# What to say to those who pray for you? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 2, 2003, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-say-to-those-who-pray-for-you/199091 "2003-09-02T06:30:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SlickRoenick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SlickRoenick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlickRoenick)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-say-to-those-who-pray-for-you/199091/1 "2003-09-02T06:30:01Z")
Forget the story behind this thread and let me just sum up. If you are walking down the street and you talk in your regular tongue which includes a shit, fuck, or a god damn every 3 or 4 sentences, YMMV, and someone hears your dirty mouth discussing a dirty movie involving dirty people, how do you respond when they say > [@](#): > > “I’m very sorry for you, i will pray that you are helped” ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-say-to-those-who-pray-for-you/199091/2 "2003-09-02T06:50:36Z")
I wouldn’t respond at all. It’s their issue, it has nothing to do with me. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-say-to-those-who-pray-for-you/199091/3 "2003-09-02T06:55:51Z")
Thank them? I don’t see how them praying for you could possibly harm you and it may possibly help you (if there is a god and all that). ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-say-to-those-who-pray-for-you/199091/4 "2003-09-02T06:56:21Z")
Why do they need to inform you that you are being prayed for? I’ve never figured that out. You’d think God would be the one to help change your mind, and not some stranger on the street who guilts you by telling you he is praying for you. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-say-to-those-who-pray-for-you/199091/5 "2003-09-02T07:01:08Z")
> [@](#): > > **What to say to those who pray for you?** Normally, I’ll say thank you or nothing. But if the circumstances call for it, I’ve found that a curt “and I’ll _think_ for you,” works wonders. ---
**Author:** ![SunTzu2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@SunTzu2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunTzu2U)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-say-to-those-who-pray-for-you/199091/6 "2003-09-02T07:14:59Z")
That’s the root problem in society these days. Everyone is a stranger so it is easier for people to dehumanize one another because they don’t know each other. I live in the south in a mid-size city/town of about 175,000 people. When you walk down any street here expect to be recognized and addressed with hi or how are you. Its just a custom here. If profanity is coming from your mouth then it would not be uncommon to get that response from someone. What’s the harm in it. I feel it is more harmful when people ignore each other and fail to recognize that you are sharing this great earth with another human being. This behavior when pushed to the nth degree can cause street riots and the like which has been publicised often. In polite culture foul language is looked down upon. When someone resorts to using profanity to illuminate their language it basically shows their lack of language knowledge and skill. When you hit your thumb with a hammer THEN that’s a pretty good reason for an expletive. Otherwise try to excercise and expand your vocabulary by NOT having to resort to foul language. Think of it as a challenge. ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-say-to-those-who-pray-for-you/199091/7 "2003-09-02T07:41:21Z")
How about, “More power to ya, motherfucker.” ---
**Author:** ![mazirian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@mazirian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazirian)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-say-to-those-who-pray-for-you/199091/8 "2003-09-02T07:58:55Z")
“Good for you! Only 250 Pious Points more and you are on your way to heaven!” ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-say-to-those-who-pray-for-you/199091/9 "2003-09-02T08:21:46Z")
No, and fuck off. ---
**Author:** ![Phoenix\_Dragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Phoenix\_Dragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phoenix_Dragon)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-say-to-those-who-pray-for-you/199091/10 "2003-09-02T09:45:54Z")
> [@](#): > > “I’m very sorry for you, i will pray that you are helped” If they’re being _extreeeeemly_ polite, friendly, and just include this as part of the conversation, I wouldn’t really make any comment on it. But far more often, it would be more of the “I don’t approve of what you’re doing and I want you to know it” masked with the guise of rightful superiority. In which case I’d probably reply with a slightly patronising “Thaaaaaat’s nice…” and continue my conversation from wherever they interupted it. And if they’re being rude: “I’m very sorry for you, I will sacrifice a goat to the great demon Terika, in hope that you will not suffer much longer…” And continue where we left off, though such a comment would probably result in the conversation quickly drifting into more topics that I’m sure the person would want to “help” us with. ---
**Author:** ![Eternal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@Eternal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eternal)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-say-to-those-who-pray-for-you/199091/11 "2003-09-02T10:10:32Z")
Pubes. ---
**Author:** ![SlickRoenick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SlickRoenick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlickRoenick)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-say-to-those-who-pray-for-you/199091/12 "2003-09-02T10:34:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SunTzu2U \* > \*\*If profanity is coming from your mouth then it would not be uncommon to get that response from someone. What’s the harm in it. > > … > > When you hit your thumb with a hammer THEN that’s a pretty good reason for an expletive. Otherwise try to excercise and expand your vocabulary by NOT having to resort to foul language. Think of it as a challenge. \*\* Profanity comes out of the hole in my face just as pious adorations come out of their’s. The difference is that i don’t curse them for doing it. **eris, maz, and matt** , i like i like. **PD** , nice touch with the sacrificing a goat thing. **Eternal** , umm, interesting. I guess certain zealots would be offended. ---
**Author:** ![Ben\_Hicks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbce88/32.png) [@Ben\_Hicks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ben_Hicks)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-say-to-those-who-pray-for-you/199091/13 "2003-09-02T10:42:35Z")
Tell them that while Jesus may love them and answer their prayers, [Bob](http://www.subgenius.com/) thinks they’re garbage wrapped in skin, and you’ll be praying to him to send them a happy bouncy reality check. _or_ Tell them you prefer money. _or_ Tell them you already asked God to make you a foul mouthed little deviant. You’re merely his vessel and any attempts to pray for your soul will result in that person residing on the wrong end of a pitchfork for oooh, a long fuckin’ time. _or_ Tell them…“Umm, thanks” _or_ Give them a big fat kiss on the lips and see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-say-to-those-who-pray-for-you/199091/14 "2003-09-02T10:57:13Z")
Why not just say, “Thanks.” ---
**Author:** ![Eternal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@Eternal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eternal)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-say-to-those-who-pray-for-you/199091/15 "2003-09-02T11:10:55Z")
“Thanks?” That’s not how you should respond to someone insulting you -which is what they’re doing, we all know it. ---
**Author:** ![Gadfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gadfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadfly)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-say-to-those-who-pray-for-you/199091/16 "2003-09-02T11:27:46Z")
Once, someone in Toronto did that to me (really unusual here). I turned towards them, and in the deepest, smokiest voice I could summon up, I said: “I’ll pray too… For your goat.” ---
**Author:** ![Eternal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@Eternal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eternal)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-say-to-those-who-pray-for-you/199091/17 "2003-09-02T11:42:38Z")
I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-say-to-those-who-pray-for-you/199091/18 "2003-09-02T12:25:37Z")
Say in a very puzzled voice “Why?” Or, since it may be more your style “What the fuck?” ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Owes\_Bess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c37758/32.png) [@Alan\_Owes\_Bess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Owes_Bess)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-say-to-those-who-pray-for-you/199091/19 "2003-09-02T12:28:47Z")
Since you were the one who spontaneously decided to became an auditory toothache on innocent bystanders, you should say “Thank you.” to some someone thoughtful enough to say he would pray for you. For my part, I’d just fuggin’ drop ya and and ask you to mind your p’s and q’s, assuming you were still compos mentis. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-say-to-those-who-pray-for-you/199091/20 "2003-09-02T12:36:41Z")
I see that the sanity fairy still hasn’t come to visit, **Alan Owes Bess**. Maybe she’ll leave some Lithium under the pillow tonight. 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-say-to-those-who-pray-for-you/199091.md?page=2)