the church version of "what's your sign?"

so i was at a party last weekend with a bunch of church singles, and i was asked this question several times: "hi, what class are you in?" (for all you non-church-going heathens, that means what sunday school class.) side note: this is one of the reasons it is difficult for me to socialize with church singles (b/c some of them are socially awkward and have very little confidence) and one of the reasons i think the rest of the world is quickly put off by christians, but that's a WHOLE other blog topic (see 'ps' at bottom).

i must admit, the first time it was okay. my response all night was, "i'm not really in a class. i'm too non-committal." i thought it was a cute and fairly honest answer to a question that quickly became irritating. then i began to wonder why it bothered me so much (beyond my basic irritation with small talk). then i figured it out! it's the church version of the old cheesy bar entry lines: "hey, what's your sign?" or "are you a model?"

now guys, before you get all upset, i am aware that it takes confidence to walk up to a girl out of nowhere and start talking, and just beginning conversation with a stranger (especially a female one) is a very scary thing. but maybe there should be a book for guys on opening lines (specifically which ones NOT to use). lemme tell you, you can turn a girl off much more easily with an awkward overused opening line that is obviously just small talk than with something that may be awkward but is straight from the heart/honest. even if you use a cheesy opening line but you do it with humor and flare, you may be able to get away with it b/c it reveals part of your personality. but just some random opening line that says nothing about you? it actually says volumes about you, and all boring.

wow, brutally honest. is it any wonder why i'm single?? why would anyone ever come talk to me? hmmmm, maybe that's why i get more attention in foreign countries and up north. hehehe...

ps...no offense meant to anyone who was at the afforementioned party and used that intro line, although no one i know (ie, who knows me) who reads this should be offended.