Hotels and Bibles
Why is it that the vast majority of hotels have Bibles in each room?
On a recent visit to the United States, not only was there a Bible in my room, but also The Book of Mormon.
Essentially the hotel industry is saying: "We'd like to share and spread ignorance, fear and superstition among the masses."
I believe hotels really should keep to only one message, and that is in regards to the quality of their accommodations and facilities. I would question whether commercial industries are qualified enough in making comment on spirituality and how to live life. It would be like your doctor explaining the health benefits of smoking.
If they must insist on sharing something philosophical, I think as an alternative they should also stock a copy of Carl Sagan's: "Demon Haunted World" as an alternative.
Demon Haunted World is an excellent book that questions much of what we as humans believe and why we believe it. It is a great guide on critical thinking, on how to ask questions and evaluate ourselves and the universe. It fosters the seeds of intellectual curiosity like no other book I've read.
I would call on the Planetary Society to fund a program to spread books like this through the hotel and travel industries.
At a the beginning of a recent conference I attended, we were each asked in turn to share something personal about ourselves.
I always find these round table situations fascinating with what people like to share.
Invariably it's always the same thing...
"Hi, I'm Doug and I have three kids."
It's like announcing: "Hi, I have bred".
Stating a fact that almost all humans on the planet share as a personal piece of data is not a personal revelation. What we're looking for is something unique about your personality. Breeding is not as unique as it should be.
Statements that also share something which is generally more than obvious to the audience such as "I like to eat" or "I'm bald" also don't count unless there is a interesting reason explaining why.
Let me provide some clarifying examples for those of you who may be clueless or unimaginative:
Feel free to share your musical or culinary tastes, what instruments or games you like to play, your special skills: be it cooking, crafting, or how you can bend your knees backwards... and so forth.
Alternatively, just for fun, make up a bunch of crap or make an unusual statements that will confuse and spark (preferably both) some interesting conversation after you leave. The personal examples in the table above are a good start, but here's some more:
"All hail Xorton and His New World Order!"
"The voices! The voices! They're telling me to dance again!" (Then, busta move... badly)**
"My favourite meal is cloves and Tom Collins mix in a frozen pie crust."***
"Gerbal attack, gerbal attack!" (Then hide under the table.)
I double dog dare you.
*Is anyone interested in learning more or joining?
** How many people ever expected to see that word on this blog?
**Anyone get that reference?
Why is it that the vast majority of hotels have Bibles in each room?
On a recent visit to the United States, not only was there a Bible in my room, but also The Book of Mormon.
Essentially the hotel industry is saying: "We'd like to share and spread ignorance, fear and superstition among the masses."
I believe hotels really should keep to only one message, and that is in regards to the quality of their accommodations and facilities. I would question whether commercial industries are qualified enough in making comment on spirituality and how to live life. It would be like your doctor explaining the health benefits of smoking.
If they must insist on sharing something philosophical, I think as an alternative they should also stock a copy of Carl Sagan's: "Demon Haunted World" as an alternative.
Demon Haunted World is an excellent book that questions much of what we as humans believe and why we believe it. It is a great guide on critical thinking, on how to ask questions and evaluate ourselves and the universe. It fosters the seeds of intellectual curiosity like no other book I've read.
I would call on the Planetary Society to fund a program to spread books like this through the hotel and travel industries.
***
Let's Share!At a the beginning of a recent conference I attended, we were each asked in turn to share something personal about ourselves.
I always find these round table situations fascinating with what people like to share.
Invariably it's always the same thing...
"Hi, I'm Doug and I have three kids."
It's like announcing: "Hi, I have bred".
Stating a fact that almost all humans on the planet share as a personal piece of data is not a personal revelation. What we're looking for is something unique about your personality. Breeding is not as unique as it should be.
Statements that also share something which is generally more than obvious to the audience such as "I like to eat" or "I'm bald" also don't count unless there is a interesting reason explaining why.
Let me provide some clarifying examples for those of you who may be clueless or unimaginative:
| Not Personal | Personal |
|---|---|
| I have children | I like to shag as often as possible in various locations and postitions |
| I clip my toenails | I save my toenail clippings in a big jar |
| I am missing organs | I cut off my own testicles (personal, but too much so) |
| I am bald | I got my head stuck in a belt sander... three times |
| I'm religous/spiritual | I worship in the First Church of Xorton* |
Feel free to share your musical or culinary tastes, what instruments or games you like to play, your special skills: be it cooking, crafting, or how you can bend your knees backwards... and so forth.
Alternatively, just for fun, make up a bunch of crap or make an unusual statements that will confuse and spark (preferably both) some interesting conversation after you leave. The personal examples in the table above are a good start, but here's some more:
"All hail Xorton and His New World Order!"
"The voices! The voices! They're telling me to dance again!" (Then, busta move... badly)**
"My favourite meal is cloves and Tom Collins mix in a frozen pie crust."***
"Gerbal attack, gerbal attack!" (Then hide under the table.)
I double dog dare you.
*Is anyone interested in learning more or joining?
** How many people ever expected to see that word on this blog?
**Anyone get that reference?
Putting something other than a christian type bible is too radical for The Planetary Society at this point. We need to start a guerrilla operation of putting the books in place on our own first and recruit others as we go. Then perhaps after we've been run out of town a few times and/or other ritual hazings, then we might be able to get such bigger funding and get them more wide spread.
ReplyDeleteIntro lines are just so fun
"I compete for finding new bugs"
"I like proving I'm insane, my job is to secure networks"
"I'm Tagons Tough 811" (as I plunk down my challenge coin)
"I am on the quest to find the holy book of Xorton"
*** Dooh!