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

[sojourner]

Have you and Storm started some sort of straw man club?

No, you don't need to do all that. Not unless you insist on saying "have a blessed day" to every single person who wouldn't be offended by it.

Do you insist on saying "give my regards to your husband" to every woman you run into without regard to whether they're married?

Do you say "drive safe" to people without knowing whether they have a car?

It's really not that difficult a concept. I don't know why a few people here are having trouble with it.

Because "have a blessed day" isn't circumstance-dependent, as are the examples you supplied here. Anyone, at any time, can have a blessed day -- even those who are in the middle of crisis. That's what's so dumb about this. The statement isn't circumstance-specific.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Not difficult at all. Just completely misapplied. Just like the militant Christian conformists who insist that "happy holidays" is offensive to them.

I find that bizarre because "happy holidays" used to be very prevalent among Christians. It was meant to recognize not just Christmas, but all the religious observances from Advent to Epiphany.

Christians getting upset about "happy holidays" is ignorant of the history of the phrase. OTOH, ignoring the religious baggage of "have a blessed day" - a phrase that came into popularity as a religious response to increasing secularism - is similarly ignorant.

Gee, I wonder why you keep dodging that point? Could it possibly be that you just can't rebut it?

My money's on a different possibility: that figuring out a point from your ranty posts in this thread is often harder than you think it is.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Because "have a blessed day" isn't circumstance-dependent, as are the examples you supplied here. Anyone, at any time, can have a blessed day -- even those who are in the middle of crisis. That's what's so dumb about this. The statement isn't circumstance-specific.

You realize that a segment of the population is bothered by being told to "have a blessed day". If you choose to say it anyway without regard to whether it's wanted, you are literally showing disregard for these people.

If you don't care whether you show them regard or not, that's your business, but if you want to be seen as courteous to people like me, you won't use the expression with me. The choice is yours.

 

[Storm]

I find that bizarre because "happy holidays" used to be very prevalent among Christians. It was meant to recognize not just Christmas, but all the religious observances from Advent to Epiphany.

And "real people" have tried to point out that the concept of blessing isn't really specific to religion, let alone Christianity.

Christians getting upset about "happy holidays" is ignorant of the history of the phrase.

See, language changes over time. I thought I (or one of the other people trying) made that point around the time I brought up calling homosexuals 'gay,' and and you dropped the "mighty white of you" argument like it had burned you.

At any rate, what the words mean now is what's important. Some Christians get upset because people wish them well in ways that aren't explicitly Christian (congratulations, the fact that I didn't want to type "happy holidays/ seasons greetings/ happy Chanukah/ happy Kwanzaa/ good Yule" did give you an excuse to play dumb). Some atheists get upset because people wish them well in ways that imply not everyone is atheist.

Now, what's the functional difference between the two?

OTOH, ignoring the religious baggage of "have a blessed day"

We can't ignore what doesn't exist. Someone else simply being religious is not "religious baggage."

a phrase that came into popularity as a religious response to increasing secularism - is similarly ignorant.

Please support your claim.

My money's on a different possibility: that figuring out a point from your ranty posts in this thread is often harder than you think it is.

Oh, nice personal jab. Let me try:
I bet if you read carefully enough to realize that we're discussing a farewell, which you've called a greeting at least twice, my points would be easier to see.

Have a blessed day.

 

[Storm]

You realize that a segment of the population is bothered by being told to "have a blessed day". If you choose to say it anyway without regard to whether it's wanted, you are literally showing disregard for these people.

If you don't care whether you show them regard or not, that's your business, but if you want to be seen as courteous to people like me, you won't use the expression with me. The choice is yours.

Give O'Reilly back his playbook.

 

[Quintessence]

To see the problem, consider the opposite: someone who sees God as negative saying "have a godless day" to people. Should that person not expect to offend people?

Except that's not the opposite. That's what I don't get about this.

The opposite of a blessing is a curse. The opposite of "have a blessed day" is "have a cursed day" or "have a misfortunate day."

As the listener, if someone wishes you blessings, you have no idea what power they are (or aren't) invoking without making an assumption. All we know is that the person is granting us their blessing or good wishes. They may or may not be invoking a deity. If the speaker explicitly meant to grant blessings on the behalf of a god, they will say "[insert deity here] bless."

 

[Uberpod]

Except that's not the opposite. That's what I don't get about this.

The opposite of a blessing is a curse. The opposite of "have a blessed day" is "have a cursed day" or "have a misfortunate day."

As the listener, if someone wishes you blessings, you have no idea what power they are (or aren't) invoking without making an assumption. All we know is that the person is granting us their blessing or good wishes. They may or may not be invoking a deity. If the speaker explicitly meant to grant blessings on the behalf of a god, they will say "[insert deity here] bless."

Let's stick with the OP comparison. Is it fine for me to share a wish that people in the general public get lucky sexually as a parting wish if I sincerely think that sexual fulfillment is an optimal boon for human being?

 

[Uberpod]

Give O'Reilly back his playbook.

O'Reilly is right, if people are wishing known Christians "happy holidays'' on Christmas Day. That would be just as foolish.

 

[sojourner]

You realize that a segment of the population is bothered by being told to "have a blessed day". If you choose to say it anyway without regard to whether it's wanted, you are literally showing disregard for these people.

If you don't care whether you show them regard or not, that's your business, but if you want to be seen as courteous to people like me, you won't use the expression with me. The choice is yours.

You realize that a segment of the population is bothered by Democrats, too. Shall we eradicate them and simply go to a one-party system? A segment of the population is bothered by Native Americans. They got their way, killed about 10 million or so of them, and shoved the rest onto the worst land we could find (that is, before we killed their cultures, their religions, and their languages). Shall we do that all over again with every group that "bothers" us? This is a diverse and multi-faceted society. Get over your oh-so-precious bias and learn to live with other people.

 

[Quintessence]

Let's stick with the OP comparison. Is it fine for me to share a wish that people in the general public get lucky sexually as a parting wish if I sincerely think that sexual fulfillment is an optimal boon for human being?

Setting aside the absurdity of the example, of course it's fine. You have freedom of speech. Nobody is going to put you in jail over it unless you pull a creeper and constantly say this to some particular woman to the point it constitutes sexual harassment.

You then to ask yourself if you care about the consequences of your speech given the considerations of others. You (probably) know that your beliefs are counter to the prevailing cultural norms of your society. With that knowledge, it is your responsibility to adjust (or not) your behavior as you deem wise and acceptable.

 

[Uberpod]

You realize that a segment of the population is bothered by Democrats, too.
Shall we eradicate them and simply go to a one-party system? A segment of the population is bothered by Native Americans. They got their way, killed about 10 million or so of them, and shoved the rest onto the worst land we could find (that is, before we killed their cultures, their religions, and their languages). Shall we do that all over again with every group that "bothers" us?

Ridiculous comparisons. Christians with good boundaries are not a bother. The whole issue is about foisting a frame of reference unfairly on strangers.

This is a diverse and multi-faceted society. Get over your oh-so-precious bias and learn to live with other people.

You turn the issue inside out here. Who is being more inclusive, someone suggesting cautious wording among strangers, or someone advocating that everyone just assume their own perspective can be treated as a universal?

 

[Uberpod]

Setting aside the absurdity of the example, of course it's fine. You have freedom of speech. Nobody is going to put you in jail over it unless you pull a creeper and constantly say this to some particular woman to the point it constitutes sexual harassment.

You then to ask yourself if you care about the consequences of your speech given the considerations of others. You (probably) know that your beliefs are counter to the prevailing cultural norms of your society. With that knowledge, it is your responsibility to adjust (or not) your behavior as you deem wise and acceptable.

So, minority sensibilities are to be ignored and while more prevailing attitudes get full consideration? Is this just a numbers thing?

 

[Storm]

O'Reilly is right, if people are wishing known Christians "happy holidays'' on Christmas Day. That would be just as foolish.

Wow.

Fine. I sincerely hope that the poor woman who was stupid-but-kind enough to wish you well at least has a decent boss. Then you can have fun getting your self-righteous *** thrown out of the restaurant for sexually harassing her. I'm sure it'll be much improved by the revelation that you're gay, seeing as the South is SO hateful and judgmental that you think it's totally reasonable to assume that the woman just hoping you'll leave a decent tip is using routine pleasantries as code for bigotry.

 

[Quintessence]

So, minority sensibilities are to be ignored and while more prevailing attitudes get full consideration? Is this just a numbers thing?

That's not really what I'm saying.

What I'm saying is that you are in charge of just one person's behavior: yours. Do as you want. Act as you want. However, like it or not, humans are social animals and it is stupid to act with flagrant disregard for the sensibilities of others. In doing and acting, consider context and consequences, then revise your behavior as you see fit. If you want to regard or disregard the consequences of your actions in a particular situation, that is your call, irrespective of numbers. Put really simply:

If in considering the consequences of your actions, you only care about doing the least harm to the fewest number of people, or "just a numbers thing," then go for it.
If in considering the consequences of your actions, you care about doing the least harm only to certain special groups you care about even if they are a minority, then go for it.
If in considering the consequences of your actions, you want to attempt to drive yourself insane by accommodating every person on the face of the planet, then go for it.

Or, something else entirely.

The behavioral outcome is up to you. Your virtues and honor is your responsibility and your character to cultivate, not mine.

 

[sojourner]

Ridiculous comparisons. Christians with good boundaries are not a bother. The whole issue is about foisting a frame of reference unfairly on strangers.

And "good boundaries" constitutes keeping secret and quiet about who and what they are? "No one better ever let me know they're Christian!" Is that how we're playing this?

The whole issue is about foisting a frame of reference unfairly on strangers.

How is it a) "foisting" anything on anyone, and b) "unfair?"

Who is being more inclusive, someone suggesting cautious wording among strangers, or someone advocating that everyone just assume their own perspective can be treated as a universal?

People can only speak their own truth. I don't wish "Vishnu's blessing" on people, because I'm not Hindu. I speak my truth. This isn't about "cautious wording." it's about censorship. It's about not letting people speak their truth, and taking umbrage when they do.

 

[Uberpod]

And "good boundaries" constitutes keeping secret and quiet about who and what they are? "No one better ever let me know they're Christian!" Is that how we're playing this?

No. That's wrong. People can wear a little fish on their car or their forehead for all I care.

Ridiculous comparison.How is it a) "foisting" anything on anyone, and b) "unfair?"

Using a religious reference in conjunction with me. Do not ask me to wear a fish. Do not suggest that MY day be approved or improved by a deity I don't believe in. Do not ask me to pretend to go along with what I consider foolish.

People can only speak their own truth. I don't wish "Vishnu's blessing" on people, because I'm not Hindu. I speak my truth. This isn't about "cautious wording." it's about censorship. It's about not letting people speak their truth, and taking umbrage when they do.

People can recognize their truth is not universally recognized as such.

 

[sojourner]

Using a religious reference in conjunction with me. Do not ask me to wear a fish. Do not suggest that MY day be approved or improved by a deity I don't believe in. Do not ask me to pretend to go along with what I consider foolish.

Yeah, but she didn't do that. You inferred that. All she said was, "Have a blessed day." She didn't say, "May God bless your day."

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

And "good boundaries" constitutes keeping secret and quiet about who and what they are? "No one better ever let me know they're Christian!" Is that how we're playing this?

How is it a) "foisting" anything on anyone, and b) "unfair?"

People can only speak their own truth. I don't wish "Vishnu's blessing" on people, because I'm not Hindu. I speak my truth. This isn't about "cautious wording." it's about censorship. It's about not letting people speak their truth, and taking umbrage when they do.

No, it's not. Nobody's telling you that you can't say "have a blessed day" to whoever you want. I'm telling you about what effect it elicits in some people when you say it. If you care about the effect you have on people you interact with, you'll take this into account. You're free to disregard this; just be aware of how you'll be perceived if you do.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Except that's not the opposite. That's what I don't get about this.

It's one opposite.

The opposite of a blessing is a curse. The opposite of "have a blessed day" is "have a cursed day" or "have a misfortunate day."

That's another version of an opposite, but that's not the only one.

In the original version, the speaker wishes the recipient well and thinks God and his blessings are good.

You could flip that around by wishing the recipient ill, or you could flip it around by thinking that God is bad.

As the listener, if someone wishes you blessings, you have no idea what power they are (or aren't) invoking without making an assumption.

It's an assumption, but an informed one. I don't think it's accurate to say that I have no idea about what they're referring to.

All we know is that the person is granting us their blessing or good wishes.

They may or may not be invoking a deity. If the speaker explicitly meant to grant blessings on the behalf of a god, they will say "[insert deity here] bless."

Well, no. That would be another way to invoke a specific deity, but a quick Googling will show you plenty of examples of theists using the phrase "have a blessed day" with a specific deity in mind.

 

[Uberpod]

Wow.

I know, right?

Fine. I sincerely hope that the poor woman who was stupid-but-kind enough to wish you well at least has a decent boss. Then you can have fun getting your self-righteous *** thrown out of the restaurant for sexually harassing her.

I really do not get the ire. Why does my plan to take a small stand on a minor matter get to you so much? And why are you such a meanie?

I'm sure it'll be much improved by the revelation that you're gay, seeing as the South is SO hateful and judgmental that you think it's totally reasonable to assume that the woman just hoping you'll leave a decent tip is using routine pleasantries as code for bigotry.

It's actually quite possible that she uses this phrase because she believes it might get her a better tip. I might do well to cut her tip in half when she uses it, and give her the full 20 % if she doesn't. I will train her the best I can.