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[TheMan]

as long as they aren't forcing you to join them in prayer, who gives a shit.

 

[Sye d'Burns]

And yet the author of the email is using quotes to indicate that he/she has determined that getting offended by the company prayer is unjustified.

Would it have helped if the author just included that jpg?

 

[dojokun]

Would it have helped if the author just included that gif?

No... it would have helped if the author just said "We're praying" and never made a statement one way or the other on being offended.

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

I think a lot of people are missing the point of the OP putting "offended" in quotes.

And the multiple times he said that he's not offended.

 

[Cyan]

It's the quotes that make it offensive, not the simple fact that they are reminding people it's the national day of prayer.

The quotes basically say 'anyone who doesn't think national day of prayer is the best thing ever is stupid'.

Exactly. It's just being obnoxious for the sake of it. Remove the scare quotes and I'd probably just shrug at it.

 

[User 100115]

Exactly. It's just being obnoxious for the sake of it. Remove the scare quotes and I'd probably just shrug at it.

Yeah, it wouldn't have even been a thing if the quotes were removed. The quotes make the email sender seem like an asshole trying to stir shit up.

 

[Necromanti]

Every day is a day of reason.

In what universe?

But anyway, it's sad that instead of saying something like oh, keep so-and-so in your thoughts and prayers, or proposing something more inclusive like a moment of silence, the sender had to politicize their deed. Quite unnecessary, and makes you question their agenda. There's nothing wrong with inviting people to pray for something, but it's pretty clear there's an ulterior motive/message behind it.

 

[SquiddyCracker]

I know I've been a bit of a dick and showed a lack of tact when it comes to this subject.
Regardless of how ineffective prayers are as a supernatural help line, they give some sort of comfort to both those that engage in them and those that are aware of themselves being the recipients of the prayers.

(Though some research shows that prayers in certain situations actually have a negative effect, as a result of the prayers agitating the target of the prayers - worsening their medical condition as they believe themselves to be in a really bad condition if people are praying for them).

Just ignore the praying if you're not interested in them, and if they then complain about you not participating you are fully entitled to feel offended. At least they show some sort of concern for non-praying individuals by sending out a company-wide email - and that's something.

 

[OrangeYouGlad]

Exactly. It's just being obnoxious for the sake of it. Remove the scare quotes and I'd probably just shrug at it.

The wording could use a little work so it's a bit more neutral, but it really depends on the company. US labor laws confuse me to no end, so it could very well be acceptable, but in my time in HR I could expect the person who sent that to get shit on for the wording used.

 

[Chie Satonaka]

Reply to all and let them know you'll be holding a group prayer to Allah in the break room at noon.

 

[Weenerz]

Go to HR and tell them how you feel about it, that's why they are there.

 

[kinggroin]

Just what kind of organization does the OP work for where folks are allowed to send company wide emails with religious overtones?

 

[Billen]

No one here is offended by this email. They're "offended" by it.

Sender is definitely being a dick with the passive aggressive stab at people that are offended by religious stuff in the workplace, but I would also just ignore it unless they do stuff like this a lot.

Hey [Sender of email],

Thanks for your "great" email. I found it "appropriate" that you would send this to everyone at work.

Once again, "Thanks"
-OP

This is actually a great idea, I think. Preferably with the "Reply to all" button pressed.

 

[jtb]

Remind the sender that the bombers prayed plenty enough.

Perfect.

 

[Vulcano's assistant]

Harmless compared to anything else that goes on in a normal office, that's the end of it.

 

[besada]

Bring a chalice, a small knife, and some salt to work tomorrow.

At a time of your choosing, stand and sprinkle the salt widdershins until you've completed a circle. Inside the circle, cut your hand and let it drip into the chalice. A few drops will do.

In your loudest voice, while holding up the chalice, shout " Io! Pan, panphage the eater, Pan the devourer, I give my blood to thee! Ia! Ia! Pan!"

Make sure you vacuum up the salt afterwards.

 

[Jim Harbaugh]

People are just looking for reasons to be offended these days.

 

[mr2xxx]

Only thing that can stop religious fanatics is more religion, the "right" religion.

 

[V_Arnold]

First world problem? First world problem.

Oh my god, you now have got an email that you do not like. I dare you to open the Spam folder now.

 

[Sye d'Burns]

Bring a chalice, a small knife, and some salt to work tomorrow.

At a time of your choosing, stand and sprinkle the salt widdershins until you've completed a circle. Inside the circle, cut your hand and let it drip into the chalice. A few drops will do.

In your loudest voice, while holding up the chalice, shout " Io! Pan, panphage the eater, Pan the devourer, I give my blood to thee! Ia! Ia! Pan!"

Make sure you vacuum up the salt afterwards.

You should trim it up a bit and stick it in this thread; that was great.

 

[CornBurrito]

I pray to Loki on these occasions because I know he'll troll and do the opposite of what we pray for.

 

[THRILLH0]

Yeah, it wouldn't have even been a thing if the quotes were removed. The quotes make the email sender seem like an asshole trying to stir shit up.

Projections, they're everywhere!

I love how religious people are expected to put up with atheist bullshit like "day of reason lawl", having the stephenfry.jpg thrown in their face at every turn, but this is getting a whole lot of panties in a bunch.

Could the email have been better written? Of course it could. But reading into the motivations of the sender and making up your mind that they were determined to belittle people is absurd.

 

[mikeGFG]

I don't really care if people want to be religious, but this is pretty unprofessional and the "offended" in quotes seems unnecessarily antagonistic

its not. show some respect.

 

[besada]

I love how religious people are expected to put up with atheist bullshit like "day of reason lawl", having the stephenfry.jpg thrown in their face at every turn, but this is getting a whole lot of panties in a bunch.

People send you atheist emails at work? Because, if not, what the fuck are you talking about?

 

[Bombadil]

I pray to Loki on these occasions because I know he'll troll and do the opposite of what we pray for.

But if you know he's going to do the opposite, then you can get what you want anyway. That's reverse trolling.

 

[CornBurrito]

its not. show some respect.

Respect to what? The email?

But if you know he's going to do the opposite, then you can get what you want anyway. That's reverse trolling.

He reads humanity's true intent. You can't reverse psychology him. Come on Bombadil, this is basic Norse Myth 101.

 

[User 100115]

Projections, they're everywhere!

I love how religious people are expected to put up with atheist bullshit like "day of reason lawl", having the stephenfry.jpg thrown in their face at every turn, but this is getting a whole lot of panties in a bunch.

Could the email have been better written? Of course it could. But reading into the motivations of the sender and making up your mind that they were determined to belittle people is absurd.

Why would they put 'offended' in quote if not to belittle people that don't agree with them?

I am pretty much the most easy going person you could meet in regards to religion; as long as you aren't hurting people or being a huge jerk, I am cool with it. The sender putting offended in quotes comes off to me as them being a jerk about stuff.

 

[Kettch]

Sandy Hook was technically last year.

Well, technically Sandy Hook wasn't mentioned.

School shootings this year:

January 10, 2013 Taft, California
January 12, 2013 Detroit, Michigan
January 15, 2013 St. Louis, Missouri
January 15, 2013 Hazard, Kentucky
January 16, 2013 Chicago, Illinois
January 22, 2013 Houston, Texas
January 29, 2013 Midland City, Alabama
January 31, 2013 Atlanta, Georgia
March 18, 2013 Orlando, Florida
April 19, 2013 Cambridge, Massachusetts
April 29, 2013 Cincinnati, Ohio

 

[Count Dookkake]

its not. show some "respect."

fixed

 

[dejay]

Half the email I get from head office I treat as spam. Just delete it and move on.

 

[CornBurrito]

fixed

*shakes fist at the screen*

grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

 

[ronito]

It's one of those things people say but don't mean.

"I don't want to 'offend' anyone but.."
You will.


"With all due respect..."
Another way to say f-you!

"I'll try to keep this short."
No you wont.

 

[FLAguy954]

If you're religious, praying for someone is a kind gesture. Just because you don't believe doesn't make it any less so. If you really get up in arms/shun someone for trying to show kindness/sympathy in their own way then I feel sorry for you.

Prayer (ie talking to oneself) is a pretty fucking lazy way to show kindness and sympathy.

 

[Mileena]

Well if you don't pray your co-workers are gonna think you're a sinner....

 

[WanderingWind]

Half the email I get from head office I treat as spam. Just delete it and move on.

Yeah. The E-Mail clearly wasn't for you. Prayer happens in the world. You don't have to join in or anything.

 

[Plywood]

I would just ignore the email.

Pretty much.

I reread the OP several times over wondering what was the big deal.

 

[Devolution]

Offended could have been written with the quotes.

Ignore the email anyway.

 

[Real Hero]

why would that offend anyone

 

[Cyan]

Projections, they're everywhere!

I love how religious people are expected to put up with atheist bullshit like "day of reason lawl", having the stephenfry.jpg thrown in their face at every turn, but this is getting a whole lot of panties in a bunch.

If someone is sending company-wide emails at your work with "day of reason lawl" etc, by all means complain to HR and make a thread here about it.

 

[Bombadil]

Prayer (ie talking to oneself) is a pretty fucking lazy way to show kindness and sympathy.

In addition to the prayer, they should organize a donation drive to help affected families.

Or perhaps donate money to hospitals (if possible) that have to handle these types of mass emergencies.

 

[AstroLad]

random tangential rant

i love how people seem to think "don't be so PC" and "don't be offended" is just a license for them to basically be assholes. no, you're still an asshole even if you happen to be being "un-PC" as well

the PC movement really only had steam for a few years in the early 90s. the anti-"PC"/asshole movement has gone on for way longer and been way more obnoxious and antagonistic. it's basically a broader version of "i'm not racist but...."

 

[Paches]

Projections, they're everywhere!

I love how religious people are expected to put up with atheist bullshit like "day of reason lawl", having the stephenfry.jpg thrown in their face at every turn, but this is getting a whole lot of panties in a bunch.

I am almost tempted to just blast an email out tomorrow saying exactly "day of reason lawl".

 

[Bulbo Urethral Baggins]

That's a great email. It could only offend someone with thin enough skin to be "offended" by it. Perfect.

 

[Karakand]

I get emails with quotations from Henry Ford--stalwart of American antisemitism--in the signature.

 

[stufte]

Projections, they're everywhere!

I love how religious people are expected to put up with atheist bullshit like "day of reason lawl", having the stephenfry.jpg thrown in their face at every turn, but this is getting a whole lot of panties in a bunch.

Could the email have been better written? Of course it could. But reading into the motivations of the sender and making up your mind that they were determined to belittle people is absurd.

Jesus dude, why do you throw a completely over the top fit in every thread that even remotely discusses religion? We're here to discuss things, things that we don't all agree on. Could you at least try and contribute in a less reactionary way?

 

[RobotMafia]

Its a stupid email to send out at work but If I saw that in my inbox Id just laugh and delete it.

 

[Coconut]

I don't really care if people want to be religious, but this is pretty unprofessional and the "offended" in quotes seems unnecessarily antagonistic

They aren't forcing you to do anything so chill out.

 

[Sye d'Burns]

the PC movement really only had steam for a few years in the early 90s. the anti-"PC"/asshole movement has gone on for way longer and been way more obnoxious and antagonistic. it's basically a broader version of "i'm not racist but...."

Yeah, but those were a miserable few years.

I am almost tempted to just blast an email out tomorrow saying exactly "day of reason lawl".

Be Loud! Be Proud!

 

[MisterNegative]

People being offended by this nonsense belittle themselves.

Bingo

 

[CornBurrito]

In addition to the prayer, they should organize a donation drive to help affected families.

Or perhaps donate money to hospitals (if possible) that have to handle these types of mass emergencies.

Yeah I'd like to see this more often, but it sometimes feels like prayer is used as a substitute for actually doing something tangible.