Posted on 07/31/2015 11:49:41 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows
The time has come to take action against thread hijackers.
Let me begin with an example of thread hijacking:
Like most Freepers, I am pro-life. Abortion and and euthanasia appall me, and marketing the results even more so. I support candidates who oppose the culture of death, and cheer when it is thwarted.
I also do not find it necessary to mention these facts on EVERY. FREAKING. THREAD.
There is a certain type of Freeper, though, who has no such restraint. For these zealots, any thread that deviates from the pro-life cause, no matter how trivially, is a heresy that must be immediately suppressed.
You are shocked by cruelty to animals? I guess that means you couldn't care less about the cruelty of THE MILLIONS OF CHILDREN ABORTED EVERY YEAR!!!!!
You lost a beloved pet? Why can't you mourn THE THOUSANDS OF ABORTED BABIES WHO DIED THE SAME DAY?!!!!
Your car shredded its transmission and you're looking at thousands of dollars in repairs? Why aren't you thinking about THE BABIES WHO WILL NEVER GROW UP TO BE AUTO MECHANICS BECAUSE THEY WERE ABORTED?!!!!
(OK, maybe I made that last one up.)
Arguing with these people is pointless. It's the same principle as wrestling with a pig - you just get muddy and the pig enjoys it. Similarly, trying to convince them that they are being rude is a waste of time - THE CAUSE is far more important little things like courtesy and respect.
So, what can we do about it?
We can get drunk.
I hereby propose The Thread Hijack Drinking Game. The rules are simple: When a poster tries to hijack an unrelated thread to his or her pet cause, you 1) reply to the hijack attempt by quoting the text in question, followed by the word "DRINK!", and 2) Take a drink (or any volume) of your favorite beverage (alcoholic or non-alcoholic). Moderation is suggested on animal cruelty threads to avoid alcohol poisoning.
This game will not, I admit, solve the thread hijacking problem. But after a certain number of attempts we will no longer care.
And if anyone is offended by my little proposal, I can only say...
DRINK!
Aye....Arrggggghhhh
Our retreat went extremely well. We had about 25 retreatants; a few were married couples, but most were women by themselves, with a few unaccompanied men. Hopefully we'll get the other half of couples in the future. One of the lades was a repeat customer: she'd had a great time the first time! The music, speakers, and menu are different each time, so you don't lose much by doing it again.
I was part of "Set-up Crew" this time, so I didn't spend a lot of time with the retreatants. I was making copies, getting the speakers in the right place at the right time, and I did publicity and registration. Last night and today I also waitressed at the meals. One of our male staffers was competing for "most helpful server." I joked that I would have worn a shorter skirt if I'd known we were battling for tips ... not that it would have made much difference, except with the table of guys!
The retreat ended at 4:30, and then we did the music for the 5:00 o'clock Mass. I had three guitarists, counting DP. I told the other two (who had played at the retreat) that they weren't bad, but lacked the machismo Latino of my regular accompanist. We're doing the Spanish Mass tomorrow at 1:00.
My feet hurt. I just spend most of an hour reading animal books to Kathleen: a short one about wild turkeys, and a long one about salamanders. Hellbenders and giant Chinese salamanders have very loose, wrinkled skin because it allows them to absorb more oxygen from the water.
One of the speakers last night made an interesting point ... she said that, while praying about a difficult situation (her husband’s cancer), she got an insight from the Lord: “You’re not a victim: you’re a student.”
What a way to change your response to situations! When you ask, “What does God want me to learn from these events?” you have a whole different point of view. Or if you’re not traditionally religious, “What is the Universe teaching me here?” or even, “Since I can’t avoid these circumstances, what can I learn that can help facilitate future flourishing?”
And finally, Jake is much better today. He’s got almost all his spring back. He wasn’t at full speed this morning, but he gave me what-for about filling his bowl and letting him out this evening.
.
"Whatever's not a small reward,
Is just a simple test."
Or a complex test, like with math and stuff.
I'm sure it all serves a purpose in God's plan!
God bless you very much, my tax-chick!
You’re welcome. I’ve learned many Fascinating Animal Facts during Kathleen’s (ongoing) wildlife enthusiasm.
We didn’t grow big, wrinkly brains to deal with math problems.
We did it to help us figure out people and how to get along with them.
Excellent point. Maybe big, wrinkly brains can absorb more information-carrying subatomic particles, just like loose, wrinkly skin absorbs more oxygen.
And how is your son?
Anoreth is on some kind of duty that involves hanging out on the beach in Surf City, NC, even though she’s supposedly posted to Seattle. Nice work if you can get it ...
Vanya is looking for a job. Kind of.
Tom and Elen are looking for jobs kind-of, too. Someday one or the other might get a lifeguard job at Monroe.
I’d rather not see totally unnecessary stunt flying too ... but I thought he was in legal?
Jesus although I may stand these storms like I’m made out of stone You hear the songs that I cry when I’m weary and all alone You see the years that have come too fast and the pain that goes so slow yet like rain to a garden when the ground becomes hardened I know You’re using it all to help me grow
He’s got a B.A. in Law Enforcement but now he’s going for Marine Aviator. Whether the fancy flying is or is not necessary, I do not know. I think it’s not really stunt flying per se, but in-air procedures to develop precision control and a feel for the plane. They do a heck of a lot of training.
I’d be very concerned if one of my children was training to be a military pilot. I grew up with that!
TINY FLOOFY!
Never hurts to start the day with a tiny kitten.
His paws are almost as big as his face.
His face is the same size as his body.
Head exploding from the squee in 3-2-1......
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