Death to guilt trips!

[Deadlock]

There hasn't been a good rant posted lately, so...

Guilt trips. I hate 'em.

(Just so we're all on the same page, when I say "guilt trip" I mean someone trying to make you feel guilty for doing (or not doing) something (their intention is for you to feel as if you should have known better).)

Now, over the years I've come to accept them from certain quarters: family, for instance. "Yes, dear. I'll cut the grass." Etc. But it seems like I'm being bombarded with them lately from sources that I don't feel should have that kind of power.

For instance, the company I work for has mounted this internal campaign to have healthier employees. That's all well and good, but I'm constantly getting spam from a corporate level, division level, department level, and team level laying on a thick wellness guilt trip. Okay, I don't need badgering or worthless prizes to do the right thing. If I'm convinced I don't want to weigh 800 pounds, then by golly I won't eat 6 Big Macs a day. So lay off.

Same issue with philanthropy. I believe in helping those in need. It's the right thing to do. But on the other hand, maybe I don't want to run the gauntlet of charity causes every time I go to work. They try to make you feel like Scrooge, but there's no end to all the worthy causes (unlike my bank balance).

Now, of that's not enough, marketers have picked up on this too. Especially in the financial services industry (are YOU saving enough for retirement, you decadent hedonist???) and anything related to children (little Billy just HAS to have these perfectly nutritionally balanced crackers with questions printed on them to help his SAT score!). But those clever punks on Madison Avenue have found ways to work a lot of other things too. (Feel guilty that your vehicle doesn't have OnStar? You should. What kind of irresponsible maniac would drive around with constant monitoring?!)

Or how about paying for something with PayPal? Notice how it defaults to your bank account, and the hoops you have to jump through.

YES, I want to use my credit card and not my checking account.
YES, I'm sure.
YES, I KNOW I'M A NAUGHTY PERSON AND I'M GOING STRAIGHT TO HELL.

Ugh. I say that guilt tripping should be a form of harrassment.

I know I'm raving, so don't even bother trying to guilt trip me into being a more mature person. It won't work. ;)

[IAdventurer01]

Ranting, huh? Good rant. :D

I'd say something about what you wrote, but I'd rather say this...

Don't you hate when the automatic underlining of links can hide part of a letter? I came into this thread expect to read about death to trips with quilts, not guilt. I mean, look! guilt and quilt look the SAME. There really should be a better way to show links. :p

[Deadlock]

I came into this thread expect to read about death to trips with quilts, not guilt.

LOL! :D

Just so that people aren't disappointed... I can't stand taking trips with quilts. They're so cutesy and homey, it makes me sick. :sick: :)

[Joe Brody]

One of my favorite laments:

"Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage ... " -- Smashing Pumpkins.


I know how you feel.

[Zharah]

Dude, you're lucky that you just have guilt trips! I've been having bad luck flaunting itself in my face for the past two months. Examples:

-My family had two car addicents within a three day period. My mother passed out behind the wheel and hit a light pole AND a brick wall at 50 mph. Totalled our Expedition. But she crawled out with only bruises. Someone upstairs loves her (My fault, by the way. I had asked her to take me to work at 6 in the morning, and she has diabetes. She didn't have enough sugar in her blood, so the ending result). As for my father, the whole drivers side of his truck is compacted in due to an ignorant driver (I had asked him to grab me some food for lunch, my fault again). Stupid people.

-Parents getting divorced (Partially my fault. My step dad hates me and wants me out...:()

-Unsuccessful in the relationship department.

-I got fired, lost alot of money and got kicked out of my parents house. Yea, I'm moving out next week with no money, no car, no job... I'm screwed, basically. :)

So yes, life does suck. I wish I had guilt trips. They would be welcome in my world compared to the stuff that's stacked up against me. Not to ruin your day, but there are better things in life than to focus on the negatives. Be postive about your surroundings. :D :D :D :D :D

Post script: Sorry if I don't post for awhile. I don't know when I'll be able to get on a computer again. :) BTW, Giles, don't delete my account if I don't show up for a while! Hehehe. :D :D

[Deadlock]

So yes, life does suck. I wish I had guilt trips. They would be welcome in my world compared to the stuff that's stacked up against me. Not to ruin your day, but there are better things in life than to focus on the negatives. Be postive about your surroundings. :D :D :D :D :D

I said that I couldn't be be guilt tripped into amending my pointless whining... But I'm more than happy to concede to a well-made point. ;)

Z, you have my sympathies. If there were any way I could alleviate the crap in your life (and replace it with mere guilt trips :) ), I would. Hang in there!

[Zharah]

:D

Thanks Dead, you're a good man.

And I'm hanging in there... by a thread. :D ;)

[Deadlock]

Make sure to use both hands. ;)

[Heliograph]

Ranting, huh? Good rant. :D

I'd say something about what you wrote, but I'd rather say this...

Don't you hate when the automatic underlining of links can hide part of a letter? I came into this thread expect to read about death to trips with quilts, not guilt. I mean, look! guilt and quilt look the SAME. There really should be a better way to show links. :p

I thought for sure it said "quilt," too.

Now there'd be an adventure, pursuing the sacred quilt of the Amish quilting bee which was pilfered by a cargo cult of headhunters from New Guinea.

[00Kevin]

I know I'm raving[/SIZE]

Welcome to the Ravin, where paths cross


ah, memories of ren's rants

[Canyon]

Deadlock, I applaud you!

What a great thread! I myself am 'guilty' of the guilt trip. I have beaten myself up about the fact that my school qualifications aren't brilliant that that I don't have degree or never went to university. However, upon speaking to several people who have gone to uni, some of them tell me that upon leaving, they have not been able to find a job in the area they studied in, and end up working in an office. This, and also they are sometimes left with a huge loan to pay off.

BTW, I know what you mean about charities. A while ago, in work, I refused to give any money for Red Nose Day and said that I only support two types of charaties. One, any charity for animals as they have no voice of their own, and Two, any mental health charities, as mental health is very misunderstood in our society.

Zhara, wow, you sound like you've had some major bad luck, but I admire your positivity. :D

[Zharah]

Bad luck, yes. Hehehe. Well, when you've fallen down and hit the bottom, the only way to go is up. That's what I plan on doing? ;) You guys are awesome, glad all of you are my friends here. Thanks so much. :D

[Indyologist]

I've always said, "There are two things that your mother can do like no one else: meatloaf and guilt trips."

[Indy Parise]

Dude, you're lucky that you just have guilt trips! I've been having bad luck flaunting itself in my face for the past two months. Examples:

-My family had two car addicents within a three day period. My mother passed out behind the wheel and hit a light pole AND a brick wall at 50 mph. Totalled our Expedition. But she crawled out with only bruises. Someone upstairs loves her (My fault, by the way. I had asked her to take me to work at 6 in the morning, and she has diabetes. She didn't have enough sugar in her blood, so the ending result). As for my father, the whole drivers side of his truck is compacted in due to an ignorant driver (I had asked him to grab me some food for lunch, my fault again). Stupid people.

-Parents getting divorced (Partially my fault. My step dad hates me and wants me out...:()

-Unsuccessful in the relationship department.

-I got fired, lost alot of money and got kicked out of my parents house. Yea, I'm moving out next week with no money, no car, no job... I'm screwed, basically. :)

So yes, life does suck. I wish I had guilt trips. They would be welcome in my world compared to the stuff that's stacked up against me. Not to ruin your day, but there are better things in life than to focus on the negatives. Be postive about your surroundings. :D :D :D :D :D

Post script: Sorry if I don't post for awhile. I don't know when I'll be able to get on a computer again. :) BTW, Giles, don't delete my account if I don't show up for a while! Hehehe. :D :D


Both my Grandpas died on or near a holiday

Matt Scaffa- 5:00 a.m. day after christmas

Bob Parise- 1:00a.m. July 4th


does that count as bad luck or what. Oh I have some good luck too. I was going to a car show in Maryland in a 1965 chevelle (my mom was driving) and some jerk kid rolled out a car rim out in front of us on the parkway. Luckily it hit the license plate and not the car or if it hit the tire we could have been killed.

[Pale Horse]

...Bob Parise- 1:00a.m. July 4th...


Both Adams, Jefferson and Monroe all doed of the 4th. I think it more as an auspicious day, than a bad one.

[roundshort]

"Life's a piece od sh(*, when you look at it . . .'

Life of Brian

[Joe Brody]

"Life's a piece od sh(*, when you look at it . . .'

Life of Brian

Splitter!!! I thought there was a rule about quoting Python post-college?

[roundshort]

well, it just seemed ti fit . . .

how about . . .

"Dude, that is very un-dude like . . ."