'Have a Blessed Day' versus 'Hope You Get Lucky Tonight'

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Dude, you're pissed that a waitress doesn't remember you're an atheist. Clearly that is you.

You're misrepresenting what Uberpod has said.

He didn't suggest that a server should memorize every customer's religious preferences. What he did suggest that "have a blessed day" should be reserved for situations where the server knows it's welcome. It could well be that the restaurant's so busy that the server doesn't know the customer' s preference most of the time... in those cases, exactly what's wrong with saying something neutral?

 

[YmirGF]

You're misrepresenting what Uberpod has said.

He didn't suggest that a server should memorize every customer's religious preferences. What he did suggest that "have a blessed day" should be reserved for situations where the server knows it's welcome. It could well be that the restaurant's so busy that the server doesn't know the customer' s preference most of the time... in those cases, exactly what's wrong with saying something neutral?

Sort of falls under the banner heading of "The lady doth protest too much, methinks."

 

[Storm]

You're misrepresenting what Uberpod has said.

He didn't suggest that a server should memorize every customer's religious preferences. What he did suggest that "have a blessed day" should be reserved for situations where the server knows it's welcome. It could well be that the restaurant's so busy that the server doesn't know the customer' s preference most of the time... in those cases, exactly what's wrong with saying something neutral?

He actually did imply that several times.

Nothing's wrong with saying neutral, and nobody's saying there is. What's wrong with talking like a Christian, though? Why does he get to overrule her right to choose her own damned phrasing for a generic, friendly farewell?

 

[Preachers-Wife]

It may be a small thing, but it's a thing: a waitress and a physician repeatedly wish me well by saying "have a blessed day" when we depart. I am not sure why I need to look through their words and see their good intentions. Yeah- and I have told the waitress I am not Christian. She does not remember me (or my order.) so she continues. She apparently always says goodbye this way.

I am an Atheist but they don't know that. But, by treating me by default as if I were Christian they are minimizing me. So, I have resolved to respond to their well-intended farewell with an assumption of my own. Having a good sex life is awesome. I know most people actually agree, but many want to keep the fact that they are sexual beings behind the curtain. However, if someone wished for me to get lucky tonight, I would feel very good intentions from them, and thank them for the good wishes. So, the golden rules says it is fine for me to try this out. What do you think??

I have a question if I may, are not Atheist blessed also? Your waitress didn't specify who should be doing the blessing only that they wish blessings to you. Would it be wrong of me to assume that, "getting lucky" could in fact be counted as a blessing to you?

 

[Uberpod]

He actually did imply that several times.

I implied that only once with a quick caveat that if her memory would not serve her, all the more reason that she should adopt a neutral parting gesture. The other times you inferred incorrectly. Not a big deal, except you fail to take correction on that.

 

[Storm]

I implied that only once with a quick caveat that if her memory would not serve her, all the more reason that she should adopt a neutral parting gesture. The other times you inferred incorrectly. Not a big deal, except you fail to take correction on that.

Actually, I refuse to "take correction," on the grounds that I just don't believe you.

 

[Uberpod]

I have a question if I may, are not Atheist blessed also?

No.

Your waitress didn't specify who should be doing the blessing only that they wish blessings to you. Would it be wrong of me to assume that, "getting lucky" could in fact be counted as a blessing to you?

It is true that the word bless has taken on a nonreligious tone in other contexts. I just sneezed not 20 minutes ago and a convict cleaning the street said "bless you". I took it as nothing but good will. It is inconvenient that a religious word has been homogenized and become nearly ubiquitous. I prefer the Seinfeld response - "you are so Good Looking!" HABD in its current incarnation means spiritually blessed. I believe this trend (moving in as a general parting gesture in a business setting) must be stopped. Religious people need to better understand their domain versus other's domain.

 

[oldbadger]

I'd wouldn't mind the blessed thingy at all, frankly. What gets me is perfect strangers asking, "How are you today?" (Like they care, lol.)
To that I often reply, "I'm breathing. And you?"

Picky! Gettin' nit-picky!

That reminds me of the master-sergeant in 'We were soldiers' who, when greeted with 'Good Morning' Sarge' by a passing private, retorted, 'Geesh..... What are you.... a f------ weather man?'

I don't pray, but tonight I am going to. I am going to ask Big-G to fix it so that for the rest of your life you are addressed by all strangers with 'And what do you want?'

 

[Preachers-Wife]

You have never been blessed? Really? Do you live in a cave?

Domain? Smh

 

[Revoltingest]

"Thank you" would be nice.
After all, you agree that there's nothing offensive in it, right? It's a traditional compliment... and there's nothing wrong with being white, is there?

This analogy really sux.
To say "white of you" is to presume that to be black is bad....a very nasty racist attitude. To say "blessed day" is to wish one well from a religious perspective. It does not automatically imply judgement that the recipient is a fellow believer, even though that presumption might be occasionally made. if greeted thus, I wouldn't care if people presumed me a Xian, since that is still positive (in their minds).

 

[Uberpod]

You have never been blessed? Really?

No - never. How are you defining the term?

Do you live in a cave?

I have a man cave. Does that count?

Domain? Smh

Like " I don't care how high your fence is, you cannot have a pool in your backyard, I might drown." The concept goes hand in hand with boundaries. Other examples: 1) Xtian: "Atheists hate God!" 2) Atheist: "Theists don't really believe in a God. They pretend."

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

He actually did imply that several times.

Nothing's wrong with saying neutral, and nobody's saying there is. What's wrong with talking like a Christian, though? Why does he get to overrule her right to choose her own damned phrasing for a generic, friendly farewell?

The problem isn't with talking like a Christian; it's with talking like the person you're talking to is Christian when you haven't bothered to find out whether they are or not.

 

[Preachers-Wife]

Blessed - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary

bless·ed
adjective \ˈble-səd\
: having a sacred nature : connected with God

: very welcome, pleasant, or appreciated

—used to make a statement more forceful


Full Definition of BLESSED
1
a : held in reverence : venerated <the blessed saints>

b : honored in worship : hallowed <the blessed Trinity>

c : beatific <a blessed visitation>
2
: of or enjoying happiness; specifically : enjoying the bliss of heaven —used as a title for a beatified person
3
: bringing pleasure, contentment, or good fortune
4
—used as an intensive <never had one blessed minute of instruction — Charles Scribner Jr.>

**I'm going with definition 3.

 

[Uberpod]

**I'm going with definition 3.

See how steeped the word blessed is in religious connotation? HABD is even more so.

 

[Preachers-Wife]

See how steeped the word blessed is in religious connotation? HABD is even more so.[/QUOTE]

Smdh

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

This analogy really sux.
To say "white of you" is to presume that to be black is bad....a very nasty racist attitude.

No more than describing a pale person as "fair-skinned".

To say "blessed day" is to wish one well from a religious perspective. It does not automatically imply judgement that the recipient is a fellow believer, even though that presumption might be occasionally made.

If a greeting isn't thoughtless, then it takes into
account the other person.

I don't have kids, so it would be inappropriate to wish me a happy Father's Day, no matter how positively the other person regards me or fatherhood. Similar idea with "have a blessed day": if the intent is to build a relationship - or even maintain the pretense of a relationship - then a greeting that's supposed to reflect me but doesn't won't serve that purpose.

if greeted thus, I wouldn't care if people presumed me a Xian, since that is still positive (in their minds).

You might not care, but I do.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Blessed - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary

bless·ed
adjective \ˈble-səd\
: having a sacred nature : connected with God

: very welcome, pleasant, or appreciated

—used to make a statement more forceful


Full Definition of BLESSED
1
a : held in reverence : venerated <the blessed saints>

b : honored in worship : hallowed <the blessed Trinity>

c : beatific <a blessed visitation>
2
: of or enjoying happiness; specifically : enjoying the bliss of heaven —used as a title for a beatified person
3
: bringing pleasure, contentment, or good fortune
4
—used as an intensive <never had one blessed minute of instruction — Charles Scribner Jr.>

**I'm going with definition 3.

I've seen a few editorials about cases where managers told their employees not to say "have a blessed day" to customers. This prompted outrage based on claims of infringement of religious freedom.

From your post here, I gather you think these objections are completely off-base, since "have a blessed day" has nothing to do with religion... right?

 

[Preachers-Wife]

I think TW is making a mountain out of a mole hill. Why be offended by someone trying to be nice? Seems kind of silly to me. Now if she would have been ugly and nasty, yes be offended, but offense taken because some one wishes nice things to happen for you? That is just weird to me.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I think TW is making a mountain out of a mole hill. Why be offended by someone trying to be nice? Seems kind of silly to me. Now if she would have been ugly and nasty, yes be offended, but offense taken because some one wishes nice things to happen for you? That is just weird to me.

You know what's weird to me?

When a person listens to someone share something that bothers them, and then decides that minimizing their concern and treating it as illegitimate will make everything better.

As an atheist, I already feel rather marginalized. I can only imagine how it is for atheists who live in more religious areas. You and the others in this thread who are arguing that I shouldn't be bothered by this sort of thing only makes me feel more marginalized.

If you want to be considered respectful of people like me, you'll take our concerns seriously.

 

[Uberpod]

I think TW is making a mountain out of a mole hill. Why be offended by someone trying to be nice? Seems kind of silly to me. Now if she would have been ugly and nasty, yes be offended, but offense taken because some one wishes nice things to happen for you? That is just weird to me.

Would you be offended if I gave you a "hope you get lucky tonight"?