I walked in with all my Good Morning's and ask did they vote. My co-worker who is a JW of whom I respect her decisions respondedto me by saying "huh I am a chrstian" and walked away from her desk. It was obvious my question offened her becasue she in turn offended me by stating she was a christian as if I am not.
I do not want to even discuss and be informed of her religion by her right now, so I am asking you?
Do JW not vote and why?
Are you kidding me Jubee: Hounding someone for their decision, reading is fundamental! Read my post I said "of whom I respect her decisions" My post was to inform myself of why I offended her not to bash her decision! Come on shake the dust off your feet and make it a great day! cause I was not trying to offend you either but clearly you could not help yourself because you spoke on my screen name. Yes I am mindingmybusiness to make sure I am informed of how I offened my co worker and why!
She came into my office and starting talking by saying read John 6: 14-16 and I interupted her by asking "did I offend you by asking you did you vote" she said NOOO, I was getting up to go to the restroom anyway. I responded that I am uniformed of your religion and I do not need to read the scripture because my mind is made up on the subject. She said that she has experienced back lash on her not voting and I explained that I have no judgment or critism concerning how anyone lives their life and the decsion that they make but I thought that it was a little funny how I asked the question and the way you responded. She apologize and said she would never want to stop anyone from learning her choices by responding offensively.
My conclusion was that YES I offended her but It had nothing to do with me but more to do with the fact of her guard being up for the decision she has chosen to make and the back lash she is used to getting.
Now her saying Huh Im a christian, I am going to let that one slide because I now MY truth and that IS MY BUSINESS! (JUBEE)...:)
Let me make this clear Jubee so that you can understand. I DO NOT CARE ABOUT HER REASONS, I CARE ABOUT HOW I OFFENDED HER BY ASKING A SIMPLE QUESTION! HER REASONS ARE FOR HER TO DEAL WITH NOT TAKE THEM OUT ON ME!
YOU IRRITATED ME MORE THAN SHE DID BY MAKING YOUR OWN CONCLUSION UP..
SWH? My Co worker does not vote due to her religious beliefs and she based it off of the scripture John 6: 14-16
Preach Mrslavaliie Preach!!!
My morning is much better being that I was able to chit chat about this subject with you all. First I called my husband and vented and he responded NOOOOT! he always makes me feel better..
She must of reported herself to remove the post because I did not....
@ oneanddone: I disagree. I was not wrong to ask if she voted, i would have been wrong to ask who she voted for!
Simply let it go as a mis-communication. I find the only thing that bring more discord in an office than talking politics, is talking religion.
Shoot, I guess Jubee's response got pulled.
Anyway, ask her if only 144,000 Jehova's Witness'es get into heaven, why are they still recruiting? Doesn't that lessen her chances?
Well...only ask her if you want to have some fun. :)
They don't vote because they are taught that christians are citizens of God's kingdom and therefore they are not citizens of this world. So just as a Canadian can't vote in U.S. elections, they opt out of voting, pledges to government, military service...
If indeed you are a Christian, her comment was offensive. But by all means let it go or be apologetic to smooth things over. "I had no idea JW don't vote, please forgive me if I offended you."
of course what you really want to say is "i'm a Christian too, but I have dual citizenship."
I wonder why she would say that to you too, Mom. That seems really strange to me. If she didn't like your question, why didn't she say "Well, that's kind of private to me." Then you would say "I understand," and that would be the end of it. Instead, she acted like being Christian had something to do with voting or not voting. (You didn't know which one she meant...)
I just saw that a couple of your posters said that JW's don't vote. I guess she expects you to know this about her religion. I'm glad they explained - I didn't know that they don't vote either. Sheesh, she could have just said that instead of acting insulted (or insulting - which one I STILL can't tell!)
Don't blame you for being irritated!
Dawn
Two subjects that have NO PLACE BEING DISCUSSED AT WORK:
1) Religion
2) Politics
The only thing worse is combining the two.
Just let it go and get on with your day.
You are not irrational. Your co-worker is in a cult and she's brainwashed, plain and simple.
My best friend's husband grew up JW and finally was able to liberate himself from the cult when he was in his 20s. JWs don't vote, participate in anything political, and they don't celebrate birthdays, Christmas, etc. They also think they are a step above everybody else.
So, she is most certainly NOT a Christian -- I would say she is a judgemental, brainwashed piece of work. She could have been much nicer to you. But JWs aren't supposed to be nice to people. They're just supposed to judge and convert.
That's kind of an odd answer - many Christians do vote. It is particular to her denomination, not to Christianity.
Apparently they generally do not vote, although it is not forbidden.
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer....
But I think it is fine to ask whether someone has voted. We are citizens of a country founded on this principle and it is our civic responsibility. Inappropriate to ask who someone voted for - just fine to ask whether they have voted yet. Also - just chit chat on election day.
So far as I know they vote. Sounds to me like someone chewed on her and she is reacting to that, not what you said. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
_______________________________________________________
Seriously Jubee what are you talking about? She didn't hound anyone, I almost edited my response because yours was so out there. You must have read a mess of your own issues to form your response, don't attack the OP for that.
I would find her and ask, "You know your comment earlier about being a Christian. I'm not following. Would you care to explain so I can understand?"
PS I'm pretty sure Jubee didn't read your post. Hope she reads (and understands) the ballot measures more carefully than she read your post!
And remember when some were asking about why women throw tantrums? Posts like Jubee's can start a fire in the orignal poster like none other. I think it has to do with the fact that nothing is more irritating than saying something and someone TOTALLY taking it the wrong way or twisting it or making you out to be something you are not or accusing you of saying something you didn't say.
THAT is why we have people get so angry on here. NOT because woman are some freak creatures who don't know how to handle themselves.
And btw - about your JW coworker, if you offended her, so be it. You did ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong by saying "good morning, did you vote?" It is kind of you to be concerned about her feelings, as I think most of us would, and I am glad you two worked it out.
Have a BETTER day mama....
=)
I work and am friends with several women who are JW. They vote. Maybe you caught her on a bad morning. You handled it well by simply walking away. From what I've read from the other responses, it sounds like some JWs vote, and others do not.
I hope the rest of your day is filled with polite, happy people! :)
Not a very Christian response from her, now was it.
You'd think that she would take a second and let you know that as a JW, she doesn't vote. Wouldn't it make sense to educate someone rather than walk away.
Anyway, when her birthday comes around, be sure to wish her a good one!! :)
My MIL is a JW, they do NOT vote. JW's aren't suppose to be involved or even speak about politics but my MIL is the biggest Conservative I know, she studies and knows way more than the average person.
They do call themselves Christians and try to say they read the same bibles, which is a flat out lie.
Jane explained the reason they don't vote, perfectly.
Sounds like you and your co-worker figured it out. The whole logic behind them not voting is beyond me, but it is her right to vote or not vote.
I'm not voting, and it has nothing to do with religion. I just don't care who wins, so I'm saving myself the gas it would take to get to the polling place. I know bad, but this is the first election since I was able to vote that I really didn't care.
I am sure she thinks that everything is God's plan and not up to the President.
That is what I can gather from the way she acted.
I wouldnt worry about it. She said you didnt offend her, so I wouldnt push it anymore.
As I understand it, JW do not celebrate any kind of holiday or indulge in political stuff like voting. Somehow it is in contradiction to the beliefs.
She overreacted. Cut and dry is "it's against my religious convictions''.
I disagree with the comment that JW just judge and convert and aren't friendly. They're extremely friendly. It comes with the plan to convert. You have to be friendly to gain access to 'a lost soul'. No kidding, where I live, if they are driving around the streets, it's happened to me that they stopped in the street as I walk my dog and a little chit chat and hand me their 'brochure'. At my last residence, they were sweet as punch and gained entrance to my house. Even in their snowy, sloppy winter boots! They didn't win me over, but not be nice to people???? That's part of the protocol.
As for your co-worker...,.,she probably has to do this every time election time comes around and it gets old. That can make ANY rational person crabby. Just this entire political race can get rabid.
Show kindness to her in your everyday normal way. Let her know you meant no offense, you asked w/out knowing.
No, they do not vote.
I have one in my office as well, no they don't vote! I also didn't know this but they do not accept blood transfusions either.... Not sure on the why's myself.
