Run-in with a jerk

[senior chef]

Yesterday, while riding on a public bus on my way back from the supermarket, I had a near violent confrontation with a jerk.
I had my small wheeled hand cart with me and it was filled with groceries. The hand cart was PARTIALLY in the aisle but there was plenty of room for people to move passed. A 20 something black man got on and he wanted to go to the back of the bus. He could easily have edged passed but he demanded that I move the basket to near the exit. I told him, "Just walk passed" he shouted at me and he grabbed my little basket. I held on to my basket. He moved up into my face still shouting. I said "leave me alone, WALK PASSED." He pressed the issue and looked like he was getting ready to be violent.
I stood up and said, as I TOWERED over him, "You want to hit me ? Go ahead. I'll put you in the hospital."

If that passenger had been handicapped or loaded down with packages, I'd have moved my little wheeled basket to the exit area. BUT, not for a jerk.

 

[Lee]

Why is it necessary for you mention that the man was black? Just curious.

 

[Pepper]

Why is it necessary for you mention that the man was black? Just curious.

Here's why:
"When it comes to comparing Christianity with Islam, one thing is without doubt. We do not see Christians flying jet planes into buildings filled with people." said he in Diva's thread.

He had a run-in with a jerk when he looked in a mirror. Yet, his cooking threads are nice.

 

[senior chef]

Why is it necessary for you mention that the man was black? Just curious.

Probably for the same reason I'd have mentioned if he had numerous facial tattoos.

 

[win231]

I don't know how old you are, but you didn't handle the situation very wisely. These days, people are much-more prone to violence. People have been killed over such petty disputes. You really want to fight with a 20 year old? As we age, we need to be more smart than macho.

 

[senior chef]

Here's why:
"When it comes to comparing Christianity with Islam, one thing is without doubt. We do not see Christians flying jet planes into buildings filled with people." said he in Diva's thread.

He had a run-in with a jerk when he looked in a mirror. Yet, his cooking threads are nice.

How sweet of you to say that.

 

[Pepper]

How sweet of you to say that.

I wish I didn't have to, as in many ways you seem like a nice, interesting person.

 

[senior chef]

I don't know how old you are, but you didn't handle the situation very wisely. These days, people are much-more prone to violence. People have been killed over such petty disputes. You really want to fight with a 20 year old? As we age, we need to be more smart than macho.

You are probably right. But I have a really, really hard time knuckling under, whenever someone tries to intimidate me.

 

[senior chef]

I wish I didn't have to, as in many ways you seem like a nice, interesting person.

Yet you honestly thought it was necessary to call me a jerk ?

 

[jujube]

"Discretion is the better part of valor".

You seem to have a bit of a chip on your shoulder. In today's violent society, you may be in the right but this could lead to your being "dead" right.

 

[senior chef]

"Discretion is the better part of valor".

You seem to have a bit of a chip on your shoulder. In today's violent society, you may be in the right but this could lead to your being "dead" right.

Maybe so, but I have always lived by the motto, "It is better to die on your feet, than to live on your knees."

 

[Knight]

If that passenger had been handicapped or loaded down with packages, I'd have moved my little wheeled basket to the exit area. BUT, not for a jerk.

Was the exit area open enough so that exiting would not be a problem for other passengers? If so as a matter of courtesy why not out of anticipating what other passengers might need put your cart there in the 1st. place?

 

[Buckeye]

Yesterday, while riding on a public bus on my way back from the supermarket, I had a near violent confrontation with a jerk.
I had my small wheeled hand cart with me and it was filled with groceries. The hand cart was PARTIALLY in the aisle but there was plenty of room for people to move passed. A 20 something black man got on and he wanted to go to the back of the bus. He could easily have edged passed but he demanded that I move the basket to near the exit. I told him, "Just walk passed" he shouted at me and he grabbed my little basket. I held on to my basket. He moved up into my face still shouting. I said "leave me alone, WALK PASSED." He pressed the issue and looked like he was getting ready to be violent.
I stood up and said, as I TOWERED over him, "You want to hit me ? Go ahead. I'll put you in the hospital."

If that passenger had been handicapped or loaded down with packages, I'd have moved my little wheeled basket to the exit area. BUT, not for a jerk.

I'm with you on this one. Being old should not make us a target for harassment, and this young man, regardless of his color, was most likely harassing you because he thought you were an easy target. I'm old as hell, but I will still get in their face if I need to.

 

[senior chef]

Was the exit area open enough so that exiting would not be a problem for other passengers? If so as a matter of courtesy why not out of anticipating what other passengers might need put your cart there in the 1st. place?

If I had done so, I'd have blocked the exit. In any event, I need to hang on to the cart (it has wheels) so that it does not go running down the aisle.
The man in question wanted to throw his weight around. He met the wrong guy.

 

[Pepper]

The man in question wanted to throw his weight around. He met the wrong guy.

Now, see? We have this in common. If anyone jumps ahead of the line in front of me they are in for the surprise of their life. I also don't take crap, and am confident in the results. I can fight to the death, and Look! I'm still here.

 

[senior chef]

I'm with you on this one. Being old should not make us a target for harassment, and this young man, regardless of his color, was most likely harassing you because he thought you were an easy target. I'm old as hell, but I will still get in their face if I need to.

Good for you, buddy. You sound like the kind of man I most respect.

 

[Knight]

If I had done so, I'd have blocked the exit. In any event, I need to hang on to the cart (it has wheels) so that it does not go running down the aisle.
The man in question wanted to throw his weight around. He met the wrong guy.

That doesn't make sense to me.

You say
Quote
"If that passenger had been handicapped or loaded down with packages, I'd have moved my little wheeled basket to the exit area. BUT, not for a jerk."

Now you say
If I had done so, I'd have blocked the exit.

I'm not trying to be difficult just trying to understand why taking a chance of unexpected violence that could easily involve a gun or knife warranted such a confrontation.

Nothing would have happened if you moved the cart, you would still be the same.

 

[senior chef]

Why is it necessary for you mention that the man was black? Just curious.

Just for general interest, I am very pro-BLM. If I see a cop, harassing a black person, I will film it and report the cop.

 

[Pepper]

A complicated man.

 

[Della]

I don't know how old you are, but you didn't handle the situation very wisely. These days, people are much-more prone to violence. People have been killed over such petty disputes. You really want to fight with a 20 year old? As we age, we need to be more smart than macho.

I agree with Win. (Yes, Hell must have frozen over -- climate change I guess.)

That young man might have had a knife or punched you in the face and done real damage.

I've learned something from reading this board every day and it's that People Be Crazy! Someone was tailgating me last week and to show my irritation I slowed waaay down. Then I remembered all the road rage incidents I've read about here, thought about the gun he might have had in his glove box, and quit playing games.

 

[Tish]

Yeah, nuh, not touching this one, I respectfully bow out.

 

[senior chef]

That doesn't make sense to me.

You say
Quote
"If that passenger had been handicapped or loaded down with packages, I'd have moved my little wheeled basket to the exit area. BUT, not for a jerk."

Now you say
If I had done so, I'd have blocked the exit.

I'm not trying to be difficult just trying to understand why taking a chance of unexpected violence that could easily involve a gun or knife warranted such a confrontation.

when I said I'd have moved the cart to the exit area, I meant TEMPORARILY. Just long enough to let the handicapped person to move with ease. Then I'd move right back to my seat. BUT for a young guy who wants to throw his weight around ? NO WAY !

By the way, in my neighborhood, on public buses, it is quite common for people to have small wheeled carts filled with groceries etc. Normally, other passengers merely have to turn a tad sideways when trying to get passed. I have had to do so hundreds and hundreds of times, but not once did I ever give the owner of the cart any grief. only a thug would do so.

 

[senior chef]

That young man might have had a knife or punched you in the face and done real damage.

Yes , that is always a possibility. BUT, in all honesty, I'd rather die than be pushed around.

 

[feywon]

Yet you honestly thought it was necessary to call me a jerk ?

Frankly my first thought reading the title was 'Oh, he looked in the mirror and had a moment of clarity.

In answer to Lee you said "Probably for the same reason I'd have mentioned if he had numerous facial tatoos." Since elsewhere in this thread you used forms of the word 'intimidate', i have to conclude you find both Black men and heavily facially tatooed men intimidating before they say a thing to you. Your guard goes up and you percieve anything they say or do in worst possible light.

Don't suppose it occurred to you that being a young Black man he may have been concerned that if his clothing had caught on or one of feet had bumped your cart that you would have complained about that or accused him of something? We have only your word that his initial tone was 'demanding', and considering your attitude on some threads and how judgmental you've shown yourself to be i'm inclined to think that was in your ears, due your attitude, not in his initial tone.

If someone is unpleasant to me in public i consider the fact they may be having a horrible day. When and how did you decide the man was a jerk? When he first asked or when he didn't respond as you wished to your command to 'Just walk passed'?

 

[win231]

You are probably right. But I have a really, really hard time knuckling under, whenever someone tries to intimidate me.

If you had responded with something like: "That's a good idea, thanks for letting me know," that would not be knuckling under; that would be showing wisdom. And your loved ones would not be in mourning.