Todays Pet Peeve 24 November 2008 (free, buy, sticker, people)

[AliceT]

People asking if you have all your shopping done or started. It gets more frequent as the holidays near. Whatever happened to "nice weather we're having." I have a real problem with people who think the holidays are all about giving gifts to each other, literally taking Christ out of it. It just irks me.

[Rathagos]

Don't worry... the gestures of Christmas will continue, but the holiday will be gone soon enough, I'm afraid. We're too busy being a society that believes individuals are more important that society itself. So, to protect hurting the feelings of the Jewish, the Arabians, the Zoroastrians, the Wiccans, the Hindus, the Buddhists, and the aliens from outer space we haven't met yet, but just KNOW we would offend by Christmas with a spiritual meaning, they will probably cancel the religious overtones of Christmas.

However, to make the Christians feel better, please feel free to participate in Eid Al-Fitr, Ramadan, Hanukkah, Rosh Hashana, Asalha Puja, winter and summer solstices, and Maidyarem.

Hehe... fueling the fire here... but doesn't it just smack of some realism?

And, I don't mind the "have you finished shopping yet"... but at least wait until after Thanksgiving to ask, please!

[115db]

Heck, people are already asking me what Im getting for who this year. I dont know!!! I cant even be sure if or where we're going yet, with everyones work schedules....

[msina]

Another one that gets to me this time of year (though I know it's for a good cause), every store wants you to give to one organization or another. The cashier asked me at the grocery store If I wanted to "buy" a gift box for the needy for $10.00. By the time you do all the running from store to store on a busy shopping day it can add up and I feel guilty if I want to say not this time.

[tet tea]

Well in the "spirit" of things ...

I refuse to say "Happy Holidays"

It's MERRY CHRISTMAS. Always has been and always will be!

[fuzzymystic]

I'll bet secretly, or maybe even subsconciously, when people ask if you're done with your shopping, they want you to ask them if they're done. So, if you answer 'no, how about you', and they smugly say yes, ask them if they got you anything. Then you can talk about the weather-if they haven't suddenly remembered an important appointment.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by fuzzymystic

I'll bet secretly, or maybe even subsconciously, when people ask if you're done with your shopping, they want you to ask them if they're done. So, if you answer 'no, how about you', and they smugly say yes, ask them if they got you anything. Then you can talk about the weather-if they haven't suddenly remembered an important appointment.

heehee
Very true.

Originally Posted by msina

Another one that gets to me this time of year (though I know it's for a good cause), every store wants you to give to one organization or another. The cashier asked me at the grocery store If I wanted to "buy" a gift box for the needy for $10.00. By the time you do all the running from store to store on a busy shopping day it can add up and I feel guilty if I want to say not this time.

I agree.
Coercion never makes a person feel good about giving.

Originally Posted by tet tea

Well in the "spirit" of things ...

I refuse to say "Happy Holidays"

It's MERRY CHRISTMAS. Always has been and always will be!

I don't refuse to say anything.
IMHO there is no one belief system that must reign supreme.
I'll say Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Got Jul, Happy Solstice, Happy Hannukah--whatever, I'll say it, and feel good about saying it.
That old Bill O Reilly cracks me up:
If you buy one of his products (and spend at least $19.95) he will send you one of his We Say Merry Christmas bumperstickers.
LINK
What a guy, sticking to the rea$on for the $eason.