March 11th, 2010
Ah the internet. Such a font of fantastic, novel, and often useless knowledge. One of my favorite sites to read for fun is WikiHow.com. The user-created content there is often worth reading if you need some simple advice on how to handle different situations.
Some of these wiki entries apply directly to secular folks like you and me. Do you have a friend who wants to ask you how your spiritual walk with god is going? Is your brother confronting you at an awkward time about your lack of church attendance? Do you just want to avoid debates on religion all together? Check out this bit of wisdom about how to handle acquaintances, family, or friends when they want to talk about spiritual matters:
Photo by hovering dog (flickr.com)
from wikiHow
There is a time and place for everything under the sun, including discussions about religion. Whether you are religious or not, if someone is trying to draw you into a conversation, or perhaps an argument, regarding religion or morality but the timing and situation is awkward and uncomfortable, this article will help you find a way to avoid a heated debate as politely as possible.
Steps
- Resist the urge to argue. It’s difficult to overlook a statement that seems completely ignorant and ungrounded, and you’ll likely have the urge to correct the person. Instead, smile and say “Interesting…”
- Meet it head on with honesty. Be true to yourself and your own feelings. Say “I’m not comfortable talking about that and I’m just not willing to have this conversation…”
- Redirect the conversation.
- Ask about their children, significant other, health, or job.
- Make an absurd joke to deflect the seriousness of the situation. For example, try: “Religion? No, I haven’t seen that movie.” Or: “Religion?! What . . . do you get that at, like, Wal-Mart or Starbucks or something?” Or: “No thanks. I haven’t been able to talk about religion since the last time the Cubs won the World Series.”
- Dead pan, “I am sorry. I have a firm rule to not discuss politics or religion with anyone I’ve not seen naked.” That usually ends the discussion rather abruptly, and on a light-hearted note.
- For people who are insistent on discussing religion, however, they’re likely to return to that topic quickly, so keep the conversation flowing at the level of small talk until you can do something else.
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christianity, god, relationships, religion, resources, skepticism and freethought | 
8 Comments »
September 19th, 2009
Photo © Steve Rhodes
Tired of the same old tips about wearing longer skirts and always keeping an eye on your drink? Wish there was something that actually worked? Wonder no more! Here are two lists of fool-proof ways sexual assault can be prevented.
- Don’t put drugs in people’s drinks in order to control their behavior.
- When you see someone walking by themselves, leave them alone!
- If you pull over to help someone with car problems, remember not to assault them!
- NEVER open an unlocked door or window uninvited.
- If you are in an elevator and someone else gets in, DON’T ASSAULT THEM!
- Remember, people go to laundry to do their laundry, do not attempt to molest someone who is alone in a laundry room.
- USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM! If you are not able to stop yourself from assaulting people, ask a friend to stay with you while you are in public.
- Always be honest with people! Don’t pretend to be a caring friend in order to gain the trust of someone you want to assault. Consider telling them you plan to assault them. If you don’t communicate your intentions, the other person may take that as a sign that you do not plan to rape them.
- Don’t forget: you can’t have sex with someone unless they are awake!
- Carry a whistle! If you are worried you might assault someone “on accident” you can hand it to the person you are with, so they can blow it if you do.
- And, ALWAYS REMEMBER: if you didn’t ask permission and then respect the answer the first time, you are committing a crime- no matter how “into it” others appear to be.
(source)
But wait, there’s more!
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randomness, relationships, society, surveys and lists | 10 Comments »
July 25th, 2009
A variety of random junk that will somehow make your life better lies below!
A Different Kind of News
Happy News!
GoodNewsNetwork
Keeping it positive. I recommend getting the RSS feed to look through when you want a break from the sucky and depressing junk on Faux Noise and MSNBSeeyalater.
You Didn’t Know You Needed it… Until Now
Mezzoman.com: Meeting someone? Want to find a place in the middle? Check out this creative use of the Google Maps API.
Atlas Obscura: A guide to unique, fascinating, and wonderful locations to visit
GetHuman.com: Calling a support line and want to skip that frustrating automated system? Speak to a human using these short cuts.
MemeMania!
Need a place to perform baby-eating atheist rituals? There’s an App for That
I like to make shadow puppets out of used toilet paper rolls …and I’m a PC
randomness | 1 Comment »
July 21st, 2009
Perhaps at the same time.
While browsing WikiHow.com for tips on how to sleep in the heat I scrolled through their list of Requested Articles. A member submits a question to the universe, and someone smart (or cocky) comes along and answers it in a How-To style article. These tutorials vary from practical requests like “How to wash overalls in the washing machine” to gems such as “How to help your mom get rid of her boyfriend” and “How to know you smell when you can’t smell yourself”.
For the sake of all things educational, please go check it out and answer some of these questions if you have the expertise. Especially the bit about the boyfriend. That could get messy.
In fact, here are a few of my personal favorites that caught my godless eye:
How to be a liberal in a conservative church
How to regain your faith in Christ
Help these poor folks, heathens! What would you tell them?
Jesus, christianity, funny, randomness | No Comments »
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