Exchanges with People that Make Your Brain Hurt

[BB-VA]

A friend who works in Target recently complained about rude customers she's run into, namely ones that give her a hard time when she offers the debit or credit redcard and people snap  they're not interested, stop suggesting it! Well she has to, it's part of her job.

One woman really got ticked off and let friend have it.  "I AM NOT GOING TO SIGN UP BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TARGET TO HAVE MY BANK INFO!"  She was saying this as she was writing a check for her purchase.    Right, cause they'll never guess her bank name and account number that way!

I'm always surprised when people have never really paid much attention to the fact that their entire bank account number, bank routing number, name and address are printed on their checks. No one seems to notice all those number thingys at the bottom mean something.

When my husband needed to order something for his company, he asked the president's secretary for the bank account number (needed to set up an account with the vendor).  She told him it was against company policy to give out the number.  So he said, "Just let me see a check and I can write down the numbers from it."  She said, "The account number is on the check???  Oh my goodness, I have to cut those off.  We can't have that number getting out!!"  So he patiently explained that the bank NEEDED those numbers to process the check.  She finally calmed down.

[StuffedGrapeLeaves]

@StuffedGrapeLeaves:
Is she usually OK with driving in any other situation? My grandparents are now reluctant to drive to my aunt's place (the closest relative they have, almost in the same city) because neither of them feel comfortable driving at night, or in the rain, or in the snow.. anymore - they just never said it like that at first so we didn't understand why they wouldn't visit anymore. Maybe something to consider.

My ILs are still independent and drive themselves all over the place, so that's not the reason.  She is just controlling and can't understand why people won't do what she wants them to do. 

Another brain-hurty courtesy of my MIL:

We were at our house because FIL was helping DH with a project.  MIL came along because she just can't believe that they would do it right without her there (her own words, not mine).  The project took longer than planned and it was close to dinner time, so I said I was going to start preparing dinner.  MIL is very picky about her food, but we had bought some stuff from an Asian supermarket that we know she likes.  MIL got this pouty face when she heard the plan, and suggested that we bring the food and drive back to their house instead.     Let me get this straight - you wanted us to take the food that we already have in our house, drive all the way back to your house (45 minutes away), just to eat dinner there?  When we are already here at our house with the food?  Yeah, wasn't going to happen.  She was unhappy the rest of the night simply because none of us was willing to give in to her crazy plan.

[nutraxfornerves]

Spotted on another message board:

[A coworker] told me it's usually a lot cooler outside at this time of year. Except on new years eve, because all the fireworks they shoot off really heats the city up for a day or two.

[Adelaide]

My mother just informed me that she wants my brother to unfriend our old youth pastor on Facebook because my brother has two tattoos and has mentioned getting a third in a Facebook status. They aren't vulgar tattoos, but she's convinced that "youths" who have them are automatically unsavory or something.  I told her it must be a Baby Boomer thing, as my generation is more relaxed about tattoos (especially ones that are easily concealed under his uniform). She just kept saying that it "looked bad" and "presented a bad image". She basically wants him to unfriend everyone from our church (and we're not even Jewish or Catholic) and is generally irritated about the very idea of ink on his person.

I didn't have the heart to tell her that I was thinking about suggesting that he and I get matching tattoos.

[Yvaine]

My mother just informed me that she wants my brother to unfriend our old youth pastor on Facebook because my brother has two tattoos and has mentioned getting a third in a Facebook status. They aren't vulgar tattoos, but she's convinced that "youths" who have them are automatically unsavory or something.  I told her it must be a Baby Boomer thing, as my generation is more relaxed about tattoos (especially ones that are easily concealed under his uniform). She just kept saying that it "looked bad" and "presented a bad image". She basically wants him to unfriend everyone from our church (and we're not even Jewish or Catholic) and is generally irritated about the very idea of ink on his person.

I didn't have the heart to tell her that I was thinking about suggesting that he and I get matching tattoos.

Am I missing the part where this relates to the pastor?  Or is that the brain-hurty part? 

[PastryGoddess]

My mother just informed me that she wants my brother to unfriend our old youth pastor on Facebook because my brother has two tattoos and has mentioned getting a third in a Facebook status. They aren't vulgar tattoos, but she's convinced that "youths" who have them are automatically unsavory or something.  I told her it must be a Baby Boomer thing, as my generation is more relaxed about tattoos (especially ones that are easily concealed under his uniform). She just kept saying that it "looked bad" and "presented a bad image". She basically wants him to unfriend everyone from our church (and we're not even Jewish or Catholic) and is generally irritated about the very idea of ink on his person.

I didn't have the heart to tell her that I was thinking about suggesting that he and I get matching tattoos.

Am I missing the part where this relates to the pastor?  Or is that the brain-hurty part? 

I believe the part we are all missing is the brain hurty part

[LazyDaisy]

My mother just informed me that she wants my brother to unfriend our old youth pastor on Facebook because my brother has two tattoos and has mentioned getting a third in a Facebook status. They aren't vulgar tattoos, but she's convinced that "youths" who have them are automatically unsavory or something.  I told her it must be a Baby Boomer thing, as my generation is more relaxed about tattoos (especially ones that are easily concealed under his uniform). She just kept saying that it "looked bad" and "presented a bad image". She basically wants him to unfriend everyone from our church (and we're not even Jewish or Catholic) and is generally irritated about the very idea of ink on his person.

I didn't have the heart to tell her that I was thinking about suggesting that he and I get matching tattoos.

Am I missing the part where this relates to the pastor?  Or is that the brain-hurty part? 

I believe the part we are all missing is the brain hurty part

I'm guessing it's because mother is embarrassed and doesn't want the church pastor to see photos of brother on Facebook, lest he think less of her because the tattoo'd boy is her son.

[jpcher]

My mother just informed me that she wants my brother to unfriend our old youth pastor on Facebook because my brother has two tattoos and has mentioned getting a third in a Facebook status. They aren't vulgar tattoos, but she's convinced that "youths" who have them are automatically unsavory or something. I told her it must be a Baby Boomer thing, as my generation is more relaxed about tattoos (especially ones that are easily concealed under his uniform). She just kept saying that it "looked bad" and "presented a bad image". She basically wants him to unfriend everyone from our church (and we're not even Jewish or Catholic) and is generally irritated about the very idea of ink on his person.

I didn't have the heart to tell her that I was thinking about suggesting that he and I get matching tattoos.

Am I missing the part where this relates to the pastor?  Or is that the brain-hurty part? 

I believe the part we are all missing is the brain hurty part

I'm guessing it's because mother is embarrassed and doesn't want the church pastor to see photos of brother on Facebook, lest he think less of her because the tattoo'd boy is her son.

Bold in the OP, to me, is the brain-hurty part that I saw.

I agree with LazyDaisy. Yeah. It makes my brain hurt, too. So sad.

[Adelaide]

My mother just informed me that she wants my brother to unfriend our old youth pastor on Facebook because my brother has two tattoos and has mentioned getting a third in a Facebook status. They aren't vulgar tattoos, but she's convinced that "youths" who have them are automatically unsavory or something. I told her it must be a Baby Boomer thing, as my generation is more relaxed about tattoos (especially ones that are easily concealed under his uniform). She just kept saying that it "looked bad" and "presented a bad image". She basically wants him to unfriend everyone from our church (and we're not even Jewish or Catholic) and is generally irritated about the very idea of ink on his person.

I didn't have the heart to tell her that I was thinking about suggesting that he and I get matching tattoos.

Am I missing the part where this relates to the pastor?  Or is that the brain-hurty part? 

I believe the part we are all missing is the brain hurty part

I'm guessing it's because mother is embarrassed and doesn't want the church pastor to see photos of brother on Facebook, lest he think less of her because the tattoo'd boy is her son.

Bold in the OP, to me, is the brain-hurty part that I saw.

I agree with LazyDaisy. Yeah. It makes my brain hurt, too. So sad.

The brain-hurty part is that she thinks people in the church will frown upon or think less of my brother for talking about the tattoos....I guess. That's what I've been able to piece together from her explanations. She just offhandedly mentioned to me that it's too bad that he's getting inked up and she is going to ask him to unfriend the youth pastor/people from church. And I could see where, if we were Jewish, it might be an issue as I believe there's a bit in the Torah about no tattoos. But we're not. I think it's just a personal thing for her. But she talks about him having tattoos with the sad, regretful tone people use when a friend's family member died. 

[Lynn2000]

My boss is full of these things... The other day I sent her an email with the latest draft of my report attached. She saw the email, got up, walked over to my desk, handed me a USB key, and said, "Can you just save it to this key for me?" 

She does that all the time. Yes, she sees the email with the attachments. No, there's nothing about the email system that prevents large attachments from working. She would rather have me save it on her key for her, than download it to her key from the email I just sent her. I just don't get it.

[Snooks]

I've had two recently, neither of which were exchanges because they didn't require responses.  One was an overheard conversation while out shopping as one lady said to her friend "It's dreadful in schools now, they learn about every other religion's Christmas but they don't touch on Christianity".  The second was a text message which said "Your Christmas card is on the way, now to look for your birthday card", which makes no sense because my birthday was in the middle of the year and if it's in the house and you're sending out a bulk of post why not just send everything together (or just apologise for missing my birthday)?  There is a bit more background to the relationship which makes me think this is some sort of passive aggressive dig but it still makes my brain hurt.

[blue2000]

I've had two recently, neither of which were exchanges because they didn't require responses.  One was an overheard conversation while out shopping as one lady said to her friend "It's dreadful in schools now, they learn about every other religion's Christmas but they don't touch on Christianity".  The second was a text message which said "Your Christmas card is on the way, now to look for your birthday card", which makes no sense because my birthday was in the middle of the year and if it's in the house and you're sending out a bulk of post why not just send everything together (or just apologise for missing my birthday)?  There is a bit more background to the relationship which makes me think this is some sort of passive aggressive dig but it still makes my brain hurt.

Bro? Is that you?

Dad just sent me a holiday card with a note that went something like "Sorry you can't be bothered to write. Have a Merry Christmas anyway."

Ok, then. I will.

[Piratelvr1121]

My mother just informed me that she wants my brother to unfriend our old youth pastor on Facebook because my brother has two tattoos and has mentioned getting a third in a Facebook status. They aren't vulgar tattoos, but she's convinced that "youths" who have them are automatically unsavory or something.  I told her it must be a Baby Boomer thing, as my generation is more relaxed about tattoos (especially ones that are easily concealed under his uniform). She just kept saying that it "looked bad" and "presented a bad image". She basically wants him to unfriend everyone from our church (and we're not even Jewish or Catholic) and is generally irritated about the very idea of ink on his person.

I didn't have the heart to tell her that I was thinking about suggesting that he and I get matching tattoos.

Am I missing the part where this relates to the pastor?  Or is that the brain-hurty part? 

I believe the part we are all missing is the brain hurty part

I'm guessing it's because mother is embarrassed and doesn't want the church pastor to see photos of brother on Facebook, lest he think less of her because the tattoo'd boy is her son.

I can see it, if the mom is convinced it's unsavory she's going to be worried what other people think of her because her child got inked.  My mother was very unhappy when I got inked as she's one who believes only bikers and rednecks/white trash get inked.  It's a nice little tattoo of a green sparrow with two shamrocks in its mouth, both bearing the initials of my first 2 sons, easily covered by long pants and skirts, but while she didn't come out and say it, her distaste was obvious in her expression.

[TurtleDove]

My BF is a pastor and he has a Chi Rho tattoo, and his oldest son has a half sleeve. His congregation has several members with visible tattoos, and I would imagine more with hidden ones. This is the conservative Lutheran Church Missouri Synod!

[Yvaine]

My BF is a pastor and he has a Chi Rho tattoo, and his oldest son has a half sleeve. His congregation has several members with visible tattoos, and I would imagine more with hidden ones. This is the conservative Lutheran Church Missouri Synod!

That was my first guess--that the pastor was inked and the mom thought he was a bad influence!