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RE: How to respond to "God bless you" statements
April 21, 2014 at 5:32 pm
(April 21, 2014 at 5:30 pm)Heywood Wrote: (April 21, 2014 at 5:20 pm)Stimbo Wrote: Why do you wish that?
Cause wishes don't cost me anything.
Granted. I'm more interested in why you would want to wish that? What would motivate you?
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
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RE: How to respond to "God bless you" statements
April 21, 2014 at 5:34 pm
(April 21, 2014 at 5:30 pm)Heywood Wrote: (April 21, 2014 at 5:20 pm)Stimbo Wrote: Why do you wish that?
Cause wishes don't cost me anything.
You may have stumbled onto a bumper sticker: "Religious 'cause wishes don't cost me anything." I like it!
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RE: How to respond to "God bless you" statements
April 21, 2014 at 5:35 pm
For me it depends on the context. If they're some nutter preaching at me in the street they'll be ignored or get a "Fuck you!" from me. If it's just a kind old lady's way of saying thank you, I'll take it as such and just say "Thank you" in return.
The difference being, one is being kind, and the other is being a dick.
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RE: How to respond to "God bless you" statements
April 21, 2014 at 5:37 pm
(April 21, 2014 at 5:32 pm)Stimbo Wrote: (April 21, 2014 at 5:30 pm)Heywood Wrote: Cause wishes don't cost me anything.
Granted. I'm more interested in why you would want to wish that? What would motivate you?
Cause even those evil dastardly Koch brothers share in their good fortune. Thats how humans behave. Perhaps if God shines good fortune upon you, you will in turn shine good fortune upon me.
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RE: How to respond to "God bless you" statements
April 21, 2014 at 5:41 pm
So you aim to wish me luck and good fortune. That's fine. That's a sentiment we can all share. No need to tie the brand name label to it, one which carries the assumption that I share it. See, the problem with that is the unspoken assumption that you see something in me that needs your god to fix; and that is not something with which I am required to accept without comment.
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
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RE: How to respond to "God bless you" statements
April 21, 2014 at 5:55 pm
(April 21, 2014 at 5:41 pm)Stimbo Wrote: So you aim to wish me luck and good fortune. That's fine. That's a sentiment we can all share. No need to tie the brand name label to it, one which carries the assumption that I share it. See, the problem with that is the unspoken assumption that you see something in me that needs your god to fix; and that is not something with which I am required to accept without comment.
If it were shown that God doesn't exist, the belief in Karma still would. When the begger says "God bless you" it is the same as saying, "May good karma come your way".
it is a sentiment that is no need of getting butthurt when it is expressed.
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RE: How to respond to "God bless you" statements
April 21, 2014 at 5:58 pm
It's not the sentiment; it's the automatic assumption that the receiver is in need of being repaired or cured of some perceived flaw, and that the giver is in a poition to sell them that cure. If good wishes are all that are intended, why not simply express them and leave the sales pitch out of it?
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
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RE: How to respond to "God bless you" statements
April 22, 2014 at 2:49 am
(This post was last modified: April 22, 2014 at 2:49 am by Jacob(smooth).)
(April 21, 2014 at 5:35 pm)NoraBrimstone Wrote: . If it's just a kind old lady's way of saying thank you, I'll take it as such and just say "Thank you" in return.
The difference being, one is being kind, and the other is being a dick.
What she said! 
In that context "god bless you" is the only thing that poor soul can give you / do for you in gratitude. As Nora said, he's not preaching at you. Take it in the spirit meant.
When someone says "get well soon" nobody back with "I don't believe what you wish will have any impact on the course of my illness" and that's not why people say it. It's an expression of desire, meant to communicate good feelings, nothing more.
Throwing back "god bless you" seems a bit of a douche move to me.
"Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken."
Sith code
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RE: How to respond to "God bless you" statements
April 22, 2014 at 3:20 am
I say leave it be. Homeless folk is not where the fight for equality is, take it else where. Refuting a hobo does no good, but thanks for being so charitable!
"Just call me Bruce Wayne. I'd rather be Batman."
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RE: How to respond to "God bless you" statements
April 22, 2014 at 10:24 am
(April 21, 2014 at 5:34 pm)Crossless1 Wrote: (April 21, 2014 at 5:30 pm)Heywood Wrote: Cause wishes don't cost me anything. You may have stumbled onto a bumper sticker: "Religious 'cause wishes don't cost me anything." I like it! But then the bumper sticker would cost something, so it would no longer be true. 
(April 21, 2014 at 5:35 pm)NoraBrimstone Wrote: For me it depends on the context. If they're some nutter preaching at me in the street they'll be ignored or get a "Fuck you!" from me. If it's just a kind old lady's way of saying thank you, I'll take it as such and just say "Thank you" in return.
The difference being, one is being kind, and the other is being a dick. Again, my point is the PR from letting people know that atheists exist, and we can be good people. What if that kind old lady is a nice person who just assumes all nice people must be Christian like her? Introducing her to some nice people who aren't Christian would be an education to her, and could help in the long run with ending religious discrimination.
To put it in context, I keep saying this is like the PR job the LGBT crowd has done. Thirty or forty years ago, if a nice old lady told a gay guy "You should meet a nice girl and settle down", he probably would have just smiled and nodded to avoid a confrontation. In the last decade or two, the gay guy would be much more likely to let the old lady know that he's gay, so he's not looking for a wife. And if the old lady thinks he's a nice guy before finding that out, then suddenly, gay people aren't so bad in her eyes. It's because so many Americans know someone who's gay that LGBT rights have made such advances in recent years. We should be copying that approach when it comes to atheism.
That's MISTER Godless Vegetarian Tree Hugging Hippie Liberal to you.
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