Sorry…. but NO.
The “righteousness” of what Betty did could be debated, I suppose…
some here would call it just retribution.
Others, like me, believe that everyone fighting rudeness with greater rudeness merely adds to the sad, ongoing disintegration of manners and society.
Don’t get me wrong… I would say… and actually have said … something, like “please keep your distance.”
Possibly… even probably… ineffective, but it’s my job to model decency…. not to police people or get “even” …
or to escalate every conflict in my life.
But whether or not you support her intention, her action…
all alone, using loud noises that make some people severely agitated…
Mocking and provoking an obviously bad-tempered person at close range…
someone who easily might have the strength to overcome her physically,
and who could well be armed and/or crazy…
Whoa… THAT seems incredibly stupid and dangerous.
If she ended up in the hospital, she’d be telling the police, and anyone who would listen, that she was “attacked” or “assaulted.”
And she’d take NO responsibility for the reason.
After all… he had already committed the heinous crime of brushing past her on the sidewalk.
Yes, he’d be in the wrong… assault is correctly a crime…
But please… let’s not all act as though provocation to assault has become admirable.
Sorry…. but NO.
The “righteousness” of what Betty did could be debated, I suppose…
some here would call it just retribution.
Others, like me, believe that everyone fighting rudeness with greater rudeness merely adds to the sad, ongoing disintegration of manners and society.
Don’t get me wrong… I would say… and actually have said … something, like “please keep your distance.”
Possibly… even probably… ineffective, but it’s my job to model decency…. not to police people or get “even” …
or to escalate every conflict in my life.
But whether or not you support her intention, her action…
all alone, using loud noises that make some people severely agitated…
Mocking and provoking an obviously bad-tempered person at close range…
someone who easily might have the strength to overcome her physically,
and who could well be armed and/or crazy…
Whoa… THAT seems incredibly stupid and dangerous.
If she ended up in the hospital, she’d be telling the police, and anyone who would listen, that she was “attacked” or “assaulted.”
And she’d take NO responsibility for the reason.
After all… he had already committed the heinous crime of brushing past her on the sidewalk.
Yes, he’d be in the wrong… assault is correctly a crime…
But please… let’s not all act as though provocation to assault has become admirable.