Stereotypes are a real time saver

[brdgt]

I am officially already over the "mormons, no alcohol, no coffee, mormons, blah, blah, blah" stereotypes I hear about my new home. Stereotypes may be a real time saver, but they are lazy and petty. Wisconsinites are fat alcoholics! Southerners are stupid racists! Californians are vain fakes! *sigh*

(I actually saw a bunch of "Real Mormons Drink Beer" t-shirts at the BeerFest and when I googled it found out that this is a pretty hotly debated issue, with some Mormons actually arguing that beer, in particular, isn't just ok to drink, but that beer is a "barley drink" that is *favored* by God - some interesting stuff here and in the comments.)

In response, here we are on Saturday at the Utah BeerFest with our friends Jen and Jane (Jen is doing her residency in OB/GYN at the University Hospital and got her MA in the History of Medicine Program at UW a few years ago and Jane moved here the same week we did from Madison, where she also played frisbee and is apparently a home brewer!)



And a great photo that our injured teammate got of me in one of our last frisbee games back in Madison. I look so calm because this girl was really bad and wasn't even calling a stall count, so I had all the time in the world to decide what to do :)

Comments

[mystickeeper.livejournal.com]

Holy shit, Jane is my former coworker!

[brdgt.livejournal.com]

Cool! She said she actually applied to the UW History of Medicine department but realized it was good she didn't get in because she likes Bioethics more than History.

[kazoogrrl.livejournal.com]

This reminds me of asking my ex-Morman-ex, "So, your parents think coffee is not allowed and against their beliefs?" "Yes." "Is it because of the caffeine?" "I think so." "Um, what about all the chocolate and Diet Pepsi in the kitchen?".

Religious dietary laws and guidelines fascinate me. I'm always grilling my coworker about the ever-shifting kosher rules.

[notmarcie.livejournal.com]

Kosher for Pesach is the best one. Kosher dishwashing liquid? And kosher wine, no longer kosher if a gentile handles an open bottle.

[kazoogrrl.livejournal.com]

She was telling me she couldn't serve asparagus when her son and daughter-in-law were over because her DIL doesn't eat it because there could be tiny, microscopic even, bugs (crustaceans) in the bud at the top of the stalk and washing can't get them out. It seems broccoli can be iffy for the same reason. As science has allowed people to see or know what was previously unseen or known the interpretation of the laws has become stricter.

[notmarcie.livejournal.com]

I used your recent move when approached by two female missionaries last week. They were very sweet and I was happy to chat, just not about God. They said they hope you love SLC and your move and settling in went smoothly. They were really lovely.

[brdgt.livejournal.com]

Awh!

That reminds me - did you see that article in Slate about Mormon Mommy Blogs? I have a theory that one of the mormon conversion strategies is to just make being a mormon seem super-duper.

[purplemb13.livejournal.com]

ah yes, the "I'm going to jump around in front of you, practically fall over, and never actually start counting" girl.

[brdgt.livejournal.com]

And slap you - what? I didn't slap you?!

[antarcticlust.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure that all the people who have never been to Utah know way more about Mormons than you do. Why can't you just suck it up and let them enjoy their manufactured schadenfreude? Sheesh! You and your "facts."