Curt Chiarelli
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 175
- Location
- California
Elaina said:Eh then you get things like the lovely family I had today.
Son and I went to the store so he could spend his allowance he saved up to buy this one item. We get to the store and went to park. I own an older, and ugly, car. This guy in a beamer sees me pulling in, and whips through the spot behind it and takes the ones I'm almost in, and he and his wife smirk at me.
So, we park in the spot he vacated. Now, this isn't a close spot, kind of middish. Family exits car, talkng about how much money they have and how great it is to take parking spots like that. It's a rush.
Son and I gather up to go inside, and hear all this. My windows are down (I'm a smoker, and it's a nice night) so it's crystal clear.
My son asks if this is a good reason to act that way. I tell him no. He then asks if money makes you act differently. I reply no and tell him that some people are so unhappy that they have to try to ruin other people's day. He watches them for a moment, and asks me if money makes it okay to not have manners. I tell him no again. He shakes his head and says "well they suck." So he opens the door, and the woman rushes to pass before he can get out and sighs loudly and tells him to move. I get out and bristle (because this is my baby, and you don't mess with my baby) and before I can say a word my son pops out, closes the door and tells her "I'm sorry you're in such a hurry that you have to be all grumpy and mean". She turns red and says "you have a rude <expletive deleted> brat." I replied "That's okay, you have debt to your eyeballs, a husband that has to prove his masculinity by being a jerk and the manners of a goat. I think I got the better end of the deal."
On the way in, my son asks me what's wrong with people. What do you tell them? "People suck" is about all I can say.
Elaina
Well Elaina, I can tell you right now, I don't think you'd like the Bay Area one bit - out here those types are as common as Black Angus meadow muffins in a cow pasture and just as appealing, too! And congratulations on giving them a piece of your mind! Matei is right: if everyone began standing up to these clowns we might actually engineer a society that's more civil and benevolent. Suffering in silence and appeasement-at-any-price is a losing proposition - for all concerned.