You don't HAVE to be nice!

I'm pretty sure this is where I'm having trouble. Getting out of the "be nice and pleasant to everyone" thing. Especially since it's someone that I have to be in the same tiny room with for several hours each day. (Well, except today. I stayed home today, to work on getting financial aid forms filled out and cleaning my apartment. So far, I've done neither.)

Steph, not a copyright expert, but I think it's more a contract issue. And whether he has a leg to stand on depends on the language in the contract.

That said, I'm also not sure I see where he has any damages. But again, the language of the contract may have something to say about that.

If it were me, I'd take the wimpy route and just be so very busy every time he asked a stupid/offensive question.

That might work with Steph's idiot writer too.

I'm pretty sure this is where I'm having trouble. Getting out of the "be nice and pleasant to everyone" thing.

Yeah, that's a hard habit to break. But it needs to be done. And just because you give him the cold shoulder when he's being an asshole doesn't mean you can't be pleasant to him when he's not. He needs to learn that you're not going to put up with his shit, whether it's intentional or not.

At this point, to be honest, I'm with tommyrot.

I'm with tommy and JZ.

Just came back from doctor. Turned out issue was a renegade internal stitch that had come loose and was attempting to fight for freedom. Doc went in, pulled it out, probed around the incision some more to make sure no other upstart stitches were attempting same and sent me on my way with instructions to rest and keep the wound dry.

Now I'm sore, cranky, and wondering why the hell this thing didn't show up before Monday when I had my scheduled appointment.

Oh, just kill him

Seriously. It would be a mitzvah.

I think you actually can shut him down while still being nice. Just say something like, "Dude, I can tell you are interested in Judaism, and that's cool, but I just don't feel comfortable answering your questions. Here is a website [insert good website of your choice] which is a good one for this stuff." If he says he would rather ask you, or he is just making conversation or anything, go back to, "It makes me uncomfortable." From now on, any time he asks a cultural/religious question, just smile and say "check the site."

Scrappy FTW!

Barb, sorry about the renegade stitch but glad it was a fairly easy fix. Take it easy, you! Though I know it's against your nature, stop trying to do everything.

I'm constantly grateful for both my parents. There is no one I respect more than them. I was closer to my mother; I think my dad and I are possibly too similar. (I noticed this especially travelling through Europe with first D and then M.) I still miss my mother.

Such a nice thing to read. Congrats on your well-timed lay-off; that little baby is going to be very lucky.

Oooh. Scrappy is wise.