Religious mass-email comebacks

[Kevlar]

Having a great many evangelicals in my family, I am prone to get a lot of those overly-relgious type e-mails.

As of the moment, I've tried asking nicely, I've tried being mean, but I can't get these people to stop. Now I'm wondering, is there a good source of athiest type e-mails that I can start spamming my relatives with?

[ChuckF]

I have some ideas but you need a webcam.

[BrotherMan]

kittenrecipes.com

Cute and delicious!

[Kevlar]

Ok, kittenrecipies will be for the people I don't like.

What I really need is some preachy, holier-than-thou, atheism. I don't want to be overly rude to my family but I would like to make them think.

[godfry n. glad]

I suspect the folks over at the Rational Response Team (http://www.rationalresponders.com/) might have either the materials, or the links to the materials, you seek.

[MonCapitan2002]

I have a better idea. Block the e-mail addresses of the people spamming you religious e-mails. If they ask you why you did so tell them it is because they aren't sending you any correspondence worth reading.

[Doctor X]

Indeed.

I even reported one or two and had their e-mails shut down. Amazing what that does to your unwanted crap.

--J.D.

[LadyShea]

I just respond substantively to stuff. I rarely get religious spam, but I get a lot of passed on warnings of doom and such. I reply to all with SNOPES links, or other debunking, and explain why forwarding this crap is spreading baseless fear etc.

They usually take me off their lists after the second time.

[godfry n. glad]

Indeed.

I even reported one or two and had their e-mails shut down. Amazing what that does to your unwanted crap.

--J.D.

Yeah? To whom?

Please specify.

[Kael]

I would guess he reported them to the email provider. Some of them actually care what you send and don't want their domain being used for spam.

[Kevlar]

Some of the people I can ignore, and do. My real problem is with my family, I still have to use politics with them. Their modus operandi is to take me off the mailing list when I complain, and then add my back in a couple of months.

[Kevlar]

I suspect the folks over at the Rational Response Team (http://www.rationalresponders.com/) might have either the materials, or the links to the materials, you seek.

That's exactly what I'm looking for, thanks!

[ChuckF]

RRS is definitely a quality source for atheistic spam. Just don't actually read what you're c/p'ing or you might wind up as hilariously retarded as they are.

[beyelzu]

no its not kev, rational response are not that well thought out or that good at argumentation, they are a bunch of fundy dipshits, and I just want to point out that this is coming from a metaphysical naturalist.

There is no easy way to respond to people that you care about, I would suggest a form letter, take the time, to outline briefly why you are an atheist, be it lack of faith, the misplacement of faith, the incoherence of the god concept, the PoE, etc, and perhaps a polite message about why you dont appreciate them spamming you with the god stuff. then just send out that email in response.


But rational response is a bunch of dipshits.

[beyelzu]

RRS is definitely a quality source for atheistic spam. Just don't actually read what you're c/p'ing or you might wind up as hilariously retarded as they are.

well, i suppose it is a great source for fundy atheist spam.


fuck you for being more succinct then me.

[ChuckF]

Fuck you for having a sweeter ass than me.

[beyelzu]

Im so sorry baby, can you ever forgive me :tmgrin:

[BracesForImpact]

Well, if you're gonna be retarded, at least be hilariously retarded.

[ChuckF]

Some thread on RnR is following the latest RRS mastahpiece, something about "debaptism," which is evidently an atheist ceremony that involves pooping on a Bible. I don't know why my atheist minister didn't tell me about this at our weekly atheist meetings.

[godfry n. glad]

I don't know what happened to the old Internet Infidels library, but just having access to that to cherry pick for articles to send in return would work for me....but I don't have the problem. Family-wise, I lucked out. They are, philosophically, all over the apathist map, so we've devised a means of tolerance that happens to include oddballs like theists.

[beyelzu]

http://tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:cTUikeBspKcWbM:http://image.orientaltrading.com/otcimg/7_1025.jpg

[Kael]

So, my curiosity spurred by chuck's assessment, I actually pulled up their page, which I hadn't planned on. :shakechucksworld:

Saw this:
"...So I said to her, 'Baby, we need to take this to the next level', but she tells me, 'No, I have to take my time. I don't want to screw this one up. I mean, I haven't even got my Feat progression outlined yet, much less done my min/max damage output metrics yet..."

[Kevlar]

Yeah bey, I'd like to always let cooler heads and thoughful contemplation prevail, but sometime I have this overwhelming urge to be a smartass. Which is probably why I'm not that popular with these people.

So RSS definitely has the smartass angle convered, now if I can find something that has the thoughtful angle going on.

[livius drusus]

RSS trades in oafish offensiveness more than clever putdowns. There's plenty of ass (one of the founders is currently selling hers, in fact, in a Nevada brothel), but none of it is smart.

[Adam]

(one of the founders is currently selling hers, in fact, in a Nevada brothel)

:orly:

Some thread on RnR is following the latest RRS mastahpiece, something about "debaptism," which is evidently an atheist ceremony that involves pooping on a Bible.

So, I went over to look for this thread, but I can't find it because I'm dumb, but I did find it kind of funny that thee first page of their Realpolitik forum is, thanks to coberst, nearly identical to the first page of our Philosophy forum. I am a bit disappointed that we didn't get michelnostradamus69's latest crazy spam, though.

[livius drusus]

(one of the founders is currently selling hers, in fact, in a Nevada brothel)

:orly:

:yarly: Clicky (http://www.rantsnraves.org/wiki/index.php/Kelly_O%27Connor)

[Ensign Steve]

Damn, I thought it would be someone else. Where's our wiki?

[livius drusus]

vm ate it.

[Adam]

That's pretty much who I figured it would be, probably because my knowledge of RRS founders is limited to "that guy who came here pimping the War on Easter" and "that girl with the boobs".

Who did you think it would be, ES?

[Ensign Steve]

I am not familiar with the players over there at RRS, but I do have a mental list of former IIers who are total whores. It is long and storied, I tell you.

[MonCapitan2002]

Some of the people I can ignore, and do. My real problem is with my family, I still have to use politics with them. Their modus operandi is to take me off the mailing list when I complain, and then add my back in a couple of months.
Forget politics. It is the bane of human existance. They obviously don't respect you or your beliefs so you have no obligation to be nice to them.

[godfry n. glad]

So...What about EverlastingGodStopper and her contacts?

Look at Richard Carrier on Google, see what he has. Wherever he's at you'll probably find a collection of atheist materials.

I thought I'd heard that somebody was producing Chick Sales parodies online.

[godfry n. glad]

I've always wanted to carry a sheaf of bookmarks to hand out to folks being harangued by street-corner preachers and missionizers. Bookmarks that had directions of how and where to access great resources on freethought, doubt and skepticism....in their own time and on their terms.

[Shake]

I don't know what happened to the old Internet Infidels library, but just having access to that to cherry pick for articles to send in return would work for me....but I don't have the problem. Family-wise, I lucked out. They are, philosophically, all over the apathist map, so we've devised a means of tolerance that happens to include oddballs like theists.

Well, you've reminded me that I have some old IIDB threads bookmarked which compiled some replies to some of the more popular "godspam" email messages of those days. Not sure how many are still circulating as my family has pretty much stopped sending me such crap. Many of those replies are much more well thought out than what you'll find at RRS.

Maybe you could post an example of what you're getting, Kev. We could always help pick them apart for you.

[Kevlar]

Great idea Shake, here is one I just got today from my aunt:


A minister passing through his church
in the middle of the day,
Decided to pause by the altar
and see who had come to pray.

Just then the back door opened,
a man came down the aisle,
The minister frowned as he saw
the man hadn't shaved in a while.

His shirt was kinda shabby
and his coat was worn and frayed,
the man knelt, he bowed his head,
Then rose and walked away.

In the days that followed,
each noon time came this chap,
each time he knelt just for a moment,
A lunch pail in his lap.

Well, the minister's suspicions grew,
with robbery a main fear,
He decided to stop the man and ask him,
'What are you doing here?'

The old man said, he worked down the road.
Lunch was half an hour.
Lunchtime was his prayer time,
For finding strength and power.


'I stay only moments, see,
because the factory is so far away;
as I kneel here talking to the Lord,
This is kinda what I say:

'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD,
HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.
SO, JESUS, THIS IS JIM CHECKING IN TODAY.'

The minister feeling foolish,
told Jim, that was fine.
He told the man he was welcome
To come and pray just anytime

Time to go, Jim smiled, said 'Thanks.'
He hurried to the door.
The minister knelt at the altar,
he'd never done it before.

His cold heart melted, warmed with love,
and met with Jesus there.
As the tears flowed, in his heart,
he repeated old Jim's prayer:

'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD,
HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.
SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME CHECKING IN TODAY.'

Past noon one day, the minister noticed
that old Jim hadn't come.
As more days passed without Jim,
he began to worry some.

At the factory, he asked about him,
learning he was ill.

The hospital staff was worried,
But he'd given them a thrill.

The week that Jim was with them,
Brought changes in the ward.
His smiles, a joy contagious.
Changed people, were his reward.

The head nurse couldn't understand
why Jim was so glad,
when no flowers, calls or cards came,
Not a visitor he had.

The minister stayed by his bed,
He voiced the nurse's concern:
No friends came to show they cared.
He had nowhere to turn.

Looking surprised, old Jim spoke
up and with a winsome smile;
'the nurse is wrong, she couldn't know,
that he's in here all the while
everyday at noon He's here,
a dear friend of mine, you see,
He sits right down, takes my hand,
Leans over and says to me:




'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM,
HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP, AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN.

ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY,
I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY, AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS CHECKING IN TODAY.'

If this blesses you, pass it on. Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

May God hold you in the palm of His hand
and Angels watch over you.

Please pass this page on to your friends & loved ones. If you aren't ashamed. Jesus said,

' If you are ashamed of me,' I will be ashamed
of you before my Father.'

If you are not ashamed, pass this on.

But only if you mean it.

So this is me ... Just Checking In











Live in peace and peace will live in you.

[Kevlar]

Here is a random atheist quote generator that might come in handy sometime:
Great Minds: Atheist Quotes (http://atheistempire.com/greatminds/random.php)

[Leesifer]

Kev, can't you just delete the godspam emails?

Why do you have to reply with an atheist response? It's not like you're going to convert them, the same as they are not going to convert you.

[SharonDee]

Great idea Shake, here is one I just got today from my aunt:


A minister passing through his church
in the middle of the day,
Decided to pause by the altar
and see who had come to pray.

<snip>

'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM,
HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP, AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN.

ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY,
I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY, AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS CHECKING IN TODAY.'

<snip>
If this piece had stopped there, I would have enjoyed it. Even though I don't believe that stuff, heartwarming stories glurge gets me right here :heart:.

It's the whole "I'll make you ashamed for being ashamed of Our Lord" tone that kills the thing.

[Plant Woman]

Most of these god-spams have some negative message in them and there it was at the end that you are a lowly worm if you don't pass it on.

[Kevlar]

Kev, can't you just delete the godspam emails?

Why do you have to reply with an atheist response? It's not like you're going to convert them, the same as they are not going to convert you.

Ah, Lees, that would certainly be the mature thing to do... (you do realize who you're talking to, right?)

You are most certainly correct, and I don't plan on proselytizing anyone. These people keep throwing their unwanted opinion in my face, so I just want to return the favor in as peaceable a way as possible.

I'm not necessarily looking just for athiesm stuff, it could be naturalism, or anything else non-religious. And if it's warm and uplifting, it would be even better.

If this piece had stopped there, I would have enjoyed it. Even though I don't believe that stuff, heartwarming stories glurge gets me right here :heart:.

It's the whole "I'll make you ashamed for being ashamed of Our Lord" tone that kills the thing.

Yeah, that's the part that I always find offensive: "Jesus really loves you (OR NOT!!!)". Which brings up the real motivation behind these religious people I know... fear of hell. Now if someone could find a decent way to assure people there is no hell, then I think there would be a LOT less people paying lip-service to this stuff.

[BracesForImpact]

Great idea Shake, here is one I just got today from my aunt:


A minister passing through his church
in the middle of the day,
Decided to pause by the altar
and see who had come to pray.

Just then the back door opened,
a man came down the aisle,
The minister frowned as he saw
the man hadn't shaved in a while.

His shirt was kinda shabby
and his coat was worn and frayed,
the man knelt, he bowed his head,
Then rose and walked away.

In the days that followed,
each noon time came this chap,
each time he knelt just for a moment,
A lunch pail in his lap.

Well, the minister's suspicions grew,
with robbery a main fear,
He decided to stop the man and ask him,
'What are you doing here?'

The old man said, he worked down the road.
Lunch was half an hour.
Lunchtime was his prayer time,
For finding strength and power.


'I stay only moments, see,
because the factory is so far away;
as I kneel here talking to the Lord,
This is kinda what I say:

'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD,
HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.
SO, JESUS, THIS IS JIM CHECKING IN TODAY.'

The minister feeling foolish,
told Jim, that was fine.
He told the man he was welcome
To come and pray just anytime

Time to go, Jim smiled, said 'Thanks.'
He hurried to the door.
The minister knelt at the altar,
he'd never done it before.

His cold heart melted, warmed with love,
and met with Jesus there.
As the tears flowed, in his heart,
he repeated old Jim's prayer:

'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD,
HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.
SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME CHECKING IN TODAY.'

Past noon one day, the minister noticed
that old Jim hadn't come.
As more days passed without Jim,
he began to worry some.

At the factory, he asked about him,
learning he was ill.

The hospital staff was worried,
But he'd given them a thrill.

The week that Jim was with them,
Brought changes in the ward.
His smiles, a joy contagious.
Changed people, were his reward.

The head nurse couldn't understand
why Jim was so glad,
when no flowers, calls or cards came,
Not a visitor he had.

The minister stayed by his bed,
He voiced the nurse's concern:
No friends came to show they cared.
He had nowhere to turn.

Looking surprised, old Jim spoke
up and with a winsome smile;
'the nurse is wrong, she couldn't know,
that he's in here all the while
everyday at noon He's here,
a dear friend of mine, you see,
He sits right down, takes my hand,
Leans over and says to me:




'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM,
HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP, AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN.

ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY,
I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY, AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS CHECKING IN TODAY.'

If this blesses you, pass it on. Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

May God hold you in the palm of His hand
and Angels watch over you.

Please pass this page on to your friends & loved ones. If you aren't ashamed. Jesus said,

' If you are ashamed of me,' I will be ashamed
of you before my Father.'

If you are not ashamed, pass this on.

But only if you mean it.

So this is me ... Just Checking In











Live in peace and peace will live in you.


This one is easy. Insert pics in a return email with pictures of starving children, natural disasters, and human mayhem. Below each one type a little caption "This is Jesus, I'm just checking in. Everything looks fine here, carry on."

[Qingdai]

Wow, now I'm even happier that I had nothing to do with all the crazy atheist sites on line, after clicking on liv's link and following down the rabbit hole a bit.

I guess you could spam them back with fund raising letters from non-religious organizations, Doctors without borders and Outside In are two that come to mind.

Here's a good link from Outside In:
http://www.outsidein.org/oregonian042007.htm

[Shake]

I was going to say that there wasn't a good response for that one, Kev, but BfI seems to have it covered.

Had I gotten that one, I'd have just said:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y184/shake69/deleted.jpg

[LadyShea]

This one is easy. Insert pics in a return email with pictures of starving children, natural disasters, and human mayhem. Below each one type a little caption "This is Jesus, I'm just checking in. Everything looks fine here, carry on."

:yeahthat:

[Kevlar]

I'll admit, I wish I could just delete these and forget about it... but it's the passive-aggressive thing that keeps getting to me. I've been an object of rejection for these people for a very long time, and it just keeps throwing salt in old wounds. So the problem with ignoring it is it will just keep building up until I explode.

My wife says I should just go black with my family as they are all 2,500 miles from here... but I don't know if I could maintain such an aggressive campaign. Becuase, at the end of the day, they are still my family and I have a built in compulsion to try and please them. You know, mommy issues...

[Adam]

Tsk, tsk...ashamed of Jesus, the lot of you.

[BracesForImpact]

Tsk, tsk...ashamed of Jesus, the lot of you.

Lol. It's not Jesus I have a problem with. It's some of his followers. If he ever does come back for the second coming, after seeing his "fans" he may just crucify himself all over again.

[Qingdai]

I know if I came back and the thing I'd been tortured to death on was a symbol everywhere, I'd consider burning it down and starting over.

[Plant Woman]

Kevlar, I have the same kind of problems with my Christian family. The only one that acts like a half decent Christian (or what you would expect them to be with all their talk) is me and I'm not one. When someone in the family needs help, it is I that steps up to the plate, even though they treat me like crap. With all I'm going through these days, do you think the lot of them would give me a call to check in and see how I'm doing? Not a peep. So when I get stuff like that from a Christian, yeah it bugs me a lot. I'm trying not to let it bother me, but the hypocrisy is truly amazing.

As I always say, "you will know them by their fruits." They talk a good story, their actions are dismal.

[godfry n. glad]

To give credit where due, I think there are lots of christians who engage in Christian behavior, but they don't trumpet what others should be or do and expect that their actions will speak louder than words, no matter what the religious, or non-religious, who witness see. I get the impression that many who act with compassion do so in hope that their example will move others to act with compassion themselves, and that compassion transcends sectarian, theistic or non-, distinction.

But, as you note, there are plenty of people who hold no loyalty to any religious creed who do a great deal of good on a mundane level...at least that is my experience. The religious have no monopoly on do-goodery.

[chunksmediocrites]

A minister passing through his church
in the middle of the day,
Decided to pause by the altar
and see who had come to pray.

Just then the back door opened,
a man came down the aisle, The minister frowned as he sat in judgment for
the man hadn't shaved in a while.

His shirt was kinda shabby
and his coat was worn and frayed,
his t-shirt was emblazoned with “Dokken”
and his neck tat read “rough trade”.
The minister liked the kind that tithed
and looked wealthy and well payed
the man knelt, he bowed his head,
Then rose and walked away.

In the days that followed,
each noon time came this chap,
each time he knelt just for a moment,
A lunch pail in his lap.
Though how he put it there while kneeling-
maybe instead he balanced it on his cap?
Look, just go with the imagery-
Piety and humble pie and crap.

Well, the minister's suspicions grew,
with robbery a main fear,
because the minister had a sea of wealth
while the homes around were sere.
He decided to stop the man and ask him,
'What are you doing here?'

The old man said, he worked down the road.
Lunch was half an hour.
Lunchtime was his prayer time,
For finding strength and power.

'I stay only moments, see,
because the factory is so far away;
as I kneel here talking to the Lord,
This is kinda what I say:

'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, INVISIBLE OMNIPOTENT SKY-WIZARD,
HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.
SO, INVISIBLE OMNIPOTENT SKY-WIZARD, JR., THIS IS JIM CHECKING IN TODAY.'

The minister, surprised, said “Well you are right in
coming here because Invisible Omnipotent Sky-Wizard is in demand
this church is it, all else are sinners
but Invisible Omnipotent Sky-Wizard’s love needs donations- to make this all at hand”,
and he rubbed his fingers and thumb together
suggesting cash, or a check he could remand.

Time to go, Jim smiled, said 'Thanks.'
He hurried to the door.
The minister knelt at the altar,
he'd never done it before.

He played the game of make-believe,
that an Invisible Omnipotent Sky-Wizard
showered him with love,
unless he didn’t believe in The Wizard
in which case he would burn in a lake of fire forever,
while good believers partied above.

'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, INVISIBLE OMNIPOTENT SKY-WIZARD,
HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.
SO, INVISIBLE OMNIPOTENT SKY-WIZARD, JR., THIS IS ME CHECKING IN TODAY.'

Past noon one day, the minister noticed
that old Jim hadn't come.
As more days passed without Jim,
he began to worry some.
But not too much because they didn’t need
parishoners sans moola, outfitted like a bum.

At the factory, he asked about him,
learning he was ill.

The hospital staff was worried,
But he'd given them a thrill.

The week that Jim was with them-
Before being discharged for being poor-
His smiles, a joy contagious
Like a well-used whore,
Well that's an unfortunate turn of phrase,
Dementia case 10034 was here no more.

The head nurse couldn't understand
why Jim was so glad,
when no flowers, calls or cards came,
Not a visitor he had.

But then she had noted that every word
from Jim’s mouth involved The Wizard and His work,
And the puzzle pieces fit in place-
Jim was a proselytizing jerk.

The minister stayed by his pulpit,
His voice sounded concerned
He repeated that homosexuals and unbelievers
Were to be despised and spurned.
He thought back to the good old days
When they could be tortured, tried, and burned.

Dying at home alone, old Jim spoke
up and with a winsome smile;
“I was told just what to think,
so that I could be led all the while
everyday at noon He's here,
a dear friend of mine, you see,
He sits right down, takes my hand,
Leans over and says to me:

“I AM THE INVISIBLE OMNIPOTENT SKY-WIZARD, JIM. I
ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY,
JUST MAKE SURE TO OBEY ME IN ALL MY CONTRADICTORY
MAKE-BELIEVE- OR ROAST I HELL, I SAY!
MY CHOSEN GET THE GREATEST TESTS-
REMEMBER FAITHFUL JOB?
THOSE WHO LOVE ME BEST AND WELL,
NEED NO FRONTAL LOBE.”


If this blesses you, pass it on. Many people will walk in and out of your life, but that’s probably because you live in a bus station. Only true friends will leave footprints in your heart. Or true enemies. Oh and also people who like stomping on hearts. Have you met my ex? Don’t get me started.

May Invisible Omipotent Sky-Wizard hold you in the palm of His hand
and Angels watch over you. You better hope he doesn’t crush you into paste and wipe you on a beverage napkin. Maybe if you ask nice He’ll set you down somewhere where He’s not likely to step on you. Try to avoid getting put in His pocket- He sometimes forgets and then you spend a long time in the dirty-clothes hamper and wind up getting run through His laundry.

Please pass this page on to your friends & loved ones. If you aren't ashamed like a little ashamed thing. Invisible Omnipotent Sky-Wizard, Jr. said,

' If you are ashamed of me,' I will be ashamed
of you before my Father. And you know what that means- lake of fire for you. So can I put you on the ‘Will proselytize friends and family until they roll their eyes everytime you contact them with more ‘Praise Invisible Omnipotent Sky-Wizard' spam?”
- Or he might have said something else, I mean maybe the guy who wrote it down heard it from the camel salesman who was paraphrasing, plus it was translated from Aramaic, Hebrew, and Greek to Latin, then Ye Olde English, then to standard English- I guess we’re lucky they don’t read like the English instructions on my toaster made in Korea!

If you are not ashamed, you big wussy, you will pass this on.

But only if you mean it. Really, really mean it. Show me you mean it!

Don’t break the chain! Irving Mystelstefford broke the chain and guess where he is! That’s right, it’s Lake OhMyInvisibleOmnipotentSkyWizardWhyDidIBreakTheChainAndNotForwardYourSpamI’mBurningAhhhhhhhhh!!!!! for Irving Mystelstefford. Don’t be an Irving Mystelstefford!!!!

So this is me ... Just Checking In




Check out time is 11:00.

[Qingdai]

Your ex?
Do tell!

[Doctor X]

I know if I came back and the thing I'd been tortured to death on was a symbol everywhere, I'd consider burning it down and starting over.

Should not have been such a prick the first time around.

--J.D.

[BracesForImpact]

That was fucking divine!:applaud::appl::clap2::clap::fullpoints:

[LadyShea]

My wife says I should just go black with my family as they are all 2,500 miles from here... but I don't know if I could maintain such an aggressive campaign. Becuase, at the end of the day, they are still my family and I have a built in compulsion to try and please them. You know, mommy issues...

Try it, though. You may be surprised how long you can hold out. Seriously, my hubby brushed shit off and put up with it for a long time, stating "They're my family". Didn't matter how appalled or pissed off I was, it was his family and he was going to maintain relations or whatever.

Then, his mom did something so egregious while we were visiting them, he went silent on her (really awkward for the hour long drive back to her home, then while he packed our shit and we left). We finished our vacation staying with friends, then flew home without speaking to her. He simply refused to talk to her.

When his sisters or dad called with their old methods of cajoling or guilting about his not speaking to his mom, he told them he would cut them all off too, and pretty much did. This went on about a year I guess.

Whole new ballgame after that. More because hubby knew he could live quite happily without contact, and knew he could do it again if they pulled any shit. They knew he wouldn't put up with anything anymore, and knew their old controlling habits were now useless.

They're still small-minded bigots, but they mind their manners around us almost always. I am pretty sure they remembered the whole thing acutely when we got Kiddo. I don't think they doubt we will cease contact if they step over the line with him.

If you want to be aggressive, rather than passive -aggressive as they are (ignoring your wishes is classic PA) filter all of their email addresses to delete after sending an auto response "I have asked you not to send me religious email. I consider it spam. You continued against my wishes so I will no longer accept email from you until you apologize, and vow never to do so again"

Or, for a softer touch, create Godspam filters that deletes the item after sending an autoresponse when various keywords (jesus, god, prayer) are found in the email saying "I have asked to be removed from these types of forwards, the email you sent has been auto-deleted"

[Kevlar]

chunks, that is too fucking awesome... I have a feeling that will be used in the future...

LadyShea, thanks for the kind words. Maybe you and my wife are right, it's time I grew a pair.

[LadyShea]

It's not about the size of your balls, it's about putting your own feelings and well being above theirs. It's about protecting yourself, looking out for number 1, whatever you want to use.

Some people are vampires, even if they don't know it. I have had to take the painful step of removing my neck from their fangs on a few occasions, because they wouldn't remove their fangs from my neck no matter how many times I asked.

[Plant Woman]

It's about boundaries and you are in your right to set them. Problem is, that once you set them, you have to be firm about them. If your family is used to overstepping them, it is going to be difficult at first.

I did what Lady Shea suggested about 6 years ago, asked my mother politely not to send me those e-mails anymore. She continued on so I asked her again not to continue sending me them. The third time, I warned her that I was going to block her e-mail if she didn't stop sending me them, the fourth time, I blocked her email after letting her know that's what I did. She sent out emails to all the family, telling them what a horrible person I was, I was tearing the family apart, they should pray for me, I was a nutcase, yadayadayada. One of my sisters forwarded her email to me. It was 8 pages long about all the horrible things I've done since my childhood. We haven't had a relationship since then. I hope your family isn't as nutty as mine and take it this far.

[livius drusus]

Damn. :stunned: I'm going to call my parents today and thank them again for being nice, normal people who love and respect me.

[LadyShea]

PW, how do you feel today about that? Were you like my hubby, who feared he would have all kinds of trouble maintaining black out, only to find it quite easy, or has it been very difficult?

Not trying to psychoanalyze, but like livius my folks love and respect me and are fairly normal, so I am just curious about a vastly different experience. I totally grilled my husband about it too.

[Watser?]

Damn. :stunned: I'm going to call my parents today and thank them again for being nice, normal people who love and respect me.

:yeahthat:

Or I would if they were still alive :(

ETA: My parents made me go to (Catholic) church too, until I refused to go any longer at about 17 or so. They weren't happy about that, but accepted it. They never harassed me about it or guilted me or told me I would go to Hell.

[Kevlar]

It's about boundaries and you are in your right to set them. Problem is, that once you set them, you have to be firm about them. If your family is used to overstepping them, it is going to be difficult at first.

I did what Lady Shea suggested about 6 years ago, asked my mother politely not to send me those e-mails anymore. She continued on so I asked her again not to continue sending me them. The third time, I warned her that I was going to block her e-mail if she didn't stop sending me them, the fourth time, I blocked her email after letting her know that's what I did. She sent out emails to all the family, telling them what a horrible person I was, I was tearing the family apart, they should pray for me, I was a nutcase, yadayadayada. One of my sisters forwarded her email to me. It was 8 pages long about all the horrible things I've done since my childhood. We haven't had a relationship since then. I hope your family isn't as nutty as mine and take it this far.

Dang, PeeDub... sounds all too familiar... here is the last e-mail from my brother:


I guess we have reached the end of your intellectual thought pattern. Too bad I was hoping to see real deep thought. As far as my medical condition, The IQ test was done by a doctor who looked at that. He said most will see me as one thing, but few will see the desparate atempt to get help. Strange world ain't it. Only thing I can deny is what you stand on. We had good times and you are blocking those times.

Yeap, it will do ya good to cut off all family and see what happens. Your almost there, to a point of rock bottom. Been there and know how it feels. There is hope. The hope of a better tomorrow. Since you have all these memories of me as a kid, I guess there is no way that I can change! If that was the case, I would have stayed home attached to Mom.

You took the easy way out of everything, so we really do not have anything in common. You know, one day you will want to make a mend of our relationship. When that day comes, I will be here.

BTW, I don't have to lie about you, you do a good job of hanging yourself.


Keep in mind that he is not-very-functioning-autistic, plus he has Kleinfelter's syndrome, so that what he writes is only parroting my mom and dad. For instance, he accuses me of always taking the easy way out, when I was the one who joined the Army at 17 and he lived at home, without a job, until he was 35. Also, he constantly refers to our childhood and how great things were then, the truth was he was an overwhelmingly hostile bully to me and I had to avoid him for my own safety. We were never ever close by any stretch of the imagination. My grandmother wouldn't even let us play together when she watched us, after he took a kitchen knife and tried to stab me when he was about 6. Also keep in mind that I've never mentioned to them anything about cutting myself off from the family, they are the ones who keep bringing it up. His last statement is in reference to the fact that I have to constantly tell him to stop spreading rumors about me.

[Plant Woman]

PW, how do you feel today about that? Were you like my hubby, who feared he would have all kinds of trouble maintaining black out, only to find it quite easy, or has it been very difficult?

Not trying to psychoanalyze, but like livius my folks love and respect me and are fairly normal, so I am just curious or a vastly different experience. I totally grilled my husband about it too.

After she pulled the "cutting me from the herd" stunt, it was quite painful to walk away, but necessary for my own sanity. I wasn't planning on totally walking away from her, just blocked her email because she wouldn't honor my requests. Had she called me and said she didn't realize how important it was to me to stop those emails and she wouldn't send me anymore, I would have accepted it, no apologies necessary, just honor my boundaries. Hopefully Kevlar's family isn't so dysfunctional. I've had lots of therapy to help me with mine.

[beyelzu]

Kev, can't you just delete the godspam emails?

Why do you have to reply with an atheist response? It's not like you're going to convert them, the same as they are not going to convert you.

for me, it's the whole dont let ignorance go unopposed. If you want to pass something on that is amusing, meh, ok. if you want to spam me with crap about your god dont expect me to be silent about it.


Its the same reason I used to wear my nothing fails like prayer shirt.

I like to let them know that there are people that dont believe like them and that i personally dont appreciate them bothering me.

[Kevlar]

PW, how do you feel today about that? Were you like my hubby, who feared he would have all kinds of trouble maintaining black out, only to find it quite easy, or has it been very difficult?

Not trying to psychoanalyze, but like livius my folks love and respect me and are fairly normal, so I am just curious about a vastly different experience. I totally grilled my husband about it too.

This is my wife's problem with understanding my situation, she had a very doting mother and father, so I'm not sure that she understands the insecurity I've gone through.

[Kevlar]

for me, it's the whole dont let ignorance go unopposed. If you want to pass something on that is amusing, meh, ok. if you want to spam me with crap about your god dont expect me to be silent about it.


Its the same reason I used to wear my nothing fails like prayer shirt.

I like to let them know that there are people that dont believe like them and that i personally dont appreciate them bothering me.

Word

[Plant Woman]

Kev, I see we cross-posted. The healthiest thing we can do in our situation is set our boundaries and be firm. They are going to do everything to keep you in your usual place, but it only serves to show you their own dysfunction. At some point it helps to accept that they think negatively about you, spread rumors etc. It doesn't matter if you are caught in the net, or untangle yourself from it, they will still think that way about you and still behave the same way. I've had to learn that it isn't a reflection on me, it's their dysfunction, and I'm not owning it anymore.

[erimir]

ETA: My parents made me go to (Catholic) church too, until I refused to go any longer at about 17 or so. They weren't happy about that, but accepted it. They never harassed me about it or guilted me or told me I would go to Hell.Of course not. There's no point in threatening a Dutchman with hell. We all know the Dutch are so evil that they all go to hell regardless.

Also, this thread makes me appreciate having irreligious parents.

[livius drusus]

My parents made me go to (Catholic) church too, until I refused to go any longer at about 17 or so. They weren't happy about that, but accepted it. They never harassed me about it or guilted me or told me I would go to Hell.
I had to go to mass at school (we had mass 3 or 4 times a semester for major holidays and events like the anniversary of someone becoming a nun) and St. Peter's every Sunday and we weren't even Catholic!!1 My parents are sort of vague liberal Protestants, but as far as they were concerned, it was a matter of respecting local custom. When in Rome and all that.

[beyelzu]

It's about boundaries and you are in your right to set them. Problem is, that once you set them, you have to be firm about them. If your family is used to overstepping them, it is going to be difficult at first.

I did what Lady Shea suggested about 6 years ago, asked my mother politely not to send me those e-mails anymore. She continued on so I asked her again not to continue sending me them. The third time, I warned her that I was going to block her e-mail if she didn't stop sending me them, the fourth time, I blocked her email after letting her know that's what I did. She sent out emails to all the family, telling them what a horrible person I was, I was tearing the family apart, they should pray for me, I was a nutcase, yadayadayada. One of my sisters forwarded her email to me. It was 8 pages long about all the horrible things I've done since my childhood. We haven't had a relationship since then. I hope your family isn't as nutty as mine and take it this far.

Dang, PeeDub... sounds all too familiar... here is the last e-mail from my brother:


I guess we have reached the end of your intellectual thought pattern. Too bad I was hoping to see real deep thought. As far as my medical condition, The IQ test was done by a doctor who looked at that. He said most will see me as one thing, but few will see the desparate atempt to get help. Strange world ain't it. Only thing I can deny is what you stand on. We had good times and you are blocking those times.

Yeap, it will do ya good to cut off all family and see what happens. Your almost there, to a point of rock bottom. Been there and know how it feels. There is hope. The hope of a better tomorrow. Since you have all these memories of me as a kid, I guess there is no way that I can change! If that was the case, I would have stayed home attached to Mom.

You took the easy way out of everything, so we really do not have anything in common. You know, one day you will want to make a mend of our relationship. When that day comes, I will be here.

BTW, I don't have to lie about you, you do a good job of hanging yourself.


Keep in mind that he is not-very-functioning-autistic, plus he has Kleinfelter's syndrome, so that what he writes is only parroting my mom and dad. For instance, he accuses me of always taking the easy way out, when I was the one who joined the Army at 17 and he lived at home, without a job, until he was 35. Also, he constantly refers to our childhood and how great things were then, the truth was he was an overwhelmingly hostile bully to me and I had to avoid him for my own safety. We were never ever close by any stretch of the imagination. My grandmother wouldn't even let us play together when she watched us, after he took a kitchen knife and tried to stab me when he was about 6. Also keep in mind that I've never mentioned to them anything about cutting myself off from the family, they are the ones who keep bringing it up. His last statement is in reference to the fact that I have to constantly tell him to stop spreading rumors about me.

dude, tell him to shut the fuck up and/or get help.


that is complete fucking bullshit, I dont know you irl, I dont know your past, but there is no fucking way that is an accurate view of who you are and the situation.

I find it impossible to believe that avoidance would be more heart rending then receiving such noxious bullshit.

Seriously man, dont take that shit.

[beyelzu]

ETA: My parents made me go to (Catholic) church too, until I refused to go any longer at about 17 or so. They weren't happy about that, but accepted it. They never harassed me about it or guilted me or told me I would go to Hell.Of course not. There's no point in threatening a Dutchman with hell. We all know the Dutch are so evil that they all go to hell regardless.

Also, this thread makes me appreciate having irreligious parents.

and suddenly I appreciate a mother who wasnt particularly religious and was generally too hungover to take us to church.

[beyelzu]

My parents made me go to (Catholic) church too, until I refused to go any longer at about 17 or so. They weren't happy about that, but accepted it. They never harassed me about it or guilted me or told me I would go to Hell.
I had to go to mass at school (we had mass 3 or 4 times a semester for major holidays and events like the anniversary of someone becoming a nun) and St. Peter's every Sunday and we weren't even Catholic!!1 My parents are sort of vague liberal Protestants, but as far as they were concerned, it was a matter of respecting local custom. When in Rome and all that.

did they also make you serve a stint as a secutor or perhaps a retiarius?

[LadyShea]

I'm not owning it anymore

This is something many have to say to themselves, including me. What I tend to take on as mine is maybe different than yours or others, but that tendency is strong.

[livius drusus]

did they also make you serve a stint as a secutor or perhaps a retiarius?

No, dammit. And that would have come with way cooler gear than a blue blazer. I TAKE IT ALL BACK, MOM AND DAD. HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?!? :cryhome:

[Kevlar]

dude, tell him to shut the fuck up and/or get help.


that is complete fucking bullshit, I dont know you irl, I dont know your past, but there is no fucking way that is an accurate view of who you are and the situation.

I find it impossible to believe that avoidance would be more heart rending then receiving such noxious bullshit.

Seriously man, dont take that shit.

You are absolutely right, it is a complete fabrication of the circumstances. I can't exactly blame my brother, as it truly is mental disorder. He has always been grossly removed from reality... and I do tell him to fuck off from time-to-time, but I really shouldn't (I feel bad about it). The real problem is he's just saying what my parents tell him.

[Leesifer]

Kev, can't you just delete the godspam emails?

Why do you have to reply with an atheist response? It's not like you're going to convert them, the same as they are not going to convert you.

for me, it's the whole dont let ignorance go unopposed. If you want to pass something on that is amusing, meh, ok. if you want to spam me with crap about your god dont expect me to be silent about it.


Its the same reason I used to wear my nothing fails like prayer shirt.

I like to let them know that there are people that dont believe like them and that i personally dont appreciate them bothering me.

After reading the most recent posts, I still can't comprehend totally. Although, apologies to Kev for making it sound so easy to ignore.

Religion has never been important here, from my experience. And the majority of my family are totally non-religious. The closest we have is my Aunt (Dad's sister) who got converted to Jehovas Witness on her doorstep. Her whole side of the family are Jehovas. But all that she did was mention once that she wants to save us all. It was actually very heartfelt (she truly believes we are gonners when the end of the world happens), but that's been the one and only mention.

[Kevlar]

No reason to apologize Lees, it's a very complicated situation.

I've heard one group of psycologists compare being raised in an evangelical home to being raised in an alcoholic home. I even read a book about this but can't remember the name. It made a lot of good points, in that there is no emotional care, the parents are pretty much checked out of reality, and the children have to deal with the isolation that follows. My point is, it's an inherently odd situation that is very difficult to understand if you didn't experience it yourself.

[Kevlar]

Here's (http://www.amazon.com/Growing-Holy-Wholly-Understanding-ebook/dp/B000VXIJA4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241728099&sr=8-2) the book I was talking about. I would not really recommend it becuase it's a Christian book but the guy does make some interesting points.

[Watser?]

Kev, can't you just delete the godspam emails?

Why do you have to reply with an atheist response? It's not like you're going to convert them, the same as they are not going to convert you.

for me, it's the whole dont let ignorance go unopposed. If you want to pass something on that is amusing, meh, ok. if you want to spam me with crap about your god dont expect me to be silent about it.


Its the same reason I used to wear my nothing fails like prayer shirt.

I like to let them know that there are people that dont believe like them and that i personally dont appreciate them bothering me.

After reading the most recent posts, I still can't comprehend totally. Although, apologies to Kev for making it sound so easy to ignore.

Religion has never been important here, from my experience. And the majority of my family are totally non-religious. The closest we have is my Aunt (Dad's sister) who got converted to Jehovas Witness on her doorstep. Her whole side of the family are Jehovas. But all that she did was mention once that she wants to save us all. It was actually very heartfelt (she truly believes we are gonners when the end of the world happens), but that's been the one and only mention.

I think what we have here is a culture gap, Lees. Not sure about the UK, but over here and I think in most of (Western) Europe bringing up religion in public is considered extremely rude (even more so than bringing up politics). Trying to convert a person is amazingly rude, almost worse than exposing yourself in public (even though the JW's ignore that). A person's religious views are very personal and in some cases you never really find out what your co-worker's or neighbour's religious views are.

From what I read and hear about the US that is not exactly true there.

[Dingfod]

Some thread on RnR is following the latest RRS mastahpiece, something about "debaptism," which is evidently an atheist ceremony that involves pooping on a Bible. I don't know why my atheist minister didn't tell me about this at our weekly atheist meetings.RRS folks took over the local Drinking Liberally group with their crazed 9/11 conspiracy crapola. The same people make regular appearances at the atheist meetups as well. I think they're nucking futs. Rational? Hardly. Radical, more like.

I'll admit, I wish I could just delete these and forget about it... but it's the passive-aggressive thing that keeps getting to me. I've been an object of rejection for these people for a very long time, and it just keeps throwing salt in old wounds. So the problem with ignoring it is it will just keep building up until I explode.

My wife says I should just go black with my family as they are all 2,500 miles from here... but I don't know if I could maintain such an aggressive campaign. Becuase, at the end of the day, they are still my family and I have a built in compulsion to try and please them. You know, mommy issues...I did what LadyShea does, hit Reply All with a snopes.com debunking or questions about the logical leaps in the missives. I've gotten quite a few pieces of hate mail from people I didn't even know and even a few positive affirmations for it, but in every case, they took me off their mailing list for the kind of garbage. On the last one my best friend from high school sent me, I replied to him only saying "I do want to hear from you, but I want to hear how you are doing, what you're doing, what your plans are, how the kids and grandkids are doing, etc., but if all you're going to do is send me this kind of crap, forget it, take me off your email. I have barely heard from them since then. I love the guy, but sheesh, if all there is to our friendship is FWD: FWD: FWD: FWD: You have to see this and forward it to all your friends ASAP, I don't need it. If we were neighbors and all he did was drop by to drop off church literature, I'd probably tell him to not bother.

Then again, I've been lamenting not having any friends, so maybe I should be like that same buddy, whose wife likes email spam because it means people are thinking of her [as they hit Forward To All?], keeping family and friends close.

NOT.

[Kevlar]

I think what we have here is a culture gap, Lees. Not sure about the UK, but over here and I think in most of (Western) Europe bringing up religion in public is considered extremely rude (even more so than bringing up politics). Trying to convert a person is amazingly rude, almost worse than exposing yourself in public (even though the JW's ignore that). A person's religious views are very personal and in some cases you never really find out what your co-worker's or neighbour's religious views are.

From what I read and hear about the US that is not exactly true there.

That is certainly true for a good portion of the country, but that hasn't always been the case. I come from a long line of Southerners, and my grandparents were like you described, they considered it very rude to wear your religion on your shoulder. Modern pop-religion was kind of a rebellion for my parents. My grandparents were moderate christian democrats (as were the majority of Southerners at the time), and my parents became evangelical republicans (Dixiecrats).

Now that I live in Oregon, people here are like the old school, they don't wear religion on their sleeves. It's still considered rude here. As a matter of fact, I've been here over a year, and only had one religious argument with anybody.

[Watser?]

Aha, ok. I had no idea it was mostly a recent thing.

[erimir]

It seems to be pretty acceptable to have religious discussions here in NC.

That isn't to say that it will endear you to people. Altho maybe they would have more positive results if I was a Christian since I could simply say my denomination and that would likely end a number of these conversations.

[ChuckF]

I get Godspam/GOPspam from a couple of clueless relatives who married into the family and still haven't figured out that we don't talk about religion. It's usually a balete-forget-see you when somebody dies kind of deal for me. I guess I don't really get why people feel the need to forward stupid e-mails at all. Seriously, once I met a new co-worker and within ten minutes she had forwarded me like 5 dumbass things that were sitting in her inbox itching for distribution. (ha I didn't mean for that to sound dirty but it did)

[godfry n. glad]

I think what we have here is a culture gap, Lees. Not sure about the UK, but over here and I think in most of (Western) Europe bringing up religion in public is considered extremely rude (even more so than bringing up politics). Trying to convert a person is amazingly rude, almost worse than exposing yourself in public (even though the JW's ignore that). A person's religious views are very personal and in some cases you never really find out what your co-worker's or neighbour's religious views are.

From what I read and hear about the US that is not exactly true there.

That is certainly true for a good portion of the country, but that hasn't always been the case. I come from a long line of Southerners, and my grandparents were like you described, they considered it very rude to wear your religion on your shoulder. Modern pop-religion was kind of a rebellion for my parents. My grandparents were moderate christian democrats (as were the majority of Southerners at the time), and my parents became evangelical republicans (Dixiecrats).

Now that I live in Oregon, people here are like the old school, they don't wear religion on their sleeves. It's still considered rude here. As a matter of fact, I've been here over a year, and only had one religious argument with anybody.


Well...To be truthful, it is an open topic, but there isn't much to talk about. Most folks around here are either apathist or fundamentalist. There is a sizeable chunk of nominally 'mainline' denominations, but they have learned it is better to do the work which needs doing and allow that to speak for them, but they are still a considerable minority. Oregon, although no longer the most unchurched, is still high up on the list.

[chunksmediocrites]

Cutting off contact with relatives is a mixed bag in my mind. Qingdai and I ended up seriously reducing interaction with her dad's wife, her poor boundaries and expectations just got to be too much. While a pain at the time, it has been a relief mostly since, though the down-side is Qingdai doesn't see as much of her father as she might like (and the upside being when she does see him, he's mostly not bringing his wife).

Family can definitely be a cult experience, and getting away from the cult can be very hard. I am thankful over time that my family baggage isn't particularly religious addiction-shaped.

The shared experience of all of the kids in my family was that mom and dad repeatedly told us about 90% of our relatives were nuts and visiting for a day every once in a while was as much as anyone could take. Not surprisingly as adults my siblings and I mostly find my parents somewhat nuts and visiting for a day every once in a while is plenty.

What I'm trying to say- with weak anecdotes- is if you have some relatives (even make-believe aunts and uncles or whatever) that you can model interactions with for your kids, this may help your relations to them as adults. Modeling good boundaries and compassion in the face of irrational and demanding relatives is also important.

[MonCapitan2002]

Kev, can't you just delete the godspam emails?

Why do you have to reply with an atheist response? It's not like you're going to convert them, the same as they are not going to convert you.
It is a respect thing. They don't respect him or his beliefs so why should he respect them?

[Plant Woman]

Although I don't always live up to it, I believe we should try to respect people, even if they don't always respect us. Sometimes its a fine line to walk, and sometimes keep a distance is the only answer.

[Qingdai]

I was taught at a young age not to discuss, "politics, religion or money" in polite society.
So at one time, it was an American social custom of a certain class (those who had money in my family).

[godfry n. glad]

So...How often have you been in polite society?

I don't think I have much....although there were those years at the Chamber of Commerce.

[Qingdai]

I haven't been in "polite society" since my great grandma died. Gloves and hats for ladies, cocktail hour, so about 20 years. The last of that generation (great grand uncle) died last year.
They were Chicago bankers mostly.

[ChuckF]

Heh, conservative aunt (I stress that she married into the family) sent out some wacky e-mail today and put liberal aunt in the distribution list. Liberal aunt usually deletes them but today she was in a bad mood and asked me to dissect it. I did, she c/p'ed what I wrote and did a Reply All, so now some Alaskan dental hygienists and ministers are getting involved and the conversation keeps getting longer and longer. The only reply to my reply was "Read this book by Mark Levin and this book by Glenn Beck."

Imma get in trouble for sowing discord.

:fuel:

[LadyShea]

You have to post the original and your reply now dammit

[ChuckF]

No, I are ashamed of it because it is not :ff: quality, frankly. But good enough for fambly.

[LadyShea]

Well PM me then. Hubby is looking for responses...his sister just discovered email

BTW I told him to just ask her not to include him, and explain the whole netiquette thing, but nope...he wants to fuck with her

[The Man]

Yeah, I'd like to read it too.

[Doctor X]

Funny, I was in a Japanese books store looking for [Tentacle hentai.--Ed.] pencil lead and in the humor section [Where the Japanese sell pencil lead, apparently.--Ed.] I found a book: You Know You've Lived in Japan Too Long When___ by a correspondent who "went for a few months" and has been doing cartoons there ever since.

A lot better than I would have thought it would be.

Anyways, one of them was:

If you have ever served as a minister at a wedding.

As the author observes, you do not have to be Christian and, "unless they are one of the 1% of Japanese who are Christian, they won't be either!" Apparently, they just like the ceremony: "doesn't matter if you're an Atheist and don't believe in it: they don't either!"

For some reason that seems appropriate. Well it amuses me.

And you are all on my Ignore anyways. . . .

--J.D.

[Smilin]

Trying to convert a person is amazingly rude, almost worse than exposing yourself in public (even though the JW's ignore that). A person's religious views are very personal and in some cases you never really find out what your co-worker's or neighbour's religious views are.

From what I read and hear about the US that is not exactly true there.

Here in the US, JW's certainly do take attention when you expose yourself to them in public....

That's how I put an end to them showing up at my door....

I'd strip, grab a battle of Jack, answer the door...

and be all like...YES TELL ME ABOUT THE LUV OF JEEBUS....

The 80 year old lady was stunned....:D:giggle::wave:

Eventually they stopped showing up.....:lolfruits:

[Kevlar]

I had a couple of JW that used to visit me in NC (always on Saturday morning, of course), and I liked to humor them. One morning, I was home alone and was in my back yard raking leaves and smoking a doob (my back yard was pretty private). So I turn around, and to my shock, there they are smiling at me with those empty, pretentious smiles. She said "we tried to ring your doorbell!".

One of them (evidently, the leader) starts on her sermon, the other one is staring at my doob like I'm holding a live hand grenade, and I just keep on puffing and looking at them like I care. She goes on for about 10 minutes, without pausing, and then askes me if I had heard of the terrorist attacks on New York City (this was late 2001), and I just looked at her for a long time and then said "nope, what happened?". She proceeds to explain the events of 9/11 without batting an eye. She did it with the total conviction that it was entirely possible that some yuppy pothead had not heard about the terrorist attack two months before. When she finished I said "that's terrible!", and she said "yes, it's terrifying! Don't you feel like you need God?". I said "I don't know, but I could sure as heck could use a drink!".

It was at that point I think she decided that hell was probably a good fit for me, because they never stopped by my house again.

[Qingdai]

That's a good one, but as I've probably mentioned before, JW practice shunning.
So if you want them gone for good, just tell them yes you would like to talk to them because you were excommunicated since the transfusion. They will flee like bunnies.

[godfry n. glad]

THAT I liiiiiike.

Kev...I probably would have responded with, "God? Shit no, I need a drink!"

But I still think watching Witless run after telling them I was 'excommunicated after the transfusion' has to be a winner.