Double Standard

[Aractus]

---

I'm not sure if this goes in this forum, but here it goes:

I share my office with two girls, one Pentecostal and the other Catholic. I'll call them Penny and Cathy. Penny has a cross statue on her desk that reads something about "the lord" being the king of her work place. She takes her Bible with her everywhere she goes, prays before having her lunch, tells me how God is blessing my life every chance she gets, and often interprets things as signs from above. The other one is an advocate against abortion. That's Cathy. She gets fired up just talking about it. She wears clothes with slogans sometimes, since she participates in topic related events after work. All I do is wear my little rainbow wrist band sometimes and they sit there and talk about homosexuality being a sin. They think I'm stupid and I won't notice that they want to send me a message because of my band.

So Friday they began talking about religion and I pretended to be texting, since I think it is unethical and ridiculous to talk about religion and politics at work. Penny is annoyed by my indifference and asks in a rather high voice, "So, why aren't you saying anything? Are you offended by us?" I respond, "No. I'm not offended. I simply choose to not participate in discussions related to religion or politics at work, because it's a boundary I do not care to cross. But, do continue. I'm fine." Cathy gets obviously angry (I can tell by her aggressiveness) and bursts, "Why! What's your religion?" I answer, "I'm sorry, I thought I was clear that I don't care to participate. I have no problem in identifying myself as an atheist, but I will not discuss this any further, since it would probably be unhealthy to our work environment." Needless to say, they don't talk to me anymore. Not even if I need to get answers regarding common clients. They decided to simply ignore me. I no longer exist.

Fucking double standard hypocrites! Or... are they? That's my question. I have it clear that their belief is ironic, naïve, and full of gaps, but I want to consider their decision of not engaging in a healthy co-worker relationship with me. Does it make sense that, since they believe in a jealous and punishing god, they choose to express their loyalty by not talking to me anymore? I mean, to me it's ridiculous that I have to put up with their bullshitty means of expression (banners, cross pictures, etc.) and they don't tolerate my fucking wrist band, but does it make sense in any way? I don't have to be loyal to anyone (meaning no god). So, I have no problem in allowing them to keep their stuff even though it's annoying and I could, by policy, request them to take it off. On the other hand, they decide to pretend I don't exist, because I'm atheist.

So, does it make sense? Would it not make sense if they did continue to talk to me? Or, is there no possible way this could make sense, since god is love (so they should love me), but god is cruel, so they should fear him if not loyal to him? Any opinions or similar experiences?

No need to answer to all of this. Just needed to share with someone who understood.

---

I used to work with a guy, who had a live-in girlfriend, and a 2nd girlfriend on the side. Anyway, to cut a long story short, one day one girl called for him and I called her the wrong name (half intentionally, half cause I didn't give a shit). He was fucking furious at me as if I had somehow did or said something I shouldn't, I'm like deal with your own shit and don't go blaming me for doing - nothing.

Yeah sometimes people get angry at you even when they shouldn't. I've been approached by activists for this and that over the years, and I tell them I have a different political view which I'm not interested in discussing with them. Every so often they try and force me to listen to their pathetic political ideologies. So I totally understand the "I don't want to discuss politics with you, thanks" response. And it's even more appropriate at work to have that response.