…or a Dollar for every time somebody,on learning that I come from Dublin, asks me if I know Bono I’d be rich.
Slan,
D. 
Do you?
PS
If I had a pound…
I’d pound in the morning
I’d pound in the evening,
All over this land!
It’s a pound of silver!
It’s the pound of…
Nope cannot think of more lines.
Does Bono know you?
Oh, 
I thought this was a thread about chocolate. 
Cheers,
Kathy 
OK- Where do we send the dollar?
dubh, you’ll have to play us a tune first 
I have far too many pounds. You’re welcome to them.
djm
When people learn that I’m a Quaker, they often ask me if I make oatmeal. It does get slightly annoying after you’ve been asked 20 times in one day. 
I think it’s one of those things where, in the words of Sinéad O’Connor, “There isn’t any [sastifactory] answer to the question, you only learn to live with it.”
You’re a Quaker? Really? What’s shakin’?
djm
I’m more properly an attender (as opposed to a member) but most people don’t understand the distinction anyway.
Something else that kinda gets at me is when people speak of Shakers as though they no longer exist, while there are 3 (I think) elderly Believers still living on the Shaker commune in Sabbath Day Lake, Maine.
The United Society Of Believers In Christ’s Second Appearing (aka Shakers) is not extinct (yet at least), and it never has been.
I think that would drive me over the Edge.
Have you tried singing ‘Lloyd George Knew My Father’ whenever asked that question?
I am aware that several bizarre Christian cults still exist, including the Quakers, Shakers and Forsakers. There’s that one that does wierd things with snakes - the Snakers? And then there’s that whole Bible-Belt trailer park thing in the south. Too silly to totally comprehend, but that’s for the Religion thread.
djm
For this reply, you should be banned for life and fined at least twenty million dollars (or however many pounds that equals, probably about 5 with current exchange rates).
djm, Quakers are a real mainstream Protestant denomination here. It would not be considered unusual for someone to be a Quaker. In my town there is a Quaker church (not the right name I’m sure) and it is not considered at all strange, in the way that snake handlers would be. In the places I have lived they were considered to be on the “liberal” end of the spectrum, if that makes sense.
Just reporting observations, not discussing beliefs, etc.
Cran, try beating them to the punch: “I’m a Quaker. Have you tried my oatmeal?”
Some Friends call themselves a “church” and others use “Meeting” (because “the church” has traditionally been reserved for meaning the whole body of Christians).
With 300,000-600,000 members all around the world, and a ~400 year history, I find the “cult” status of Friends hard to accept. And usually cults have leaders, whereas we have no leaders other than Christ. If I belong to a cult where Christ is my leader, then so be it. I’m a happy cultist, then. 
Anybody want some magic kool-aid? And I’ll also give you some oats with it! 
Yup, Quakers aren’t considered to be a cult, nor are they weird. They don’t have any bizarre outward appearances or activities, and their beliefs are pretty much mainstream.
They are, in fact, an exceptionally pleasant group famous for their good work along the lines of human justice, equality, peace, and education.
Gee, that was rude. The guy just told you he is one, and you insult him, based on an obvious lack of knowledge. Bad form.
Compared to most Protestant and Catholic groups which claim multiple millions of members, Quakers have always been small, but our numbers are far outweighed by our social influence.
We were one of the first groups to campaign against slavery and we have always afforded equal rights to women and non-women, too.
Today there is the American Friends Service Committee and the national political group whose name I forget. If Quakerism had a middle name, I think it would be “social work,” because we do a lot of it.
Last week at Meeting we had a thing where we collected goods to send to New Orleans, and we actually got A LOT of stuff to send. Some Friends gave more than they could afford to give, but they felt called to give it anyway, and I find that very admirable.
A lady spoke in Meeting to say, “Jesus didn’t ask us to petition our governments to help those in need, he told US to help them” and it nearly made me cry it affected me so deeply.
I’m rambling and I’ve threadjacked Dub’s thread. Sorry.
Hey Dubh, if you had a pound for every time you’ve been threadjacked I’d be sending you begging letters by now.