes.

[christx30]

361. To me it's like

Someone saying "Have a nice day" and the responce to them being "Fu*k off and DIE!!!" or "Don't tell me what to do."
There is absolutely no reason for it. I don't have any religious beliefs. I get along well with Christians and Jews and Muslims and any others. Jehovah's Witnesses some times irritate me, like when I'm at a playground with my kids on my one weekend a month being able to see them. But I do not get nasty wtih anyone. I'm pleasent, and I say "No thanks" and it's done. Yes they are proselytizing. That's part of their faith. They believe in bringing others into the fold. And it can be irritating, but it's not anything bad directed at you.
But the thing with the OP was totally uncalled for, and is actually pretty damning to the cause. How I think they would see it, they offered a word of kindness to a stranger, and that stranger responded with hatred. They will remember this person. They will pray for this person, and speak about them at church and to their friends.
Do you really want that to be the impression you leave with people?
The great thing about this country is that you can say anything you want. You don't have to be an atomaton. But the reverse is that you have to tolerate hundreds of other political and religious differences. Not everyone is going to like Obama. Not everyone is going to be athiest, Wiccan, or agnostic. That doesn't make them stupid. It doesn't mean that they want to kill you for being liberal or gay. Some of them might be actually the "Love thy neighbor" Christian. But if you shun and denigrate every person that throws blessings around, it will poison their view, and make the world a little worse place to live.

[snagglepuss]

262. Unless it's regional, people only began using this phrase in the last 10 or 15 years

if that long. I'm sure it can be traced back to a fundie xhristian teevee show or preacher and that gets my back up as I loathe their fundie beliefs and their politics. Dollars to donuts people like her wouldn't be wishing those wearing pro-choice or pro GBLT buttons a blessed evening.

[MADem]

303. It's wearing the Newt button at work that was the act of stupidity.

Context, dear, context.

[icymist]

10. And may Satan be with you JFN1!

[quinnox]

15. no offense, but if I had been there

and witnessed the scene, I would have said "What a creep" or "What a weirdo".
Who cares if she has different politics than you, she was just trying to be nice in her own way.

I don't get what was so funny about it, acting in this manner.

[roguevalley]

20. +1

[elleng]

16. Friend of mine chatted w 2 customers at grocery store tonight, while I was at cashier.

The customers were a senior mother with her middle age daughter. As we start to leave the mother asks, 'Do you accept Jesus?' I could have lived without that, but as my friend is a talkative type, I didn't want to cut off the conversation in a manner to be perceived as rude, so I said, 'My family is Jewish,' and my friend said, 'I am Muslim,' as he is. He and I then did a little riff on history of religions: Friend said, of me and my family, that we were 'the original religion of Jesus Christ,' and went on to say that Islam followed Christianity; I added, 'every few thousand years, we come up with another religion,' or some such.

SO, we did a little 'teaching,' in a manner of speaking.

[renate]

264. you and your friend sound very nice

And the woman who asked "do you accept Jesus" sounds a little... wackadoo. I won't say rude, because she might have meant well (trying to "save" someone is presumptuous but the intentions are good), but it's pretty inappropriate to accost a stranger with questions about their religious beliefs. I think the attitude demonstrated in the OP would have been more appropriate in your situation than in that one, and you still took the high road by disagreeing respectfully with her views, even though she's the one who brought a rather personal subject up, so to you.

And whether or not it was your intent, I think you were far more persuasive in demonstrating that not everybody is Christian than the OP was.

[elleng]

268. My friend often engages strangers in conversation, when circumstances place them near eachother;

sometimes I wish he wouldn't be so voluble, but he's curious and friendly; can't complain too much about that. It was toward the end of the conversation when she asked the question; she didn't accost us, but we surely weren't going to spend the entire evening at the grocery store!

[MichaelMcGuire]

341. 'Do you accept Jesus?'

No only Visa, Mastercard or American express

[elleng]

352. And DISCOVER!

[JI7]

17. i am an atheist and i don't see why you are so offended by what she said and had to be rude to her

my problem is when people do things like want to teach creationism, organized prayer in public places etc. but i don't have a problem with someone i don't know just saying that in itself. i

it's not like she preached to you about how you need to believe in ............... or else you will got to hell.

[T S Justly]

18. I get that sometimes, too, and have been tempted to reply go to hell. K&R (nt)

[JI7]

22. why ?

[T S Justly]

33. Why not?

[JI7]

38. it just seems rude

[T S Justly]

41. No, unwanted and unexpected religious instructions are. Blessers may be too dumb to realize that ...

But?

[cherokeeprogressive]

42. Religious "instructions"?

Seriously?

Skin, meet thin.

Really?

[T S Justly]

43. Lol! Bless you and holy shit, too.

[cherokeeprogressive]

44. Don't you fucking tell ME what to do...

[T S Justly]

51. Or, in this case, what to think.

[cherokeeprogressive]

52. I don't do that very much...

[JI7]

45. i didn't see any religious instructions, i took it the same as "have a nice day "

and i'm an atheist.

[PassingFair]

135. I'm an atheist, and when someone leaves me a message that says "have a blessed day",

I don't call them back unless I have to.

I don't like it.

(But I usually just nod if it happens in person.)

[Chan790]

276. I tell them that the expression "blessed" offends me as a humanist.

It really does too. It imposes the notional recognition of a deity upon the recipient as a condition of the social contract. Further, if people don't tell them that all this "blessed" shite is inappopriate, they keep on doing it.

I am my own and only "god". There is no force greater than the human spirit, thus no entity to provide any blessing. Say it forces me to acknowledge your belief system that I'd rather you kept to yourself.

I never let it go in person.

[Kellerfeller]

168. Go to Hell (nt)

[T S Justly]

176. Now, now Kellerfeller, it's not wise to give in to every temptation, lol.

[Kellerfeller]

181. What?

I was just trying to make you feel better.

After all, that is what you feel is a good, happy response!!

[pinboy3niner]

182. Go say 3 Our Fathers and 2 Aqua Buddhas

[PassingFair]

218. It's YOUR hell.

You go there.

[christx30]

360. And people wonder why

the world is getting more and more rude and hostile. You have to understand that your actions and your attitudes cause similar actions and attitudes in others. You are rude to so-and-so, and that person will be rude to someone else, or at least have a negative view of people like you. I don't have any particular religious beliefs, but I know that other people do, and a major tenant of those beliefs might be to spread the "good news" or whatever they want to say. I tolerate it. I'm polite, because I know that they are just doing what they think is right, and they are trying to help. As long as they aren't rude about it, I'm a big boy and it won't hurt me.
Ever since watching Carl Sagan's "Pale Blue Dot", I have a very hard time being rude or mean to everyone. I think everyone on the planet should watch it and take the words to heart. We all have to be here on this small hunk of rock. If you treat your neighbors with kindness, they will return the favor.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

23. lol You made me laugh. :) I'm never upset to be simply 'blessed' by someone

What does upset me is how religious people see no conflict between their belief in Jesus, and their voting for people whose ideology involves an attitude that the poor is somehow stealing money from the rest, or living on handouts from the 'hard-working' rich.

[MADem]

47. I am with you--anyone who gets irate over being "blessed" is actually giving POWER to the person

doing the blessing!

[boppers]

67. May Satan bless you.

<eye of the needle reference>

[Warpy]

24. You'll go to hell twice for this one

but yes, sometimes you just can't resist when somebody with their religion on their sleeve lays it on just a little too thickly.

You do know you'll never be able to go back there, right?

That's the problem with being a smartass, the word gets around.

[roguevalley]

113. too thickly? she said be well.

[undergroundpanther]

25. A fundie run in..

One day when I was walking thru town,a lady was on the side of the road clearly upset and I asked if she was ok,she said her car broke down.
This was before cell phones. She said she had no clue where a gas station was and she needed a pay phone to call her husband.Being a local I knew a gas station was up ahead further,and it would be a downhill push. So I told her to steer,and I would push her car to the station. I noticed christian stickers& shit. But I figure she needed help...so. She was so happy to be helped out got her change for the phone too. Then she told me I was such a good christian.I told her I was no christian and assuming I was a christian was insulting to me. She asked why,I showed her my goat of Mendes,and said I am a Satanist,and before she had a chance to say she'd pray for me..I said, Not every kindhearted person is a christian,so maybe Satan will have sympathy for you in Hell,Hail Satan,and the cornu,She looked totally confused.

[Prometheus Bound]

68. You may have caused her brain to explode.

[TahitiNut]

26. "What aisle are they on?"

"Huh?"
(Louder) "What aisle are they on?"
"What?"
"Blessed days, damn it! What aisle are they on?"
"Huh?"
"Damned people! Always advertising but never in stock." (Leaves)

[SammyWinstonJack]

79. heheheh

[PassingFair]

219. WTF?

...Are you doing here.

Hey! Hi!

[TahitiNut]

277. OMG

... 'Hey' backatcha. luv.

[sylveste]

29. the nerve

of that cashier, trying to be pleasant as she goes about her mundane job, what a bitch.

[B Calm]

77. The OP just returned what was given to him. Why do you think it was an insult?

[JSnuffy]

87. It's the intent of the person giving it...

Cashier - intent is to wish someone a good day and make the other person feel better

OP - intent not to wish them a good day and to make the cashier feel worse

It is small and petty.

Wow, she made a middle aged woman's day just a little bit more unpleasant. Awesome..

[roguevalley]

114. because her intentions were good and his weren't. She wished him well, he didn't. Insult at the

least.

[gvstn]

34. If you like grilled cheese which are delicious!

Try toasting a bagel (plain or sesame seed) and then generously spreading cream cheese, a tomato slice or two and then topping with Swiss or my favorite a sharp Provolone cheese. Either microwave for 60-90 seconds or better heat in toaster oven/regular oven for a few minutes until cheese is melted the open faced bagels.

Simple but easy treat. Don't skimp on the cream cheese--layer it on!

[Chipper Chat]

48. My perfect grilled cheese sandwich:

Melt real butter (not margarine) in the skillet.
Use a good quality white bread (like Brownberry Country White)
Use a good cheese (do not use "cheese product&quot
Sprinkle it with Lawry's seasoning salt.
Fry until golden brown on each side (Slather more butter on skillet if necessary)
Eat.

[pacalo]

35. It was the cashier who came out on top on this one.

[quinnox]

39. yup, hands down winner

to the cashier in this "showdown". That is how I see it too.

[Tikki]

36. Someone here on DU suggested the reply...."and may the force be with you"...

I've been using that for years now. I've, also, replied "Bad Wolf" on occasion.


Tikki

[boppers]

69. ...and also with you. eom

[WolverineDG]

37. Would you be happier if she to you to f--- off?

She was only wishing you well.

[JFN1]

54. Sorry, but she was not simply wishing me well.

"Have a nice day" is wishing somebody well.

She was, in my opinion (I was there), using me as a means to feel good about her religiosity or spirituality or faith - by INTRUSIVELY interjecting her religious beliefs in an overt and conscious fashion upon my being.

Why would she do this? Simply put, because it makes her feel good about her religion, it makes her feel pious, it calls attention to her "awesome purity," and it puts pressure on the receiver to offer a similarly pious response...a warming glow...a positive opinion about her level of belief...etc.

In effect, it is an ego boost for her - at mine and everyone else's expense- that she "blesses." It has NOTHING to do with me - it is ALL about her. Period.

And that is the bottom line. If she is simply trying to wish me well, there are plenty of traditional ways to do this.

But that was not her goal, it was an overtly religious invocation which I, for one, am about fed up with tolerating...wishing me well, yeah, right...

[twitcher]

55. you're desperate

You've gone from "I am cheerfully greeted by a middle-aged woman, who scans my few items and pleasantly reports the total." followed by "as I turn to leave, the checker calls over my shoulder, "Have a blessed evening!". The rest of your first post is what is going on in your own head.
In post #54… you get all this from her one greeting? Wow! You've projected a lot of angst onto that poor woman. Take a chill pill.

[MADem]

122. +1 nt

[Puzzledtraveller]

336. Well said Twitcher

[shireen]

57. i get irritated when people feel the need to invoke a divine being in everyday conversation.

they seem totally oblivious to the fact that not everyone shares their beliefs.

what really irritates me is when I do something to help someone out, usually a stranger, and he/she respnds with, 'praise god.' not "thank you."
he or she assumes i'm god's little puppet put on earth to spring into action at his or her moment of need. It implies that doing good is not an inherent human quality but comes only from people who have been touched by the spirit.

most of the time, i don't respond to it because i don't have the energy to deal with it. but damn, it sure is annoying.

[MADem]

127. Which divine being was invoked? For all anyone knows she could have been the blesser.

"Have a blessed day" could mean any being--divine or otherwise. She didn't say "In Jesus' name" or "Inshallah" or "If the Spaghetti Monster Deigns"--I mean, really. All she said was the opposite of "Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out."

[Beacool]

98. I think that you were over thinking the whole thing.

Just saying...........

[dionysus]

107. ya think? oh, look what i found for you...

banky!

[Beacool]

131. Ooohhhhh, its so pretty!!!

I've never seen that one. I love it!!!

Thank you!!!!




P.S. I had to go to DU2 to get the emoticon. When are we get them here in the Reply function?

[dionysus]

180. This banky is for when you go on your trips.

[Beacool]

266. Thank you, my friend.

[roguevalley]

117. well be fed up. but be mannerly in public. she wished you well in a generic

way even if you don't recognize it. You never mentioned a deity or Jesus so the interpretation is telling on you, not her. We get it. You hate religion. But she wasn't pushing it. She was hoping for you to be happy and well. If that offends you then wow. its just sad. so ... do you hate old women too?

[MADem]

151. And what WERE her "religious beliefs?" You must have amazing powers of divination!

"Have a blessed day" could come from any faith group--or none at all.

I think you're the one with the issue, here. I also think she WAS wishing you well.

[Kellerfeller]

171. That's true if

you don't know the meaning of words.

She could be wishing you were blessed by her god, or yours, or fate, or the randomness of life.

Who knows? Who cares? She was wishing you well and you were a complete ass.

I hope you have a crappy day. There. No religion involved or implied in any way.

[Dorian Gray]

203. So

what ARE her religious beliefs?

Can you actually answer that with certainty after this encounter?

[tsuki]

282. I agree with you. She was proclaiming

her sanctimony, her holiness, her better than thou-ness. Members of the Big Scary down the street use it almost exclusively. That is how you can identify them.

She needs to find a closet. I always Matthew 6 them.

[cherokeeprogressive]

50. God Bless Grilled Cheese Sandwiches...

Even the ones made with Velveeta.

And if she "jammed" her religion anywhere, it was in your ear and not down your throat.

[ScreamingMeemie]

53. And you are proud of this?

Did she provoke you in some way that you forgot to tell us about. Religion or not (I don't believe, yet also don't feel stepped upon in my non belief, and don't feel the need to be offended if someone wishes to "bless" me), what you did was rude. The only thing I don't like that she did is wearing a political button on the job. Business and politics should never mix. Other than that "have a blessed evening" set you off? It's these kinds of posts that irritate the hell out of me. We should be better than that.

[roguevalley]

118. +zillion

[PassingFair]

136. "And Satan bless you, too" <------- said sweetly.

What's rude about that?

I bet YOU don't wish people a "blessed day" when they leave the shop.

You don't, because it's CODE.

[ScreamingMeemie]

139. I am a don't-give-ashitist and find the gnashing of teeth on

both sides over how they perceive things to be so tiresome. I simply am too tired by other things than to get upset over what an Atheist/Agnostic/Christian/Muslim/Jew/Unitarian/you get the idea says to me. I've got better things to do with my time, and get upset over. The only upsetting thing about his "visit" to the grocery store is that the clerk had a political button on. What a clerk says to me, other than "F U Beeeyotch" isn't of concern.


*** I typically say "Take care Honey" or "Have a good day, Honey" but that apparently pisses people off too. Clerks just can't win. I guess you can call me a clerkist.

[PassingFair]

142. I don't see any gnashing of teeth here, except for some "have a blessed day" throwers.

The guy saw the "Newt" button, heard the grating "have a blessed day" and
SWEETLY answered.

Really.

He didn't tell the clerk to "shove it" or grab his junk and say "bless THIS"!

[ScreamingMeemie]

146. The very OP is a teeth gnash...

"The words echo through my skull, and for some reason I instantly think about Tebow's "blessed" football season, and the bible verse he had displayed as part of his uniform in Denver's last (losing) game of the season (ah, the hilarious irony...).

For the record - I am not against anyone having their religion. Really. I do, however, resent having someone else's religion jammed down my throat - I don't like being used in that way. It bugs me. A lot."


I fail to see where someone's religion was jammed down his throat either.

This is why I stay out of the Religion forums and Atheism/Agnostic forums. I simply don't give a shit and am not going to waste time being rude to what amounts to a Pavlovian response by a checker.

Case in point, I say "bless you" when someone sneezes (for the most part) but I mean absolutely nothing by it other than "I acknowledge that you have sneezed". Years of Catholic teaching. But it simply shouldn't cause someone to freak out. If it does, well it says more about them than me...in my opinion...because I don't care what someone believes or doesn't believe.

[PassingFair]

148. Then his "Satan bless you" rejoinder should'nt bother you either.

And "bless you" after a sneeze is NOT the same thing as "Have a blessed day".

An atheist might say "bless you" after a sneeze, because it is
reflexive and expected. (Personally, I say "Gesundheit&quot

"Have a Blessed Day" is something I've ONLY heard Christians say. Ever.

And yes, I find it grating.

And although it may be part of the idiom of the west, I bet YOU never say it.

[ScreamingMeemie]

152. That's not the part that bothered me.

Remember "I am a nice person".


I miss coffee and discussions with you so much.

[PassingFair]

153. Me too.

(P.S. -- I KNOW you are just waiting for me to call me so you can wish me a blessed day.)

[Raine]

56. Her button bothers me more than her greeting. I think you should've reported

her to the manager. I doesn't seem right you can't even pay for groceries without having to endure someone's electioneering.

[lacrew]

58. Just Curious

1. Are you over 12 y/o?
2. Have you been watching too much Beavis and Butthead?
3. Do you cook the grilled cheese on a hot plate in the basement, or do you get to use the kitchen?

[xfundy]

62. Is your keyboard stained with Cheetos?

Took your judgement pills today, I see.

[SammyWinstonJack]

81. LOL

[malaise]

60. Nice to know I have company with this

'blessed' business.
My usual response is 'huh - is there a more meaningless phrase'.

[SammyWinstonJack]

82. Mine is usually.. "no thanks".

I think it is a meaningless phrase, too.

[Summer Hathaway]

61. Oh, there, there

You poor dear.

To think someone wished you well - what is this world coming to?

I would suggest you get a good lawyer and sue.

"Your honor, the defendant clearly 'shoved' her religion down my client's throat the minute she invoked the word 'blessed'. We rest our case."

"Man, that was freakin' fun." Some people, it is obvious, are easily amused. Just like some people will do anything for attention.

[boppers]

71. "To think someone wished you well" No.

They wished GOD would be involved.

Not somebody, but a GOD, or GODS.

[roguevalley]

121. God? Didn't hear or see it. But if that is what you hear then fine

interpretation is the root of this. She interpreted her words as kind and loving. He didn't. She didn't jump on his ass and kick him for it. He did. We have raised a generation of smart mouths. Civility and being the bigger person is a lost art now. Pounding on a old woman for this nothing thing is sad. I guess we have to agree to disagree. I choose my dueling points differently I guess.

[MADem]

129. And you know this how? Maybe it was a Native American blessing. There was no mention of the G word

in the woman's comment.

[Summer Hathaway]

272. Oh, what a major tragedy!

Someone asked the deity in which they believe to bless someone with a good evening.

How dare they?

What a pathetic thread - and the many others this OP has spawned.

Pathetic.

[boppers]

279. May Satan bless you!

[Summer Hathaway]

315. Not only pathetic

but childish as well.

[xfundy]

64. Wow, so much misdirected rage at the OP.

I, too, dislike it immensely when someone assumes I want anything to do with their religion, which, IMO, this "blessing" comes down to--proselytizing.

I've found it amusing to have a verse or two on hand to toss back at these people. (SkepticsAnnotatedBible.com will come in handy here.) For example, "Oh, Micah 1:8's on the calendar today!" The fundie or otherwise ignorant individual will think, "Isn't that sweet!" and go on with her day. In the unlikely event she asks for an explanation, tell her to look it up. Most likely, she will forget or not care enough to write it down, much less look it up, as she's probably most interested in appearing pious, rather than actually giving a shit about another person in the world.

And in the event she does look it up, she can have a good laugh or curse me (as if I care), as the verse reads:

"Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls." (Micah 1:8)

Does this make me a bad person? Should I care?

No and NO. These outwardly pious types would kill to be next to let me know I'm headed straight to hell, for being a librul, unchurched (trust me, I had enough to last several lifetimes), demoncrat, homo-sekshul. They've decided it's not enough for their hate-filled "god" to punish me after death; they want to make sure life on Earth is hell for us, too. Ska-rooo them.

[Quantess]

65. Meh. So what!

Here come the overly serious finger waggers "saying shame on you for doing that!"

Well, that's what she gets for wearing a political button... it invites comments, she should know that. The "blessed evening" part is a lot more benign, even to an atheist, I should think.

I guarantee you, she has encountered ruder people than you, at her job.

[boppers]

66. Christians just don't understand Satanism.

It confuses them.

So, for all the Christians/whatever who might encounter this post, a primer:
Modern Satanism is hedonistic humanism.

No god, no satan, no superheroes, no supervillians. It's a form of atheism for folks who like to troll (harass, provoke, insult) others, by mockery.

Rituals still exist because they're fun, but Satanism isn't about believing in the ritual, and the extant books are filled with in-jokes related to said trolling. (Sperm wafers and ritual sex? Who would believe such crap? Oh, maybe the same folks who believed in talking snakes, virgin birth, burning bushes, global floods, etc.)

Satanists don't wear pentagrams because they worship Baphomet, they wear pentagrams because it'll freak you out.

They don't invert crosses to worship Satan, they invert them because they know Jesus and Satan and God and the Tooth Fairy are all just as equally real, and confronting you with this knowledge will freak you out.

Since others have brought up Wicca, it's not related.

At all.

Wicca believes in things.

[lacrew]

91. Good Reply

I am no religous scholar; but, I don't see a way th believe in the existence of satan, without also believing in God. The source material is the same. So a true Satanist would be somebody who declare "I believe in both God and Satan, and I side with Satan". I'm sure those people are out there, but most alleged Satanists are just looking for attention.

[roguevalley]

123. I believe in free will. You can choose to be an ass or not. Satan? Don't believe in him.

I think he's a nice exit from responsibility by assholes. SATAN MADE ME DO IT! No. YOU did it.

The only satanists I've ever met were squirrely little boys.

[sendero]

70. I wouldn't worry about the prayers..

... Billy Joel pretty much nailed it when he sang "she never cared for me, but did she ever say a prayer for me?"

[taterguy]

72. WHAT BIBLE VERSE WAS ON TEBOW'S UNIFORM?

I wasn't paying too much attention to the game but I know that the NFL fines the shit out of anyone that puts something unauthorized on a uniform.

Nothing gets shown on an NFL broadcast that isn't paid for by a sponsor.

Tebow's a religious man but he's not about to take a pay-cut to spread his faith.

SHAME ON YOU FOR SPREADING MISINFORMATION!

I demand that you edit your OP.

[JSnuffy]

74. That is just you being a jerk frankly...

It doesn't strike me as "bad" or even funny (and I have a wicked dark sense of humor.)

It just seems small and petty. All this woman did was conduct her job in a cheerful manner and you took a quick stab and tried to bring her down.


Bravo *slow freaking clap*

[HopeHoops]

80. My dad has answered the door to religion pushers the same way for decades...

"No thank you, we're Satan worshipers." Stops them in their tracks every time.

In NH, my wife had a pair come around and she politely tried to deal with them. One of them asked if we had a bible in the house and my wife responded, "which version?" The look on her face clearly showed that the concept of there being more than one version had never occurred to her before.

[Nye Bevan]

86. YES! "Cheerful middle-aged woman" SMACKDOWN!

Keep up the good work!

[B2G]

88. Wow...was that really necessary?

I hope you didn't have an Obama button on YOUR shirt.

[mr blur]

89. *sigh* - once again pushy Christians get the free pass on DU.

How would you all feel if you'd been served by an atheist who said to you, "Christian? Hopefully you'll grow out of it"?

Oh, but of course that's different...

[roguevalley]

125. nothing. I try not to act like an asshole in public. it doesn't mean

a damned thing in my day

I am however enjoying the posts by people saying satan and the like as if that matters. Rude is rude. I don't care what the prompt was.

[ScreamingMeemie]

134. *sigh* I missed the part where she tried to baptise him I guess.

And, for the record, I believe in neither belief in something or disbelief.

[MADem]

145. That would make me laugh, actually.

And I'd think "Well, that person wasn't wishing me well--he was putting me down, which says more about him than he realizes!"

So yeah, it IS different. The whole tone and trajectory are 180 out from one another!

[FarCenter]

92. The correct response is "pox vobiscum".

[stlsaxman]

280. if that wasn't a typo- it's brilliant!

[FarCenter]

355. ;-)

Glad you liked it.

[Beacool]

95. Frankly, that was mean of your part.

I believe in live and let live. Not everyone I encounter has my same religious or political beliefs. That doesn't make them any less of a good person.

The cashier shouldn't have had a Newt political button on her shirt because it is inappropriate to bring politics to the job, but she seemed to have been pleasant and was just wishing you well.

Why ruin her day with a nasty remark? Did it make you feel like a better person? A simple "thank you" would have sufficed. We don't always have to make a political statement in life.

[Politicub]

99. This aggravates me as well... I would get irritated by a Wiccan telling me "blessed be," too...

at a checkout line. People probably mean well.

This is similar to the prayer cards that they decided to do away with on Alaska Airlines. I avoided flying with them for this very reason about 10 years ago. And I also think twice about buying from places that frequently tell me to have a blessed day.

On edit: I wouldn't want to take away someone's right to say this taken away. Just as I treasure my right to vote with my feet.

[Odin2005]

100. You were acting childish and rude.

[lynne]

104. Don't think I would have repeated that story -

- as it says far more about you than it does about her and its sure not flattering. She was extending good wishes to you and you just didn't happen to like the way she did it so you were intentionally rude to her.

Good wishes are hard to come by these days. I accept all good wishes thankfully no matter how they're given. It's not the wording - its the intent - that I find important.

[Morning Dew]

120. 119 replies and not a single "Cool story, Bro" ?

[Enrique]

124. i remember, being nice to customers was always a risk

a small fraction of one percent of the customers would do something mean like this and make me regret it.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

137. it was the Newt button

[bvar22]

138. Are you seeking approval, or forgiveness ?

I can understand moments of personal weakness.
I have them myself, as do we all,
but I have never had the desire to boast about them in a public forum.

If this is characteristic of your general attitude,
please do NOT canvass for the Democrat this year.




You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.
[font size=5 color=green][center]Solidarity99![/font][font size=2 color=green]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/center]

[downwardly_mobile]

140. Wow. Did you stop off at McDonalds on the way home to curse out some seniors as well?

Oh, and as someone pointed out above, you have no understanding of what the word "sagacious" means. Look it up or stop using it.

[Codeine]

141. YAY!!! You made a person working for shit wages a little more miserable

for having the audacity to be friendly to you! You sure showed that bitch the price of being nice, didn't you?

Hardcore, dude.

Hard. Core.

[Nye Bevan]

150. But she was PROSELYTIZING I tell you! PROSELYTIZING! (nt)

[tammywammy]

175. +1 n/t

[Rex]

143. Oh noes! You said 'an Satan be with you"!!! Horrible

terrible! The Sky Will Now Fall!

[Edweird]

154. Yeah, you really showed that cashier

your ass.

[former9thward]

156. You are a jerk.

A worker gives you a friendly greeting and you resort to a smart ass comment. And no saying "have a blessed day" is not shoving religion down your throat.

[frogmarch]

158. If she’d been wearing

an Obama sticker, would you have said that to her?

I’m an atheist, and when someone wishes me well as a simple courtesy by saying,“Have a blessed day,” or something else that hints at religion, I don’t use it as an opportunity to try to hurt their feelings with a snarky retort, and I don’t know why you did. She wasn’t pushing religion down your throat.

[varelse]

160. Thanks for this :)

I needed that laugh

[Rex]

162. Wow, did you cause a Shitstorm!

Why didn't you reply with, 'and may the Mighty Mystic Mover place you above all reproach as well'...confuses the hell out'em!

[MineralMan]

166. I suppose you want some "attaboys" from DU...

You won't get one from me. I'm an atheist, but lots of people aren't. You, yourself said that this woman was pleasant to you. So she told you to have a blessed evening. Who cares?

No "attaboy" from this DUer. What you did was rude and uncalled-for, assuming that you actually did it, of course...

[Spazito]

173. I don't get it....

I truly don't get why one would go out of their way to respond as you did to someone who, I am assuming has no impact on how you live your life, is not someone you work with, socialize with, etc.

I describe myself as a 'humanist', I do not subscribe to any religion and someone saying "have a blessed day" just doesn't set off any alarm bells, anger, doesn't set off anything. I would just smile and be on my way.

Now, if this person were knocking on my door trying to 'sell' their beliefs to me then I would politely but firmly tell them, "I am not interested, good bye" and close the door.

Rude doesn't educate, rude is rude, period.

[Kellerfeller]

174. Thanks to many of you

From the first few sub-threads, I was pretty disgusted with the ignorance, rudeness and hatefulness.

As the responses went on, reason and goodness came through. Thanks!!

[marlakay]

178. My husband said he would starve if he said that!

Our small town of 2500 mike says is the buckle in the bible belt (personally he needs to travel down south, but we are very religious here)

He says if he said that in our one large grocery store no one would serve him again!

We don't go to church ourselves part of a small minority. Used to being looked at like we are evil for not attending church on Sunday.

[Curmudgeoness]

179. I'm with you....I get sick of having someone throw god at me. Plus...

I have no doubt that the Newt button already had you pissed. It wouldn't take much more to put you over the edge....and you got much more.

[Kellerfeller]

187. Oh, I see

So if a conservative nutbag does sometime rude or hateful, they can also justify it because their victim has an Obama bumper sticker.

Got it.

[Festivito]

183. I think you need to apologize to that woman.

Even with you being correct in thinking that she meant that from a Christian perspective, you internally acknowledged that to yourself that she wished you goodness, and then returned to her in what would be her understanding that you wished her bad, even death.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

Your mother should be ashamed, glare at you, and not give you a moments rest until you apologize.

I hope that you did not have any Democratic buttons or stickers on your car. If you did, you owe us all an apology.

[Hippo_Tron]

184. Do you do the same when someone says "bless you" after you sneeze?

Like it or not, these phrases with religious overtones from centuries ago have become a part of our lexicon. I don't think she said "have a blessed day" versus "have a nice day" in order to be intentionally proselytizing. I think she has just been saying "have a blessed day" to everyone since childhood, without giving it a second thought.

If she'd handed you a pamphlet about Jesus, your comments would have been in order.

[Union Scribe]

186. Ah, people makin' up stories.

Hoping to get patted on the back for being the rude person they would be if they weren't busy being a badass online. I love these threads. They always inspire everyone else to go insanely over the top as well ("she should be fired!" lol).

[A-Schwarzenegger]

204. Everything on the internest is true & factuals!

[MADem]

269. Of course it is!!

I have the body of a 24 year old Olympian and the looks of a movie star!

This is true, because it's on the internet!!!!!!!

[CJCRANE]

189. I'm not sure I believe that story. (+edit)

If it's true it was uncalled for.

ETA: But I'll forgive you. Say three Hail Marys and four Our Fathers.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

198. I'm sure.

[randome]

194. Maybe if you ate less cheese, you'd be in a better mood.

(From an unabashed atheist.)

As much as my intelligence tells me there is no God and no afterlife, some of the most inspiring moments in music, comics and movies are those that have spiritual overtones to them.

I'm thinking specifically of an old Flash comic when the Flash loses his memory and is on his knees saying, "They say I'm the Flash. Please, God, make it be true."

It's awesome human nature at its finest. Even if there is no God and no afterlife, it's still inspiring.

Remembering that always makes me happy and sad at the same time. So it never bothers me if people want to express themselves because we are all, when it comes down to it, trying to cope with existence as best we can.

[MADem]

209. Best subject line on this thread! nt

[obamanut2012]

195. I have lived around Fundies/Evangelicals my entire life

And, I have never been told to have a "blessed" anything. Until reading this thread, I had always assumed it was a Pagan saying.

If she was indeed wearing a political button (I say "if," because you didn't see the entire button), you should have spoken to the manager, and asked for corporate contact info. I've never known any public-oriented business that allows employees to push a certain candidate or religion. The employee needed to be told that.

[PassingFair]

291. It's more of a southern or African-American thing in the north...

Many southerners appear to be so used to it that
the religiosity of it doesn't register.

I almost exclusively hear it from African-Americans up here in the north.

[obamanut2012]

311. That may well be it

[Ilsa]

196. Every problem she deals with for the rest of the day will be

Ecause you said that!

[peasant one]

199. I think we should remind them every time that we are not believers

To me it is very similar to a racist or sexist joke--if you don't object no one knows that you are offended. I try to always state that I do not think that it is funny. They get the point and eventually learn that these statements will not go unchallenged. Each time someone says something religious to me it is my right and I believe my obligation to disabuse them of the notion that I am a believer. The more people know that others have differing view points the easier it is for them to navigate and appreciate the pluralistic society we live in. I agree the OP could have been a little less harsh.

[many a good man]

208. I like your point, but let me ask you a question

I'm also uncomfortable when a total stranger uses religious language in a neutral context but what is an appropriate response?

I may not feel comfortable advertising to the world that I'm a non-believer in this kind of public context. I shouldn't have to - unless I felt like it at the time. But I would like to educate the cashier that her assumptions can make people uncomfortable. It's not "shoving" anything down my throat, but it's something I don't want to have to hear.

I think the best response is to model the appropriate response, i.e., something in non-religious terms. Respond with the friendly farewell you would preferred to hear from her, like "Have a nice day." When she hears that you did not parrot her religiously-tinged response it might teach her something. Subtle, but it might work.

If I wanted to be snarky, I would respond with a religious type response from a religion that she does not adhere to, something like "Allah Akhbar." Invoking satanism seems to be a bit too aggressive and mean.

[PassingFair]

221. But if we don't go along with it, it's like telling them to F-Off!

At least, this is what I've read.

[JSnuffy]

225. Pretty much...

[A-Schwarzenegger]

205. You sure you weren't grabbing some baloney?

[LibertyLover]

206. Love it

I am so damned sick and tired of having to take whatever Christians want to throw at me with a smile. This idiot wants to wish someone a blessed evening, fine, but whomever she is wishing it to gets to reply however they want. Personally I probably would have gone with "And may the Goddess bless yours as well.", but that's because of my religion. You want the freedom to practice your religion - fine, but I get to practice mine as well.

[MADem]

211. You're a wiccan? I always was given to understand they were more tolerant than you are coming

across.

[LibertyLover]

213. Nope - I get tired of being tolerant when Christians are the only ones allowed

to push their religion and the rest of us are expected to just smile and lap it up. My days of being "tolerant" are over thanks very much. They want to practice their religion, well, so do I and tough shit if they don't like it.

[MADem]

215. Well, I can't say I know a lot of Wiccans, but the ones I do know are very positive and would never

be a deliberate shithead to a middle aged wage slave like that. That comment wouldn't trouble them in the slightest. Or maybe my niece and her friends were just raised right and have the appropriate amount of self-esteem?

If you think "Have a blessed day" is pushing or practicing Christian religion (and sorry to tell you, but those sorts of greetings work a treat in Islam, too), whatever the hell do you do when a commercial "pushing" something comes on TV? Freak out because some asshole is "demanding" that you buy a burger and fries? After all, many Americans worship the Almighty Dollar.

You're far too sensitive for this world, way too easily offended. IMO. Your attitude is the very opposite of tolerant or progressive.

Go ahead and push "your" religion if you'd like--no one is stopping you. Of course, if you come off all shitty and defensive and seething with anger, you're probably not going to get a good result, routinely, for your efforts.

[LibertyLover]

286. Frankly, I think you are the one who is coming off all shitty and defensive

but, whatever. There are some Wiccans around who are like what you describe, we call them "fluffy bunnies", aka "road kill". I'm also not buying your lame "ooooh not progressive because you aren't all sweetness and light" routine. Nope, progressive as they come, just not going to be a door mat anymore.

[MADem]

297. Wow--a name calling Wiccan! Who knew?

How pleasant of you to call your fellow travellers "road kill."

You don't have to "buy" anything. It's plain enough to anyone what you're selling, though!

I hate to tell you this, but you aren't as "progressive as they come," even if you think you are. You have a ways to go, yet.

[LibertyLover]

301. All Wiccans aren't sweetness and light,

most of us in fact. As one of my high priestesses once pointed out 'If you want to heal, you have to learn how to curse.' And as another said, "The law of return doesn't count if I'm defending myself, my family or the ones I love." If we let these people constantly shove their religion in our faces without those of us who disagree taking a stand, then one day, and one day sooner than we'd like to think, they will make it into the "christian country" they want so badly. Progressive - why yes I am. Don't have so open a mind as your brain falls out.

[MADem]

302. I never knew they were all prejudice, bitterness and intolerance though--I learned something new!

You aren't "defending" shit when you curse at and put down someone with no power--you're just being an ass. People who do that sort of stuff are telling us way more about themselves than they realize--and none of it is particularly laudable. Everyone, I'm betting, who saw the interaction between the OP and the cashier came down on the side of the cashier--and it has nothing to do with religion, it has everything to do with civility and essential human decency, which the OP plainly has in short supply.

And speaking of open minds, what ever happened to "Pick your battles?" I'd say beating up on a powerless lady whose religious affiliations are in no way clear based on her utterances is an example of letting one's brains fall out and go splat!

But hey, knock yourself out. Be proud of your boorishness. Being a jerk isn't against the law.

[LibertyLover]

309. No, and thankfully for you neither is being deliberately obtuse and stupid.

You just go on letting every right-wing Christian, not to mention every conservative right-winger, have power over you and see where you wind up. Have fun. I'll be laughing.

[JSnuffy]

226. Same old thing...

The words don't matter and its the message behind them..

The message behind the cashier was positive and meant to make things nicer

The message from the OP was meant to bring the cashier down and make her day a little shittier.

[LibertyLover]

287. So what you are saying is that we have to take whatever crap Christian conservatives

throw at us because if we react the way we'd like, we might bring them down? Nope, not happening anymore. Or as the song says 'we're not gonna take it". I thought the OP's response was amusing. I've done something similar. A few years ago my best friend and I had braved Black Friday to shop for gifts for her kids, who where young at the time and wanted some of the difficult to come by toys. We got back home later than we had wanted and needed to grab something for dinner as well as doing some shopping for another festive dinner the next day when her in-laws were coming to celebrate Thanksgiving. As we were waiting in the line to buy meat, one of her neighbors came up and started with the happy God talk. My friend was tired and not in the mood and told him that it had been a rotten day and wasn't going to get better soon. His response was something along the lines of 'but our God doesn't want you to feel that way'. I stepped in and said that maybe his god didn't but my goddess, Sekhmet, Egyptian goddess of death, disease, plague and destruction doesn't care." Stopped him dead in his tracks. He sort of blinked and walked away. Several people in the meat line applauded. Years after that I still got told by people in town how much they had laughed over the guy's reaction and that he had calmed the happy god talk down to a point that it was bearable.

[glinda]

212. I hear that a lot form the conservative town I live in. They throw blessings at me like

rocks at stonings.

[Berlin Expat]

214. If you REALLY wanna screw with 'em

say this:

"Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh"

The "A" sound in Arabic is like "ah".

Phonetically, it's "Ahssalahmu ahlie-ahkum wa rahmahtoolahee wa bahrahkahtoo"

It means, "May the peace, blessing and mercy of God be upon you", and for added points, throw in "Allahu akbar"! Heh.....that should scare the dickens out of 'em.

[liberalhistorian]

220. I'm sorry, but I'm not sure I understand what

your issue with her was. She wasn't forcing you to listen to any religious or political diatribes. She wasn't haranguing you about who you were going to vote for or trying to shove what she believed down your throat or anything like that. She was doing her job and being pleasant about it. I don't consider "have a blessed day" to be "evil" or theocratic or any other kind of nastiness at all. She was being nice. I've known many a non-religious person to say that.

Sorry, but I think you were the one being rude here. I can understand why she might have been upset at your saying what you did.

[JFN1]

227. A few responses:

One - yes, this really happened. If you actually knew me, you would not be surprised. Read any of my posts - I am not afraid to "go there" because I didn't create "there" - I just point it out.

Two - The cashier did not, in any way whatsoever, "bless" me for my benefit - this was completely about HER. Her religious benediction to complete our business transaction was in the least, innappoprirate, and at worst, unsociably rude. Why?

Social interaction is an activity built upon expectations, and consequently those expecations tend to rule how we interact; where some behavior is acceptable in certain settings, other settings make the same behavior innappropriate.

When we interact, we agree to the terms of that interaction based upon our responses to the expectations set forth by the social context within which the interaction takes place.

Thus, the casher placed expectations upon me I did NOT agree to - and this is why her "blessing" was a selfish thing, not a giving, or loving, or even friendly, thing.

Three - I admitted in the original post my reaction was both undisciplied and immature; I'm not perfect, and no, I am not "proud" of my actions, for many of the reasons stated by folks who highly dissapprove of my behavior. So for the record - I agree - mostly.

Four - But I do not regret it. It was just...too...funny...!

Five - I will also not apologize, for in my opinion her social misstep was the greater - she demanded something of me she had NO right to demand, given the socal setting. If she had said this to me in church - fine. But at the grocery store, employee to customer? Wrong, wrong, wrong...and I think you know it...

[PassingFair]

230. They DON'T know it. Obviously.

To them, a "blessing" cannot be anything but good.

They do NOT see it as an unwanted, un-asked for religious salutation.

Even though it has been pointed out by many in this thread
that it can be annoying.

[Dorian Gray]

331. My mom and dad gave me their blessings

when I moved from home to Hong Kong years ago.

It's innocuous. And it really doesn't mean much, unless you make it mean something more.

[PassingFair]

332. I can't remember my parents ever "blessing" me.

And would think it weird if they did.

Just like I think it's weird when a business
acquaintance does it.

Your experience is not everyone's experience.

I can only speak for myself.

Now people know that saying "Have a Blessed Day"
can have the opposite effect of what was intended
and they might say "Have a Nice Day" or whatever,
and leave the pre-supposed deity out of it.

[Dorian Gray]

335. I don't use that language

it would be unnatural to me to wish people a blessed day. Or to say God Bless You (unless someone sneezed, then it's second nature). But yeah, my parents have said numerous times throughout their lives: "You have our blessing." It's a saying without meaning too much, to be honest.

The only time I get offended is if a southerner says "Bless your heart." It's usually in response to something stupid I said.

I also do realize that people react to things differently, and where I don't find offense, other people do. I'm not trying to be argumentative, either, but I honestly, 100% do not see what the offense was in the "Have a blessed day." If you think the person is a religious kook, roll your eyes at her and move on. Otherwise, it's just a well meaning thing to say.

[PassingFair]

338. "roll your eyes at her and move on"

This IS what I do.

I think the "Newt" button was the catalyst and the "Have a Blessed Day" was
just the final straw for the shopping OP. He was responding to the combination.

Let's be honest here, many Christians are behind Newt because he's
not a filthy Mormon like Romney, and the conservative atheists
(re: Libertarians) are backing Ron Paul.

[Dorian Gray]

356. Well, yeah

I'd be more prone to engage her about the pin myself. Obviously she's going to disagree with us on almost any topic if she's supporting Gingrich. At the end of the day, I don't need to argue this to death. I would have handled it differently, is all.

[randome]

232. Sorry, you lose.

If you thought she was demanding something of you, the best response is to simply walk away. Instead, you demanded something equally from her, if 'demand' is even the right word to use here.

So no one wins and you both end up being pissed at each other.

A lose-lose situation.

[JFN1]

241. Exactly.

This is, ultimately, my point. The zero-sum game we stuggle to maintain in this country must transform into something more reality based then where we are at right now. Just because a person shows the public a religious face, this means they get a free pass and I don't because I'm not religious?

Then why didn't/doesn't the overtly religious George Bush get a free pass? How many laws did he break, how many people did he hurt, in the name of his religion?

My 21 year old niece died a few months ago from chemo for Ewing's Sarcoma. Had Mr. Bush not stopped stem cell research 12 fucking years ago because of his religious disagreement to it, my niece might have been able to grow a new set of her own lungs, and still be alive today.

So I am all for ending the zero sum game and interjecting a bit of reality into our culture...

[randome]

244. Sorry for your loss.

But religion had little to do with Bush's stupid decision. It was politics.

[JFN1]

261. Yes, this is true

but religion was his justification to the public.

[chrisa]

228. lol DU

Anyone want some OG bread sticks?

[taterguy]

231. What's an Original Gangster bread stick?

Not hip to the lingo

[chrisa]

233. A.k.a "Bling sticks?"

You have to breastfeed for 5 months and own a pitbull to qualify for them.

[piedmont]

243. Yes, but DO NOT breast feed the pitbull.

Sometimes knocking out two pre-reqs at once just isn't worth it.

[randome]

246. Stop it!

You're turning a very serious thread about religion and tolerance into something that's...hilarious.

[Zalatix]

229. Wow, a really evil comment. Cannot cosign to that. But...

The devil really is with her.

I'm not sure here if what you said was a curse or a reflection of that woman's reality. Or both.

[cordelia]

239. How unbelievably crass.

And I'm not referring to the cashier.

[lunasun]

245. Well I am glad to see that you have

accepted cheeses into your life !!!

(sorry I could not resist)

[cherokeeprogressive]

255. Of all the posts I've laughed at on this thread... THIS one takes the cake.

Too funny!

[MADem]

305. I have to agree with cherokeeprogressive--that was a great line! nt

[dionysus]

248. i hope you're having a blessed evening

[randome]

250. And that was the perfect bookend to this thread.

Except I have a feeling it won't end here. Oh, well.

[piedmont]

254. Amen. nt

[Skip Intro]

271. Have you read your sig line recently? nt

[MADem]

306. At the risk of being "religious"--Holy shit! That was a superb catch.

Now I'm starting to think that the purpose of this thread was to raise a little Cain (to use another religious reference).

Good eye, you!

[inna]

317. Good catch. It's misspelled, too, btw ("it's" instead of "its" twice)...

... plus, apparently, the poster does not understand the meaning of the word "sagacious".

All in all, amazing that this is THE most discussed thread on DU right now.

[Prometheus Bound]

278. I believe she was cursing you.

My mother used to use the adjective 'blessed' to replace 'fucking' or 'bloody'.

"Close the blessed door!"

[SecularMotion]

281. What a nitwit

If I feel the need to be blessed I'll visit the Pope , not the fucking Piggly Wiggly.

[Swede]

288. How rude of you.

And then you come here to brag about it.

[flvegan]

293. What a blessed thread this has been.

[pinboy3niner]

300. It's a consecrated thread

Love you like a rock, man.

[PavePusher]

307. Going out of your way to be fucktarded to someone attempting to be pleasant....

Is this now a Progressive, Democratic value? What was that again about "civility"?

Wholly Fuck, I don't need Republican assholes to be nasty for money these days, I can find all too many Liberals who will be nasty for free. And people wonder why I despair about our political future...

[pinboy3niner]

308. I want to know about the cheese. Did you pick 'Stinking Bishop'?

[ClassWarrior]

310. I bet you gave the scrawniest freshmen wedgies in high school...

...and laughed about it.

You are past high school age, aren't you?

NGU.

[ClassWarrior]

312. By the way, when did "sagacious" come to mean...

..."to act like a pompous, insecure little bully?"

It thought its root word was "sage," as in "wise." Go figure.

NGU.

[cleanhippie]

313. I sneezed at dinner last night and the server said "god bless you" to me.

I just smiled and said "no thanks. I'll pass on that" and went back to the conversation we were having. She was a bit taken aback, but just smiled and moved on.

[sylvi]

320. Sounds like you need to drop the cheese

and grab something with a little fiber in it.

[Tyrs WolfDaemon]

322. If I may...

I think invoking a trickster would be best in such an occurrence and so I offer you the following list. Just remember to use their names in moderation ( )

Tricksters in various cultures' oral stories ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trickster )



Abenaki mythology: Azeban
Afrocuban mythology: Changó
Akan mythology: Kwaku Ananse
American folklore: Brer Rabbit (or Compere Lapin) and Aunt Nancy, a corruption of Anansi (Anansee)
Arabian mythology: Juha, Sinbad, Sheherazade, Genies,
Ashanti folklore: Anansi
Australian Aboriginal mythology: Bamapana, Crow
Aztec mythology: Huehuecoyotl
Babylonian mythology: Lilith
Bantu mythology: Hare (Tsuro or Kalulu)
Basque mythology: San Martin Txiki
Brazilian folklore: Saci, Curupira
Bulgarian folklore: Hitar Petar
Bushmen/San Folklore: Kaggen
Caribbean folklore: Anansi
Celtic mythology: Fairy, Puck, puca
Chilean mythology: Pedro Urdemales ("Peter Urdemales" in English)
Chinese mythology: Nezha, Red Boy, Sun Wukong (the Monkey King)
Cree mythology: Wisakedjak
Croatian: Petrica Kerempuh
Croatian mythology and later folklore: Domaci as group later personalized in Malik Tintilinic
Crow mythology: Awakkule, Mannegishi
Dutch folklore: Reynaert de Vos, Tijl Uilenspiegel
Egyptian mythology: Set, Isis
English folklore: Robin Hood, Puck, Brownies
Estonian mythology: The Wily Ants
Fijian mythology: Daucina
Filipino folklore: Juan Pusong, Juan Tamad
French folklore: Renart the Fox
German folklore: Till Eulenspiegel, Reineke Fuchs
Greek mythology: Eris, Prometheus, Hephaestos, Hermes, Odysseus, Sisyphus
Haida mythology: Nankil'slas (Raven spirit), (Coyote)
Haitian folklore: Anansi, Ti Malice
Hawaiian mythology: Iwa, Kaulu, Kupua, Maui, Pekoi.
Hindu mythology: Baby Krishna stealing ghee, Narada, Mohini
Hopi and Zuni mythology: Kokopelli

Indonesian folklore: Kantjil, or kancil in modern grammar
Inuit mythology: Amaguq
Irish folklore: Leprechauns, Briccriu,
Islamic mythology: Nasreddin, Genies,
Japanese mythology: Kitsune, Susanoo, Kappa, Tanuki,
Jewish folklore: Hershele Ostropoler
Korean folklore: Kumiho
Lakota mythology: Iktomi, Heyoka
Levantine mythology: Yaw
Maori mythology: Māui
Mayan mythology: Maya Hero Twins, Kisin
Mexican folklore: Pedro Urdemales
Miwok mythology: Coyote
Nootka mythology: Chulyen, Guguyni
Norse mythology: Loki,
Norwegian mythology: Espen Askeladd
Northwest Caucasian mythology: Sosruko
Ohlone mythology: Coyote
Ojibwe mythology: Nanabozho
Philippine mythology: Nuno sa Punso, Tikbalang
Polynesian mythology: Maui
Pomo mythology: Coyote
Pueblos dancing: Koshares
Romanian mythology: Păcală
Russian folklore: Ivan the Fool
Slavic mythology: Veles,
Spanish mythology: Don Juan, The Trickster of Seville,
Tibetan folklore: Uncle Tempa,
Tsimshian mythology: Txaamsm, Raven, 'Wiigyet (Big Man)
Tumbuka mythology: Kalulu
Ute mythology: Cin-an-ev
Vodou: Papa Legba, Ti Malice, Baron Samedi
Welsh mythology: Gwydion, Taliesin, Morgan Le Fay,
West African mythology: Anansi,
Yoruba mythology: Eshu, Shango,

[WillowTree]

325. I'm always amused when someone posts a story...

....saying how proud they are of having said or done something that made them look like a real ass.

You know, that lady was wishing you well in the terms that were most meaningful to her and you responded with sophomoric rudeness. And you're proud of that. It says a lot about you and what it says doesn't reflect well. You might want to think about that a bit.

Just sayin'.

[Quantess]

327. Good grief, can we let this one sink already?

How many flushes will it take?

[A-Schwarzenegger]

328. It's "War and Peace

in the Check-out Line."

[PassingFair]

334. Until we militant atheists shut up and receive our blessings.

Final flush....

[randome]

346. We've overlooked the obvious.

He said he was 'grabbing some cheese'. We all know what THAT means, don't we?

[Broderick]

347. I know what cutting the cheese means

[Nye Bevan]

349. +1. Let it sink (nt)

[WI_DEM]

344. Why didn't you just ignore her? she tells you to have a blessed day

and you may not like it but shrug it off. I'm sure she meant no harm, but your response was just plain mean spirited and meant to be so. I'm sorry I know some people here will back you up on this--but I won't.

[deerheadgal]

345. Don't congratulate yourself too much...

...you're not a freedom fighter for the rights of all...you're just a rude jerk.

[truebrit71]

348. Ahh me, people and their imaginary friends

...

[TheManInTheMac]

350. Cool story, bro.

[randome]

353. Nooooooo! It's back!!!!

FSM help us all!

[stevenleser]

358. I'm caught between two strong feelings and opinions about this.

I would not have done what you did. I really try not to do anything rude or negative toward people unless they are throwing that kind of energy at me.

That said, it really bothers me when people throw religion at me unsolicited. If you live in NYC and have to take the subway and change at 42nd street, there are several sections at which you will be bombarded by prosletyzing. At my home subway stop, there are frequently people of one religion or another trying to hand you flyers. Its hard to go a day when someone isnt shoving religion in your face.

It is very irritating. Its not hard to see how if the OP is experiencing that it might get to him and result in a snarky outburst.

[TBF]

362. Down here in Texas I hear that every day - it's how they talk.

It's so much a part of the culture that I just say "you too" or whatever is appropriate in response and move along. They are being nice in their own way and whatever encourages that is ok with me.