# My mom subscribed me to a religious magazine. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 16, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-subscribed-me-to-a-religious-magazine/517812 "2009-11-16T19:26:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-subscribed-me-to-a-religious-magazine/517812/21 "2009-11-17T03:47:00Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > Just throw it out and forget it. There are some battles not worth fighting, even if you win, you’ll wind up losing in other ways. > > Throw it out and throw out all the other things on the mailing list. I’m curious; based on my responses so far in this thread, what do you think I was planning to do that contradicts the advice you give here? 🙂 > [@dhkendall](#): > > I’m kind of curious, not being Catholic I want to know, exactly what _does_ a Catholic magazine have articles on? > > [ul] > [li]How to make your Eucharist its whitest![/li][li]Are you a St. Jerome or a St. Bartholemew?[/li][li]Win tickets to Popeapalooza 2010![/li][li]Should we add a new mortal sin?[/li][/ul] Heh. I dug the most recent one out of the recycling bin. (It just came today.) The table of contents includes: [ul] [li]Safe at home for Christmas. _Once we figured out whose team we were on, our family’s “crash-and-burn Christmases” became cherished home runs._[/li][li]A Christmas story: Gold, common sense, and fur. _Our four wonderful kids are proof that God has a sense of humor._[/li][li]Readers choose Catholic Charities USA as Love Your Neighbor Award winner[/li][li]Explore Biblical Jordan! _From the site of Jesus’ baptism to the mysterious city where Paul may have preached the Gospel, discover the beauty and mystery of this Middle Eastern nation._[/li][/ul] Plus what appear to be regular columns titled “Praying,” “Love Your Neighbor,” and “Worth Watching” - a guide to TV, movies, Internet and radio. There is also a crossword puzzle and an advice column. Scintillating! And yet, already back in the recycling bin. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-subscribed-me-to-a-religious-magazine/517812/22 "2009-11-17T05:06:29Z")
Hmm. Looks like Watchtower isn’t available by mail subscription. But they will be happy to arrange a personal home delivery! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-subscribed-me-to-a-religious-magazine/517812/23 "2009-11-17T16:06:54Z")
If you need money for your plans, write the magazine to cancel your subscription. They’ll usually give you a refund for any undelivered issues. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-subscribed-me-to-a-religious-magazine/517812/24 "2009-11-17T16:28:58Z")
My red father subscribed me to a Trotskyist paper :D. I don’t mind. I glance at maybe one issue out of ten and we’ve never discussed it, but he just keep renewing my subscription, year after year. I figure if it makes him happy in some obscure way, no skin off my nose. Though honestly most of the time it goes straight from my mailbox to the trashcan. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-subscribed-me-to-a-religious-magazine/517812/25 "2009-11-17T16:31:47Z")
You know, I actually think that the equivalent of Mom subscribing me to “Catholic Digest” wouldn’t be my subscribing her to “High Times” or something else with subject material she would actively disapprove of. A closer equivalent would be if I sent her a subscription to “Runner’s World” magazine – implying that, you know, running is fun! And she should do it! Sure, she’s told me in the past that she’s not interested in running and doesn’t feel like it would be good for her joints, but _I_ like to run, and I think it’s really good for me, so here’s this magazine all about how great running is, and she can read it and maybe she’ll come around to my point of view! (I am not going to actually do this. I just had this realization and wanted to share it.) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-subscribed-me-to-a-religious-magazine/517812/26 "2009-11-17T16:43:39Z")
Maybe your mother would enjoy a magazine that I receive and enjoy. [Here is some subscription info.](http://www.easyriders.com/savage/) ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-subscribed-me-to-a-religious-magazine/517812/27 "2009-11-17T17:23:46Z")
How about signing her up for a subscription to Skeptic Magazine? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-subscribed-me-to-a-religious-magazine/517812/28 "2009-11-17T20:49:40Z")
Eh, I don’t see someone trying to force their opinions on me knowing full well that I don’t agree with them and don’t want them as meaning well. It’s passive aggressive (maybe even full-on aggressive). ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-subscribed-me-to-a-religious-magazine/517812/29 "2009-11-17T21:11:24Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > A closer equivalent would be if I sent her a subscription to “Runner’s World” magazine – implying that, you know, running is fun! And she should do it! Sure, she’s told me in the past that she’s not interested in running and doesn’t feel like it would be good for her joints, but _I_ like to run, and I think it’s really good for me, so here’s this magazine all about how great running is, and she can read it and maybe she’ll come around to my point of view! Oh, but why not? This sounds like a wonderful idea! “Mom, I know you sent me a magazine subscription because you love me so much: I just want to return the favor because I love you so much.” ---
**Author:** ![Runestar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/74df32/32.png) [@Runestar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runestar)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-subscribed-me-to-a-religious-magazine/517812/30 "2009-11-17T21:27:39Z")
> [@dhkendall](#): > > I’m kind of curious, not being Catholic I want to know, exactly what _does_ a Catholic magazine have articles on? > > [ul] > [li]How to make your Eucharist its whitest![/li][li]Are you a St. Jerome or a St. Bartholemew?[/li][li]Win tickets to Popeapalooza 2010![/li][li]Should we add a new mortal sin?[/li][/ul] Circulation is up sharply since they added the “Choirboy of the month” centerfold… ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-subscribed-me-to-a-religious-magazine/517812/31 "2009-11-21T13:50:44Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Eh, I don’t see someone trying to force their opinions on me knowing full well that I don’t agree with them and don’t want them as meaning well. It’s passive aggressive (maybe even full-on aggressive). It’s passive aggressive because the mom will most likely refuse to admit she sent it. Full aggression requires you to be willing to reveal yourself. You know, if this happened to me, I would just assume it was a high pressure sales pitch–maybe they convinced my mom that if she really loved me, she couldn’t let me go to Hell without at least trying this really easy way of converting me. The proselytizing mindset is always that they are doing this for your own good. They don’t see it as any form of aggressive–they just want to make sure you’re the one deciding not to embrace their beliefs. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-subscribed-me-to-a-religious-magazine/517812/32 "2009-11-21T19:48:50Z")
I had a work colleague, one I thought I respected. Because of a few very cryptic comments at a Christmas dinner (partially of a dietary nature-some people assumed I was Jewish because I didn’t eat the pork-no I just loathe the stuff), he gave me a book titled “Why God Doesn’t Believe in Atheists”-but I’m not an atheist (nor do I subscribe to any traditional religion). He just assumed I was-hugely condescending and presumptuous. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-subscribed-me-to-a-religious-magazine/517812/33 "2009-11-22T01:50:02Z")
She means well. Let it go. Starting a problem would be silly. Read it. Don’t read it. Throw it away. Whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-subscribed-me-to-a-religious-magazine/517812/34 "2009-11-22T01:56:57Z")
Tell her you’d rather read _America_. It’s an incredibly good magazine, and I say that as an agnostic. Them Jesuits are some smart dudes. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-subscribed-me-to-a-religious-magazine/517812/35 "2009-11-22T01:59:33Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > Two words: _Presbyterian Life_ 😃 Fuck that, the Orange Order digest. ---
**Author:** ![firstname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7ab992/32.png) [@firstname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/firstname)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-subscribed-me-to-a-religious-magazine/517812/36 "2009-11-22T05:42:22Z")
The correct course of action is to sign her church up to high times, with a lovely little note saying “courtesy of [Your Mother’s Name]” ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-subscribed-me-to-a-religious-magazine/517812/37 "2009-11-22T06:34:13Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > As for donating to the library, no. I have clutter problems. You would not know this to currently look at my nice, neat, and tidy house. That’s because I don’t make little piles of things to be taken to Goodwill, the library, or other such places. Trust me on this one; I have made peace with certain aspects of my personality, and my complete and utter inability to get things to donation centers in a timely fashion is one of them. Maybe rather than making little piles, you can redirect the subscription to the library, so it gets mailed there directly? Check with them first, though - if they don’t want it, they will probably not be pleased to receive what appears to be your junk mail. Do you have any Catholic friends who might like it? The address change method should work for that, too. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-subscribed-me-to-a-religious-magazine/517812/38 "2009-11-22T08:26:52Z")
“Mom, I love you and I know you mean well, but if I get one more copy of this magazine in my mailbox–EVER–you’re going to be a proud subscriber to **Blue Boy**. Do not test me on this.” ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-subscribed-me-to-a-religious-magazine/517812/39 "2009-11-22T09:35:49Z")
Would she know what **Blue Boy** is? Those of us who want to take revenge and those who say that she means well and you should just shrug it off are probably all projecting our own moms onto the situation. Some mothers will become obsessively controlling if you don’t nip the problem in the bud. Other mothers may try only once or twice with something mild like this – not realizing what a pain it can be. My mother was in the first catagory. I kept giving her chance after chance and being the good daughter when I should have been drawing and enforcing boundaries when her behavior became more and more cruel through efforts to undermine and control. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-subscribed-me-to-a-religious-magazine/517812/40 "2009-11-22T10:06:50Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > As for donating to the library, no. I have clutter problems. You would not know this to currently look at my nice, neat, and tidy house. That’s because I don’t make little piles of things to be taken to Goodwill, the library, or other such places. Trust me on this one; I have made peace with certain aspects of my personality, and my complete and utter inability to get things to donation centers in a timely fashion is one of them. You can redirect the gift to them, rather than take the magazines physically. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-subscribed-me-to-a-religious-magazine/517812.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-subscribed-me-to-a-religious-magazine/517812.md?page=3)