Thanksgiving Eve accidents

[wetstockings]

I'm hoping stories can be posted about this situation, which could be very embarrassing on the biggest party night of the year in bars and nightclubs.

[Adrian]

I know it's slightly O/T but can I ask a question about Thanksgiving? From what I can gather it's always on a Thursday at the end of November and I'm interested to know whether most Americans just take the one day off and go back to work on Friday or whether it's usual make an extended weekend of it. You are lucky to have a holiday round about now though. I wish we had Thanksgiving or something like it on this side of the pond. There was some discussion a few years ago about the possibilty of an October/November Bank Holiday being introduced but nothing ever came of it. I think Tony Blair & Co lacked the political will to do anything about it.

:lol:

[bloom061604]

...can I ask a question about Thanksgiving? From what I can gather it's always on a Thursday at the end of November and I'm interested to know whether most Americans just take the one day off and go back to work on Friday...
What you gather is correct, Adrian. We've observed Thanksgiving for about 140 years, ever since President Lincoln declared it a national holiday during the American Civil War. Roast turkey is the traditional meal. Most Americans do go back to work Friday, but a lucky few are able to coerce their employers into granting them Friday off to make a long weekend out of it. It's the single biggest travel weekend of the year in America when we happily clog airports and highways and generally cause ourselves untold frustration with long airport lines and impossible traffic jams throughout the nation. Bad weather often aggravates the situation in many parts of the country. The Friday after Thanksgiving launches the Christmas shopping season, and is the biggest shopping day of the year.

—Bloom

[Crazyhorse]

Why would anyone want a one day holiday at this time of year?
The UK holiday system is stupid enough already without adding more pointless days when the weather is likely to be crap. Easter is usually too early, and is just a guide to the IQ of the population. Those with a low score pile into their cars and sit in 24 hour long traffic jams each way to and from the coast, while the sea temperature remains 8 deg C. The people with moderate IQ pile into their cars and sit in 12 hour long traffic jams each way to and from the nearest out of town shopping centre in order to try and buy discounted DIY and gardening products, and the remaining lot just stay at home, get pissed and watch the traffic chaos on tv. If this wasn't enough, we have a week or two back at work and then another (May Day) holiday comes along and many with a high brain sawdust account just repeat the "Easter experience". Then another two weeks at work and it is Whitsun, or Spring Bank Holiday, or whatever it is called these days, and the whole process is repeated for a third time. Surely it would not be beyond the capabilities of authority to merge some of these holidays together and give people a series of long weekends in early June and September when there is a remote chance of getting decent weather. I was told that our holidays were planned like that purely to give the resorts a chance to make some money outside of the 6 weeks school summer holiday period, and it is a way of 'stretching' the holiday season for traders who possess items of tat, but no money, and who want to reverse the situation with yer average UK punter, who has hard-earned money.

Sorry, rant over.

[Wet Pacific Northwest]

And a delightful rant it was! I read it with the voice of John
Cleese in my head and had quite a laugh.

"Now basil - quit your complaining and get back to work on
that roof leak"

Dave
WPNW

[Adrian]

bloom061604. Thanks for the information about Thanksgiving. It makes me wish we could have something similar over here.

Crazyhorse, the system of Bank Holidays which we have in the UK is certainly well overdue for reform. However, I wouldn't wish to see it proceed along the lines you've suggested. Whilst I'm not a great fan of Bank Holidays in themselves, I do recognise their value in providing a regular structure within which most of the population can enjoy the occasional extended weekend. Personally, I would like to see the Easter Bank Holiday retained as it is linked to an important religious festival in what is still a nominally Christian country. However I would like to see May Day and the Spring Bank Holiday scrapped. If that were done it would be possible to reinstate Whit Monday (always a fixed distance from Easter) and create a new Bank Holiday at the end of October or early in November. Such a holiday could be timed to coincide with the autumn half term, suiting teachers and families, and it would help to break up the long bleak haul from August to December. Of course if an autumn Bank Holiday were created it could, for some people at least, be a *wet* one!

:wink:

[soowet]

:oops: Well I wasn't partying on thanksgiving eve> I had some last minute items to get for the feast and I guess everone else did also. I went by the grocery on the way home from work and got the items I needed and to the checkout. My the line was so long and I had neglected to take that needed break before leaving work. I got to within two people of checking out and started to leak,. Just as I got to the checkout oh my I totally lost control. My grey slacks were running with pee. I left a hughe puddle and really stained my shoes. I was so embarrassed but felt relieved.

[Justme]

Crazyhorse-- It's really too bad you have such a cynical view of holidays. Especially the ones that bring families together who don't get the chance to be with each other at any other time of the year.

[~*~ k a t e ~*~]

It's really too bad you have such a cynical view of holidays. Especially the ones that bring families together who don't get the chance to be with each other at any other time of the year

Bah, he has a right to be cynical.

The real shame here is that families need an excuse like Thanksgiving to get together and have a good time.

[LonelyGuy]

can we get back on topic here and see more pee stories than comments tearing down each other's beliefs?

[~*~ k a t e ~*~]

But it's fun to tear down other people's beliefs :(

*cries in corner and throws toys around*

[LonelyGuy]

Kate, I wanna have some fun with you one of these days :wink:

check your PM box :P

[Leaker]

I submit that in America the Thanksgiving holiday weekend or weekday is the greatest source for wetting stories of any other holiday in the year. Traffic jams in the wilds of the Interstate Highways can contribute many such stories, not to mention long lines at airports train stations and even restaurants. Come on people get with it. Don't knock the holiday, revel in it.

Leaker

[Ape]

But it's fun to tear down other people's beliefs :(

*cries in corner and throws toys around*

Kate, if that is your idea of "tearing down" someone's beliefs, your version of war must include fluffy toys as weapons!

(Not that that would be a bad thing, but let's not tear down any more beliefs!)

[Crazyhorse]

Dont worry about me. I love Bank Holidays. I work 12 hour shifts on most of them and get double time for doing half the work, because everyone else wants the day off. I have my days off when everyone else is at work.
Rest assured that this Christmas I shall be working both the 25th and 26th, two 12 hour shifts, and before you accuse me of being a sad heartless soul who volunteered for such mercenary duties, just remember that someone has to do it, our place is operational 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and I think I am doing a favour to those who have young children, that they can enjoy Christmas with them.
I never said I wanted to abolish the Easter Holiday, although I would love to abolish the cynical exploitation of it by big business, all I said was that it would be better if the holidays were made into long weekends and moved to times when the weather was more likely to be warm and sunny.

And to get back on topic, I think holiday traffic queues must be a prime source of accidental wettings, but they are also very difficult to witness, as you tend to get stuck in the same jams and experience nothing except a bad temper.

[bspider]

I'd *love* to abolish the Easter holiday and replace it with something more sensible. Something that occurs at the same time each year would be a start...

Boris.

[Adrian]

bspider. I think you'd find that the groundswell of popular opinion was against such a move.

Kate. You're too young to be cynical. Another twenty years or so down the line when middle age is imminent (as in my case) and it may be a different story. Also, I'm dismayed by your assertion that it's amusing to make fun of people's beliefs. I thought you knew better.

:arrow:

[bspider]

bspider. I think you'd find that the groundswell of popular opinion was against such a move.

Why? and Where? (Maybe we'd better take this to the off-topic forum)

Boris.

[~*~ k a t e ~*~]

Kate, if that is your idea of "tearing down" someone's beliefs, your version of war must include fluffy toys as weapons!


Kate. You're too young to be cynical. [...] Also, I'm dismayed by your assertion that it's amusing to make fun of people's beliefs. I thought you knew better

Are you guys just trying to wind me up or do you really have no concept of sarcasm? I'm becoming increasingly aware that anything posted on this forum is going to be taken at complete face-value!! Yikes!!

[bloom061604]

I'm becoming increasingly aware that anything posted on this forum is going to be taken at complete face-value!!
So, when you cry in the corner and throw your toys around, does your mum spank you? ;)

—Bloom

[wetstockings]

I think Leaker is right,cant people just answer a thread correctly, instead of talking BS about holidays. I know there are good true stories out there, I just wish they can be posted.

[Ape]

Kate, if that is your idea of "tearing down" someone's beliefs, your version of war must include fluffy toys as weapons!


Kate. You're too young to be cynical. [...] Also, I'm dismayed by your assertion that it's amusing to make fun of people's beliefs. I thought you knew better

Are you guys just trying to wind me up or do you really have no concept of sarcasm? I'm becoming increasingly aware that anything posted on this forum is going to be taken at complete face-value!! Yikes!!

I'm the former, but I agree with you on the latter (Adrian's post) - nowt as queer as folk!

[Adrian]

Ape, I was simply expressing dismay at Kate's assertion within a particular post which she happened to make. For what it's worth I don't think it's funny to ridicule or try to tear down beliefs which people hold dear. In common with the vast majority of mature, intelligent, thoughtful adults I take the view that it's important to respect other people's beliefs, whether I happen to share them or not. I would hope that you share the same view and that Kate will have the maturity to do so when she comes to a better mind on the matter.

:o

[~*~ k a t e ~*~]

I was simply expressing dismay at Kate's assertion within a particular post which she happened to make...

...which I've already tried to tell you once was a sarcastic remark!! (ie. said in an ironic way, expressing an opinion the opposite of my own in order to cause slight mirth when read).


For what it's worth I don't think it's funny to ridicule or try to tear down beliefs which people hold dear

Well, neither do I.


I would hope that you share the same view and that Kate will have the maturity to do so when she comes to a better mind on the matter

I don't appreciate being patronised. Do you realise that you have utterly misunderstood what I said?

Judging by your post above I fully expect you to misunderstand this reply, too.

[wetstockings]

All these replies and no stories,thanks alot people.

[~*~ k a t e ~*~]

Welcome to the forum, wetstockings

Steady on. Kate old girl! You'll be trying to tell us there's no such thing as Father Xmas next! But isn't the concept of families getting together on holidays and having a good time implicitly flawed?

Although not a strong family man myself, the main enjoyment of the family holiday for me is to perch myself on a stool in a quiet corner somewhere and watch carefully crafted relationships coming apart at the seams. The car is a great melting pot!

Yes, I'm sure we've most of us been in traffic jams where the tedium was substantially enhanced by violent spasms of bladder pain - and there have been times.....but I've written about those experiences already. Sign of the times, though: recently I've seen a few public peeing exhibitions by both sexes where the wait has become too long to bear - the French tradition of just hopping over the crash barrier when necessary is no longer entirely French - it happens here too! UK, cold winter morning, warm thoughts....

[Adrian]

Kate, I'm sorry if I misunderstood you and I'm pleased to see that you've clarified your position and share the values I hold dear. I'm sorry if I sounded unduly harsh and can only apologise if you felt hurt by it. Sarcasm is indeed an art form but one which I try to avoid as I would like a few friends at the last. I once had a vicar who wasn't averse to the odd sarcastic remark and one day it gave me great pleasure to call his bluff. Needless to say he was somewhat taken aback!

[Sweet T]

Lord love a duck! This thread is delightful. I think we need an emoticon with a smirk and a big red "S" on it to tell us when someone is being sarcastic. Personally I thought Kate's post was a rip. But then, I got the tone of it right away.

This board is a remarkably tolerant place. Generally I think it's safe to give someone - particularly one of the regular posters - the benefit of the doubt. We'd all rather piss our knickers than get them knotty.

That said, Adrian you may appreciate this:
I grew up deep in the heart of the American Bible Belt. I had a pastor once who was visiting my family's congregation. The opening sentence in his sermon, before the most wealthy, prestigious congregation of our denomination was (and I do quote)

"I think Jesus Christ was a homosexual."

The dead make more noise than that roomful of conservative, Southern Bible-thumpers (after the collective gasp.)

I thought he was brilliant.

Sweet T

[Adrian]

I think I get your point. So far as that preacher's concerned though, I think he was out to make sure he got the congregation's attention and he didn't want them to nod off. Human nature being what it is though, I expect many of them left having remembered that opening controversial statement and forgetting the other ten ot twenty minutes or so of his sermon. If he preached for much longer than that I'd hazard a guess that some of them were beginning to find their bladders filling.......just to get us back on track.

:wink:

[Finesse]

Hi!

I swore never to post off topic, but I just have to say, al the holidays makes me really mad. I mean its stupid I am forced to "celebrate" certain holidays, but days that I would like to celebrate I cant.

Unfourtunatly Sweden is still a christian society and the holdidays goes after the bible. For me who doesnt like christianity and hates all, in my opinion, stupid holidays its unfair! I want to celebrate solstice, Walpurgis Night, midsummer and so on not eastern or christmas and stuff like that.

I think people should have a number of days of from work and school to celebrate and you can choose them when ever you want and work the other instead! It should fit all, christians, jews, muslims, satanist, witches and so on......

Hugs
Finesse

[Sweet T]

I'm with you Finesse!

I, too, have rejected christian models of spirituality and find the continual barrage in my face very offensive.

Your post really got me thinking. I just spent quite a while standing on my tip-toes on top of a teetering political soap box before deleting it all.

I deleted the diatribe because it occured to me that, while I too wish the holidays associated with my beliefs were given equal respect to those of the majority, the reality is that even if they were, my country is so overwhelmingly christian, it would make no difference.

If you work for a large corporation - say 100 people, and 85% of them are christian, then even if 15 people chose to take their holidays at a different time so would come in to work on the christian holidays, they still wouldn't be able to keep a large company running when the rest of the corporation is out on vacation.

In other words, it would be pointless for them to come in to the office when so many others were absent. They would get effectual holidays regardless of their willingness to work. And if they then took off for their own holidays it would be like double time off... something no good CEO could ever allow.

So, you and me, we find ourselves living in the margins of a "might makes right" society, pummelled along by the whim of the majority.

Bah.

Humbug.

Sweet T

[~*~ k a t e ~*~]

If you work for a large corporation - say 100 people, and 85% of them are christian, then even if 15 people chose to take their holidays at a different time so would come in to work on the christian holidays, they still wouldn't be able to keep a large company running when the rest of the corporation is out on vacation

Yea, but most people (at least in England) class themselves as Christian simply because that's what they've always been told they are. While 85% of a corporation may have "Christian" down as their official religion, not many of those actually give a flying fuck about god.

Think about it, how many people say to themselves "oh, goody! I've got easter off work - think of all the praying I'll be able to fit in!!"

What it boils down to is that no government would risk suggesting that we abolish pointless national holidays - because, even though the majority think it, they daren't say it. Political correctness has got too firm a hold over the way society outwardly presents it's self for any sort of religious overhaul to take place, whether logical or not.

[Sweet T]

How bitterly, painfully, very true.

Much of the stuff I deleted was ranting about the mindless chowderheads, armed to the teeth and demanding to force feed their sanctimony down the strangled throats of the few who might actually think for themselves and come to an uncommon conclusion.

You, at least, aren't burdened with IN GOD WE TRUST on your currency and a sitting president who believes he's doing god's will as he systematically strips us of rights we've held sacred for 200 years. Here we are christian because that's god's religion. Anything else is heathen and hell bound. And we must be right since god obviously favors us above all others.

I swear this is true: (This was maybe 20 years ago now and the names of the guilty are wiped from my feeble memory. But I very clearly remember the newspaper article in the NYTimes where I read it)

The Director of the State Board of Education for the state of Tennessee actually went on record saying the reason Tenn. would not be introducing foreign languages in their schools was because (I will never forget these words) "If English is good enough for Jesus Christ, it's good enough for our kids."

God has a vested interest in the US of A and it's unerring superiority over the lesser countries of this planet. Don't you wish you were one of us?

Anyway, I keep waiting for the day when I board a plane and the stewardess leads the passengers in the lord's prayer and pledge of allegience before take off. That's what happens when I fly to Karachi. If it's good enough for the heathen, muslim Pakistanis, it sure as hell is good enough for our citizens.

god bless us, every one.

Sweet T (Careful Kate. I don't want you to step in the sarcasm.)

[Leaker]

This is not the board for a discussion of relegion and politics. However, Sweet T's last post demands an answer.

I don't know where Sweet T gets its information but its diatribe against the USof A is completely unwarranted.

The United States of America is the wealthiest nation on the face of the earth and it has been so since, at least, 1913. The U.S. has contributed more money to the world's poor than any other nation and has done so for more years than any other nation. The U.S. has freed more people from totalitarianism than any other nation and it is continueing to do so in Iraq today.

The United States of America is the only nation on the face of the earth that was created by an ideal rather than by tribal conflict. The United States of America is a nation that truly believes in the proposition that all men are created equal and that freedom of the individual is the most important factor in the success of any nation. When all nations of the earth can protect themselves and feed their hungry at the same time, I will be willing to entertain their political system that allows them to do so. Meanwhile, I will consider the freedom of the individuals provided by the United States of America to be sacrosanct, and I will not accept any criticism of that system.

Show me a better way and I will consider it, but show it on another forum.

Leaker

[~*~ k a t e ~*~]

Leaker, you're right that this is not the best board for heated discussion about religion and politics, but I love how you jumped right in anyhow. "Do as I say not as I do", huh?

I'm not impressed with the way you totally skirted the negative things Sweet T had to say and instead focussed on unrelated points - what did that acheive? Sweet T was pointing out the seemingly hypocritical ideology the government has grown into trying to smother us with, and you counter that arguament by saying "sure, but they gave lots of money in international aid". Yes, they did, but that has nothing to do with the argument. Would you defend a rapist by saying "yes, but he once bought someone an ice-cream, he's nice really!"?

Anyone who can't see at least some hypocricy in organised religion and world politics really has a screw loose. It has to be that way, though! Like I said in my previous post that provoked Sweet T - we've collectively gone too far down the road of political correctness and mind-blowing hypocricy to turn it around.

I'm not totally without hope, though. I'd rather the government be severely influenced by the religious-right than the government BE the religious-right!!

[Leaker]

This thread became BS at about the third reply. There are countless blogging places for folks to register their anti society, anti religion, anti philosophy notions without wasting bandwidth posting them here.

This is a site dedicated to female desperation. Let us keep it that way for chrissakes!

Leaker

[~*~ k a t e ~*~]

This thread became BS at about the third reply

...and you didn't come along until the 13th reply.


There are countless blogging places for folks to register their anti society, anti religion, anti philosophy notions without wasting bandwidth posting them here

...yet you continue to post.


This is a site dedicated to female desperation

...actually it's dedicated to knicker wetting. Are you thinking of Shara & Ger's?

Leaker, if you don't have the conviction to continue a discussion, don't reply at all. And as for accusing me of being "anti society, anti religion, anti philosophy"... are you so desperate to make a point you're just making things up now?? Other than anti-religion (which, frankly, is a virtue), there are no instances whatsoever in this thread where I was anything of the sort.

[SNIFFER17]

Well stated, SWEET T.

I once found myself the subject of attack, due to a post that was meant to be thought-provokingly sarcastic.

No one detests "politically correct" phrases and sayings more than I, but in this instance (and others I've witnessed) I would offer :

Move on ; get over it ; get a life........take your pick

We are all in this together -- by choice. Naturally, it's human nature to disagree from time to time. But -- we all know what they say about opinions, don't we ?? They're like..........

It's permissable (even necessary) to "have one". Just don't BE one -- not here, anyway.

SWEET T : On the subject of pissed knickers vs. knotted knickers........I'd be more than willing to un-knot your knickers. Piss them (thoroughly) FIRST, -- OK ???

[Ape]

Ape, I was simply expressing dismay at Kate's assertion within a particular post which she happened to make. For what it's worth I don't think it's funny to ridicule or try to tear down beliefs which people hold dear. In common with the vast majority of mature, intelligent, thoughtful adults I take the view that it's important to respect other people's beliefs, whether I happen to share them or not. I would hope that you share the same view and that Kate will have the maturity to do so when she comes to a better mind on the matter.

:o

Hmmm... I think that depends - whilst I am happy for you to hold (in your mind) whatever beliefs you like, I don't think I agree:

a) that it is always wrong to tear them down

b) that it is always important to respect them

Firstly, there is a tendency amongst Christian folk to assume it is ok to display their beliefs in public, and expect others to respect them. But, that can become tantamount to forcing your beliefs on others, especially if the others are atheists who believe swear words and blasphemy enlighten understanding and add to the richness of the English language.

In addition, sometimes the fun of tearing someone's beliefs down is not because you want to humiliate them (though that may be an inevitable consequence), but because you believe strongly in the opposite and you confirm this by highlighting the ridiculousness of the other side. This is known when practised by Christians as the 'holier than thou' approach!

You see, there is a fundamental difficulty. For me, as a fervent atheist whose sincerely held belief is that religion is responsible for many of the world's ills, I cannot express my beliefs if I allow you to express yours unchallenged. It is tantamount to betraying my faith (and I accept the reverse is probably also true, which is where a tolerant DISRESPECT becomes more useful and more important than a tolerant respect).

I have gone on long enough, suffice to say that I cannot fully agree with you, Adrian (indeed, I seldom do!).

[Ape]

The United States of America is the only nation on the face of the earth that was created by an ideal rather than by tribal conflict. The United States of America is a nation that truly believes in the proposition that all men are created equal

Such pompous rubbish demands a riposte. Ignoring the string of inaccuracies and ignorance that ran through the rest of your answer, I shall concentrate on the section quoted above.

The USA was EXACTLY created by tribal conflict. Conflict between different tribes of the English people led to the most religious to break away and form their own country, annihilating in the process, with one of the worst acts of genocide, the original inhabitants of the land. This was no ideal, but purely a matter of one part of the people wanting more than they had and taking from others to make sure they got it. America was founded as a result of tribal conflict the roots of which led back to the English Civil War - a war where idealism was sacrificed for dirty gains. The rhetoric, as now on the world's political stage, hides the reality. Twas ever thus...

This indicates clearly the falsehood contained in the claim that they believe all men are created equal - for a start, all MEN??? That obviously means half the human race fail to qualify for equality. Indeed, at the time, anyone with an African skin was also deemed unequal. Even now, some men are still considered more equal than others, as racism and discrimination infects the modern day United States like a pernicious virus. That was one tribal inheritance amongst money they failed to shake from their homeland - alongside it can be placed a superiority complex underlain with a fanatical religious belief, a doctrine of ultra-nationalism to rival the Nazis, a love of money that has led to the enslavement of nations rather than just individuals (which was bad enough).

Sure, you can accept no criticism (just like many of your compatriots there, Leaker) but your deaf ears does not mean the criticism is invalid, but rather that its accuracy so offends you would rather not hear it.

Bury your head in the sand once more.