Countered one of the "endangered Christmas" memes at the Post Office,

[salin]

just an hour or so ago.

Standing towards the front of the line is a woman, then a man, then myself. Dude starts grousing about how right before christmas, before closing, they have only 3 stations open... "that's govt for you". *silently I said... that's what constantly cutting taxes will get ya - but that isn't true because I think the USPS is self-sufficient*

Lady in front looks ahead awkwardly. A few seconds pass. He then says that its a shame that the Post Office has gone PC as he signals to the different stamps (which include Hannukah and Kwanza as well as Christmas)

I pause, and then say: Or it could be the market at work... they realize they can sell even more stamps if they cater to different people. Heck, says I, I am all for them making enough money not to need government subsidies. The lady says - that's right, I forgot that they run as a business....

He rebuts immediately "why not we subsidize everything else..." then pauses... and says... I see your point. He paused again, opened his mouth as if to go at it from another direction when he is called to the next window.

I was polite and responded matter of factly.. and forced him to concede the point. hehe one point for our side.... it was a LONG line at the Indy downtown postoffice that was exposed to this interchange. :D

[crispini]

1. Bravo!

clap clap clap.

Very well done.

[TlalocW]

2. Very well done

I'm afraid I wouldn't have done so well and would have been sarcastic and started talking about how sad it is to see the Kwanza trees being put up in stores around Halloween, and no one would have gotten it.

TlalocW

[salin]

5. I have spent much of my adult life in Indiana

with periods in slightly more urbane areas (metro dc, detroit and sf bay area)... have found that pointing things out in the way that these folks think (but bringing my broad mindedness that is what pushes me to counter the memes) can be quite effective when done politely. Back in eighty eight when bushsr was running a campaign on a "flag amendment", I countered a friendly red necks rant about jerks who burn the flag and there should be an amendment... with some anti-govt rhetoric... says I... I am so sick of them wasting our money... I mean what do the folks around do when someone burns a flag - they turn their backs and walk away in disgust... but what burns me up is those guys in DC waste all our money on this amendment talk... all this time spent on it which does nothing for us while ignoring the economy, while ignoring the homeless issues... I tell you it makes me so mad... says I... the guy was nodding and doing all but the hoosier redneck form of "Amen, sister" by the end of my rant. Have to know the audience (my style varies slightly per specific audience member....) ;-)

[InternalDialogue]

6. I would have laughed with you!

There's nothing like a small, random stand-up routine in public to make a point and get a laugh. (And, of course, pick out the smart people in the crowd.)

[Lorien]

3. Good going! Another point; the US Post office isn't

part of the government; it's a contractor. He should have tried one of those shipping stores if he were so offended; he could have been charged twice as much, and would have been very satisfied for being royally screwed!

[China_cat]

4. If christians get so offended

maybe they should be reminded that including everyone in the season is the thing their Jesus would have done. He didn't minister just to the Jews who were 'his' people.

[Hobarticus]

7. All it took him was two seconds of insight to come up with the obvious?

Our work is cut out for us, folks.

[salin]

8. the more vocal they are with their silliness

the easier it is to come back with some intelligent response that calls their little meme out for the superficial bs that it is... may not win the initiator over - but it may catch the ear of listeners who were getting lulled by the echo chamber...

[Hobarticus]

9. Good comeback to him, BTW...

I would've just shook my head.

[salin]

10. thanks

dude didn't even realize that I was calling him out - given the "market place" and "more $ means no need for subsidy" language (that panders to the repub mindset)... hehe