Had a run in with a MAGA hatted Trumper at the Dollar Tree (it turned out well)

[Thtwudbeme]

I got to the Dollar Tree constantly at the beginning of the school year. I am a middle school librarian and nothing- I mean nothing- gets the kids reading like sparkle gel pens and graphic novels. I also get a ton of cheap plastic-y type of modeling clay because I teach the kiddos stop motion animation. (My media center is super cool- none of that "shhhhh" crap for me).

As I was checking out, I told the cashier to "have a super rest of the day." My exact words.

Old guy in a MAGA hat and an O2 cannula said loudly, "No, it's have a BLESSED day." Total snark.

I can't say a damned thing in that neighborhood because a parent may recognize me and call the principal.

I SO wanted to say something- such as "life is not about FB memes," "turn off Fox news you jerk and learn some manners," "My day is none of your business," "I will burn some sage and dance around the oak tree at midnight while I am thinking of you...."

However, I turned around and smiled and said, "Oh you also!" And left.

But seriously. WTF? What is wrong with these people? Why do they feel obligated to impose themselves on other's conversations?

Don't tell me kids have horrid manners these days- the children at my school have beautiful manners. I work in a large diverse school. However, the adults these days are awful.

[WA-03 Democrat]

1. You did the right thing

“Don’t Boo…Vote!”
President B. Obama
2015

Have a good day to one and all

[Karadeniz]

2. You hurt his fragile ego by not expressing yourself his way. Ego is a brain byproduct, brain's

primary purpose being physical survival, eliminating every physical threat. Unfortunately, ego can... as we are seeing... perceive anything different from its own viewpoint as a threat, sometimes a lethal threat.

[Aristus]

3. He's using cannulated oxygen?

You'd think he would just pray to God for restored lung function after all those years of smoking, but I guess not...

[NBachers]

52. I hope he enjoys his Socialist Oxygen

[Ms. Toad]

59. My grandmother never smoked a day in her life,

but required oxygen to live for at least the last decade of her life.

Lung damage is not always caused by smoking.

[Siwsan]

4. A couple of years ago I encountered a real 'peach'.

It was just before the holidays and the store was crowded. At Aldi you bag your own groceries so there was a line of people at that bagging counter.

This elderly man, a textbook curmudgeon, walked up to each and every person, looked them straight in the eye and released a stern 'MERRY CHRISTMAS', pretty much daring anyone to say anything but that in return. Just before he got to me, the person he came with finished bagging their groceries and they left, so I was robbed of the opportunity to respond with 'Happy Holidays' in Spanish. Or French. Or Welsh. Just to throw him off.

[Mariana]

22. There's nothing like having some Christian rise up in a self-righteous rage

and snarl "Merry CHRIST!!!mas!" at you. And it's always directed at some poor sod of a store clerk or someone else who's on the clock and can't talk back. They never harass anyone who's in a position to tell them to fuck off.

[thecrow]

29. He might have served the spirit of the season better

If he had helped the person he came with to bag the groceries and let everyone move along faster

[Maeve]

5. I might have responded "Blessed be!"

And secretly laughed at responding with a Wiccan phrase that most likely went right over his pointy little head. .

[Hekate]

9. I do that! and for the same reason

[calimary]

32. And I'll bet they have no idea re: that greeting!

[ShazzieB]

46. I'd be tempted to go full Handmaid and say "Blessed be the fruit!"

Which would also go over his head, of course.

[japple]

53. Or "under his eye." snort

[IbogaProject]

48. Wow that was a cool phrase to search

Thanks

[Duppers]

66. There's also a Christian song titled "Blessed be....

I remember having to sing this in church many decades ago (forced to go by my mother).
Except for a couple of weddings and a funeral, I haven't been inside a church in over 50 years. Atheist to the core here.

I had no idea that "Blessed be" was a Wiccan phrase. That's great to know; now I'll have a counter to all my future neighbors' Christian phrases.

(We intend to move into some gloriously beautiful mountains but it's right in the heart of JesusLand. Wiccan phrases are as far as I can go and thankfully I now know one. Thanks again!! 👍 )

Blessed be!

[Maeve]

67. The hymn is usually pronounced more like "blest" and the phrase is often "bless-ED"

At least in my experience (raised Methodist, Wiccan friends)

And always happy to help!

[Duppers]

68. Indeed! Thanks.

[Liberal In Texas]

69. I usually say that when a clerk says the have a blessed day nonsense.

"Blessed Be!"

And usually get a blank stare.

One annoying thing is the hospital I go to regularly for appointments etc. has pay machines that when the transaction is finished has a voice doing the "have a blessed day" crap. I would complain, but it would take a long time to track down who to complain to and I have better things to do.

[doc03]

6. I see all these people wearing F-- Joe Biden shirts

I am tempted to get a TRE45ON shirt made.

[Evolve Dammit]

37. I'll buy one!

[ShazzieB]

43. Oh, you don't need to have one made!

Just google "tre45on" and you'll find a bunch! Also stickers, hats, buttons, and a hoodie!

[pandr32]

7. I would likely have replied to him: "a super day to you as well."

It was polite enough to a very rude man.

[LakeArenal]

8. I don't consider blessed necessarily religious.

I feel blessed. I count my blessings everyday.

I’m an atheist.

I know that’s not how HE meant it but….

[Thtwudbeme]

10. He was wearing a MAGA hat

I wasn't willing to engage to find out.

[LakeArenal]

12. As I said.... I realize he meant the opposite. And just liked to chide a person.

[Captain Zero]

72. Should say to him: "Oh I've got 2 of those hats,

...One to shit in and the other to cover it."

[barbtries]

38. me too.

I'm spiritual as well, and it does not mean i believe in gawd.

[Thtwudbeme]

40. Same, but it was obvious that this was a rebuke to my

"Have a super day!" comment. I swear, it felt like he was looking for an argument....not realizing he was really talking to a MS librarian that has 1,000 chromebooks to check out by Friday.

[barbtries]

64. what a sad way to live

going around looking for something, anything to argue about. jeez.
you: have a super day! and plenty of energy for what must be a huge task. I hope the kids treat you well.

[LeftInTX]

11. I would have given him the stink eye

But that's me..
I'm pretty good at giving people the stink eye

[Thtwudbeme]

14. I almost gave him my middle school "You spoke over me" look that can freeze

the most wascally wabbit middle schoolers

[Sky Jewels]

16. Or, "May his noodley appendage touch you in all the right places!"

"R'amen."

[ZonkerHarris]

13. "Allah be praised!" Would be my response

[JHB]

15. Well bless his heart.

[XanaDUer2]

17. I know the feeling of being recognized

In the community. It's a pain sometimes.
Tempers one's responses, sigh.
Had a clerk today at Publix tell me to have a blessed day, but she was nice and sincere about being sort of in my way.

But manners from MAGATs?

[CurtEastPoint]

21. That 'blessed' (or what I hear often: 'bless day)grates on me but I just smile and say 'You, too!"

[hamsterjill]

36. It grates on me, too.

And I’m a Christian. It’s over used and unnecessary. Kind of like the phrase “reach out” when someone means “contact”.

[TomSlick]

54. Yeah, me too.

My usual response is "may the Goddess will it so." Folks in these parts have no idea what I'm saying.

[soldierant]

62. Nero Wolfe used to say (or snarl)

"'Contact' is not a verb under this roof!"

But I truly doubt he would have liked "reach out" any better. He probably would have hated it even more. But Rex Stout is dead, so we'll never know But I digress. This is more appropriate -

[Thtwudbeme]

23. It's worse in school believe it or not- they'll call the school board members

I had one call the school board members because their kid brought home a book with a selfie of sisters on the cover, and they thought I was promoting being a lesbian. The crazy principal agreed with her. It was the most nightmarish book challenge I have ever had.

An FYI- There wasn't even a cuss word in the book....and the kid was consulting her Oiuja board to see if her sister was gay (she wasn't)..... if they had read it, the occult would have freaked them out. I withdrew it and tossed it because literally it was the most boring book I had ever read....pages of "dear Oiuja board" crap.....and hadn't been checked out in over 5 years.

[XanaDUer2]

27. Omg

That's nightmarish. I love this going-over-your-head crap.

With us, it was call the director or, the big threat, call a commissioner. But schools sound much worse.

[Thtwudbeme]

30. That "blessed day" mess doesn't bother me- we ARE in the South

but, this was a challenge. He was just a mean old nasty person. He was OLD- I mean I guessed around 80 or older- so I know the guy remembers Vietnam, and maybe Korea. I don't understand why those asshats like Trump?

[Hugh_Lebowski]

18. I'd have turned to him and said "and YOU can have shit day, asshole" and walked out

But then, that's the privilege of being a 6'5" 245lb white dude who's entirely anonymous in the community, when someone chides them in public even when they're doing absolutely nothing wrong.

There's something really wrong with these people, sounds like it was smart you didn't engage given your position.

[utopian]

24. I was thinking "Go fuck yourself," but I like yours better

[Thtwudbeme]

25. I am 4 years from retirement

I can't afford to lose my job at this point- and if I get fired, I could lose my state benefits.

39 months.

[Conjuay]

19. "You have a blasted day as well!"

pretending you’re half deaf works too.

[calimary]

34. Welcome to DU, Conjuay!

There's always "have a ballistic day" or "have a plastic day" - now you've got me thinking of all the ways you can mispronounce "have a blessed day". "Have a basted day." And maybe delivered with an unusual, and geographically non-placeable accent.

[CurtEastPoint]

20. You should have said, 'May the lord open.'

[UTUSN]

26. It had been awhile for me but had an encounter at the grocery last week.

[Littlered]

28. Good on you.

We have no shortage of those types here. Especially the sort that lie about being teachers. Pure trash. I used to slum it with some of those scum sucking pigs. I don’t have the restraint you have.

[70sEraVet]

31. Cause we all know that Jesus clobbered everyone who didn't say "Merry Christmas"

over the head with a Torah scroll.

[bringthePaine]

33. try maybe sideways: "and good parents teach their kids to mind their own fucking business, right?"

[bluestarone]

35. I say your response was PERFECT!

[Evolve Dammit]

39. This was Fox and O'Reilly's attack on Christmas BS. And the person you encountered swallowed it.

Hook, line and sinker. As did millions. Happy Holidays

[Thtwudbeme]

41. Agreed. The week before the kiddos come back is exhausting

I just don't have it in me

[ZERTErYNOthe]

42. One way I have approached this is ...

One way I have approached this type of situation in person and online, is to very pleasantly engage the person, and saying something along the line of 'well, that's interesting, what does it mean?', or 'Why do you feel that way?' Just asking innocent questions, and letting them know I care about them. Many people who throw out verbal hand grenades don't really understand why, and asking them why they feel that way or what it means engages them in a positive way (people love to talk about themselves), but they are at a disadvantage because either they have no idea what they are saying (they listen to Fox and AM radio), or they do know what they are saying, but have to publicly state their unpopular beliefs explicitly (this is rare, but has happened, which is nice when it does).

It's kind of like trolling telemarketers and scammers, but when I can waste their time, and make them admit to being, well... uninformed is a polite way to put it, I feel happy, instead of the interaction being negative.

[Dirty Socialist]

44. I would have said

“You have a super day also”

[Thtwudbeme]

65. Damn, I wish I had thought of that

Crap. I wish I could think faster on my feet.

[Emile]

45. I would have said, boy aren't you the judgemental asshole!

[pwb]

47. Well they do have on a red hat?

It makes them express their stupidity proudly.

[Tikki]

49. This is what I say in response..."And may that force be with you."

Someone here, years ago, recommended that response.

I live in a somewhat liberal community and have never had a negative response back.
Maybe a slightly confused look once or so, but nothing negative.
Most of those who have to bless you really don't care about the response, they just want to say their say.

Tikki

[enough]

50. You are a wonderful teacher. Thank you for your service to our country.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

51. Next time, tell them that "Blessed Be" is a thing wiccans & pagans say to each other

If you really want to get into it, explain the Southern charm meaning of "Bless your little heart".

[Shermann]

55. I'd go with "Hey, can you buy those hats here now?" nt

[tiredtoo]

56. Was backing into a parking spot prior to last election

with an oxygen cannula on my nose. Fellow was standing next to his pickup truck watching me. When I got parked he said "I would have helped you except I saw that Biden sticker on your car." I replied "That's ok I wouldn't expect a trump supporter to help anyone but himself."

[Ms. Toad]

57. I'd have said something along the lines of,

Isn't it great that in the United States we get to choose the phrase we use to wish someone well. When it's your turn, you can wish the cashier a blessed day. That's not what I chose to wish her.

(I would have had no problem if the cashier, or even the guy in the MAGA hat wished me a BLESSED day. I do have a problem when they try to control what I choose to say.)

[GreenWave]

58. LBJ said it best.

Let's hear this person while we still can. Because they are getting fewer and fewer in number as the days go by. (Or words to that effect)

[grantcart]

60. Bless you

😈🤣

[CaptainTruth]

61. A lot of MAGAts seem to be control freaks.

They want to control everything, including what other people say & think.

Meanwhile, they allow themselves to be controlled by the lies of right-wing propaganda.

It's truly ironic, & they can't even see it.

[womanofthehills]

63. To me - I love to respond nicely when someone is an asshole

And ask them a question about what they said. Another good one is to make like you didn’t hear them and ask them to repeat it. It often confuses them and they change the subject. No need for me to be nasty just because they are... I was listening to a yogi on a podcast a few weeks ago and he said being a yogi means not being reactive to others. So, you are an asshole, but I don’t have to react to you.

I think you did just fine with the MAGA guy. Giving him a huge old smile might just really confuse him. When someone wants to get a reaction from you, but they can’t that is sometimes a win.

[DFW]

70. I have been spared this, luckily

If it were to happen to me on a regular basis, I think I'd start answering, "have a Lennon day."

When the inevitable "what do you mean?" comes, I would say, "you know, no religion."

Probably a dangerous move, what with all the armed "pro-life" people around...........

[eppur_se_muova]

71. I think I'd respond with "inshallah"! and add "Sorry, force of habit!"

Though "allahu akbar" would be tempting too.

Oh, heck! Hail Satan and enjoy your day !