labellementeuse: a girl sits at a desk in front of a window, chewing a pencil (Default)
[personal profile] labellementeuse
The following text is taken almost verbatim from my work this evening.

Scene: reasonably quiet petrol station of the multinational flavour, about ten o'clock. Staff: one (moi), young woman of the cheerful persuasion, willing to go the extra mile for her customers (some of this is a lie.)

CUSTOMER OF THE 30 YEAR OLD MALE PERSUASION: *walks in* Can I get a gas bottle* filled?
*I don't know what these are called outside NZ... LPG bottles? Anyway, you plug them into barbeques or heaters or small stoves. They contain a flammable gas. Filling them entails me leaving the store and going outside to the pumps (leaving the store unattended.) For this reason, many petrol stations won't fill after a certain hour. But my station is *special* and more concerned with sales than with the safety of its staff, so we fill them 24/7. This is not too bad as long as customers come at a quiet time, as this one did.
FRIENDLY LOCAL CREWMEMBER (hereafter FLC), IE ME: *checks forecourt; it's quiet* Sure, I can do that for you now, sir.
CUSTOMER & FLC head outside to the filling station, set up, etc. CUSTOMER leans on car, observes FLC.
CUSTOMER: So, how old are you?
FLC: (Mildly surprised, only slightly skeeved) Uh, 19.
CUSTOMER: Ah, quite young!
FLC: (Jokily) Oh, not so young!
CUSTOMER: Hm. Have you heard of Jesus?
FLC: (slightly more skeeved, but maintaining even tone) Ah, I'm sorry, I'm atheist.
FLC clearly expects this to be the end of the subject. And a note: CUSTOMER appears to be a foreigner, although his English is really pretty good; he sounds to FLC more like a first-language English speaker from a country where other languages are also spoken, like India or, I dunno, parts of Africa or Canada or something. His next remark is therefore surprising:
CUSTOMER: Ah, atheist. What does that mean?
FLC: Um, I don't believe in any god.
CUSTOMER: (Clearly warming to his subject)But don't you find that something of a risk? You know, it doesn't matter whether or not you believe in God; He believes in you!
FLC: (Thinking: so if it doesn't matter, why don't you shut up? But retaining polite tone, because I am an *excellent* retail worker) Um, it's a risk I'm willing to take, seeing as how I don't believe in him.
CUSTOMER: [something I've forgotten about heaven, etc]
FLC: well, you know, I don't believe in that. But I'm sure if he does exist and I die and I show up there, any good God will understand that I've lived a pretty good life. (This is true! Today I fetched water for an old woman in the haemotology clinic. Good deeds for all! ;))
CUSTOMER: (In the tones of one playing a trump card) Ah, but you see, that's not enough for Jesus!
FLC: (Shutting down LPG fill, which has finished; STILL with polite, even cheerful tones) Well then he's a pretty bitchy god.
FLC walks back to store, followed by CUSTOMER after he's put the bottle in the car and gotten his wallet. It is a measure of the extent to which the FLC is pissed off that she didn't put the bottle in his car herself.
FLC: (smiling) That'll be $19.50, thank you!
CUSTOMER: Ah, maybe I've tempted you a little bit, huh?
FLC: Um...
CUSTOMER: Well, think about it, okay?
FLC: (Thinking: NO. FUCK OFF. In tones of great finality:) Have a good evening, sir.

ARGHOMFG. Okay, look, there are a lot of religious people who I know and respect and love. But believe me this method of attempting to convert me wil not ever work and will merely confirm me as more stalwartly atheistic. It's also THREATENING. DON'T FUCKING DO IT. I'm a young woman working alone until 11 pm; I've left the store to fill your bottle; I'm actually kind of at your mercy. PISS THE HELL OFF WITH YOUR EVANGELISTIC CRAP, and oh, here's a hint, if someone identifies themselves as atheist, what they mean is I'm not interested.

*sigh* I should have just kept repeating "atheist!" in gradually riding volume until he got the message, I know.



Okay, really I just wanted to say? I love this episode a LOT. I downloaded it today because I basically felt like perving on Faith - I get this a lot, it's kind of like a sickness, but at least I share it with, like, everyone with eyes - but I realised halfway through that it actually has some of my favourite Wesley moments ever, as well. Um, not the crappy ones with Wesley breaking Faith out of prison - that's typical piss-me-off Wes - but the moments with Lilah's body. So he thinks Lilah's been killed by Angelus, so he has to chop of Lilah's head in order to make sure she doesn't go all vampy. And there's this really long scene that I actually kind of love where he's looking at Lilah's body and he starts hallucinating Lilah, chatting away at him about their relationship (and there's a signed dollar bill proving that's the right word to use, BTW). It's just... a good scene, and canon Wes in this period tends strangely to annoy me (or actually. I couldn't stand the characterization that wouldn't let him get over Fred, EVER. It ruined a lot of the dynamics of the later seasons for me, especially after this showdown with Lilah.) but I like this bit of him a lot.

Other things I like about the episode: okay, this is the fourth season, so we're about to plunge into the whole Evil!Cordelia Jasmine mess (this is also the episode where she tells Conner she's pregnant... god, I hate, hate, hate that subplot. Grrargh.) But I still like the bit where Faith puts the smackdown on Conner, and of course, Faith is a breath of fresh air, I think because she comes from *outside* of the total crack (and not in the good way) that is S4/5 Angel canon. She even comments on it, getting a kind of metatextual role that's really sort of fun and not the kind of thing Faith tends to get used for often.

Date: 2006-08-17 12:24 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] aim-toothpaste.livejournal.com
I've never had anything that irritating happen to me, but I wonder sometimes whether they realise that no one in their right mind will be persuaded into turning from Atheist to full-blown Christian after a little chat and maybe a nice magazine. Particularly at a gas station.

Deeply imbeded suspicions of religion always come from somewhere.

Date: 2006-08-18 04:17 am (UTC)
ext_2569: text: "a straight account is difficult, so let me define seven wishes" image: man on steps. (girls with guns)
From: [identity profile] labellementeuse.livejournal.com
I know, it's completely bemusing, right? Has anyone, ever, been convinced by that kind of evangelism?

Date: 2006-08-17 12:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] blademistress.livejournal.com
I hate the preachy ones. I tried pointing out once that God would know if I was covering my ass with prayers but that didn't seem to be a concern. Blah.

I'm totally ordering a Flying Spaghetti Monster necklace.

Seen this, btw? http://reallyintelligentdesign.com/ it's about the ID/evolution debate, but this gets further into the problem of the intelligent designer, asking questions about its origins. Interesting stuff.

Date: 2006-08-18 04:26 am (UTC)
ext_2569: text: "a straight account is difficult, so let me define seven wishes" image: man on steps. (FLAMETHROWER)
From: [identity profile] labellementeuse.livejournal.com
I love your icon.

Every now and then I consider making a FSM joke, like in public or in class, and then I worry no-one would get it. Perhaps a shirt?

oh, no, I haven't. I love the way they use circular logic to dispatch the intelligent designer.

Date: 2006-08-17 12:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] melata-fic.livejournal.com
Whereas I get approached by a sweet old lady and her strange sunglassed and suited bodyguard, who I don't have the heart to say no to (as well as being worried that the suited guy will hunt me down). A while ago, but I'm still concerned she'll come back and ask questions.

If it doesn't matter if you believe in him, then upon living a good life, it shouldn't matter if he does exist. Grr. Also, how is that not good enough for Jesus? That person must not have read the same bible I did. Whoa.

I am agnostic, which means I'm pretty good either way, and am probably more likely to be interested... up to a point. Beyond that point, I will simply say that the bible is told by men back when they thought it was a good idea to place their toilet next to the river, and it shows. I can't stand the ones who don't know about their own bloody religion.

Date: 2006-08-18 04:27 am (UTC)
ext_2569: text: "a straight account is difficult, so let me define seven wishes" image: man on steps. (girls with guns)
From: [identity profile] labellementeuse.livejournal.com
The sweet old ladies/men are the WORST, because I'm conditioned not to be rude to them. (Actually, I'm hardly ever rude, and then I walk away and think "Damn, why wasn't I more rude?")

I will simply say that the bible is told by men back when they thought it was a good idea to place their toilet next to the river, and it shows.
*grin*

Date: 2006-08-18 05:37 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] melata-fic.livejournal.com
Yes. They are so polite and I'm just not able to be rude to nice people in general. But afterwards I do wish I'd just told them to try the next house.

Date: 2006-08-17 06:33 pm (UTC)
kitsunerei88: (Default)
From: [personal profile] kitsunerei88
BWAHAHAHAHAHAAA!

I definitely spoke to Christians like that before.

I've also spoken to Christians who think that it shouldn't matter because as long as you've been a good person and everything, you'll go to heaven. Assuming one exists. ^^

The former are more amusing, whereas the latter actually makes sense.

Date: 2006-08-18 04:28 am (UTC)
ext_2569: text: "a straight account is difficult, so let me define seven wishes" image: man on steps. (FLAMETHROWER)
From: [identity profile] labellementeuse.livejournal.com
I have met distressingly few of the latter. I don't know all that many of th former, either, but. Argh.

Date: 2006-08-19 09:05 pm (UTC)
kitsunerei88: (Default)
From: [personal profile] kitsunerei88
Really? You met me. ^~

Date: 2006-08-20 10:09 pm (UTC)
ext_2569: text: "a straight account is difficult, so let me define seven wishes" image: man on steps. (FLAMETHROWER)
From: [identity profile] labellementeuse.livejournal.com
Are you Christian (now?)? Huh, I totally... missed that development. :P Anyway, even counting you, I know few of them. :P

Date: 2006-08-21 03:06 am (UTC)
kitsunerei88: (Default)
From: [personal profile] kitsunerei88
No, I'm not quite sure what I am anymore . . . nor do I really care. ^^ I think that I believe that yes, Jesus died on the cross for humankind, but beyond that. . . --'' Rien. So that makes me. . . pseudo Christian at best?

I'm not quite sure what I am, and it's not really an important issue for me. 'Cause we'll find out when we die anyway. It's one of those mad late night discussions I had with myself. I find its the best time to get some truths about yourself xD.

I think I blame my boyfriend's influence.

Date: 2006-08-17 06:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sennical.livejournal.com
Hey, I'm Methodist. We're as annoyed by that shit as the people being preached at. Mostly because our method of "spreading the word" tends to involve mission trips and helping the less fortunate and more of a "lead by example" type philosophy. Rather than, you know, forcing our beliefs on others.

Date: 2006-08-18 04:31 am (UTC)
ext_2569: text: "a straight account is difficult, so let me define seven wishes" image: man on steps. (bestfriends4evah!1!!)
From: [identity profile] labellementeuse.livejournal.com
You, and a couple of other people on my flist, are the people I think of when I've reached the end of my tether with Xtian groups on campus (there's this one absolutely awful one who... gah, I can't even. I can't stand them. At all.) and random people telling me I'm going to hell and telling me Jesus loves me and I'm just about ready to say "I HATE ALL CHRISTIANS" and go on a spree.

And then I think about you and [livejournal.com profile] chattycheese and a couple of others and take deep soothing breaths and go do something else. So, you know, you're doing a tremendous service for Christians everywhere, and if more of them were like you... well.

Date: 2006-08-18 06:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sennical.livejournal.com
Thanks. You get sick of apologizing for the loonies after a while. Although I guess I'd have nothing to bitch about if there weren't a few of them.

Date: 2006-08-17 07:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lady-larla.livejournal.com
Staff: one (moi), young woman of the cheerful persuasion, willing to go the extra mile for her customers (some of this is a lie).

You were behind the counter reading a book werent you? And when he came in you were gnashing your teeth ,I'm sure.

(This is true! Today I fetched water for an old woman in the haemotology clinic. Good deeds for all

Wow! Sainthood here I come! No really fetching little old ladies glasses of water in that clinic always good...did you give up your seat for anyone on the bus? that also gets you *carrotcake points* , Not to mention you came to see J in hospital, and cheered him up - so you have lots of points!

At least you don't look foreign, unfortunately/fortunately I do and thats a bueatiful target isnt it for preaching? doesnt help matters that my mums an atheist and my dad tends to hold the same beliefs and I've grown up a nice mix...but seriously people have there own religions or lack of them for their own reasons! Leave them alone, if they want to convert then trust me they'll do so, its human nature...if not then buzz off.... should do what a friends father does every time Jehovah's witnesses come by.."Now let me tell you about my religion" *snerk* they dont get many of thoose any more....

Date: 2006-08-17 08:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sixth-light.livejournal.com
What gets me is the people who go to be missionaries in Peru, Mexico, etc., because it's not enough that they believe in Jesus, they don't believe in Jesus the right way.

If they were really serious about saving souls, they'd go to the highlands of New Guinea. In fact, I propose we send them all there.

Date: 2006-08-17 08:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lady-larla.livejournal.com
*looks behind your shoulder to see if it's safe* how about Madagascar?

What is the right way to believe in Jesus? Is there a right way?

Why New Guinea ? Find a deserted Island somewhere and send them there, why torture the poor natives of some country...and if they have to go somewhere populated can there be cannibals? *please please pretty please?* or to quote Hayley *I'll give you a dollar*

Date: 2006-08-17 08:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sixth-light.livejournal.com
The highlands of New Guinea are populated by cannibals and headhunters. Real, live, cannibals and headhunters. Hence my suggestion.

The "right way" is always "our way". Catholicism, despite being the largest branch of Christianity, is Just Not Cool Enough for American evangelists.

Date: 2006-08-17 08:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lady-larla.livejournal.com
Yes that occured to me after i posted the comment - so New Guinea it is.. that or what ever that Island was in Pirates of the Carribean 2 was where Depp wound up....hmmm Depp....*shuts up and goes to call J*

Date: 2006-08-18 04:36 am (UTC)
ext_2569: text: "a straight account is difficult, so let me define seven wishes" image: man on steps. (blow your head off)
From: [identity profile] labellementeuse.livejournal.com
I totally wasn't! And I really don't normally mind LPG bottles because they keep the night busy, but.

Shut up, I was proud of myself. ;) And visiting J totally doesn't count, I had a good time and it was great to see him. (He looked a lot more cheerful that I was expecting him to, actually.)

At least you don't look foreign, unfortunately/fortunately I do and that's a beautiful target isn't it for preaching?

Actually that hadn't even occurred to me... maybe because a lot of the people who end up preaching to me are foreigners themselves, like this guy (and there are a lot of americans out there too.) *shrug* But I totally get that that would also be hugely sucky. :-/

Date: 2006-08-17 08:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] shoeless-girl.livejournal.com
*eyeroll*

Bastard. That is so damn rude preaching at you while you're at work. Ugh. So very, very inappropriate.

Date: 2006-08-18 04:55 am (UTC)
ext_2569: text: "a straight account is difficult, so let me define seven wishes" image: man on steps. (chase goes fwoom)
From: [identity profile] labellementeuse.livejournal.com
Tell me about it. *mutter, grumble*

Date: 2006-08-17 11:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] derrick-reeves.livejournal.com
My last encounter with religious people was hanging out with some Hare Krishnas. They just asked me if I wanted to dance, meditate and wax philosophical with them.
I think they had me scouted.

Date: 2006-08-18 05:04 am (UTC)
ext_2569: text: "a straight account is difficult, so let me define seven wishes" image: man on steps. (nita & kit)
From: [identity profile] labellementeuse.livejournal.com
*laughs aloud* They had your number, man! :P

Date: 2006-08-18 01:44 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dragonwire.livejournal.com
Nonono, see, you're supposed to go home and repent of your wicked atheistic ways! Because lo and behold, random stranger being creepy and pushy has touched your heart. You will henceforth be assimilated into the psudoculture of 'the Bible told me so' and 'all other religions are wrong and must be destroyed,' and furthermore you will like it. Sort of like Agent Smith. Or maybe the Borg. Only with potlucks and patronizing instead of cybernetic implants.
Nyeh.

Also, Faith is really the one and only good thing about AtS.

Date: 2006-08-18 05:07 am (UTC)
ext_2569: text: "a straight account is difficult, so let me define seven wishes" image: man on steps. (nita & kit)
From: [identity profile] labellementeuse.livejournal.com
Clearly my heart just isn't in the right place, or is not appropriately open to being fondled er, touched by the hand of JESUS.

*hackcoughsplutter*

I like early season Angel a whole lot, and there are bits of later season that I love, but... yeah. Faith? Definitely a BIG plus. Um. *gets mildly distracted*

Date: 2006-08-18 08:54 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] deinacrida.livejournal.com
High five.*
You speak the truth.
I got a rather good mark for a column I wrote about that sort of thing and how it fucks me off...

Date: 2006-08-20 10:24 pm (UTC)
ext_2569: text: "a straight account is difficult, so let me define seven wishes" image: man on steps. (Default)
From: [identity profile] labellementeuse.livejournal.com
*grin* I sure do!

Ehehe, I am the token Christian on here! Yus! :P

Date: 2006-08-18 09:39 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cabaiste84.livejournal.com
Sorry to hear about that, Tui...

Hmmm, I've done a fair bit of evangelism myself in my day (bloody scary, I can tell you that much...), and even from a Christian's perspective that bloke's method of spreadin' the good word wasn't exactly fantastic. Yeah, some people do feel the need to bust out the theology goodness right from the outset, and that's grand. But me, I think it's really important to try and build up a relationship with the person you want to share your faith with before you start getting into the spiritual ins and outs. And, y'know, asking how old you are doesn't really cut it as trying to build up a relationship! :P

I am feelin' wit ya, cos it was only two years and three months ago that I was completely anti-Christian (always had believed in God, but REALLY did not dig the concept of ANY organised religion), and, believe me, if someone like your customer had started lecturing me on heaven out of the blue, then I would have told him to do unspeakable things to a lamp post. :P And I definitely agree that attempting to launch straight into sharing the Gospel with a complete stranger, within the first five seconds of meeting someone isn't exactly going to guarantee wondrous results. Getting to know someone before sharing is the way to go- hell even in Student Life (guessing the one you can't bear right?) we at least tried to have a decent conversation about life with people beforehand!

Heee, I hope I'm one of the people on your flist who you think of whenever you've reached the end of your tether! :P
ext_2569: text: "a straight account is difficult, so let me define seven wishes" image: man on steps. (FLAMETHROWER)
From: [identity profile] labellementeuse.livejournal.com
I think it's really important to try and build up a relationship with the person you want to share your faith with before you start getting into the spiritual ins and outs.

Well, y'know, I appreciate that that's probably a better way to go about it, but also? To me that kind of sounds like you make friends with people in order to, you know, convert them, make them better. And that really bothers me.

he way to go- hell even in Student Life (guessing the one you can't bear right?) we at least tried to have a decent conversation about life with people beforehand!

That's the one, I'm afraid. Their behaviour's been actually atrocious this year, and I *do* have a couple of friends in SL, so I'm not just saying that, I think it's been really bad. :-/
From: [identity profile] cabaiste84.livejournal.com
To me that kind of sounds like you make friends with people in order to, you know, convert them, make them better. And that really bothers me.

Me personally? Actually, no, I do not make friends for the purposes of trying to convert them to my faith. I actually really suck at sharing Christianity with people, even my closest friends whom I have known since before I made the conversion. So, no, definitely not. I was just trying to think of an alternate solution to the problem, that doesn't involve people getting threatened or intimidated at petrol stations late at night. Just being my usual idealistic self.

Argghh, I'm getting all defensive again. Sorry. :( Really should work on that.

If I may ask, what exactly has been so atrocious about SL this year? The only thing I really know about is the whole "Jeremy" campaign, which sounded like a right royal debacle.

Just btw, really hope this doesn't turn into a flamewar...

JAYYYSUS

Date: 2006-08-21 06:37 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rysadeh.livejournal.com
D' you beleif in Jeyaayysus!?

I get them sometimes at work. This one day, a guy even wanted me to give him a discount because he was a PREACHER. A preacher! What a Jackass.

Re: JAYYYSUS

Date: 2006-08-24 02:15 pm (UTC)
ext_2569: text: "a straight account is difficult, so let me define seven wishes" image: man on steps. (FLAMETHROWER)
From: [identity profile] labellementeuse.livejournal.com
*sulks at you* Dude, I was drinking, and then JAYYYYSUS shows up in my inbox. *shakes fist*

What a dick. Dide you give him the special preachers-only price hike? >;D

Re: JAYYYSUS

Date: 2006-08-24 02:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rysadeh.livejournal.com
sorry! I didn't give him a price hike. It wasn't my sale. But Shawn (the guy I passed him to) said that he'd give him a price hike just for the preacher comment. The guy said: "Is there any way I can get this computer at a lower price? I'm a preacher." and I said, "sorry, I dunno. I'll go ask shawn, he works in computers." and he said, "ok. Let him know it's for a preacher."

"Ok."

So I walked up to Sean. "Hey Sean." We started walking in the guy's direction. "This guy wants to know if he can get a computer at a discount. He wanted me to tell you that he's a preacher."

Sean stopped. "A PREACHER? That makes me want to raise the price... Sure, he'll get the special preacher price."

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