I had this cringey moment at work while people were discussing marraige. One of the guys mentioned he'd have to of course ask his girlfriend's father for permission to marry her.
I asked if he would receive three goats and a chicken for taking the daughter off the old man's hands.
This resulted in a pile-on about how I was being insensitive to tradition.
Because I'm from the internet, I'm immune to the pile-on, so I held my ground and said, "yo, it is a tradition based on women as chattel. And if she gets to ask your daddy if it's okay to marry you, then at least it will be evenly creepy."
I keep waiting for fandom wank to come to make workplace and lulz at me, live and in person.
I've come to the conclusion that people are happy to take part in the cheerful aspects of traditions despite the fact that said traditions were borne of craptitude and misogyny.
I think I've ruined many a bride's moods with my pragmatic observations about the creepy base of many wedding rituals. So now like you, I just offer it when no one is actually getting married, so s/he can't take it so personally.
People need to be made aware, right?
Where are all the black folks? And the indication that it's the 21st century?
One of the guys mentioned he'd have to of course ask his girlfriend's father for permission to marry her.
American a few generations back? I mean, I can slightly dig it if he was from a culture that doesn't like to pat itself on the back for perceived equality, but...seriously. It's not touching and romantic.
A guy has to ask my dog if it's okay to date me. That's my only ritual.
Chile Pepper is very choosy!
This is so wrong, right? [link] Then why so I want to drive it? (Just once.)
I'm so sorry Sue. Hugs to you.
Oh, I had a gratifying experience with Work Nemesis today. I get this email saying, "Where is X Event happening? It's urgent." Now, I know for a fact that I have told her where, and I got the information off an email that was originally sent to her. So, she sends this email to me and two of her own coworkers, so I wait to see what the coworkers do. One writes back saying, the information that Third Coworker gave us is Y. With a return receipt, which cracked me up -- next time Work Nemesis asks the same question, now she has evidence that she has the answer already.
It is kind of sad how small-minded I am sometimes.
Oh, in that kind of situation I always reforward the email I sent them originally. I am very much not above that.
