Tuesday, June 20, 2017

SOL Tuesday: What's the Worst Insult?

After the gym the other afternoon, I sat down in a vest-pocket park. A woman at a nearby table took out a styrofoam plate, which the breeze blew onto the ground in my direction. As I reached down to retrieve it, I heard a man's voice: "Do you want me to get your plate for you?" As I handed the plate to the woman, I heard him say, "Oh, granny got it."

WTF?! I looked at him, a white man, at least in his 50s, maybe 60, gray pants, gray shirt. I said, "That's not an appropriate thing to say." He looked surprised, replied, "So sue me." And as he walked away, he added, "Sue me. You won't get anything. I don't have anything."

The woman and I looked at each other, with "what is his problem?" expressions. I'd have liked to use Jack's favorite insult: "Fuck you and the horse you rode in on." But that might have provoked violence."

After I posted this on Facebook, a friend suggested I could have said, "Fuck you and the horse you rode in on, grampa."

 
 
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5 comments:

  1. Mary Ann ReillyJune 20, 2017 at 5:13 PM

    It is still surprising when these encounters happen and someone says something inappropriate. The first writer's group I joined had men like this in it. I was there for 2 sessions and then left. Best to not say anything that could rile a response. Yu simply do not know how unhinged he might have been. I like Jack's saying!

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    1. Red EmmaJune 20, 2017 at 11:02 PM

      It was almost instinct, what I actually said. So many men think whatever they say is fine, and they never think they will be challenged on their words.

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  2. RitaJune 20, 2017 at 7:29 PM

    LOL. I remember when I was doing my grad work at least ten years ago. I tripped on a slightly raised piece of concrete on my way into the campus library. I face planted onto the sidewalk. I had a few scrapes and bruises, but nothing hurt more than the young college student who asked, "Are you all right Ma'am?" Ma'am ---when the hell did I become a Ma'am?!??!

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    1. Red EmmaJune 20, 2017 at 10:59 PM

      It's funny how terms of supposed respect take on a different tinge when they also imply age, or any age older than us. The first babysitter when our daughter was a baby knocked on the door and when I answered, said, "Mrs. Robbins?" I wanted to tell her, "No, I'm not Mrs. Robbins, that's my mother-in-law."

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  3. Vanessa VaileJune 21, 2017 at 1:23 AM

    If you run into him again, you'll be ready. Or maybe you'll be lucky enough not to. On the other hand, there is no shortage of the type. They come in all sizes and ages. There's a young punk one in community group I'm involved in. Ageist and misogynist.

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