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What would you have said?

I usually hang out in the park for a while midway through about a 5 mile walk for exercise. So yesterday I was in the park and an elderly woman walks towards me on the path as I'm sitting on a bench. She says something to the effect of, "It's a wonderful day today isn't it?". So I say yes it is, and then she continues with, "Thank God for that!" or "Praise God for that!".

So in a split second I'm processing every possible response to that and just muster up a "Yep". Then I talk about how my allergies weren't allowing me to fully enjoy the nice day and a little small talk ensues. Then she walks off and once again says, "Thank God for the beautiful day!". Again, I just said "Yep". I guess I compromised with staying true to myself and not saying something like "Thank God!", but also not being confrontational with just saying "Yep".

What would you have said in that situation?

Piece2YourPuzzle 8 June 16
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86 comments

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2

I usually consider how much time and energy I want to invest, and what the return is going to be. In a case like this, very sure my response would be very like your own.

4

You did well, being confrontational in that situation is similar to teaching pigs to sing, not only is it a waste of time, it annoys the pig.

2

... Indeed ..

5

Your response was good enough.

There was no debate here nor was the other person trying to purposely create debate.

3

simply 'may your god go with you'

"May your farce go with you"

4

you stupid old deluded bag..

Would you be my neighbor? ........

i might have thought that for a second but never would have said it.
those ppl are mostly harmless, & i suppose most are nice enough.

7

I think you handled it exactly right. No need to pick a fight with a little old lady in the park

GwenC Level 7 June 17, 2019
3

I'm going out on a limb here to say that right about then would be an ideal time to just cut a loud fart and smile...

7

In that circumstance I would have probably done much as you did - murmur something non-religious but non-confrontational.

4

Yes, It’s a beautiful day.

6

No point picking a fight with an old lady, you did fine

2

Yuppity-yup!

7

An elderly lady seeking human contact....what exactly would be served by upsetting her?

6

I find I am unable to give words that sound like agreement in these kinds of situations...but I don't wish to be unkind to someone who is expressing nice thoughts (from their point of view).... so I usually say something along the lines of "I hope you enjoy the rest of this gorgeous day".

I also can't bring myself to do that. I wouldn't be able to say, "Thank God" or "Praise God".

3

I would have most likely have replied that god had nothing to do with it. This would have upset her into a path of explaining how god controls everything including our weather. That conversation opens up a big door of ridiculous nonsense.

3

Yep is fine.....the end

7

Don't sweat it. You listened to a nice old lady and gave her reason to keep smiling and feel at peace.

I'm all for going Hitch on a theist's ass when they knock on my door, or on the internet.

No reason to fight all the time.

Corden Level 5 June 17, 2019
3

If I were you, I would say, Thanks to the nature.

NR92 Level 6 June 17, 2019
6

It's a problem for me too, and people like that bring it. There's so much wrong with it it's mind numbing and it makes me want to scream. One of these days I just might go off on someone and it'll be some sweet little old lady... Actually I might have said "Whatever" or "Yes, it is a very nice day". Her second comment upon exit was a clever "I won this one" to which I would have said "Now wait just a minute!" (Just kidding). Everyone here is being so evolved and above it all; how honorable and decent and lazy and better than someone who might smile and say "I'm not religious but that shouldn't matter, right? It's still a beautiful day." Just because you disagree with someone doesn't mean you have to go to war with them, or be confrontational or start a debate on the street, even though they instigated it. Just have some integrity and be true to yourself. The alternative is not to, and bend to all these little tricks to show your colors: are you one of them? It's a little arrogant that it doesn't matter to them. They either assume you're a believer but if you're not, fuck you, you should have been. At this point in human evolution they could at least try to be more open to the possibility that not everyone is just like them and ASK first if you're a believer. If you are it won't insult you. Is it too much of an imposition to expect them to be at minimum at least as polite as they expect us to be? That's not too much to ask, to meet me half way. They're still free to say "Well, Jesus still loves you anyway and God made the sun and the moon and blah, blah, blah." Whatever. And there you have the real reason they opened their pie-hole in the first place. They're just using a nice day as a pretext to barf their belief on you. (I'm being a little tongue-in-cheek here. Learn to laugh okay?)

So look, I don't go looking for these type of questions but if you're going to put them on here and I stumble across them, I'm going to be honest and open and give an answer that isn't just p.c., which to me is usually b.s. I'm probably just as annoyed that I do keep running across these here, where I come to be away from pod people and not have to keep explaining that I'm atheist and it's okay.

Your honesty and openness is appreciated by me.

I have to admit when people start "Blessing me" or "Wish you a Blessed Day" nonsense - that's precisely how I feel. lol

@RavenCT Oh, I HATE that line "Have a blessed day." It sounds so condescending and insincere. Some day I may be in just the mood to stop somebody in the process of spewing that drivel and bark, "What does that even MEAN? EXPLAIN IT!" And then pick them apart verbally when they try. It takes a lot of self control not to do it so far.

@Deb57 I am losing it. Since I first commented on this post I ran across someone who started driveling, and I interjected that I'm not "that way" and relayed the joke about the priest who, at a funeral said "We're gathered here today, because your prayers didn't work." She didn't laugh. That is another tell about these people... they won't have a sense of humor. I honestly just tried to keep the conversation light with a little humor, but she's the one who went all dark. Ruined her day. ... and now that I think about it, good.

6

What would you gain by being confrontational? As it was, you had what appeared to be a pleasant interchange with this fellow human being. I see nothing wrong with your responses.

Having said this, I also understand the feeling you experienced. The one that would annoy me was when someone - especially from a business - would say, "Have a blessed day!" In thinking up come backs (similar to what you commented about) I thought it might be fun to respond with something like, "May yours continue to evolve." I have yet to say it to anyone, but I have often thought it when that annoying phrase is uttered.

4

Same thing why be rude they don't know any better

bobwjr Level 10 June 17, 2019
5

Yep. Why cause division. Our opinions are valuable to us. preferable to leave someone feeling better or at least the same.

7

My son's mom and I don't agree on much, but we often just say Akunamatata, at the end of a dispute.

Yeah, I am always up for a scrap with a godbot. When presented with an opportunity, I love to throw a subtle logic bomb their direction.

Despite, some fights worth fighting, take time to enjoy life.

You did the right thing. Nature painted a picture for you to enjoy. She thanked a sky fairy. So what? Akunamatata.

I like that

sky fairy, lol!

@Tomaf
My bad. Akunamatata.

3

Your response was fine. There is so much nastiness around and not enough kindness. It doesn't sound like she was trying to force you to accept her beliefs. She was expressing gratitude for the beautiful day as she saw it. There is no need for anyone to be a jerk in situations like that. The ones who do are the ones who give atheists a bad name. I prefer to set a kinder example, but if that person does start to get pushy with the religious stuff, I will let them know I am a nonbeliever.
Around here, I feel bombarded with the "Have a Blessed Day!!" comment at every business I frequent. It seems that it has just been the last couple of years that it has started to be a constant thing. I always wonder if it is the individuals who are choosing to do that or are the businesses pandering and requiring their employees to use that phrase. It gets on my nerves, I have to admit. I always just look at them and say, "Have a good day yourself."

3

If I have the time I usually say "which god"?

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