Thread: Hell: I should like to point out that this is not "my busy time of year." Board: Limbo / Ship of Fools.


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Posted by Father Gregory (# 310) on :
 
If anybody else says this to me again I shall not be responsible for my actions:-

(1) It implies that clergy do bugger all anytime else.
(2) It assumes that all churches are the same. In Orthodoxy, blink and you miss Christmas.

What pet hates have you got that people tend to say? I am not thinking about Christmas here. That's just an example .... another good one might be ....

"Christians are not supposed to swear ...."

... and so on and so on ...

[ 04. April 2007, 12:41: Message edited by: Sarkycow ]
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
"It must be that time of the month again."

No, actually you're an irritating git all year round.
 

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Posted by Foaming Draught (# 9134) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Father Gregory:
It implies that clergy do bugger all anytime else.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Father Gregory:
If anybody else says this to me again I shall not be responsible for my actions:-

(1) It implies that clergy do bugger all anytime else.

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quote:

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(2) It assumes that all churches are the same. In Orthodoxy, blink and you miss Christmas.

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quote:

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What pet hates have you got that people tend to say? I am not thinking about Christmas here. That's just an example .... another good one might be ....

"Christians are not supposed to swear ...."

... and so on and so on ...

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quote:

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Originally posted by Father Gregory:
It assumes that all churches are the same.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Father Gregory:
It implies that clergy do bugger all anytime else.

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And of course you only work one day a week...
 

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Posted by MouseThief (# 953) on :
 
What you people fail to see is that this is a huge step forward for Father G. Posting in Hell about something that truly maddens him should be commended. In the past he would have started a passive-aggressive Purg thread that irritated all and engaged none. He has sworn several times never to enter Hell. Truly this is a huge step.

Way to go, Father G! You tell 'em!
 

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Posted by Orb (# 3256) on :
 
I like the passive-aggressive Freg better though. It's more iconic. It will be the version of Freg that is remembered forever!
 

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Posted by PeaceFeet (# 11001) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Orb:
Three words: It's. All. Good.

No. It isn't all good. There's bad too. Numbskulls.

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Three words: I'm. Lovin'. It.

You won't if I knock your teeth out, put them in a pepper mill and season your large fries and McCardboard™ with them.
 

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Posted by grushi (# 11938) on :
 
Of course Fr Gregory's het up. It's his busy time of year.
 

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Posted by Lyda*Rose (# 4544) on :
 
Now, if the dimwits Father Gregory refers to in the OP had mentioned the Easter season (unwittingly including Lent), it would be a different kettle of fish. In my experience all priests, of any catholic persuasion, are run off their feet during Lent/Easter especially during Holy Week.
 

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Posted by Amazing Grace (# 95) on :
 
What's up, Fr G? Did their eyes glaze over, and did they suddenly remember urgent appointments elsewhere, when you went into a spiel about the Orthodox Way? My priest is going full tilt boogie (even before Advent starts) and will probably sleep very soundly starting on the afternoon of the 25th. It's a little more spread out than Holy Week, but it goes for longer, too.

They're probably trying to be pleasant. Why not take it as is, smile, and say "Not really; we don't have a lot of the extra Christmas stuff in the Orthodox Church. Now Easter on the other hand ..." and smile again.

Mind you, if they say "oh you only work one day a week", you have my cheerful blessing when you sic'em.

Charlotte
 

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Posted by Gort (# 6855) on :
 
1) "I need you to..."

2) "Workin' hard? or hardly workin? hyuk*hyuk"

3) "What's up, man?"

4) "I know yer busy, but..."

5) "Just between you and me..."

6) "Have I told you this story before?"
 

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Posted by Qestia (# 717) on :
 
No, the best is "don't take this the wrong way..." followed by something patently cruel and thoughtless.

It goes hand in hand with "I was just kidding" which follows remarks that were meant in all seriousness.
 

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Posted by grushi (# 11938) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Qestia:
No, the best is "don't take this the wrong way..." followed by something patently cruel and thoughtless.

It goes hand in hand with "I was just kidding" which follows remarks that were meant in all seriousness.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Qestia:
No, the best is "don't take this the wrong way..." followed by something patently cruel and thoughtless.

It goes hand in hand with "I was just kidding" which follows remarks that were meant in all seriousness.

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The cyber version of that is to say something cruel or nasty and then put 'lol' at the end - as if that makes it OK. Of course if you object, you are then made to look like you lack a sense of humour.
 

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Posted by comet (# 10353) on :
 
fucknuckle. I like it. I may have to steal it from you, grushi.

mine is, "I know you're not at work, and you're sitting here having a lovely dinner and wine with friends and discussing theology, but I just heard the most amazing news! The Government Has Been Naughty! I am shocked and distraught, and I want you to be too! better yet, drop everything, run off to work, and nail those evil bastards to the wall with a great expose! go on, I'll hold your seat."



my rule with my children is that if it isn't bleeding or broken, I don't want to hear about it. same goes for my listening public. only for the listeners, I mean it.
 

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Posted by Pootle (# 5928) on :
 
I work in IT support... if I had a penny for every time I've heard 'this machine is going out of the window in a moment', I'd be VERY rich indeed!
 

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Posted by Mertseger (# 4534) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by MouseThief:
What you people fail to see is that this is a huge step forward for Father G. Posting in Hell about something that truly maddens him should be commended. In the past he would have started a passive-aggressive Purg thread that irritated all and engaged none. He has sworn several times never to enter Hell. Truly this is a huge step.

Way to go, Father G! You tell 'em!

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quote:

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Originally posted by MouseThief:
Heh heh heh. You said "mounting."

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quote:

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Originally posted by comet:
fucknuckle. I like it. I may have to steal it from you, grushi.

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quote:

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Originally posted by comet:
if it isn't bleeding or broken, I don't want to hear about it. same goes for my listening public. only for the listeners, I mean it.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Matt Black:
The flip side of that coin is people who drive me round the bend by saying "I work full-time for the Lord", in other words the rest of us work full-time for Beelzebub, apparently.

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Well, you are a lawyer, Matt.

ETA I would like to apologise for having invaded the threads of this board since 2004, especially for the oneliners, 'but onelinering' MT surely is allowed?

[ 27. November 2006, 16:25: Message edited by: Mr Clingford ]
 

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Posted by Matt Black (# 2210) on :
 
Mammon, my dear boy, Mammon.
 

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Posted by Zach82 (# 3208) on :
 
I dunno. I sure feel some vague emotion here which could be offense. As per usual with Freg's threads, I'm not sure why...

Zach
 

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Posted by Pânts (# 999) on :
 
And ITTWACW.
 

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Posted by Hoosierpalian (# 11580) on :
 
I'm a teacher of a foreign language which will remain nameless. Often when I mention what I do for a living, people tell me that they studied this language in high school many years ago, but have forgotten it all. (The insinuation being, of course, that if my colleagues were better at their jobs, these people would still be excellently conversant.)
I rarely tell my doctor, for example, that I went to medical school twenty years ago, but can't remember where my lungs are. Neither do I tell my priest that I read the Bible once, but can't name a single Christly miracle. Of course, knowing my priest, he might say, "Now what did you do that for?" but he'd just be kidding, wouldn't he?
 

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Posted by wesleyswig (# 5436) on :
 
I'll tell you what grinds my gears...


Church folk who complain:

i) When they have to get out seats because "too many"(thats a f*ck*n oxymoron anywho) people turn up. What cheek people have, don't they know we moan about having empty seats and we don't really want them full. Indeed they should realise if there isn't a seat free then they have to worship god elsewhere cause we aren't going to be that welcoming. Infact we're going to shut the door the moment the service starts then tut if anyone enters late.

ii)When people try to interact with a religion most don't know much about by saying something like "this must be your busy time of year". Through which, of course, they were showing an interest and vague nodule of knowledge about your job. Fuckin plebs, why on earth don't they know the intricacies of the faith to realise that people celebrate the birth of their religious saviour in many differing ways. What ignorami for even contemplating to give a hoot.

Regards
John
 

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Posted by PeteCanada (# 10422) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Hoosierpalian:
I'm a teacher of a foreign language which will remain nameless.

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Would that be English? I note that many young people have no concept of how to speak or write properly.
 

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Posted by marmot (# 479) on :
 
When hearing I have had kidney failure, a surprising number of people used to say "You should drink a lot of water to 'flush out' your kidneys."

There are so many things wrong with that statement, I don't know where to start.
 

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Posted by Mostly Noble Pixels (# 8783) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by marmot:
When hearing I have had kidney failure, a surprising number of people used to say "You should drink a lot of water to 'flush out' your kidneys."

There are so many things wrong with that statement, I don't know where to start.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Father Gregory:
What pet hates have you got that people tend to say?

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quote:

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Originally posted by Mr Clingford:

quote:

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Originally posted by MouseThief:
Heh heh heh. You said "mounting."

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Shouldn't that be Ho Ho Ho?

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quote:

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Originally posted by Hoosierpalian:
I'm a teacher of a foreign language which will remain nameless. Often when I mention what I do for a living, people tell me that they studied this language in high school many years ago, but have forgotten it all. (The insinuation being, of course, that if my colleagues were better at their jobs, these people would still be excellently conversant.)

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quote:

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Originally posted by grushi:
Are you by any chance the world's least reactionary shock jock?

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ohhhhh what a tempting sig line...

I'm in public radio. we frown on terms like "shock jock". more like "brainiac broadcasting".
 

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Posted by Campbellite (# 1202) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by marmot:
When hearing I have had kidney failure, a surprising number of people used to say "You should drink a lot of water to 'flush out' your kidneys."

There are so many things wrong with that statement, I don't know where to start.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Timothy the Obscure:
There are the people who, when I tell them what I do for a living (psychologist), laugh and say, "Uh-oh--don't go analyzing me..." My stock response is "I wouldn't dream of it for less than $120 an hour," but I'm really trying to come up with something nastier before the next time (probably about three days from now, if the pattern holds).

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quote:

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Originally posted by Timothy the Obscure:
There are the people who, when I tell them what I do for a living (psychologist), laugh and say, "Uh-oh--don't go analyzing me..." My stock response is "I wouldn't dream of it for less than $120 an hour," but I'm really trying to come up with something nastier before the next time (probably about three days from now, if the pattern holds).

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quote:

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I can't imagine that people are insinuating that. You're far too delicate. I'm sure rather that they're just embarassed they've forgotten it, but hope that the fact they once took it seems like something you and they have in common.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Father Gregory:
I look forward to Christmas actually as a "slack period." Only two extra services, one quite short and not a carol in sight.

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You could always turn up at a Church of England service if you're bored, Father
 

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Posted by Father Gregory (# 310) on :
 
Aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I always used to hate it when I was in the CofE .... not the partying, just the schmaltz.
 

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Posted by Lyda*Rose (# 4544) on :
 
I have a friend who, when you mention something good you got, or a vacation you get to take that she doesn't, says, "It must be nice" with only a trace of a smile.
 

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Posted by Mostly Noble Pixels (# 8783) on :
 
You have a friend?
Must be nice!
 

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Posted by KenWritez (# 3238) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by ananke:
[...] because you're too fucking busy yakking with the other teacher to notice the group of four boys pushing each other into the pile of food beneath the Christmas tree.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Uriel:
When people hear I am a househusband looking after 2 small children I either get "Oh, a man of leisure!", or "Surely you must do something else with your time".

I usually point out it's a minimum 100-hour week with no pay, no holiday, no pension and the shit I have to deal with is not metaphorical.

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You have my permission to be far more abusive than that. People can be such jerks!
 

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Posted by Newman's Own (# 420) on :
 
Comments inevitably directed to those in the arts:

-When one is still a student: "Oh, you're taking all easy subjects," or "I used to take classes like that just for entertainment." Graduate and one hears, "Well, that was fun - now you have to go to work."

-When employed as a musician: "Other people don't have the chance to make money like that - they have to work."

-If one ends up having another (hated) job for the bread and butter: "Well, now that you're working, you don't have time for pleasures like singing."

I'd say 'fuck the lot of them,' but that's actually a far more pleasurable outcome than any of them deserve. (Though I suppose fucking me would be tiresome at best...)
 

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Posted by The Man With No Name (# 10858) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Uriel:
When people hear I am a househusband looking after 2 small children I either get "Oh, a man of leisure!", or "Surely you must do something else with your time".

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quote:

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Originally posted by Uriel:
When people hear I am a househusband looking after 2 small children I either get "Oh, a man of leisure!", or "Surely you must do something else with your time".

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They must be men who have never had kids. No one who has ever actually raised children would ever say that.

I suppose you could always say "You look like you could use a break. Here, this one's pants need changing".
 

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Posted by Timothy the Obscure (# 292) on :
 
Thanks, everyone--I'm definitely going to use some of those.
 

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Posted by KenWritez (# 3238) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Timothy the Obscure:
There are the people who, when I tell them what I do for a living (psychologist), laugh and say, "Uh-oh--don't go analyzing me..." My stock response is "I wouldn't dream of it for less than $120 an hour," but I'm really trying to come up with something nastier before the next time [....]

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quote:

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Originally posted by Mostly Noble Pixels:
You have a friend?
Must be nice!

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Posted by ananke (# 10059) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by KenWritez:
Ah, you work in education! Must be nice to have only a six hour workday and get all those holidays and summers off.

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quote:

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Originally posted by KenWritez:
Ah, you work in education! Must be nice to have only a six hour workday and get all those holidays and summers off.

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Obviously never been a teacher.

Today I will be in school from 8 - 7pm, I have been doing this roughly once a week/fornight all this term for parent teacher nights. Other days most teachers are in 8-5 and **then** taking work home - but to me, it **would** be nice to have a 9-5 workday and not have to take work home.

[I'm guessing that you teach neither sarcasm nor editing.]

[ 01. December 2006, 01:02: Message edited by: RooK ]
 

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Posted by Gill H (# 68) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Newman's Own:
Comments inevitably directed to those in the arts:

-When one is still a student: "Oh, you're taking all easy subjects," or "I used to take classes like that just for entertainment." Graduate and one hears, "Well, that was fun - now you have to go to work."

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quote:

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Originally posted by GreyFace:

quote:

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Originally posted by Father Gregory:
I look forward to Christmas actually as a "slack period." Only two extra services, one quite short and not a carol in sight.

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You could always turn up at a Church of England service if you're bored, Father

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{sweet voice}

Fr. G, why don't you use that slack time to go on a Buddhist retreat? You know you want to!

 

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Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by KenWritez:

quote:

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Originally posted by ananke:
[...] because you're too fucking busy yakking with the other teacher to notice the group of four boys pushing each other into the pile of food beneath the Christmas tree.

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Ah, you work in education! Must be nice to have only a six hour workday and get all those holidays and summers off.

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Please, come and do my school job for a week or so - 12 hour days + weekends + responsibility for very vulnerable children.

I spent today on a course and spent lunchtime, fortuitously - she was there on another course entirely - with the head of the emergency service at Social Services in my area today, discussing children I work with - one family was involved in a case conference this morning, another has an brought forward annual review next week and another has a case conference the week after - and those are just the families on my personal case load. We do try to split up the social service case load among the inclusion team.
 

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Posted by RuthW (# 13) on :
 
I do believe KenWritez was indulging in a bit of irony. It happens, you know, even in America.
 

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Posted by KenWritez (# 3238) on :
 
I don't know if Those Across the Pond will recognize their own child coming back to greet them, tho.

(Sniff) Almost poignant, really.
 

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Posted by Sarkycow (# 1012) on :
 
Gasp!

You mean... Americans do irony?

I'm shocked. Shocked I tell you.

Next thing you'll be saying that they aren't all stupid, arrogant and obese.

What is the world coming to?

Sarkycow
 

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Posted by RuthW (# 13) on :
 
Actually, the American government sends those fat, loud, stupid, annoying tourists over to the UK on purpose -- they're all on the State Department payroll. They're there to mislead you all into thinking we're stupid and not paying attention to anything, and our evil plan is working -- you're buying our software, our fast food, and our foreign policy.
 

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Posted by altarbird (# 11983) on :
 
Well, it was brought up on QI last night. "What is the correct term for people from the United States of America?"

The first answer was "obese."

The second was "burger eating invasion monkeys."

By this point I was laughing too hard to actually hear the correct answer. Those agents you're sending over are working.
 

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Posted by KenWritez (# 3238) on :
 
Oooooh, I like #2!

[ 02. December 2006, 21:57: Message edited by: KenWritez ]
 

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Posted by Amazing Grace (# 95) on :
 
Meeeee tooooo!

Charlotte (hold the cheese, and yes, I will have fries with that)
 

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Posted by Badfundie (# 9422) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by altarbird:

The second was "burger eating invasion monkeys."

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That would be a great new signature!
 

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Posted by Badfundie (# 9422) on :
 
Arrrrrgh. My SP kicked me offline before I could edit my post to include the scintillating fact that my pet peeve saying is, "Smile, it can't be that bad!"

Ummm, yes, actually it can.
 

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Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
It seems to me that "burger-eating invasion monkeys" is just a limp-brained rewording of the wonderful "cheese-eating surrender monkey" moniker for the French. While I will readily acknowledge that there are scarcely two countries more collectively alike than France and the US, it does seem like a bit of a lame attempt.

I've personally come to see the US as sort of a global big sister, administering nuclear-backed noogies to the rest of the world as it deems aesthetically appropriate. But it's just not snappy enough.
 

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Posted by Angloid (# 159) on :
 
I sympathise with Fr Gregory (oh yes, I know this is Hell). Christmas is not a particularly busy time of the year for priests, Orthodox or otherwise, compared with Holy Week. Even if there's a run of carol services other more routine things like PCCs are likely not to take place 'because we're all so busy.' The business of Christmas is predominantly secular, which is why it begins in September and ends some time before Christmas Eve.
 

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Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :
 
Hmmm...has Fr. G taken my advice and gone off on a Buddhist retreat? Mwahahahaha!



 

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Posted by Persephone Hazard (# 4648) on :
 
Oh, I sympathise entirely. I'm unemployed, and I get it all the time. "It must be wonderful, being a lady of leasure like that!" It makes me want to, er, laugh greatfully and tell them that yes, it is, they should try it sometime.

's great, being a Lady Who Lunches. There's a few of us. About once a week we, er, go out for lunch.
 

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Posted by Schroedinger's cat (# 64) on :
 
My ( Anglican ) Vicar said the other day that it wasn't his "busy time of year", but it was his more public time of year. It was the time when more of what he did was public - carol services etc.

For others, it is often the busy time of year, because there are Christmas parties, relative visiting and shopping to be done so meetings are not welcomed. Which means that the vicar, if anything, has more time.
 

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Posted by noneen (# 11023) on :
 
yep - Christmas and Holy Week .... widely and wrongly pronounced to be the busy times of the year ... actually most priests i know love em cause theres no parish meetings, just calm services celebrated well for once!!! (crossposted - whoops!)

other pet hate, is when people say to me (i work full time in the RC church) that 'it must be lovely to have your hobby as your job' (?!?! ... hobby???)
or even better - when i meet someone who was involved in youth ministry work with me years and years ago - 'are you still at that, i grew out of it years ago' ....... ... to which i reply 'i'm not sure what you grew out of, but i don't think i was ever into that'!!!!

Finally (for now!!) i can't abide the fuckwits who - at a party or in a pub - insist on lecturing me about how i (i) work for a Nazi, (ii) have no right to tell them how to live their lives, and (iii) am obviously sexually repressed cause i am not ashamed to be a catholic.
The only answer - in my humble opinion - is to point out that they are (i) behaving like little facists, (ii) that they have no right to judge me, seeing as i have yet to even know their miserable names, and (iii) that 'i'd prefer if you'd talk to my face not my chest, you judgemental spluttering walking-Oedipus-complex'.

Funnily enough people get upset at me judging them in so harsh a manner .... apparently its not very Christian of me ...

[ 05. December 2006, 15:26: Message edited by: noneen ]
 

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Posted by Saint Bertelin (# 5638) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by PhilA:
My big pet hate is that people just don't realise that Christmas is the busiest time of the year for us Christians and I just don't have time to do other things.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Choirboy:

quote:

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Originally posted by Timothy the Obscure:
There are the people who, when I tell them what I do for a living (psychologist), laugh and say, "Uh-oh--don't go analyzing me..." My stock response is "I wouldn't dream of it for less than $120 an hour," but I'm really trying to come up with something nastier before the next time (probably about three days from now, if the pattern holds).

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How about:

<suddenly looking interested> "Why do you say that?"

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For added effect, why not take out a notebook and pencil at the same time?
 

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Posted by caty the southerner (# 11996) on :
 
I have done quite well this year, but I knew it wouldn't last. Reaching December 6th before being told it's your 'busy time of year' is not bad going - but then I'm not ordained so I obviously don't do as much work as the real clergy. But that's a whole different rant. Back to the subject at hand...

It's so often the little old ladies with blue rinses and earnest expressions who say it; no matter how much you feel like telling them the work is different but the hours much the same, just like when the other 87 people made the same comment, you can't do it, so you just smile and nod, and say something innocuous about the weather. Or is that just me?
 

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Posted by Sarkycow (# 1012) on :
 
Well, this is my busy time of year - because I'm juggling work being busy AND church being busy.

At work we're all pulling overtime just to get everything finished by the end of the year - having 11 days off given to us over Christmas doesn't help with the deadlines we have to meet!

At church we're serving free coffee/tea and mincepies to shoppers in the High Street on Saturday (our church is at the end of the High St so everyone walks past us, and most people come in, which is nice, but manic - we gave away 800 mincepies last year! Then next weekend we have two carol services, 500ish people come to each.

The following weekend we have two Nativity/Christingle services (again around 500 people for each), a midnight mass and a Christmas day service. I tend to be involved in most stuff - partly by choice and partly because I'm organised and can work well with others to make it all happen

So my week days are busy because of my job, and my weekends are busy because of church. If I was clergy then the two would be the same thing, and I'd probably be less busy Now there's a reason to become a vicar!

Bully for all of you if it's not your 'busy time of year' - for some of us it is, and I'm grateful when people recognise that and are either sympathetic or think twice about asking me to do something that can wait until January!

Sarkycow
 

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Posted by chive (# 208) on :
 
Mince pie Sarky?
 

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Posted by Rev per Minute (# 69) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Sarkycow:
So my week days are busy because of my job, and my weekends are busy because of church. If I was clergy then the two would be the same thing, and I'd probably be less busy Now there's a reason to become a vicar!

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• have a full-time job; and
• are also clergy (i.e. non-stipendiary)

are in the same position as all those 'laity' who are also juggling work/home and church...
 

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Posted by Sarkycow (# 1012) on :
 
That's true Rev - guess I should aim for stipendary ministry. In fact, I might see if I can get a PA as well - my church's PA seems to be doing more at Christmas than the vicars are!
 

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Posted by St. Punk the Pious (# 683) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by MouseThief:

quote:

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Originally posted by Uriel:
When people hear I am a househusband looking after 2 small children I either get "Oh, a man of leisure!", or "Surely you must do something else with your time".

I usually point out it's a minimum 100-hour week with no pay, no holiday, no pension and the shit I have to deal with is not metaphorical.

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You have my permission to be far more abusive than that. . . .

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quote:

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Originally posted by Sarkycow:
At church we're serving free coffee/tea and mincepies to shoppers in the High Street on Saturday [....]

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I am so, so, sooo tempted to fly to England, take a taxi to High Street on a Saturday, and as I near Sarky's church, adopt a staggering, limping walk and begin drooling and howling, "Sarkycow! Where's my Sarkycow?! Why did you leave me?! Where is our son?!"
 

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Posted by Max. (# 5846) on :
 
"That's blasphemous!"

My response normally is "Oh fuck off, you really don't know the meaning of the word"

Usual response to that is "You swore! I thought Christains weren't allowed to swear"

Max
 

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Posted by Sarkycow (# 1012) on :
 
Err, thanks Max for the strange addition to the thread. Try not to drink and post in future.

And KenW, go for it - I'd suddenly have a whole lot of free time over Christmas
 

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Posted by Mostly Noble Pixels (# 8783) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Sarkycow:
Err, thanks Max for the strange addition to the thread. Try not to drink and post in future.

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quote:

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Originally posted by davelarge:
Back to the OP...

A conversation that I have frequently:

Other: "So, what do you do?"

Me: "I'm studying for a PhD in physics"

Other: "Oh"

[pause]

...

[more pause]

Other: "Well, that's iiiiiinteresting."

I mean, for goodness sake, if you don't have anything to say then just say that! I don't expect my chosen profession to be interesting, so don't try and pretend that it is!

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Hell, one could get five minutes of conversation (at least) just by asking you what kind of physics that involves and could you explain it in laymen's terms? Who knows, one could learn something. But, noooo....

Sounds like the kind of idiot whose idea of a conversation is weather and box scores.
 

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Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :
 
They're just nitwits. I think physics is interesting--it's just not something I'm good at!
 

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Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by davelarge:
Other: "Well, that's iiiiiinteresting."

I mean, for goodness sake, if you don't have anything to say then just say that! I don't expect my chosen profession to be interesting, so don't try and pretend that it is!

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• try and work enough supply hours to pay for presents, extra food etc
• buy and wrap said presents, send what needs sending
• prepare and serve said food
• write and send cards
• do the three months backlog of housework that's built up before my sons and whatever guests they invite are around
• write two sermons
• Lead or assist at four or five services per week and attend several more
• find time to make an appearance at numerous carol services and Christmas celebrations for various local schools and church groups
• fit in three meetings on different evenings that can't wait till after Christmas
• visit relatives and write and deliver services for two funerals in the next ten days (plus burials of ashes which are separate services) and support the bereaved
• attend a farewell lunch
• a whole load of other stuff I've done or will be doing for or with people that don't come to church much but do show up at Christmas.

Quite honestly, if someone says anything to me that implies they've thought about me as a human being rather than 'the curate' even for half a second I'm touched rather than annoyed, even if they don't understand the minutiae of my role. I probably don'tunderstand the ins and outs of their job either.
 

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Posted by davelarge (# 186) on :
 
Arrietty: It sounds like you need to change denomination
 

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Posted by Arrietty (# 45) on :
 
This isn't very Hellish but it is still such a privilege to be able to do all this stuff (having taken the pretty route to ordination) that I wouldn't dream of it.

Looking at that list, getting my husband/children to be a bit more proactive could be good though!

ETA - plus I don't have the beard for being an Orthodox priest!

[ 08. December 2006, 11:41: Message edited by: Arrietty ]
 

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Posted by Pax Romana (# 4653) on :
 
I have some lovely, well meaning older-than-fifty friends who, along with other things, send me all those old age jokes via e-mail.

I'm glad I have lived as long as I have, I look forward to living longer and getting older, and in the meantime I am not going to give in to all the traditional old age baggage.

So there!



Pax Romana
 

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Posted by Traveller (# 1943) on :
 
It irritates the sh*t out of me at this time of year when people say "It's Christmas!".

No, it's not, you litugically ignorant fool, it's Advent now; Christmas starts on December 25th. If you must have Christmas trees and decorations and stuff, they go up on December 24th and down on twelfth night. When shops start taking down the decorations before they close on Christmas Eve, I just know they have been using it all to con us into spending lots of money on crappy things we don't need and don't really want.

I think I'll go and lie down now.
 

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Posted by davelarge (# 186) on :
 
That's damn right! Christmas parties in November! It's not even Advent then!

The real fustration is that when it actually gets to Christmas, we've all been doing Christmas for so long that we're bored of it and it turns out to be a complete anti-climax.
 

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Posted by leo (# 1458) on :
 
Well it has certainly been busy in this benefice today: 3 eucharists - said, sung and said with hymns. 2 performances of the Wakefield Cycle of the Nativity play by the local theatre school, an Advent carol service and there is a late evening alt.worship service.
 

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Posted by KenWritez (# 3238) on :
 
Unless, of course, your church doesn't do liturgy, or you've never experienced it, in which case it *is* Christmas time, the time roughly a few weeks prior to Christmas Day and perhaps a few days afterward, depending on your culture.
 

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Posted by Emma. (# 3571) on :
 
Yup - definately the Christmas season for me from the 1st of december until new year. I know Christmas *day* isnt til the 25th, but Id expect work/school/uni/ every other group to have a "christmas party" or "christmas dinner" before then. To get upset as the world/a lot of christians dont follow your liturgical practice is rather foolish IMHO
 

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Posted by Seeker963 (# 2066) on :
 
Why does it have to be a flipping contest between who is busier, the laity or the clergy? THERE's a pet peeve.

In the last five years, I've moved from 1) full-time employed, to 2) employed and training to 3) full-time clergy.

I don't flippin' work less than I did before - why on earth would I?

How about all sides of this conversation - clergy and laity - get over themselves, stop their whining and accept that fact that most sincere Christians probably all do quite a lot to help others?

No, I don't lounge around in my PJs and neither do I think that you do. Now let's all get a life.
 

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Posted by Sarkycow (# 1012) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Seeker963:
Why does it have to be a flipping contest between who is busier, the laity or the clergy?

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It's not. If anything it's a flipping contest between Fregory and the rest of the world/rest of the Ship/Anglican church/Church of England/some other large group He said that he wasn't busy, and then a load of us replied "Bully for you, we are. Lots of people are, so don't moan when other people recognise that lots of people are busy this time of year and don't moan when they ask if you're also busy."

My post about becoming a vicar to get an easier Christmas was tongue-in-cheek. I'll include subtitles for the terminally earnest next time shall I?

Sarkycow
 

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Posted by MouseThief (# 953) on :
 
Fregoratius Contra Mundum?
 

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Posted by Sarkycow (# 1012) on :
 
And also with you?

Sorry, wrong response
 

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Posted by Seeker963 (# 2066) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Sarkycow:
If anything it's a flipping contest between Fregory and the rest of the world/rest of the Ship/Anglican church/Church of England/some other large group

I'll include subtitles for the terminally earnest next time shall I?

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As much as I hate to take sides with one of the Ship's more - ahem - self-assured posters, saying "It's not my busy time of year" is quite different from saying "I'm not busy".

Other than the fact that I'm a new minister and trying to cope with preparing 4 times 2 Christmas services (something that I assume will get easier as I get more experience), it's not "the" busy time of year in my denomination. If you look at my diary for October - when all our business meetings are supposed to happen - I had 4 or 5 appointments every day of the week. AND people didn't think I was "supposed" to be busy, so I got some remarks from various peple about why I shouldn't be saying "no" to things.
 

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Posted by Father Gregory (# 310) on :
 
Oh I'm busy alright ... just not more busy or less busy than at other times of the year. As has so often been said here it's the pig ignorant notion that teachers and clergy are part timers / time wasters that gets up my nose. I know they could be mean that I am "extra-extra-beyond-the-ordinary" busy at this time, but somehow I don't think so.

By the way if you are going to sport yourself in this over-heated infernal enclosure by mangling my name at least do it in Greek. Thank you.
 

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Posted by Sarkycow (# 1012) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Father Gregory:
By the way if you are going to sport yourself in this over-heated infernal enclosure by mangling my name at least do it in Greek.

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Yes, let's be polite enough to mangle Fregger's name in the language of his choosing.

Or not.


 

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Posted by Angloid (# 159) on :
 
Another thread is suggesting itself. I notice even Fr Gregory is claiming to be 'busy' - whether with pride or not I can't say. What the hell is the use of 'busy' clergy?? I can't count the number of times people have apologised for troubling me, or excusing themselves for not discussing some important spiritual or personal matter, because 'I know you're so busy'. And we like to project that image too. Paying homage to the protestant work ethic instead of to the gospel.
 

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Posted by Father Gregory (# 310) on :
 
... or if you like, I'm always bone idle. It matters not to me ... so long as no special significance is attached to Christmas.
 

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Posted by GreyFace (# 4682) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Father Gregory:
It matters not to me ... so long as no special significance is attached to Christmas.

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Aye, after all, it's only when we celebrate the Incarnation. So, not all that big a deal eh, Father Φρεγωριως ?


(How's my Greek mangling?)

[For non-Greek readers, it's a letter-by-letter translation of Fregorios.]

[ 12. December 2006, 09:43: Message edited by: Sarkycow ]
 

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