(no subject)

[learnedax]

Although it irritates me, there's nothing really wrong with my cable company heartily wishing the Patriots good luck, or my supermarket receipt offering Super Bowl congratulations. I do think, however, that the Massachusetts Highway Department should refrain from informing me of their enthusiastic support of our local sports teams. They at least are bound not to force their religion on me.

Comments

[mr-teem.livejournal.com]

Why not? You give money to all three.

Or, perhaps, I should say, why any of the three?

Re:

[learnedax.livejournal.com]

Separation of church and state, you see. I have the option to shop at a different supermarket that does not force its sports team on me. Not so with the government, since they take my money regardless.

Re:

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

I would bet a fair amount that the Highway Department and the MBTA and such are not officially endorsing the Patriots, but instead are taking a blind eye on the activities of their constituent members taking such a position.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to say: FUCKING GET OVER IT. It's a part of human nature. Why not just be happy that people are happy? Thank you.

Re:

[learnedax.livejournal.com]

I never said it was a gross injustice. Things like this aren't ruining my life, I barely even notice them most of the time. Sometimes they pop up where I don't expect, and they annoy me. Are you never irked by pervasive commercialized holiday cheer, for example?

But, you know, sports fanaticism showing up in such prosaic places does bother me. It's not vile and repulsive, just faintly disturbing that my groceries come with an agenda. Will my canned peas tell me to Vote No On Question 7 tomorrow? Will Pepsi have perky Bush campaign slogans on its cans?

It's not the worst thing in the world, but it is a bad thing.

Re:

[mr-teem.livejournal.com]

Hurm. You probably live in one of those civilized areas with multiple cable television providers but I point out that you can also move to a different state where either their highway department doesn't obsess over football or whose team can't manage to make the playoffs anyway.

You are clearly not of the body. But then, neither am I.

[benndragon.livejournal.com]

I'd far, far rather see highway signs saying "Go Pats!" than saying "Report Suspicious Activity [phone number]", which is what I saw driving through Maryland when I went to my parent's place for Xmas.

I think I said that last time I heard this rant, but it's still true.