feminist_rage: dear customer: when i am ringing you up,

awesomenesses (

alexstra) wrote in

feminist_rage,
@ 2005-12-20 22:05:00

dear customer: when i am ringing you up, i do not say happy holidays to upset you. i do not hate christmas. i celebrate christmas myself. i can't WAIT til christmas comes. i am EXCITED about christmas. but you might not be, and i DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL EXCLUDED. it's not because i hate your holiday, your religion, your people or your general welfare. it's the EXACT OPPOSITE. i care enough not to ass-ume that you are one thing and not another.

i am so, so fucking sick of the asinine phrase "PC". i am not being POLITICALLY CORRECT, i am being considerate of the fact that BILLIONS OF PEOPLE DO NOT CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS. that goes for ANY term "pc" term. yeah, i say mailperson, not mailman. sometimes when i refer to god, i say she. sometimes i say he. sometimes i say (zomg!) IT. i say handicapped instead of disabled.

it's something i learned in kindergarten.

it's fucking called MANNERS and COMMON SENSE.

(Post a new comment)

	theobscure 2005-12-21 03:33 am UTC (link)
	It's gotten so I don't even say anything seasonally related to anyone anymore unless I know them. I used to be able to say "Happy holidays!" as a default to avoid hurting people's feelings, but now you never know if you're going to end up saying it to some O'Reilly dittohead who will want to hurt you. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	andreadynamite 2005-12-21 03:37 am UTC (link)
	What's worse, is that even O'Reilly is full of shit: http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00002131.htm I'd like to know when something that is said to be polite and considerate of others turned into something eeeeeeevil. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	aeiou 2005-12-21 03:45 am UTC (link)
	seriously. it seems that, according to bill o'reilly, if you say happy holidays or seasons greetings, you hate america. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	kattlady 2005-12-21 06:02 am UTC (link)
	I also hate happiness. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nuclearmse 2005-12-21 01:49 pm UTC (link)
	and puppies and kittens, too? (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	crazy_alexy 2005-12-21 04:46 pm UTC (link)
	No, I hate puppies and kittens. And babies. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	nelsolidarida 2005-12-21 06:46 pm UTC (link)
	Is it ok to like rabbits and ducks, or do i need to turn in my feminist badge on the spot? (Reply to this)(Parent)

	theobscure 2005-12-21 04:54 am UTC (link)
	When the American right is in desperate need of a red herring that pretty much anyone can argue about in order to distract people from the miserable failures of 2005, I'd figure. :P I wonder how many times O'Reilly will get "Worst Person in the World" before he is retired from the competition entirely. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	psykokandy 2005-12-21 07:37 am UTC (link)
	totally off-topic, but... INSANE ICON LOVE!!!!!!! man, what i'd give to hear jdb do his rendition of "last christmas" aroudn this time of year again! <3 <3 <3 (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	theobscure 2005-12-21 08:38 am UTC (link)
	Ahh! You are so added. I have never seen the Manics play anything live, much less doing Wham! covers. I consider this a major impediment to my dying a happy death. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	psykokandy 2005-12-22 12:40 am UTC (link)
	oooo you poor, poor darling!! i do think your santa james photo is an adequate "last christmas" replacement; particularly if you blow it up, print it out, and paste it on the ceiling above your bed. then you can play their version of the song while you sleep with visions of jamesish sugar plums dancing in your head. sigh... (Reply to this)(Parent)

lizzypaul
2005-12-21 03:55 am UTC (link)

Totally. I raged about the same thing here. When I worked at Borders, the majority of the people in the area were Jewish, and a good portion of the rest were Pagan (or Wiccan, or other various Earth religions). Only 2% of the people in my area were Christian, at the last census. So why would I wish people a Merry Christmas? NEWSFLASH: Even in America, Christians aren't the majority everywhere. I'm not insulting Christians, I'm being polite to EVERYONE. ttthpppt.

(Reply to this)

	veleda_k 2005-12-21 04:07 am UTC (link)
	You know, for all that mainstream society talks about blacks/queers/women/etc. wanting "special privileges" it seems rather strange that that's exactly what these people are asking for. They don't want the implied equality of "happy holidays." They want to be singled out as the most important. Bloody hypocrites. (Reply to this)

hopita
2005-12-21 04:11 am UTC (link)

When I was in college, one of my professors told us that the term "handicapped" was a reference to begging, as in having ones cap in ones hand. I've never researched this, so I don't know if he was right or not, but I wouldn't necessarily assume that "handicapped" is an unoffensive term.

That said, when people used to wish me a Merry Christmas, I used to reply "Oh, I'm not Christian," and most of the time, they would just gape at me with very confused looks on their faces. I'm a cashier. I'm not wishing anybody anything. I say thanks, and maybe something like "have a good night," and that's it.

(Reply to this)(Thread)

blackbyrus
2005-12-21 05:28 am UTC (link)

one of my professors told us that the term "handicapped" was a reference to begging, as in having ones cap in ones hand

That's not true, but it's a popular urban legend, right up there with "ducks' quacks don't echo". The term "handicapped", originally used to refer to someone disadvantaged in a game being given a boost to level the playing field, came from the game hand-in-cap.

http://www.snopes.com/language/offense/handicap.htm

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nelsolidarida 2005-12-21 06:48 pm UTC (link)
	Ducks do echo. Try standing under a bridge when a load of them are fighting. ;) (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	blackbyrus 2005-12-21 07:40 pm UTC (link)
	Exactly. That's why saying they don't echo is a false urban legend, just as the cap-in-hand etymology is false. I think maybe you misread my comment. :) (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nelsolidarida 2005-12-22 11:55 am UTC (link)
	No, i just wanted to talk about ducks. :) (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	catwoman980 2005-12-23 01:34 am UTC (link)
	iawtc (Reply to this)(Parent)

	mizuuta 2005-12-26 08:25 am UTC (link)
	I've heard the same thing. In Australian health circles, the tendency is to use impairment (for the actual problem, like a missing leg) and disability (for the activity such as being unable to walk). Handicapped is considered offensive but I have been told that this isn't true in the US (Reply to this)(Parent)

	stealyourself 2005-12-21 04:17 am UTC (link)
	I always say letter-carrier to avoid the inevitable jokes that go along with "mail-woman" or "fe-mail carrier". (Reply to this)(Thread)

	greyladybast 2005-12-21 05:43 am UTC (link)
	Once, my mom was called a "Mailman girl." Of course, this was by a very small, very cute little girl, so she wasn't too upset. If an adult had referred to her as anything other than "letter carrier," she'd've gone postal. sorry, couldn't resist that pun (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	emiofbrie 2005-12-21 08:13 am UTC (link)
	I usually use the term "postworker"....I know it's not as common, but it works. :) (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

greyladybast
2005-12-21 01:38 pm UTC (link)

I gotta admit, to me that sounds like someone who puts up psots---signposts, fenceposts, that sort of thing---for a living. But then, I grew up so thoroughly indoctrinated into the "Letter carrire" and "clerk" school of thought that it's hard for me to accept any other job title.

Those were the titles the PO used, and the titles my late mom preferred. Obviously, I can't ask her now what she thinks of the catch-all of "postworker." Knowing my mom, she'd probably say something to the effect of, "It's postALworker. A postworker is someone who digs holes for fenceposts."

She was picky like that, which is what made the phrase "going postal" such a potent weapon in my teenaged years. Yeah, I was evil. I'm still evil.

(Reply to this)(Parent)

	stealyourself 2005-12-21 12:09 pm UTC (link)
	haha! (Reply to this)(Parent)

	dysgr8mystake 2005-12-21 04:47 am UTC (link)
	I've decided that that whole "Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays" thing is the stupidest excuse for controversy I've ever heard. How is "Happy HOlidays" damaging Christmas? It's a fucking holiday, isn't it? It's still counted under those words! Good Lord do these people have way too much free time to think up things to be angry about. Nice rag.e (Reply to this)(Thread)

	andreadynamite 2005-12-21 05:36 am UTC (link)
	Because first we take Christmas, then Easter, and before you know it there's no more Tooth Fairy! (Reply to this)(Parent)

	magickpotion 2005-12-21 05:19 am UTC (link)
	Agreed. Although I'm proud to say I'm PC ;) Because PC = inclusive and right and finally not grotesquely biased. (Reply to this)

	kattlady 2005-12-21 06:05 am UTC (link)
	As someone who celebrates Bodhi Day and Solstice, THANK YOU. (Reply to this)

	badvibe 2005-12-21 10:51 am UTC (link)
	Ugh, word on the anti-PC bullshit. Just trying to recognise your language as to not to offend someone shouldn't be seen as a negative trait. Meanwhile, everyone who isn't PC, is seen as oh so cool and edgy. Good on you for recognising others feelings! (Reply to this)

mizzpyx
2005-12-21 12:30 pm UTC (link)

Where I'm from the word 'handicapped' is the offensive term, and 'disabled' is the word more commonly used? I'm not going to assume it's the same where you're from, since meanings differ all over the place- but I have to admit it made me stop for a few seconds and go "huh?".

But- fabulous rage! I don't get how people can think that using an inclusive term like "happy holidays!" excludes them. I mean, isn't Christmas a holiday?

(Reply to this)

	crazy_alexy 2005-12-21 04:51 pm UTC (link)
	To my friends and family, I say Merry Yule on the 21st and Happy Christmas on the 25th. To everyone else, I say Happy Holidays because I don't know their beliefs. It's a stupid reason to get upset. (Reply to this)

	no2ndtroy 2005-12-21 07:14 pm UTC (link)
	I was just going to post a rage about this...and then I saw this post. :D (Reply to this)

	ostrich327 2005-12-21 08:53 pm UTC (link)
	Seriously, I don't say anything at all (also working in cashiering/customer service). If someone says something to me, I just respond with, "Thanks, you too!" And a huge smile. It seems to be working so far, as people just assume (I guess) that I'm celebrating "whatever-they-just-wished-me." (Reply to this)

	lilali 2005-12-21 09:11 pm UTC (link)
	This is why I'm glad, as a child of interfaith marriage, I celebrate Christmas AND Hannukah (that is not to say that these are the only two holidays around this time of year). If people wish me a happy holiday, I wish them one too, no matter what that holiday migt be. (Reply to this)

ladyofthenut
2005-12-22 01:12 am UTC (link)

since, even for christians, new years comes 7 days later, how does 'happy holidays' *have* to be 'generic' to the other things this time of year?! there will always be more than one!

today, co-worker and i were delivering gifts and calendars to clients. whenever someone said 'merry christmas,' he 'corrected' them with 'happy holidays' on the basis that it's not 'politically correct and oh yea not for everyone'. fuck. you. he knows i'm not and don't celebrate and kinda rather hate ... and i typically added something about new years being right around the corner as well!

fuckin' 'ell ... i just don't say anything. i wish to remain in a bad mood. besides, isn't the point to be nice all fucking year 'round?!

(Reply to this)

	shinigamiliz 2005-12-28 01:46 am UTC (link)
	I actually said "Happy Holidays" to a friend of mine, and she said "I don't celebrate Christmas!!" which caused me to blink a couple of times and tell her I was perfectly aware that she didn't. (Reply to this)

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