# Review of rental cottage **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 23, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-of-rental-cottage/749983 "2016-03-23T22:40:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-of-rental-cottage/749983/1 "2016-03-23T22:40:43Z")
I am going to review a lakeside cottage I’m renting for vacation. I’m torn between, “decorated throughout with inspirational messages” or “littered with religious glurge.” ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-of-rental-cottage/749983/2 "2016-03-23T22:42:44Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > I am going to review a lakeside cottage I’m renting for vacation. I’m torn between, “decorated throughout with inspirational messages” or “littered with religious glurge.” Why not use both? that’s what “and/or” is for! ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-of-rental-cottage/749983/3 "2016-03-23T22:48:33Z")
Combine them “decorated throughout with religious messages” It doesn’t offend the religious, and lets people who aren’t know what they are in for. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-of-rental-cottage/749983/4 "2016-03-23T23:44:42Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > Why not use both? that’s what “and/or” is for! Actually, it’s not. Both would be “and”. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-of-rental-cottage/749983/5 "2016-03-23T23:55:48Z")
> [@j666](#): > > Actually, it’s not. Both would be “and”. This and/or that=either (this or that) or (this and that) Both options contain [this,that] ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-of-rental-cottage/749983/6 "2016-03-24T00:15:11Z")
I’d phrase the comment positively, or at least neutrally, if the plumbing and electricity worked. But do you really need to say anything? Are there picture of the cottage at the booking site? > [@snfaulkner](#): > > This and/or that=either (this or that) or (this and that) > > Both options contain [this,that] Sigh. But only one contains both. i will bring coffee and tea. I will bring both coffee and tea. I will bring coffee or tea. I will bring one, coffee or tea. I will bring coffee and / or tea. I will bring coffee, or tea, or both. Both - and Either - or Not sure, depends on if I get to the store - and/or. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-of-rental-cottage/749983/7 "2016-03-24T00:43:32Z")
> [@j666](#): > > I’d phrase the comment positively, or at least neutrally, if the plumbing and electricity worked. But do you really need to say anything? Are there picture of the cottage at the booking site? > Sigh. But only one contains both. > > i will bring coffee and tea. I will bring both coffee and tea. > > I will bring coffee or tea. I will bring one, coffee or tea. > > I will bring coffee **and / or** tea. I will bring coffee, or tea, or **both**. > > Both - and > Either - or > Not sure, depends on if I get to the store - and/or. Bolding mine. I am not talking at both tea and coffee, I am talking about both combinations of tea and/or coffee. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-of-rental-cottage/749983/8 "2016-03-24T00:49:17Z")
The summer cottage was “decorated throughout with inspirational messages” and/or “littered with religious glurge” depending on your point of view. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-of-rental-cottage/749983/9 "2016-03-24T01:48:46Z")
This “cottage of the Lord” was assertively decorated with imported Christian bric-a-brac and wall art. The unrelenting presence of Jesus watching over every move will bring comfort to all righteous guests, although it may make sinners uneasy." Also the coffeemaker is cheap and needs replacing. It overflowed several times during our stay. Good pillows. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-of-rental-cottage/749983/10 "2016-03-24T02:49:30Z")
“The hellfire and brimstone make the place somewhat less than comfortable.” ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-of-rental-cottage/749983/11 "2016-03-24T05:29:04Z")
Use this sentence in the review: > [@CookingWithGas](#): > > “decorated throughout with inspirational messages” …but entitle it “What’s with all this inescapable religious bullshit?” ---
**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:** [March 24, 2016, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-of-rental-cottage/749983/12 "2016-03-24T11:47:40Z")
Oddly enough, the rental for the week was $666.66. ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-of-rental-cottage/749983/13 "2016-03-24T15:08:54Z")
Is this a commercial rental property, or someones cabin that they rent out when they aren’t using it? If the latter, a brief mention, not a full on attack against someone’s personal choices/beliefs. If the former, bash away. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-of-rental-cottage/749983/14 "2016-03-24T16:55:02Z")
“Tastefully decorated with religious glurge.” “Thus us the finest effort I’ve ever seen to make religious glurge aesthetically attractive.” ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-of-rental-cottage/749983/15 "2016-03-24T18:01:15Z")
"Basically, a nice place to get away, but let’s face it: even Jesus spent 40 days alone without a single framed poster or cross-stitched verse in sight. It leads one to ask: what, exactly are the owners afraid of happening in this cottage that guests constantly need reminding of God’s eye upon them? Oh, and the coffee pot needs replacing. Overflowing coffee pots can make even a Carmelite sister whisper bad words." ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-of-rental-cottage/749983/16 "2016-03-24T19:04:27Z")
> [@butler1850](#): > > Is this a commercial rental property, or someones cabin that they rent out when they aren’t using it? > If the latter, a brief mention, not a full on attack against someone’s personal choices/beliefs. > > If the former, bash away. I agree with the sentiment of this post, though I’d probably stop short of bashing. I am curious how many religious artifacts represent a glurge, a word I was previously not familiar with. How about a tally or enumeration of the inspirational/offensive items? ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-of-rental-cottage/749983/17 "2016-03-24T20:16:38Z")
Glurge isn’t a quantity. Glurge is the term for overly sentimental stories, sayings, and emails that end in preachy or corny endings. They’re meant to pull on your heart-strings. Decorative glurge would be littered with puppies and rainbows, unicorns and fairy farts. ASCII angels are a primitive form of decorative glurge. The Red Shoes Christmas story is quite possibly the ultimate glurge, though I’m willing to concede that there may be worse. (Please don’t share. I’ll take your word for it.) On facebook, the words to look for are “If you have or had” a mother, daughter, cat, dog, grandchild, groundhog, possum, truck, bike, or stomach flu blah blah blah “then share this!” Glurge is meant to be shared in the same way that dysentery is. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-of-rental-cottage/749983/18 "2016-03-24T20:56:40Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Combine them “decorated throughout with religious messages” It doesn’t offend the religious, and lets people who aren’t know what they are in for. Exactly this. The reader can read into whatever he/she wishes. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2016, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-of-rental-cottage/749983/19 "2016-03-24T21:06:53Z")
“My partner and I were comforted by the fact that no matter where we chose to make love we were under the watchful eyes of Jesus.” ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2016, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-of-rental-cottage/749983/20 "2016-03-26T01:19:25Z")
Although it’s true that there are several trite little messages here and there, my question here was more tongue-in-cheek as I would never actually post my second option, even if that’s how I feel. No need to trash people. I was just being a smartass. The sentiments are more or less tasteful–no velvet crucifixion posters or anything really in-your-face. Just little flowery things like “May you hear God’s voice in your heart and feel his love every day blah blah blah.” The whole area is a center for Methodist retreats so it is not surprising that the owner is religious. (Lake Junaluska, NC) But if I were renting a place out all season I would keep the decor message-neutral. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/review-of-rental-cottage/749983.md?page=2)