People can be so mean - will someone be nice to me?

[freak]

This morning I was in a drive-thru at a very busy restaurant. This particular place has a very limited property footprint and gets - shall we say, creative - with its parking spaces. It's amazing how many spaces they manage to fit on the premesis. The problem with this is that a number of the parking spaces end up being blocked by cars in the drive thru, so that when you're ready to pull out, people in the drive thru have to be nice and let you out.

SO, I have no problem with this. I actually try to let people out whenever I can. And this morning was no different. There was a lady in a mini van waiting to back out, so when the cars moved forward, since there was no one behind me, I actually backed up to let her out. She gave me a nice little wave and went on her way.

Meanwhile, other cars are pulling in behind me in the drive thru line. No problem, I can move ahead now, and I do. And just as I get to the "no turning back point," I see that there was another, smaller car on the other side of the mini van that also wanted to back out. I couldn't see him before, and it was too late for me to back up and let him out too. I felt bad, but I had at least three cars behind me now. There was no way I could get out of his way.

I looked up with an expression of apology and saw that the guy was obviously hurling violent verbal abuse my way, which made me feel even worse, because it was an honest mistake, and certainly not personal. Fortunately I was in a position where I didn't have to sit with him in my direct line of sight.

When the line moved forward again and he was able to back out, he passed me on the way out of the parking lot, slowed down to glare back at me and mouth a few more choice insults. And in the passenger seat, I could see a young boy, about ten, grinning away at the antics of the adult.

It made me so sad. The man was so angry about something so minor, and he chose to assume that I had intentionally blocked him in out of spite, rather than giving me the benefit of the doubt. And on top of all that, he was providing a dismal example for the boy in his care of how to handle a situation that doesn't go your way.

I've been pondering the incident all morning, and I have to admit, it tinged what started out as a good day with negativity.

So here I sit, kinda bummed. Would someone tell me something good that happened to them so I can have some positive energy to help dispel my own frustration? If not, do you have a similar tale that will at least make me feel like I'm not alone?

Oh..asshole drivers! Let me share my experience with them..or at least me and my Dad's! So, ok, I went one day with Dad to Kroger's to get a few things for my Aunt's resturant. There was this older gentleman in a fairly nice ride who apparantly couldn't drive or maneuver the car to save his life. Well, he was actually blaming Dad for HIS problem..all huffing, puffing and screaming obscenities at us. THEN, Dad preceeds to turn down the window and say something like: "sir, if you haven't learned how to drive yet then you need to be getting on home". The guy got all pissed off and screamed for the whole world to hear him at the top of his lungs: GO TO HELL!!!!!!!!! Now that I look back at it, I have to laugh, cause this guy could not manuever himself in the parking lot to save his life. But at the same time, I kinda got on to Dad because he shouldn't have turned down his window and called back at the guy. Two wrongs never made a right! But now that I look back at it, it makes me laugh cause it was funny how the guy was all huffy and puffy that day..kicking and swearing obscenities because he was too stupid to drive his car around the parking lot correctly.

 

[sidious618]

I like to smile and wave, too, so long as I have room to drive away in case the person turns out to be Tony Soprano.

 

[jamestyler]

I have a habit of making situations like that worse. If someones rude to me, I'm rude right back at them.

An example being one time at a crossing the lights started flashing to indicate that if the roads clear, the driver can go. The road wasn't clear, there was a group of people still crossing (myself included) and a driver who'd stopped for all of three seconds stred revving his engine and beeping.

I stopped. Lit a cigarette, gave a cheery wave and waited until the lights changed to move.

I stumble across some really nice people in this city, some will even stop me for a chat about the oddest of things, but the little things bug the hell out of me. Impolite and impatient drivers being one - especially those who completely forget to indicate or will try and rush through lights despite the fact I'm with a two year old.

I even get glares from some people when I hold a door open for them. Or other people pushing through as if it's my job to stand there all day and let people through.

 

[John Picard]

This morning, while taking my son to school, I turned down the last street to discover a "Road Closed" sign and a backhoe parked behind it. There was enough room I could drive down, which I did, followed by another vehicle, while ahead of me were two boys, one of whom scoots along in a wheel chair. He "drives" it with his feet, and my son commented that he thinks the boy has a weak back or something like that. Anyway, we hit the cross street, and the boy in the wheel chair stopped. Enough of the pavement was torn up, creating a shelf approx 3" tall, that he wasn't certain if he could cross the street, or how. He backed to the curb (mind you there's still a lot of snow piled on curbs and streets here) and waited for me to pass. I rolled down my window and asked if he needed help. He stated he wasn't sure how he could cross the street, so I parked the truck, jumped out, and after a quick survey told him "HANG ON!" and scooted him across some loose gravel and onto level pavement. "There you go", and he thanked me. Meanwhile, the person in the vehicle behind me had grown impatient, with two boys (teens) jumping out of the vehicle and just running past, while the driver backed down the street. I told my son I thought that was pathetic and stated that he should make an effort to be nice to those like that boy, who sometimes need help. He asked why I didn't just send him out to help, and I just razzed him that he would have had trouble scooting the wheel chair over the rough pavement, would have spilled the other boy out of his chair, and then run off crying while I would end up being shamed by him.

Seriously, it pisses me off when "normal" people act like handicapped persons are a burden or a barrier.

 

[RandyS]

This morning, while taking my son to school, I turned down the last street to discover a "Road Closed" sign and a backhoe parked behind it. There was enough room I could drive down, which I did, followed by another vehicle, while ahead of me were two boys, one of whom scoots along in a wheel chair. He "drives" it with his feet, and my son commented that he thinks the boy has a weak back or something like that. Anyway, we hit the cross street, and the boy in the wheel chair stopped. Enough of the pavement was torn up, creating a shelf approx 3" tall, that he wasn't certain if he could cross the street, or how. He backed to the curb (mind you there's still a lot of snow piled on curbs and streets here) and waited for me to pass. I rolled down my window and asked if he needed help. He stated he wasn't sure how he could cross the street, so I parked the truck, jumped out, and after a quick survey told him "HANG ON!" and scooted him across some loose gravel and onto level pavement. "There you go", and he thanked me. Meanwhile, the person in the vehicle behind me had grown impatient, with two boys (teens) jumping out of the vehicle and just running past, while the driver backed down the street. I told my son I thought that was pathetic and stated that he should make an effort to be nice to those like that boy, who sometimes need help. He asked why I didn't just send him out to help, and I just razzed him that he would have had trouble scooting the wheel chair over the rough pavement, would have spilled the other boy out of his chair, and then run off crying while I would end up being shamed by him.

Seriously, it pisses me off when "normal" people act like handicapped persons are a burden or a barrier.

Speaking as a handicapped person who has in fact, been called both to my face (once by own brother), and as somebody who has been in that kid's position once or twice, I thank you on his behalf.

A few years back, I was going down the street near my house in my own wheelchair, and when I got to the railroad crossing, I didn't notice that a section of the pavement right at the edge had caved in, and on contact I pitched forward out of my wheelchair, on to the tracks, and as this happened, the bell went off and the barrier started to come down, and a train was headed right for me. Luckily, I can walk just a little, and well, suffice it to say I never moved so fast in my life. Just as I was picking myself up however, the barrier somehow caught the edge of my wheelchair, lifting it off the ground, and smacking me in the ass, knocking me back onto the tracks. I picked myself up again, and as the train passed within an foot or so of me, I stood there, slightly in shock, leaning against the guard rail, trying to free my chair, when this fellow jumped out of his pickup, helped me get my chair loose, then without even asking, loaded it into this truck, helped me inside, and asked me where I lived (we were two blocks from my house), drove me home, and helped me get inside with my groceries. I thanked him, and tried to offer him something to drink, but he just said no thanks and went on his way.

It was about 2 weeks later, while on another grocery run that I noticed the sidewalk where I had my spill had been repaved.

 

[Sakrysta]

Thanks guys! I appreciate reading that there are still people in the world who are not only patient, but even considerate enough to go out of their way to help strangers. I know this, deep down inside, but occasional evidence is nice.

 

[Snaploud]

I sometimes think there are people whose sole purpose is to drive around making angry faces at people (pedestrians, other drivers, dogs, cats, etc.).

Anyway, try not to let it get to you. I think it's partly just the shock of going from 'minding your own business' to somebody acting as if you've run over their two-year-old. It's a little bit like narrowly avoiding a car crash. It takes a little while to calm down.