Alright new topic religion in the work place.

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JoelFan
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18 Sep 2014, 3:49 pm

So today was my 2nd day for this work evaluation and I'm starting to gain more independence meaning I'm able to float more into other depts and help out when needed rather then being asked can I do this or do you want me to do that. Which is good because I hate being confined to the same repetitive task anyways, I met another co-worker and during the day out of the blue he asks my name and what religion I am. I told him my name however I told him I don't talk about politics or religion on the job or while I am working to which he said I'm sorry and through out the day he kept apologizing I kept telling him it's ok I'm not mad however he kept continuing to press the issue with me and ask about my religion at which point I was already clocked out for the day and he walked up beside me and said ok we're not working so what religion are you? because I'm a Christian I told him what I am and he asked oh how does THAT work for you at which point I was starting to get pissed not trying not to show it I just answered it works out real good for me. then he reply's back oh I'm sorry I'm trying to make conversation. I tried changing the conversion to something less hot button such as music He didn't know whom Billy Joel was or Dave Brubeck or Beethoven or Vivaldi etc so he had a blank face at me the whole time. by that time I was at the front exit about to head to my car then he said I'm sorry for getting personal by asking what religion you are. At this time I was starting to really get pissed I just said back yea See ya Monday


I started to think could it be this guy may have Autism being that he wasn't able to pick up on my expression or cues that I didn't want to talk about such matters with him? Or could it be that maybe religion is the only thing this guy knows?

Anybody care to chime in?


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hurtloam
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18 Sep 2014, 4:20 pm

Well, you never know, he might be or just really bad at thinking of things to talk about.

I try not to talk about religion or politics at work too. The way I see it is my employer isn't paying me to tell others about my views. However, if someone asks me a question about it I give a brief answer and get back to what I was doing, if they look like they want to talk more about it I try and get them to wait till we are on lunch break. I used to have this guy I work with who asked me all sorts of questions, but he knew I didn't like to talk about religion at work, so when he had a good opportunity to talk to me in a none work situation he'd ask me all these questions he'd saved up about what I thought of this and that. Actually I did enjoy talking to him now I think of it, but I just feel uncomfortable talking about it at work, like I'm not meant to be.

It is election day up in Scotland today, so people were asking me my views on it, so I was just brief and moved the conversation on to something else. This Scottish Independence thing is really a hot button topic at the moment, even in England.



MissDorkness
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18 Sep 2014, 10:14 pm

Hard to say, he could be oblivious, or he could believe strongly in his obligation to share his own religion.

My coworkers regularly talk about their religious observances and I just listen and don't take part.

Around Lent, everyone started trading stories about whether they'd attended services (none of them had) then their reasons why they had not.

Then, one of them turns to me and asks if I'd gone to church on the day in question.
I, being the obvious minded person I am, blurt out, "well, as I'm an atheist, I really wouldn't see the point."

They all goggled at me like they'd never seen one before. 8)

Admittedly, I am not open about that fact around here (geographically speaking)... I'll stop myself there.

Point being, the conversation doesn't really belong at work because so many people have trouble being matter of fact or impersonable about it.



JoelFan
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19 Sep 2014, 1:58 am

MissDorkness wrote:
I, being the obvious minded person I am, blurt out, "well, as I'm an atheist, I really wouldn't see the point."

They all goggled at me like they'd never seen one before. 8)

Admittedly, I am not open about that fact around here (geographically speaking)... I'll stop myself there.

Point being, the conversation doesn't really belong at work because so many people have trouble being matter of fact or impersonable about it.


I get the same reaction tho most try to convert me to their way to their churches or try to be guilt tripped and much like you I too am in the wonderful bible belt. I just thought it was odd he kept asking about that one topic and didn't pick up on the fact that I didn't care to talk about such matters with him. Oh well he isn't the first nor will he be the last to try to shove something in my face.


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ScrewyWabbit
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19 Sep 2014, 3:21 pm

JoelFan wrote:
I started to think could it be this guy may have Autism being that he wasn't able to pick up on my expression or cues that I didn't want to talk about such matters with him? Or could it be that maybe religion is the only thing this guy knows?

Anybody care to chime in?


Certainly he could be. On the other hand there are people out there who are so devout that religion is the only thing of importance to them. It could be that religion is the only thing that this person thinks he might have in common with you, possibly because his interests are so narrow that its confined to religion. Also some people can be such that they don't want to have a relationship of any sort with you if you are religiously dissimilar. So I've never heard of an autistic person having religion as their special interest, but certainly sounds possible, but could just as easily be he's an NT.