Linger Longers
Ah, another chance to reminisce…to state my thesis simply: linger longers rock.
I only really started thinking about them because of my reading of Dead Seriously, where Scott mentioned it (in context of his calling as Ward Fellowshipping Chair — haha, my ward isn’t big enough for one of those). (Speaking of which, I do believe this article counts as gravedigging…this is such an old article that reference such an old article from Dead Seriously too).
My ward wasn’t necessarily too diligent in pulling these things off…they were much like a family who resolves to do family home evening but falls by the wayside after a few attempts…or someone who resolves to read the Book of Mormon cover to cover but never gets too far (but I can attest that after doing this a few times, 1 and 2nd Nephi become rather familiar books of scripture.) So that was like my ward…we’d do it for a week of each month, for maybe three months, and then…stop…and eventually it would get brought up as a fellowshipping initiative and would happen.
Why did I like it? Was it so I could “fellowship” and socialize? Uh…can’t say so — I’m not much for fellowshipping. But since my dad seemed to find a way to stay hours late after church every time he went, it was a good thing to have something to eat or do. I would’ve rather gone home immediately after church, and that’s kinda what I did when I learned (and then my brother learned) how to drive.
The massive varieties and amounts of jello and chili were quite delicious, when the people cooking them realized that spice and sugar are good things. But then again, some people think that lemon and fruit and things like that are the only sweetening we need.
SUGAR. SUGAR IS ALL NATURAL. USE IT. (lots)
But it gives me a fuzzy feeling inside :3.
Sorry, though, I can’t offer any tips about bringing together multiple socioeconomic groups.
The Irresistible (Dis)Grace 
Truth is, married Mormon adults with kids just don’t get much opportunity to chat with each other. This is one area where our “focus on the family” comes in to bite us. We focus so much on our family that we don’t have any other relationships.
The standard young married dude with a couple kids in Elders Quorum gets a pretty clear message that he’s supposed to work hard, and any spare moment he has outside that MUST be spent with his wife and kids.
There’s really no room to socialize with anyone outside that.
This is why walking the halls with a kid during classes is actually popular. It’s a stealth way to socialize. Same with the “foyer crowd” – those same four people you always see parked on the foyer couches gabbing away rather than going to class. Some people do the same thing via ward choir (though not usually a lot of guys). Nursery is another popular way for an adult to skip class and socialize with another person their age and station. The librarian calling can also work in some instances.
It’s the same reason my dad, as Executive Secretary, had to make a point of keeping his bishopric on-task during bishopric meetings. Left to their own devices, those guys would have gabbed for a full 3 hours straight about football and hunting before making a shot at ward business. Basically, they were starving for a little social interaction with peers.
Thing is, we aren’t really encouraged to socialize in the LDS paradigm. So any event that gives us another excuse to do so is often more than welcome.
hmm…I hadn’t thought too hard about it like that, but you’re right (down to the foyer dwellers and the bishoprics that are prone to gab instead of do real business).
it’s interesting that socialization would be what gets pushed out when many people can conceptualize some people using the church as the primary place to build a social network
>>someone who resolves to read the Book of Mormon cover to cover but never gets too far (but I can attest that after doing this a few times, 1 and 2nd Nephi become rather familiar books of scripture.)
Ha! I’m not even LDS, and I can testify to that!
>>SUGAR. SUGAR IS ALL NATURAL. USE IT.
I’ve been hearing really bad things about Splenda lately. And of course, Aspartame still turns into phermaldahyde in your brain. So I have to agree: good old fashioned sugar is still the way to go. 😉
Andrew, Andrew, Andrew… (envision me shaking my head side to side, with a condescending look on my face),
Linger Longers do not rock. Linger Longers need to go. I kind of want to justify my stance with a long, drawn out argument, but I just can’t muster the strength. Linger Longers have sapped every bit of desire to attend ward functions out of me.
I guess perhaps more precise to say would be to say that linger longers rock for people who 1) aren’t involved in the setting up or organization of them and 2) who would be forced to remain at church even if they were no linger longer.
When the choice is to linger longer with no food or to linger longer with food, one is clearly better.
>When the choice is to linger longer with no food or to linger longer with food, one is clearly better.
Well, yeah…I guess if you peel off all the veneer and put it that way, sure: Food > No Food.