Reply #43: We go by personal references from friends on how well a person can do a job... [View All]

[Hekate]

... and count many conservatives among our tradespeople and other service providers. Are they respectful in their dealings with others? Are they competent and honest with us? That counts for much more with us than the religious emblems they may wear or show around the office. Flyers, tracts, plaques on the walls -- whatever. Actually, no one we patronize goes quite as far as all that, but it doesn't matter as long as we aren't being proselytized.

But I have to admit that when I am looking in the Yellow Pages and see all the ads with little fishies I get pretty turned off. They are using a religious symbol to sell a product or a service, and that seems tacky. They seem to shout, "Trust me! trust me! We're all Christians here, and I'll treat you right because you and I are Christians!"

Actually, we are not. Mr. H is Jewish and Buddhist. I'm Pagan and Buddhist. We rather count on diversity and acceptance, and using fishies in advertising doesn't feel like either. It feels like we'll be checked out and then informed of our eternal damnation, because we are not part of the in-group.

Hekate