What Does It Mean When Someone Says To Me "Have A Blessed Day"??

[arwalden]

Are they being sincere? Do they really want me to have a blessed day? Why not just a "nice" day? What would make my day "blessed" anyway? I know what a nice day is like, but how does that differ from a blessed day?

For some reason, that phrase strikes me as being a bit pretentious. I feel like it's not a sincere wish that my day be "blessed", but instead it is a way of signaling to me that they are a Christian.

Are they testing me? I wonder if this phrase is something like a secret-handshake. I also wonder what the "correct" response would be from someone who wanted to signal-back that they too were a Christian.

Are they just assuming that I'm a Christian? If they knew I was an atheist, would they STILL want me to have a blessed day?

Would this be considered "flaunting" their Christianity? I suppose that saying "have-a-blessed-day" (4 words) gets the point across much more succinctly than "have-a-nice-day-and-by-the-way-I'm-a-Christian-are-you-one-too-and-if-you're-not-I'm-a-better-person-than-you" (25 words).

The whole thing just leaves me cold. What's the best response? -- No response? Should I say "you too" or "thank you" (even though I don't mean it)? -- I suppose I could say "and you have a rational day" (but it would probably go right over their head).

Oh well. That's my rant for the day. Thank you for reading it... and have a NICE day!

:hi:

[skygazer]

1. I'm glad I'm not the only one who wonders about such things

Very nice rant.

[dolo amber]

2. I don't know about everywhere

But in eastern KY saying "Have a blessed day" IS, in fact, some creepy Christian code. Seriously.

[bertha katzenengel]

32. Kinda like how the legend of the fish symbol evolved?

Hmm... strange place to use the word "evolved." Heh.

In the first couple of centuries of Christianity, it's said that one could determine if another were a follower of Christ in this way: one person would draw an arc in the dust with a toe as the two chatted. If the other person drew an arc to complete a fish-looking symbol, the two would know they were both Christians.

Probably a necessary code back when people were being murdered for their beliefs. I for one am very thankful that that doesn't happen here. Much.

"Creepy?" Why creepy?

[dolo amber]

55. Not necessarily creepy because of Christian overtones

Albeit CERTAINLY *unnecessary* in that part of the world.

More creepy in that *I don't know what that means but everyone else does* sorta way.

[don954]

49. the pagans i know would drive them crazy

as that's one of our variants on blessed be....

[datasuspect]

3. it means i'm about to crack them in the chops

and have a long talk with them about satan.

[idgiehkt]

4. it's very close to 'blessed be' from wicca

so it might be interesting to pretend to think it's wiccan and ask them what coven they belong to... :shrug:

I hate it too, and every one around here does it. It's fundie-speak, for sure.

[Frank Cannon]

53. And that's usually my response to that

I smile and say, "Ah, yes, blessed be," and walk away. I can picture them going to their fundie friends, asking them what I meant by that, and then their heads exploding in a shower of hair, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid.

[idgiehkt]

64. LOL

what vivid imagery! If only....

[RevCheesehead]

5. It's simply a way of wishing you to have a day that you'll be thankful for

While there probably are Christian undertones, keep in mind that many wiccans use the greeting "blessed be."

I wouldn't get uptight about it, since most people tend to be rather sincere in using it. Just smile and say "thank you." :)

[bertha katzenengel]

33. That Wiccans use a similar greeting - good point Rev. n/t

[yellowdogintexas]

42. what she said. People I talk to on the phone say it all the time

I do think it started with conservative religious groups. With most people, I think they truly want you to have a day with no difficulties, with the power of God behind you....whether you want it or not.

I just put a smile in my voice and say 'thank you'

[Midlodemocrat]

56. I agree with you, totally Rev.

I think people who say that are being kind and wishing you a day of happiness and blessings from whomever/whatever you choose/don't choose to believe in.

I don't say it myself, but I do thank people who say it to me.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

6. I means "I'm holier than thou"

Or at least that's what I'd think it'd mean if somebody said it to me.

I'd probably just grunt and walk away.

[jpgray]

7. I was brought up Christian--the correct response is "Hail Satan"

[datasuspect]

8. praise hell is a regional variant

both are acceptable

[QuestionAll...]

9. wishing allergies upon you and your house? nt

[crim son]

10. I think it's one of those "free speech" thingies.

You might not like it, but you've gotta learn how to cope. Sheesh!

[arwalden]

11. Interesting Response...

... and when I say "interesting", I mean confusing and odd.

What specific thing suggests to you that I need to "learn how to cope"? :shrug: Can you explain how you equate my curiosity about their sincerity, or their motivation, with an inability to "cope".

Have a rational day! :hi:

[crim son]

14. I'm sorry you find it confusing and odd.

I also question whether you do in fact have any curiosity about the sincerity or motivation of people who express aloud their wish that you have what is obviously meant to be a good and peaceful day. Have a blessed day, have a rational day, have a good one... these are all habits of speech and really don't call for much scrutiny. In my opinion. Hence my flippant response, implying that you ought to let it go and shine the light of your curiosity somewhere where it might actually reveal something meaningful. Any clearer? :shrug:

[Hell Hath No Fury]

17. "Have a nice day" has zero religious...

connotations -- "Have a blessed day" has nothing but. I find it presumptious, and agree the proper response is "Hail Satan."

[crim son]

19. And you should feel free to respond that way.

People say things we don't like. As long as they don't physically assault us, I think we should be grownups and get over it. Apparently that's just me.

[arwalden]

20. Well...

<< I'm sorry you find it confusing and odd. >>

Apology accepted.


<< I also question whether you do in fact have any curiosity about the sincerity or motivation of people who express aloud...>>

Tell me more about these impressive mind-reading skills you possess. :patriot: Can you tell what I'm thinking... NOW? (How about... NOW!) :rofl:


<< ...their wish that you have what is obviously meant to be a good and peaceful day. >>

Well, no... their motivation and sincerity (and meaning) is not so "obvious". The fact that I asked should have been your FIRST clue. I assume that you overlooked the posts in this thread from folks that share my curiosity and suspicions... because that would have been your SECOND clue. :eyes:


<< Have a blessed day, have a rational day, have a good one... these are all habits of speech and really don't call for much scrutiny.>>

Obviously my desire to scrutinize it makes you uncomfortable. I wonder why. It's almost as though there's something you'd prefer that I not find. What do you want to hide?


<< In my opinion. Hence my flippant response, >>

That was flippant?


<< implying that you ought to let it go and shine the light of your curiosity somewhere where it might actually reveal something meaningful. >>

In other words: "don't look too closely" and "nothing to see here, move along".


<< Any clearer? >>

Yes I understand much better now... but obviously more than you intended.

Have a day. :hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

21. Rational Day? Rational Day???

What the hell kind of freak are you, anyway??? ;) :hi: :hug: I haven't seen you in ahwile.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

15. I got that from a cashier...

recently at my local supermarket. Being San Francisco, a greeting like that is wildly out of the ordinary -- I was completely taken aback when she said it to me. (She has worked there for years and this was a new thing for her.)

I'm sorry but I really don't want to hear that shit when I am paying for my groceries. :shrug:

I haven't see her since then, but if I get it the next time I will be talking to management.

[crim son]

18. I truly understand your position. But as I say, it doesn't

necessarily mean anything at all, and why would you bother if it does? Is the speaker handing out literature while giving the greeting?

I'm about as anti-public-religion as a person can get. However I realize what it means to some people, and believe that I can deal with a moment of "Ugh" so that others might feel pleasure. In the same way I do not object somebody who is badly dressed: the statement made is intolerable, but why should I care? At least the wearer is feeling good.

[Misunderestimator]

59. It's like "that's so gay" ... it might not mean anything insulting from...

the person saying it, but it's pretty insulting to many gay people to hear it. Just as it's insulting to non-religious people to hear "have a blessed day."

[ScreamingMeemie]

24. Yowza!! What the hell are you going to say to my 84 year old grandma

if you meet her on the street? For many people this is second nature and if you gave my grandma shit for it I'd knock your teeth out.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

26. If I met your Grandma out on the street.

and she said that, I would find it annoying and let it go. If your Grandma did that while she was bagging my groceries and handling my payment -- in other words, interjecting religiou into a business transaction -- I sure as heck would talk to the maanager.

BTW, I was raised Roman Catholic -- I made it to 46 and have never seen fit to impose my faith on anyone.

[ScreamingMeemie]

28. So was I... I don't say it, but I don't take it as some offense when peopl

do. That's ridiculous. Move on to the more important things in life.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

23. A little defensive, aren't we?

I didn't know Arwalden was asking about what legal right people have to say it when he asked what it meant.

[Mad_Dem_X]

69. LOL! Exactly

Deal with it. Say thank you, or ignore them. No big deal.

[Bucky]

12. I think it's sincere. I don't get squeamish about others' belief systems.

If someone blesses me, I accept it. You can't get too many blessings. Except, of course, when they bless my heart. When someone says bless your heart, it usually means, "you're a fucking idiot." They may be right about that, but I don't have to be grateful for the insight.

[arwalden]

13. ROFL...

Yes!! That's exactly right!!

"Aunt Sally can't figure out how to use the microwave oven, bless her heart!"

[hyphenate]

34. I always thought that "bless her heart"

meant that a brain didn't exist in the head, so they doubly needed their heart. :rofl:

[pitohui]

46. it very often means that, hyphenate

in the south "bless his heart" is not always a very nice thing to say about someone, in fact, it frequently is a comment on the mental competency of the person being blessed

[idgiehkt]

16. gosh

that's not what I mean when I say it. Usually when I say that it means thank you for doing whatever you just did...

I have had people who aren't from the south get really pissed at my 'southernisms' though. I once had a guy from New York get mad at me for calling him 'honey' once and ask me how I would feel if he called me 'bitch' every time he talked to me. I said that I would not like it, of course, but I still don't understand his reaction.

[ScreamingMeemie]

25. So that's what my mother in law REALLY means??

:cry:

[ScreamingMeemie]

22. It means they, themselves, are better than you...more Godlike if you will.

Able to bestow a bounty of blessings (hey,I like that illiteration) upon humankind... and... one step closer to the day they embrace their Saviour the Baby Jesus. :hi:

Actually, my grandma says it and I don't think she even realizes she's doing it. :hi:

[Dervill Crow]

47. No, I don't think they mean it that way.

Maybe some do, but it's just like saying, "Have a nice day," to them.

Like praising God when a light is green. They are just all about God and don't realize it is weird and offensive when they talk that way to people who aren't . . . um, what to say. Born again? Walking with Jesus? Or as my dad called it, fanatics. It sounds like they are talking down to us normal people, but it isn't intended that way.

I tried explaining in an adult Sunday school class once why a non-Christian might get pissed off when a Christian says, "I'm praying for you." It's exactly what you said, the perception is that they think they are closer to God. They absolutely could not wrap their brains around the fact that not everyone wants to be prayed for.

[ScreamingMeemie]

51. I was teasing arwalden.

Not my comment about my grandma. She doesn't even realize she says it. For her, it's like saying "bless you" after a sneezed. Just something she picked up while she was growing up.

[Dervill Crow]

61. Oh. Duh. I say "blessed be" when someone sneezes. Freaks them out. nt

[deucemagnet]

27. Yeah, that annoys me, but not enough to make a big thing out of it.

It usually goes like this.

Them: "Have a blessed day!"

Me (outloud): "Um, yeah, you too."

Me (in my head): "Asshole."

[Skittles]

29. pious shit

I don't make an issue out of it though

[Tikki]

30. The Tikkis ALWAYS return reply with one of our...

favorite Sci-fi statements; like:

"May the force be with you"
"Live long and prosper"
"Affirmative, Dave, I read you" or "I'm sorry, Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that"
Sometimes I will say "Peace in our time".


What they really might do is just like... talk to me for a moment and listen...but, I think they already have their minds made up
when they use such a saying.

But, I really don't like drive-by blessings...



The Tikkis

[arwalden]

54. "...drive-by blessings..."

:thumbsup: :rofl:

[Dervill Crow]

62. Those responses are excellent! Mind if I steal? n/t

[Tikki]

63. Go for it....I bet you have some of excellent ones to add...

It's not that I'm rude..when someone takes the time to address me with that statement, they are in essence introducing
themselves. I feel the most polite response is to let them know, briefly, who I am and where I stand.

Tikki

[bertha katzenengel]

31. Here's how I look at it.

I guess it's primarily Christians (usually, I imagine, of pentacostal or evangelical flavor) who say this. Perhaps they see themselves as having received a blessing when they themselves have a good day or are happy. So they wish the same good day or happiness on someone else.

I don't take offense at it. If someone feels blessed by the fantastic deity of their choice, who am I to be offended at that? :shrug: Long as they don't shove it down my throat -- and believe me, being offered a blessing can't be taken as such. Not from where I sit.

:hi:

[RevCheesehead]

35. nice response, Bertha.

I really do think that many people use it, not for evangelizing, but simply to wish good upon the person. When I hear it, it reminds me to be thankful for the life I have; and it also humbles me just enough to stop being so full of myself.

:hi::hug:

Did you see my kitty thread?

[bertha katzenengel]

36. I did see your kitty thread. I did not see your kitty pics.

They do not show up. Not even those little red exes. :(

[RevCheesehead]

37. Really?

They're out of my photobucket account. I'll PM you the address.

[bertha katzenengel]

38. thanks! you're a gem

I will look at them tomorrow. Time for me to go swoon over my own 3-week, 2-day old kids, then go to bed. :loveya:

'night, all

[AngryAmish]

39. They are trying to be nice

It may be code for other Christians but as long as they are trying to be nice, who cares?

edited for spulling

[deadparrot]

45. Well said, bertha. I agree.

I'm not religious, but it doesn't bother me. They're just words, and (to me), non-offensive, even positive, words at that. You can never decipher what someone truly means, but for the vast majority, I really think they're genuinely wishing you well.

[Mad_Dem_X]

70. Well said!

Why take offense at something like this? There are so many other REAL problems in the world.

[ulysses]

40. in my experience, it means

"Wallow in paranoia, heathen."

[Gormy Cuss]

41. Respond by saying "Happy Bollocks!"

No, I kid.
The person may be saying "God Bless You" without making it sound like something to put you on the spot to explain your own beliefs. Unless the person said it with a snide tone, I'd just assume it was meant to be kind.

[Dervill Crow]

43. Churchy people who hang out with churchy people say things like that.

Some people are just so enveloped in their religion it doesn't occur to them that it might seem weird to nonchurchy people. F'rinstance, this group of women I work with will have conversations in the restroom about how blessed they are and praise the Lord this and that. They are completely sincere.

[pitohui]

44. it means, they think they're saved &you're not & they want you to know it

they are a whited sepulchre, as i believe matthew puts it

people putting on a show of how holy th ey are will be going directly straight to hell, do not pass go, do not pass $200, so we needn't add to their pain by laughing in their face when they are making idiots of themselves

but durn it's sure tempting isn't it :-)


yes "have a blessed day" is a code for "i am a fundy idiot, how about you?" -- they are not smart enough to have a secret handshake

[Floogeldy]

48. I think it means they hate your guts and want you to burn in hell.

Or not.

[NMMNG]

50. Standard substitution for "goodbye" or "have a nice day"

for the uber-religious. I never heard the expression in 26 years of living in New England. Then I move to MD, right atop the Bible Belt, and at least 1/2 of the people I encounter use that as their closing on their answering machine message or when ending a conversation. :shrug:

[tjwmason]

52. "Why not have a nice day?"

Perhaps because the word "nice" is one of the most grotesque blots on the linguistic land-scape. :shrug:

I don't think that I ever say "nice" and mean it in a positive manner...add the right pronunciation and it acquires a suitable nasty edge.

"Blessed day" is a tad too overtly religious for my English sensibilities - but I wouldn't take offence at it, there are genuinly offensive things out there without getting one's knickers in a twist over such minor matters.

I presume that you avoid saying "good bye" to people too - it does mean "God be with you" afterall.

[Bridget Burke]

66. Might you be a Jane Austen fan?

c.1290, "foolish, stupid, senseless," from O.Fr. nice "silly, foolish," from L. nescius "ignorant," lit. "not-knowing," from ne- "not" (see un-) + stem of scire "to know." "The sense development has been extraordinary, even for an adj." -- from "timid" (pre-1300); to "fussy, fastidious" (c.1380); to "dainty, delicate" (c.1405); to "precise, careful" (1500s, preserved in such terms as a nice distinction and nice and early); to "agreeable, delightful" (1769); to "kind, thoughtful" (1830). In 16c.-17c. it is often difficult to determine exactly what is meant when a writer uses this word. By 1926, it was pronounced "too great a favorite with the ladies, who have charmed out of it all its individuality and converted it into a mere diffuser of vague and mild agreeableness."

"I am sure," cried Catherine, "I did not mean to say anything wrong; but it is a nice book, and why should I not call it so?" "Very true," said Henry, "and this is a very nice day, and we are taking a very nice walk; and you are two very nice young ladies. Oh! It is a very nice word indeed! It does for everything." (Jane Austen, "Northanger Abbey")

www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=nice

I'd rather be Blessed than "Nice."

[GirlinContempt]

57. It doesn't bother me at all, just like being prayed for doesn't bother me.

When a Jewish person says "shalom" or "l'chai-im", muslims wish me a Happy Al-Hijra, or wiccans say blessed be, I don't assume they think I am a Jew/Muslim/Wiccan. I respond with thank you, and mean it, because even though I don't believe in their god or gods or spirit or whatever, it is their way of expressing the good things they hope for me.

The fact that I am not a person of faith colours the way I interact with people, and so it stands to reason that faith will affect the way others interact with me. Anyone who is offering me their sincere wishes that I be happy or have a good time gets my thanks, no matter what form the presentation takes. If they really are insincere, replacing blessed with nice or good won't remove the insincerity.

I take people praying for me the same way I take people 'thinking' of me. If someones faith encourages them to be kind and thoughtful, or if they are kind and thoughtful and their faith shines through in that, so be it. The real message is that they're kind and thoughtful, wish the best for me, and my rejection of that because something in that wish is based on their personal faith says more about me as a person than it does about their 'pretentiousness'.

[MissMillie]

58. They want to make sure you know that they're Christian

that's it.

[NewWaveChick1981]

60. It's a fundie catch phrase, just like "America Bless God"

and "No God, No Peace, Know God, Know Peace." :eyes: Yeah, I've seen 'em all on fundie marquees around here. :yoiks:

What's wrong with, "Have a Good Day!" ???

[liontamer]

65. it means they hope you have a really good day

I doubt they're doing it to piss you off.

[HEyHEY]

67. It means I don't want to speak to them again.

[Mad_Dem_X]

68. Just consider it the same as

"Have a nice day." Say thank you, and leave it at that.

[Tracer]

71. I've never heard anyone say that. Ever.

In fact, up here in MA, the phrase "Have a nice day" has rapidly disappeared in favor of:

"Have a good one."

Quicker and easier to say, I suppose --- and less smarmy.

[China_cat]

72. It actually means

I'm too nice to tell you to fuck off.

[Cathyclysmic]

73. A pox upon your day, fucklips.

There, don't you wish I blessed you instead? :P

[arwalden]

74. No. Not Really...

At least the person who is wishing me a "pox" day is being up-front about. I know exactly where I stand with them when confronted with front-and-center in-your-face rudeness.

This passive-aggressive hidden-sanctimony holier-than-thou I'll-pray-for-you bullshit is very suspicious. And the doe-eyed "who-me" responses do very little to convince me that it's all "harmless".

It ranks right up there with those horrid "Not Perfect, Just Forgiven" bumper stickers.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

75. On the one hand, it's certainly just a way of saying "have a nice day."

On the other hand, some people's psyche are so overwhelmed with religion they "godize" everything including trivial patterns of speech. So -- 99.999% sure it's not confrontational, but an indicator of being wound up too tightily.

"Have a nice day" rolls off the tongue much more easily.

[xmas74]

76. I have a Wiccan friend who also tells people to have a

blessed day. She does it because she hates the way "nice" sounds from some people.