Religious Perception

[debka_notion]

We had dinner with my grandmother and her boyfriend tonight- at what was from everyone else's reactions a quite nice restaurant- but which had exactly 3 regular entrees that I could have. Sort of a pain, but well- for family one does these things.

That said, my grandmother worried rather audibly over my diet- she kept thinking I was a vegetarian, and from there on to other religious topics- she can't seem to understand that I do indeed wear pants. She keeps wanting to take me pants shopping- then saying something about forgetting that I just wear "those long skirts". I've corrected her any number of times. I'm not sure why the idea is so difficult- I wear pants. ALways have, don't see any reason why I'd stop. If I can keep track of people's allergies and often a few of their strong distastes in food- is it so difficult to keep track of my dietary restrictions or similar choices? I know, I'm kvetching. But my family seems to perpetually either just forget that I keep kosher entirely, or presume that I also have all sorts of other dietary restrictions that I haven't chosen at all. I just don't understand the associations.

Comments

[cornflake62.livejournal.com]

A lot of the time when I tell people I'm allergic to milk, or if they see me looking for dairy-free options in a restaurant or something, the next time they're eating with me or preparing food for me they'll remember something about no-dairy and assume I'm vegan. Or they'll just remember that I have some sort of dietary restriction, and think I'm vegetarian and suggest a nice mac-and-cheese or something. Grr. I suppose, at least when they think I'm vegan, that's better than forgetting entirely and trying to serve me food that will make me die, but still.. I understand what you mean. It can be a pain for people to think you're pickier or follow stricter guidelines in food or in dress than you actually do.

[shirei-shibolim.livejournal.com]

I've put up with things like this, mostly from my family relating either to my practice or Terri's family's inclinations. People seem trained not to perceive certain kinds of social subtlety.

It reminds me of an episode of King of the Hill in which the main character meets his new neighbors, who are clearly of some Asian stripe:

"So, are you Chinese or Japanese?"
"Actually, we're Laosian."
"Um . . . okay. But are you Chinese or Japanese?"
"Neither. We're from Laos."
"But what I want to know is, are you Chinese or Japanese?"
"LAOS! WE'RE FROM LAOS! SMALL LANDLOCKED COUNTRY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, POPULATION TWO MILLION"
[Awkward pause]
"Uh huh. Are you Chinese or Japanese?"

[fleurdelis28.livejournal.com]

How many entrees does one need to be able to eat at a given visit to a given restaurant?

[bobtheslinky.livejournal.com]

Believe me, it's so infuriating when my mother can't remember basic food dislikes; I just feel neglected and deprived and ignored, etc.

Your choices aren't that weird, they seem pretty easy to understand. Maybe you don't see your grandmother often enough for her to remember? Heh... she wants to take you pants-shopping.

Your grandmother has a boyfriend? So does mine!

[tirerim.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know what you mean -- I've been to plenty of restaurants where the only things I could eat were an appetizer or two and the desserts, which don't exactly make for a meal. And I hate it when people try to tell me that I'll get deficiencies or whatever because I don't eat meat.