Happy Days in Random Chatter 10

[Imogen]

Accurate?

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_ ... arty_.html

[C is for]

Accurate?

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_ ... arty_.html

Mostly. Can't remember the last time I had Jell-O outside my own home (Mom makes a mean apple cinnamon gelatin -- regularly) and nobody plays church music at parties, dance or otherwise. That's ... really lame.

But other than that, sure.

[Katya]

Accurate?

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_ ... arty_.html

I feel like this article overstates a lot of the differences. (After all, don't a lot of non-Mormon parties have food or music?) Also, I've never heard of someone who wouldn't drink Martinelli's. I don't doubt that such a person could exist, but they're rare enough that I spent 25 years in Utah and never heard it come up (and I did know of people who wouldn't eat chocolate or drink caffeine-free Coke).

I'd say the biggest difference between Mormon and non-Mormon parties is going to be the lack of alcohol, which in turn affects a lot of other things (no college keggers, no pub night with friends, no wine at a fancy restaurant). There are other factors, like Mormons having more kids and at a younger age (which makes it harder to go out, in general), and dances are definitely big with teenagers and 20-something singles, but I fail to see how that applies to Mitt Romney's campaign.

[Dragon Lady]

Accurate?

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_ ... arty_.html

Well… I wouldn't say we celebrate with church hymns. We listen to regular music just like everyone else. And not everyone can cite Brigham Young like that. In fact, I'd say most can't. And I think they way over-emphasized the dancing. Sure, I went to church dances growing up. But I was a wall flower and rarely danced. And they were held maybe 2-3 times per year. And they never lasted past … 10ish. Definitely not till in the morning. And really, I can't tell you the last time I went dancing. I think I went to a country western dance at BYU once maybe in … 2005 or so? And before that was at BYU-Idaho in probably 2002 or 3. Some mormons love to dance and'll do it all the time. Some don't. I'm guessing it's that way with non-LDS folk, too.

But the overall gist that we don't get wasted is true. A mormon party is much more likely to involve lots of sugar, soda, possibly Martinellis, possibly games and/or music (which may get some people dancing) and sitting around talking.

[krebscout]

At BYU, there used to be (might still be) a Sunday night ritual of tunnel singing, where a mob of people would gather under a particular tunnel on campus and sing hymns. I went several times, but it was considered corny even at BYU. Wasn't really a...celebration. Not sure what it was.

For my 20th birthday, I had a "drinking party" in which we played traditional drinking games with various non-alcoholic drinks. Also corny both in and out of the culture. One attendee drank too much orange juice at once and did, indeed, vomit in my bathroom.

[TheAnswerIs42]

Bob, I am visiting my brother this week, and it turns out that my niece not only sold some of her braided friendship bracelets at school, but asked for duct tape for her birthday to make things like wallets and flowers. I showed her your etsy shop, and she declared you "awesome". Just thought you should know you have an eleven year old in your fan club now.

[TheBlackSheep]

Marduk, I had a dream that you had written some kind of Peter Pan tribute play, and I paid tribute to your tribute play by interrupting a social gathering we were both at by sincerely delivering a line of dialogue from your play in a very Mary Martin-esque way. You're welcome.

[NerdGirl]

I had a dream last night that I was at a mall food court and there was a new restaurant where all they served was bacon and bacon-related desserts, and they had topless men who stood at a counter and fried the bacon. I was trying to convince them that was dangerous to fry bacon without a shirt on, but they just laughed at me.

[Marduk]

Marduk, I had a dream that you had written some kind of Peter Pan tribute play, and I paid tribute to your tribute play by interrupting a social gathering we were both at by sincerely delivering a line of dialogue from your play in a very Mary Martin-esque way. You're welcome.

Your kindness overwhelms me.

[Dragon Lady]

I'm planning out my garden today! Hip, hip, hooray! (Thanks to someone on here who just sent me an email and I now know your real name and have forgotten your nym, so I shan't give you due credit on here.)

[Emiliana]

I think I just knowingly participated in "elbow stacking" for the first time.

[C is for]

I think I just knowingly participated in "elbow stacking" for the first time.

Nice.

[Katya]

I think I just knowingly participated in "elbow stacking" for the first time.

Aww, I forgot about elbow stacking.

[Marduk]

What's elbow stacking?

[Fredjikrang]

Good question.

[Dead Cat]

Ahem. Elbow stacking.

[Marduk]

Sometimes I really hate BYU.

[TheBlackSheep]

If what you hate about BYU is elbow stacking, we've got to get you up to speed.

[Digit]

Last night on the news they were talking about that Costa Cruise liner that sank in Italy (Costa is owned by Carnival Cruise Lines), and then they broke to this commercial for Carnival Cruise Lines. Awkward.

[Fredjikrang]

Ahem. Elbow stacking.

Can I just say that I find it really ridiculous that 1. people are so focused on what happens on dates that they have even noticed this, and 2. that there is a name for it.