Stupid People bitching about holiday greetings!

[Pedersen]

Oh, I love people who roll their eyes and say "I have a family member who is X and isn't offended by Y so there can't possibly be a problem with it, and only people with no common sense could possibly get offended by what I'm saying" argument.

Oh, I love arguments made by people who feel that personal attacks are the easiest and most reliable way to discredit a person. And yes, what you wrote there very much sounds like a personal attack.

And no, my point was that as someone who doesn't celebrate Hannukah/Solstice/Kwanza/etc, of course you wouldn't "get the hang of" those holidays or those religious greetings.

But, being an atheist, Lace will obviously "get the hang of" Christmas. Right. I like how many assumptions can be put into that statement, so let's list them out, shall we?

• Lace was born into and lived in a society that preaches Christmas.
• Lace was not born in a region where Christmas is considered "odd" (such as much of the Middle East, East Asia, etc).
• Lace was born into a household which would have allowed Christmas to be the norm, including the possibility that Lace was born into a Christian household.
• Lace later stopped following the practices of the parents, and became an atheist independently.
• Lace's parents were not atheists.

That's the list I could think of quickly. I'm sure there's quite a few others packed into that sentence of yours. I wasn't sure it was possible to pack so many assumptions into so small a thought. Impressive.

[anriana]

I'm sorry, but I fail to see the point you're trying to make. So, you're saying that cuz I'm an atheist, I'm therefore not allowed to say "Happy Christmas" on the offchance that I might offend a pagan, Jew or someone who celebrates Kwanza? Strange, my dad is Jewish and doesn't get offended. Nor do any people who have common sense... so unless I'm telling people "Go fuck yourself and have a happy Christmas" I really don't see why people have a right to be offended.

Oh, I love people who roll their eyes and say "I have a family member who is X and isn't offended by Y so there can't possibly be a problem with it, and only people with no common sense could possibly get offended by what I'm saying" argument.

And no, my point was that as someone who doesn't celebrate Hannukah/Solstice/Kwanza/etc, of course you wouldn't "get the hang of" those holidays or those religious greetings.

[Lace Neil Singer]

That would be because you're an atheist and not Jewish/Pagan/a practicer of Kwanzaa.

I'm sorry, but I fail to see the point you're trying to make. So, you're saying that cuz I'm an atheist, I'm therefore not allowed to say "Happy Christmas" on the offchance that I might offend a pagan, Jew or someone who celebrates Kwanza? Strange, my dad is Jewish and doesn't get offended. Nor do any people who have common sense... so unless I'm telling people "Go fuck yourself and have a happy Christmas" I really don't see why people have a right to be offended.

[daleduke17]

That would be because you're an atheist and not Jewish/Pagan/a practicer of Kwanzaa.

Because, you know, everyone has to get offended by something, right?

[anriana]

I'm an atheist; and I wish people "Happy Christmas." I see it as a family occasion more than anything. I never really got the hang of "Happy Holidays/Festivus/Winterville" XD

That would be because you're an atheist and not Jewish/Pagan/a practicer of Kwanzaa.

[Lace Neil Singer]

I'm an atheist; and I wish people "Happy Christmas." I see it as a family occasion more than anything. I never really got the hang of "Happy Holidays/Festivus/Winterville" XD

[AdminAssistant]

Ah, Dionysus. The god of sex, wine, and theatre. We have the best god!

[Flyndaran]

I think you may have the Maenads in mind.

Rapscallion

Ahhhh. That's it. It's been so long since I read about classic Greek and Roman mythology. My mistake.

[Rapscallion]

I think you may have the Maenads in mind.

Rapscallion

[Flyndaran]

??? Where do you get the "limbs torn off by crazy chicks" from??
...)

I think it might have been in a greek play or some such. I remember a female only celebration that if any man should witness it, the women under the influence of a trance like physically enhance state would kill them by tearing them apart.

[Slytovhand]

??? Where do you get the "limbs torn off by crazy chicks" from??

It was to honour Bacchus/Dionysus - and thus a time to drink, drink, drink and drink. Oh, and have a bit of rumpy-pumpy... and then drink some more. No limb tearing involved.

(sounds a bit like Christmas, yes?? )

[Flyndaran]

...
Oh - and trust me, if we started throwing around "Happy Saturnalia" you'd get a few not-nice comments.
...

Maybe they confused it with "Happy Bachinalia".
As a male, I would be quite scared if a woman wished me that. I don't want my limbs torn off by crazy chicks.

[Slytovhand]

I'm one of those slightly more annoying ones who don't like copping the "Merry Christmas" line - but that's cos I'm pagan.

Happy Holidays makes sense - at the very least because it's the end of the year, and that's when pretty much every culture (well, based on the Western calender). But I'll only get narky towards those who actually know me. Strangers - I just let it pass... in silence.....

I'M LOSING MY RIGHT AS A CHRISTIAN!!

Not before I lost my rights as a pagan....

Oh - and trust me, if we started throwing around "Happy Saturnalia" you'd get a few not-nice comments.

Boozy - as per Rupert Murdoch... yep, our declaration of war on the US... why has it taken this long for people to notice???

[Amethyst Hunter]

X-tian is just a nickname based on the first letter of Christ in greek. It has no other ulterior meanings.

I first started using "Xtian" as an abbreviation, since that was how I first encountered it. Over time, I saw people using it more as a way to differentiate between fundie nutjobs and people who behaved sanely, the latter getting the full "Christian" spelling as a mark of respect, because even if they and others (agnostics, atheists, pagans, etc.) disagreed, they could still stay cool about things. The fundie nuts, on the other hand, are the ones out there waving their little signs and marching their little protests and trying to pass as many bullshit laws as they can, because they're so into the whole "OMG WE R TEH PERSECUTED!!" crap.

Here's how I see it, at least in regards to the topic:


Stranger: Happy Holidays!

Christian: Thank you! And a Merry Christmas to you too! (Said in a friendly tone, of course)

Stranger: Thanks, dude!



Stranger: Happy Holidays!

Xtian: IT'S MERRY CHRISTMAS, NOT HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! HOW DARE YOU TAKE CHRIST OUT OF CHRISTMAS! I'M LOSING MY RIGHT AS A CHRISTIAN!!

Stranger: ...


Big difference between the two, no?

Bottom line IMO is that if you act like a decent human being regardless of your religion (or lack thereof), then I will gladly give you the respect that you deserve. Act like a spoogemuffin, and I'm gonna rip you apart, coal or no coal in my stocking.

[Flyndaran]

X-tian is just a nickname based on the first letter of Christ in greek. It has no other ulterior meanings. I would appreciate if those pro and con wouldn't try to add any. It just confuseses an already volitile issue.