Posted on 04/02/2007 12:18:53 PM PDT by Between the Lines
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LOL! I think T-C has enough on her hands as it is, Frank! :)
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Heh. :)
Excellent!
If one Catholic freaked you out and some other Catholics came up with some very kind replies, why cling to the one negative when you have more that are positive?
I’ve had some outrageous FReepmails sent to me by non-Catholic Christians. Up at the top right hand corner there is a word “delete”. You can key that word and it’s all taken care of.
Just keep your eye on the finish line, as St. Paul tells us.
That’s enough to keep us busy.
God bless.
ROE
Excellent point.
We also have the option of ignoring posts to us that we don't find helpful. I have a personal "blackout list" of several names to whom I simply don't respond, because it's always been a negative experience.
If only I could stay out of arguments with my children so easily :-).
Pretty much the reason why a lot of people stay in a church they were raised with. Because it is a cultural/social home. And some, like in many other churches, stay in it trying to make it what they want it to be.
This is life everywhere.
You said it.
I have the nasty habit of seeing a point on a thread, stating my piece in response clearly and usually as kindly as I can, and then not responding to the endless, no it’s not like that, because I’m not in there to bicker, just to explain. Nasty habit. Must be because I was a teacher....
If only it were that easy to stay out of arguments with my kids ...
“What part of ‘We’re not having this discussion!’ didn’t you understand?”
Unfortunately, although one can log off the computer and walk away, the children follow you around the house, saying the same thing over and over again until you’re ready to put them in the freezer.
This is true. I only had to do it with two. (But I got them when they were 10 and 12, so their behavior patterns were set by their birth mom. I use that as the excuse, anyway). Now that I have an empty nest, I have more control over the quiet level at home!
A thing to remember is that others might be gun-shy also. The same question you posed may have been posed in the past and resulted in bad consequences.
I would suggest that in the future that you should end such questions stating your sincerity. Something like "I am sincerely curious." Then should any one accuse or harass you about your question simply restate that you are sincerely curious and that you are not trying to pick a fight.
Don't get discouraged, common decency has become a rare thing around here, it might take a while for some to get used to again.
Thank you for your informative reply. Being concerned about ostracizing oneself from the community makes sense particularly.
This happened several years ago, so I don't remember my wording. But, I do know that I am always careful to word such questions carefully. I always try my hardest not to offend people. So, I assume my wording was not provocative.
It was a long time before I got up the nerve to ask any more questions about Catholics after that initial incident. I've probably only asked one or two more questions since then. So, I don't have enough experience with people giving me kind, thoughtful responses to not be "gun-shy." Also, because I am a female, I can sometimes get emotional over stuff and take it personally. Most of the time, I can handle things like this, but when those hormones are wacky, I can go over the edge. :-)
Depending on age, temperament, personality and the situation . . .
SOMETIMES . . .
it’s worth taking their hands in yours, looking them sqaurely, firmly, lovingly in the eye and saying something like:
“This discussion is now over. I do not want to hear another word about it for at least 24 hours. You may write further thoughts in your journal. Do not show me your journal for 24 hours. If you violate this instruction, there will be significant consequences. When I finish talking in the next few sentences, the only thing I want to hear out of your mouth on this topic is “Yes Mamm.” I’m finished.”
Good suggestion, certainly if there’s a major issue. Most of the arguments are of the “but I did the dishes last time” sort :-).
Idle hands are the devil’s workshop! Just trying to get her to heaven!
;-o)
I can tell you from personal experience that if you drink enough Guinness, you become invisible. Unfortunately, you also become a bit deaf which is how they usually find you...
Ahhhhh.
But those don’t need to run you endlessly ragged either. They won’t be able to argue with their bosses like that!
Bottom of the page and the last line. I add things by chronology.
F
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Tell me about it. :)
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