Office Christmas Party

[Anglewannabe]

We had our office Christmas party last night. I had a good time and it was fun but… being Catholic, it really makes it hard to fit into the world.

They hired some actors to entertain. And the actors would call people from the audience to get up and do things that was fun. But as usual, there was sexual humour involved and though at the time, I did laugh at a few of the jokes, others were offensive and I did come home feeling a bit shallow.

For example, one actor got 3 men to get on stage with him and asked them to dance. They all had to take turns facing backwards and wiggling their rear end. Although mild in today’s secular standards, not really what I would think appropriate.

Or they got some men to go back stage and come back out dressed as the village people. They got one guy to put on a cheap white shirt and called him a stripper and made him literally rip the shirt open. This one girl walked to the stage with a 5 dollar billed that he put partly in his pants, partly showing. I though that was rude. But this guy (who was probably pushing 50) was going along with it.

It is so hard to be Catholic

Angie

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I’m glad you went.

Sounds like your office runs the life teen program…

 

[JPUSC]

The pope said that in the Gospel Jesus often accuses those who rigidly adhere to the law as being hypocrites; they are not free children of God, but “are slaves of the law.”

Behind this inflexibility, he said, “there is always something else. And that is why Jesus says, ‘Hypocrites!’”

There is something “hidden” in that person’s life, “in many cases a double life, but there is also some kind of illness,” he said. Inflexibility is not a gift of God, he said. “Meekness, yes, benevolence, yes, forgiveness, yes, But rigidity, no.”

Those who are rigid suffer when they realize they are not free, he said. “They do not know how to walk within the law of the Lord and they are not blessed.”

“They seem good because they follow the law, but there is something underneath that doesn’t make them good - either they are hypocrites or they are sick.”

Lurking just beneath the surface, he said, there is often pride - the pride of believing oneself to be righteous.

“It’s not easy to walk within the law of the Lord without succumbing to rigidity,” he said. God’s grace is needed.

Pope Francis ended his homily asking for prayers “for our brothers and sisters who believe that walking in the Lord’s law (entails) becoming rigid.”

God prefers “mercy, tenderness, goodness, meekness and humility,” the pope said. May “he teach all of us to walk within the Lord’s law with these ways.”

Pope Francis
cruxnow.com/vatican/2016/10/24/people-rigid-law-often-hypocrites-pope-francis-says

 

[ConfusedLucy]

I think a lot of secular guys (thinking of male friends here) would also find that rather awkward.

 

[JPUSC]

I think a lot of secular guys (thinking of male friends here) would also find that rather awkward.

Sounds like fun.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Why, pray tell, does a poster relating her experience of her office Christmas party become an acceptable occasion to disparage:

• A ministry to young Catholics by one responder
• The pronouncements of the Vicar of Christ by another responder

 

[MaryT777]

I think a lot of secular guys (thinking of male friends here) would also find that rather awkward.

I find sexual humor inappropriate for an OFFICE party no less. I would have felt uncomfortable at this party.

My 2 cents for what it’s worth.

Mary.

 

[Dorothy]

Many years ago when I was about ten years old, one of the priests of my parish shared, during his sermon, about a famous boxer by the name of Gene Tunney.

He said that Gene Tunney was given a party by many of his acquaintances in the world of boxing.

There was a certain time in the party that inappropriate entertainment of females was allowed in.

When that happened, Gene Tunney left.

What an example!

---

It is possible to have a great time at a festive gathering without having to be offensive.

 

[ChurchSoldier]

“I do not ask that You would take them out of the world, but that You would keep them out of the hands of the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You have sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” John 17:15-18

I guess it is usually translated “Be in the world, but not of the world”.

 

[tawny]

Many years ago when I was about ten years old, one of the priests of my parish shared, during his sermon, about a famous boxer by the name of Gene Tunney.

He said that Gene Tunney was given a party by many of his acquaintances in the world of boxing.

There was a certain time in the party that inappropriate entertainment of females was allowed in.

When that happened, Gene Tunney left.

What an example!

---

It is possible to have a great time at a festive gathering without having to be offensive.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

In this day of PC and heightened gender sensitivities, it’s really surprising that this went on. I thought office parties had pretty much gone the way of the dodo - to the relief of many.

 

[Jesus_123]

We had our office Christmas party last night. … I did laugh at a few of the jokes, others were offensive …

:bible1:
Let the words of my mouth,
and the meditation
of my heart,

be acceptable in Thy sight,
**O LORD, **
my Strength, and my Redeemer.
- Psalm 19:14

+For what has become several times now . . . after being warmly invited and to our office’s Christmas party . . . I lifted the invitation up to the Lord seeking His guidance and permission . . . but right up to the day I simply . . . could not . . . find any peace whatsoever in the Lord when considering attending the planned activities . . . *so I quietly made other plans *. . .

The weeks following the gatherings I was so incredibly thankful . . . each time . . . that I hadn’t attended . . . suffice it to say that along with drunkeness . . . casual immorality was not only accepted but encouraged . . .

Even as we try to raise our children with a clear knowledge of that which is right and that which is wrong . . . and the difference between good and evil in this world . . . even so our . . . Wonderful Lord . . . guides and grows us as children of our . . . Gracious Heavenly Father . . . in the formation of our . . . consciences . . . and even as good parents lovingly and carefully . . . judiciously . . . use the parental controls on the television sets and computers, etc., to monitor and block unhealthy and harmful bad influences from the lives of their children . . . so God steadily works at forming our consciences to conform them in harmony with His holy thoughts and His holy ways . . . so that we may make good and healthy choices in our daily lives . . .

In the large expansive medical clinic and hospital complex here in our city . . . no one . . . is allowed to work there unless they . . . pass . . . both drug and TB (tuberculosis) testing . . . for either-or-both problems are . . . extremely dangerous . . . to all around them . . . patients, visitors and co-workers . . . as well as to the individuals involved and afflicted with them . . .

So also our Holy Catholic Church’s wonderful Catechism . . . under the unction and guidance of the . . . Sweet Spirit of our Holy God . . . teaches in great depth . . . and with profound wisdom re the true reality of the great need for a . . . well formed . . . Godly conscience in the life of . . . God’s children . . . for their good health and welfare . . . in relation to how to make choices in order to live wisely and separated from the , , , dangerous acceptance , , , of the . . . infection . . . of certain sins so unfortunately prevalent among disordered souls of fallen sinful mankind . . .

. . . :coffeeread: . . .

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

PART THREE
LIFE IN CHRIST

SECTION ONE
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT

CHAPTER ONE
THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON
ARTICLE 6 - MORAL CONSCIENCE

II. THE FORMATION OF CONSCIENCE

1783
Conscience MUST be informed and MORAL JUDGMENT enlightened.

A well-formed conscience is upright and truthful. It formulates its judgments according to reason, in conformity with the true good willed by the wisdom of the Creator.** The EDUCATION of conscience is indispensable for human beings who are subjected to negative influences and TEMPTED BY SIN to prefer their own judgment and to reject authoritative teachings**.

1784
The education of the conscience is a lifelong task. From the earliest years, it awakens the child to the knowledge and practice of the interior law recognized by conscience. Prudent education teaches virtue; it prevents or cures fear, selfishness and pride, resentment arising from guilt, and feelings of complacency, born of human weakness and faults. The education of the conscience guarantees freedom and engenders peace of heart .

1785
In the formation of conscience the :bible1: Word of God is the light for our path,54 we must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice.

:bible1:
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,
and a light unto my path."
- Psalm 119:105
​

. . . all for Jesus+
. . . thank you Gracious Holy Trinity+
. . . thank you Blessed Holy Mother Church+

​

 

[utah_rose]

I find sexual humor inappropriate for an OFFICE party no less. I would have felt uncomfortable at this party.

My 2 cents for what it’s worth.

Mary.

If you have any (name removed by moderator)ut in next years party you could suggest a party at a nice restaurant. Lot of times they rent rooms. This could eliminate any actors being hired and possibly cut down on the drinking too. Or another alternative would be a buffet at so,eons house, where everyone could bring a dish.

Your party sounds more like a stag party if there were only men.

The other alternative us just to skip it saying you had other plans.

 

[Allegra]

I think many people would consider that form of entertainment inappropriate for an office party, even those who aren’t religious. I would encourage the planning committee to concentrate on food and conversation. Maybe a white elephant gift passing game.

 

[SuperHappy]

That’s really inappropriate for an office party but what’s done is done.

That being said, when stuff like that happens and I am uncomfortable, I excuse myself and go to the restroom. I come back when it’s over.

Angela

 

[EasterJoy]

I think I’d go to HR and say, “I have one complaint about the party. I want to be really discrete about this, because I realize someone put a lot of work into that party and I don’t want them to think I don’t appreciate all their hard work. I wouldn’t say anything, but I highly doubt I’m alone.” (Remember, after all, that you may be talking to the person who hired these “entertainers.”)

“I don’t want to go to another office party in which there is anything sophomoric, let alone *remotely *sexual, in the entertainment. The business world is a sexual minefield, and so we’d do better to avoid that. Besides, it is embarrassing. If we really have people who cannot express humor without either dragging sex into it or returning to middle school for joke material, then we have an entertainment problem. After all, since that wasn’t material we could use in the workplace without exposing ourselves to sexual harassment charges, it doesn’t belong at a work party. Leave that kind of thing for people to choose privately, in social groups where we are all more free to speak up if we don’t like the direction things are going.”

 

[chevalier]

An intellectual is a person who has discovered something more interesting than sex.
(Aldous Huxley)

People do those things because they don’t know better. The educational system isn’t terribly good, parents don’t get much time to spend with their children, everybody is being tempted by egoism and choice of entertainment above duty, right from school, which is that precious formative stage at which people should be learning better, full-steam. Plus, there are a lot of people who have managed to catch up on jobs and even professional education but not really on general education, manners, sensitivity/sensibilities etc. Sometimes the poor people who don’t know better are even a couple of degrees and IQ points ahead of you (or me), still not particularly evolved in some other areas beyond raw bra(name removed by moderator)ower and professional grooming.

Besides, sexual jokes and similar ‘entertainment’ is a popular stress relief and bonding factor for a lot of people. Personally, I believe two guys getting off on a raunchy joke together is a bit like having homosexual intercourse rather, since it literally is a guy pleasing a guy sexually and a guy sharing that sort of pleasure with a guy. Food for thought.

Anyway, I already feel like a hypocrite for all this, whereas everybody has his own problems, not necessarily any lighter for those who do know better than those who don’t.

I think I’d go to HR and say, “I have one complaint about the party. I want to be really discrete about this, because I realize someone put a lot of work into that party and I don’t want them to think I don’t appreciate all their hard work. I wouldn’t say anything, but I highly doubt I’m alone.” (Remember, after all, that you may be talking to the person who hired these “entertainers.”)

“I don’t want to go to another office party in which there is anything sophomoric, let alone *remotely *sexual, in the entertainment. The business world is a sexual minefield, and so we’d do better to avoid that. Besides, it is embarrassing. If we really have people who cannot express humor without either dragging sex into it or returning to middle school for joke material, then we have an entertainment problem. After all, since that wasn’t material we could use in the workplace without exposing ourselves to sexual harassment charges, it doesn’t belong at a work party. Leave that kind of thing for people to choose privately, in social groups where we are all more free to speak up if we don’t like the direction things are going.”

You rock, you know.

 

[EasterJoy]

People do those things because they don’t know better. The educational system isn’t terribly good, parents don’t get much time to spend with their children, everybody is being tempted by egoism and choice of entertainment above duty, right from school, which is that precious formative stage at which people should be learning better, full-steam. Plus, there are a lot of people who have managed to catch up on jobs and even professional education but not really on general education, manners, sensitivity/sensibilities etc. Sometimes the poor people who don’t know better are even a couple of degrees and IQ points ahead of you (or me), still not particularly evolved in some other areas beyond raw bra(name removed by moderator)ower and professional grooming.

Ignorance and stupidity are not as closely-related as some think they are. This is particularly true when one considers that emotional and academic intelligence are quite different things. It is true, however, that the academically-intelligent sometimes have to accept the necessity of learning the truths of emotional reality by rote. We all have to be humble enough to admit where we are blind in order to become educated.

Besides, sexual jokes and similar ‘entertainment’ is a popular stress relief and bonding factor for a lot of people. Personally, I believe two guys getting off on a raunchy joke together is a bit like having homosexual intercourse rather, since it literally is a guy pleasing a guy sexually and a guy sharing that sort of pleasure with a guy. Food for thought.

That is a region of the intellectual landscape into which I am going to refrain from venturing, LOL. (Do remember, even though Freud never said it: Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.)

You rock, you know.

You are too kind.

Going to HR is a mine-field all its own. One must unfortunately check the office-political wind before venturing into anything like what I said. There are some workplaces where saying anything but “thank you for all the hard work” to anyone remotely involved in the thankless job of putting on the holiday party is political suicide.

You cannot be too careful, LOL. These people know where your cubicle is.

 

[chevalier]

Ignorance and stupidity are not as closely-related as some think they are.

Definitely. But the combination is pretty devastating when it occurs.

This is particularly true when one considers that emotional and academic intelligence are quite different things. It is true, however, that the academically-intelligent sometimes have to accept the necessity of learning the truths of emotional reality by rote.

The emotionally intelligent sometimes don’t progress beyond getting a good read on people or knowing what buttons to push to get what they want. Now one could argue that’s not what EQ is about, but then at the end of the any anything Q is about the tests and not much more. I’m pretty sure a random sample from a strip joint audience would return a bunch of high IQs and EQs both, sadly.

We all have to be humble enough to admit where we are blind in order to become educated.

Yeah. And that might be made all the more difficult in a world that encourages us to act like experts and authorities without really being all that (but there is simply a need to induce us to fork out some cash, allow some ads to play or divulge some personal data).

Do remember, even though Freud never said it: Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

It tends to tend to be just a cigar to the smoker. Until either her or she chokes on the smoke or the screen dissipates.

You are too kind.

No, seriously, you got it all figured out in such a way I can’t stop chuckling.

Going to HR is a mine-field all its own.

Yup, banging one’s head on the corporate wall with no casque on.

One must unfortunately check the office-political wind before venturing into anything like what I said. There are some workplaces where saying anything but “thank you for all the hard work” to anyone remotely involved in the thankless job of putting on the holiday party is political suicide.

Of course. It generally takes a diagnosed JD or some other brand of sociopath to enjoy that sort of thing (especially since it rarely pays a decent fee).

You cannot be too careful, LOL. These people know where your cubicle is.

They also have access to your e-mail/Intranet/company wall/whatever account without needing a password. And to your printer. And punch cards, attendance lists and all that jazz.

 

[DarkLight]

I think many people would consider that form of entertainment inappropriate for an office party, even those who aren’t religious. I would encourage the planning committee to concentrate on food and conversation. Maybe a white elephant gift passing game.

This was my thought as well. Generally sexual humor is considered inappropriate in the workplace regardless of people’s religious convictions. And this kind of thing opens them up to a giant sexual harassment claim.