The LJ posts that haven't made it to fruition this month

[zebra363]

1. The one I was composing in the car this evening about my irritation with a (non-LJ) friend on the other side of the country. However, imagining the responses some of you might give me convinced me to take a more charitable view of the situation. Thanks for your advice

Comments

[victorian_tweed]

1. *laughs* I do that too - compose posts and then imagine responses. Sometimes I do post them, just as a healthy way to get the irritation out of my system. I lock them to private before I actually hit the post button, and usually eventually delete them when they no longer feel relevant

[zebra363]

2. I genuinely like some of these colleagues, but I pretty much never enjoy the company of people in groups when alcohol is involved. It doesn't seem to have the effect on me that it does on others and it leads the conversation places I don't want to go with people I have to continue seeing at work.

3. That would be fun! But would people be game to eat them? It'd be like those Bertie's Every-Flavour Beans in HP - there'd be the risk that there might be some poo-flavoured ones mixed in!

4. I'm sure your friend will focus on the animal and the sentiment, not the printed message!

I don't say "bless you" or respond if other people say it to me - I grew up in a family that didn't think a sneeze needed an acknowledgement, and by the time I realised some people did, I didn't like the religious/superstitious element. But I can see that it doesn't really matter any more than calling the work end-of-year function a Christmas party does!

[bardiegrub]

I love the superstitious element of sneezing and I always say "bless you" because I'm thrilled at the idea that I have the power to cast out demons! Being an atheist doesn't mean I can't find other people's beliefs fun.

[zebra363]

Hopefully no one actually believes they're casting out demons!

[emma_in_oz]

I did overhear a brief conversation about multi-faith issues and the Christmas party.

The party organiser: So you're cool with coming?
Indian coworker: Yes, no problem.
Party organiser: But you're vegetarian so we should give you a discount.
Him: Wouldn't say no.
Party organiser: And anything in particular you'd like to eat?
Him: Samosas!
Party organiser: OK then.

[zebra363]

Great. I hope they arranged for the samosas!

More on the topic of 4.

[doctor_k_]

Despite being an atheist, I find religions fascinating, and would be happy to celebrate more religion-based feasts and holidays.
I'll happily celebrate Chinese New Year, solstices and equinoxes, Beltane, Samhain, Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, Easter, Christmas, Hanukkah, Passover, Eid ul-Fitr. Fascinating!
I'm also a fan of secular feasts and holidays. Any day where people put aside time to contemplate or celebrate is fine by me!

Re: More on the topic of 4.

[zebra363]

I'm perfectly happy to celebrate them in a secular way, but I wouldn't attend anything with an overt religious component (except the odd wedding, and I'm not very enthusiastic about those). Still, I like your attitude of being happy to make the most of celebrations under any name!

It wasn't until after my family moved to Australia that I even learned Christmas or Easter were religious holidays. I look back and marvel at how my parents accomplished that.

[baby_elvis]

I have been thinking on number 4 a lot, myself. I didn't even realise that Jews didn't believe the Jesus thing and thus, not celebrate Xmas, until I was 22 and one of my students was Jewish. Why, hallo thar, ms clueless.

As an atheist, and raised as such, I have always loved Xmas - for all its meanings. I really enjoyed the Nativity Story as a child.

But, boy or boy, is it ever a hot topic in the US, if lj is anything to go by.

[baby_elvis]

I should add, that I became much more sensitive to such things after the Judaic enlightenment, and would surreptitiously organise my pastoral groups' assemblies and communions in such a way so that the adherents of other faiths didn't have to mouth words and complete Anglican rituals. But I had to be sneaky.

[zebra363]

It's a mystery to me why anyone of a different or no faith would send their child to a religious school!

[kremmen]

Easy. Because they don't care about the religious component. Parents who believe that a private school is academically superior to their local public school may choose a private school, and most of them are religious. Catholic schools are often chosen because they're cheaper than others.

(When I was in secondary schooling in Sydney, I went to Sydney Grammar, which is one of the rare non-denominational private schools.)