To think this person was trying to hint at something

[gogogwen]

I've name changed because if I am being paranoid I don't want abuse.

I recently bought an advent calendar for my child that wasn't obviously Christmas themed. I see lots of people using it to countdown Chanukah and I wanted to do the same. I thought the entire calendar was so cool that I reached out to thank the creators for such a wonderful product. Their email reply back was quite nice but then in their last paragraph they wrote:
Last week a Muslim mother wrote to tell me that her family would be using our calendar as a countdown for Ramadan :) and to me that confirms a really nice thing - that it can be used to count down to any celebration!

The company is Spanish and so I assume the owner is too. It's the smiley face. I have nothing against Muslims, but I wonder if the person wrote it to hint - see, they're just like you, don't harbour any bad feelings. Or even, trying to put me off their company?

Is it me, or just why would they even write that?

No, it isn't.

FWIW I'm close to a number of moderate Israelis. They agree with what I said. They have also said to me that they don't make noise because you just get shouted down, and called antisemitic (as a Jewish Israeli living in TA).

It's gone mad, and is frankly shooting the whole of Judaism in the arse.

I used to work for several luxury brands and their clients - we always tried to be inclusive any way possible, because it looked good with the public and attracted more customers, honestly how can you not figure that out; the company just wants to appeal to a lot of people.

Because it's a major faith like Judaism and Christianity? Because the person who contacted them was Muslim?

Would you seriously be discouraged from buying something just because Muslims might buy it? That wouldn't leave you much choice, would it?

This. People amaze me these days with the things they find issue with. If this is all you have to concern you then you are extremely privileged

I guess the thread will be deleted by tomorrow 🤔

Wow. You're so annoyed and triggered by a smiley face and a note that people of all faiths can enjoy something which you enjoyed - and in fact which YOU already pegged as being multi-faith.

I'm so sick of Muslims being brought into absolutely everything when the majority just want to get along quietly.

"I have nothing against Muslims BUUUUTT"

OK, buddy.

I think you’re being paranoid and reading into things too much to create issues that don’t exist

It’s possible English isn’t the owner’s first language and that they aren’t aware of your specific cultural issues. To them, they were just responding to your anecdote with another anecdote in a conversational manner as opposed to trying to neg you. It’s sad that they were probably seeing it as a happy customer exchange, whereas you’re twisting a smiley face into racism.

also for what it’s worth, I had no idea what Chanukah was or what cultures it’s associated with, so it’s totally possible they didn’t even make a negative connection between you and Muslims, it’s not really something you presume about people

lol what on earth is this. you can’t be serious surely?

Think they mis-clicked.

So both Jews and Muslims are now adopting what are essentially Christian traditions? How nice and I genuinely mean this. It demonstrates a small level of recognition and tolerance of a faith other than ones own.

I think what they wrote came from a good place and I very much doubt that someone from a non-denominarional advent calendar company would go about making snide comments like that.

I think this is definitely a microagression.

When dealing with Protestant customers would you make a random mention about Catholicism?
When dealing with an Argentinian customer would you draw special attention to the fact you were English?
When dealing a Conservative customer would you draw attention to something to do with Labour?
When dealing with a German customer would you mention the war?

The answers: No, No, No and No again. You'd recognise it as controversial territory and you'd stay well clear because that's what you do when you are serving members of the public who may have different world views to your own and you don't want to upset them.

And as for those who say that the person might no be aware of the situation in the Middle East. Really?!? It's been going on for while now (60 years or so)

99% think I’m wrong but one person accidentally clicked YANBU so I must be riiiiiiiight!!!!!

The poster was being micro aggressive too then right? Because she bought a calendar (Christian) and used it for a Jewish celebration 🤷‍♀️ and made sure to tell them…that’s the insane logic you’ve presented

Ffs the company was saying ‘wow that’s great that we are able to reach so many people regardless of faith’

This is nuts!!!

Do we think the Russian AI centres are starting to get back up and running? We had quite a peaceful week without them this last week.

I think the smiley face is passive aggressive This article agrees

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/aug/11/dont-put-on-a-happy-face-are-you-using-the-smiley-emoji-all-wrong

@LivingForTheWinter Why do you think it's nuts?

I think this is factually incorrect.

There are more Hindus and Buddhists in the world than Jews so not sure if Judaism is one of the 3 biggest faiths.

It's you......

And that is how I read it. They just used ‘Muslim mother’ as an example. I think you are reading something into this that is just not there.

Come off it! They used possibly the only other example they have of someone moved to "reach out to thank them" who is also using the calendar to countdown to a religious festival that isn't Christmas. I can see why you might feel vulnerable at the moment but I'm 100% sure that there is nothing hidden in their reply to you.

Haven’t read all of the thread but want to send you some support OP.
It does sound a rather odd ad on.
I think it would have been odd to say to the Muslim lady that a Jewish person had also used the calendar!
If they felt the need to mention it why not say ‘people of different faiths/ backgrounds are using it which has really impressed us’ etc.

I am embarrassed for you reading this.

Tbh it wouldn't even occur to me that a Jewish person could be 'antagonised' by the mention that a Muslim person loved the same product,nevermind that it might turn them off using the brand because Muslims use it too. I'm fully aware of what is going on in the middle east but that doesn't mean that I would assume that Jewish people are anti Muslim.

To me it just reads like them giving an example of someone else who has also used the product in a non traditional way to say that you aren't alone in using our product that way, others do the same.