Normally, I'm fairly light hearted when it comes to people deciding calling me random things. That's because I think that we've at least gotten to a point where we know each other well enough to have that sort of banter. When I don't know a person, I don't expect them to call me anything but my name or Ms.
However, there is one person at my work who I know doesn't know me because he hasn't tried to get to know me, yet he calls me something completely unappreciated -- Trouble. Why? Because when asked if I believed in God, I answered no.
I'm not going to lie to avoid persecution where I work. I don't go shoving my beliefs in everyone's face, but I do openly admit to being Pagan, and Wiccan to those I'm closer to. I didn't say either of these things to the person in question. I simply answered, no. I don't know him well enough to tell him all about myself. The person he was working with that night asked me if I really didn't believe, and said that she didn't mind. That I was still a sweetie. He proceeded to shoot me a dirty look that night. Mind you this was months ago, my birthday actually. I didn't appreciate it then, and now, I come to find that he's calling me "Trouble." To my coworkers no less.
I'm sorry. I didn't shit in his cereal. I didn't make him the repressed bigot that he is. I answered a question truthfully. Do I go around calling him a prejudiced jackass to others? No. I call him by his name. If asked, I'll say he's a little peculiar, given that he insists on signing everything to me, and to a few others, and calls for help whenever he doesn't really need it, according to people around my workplace.
I understand that I grew up in the deep south. I understand that this is where religion is still a major part of people's upbringing. I also understand that there is a stereotype that goes along with being uber-religious: being a prejudiced asshole. He's part of the reason why it exists in my eyes.
Trouble my ass.
However, there is one person at my work who I know doesn't know me because he hasn't tried to get to know me, yet he calls me something completely unappreciated -- Trouble. Why? Because when asked if I believed in God, I answered no.
I'm not going to lie to avoid persecution where I work. I don't go shoving my beliefs in everyone's face, but I do openly admit to being Pagan, and Wiccan to those I'm closer to. I didn't say either of these things to the person in question. I simply answered, no. I don't know him well enough to tell him all about myself. The person he was working with that night asked me if I really didn't believe, and said that she didn't mind. That I was still a sweetie. He proceeded to shoot me a dirty look that night. Mind you this was months ago, my birthday actually. I didn't appreciate it then, and now, I come to find that he's calling me "Trouble." To my coworkers no less.
I'm sorry. I didn't shit in his cereal. I didn't make him the repressed bigot that he is. I answered a question truthfully. Do I go around calling him a prejudiced jackass to others? No. I call him by his name. If asked, I'll say he's a little peculiar, given that he insists on signing everything to me, and to a few others, and calls for help whenever he doesn't really need it, according to people around my workplace.
I understand that I grew up in the deep south. I understand that this is where religion is still a major part of people's upbringing. I also understand that there is a stereotype that goes along with being uber-religious: being a prejudiced asshole. He's part of the reason why it exists in my eyes.
Trouble my ass.