My night....(hmm, controversial?)

[Marseeya]

Nope. Explained myself several times in different posts. My post was sarcastic. I'm not going to try and re-explain everything, because then it sounds like I am making things up to make you guys love me, and that's not what I'm about. I will say this, I already stated he was smirking when he said he'd buy it, and it naturally came out to be...oh what was I called earlier... a smart-a...., and answer him right back about the $10. No apologies there either.

Some of you took the post the wrong way and felt the need to insult me. Oh well, life goes on.

Well, I, for one, didn't insult you.

But I've always found that if a whole bunch of people are taking offense to what I'm saying, it's probably a good idea to step back and take a look at what or how I'm saying it. It is feasible to be wrong once in a while, isn't it?

 

[vivilasvegas]

I have several thoughts.

First, the man should not have laid a hand on you. If he hadn't touched you, but just asked you for the food nicely, what would your reaction have been?

I think the $10 comment was rude. You should have ignored him and not said anything or told him "no". He was in the wrong to begin with, but it doesn't mean that you needed to continue the wrong.

I hardly think a lecture about lying to him would have been the right thing to do. He shouldn't have followed you--at that point he was probably pissed off.

Karma got your leftovers, I do believe.

I can't fault you for not giving the guy your food since he grabbed your arm, however, you didn't handle it well, either. There's no reason to not show respect for others. "There But for the Grace of God go I" I hope that none of us are ever in that man's shoes.

lecture about lying....joke

 

[The Mayor]

So my boyfriend and I are walking to the EL from Chili's, leftover package in hand. This homeless man, (or just down on his luck) grabs my arm and asks if he can buy my leftovers. I look at him and say "sure $10", so then he says he doesn't have any money. So of course I'm about to start this long conversation about the ramifications of telling lies, but my boyfriend drags me away. So we're walking, and I turn and look, and the guy is following us very closely, trying to intimidate us. I can tell he's going to grab my purse.
And then sheer panic. I realized he was going after the food!!!!!!

So finally I turn around and ask him if he thinks I'm a bleeping tourist!! (no offense) What are you gonna do, follow me home so I can make you a sandwich?? So he leaves....

At this point, my boyfriend and I are on the EL, feeling like the tough Chicago kids we are. We get off, we walk home. We think maybe we'll join the Guardian Angels and protect the streets.

So now we were going to split part of the leftovers. I ask him where are they?
We look at each other, and tear rolls slowly down his face and I realize, we left them on the train.

***edited to change title****

One word comes to mind...ignorant...and it's not for the homeless man...get a grip lady.

 

[vivilasvegas]

Well, I, for one, didn't insult you.

But I've always found that if a whole bunch of people are taking offense to what I'm saying, it's probably a good idea to step back and take a look at what or how I'm saying it. It is feasible to be wrong once in a while, isn't it?

sorry, but when I've said over and over the post was meant to be a joke ---joke meaning making the situation lighthearted and poke at little fun at myself, explained why I said $10 bucks, why I didn't give the food, and everything else I've said...to have people continually judge and insult me...no, I'm not going to cry and beg forgiveness.

 

[vivilasvegas]

One word comes to mind...ignorant...and it's not for the homeless man...get a grip lady.

 

[wvjules]

So the post was a joke about the homeless hungry man and your taunting of him? Got it now.

 

[alliecats]

Life has a way of putting us in our place, and I believe you will one day come to look back on this episode with shame. But I hope you are never in the situation to have to ask someone else for something so basic. So many of the homeless are mentally ill, they are to be pitied, not ridiculed on a message board by some snide poster. As someone else said, it must be more degrading than any of us can imagine. I am laughing that you left your food on the train, serves you right.

 

[vivilasvegas]

So the post was a joke about the homeless hungry man and your taunting of him? Got it now.

Yes. I actually kicked him to the ground, threw my food at him, and ran away laughing maniacally.

 

[vivilasvegas]

Life has a way of putting us in our place, and I believe you will one day come to look back on this episode with shame. But I hope you are never in the situation to have to ask someone else for something so basic. So many of the homeless are mentally ill, they are to be pitied, not ridiculed on a message board by some snide poster. As someone else said, it must be more degrading than any of us can imagine. I am laughing that you left your food on the train, serves you right.

Sorry, but I still won't be baited into defending what a good person I am by giving examples.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

lecture about lying....joke

But how are we supposed to know that?

And that's the only comment?

 

[Alicia87]

Actually Viva I did read your entire post. My whole take on your post was maybe, just maybe this guy's "smirk" wasn't a smirk of "everyone owes me something so just give me some food", or his grabbing of your arm may have been out of desperation and not aggression and was just perceived as that. Not everyone's facial features are the same, and this "smirk" was some way of him trying to put on a "friendly" face. Maybe his smirk was a half hearted smile because he is down on his luck and was ashamed to have to even ask for a handout. I guess I would have just given him the benefit of a doubt.

However, since none of us were there at that moment and time to witness his "smirk" and his aggressive nature you are expecting us to not pass judgement on your "sarcastic" attitude.

I guess your post just "hit me the wrong way" this evening.

*Saying a prayer for the hungry, homeless, out of work due to downsizing, abused, and downright hateful people of the world this evening*

 

[wvjules]

Sorry, but I still won't be baited into defending what a good person I am by giving examples.

Yea...you sound like a wonderful, caring, giving person. Can't imagine how we all got the wrong impression.

 

[vivilasvegas]

Actually Viva I did read your entire post. My whole take on your post was maybe, just maybe this guy's "smirk" wasn't a smirk of "everyone owes me something so just give me some food", or his grabbing of your arm may have been out of desperation and not aggression and was just perceived as that. Not everyone's facial features are the same, and this "smirk" was some way of him trying to put on a "friendly" face. Maybe his smirk was a half hearted smile because he is down on his luck and was ashamed to have to even ask for a handout. I guess I would have just given him the benefit of a doubt.

However, since none of us were there at that moment and time to witness his "smirk" and his aggressive nature you are expecting us to not pass judgement on your "sarcastic" attitude.

I guess your post just "hit me the wrong way" this evening.

*Saying a prayer for the hungry, homeless, out of work due to downsizing, abused, and downright hateful people of the world this evening*

Well, you weren't there, and your perception of it was wrong.

 

[alliecats]

Sorry, but I still won't be baited into defending what a good person I am by giving examples.

Oh, please, I wasn't baiting you into providing examples.
To be honest, I wouldn't believe them anyway. I find your whole attitude disturbing.

 

[vivilasvegas]

But how are we supposed to know that?

And that's the only comment?

Nope, I've made quite a few, they just aren't good enought for you.

 

[Taylor]

This thread really makes me want to visit Chicago....

 

[alliecats]

Yes. I actually kicked him to the ground, threw my food at him, and ran away laughing maniacally.

Well, at least in this scenario he gets the food.

Oh, and by the way, you are not as witty as you think you are.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Poor man is probably still hungry too. Gee, wonder why starving to death makes people aggressive. Just sad.

 

[vivilasvegas]

This thread really makes me want to visit Chicago....

I can take you on a tour if you'd like....

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Nope, I've made quite a few, they just aren't good enought for you.

You made one lame comment to my post.