Life has been so interesting since I moved to Payson. But today tops the cake. Ben had the day off, so I thought I would run some errands, stop by the library and the grocery store. This is what happened at the library.
There is a note on the door. It says that all city offices will be closed at 1:00pm today. My thought is... wow... it is noon, let's hurry then. And I was glad we stopped there before the store.
We get into the library (a supposed quiet space) and hear a gentleman loudly "discussing" his disgust of the library closing at 1. I say nothing (surprise, huh). The guy was arguing with the library worker about how they shouldn't be wasting our money to have a party. He was asking her all sorts of personal questions, if she got paid for it... if she received a bonus... etc. She chose to try and ignore him and help the person trying to check out her books.
After listening to him for a few minutes... I spoke up. I told him that this wasn't the time or the place for these kinds of "statements". And if he had a concern about what the city was doing, he should take that up with them.
He started attacking me... saying I was supporting the trillion dollar deficit. And that it was so unfair that these employees were getting a paid party (by his assumption) and that we were all footing the bill.
I told him that individual opinions were not the point, that this was a public space and he was causing a scene, which would gain him anything. If you have a problem with something a corporation is doing, you don't yell at or take it out on the receptionists.
He said that he had to take a stand for something he didn't believe in.
Which I told him was just fine, but there is an appropriate time and place for it... not here and not now... and that all he was accomplishing was looking like a jerk.
At that point he stepped up, into my face and told me I was the jerk (spitting while he talked).
I was concerned that he might actually hit me.
I am not a political person. I don't get involved in needless debates. I have my opinion and you can have yours. But I do draw the line at attacking people over it. Take it to the place you need to make a change. Take it to the council, the mayor... the president... etc. Leave the minnions alone!
5 comments:
I think most people with their "causes" often are just bullies looking to stir a little trouble up.
I'm glad you took a stand and didn't let him get away with abusing people.
So, did it end there? Were the police called? Those are the times a taser or pepper spray would be useful. :)
Surprisingly he sulked away... because I didn't back down or agree with him. He was the biggest jerk I have met yet. People won't remember what he said... just that he was a jerk about it.
I'm glad you said something. i can't believe he was so rude to that clerk! If he has real complaints about government spending, the library is probably not the place of attack. At least in PG, most of the library employees are highly qualified and under compensated. I'm talking about women with masters degrees who are earning less than the kids at McDonalds. Anyway, I agree that he chose an ineffective and rude way to make his point (which I very much disagree with.)
Way to go, Melanee! I totally agree with you and can't stand people like that. I don't think he was standing up for what he believed in, he was just looking for an outlet to pick on someone. What a jerk! I honestly don't understand where on earth some people are coming from. Get over yourselves! (not you, him!)
I'm guess the librarians were grateful someone stepped up. No one should be treated like that. I admire you for standing your ground.
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