Have you ever written a blog post, cracked a joke, shared a status update and received a message later that “they” were offend?
Yeah me too! I hate they.
Only I’m a professional offender. And there is nothing that raises my hackles more than someone becoming offended and making a fuss about it in a public format. Especially if I hadn’t planned it.
Wait?! You can actually plan to offend someone?
Yes…yes you can. Remember I’m a professional.
How does one become a professional offender? Well it’s not like there are any workshops or college courses that I’m aware of. So I can only share how I honed my art. Raised by my grandparents in the south, I was hanging out at the church functions, women’s clubs and VFW halls from infancy. In these establishments gossips, scandal, and offense are as plentiful as sweet tea and twangy accents.
And since I was with the older matriarchs of society I learned the subtle “Bless your heart method.” This is where your intended victim doesn’t even realize they’ve been offended until well after the job had been executed. The Bless Your Heart method is a true art. In order to properly use it the professional offender either has to have a plan
plotted and wait for the chance. Or is so confident and witty that they can use it at a moment’s notice.
I can do both.
In fact, it’s almost like a natural reaction to use the Bless Your Heart Method. Over the years, I’ve become so good at it I don’t even have to use the phrase. But tend to just for kicks.
For me personally there are key elements that provoke my internal offense system.
· Anyone messing with my children. From schoolteacher, principal, peer, or clergy. Yes I have Bless Your Hearted a Sunday school teacher before. Crazy, southern mother here.
· Sluts as a whole. If I could overcome so can you.
· Anyone disrespecting any military service individual, spouse or child. Or the services as a whole. Army brat here!
· Ninny hammers that persecute someone because of their religion. Mormon here!
· Anyone using the term bastard instead of in its proper use. Bastard here!
For these reasons and many more, I will not join PTA or volunteer at any things my children are doing. Someone somewhere will piss me off and once the system is ignited, it does not detour.
Now I’ll try to create for you an example of The Bless Your Heart method in action.
Imagine a group of
women is hanging out after school waiting for their children at the bus stop. The newest mother in the neighborhood, Gina, is approaching. Over the last few weeks, she comes to the bus stop dressed in extremely immodest clothing. Clothing that would make the dancers in a rap video blush immodest. Lately she’s been complaining that her significant other doesn’t trust her. And of course I’m one of the mothers in the group. Now watch.
“Hey what’s youse doing?” Gina says, popping her bubble gum then using her acrylic nail to scrape it off her lip. Bri and the other mom, Lisa, share a look.
“Just waiting for the bus,” Bri replies. Lisa’s eyes bulge as Gina pulls her tube top up over her gravity-attracted bosom.
“Well youse remember how I told you that Don went through my text messages.” Gina doesn’t wait for an answer. “Well the bastard activated the family map tracker on my iPhone. I’ve never done anything to make him not trust me. All I ever do is eat, sleep, shop, and pick up his kids at the bus stop. I mean yea, I hang out at the sports bar but they only open the dance floor up on Friday and Saturdays. It’s sports not a club.” She rolls her eyes and tries to dig something out of her three-inch nails.
Bri’s always wondered how any woman keeps her nails that long, wipe themselves, and manages cleanliness. Lisa is once again bug eyed from Gina’s comments. It’s a common facial expression for her around Gina.
Bri shakes her head and catches Gina’s eye. She can feel the thickness of her southern accent actually coating her throat from what she’s about to say. “Bless your heart, you poor dear.” Lisa now turns her frogeyes on Bri. “I can’t imagine how you put up with so much.” Gina nods her head and tries to look innocent, forcing her bottom lip in a pout. “I
mean, you really don’t do anything at all, do ya. And I bet he buys those clothes for you just to add to his case,” Bri finishes. Gina quits nodding her head and replays Bri’s words. Lisa’s eyes go normal; she covers her mouth and turns her back. The bus comes with their children, ending all conversation. Gina never comes back to the bus stop in a tube top.
That’s just one example. And it’s so much sweeter when you really experience it. Anyways, the rant I needed to get out. If I’m going to offend you believe me I’ll know it. You just won’t…until later.
So tell me, dear readers, do you have any particular methods for getting your point across?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
18 comments:
This was hilarious! I wish I could master the "Bless Your Heart". My southern family down in Louisiana are masters as Bless Your Hearting.
We use bless your heart here in Ohio, too, but since I'm a rock's throw from the WV stateline, that might be why.
Thanks SJ. for commenting. Those down in the Bayou do it right nice and in an even better accent. Faith thanks for having me. I hope to do it again. Yes being that close to WV probably plays a part. LOL
OK I have to say I LOVE the new layout on the blog very sexy sheik.
The new sexiness is due to our webmistress Emmy Ellis. She's fantastic.
Love this post, Bri. I was born in the South and raised in the North. So I do the "Bless your heart" but not with quite that much finesse. Usually I fall back on my humor with a "Do we really want to go there?" and when they insist, I go with both barrels. lol
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I don't have a "Bless Your Heart" method. If I'm going to insult you, you know right then. And I want you to know it. No southern accent as I'm from California. I was taught that profanity was unnecessary to insult. Matter of fact, my best insults have been completely clean. (g) That being said, there is nothing like profanity at times, especially around Christmas. (g)
LOL yes my most effective insults are without profanity but boy a good f-bomb dropped at just the right time...especially from someone who seldom cusses is very effective. However, that is one word I have shied away from in recent years. I think it was all the abuse I showed in as a teen.
I was always told if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all. So...if someone really gets to me, I'll say to them one of two things.
1. Well aren't you UNIQUE!
2. Well isn't that UNIQUE!
They still don't get it I don't think. And I refuse to join PTA too. Where I live all the parents are UNIQUE!
And some of my best were only one or two words. (g) Although once, I was emailing this guy, and he made said something like "so don't worry your pretty little head." (Because he's a rocket scientist, and I was a music major.)
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Can you guess what happened? (g) I gave him a short history lesson regarding the relationship of music and science. (g) I never heard from him again. (g)
Cassie and Tami you two crack me up. LOL
Wow that sounds like a very satisfying email you sent. I love putting people in their place. Especially the place I deem that should be. ;)
It was, Bri. That one statement showed his true colors. Perhaps he was being flippant, but I hate it when people make assumptions. And people made a lot of assumptions about me being a music major. Being blond didn't help either. I used to get that a lot when I was younger. Between surviving my smart ass family and the whole blond thing (I've outgrown it, alas LOL), I became rather adept at insults. (g) Unfortunately, I don't have the "Bless Your Soul," though. I'm sure that would come in handy.
BTW, I won't join the PTA either. I have radical ideas about how kids should be schooled. (g) (That maybe they should learn something! ;) )
I think you should teach a class about the art of "Bless Your Soul." (g) You'd probably do very well. (g)
Thanks I love untiptaers. I'd love to teach a class. It'd be great lots of role playing. LOL
I have a smart ass family and I' blonde but I am the wittiest so I dominate.
I have radical ideas about children too like when they come home they should be able to play and relax a little.
@anthology authors
I think the class Idea is great.
I'll be one of the top to sign up Bri
Thanks anthology and Tami...
I wonder if I could do it like a webinar....hmmm.
You guys are going to kill me. I'm already busy as hooker on the strip.
OMG Bri - I love that comment.
I've been saying:
I'm so broke I can't pay attention.
Forever! But never heard the hooker one. giggle giggle giggle. Can I steal it and use it as a Facebook status?
Oh, Bri, that was part of my issue with DD's school. They sent home too much homework. (She's 7. O.o) So, um, I pulled her out. (g)
I'd be in line for the class too. I'm always up for learning new ways to insult. (g)
ROFL I like that broke one too. Go right ahead and use it girl.
The greatest compliment is copycatting.
OMG - LOL...frogeyes ~ what a visual...and I can imagine that scene, and you, my dear Bri, have talent, an ability, one that would brighten my day if I had you at my side for someone in particular.
Do you rent yourself out by any chance?
Loved this post, Bri.
Post a Comment