Life in progress

Angriest, a #SoCS Rant (with swear words and everything)

by 68 Comments

There are a few things that annoy me about people, but what gets me angriest is when people get annoyed at my kids. This rant is brought on by a trip to the grocery store earlier today and a woman behind us in line. There isn’t much room once you’ve paid for your groceries and you’re packing your own bags. Alex, my Deaf son, was helping me – I was standing at the end of the belt and he was moving things closer to me while standing in the lane where we came out after paying. There was a woman there with a cart who had just paid for her groceries. All she had was a cart full of cases of pop (soda, for those of you in the U.S.). When I turned, after she had raised her voice (I didn’t know she was there) she was saying to Alex that she just needed to get out, that she didn’t have to pack anything, she would just very much appreciate it if we’d excuse her.

Normally an “excuse me” doesn’t require that much explanation, so it occurred to me that she’d probably been saying it to Alex for a while. He had his back turned to her, so he didn’t know she was there. As she walked away, she looked at me and said, “Thank you very much for moving out of the way.” Waaay over the top, even for a Canadian. So I said, “Sorry he didn’t move right away, he’s Deaf.” Or I tried to say that, but she cut me off: “No, no, no, no, I really appreciate it!”

Fuck you, sarcastic bitch.

I want to say I wish people wouldn’t judge, but I realize I’m judging her. Maybe she’d been having a really hard day? But does she need to take it out on us?

I always say that you can make someone’s day with a smile, no matter who they are. Even if they’re a stranger. You can also ruin someone’s day by being sarcastic and jumping to conclusions. Or rather jumping to conclusions and then being sarcastic.  Or maybe I’m just overreacting because I want to protect my son.

One way or another, be nice out there. And be patient.

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Author: Linda G. Hill

There's a writer in here, clawing her way out.

68 thoughts on “Angriest, a #SoCS Rant (with swear words and everything)”

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  1. Cheryl-Lynn
    September 19, 2016 at 6:08 pm

    I hear you, kiddo, loud and clear! Yeah, she might have had a bad day but when someone does not answer me when I need to pass, I usually pat them gently on the shoulder, so they can face me. After all, the person does not have to be deaf not to understand…what if he or she speaks a different language. I get impatient people at the cash when I am slow to load up my bags if my arthritis is flaring up or walking with my cane and people are impatient in the winter EVEN. I have to say in my mind,”karma’s gonna be a bitch”.

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  2. Charlie@Seattle Trekker
    September 19, 2016 at 12:42 pm

    There is a lesson in that for all of us…

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  3. Bee Halton
    September 19, 2016 at 6:13 am

    I know where you are coming from. I worked yesterday a full shift even though it was my husbands birthday. My boss had forgotten to give me the day off. A co-worker didn’t want to change shifts and I didn’t want to ask the other co-worker who came along yesterday and told me how lucky I am I do not have to go to the check-outs and can do all the work in our department. Now, I do not have to go because of the flashbacks I get and my mental health and I was just so angry about her comment. I didn’t say anything to her but since then scenarios flash up in my mind where I ask her if she’d prefer to have my memories of my father abusing me and I would happily go on the check-outs for her. That doesn’t help anything, though. It is unfair that most of my co-workers have to do double the work because the company doesn’t want to employ enough staff. Still, it hit a sore spot on many levels. And I think even if you want to protect your son: You have all the right to do so 🙂

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  4. dalecooper57
    September 19, 2016 at 6:12 am

    I think you were very polite. I would have been considerably less restrained in making sure she got the message.

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  5. Prajakta
    September 19, 2016 at 1:15 am

    My friend had a very similar rant the other day. No, she does not have any kids but she was at the receiving end of some snotty sarcasm. It is kind of sad that people don’t find it necessary to be nice to others – especially in this day. If I don’t know you and you don’t concern me, I am not obliged to nice – that is the general behavior 😐

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  6. emaylerocks
    September 18, 2016 at 9:54 am

    What a nasty woman. Did she ever hear that children are not supposed to respond to strangers? Even if she was being over the top, she should have said it to YOU and not the kiddo. What I hate is when people falsely accuse your kids of something. I mean, I know my children are not perfect and have answered the phone from the school on occasion, “Alright what did he do this time?” but to assume he was in the wrong was ugly. Of course, you don’t know her situation but she doesn’t know yours either.

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  7. Woebegone but Hopeful
    September 18, 2016 at 5:13 am

    I give the woman no slack. I am one of the grumpiest, most judgemental, sour old men (well 65 so I guess that makes my a young old man) wandering about this world. But I keep it to myself, as it’s contagious.
    I wonder how she’d have felt if I had been behind her and said:
    “Move it lady! Ya blockin’ the isles!”

    Liked by 1 person

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  8. Suzanne
    September 17, 2016 at 11:56 pm

    Gosh, what a horrible woman. It’s nice you give her the benefit of the doubt but personally I think she was being rude.

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  9. Soul Gifts
    September 17, 2016 at 10:40 pm

    We so often tend to jump to conclusions too quickly. I even have a fridge magnet “Do not assume” – and I still do ! Hope you’ve recovered enough to move on 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  10. joey
    September 17, 2016 at 10:34 pm

    Ugh.
    For all she knows, that wait saved her from a terrible collision on the road. I have all the patience in the world most days, but when I run out, I only see red. Everywhere.

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  11. Laura
    September 17, 2016 at 10:16 pm

    ugh, ugh, UGH
    I have zero patience for people in public who made stupid snap judgements.

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  12. Nam H Nguyen
    September 17, 2016 at 8:30 pm

    I don’t mean to judge but…Fuck her!

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  13. Michael
    September 17, 2016 at 8:23 pm

    For most people judging is the easy option for then they don’t have to stop and inquire as to what the problem might be. A friend of mine was at the checkout with her dad once and the checkout girl was hurrying them through, literally throwing their stuff at them. At the end her dad said to her: “You are having a bad day eh?” The girl broke down and cried in his arms….she found someone, a stranger who wanted to understand.
    We live in a world where we find everyone in a hurry and like you I would be angry at that woman’s response to you and Alex. And you are right we don’t know what happened to her before she came into the shop.
    Hopefully writing this SOC has settled you down? Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

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  14. cordeliasmom2012
    September 17, 2016 at 8:14 pm

    I can understand the lady thinking Alex was ignoring her, and getting annoyed by the “uppity little brat.” But once you explained that he’s deaf, she should have apologized. Maybe she was just too embarrassed to do so.

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  15. lauramacky
    September 17, 2016 at 7:29 pm

    I had a weird thing happen to me the other day. Dave and I went to see the movie Sully and we were early (of course) and sat down. There were two people in front of us with a screen which I thought was a smartphone. I couldn’t see what was on it but I leaned forward and asked them. They “ignored” me. I said excuse me and asked again but then nothing. Finally I tapped them thinking they were just old and didn’t hear me and the woman looked at me very flustered and angry and then I realized they were both deaf. 😦 I upset her obviously and I felt so upset about it for a while even after the movie started. We never know what’s going on with other people even when they are rude. All we can do is say a prayer and move on.

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    • LindaGHill
      September 23, 2016 at 12:28 pm

      If it helps, you did exactly the right thing to get their attention, according to Deaf culture. She was obviously having her own moment that had nothing to do with what you did. If she was friendly, or happened to be happy at that moment, she should have smiled and explained she was Deaf, just as anyone who speaks another language might.
      Thanks for sharing that, Laura. It’s a wonderful example of how we should try to get along with others, even when we have differences. I’m sorry it didn’t go better for you.

      Liked by 1 person

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  16. Dan Antion
    September 17, 2016 at 6:22 pm

    If you don’t have s few seconds to wait for the people ahead of you, maybe you should go shopping tomorrow. People like that bother me.

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  17. John W. Howell
    September 17, 2016 at 6:16 pm

    I always give people like that a big smile as if I don’t understand what they said. It bothers them all the more.

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  18. By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff
    September 17, 2016 at 5:56 pm

    I know from my years of working in a public library, that when people are unhappy for whatever reason, a vast majority tend to take it out on whoever is handy. I’m far from perfect, but I try to make a concerted effort to treat others the way I’d like to be treated.

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    • LindaGHill
      September 23, 2016 at 12:32 pm

      It’s so true! People, especially since the advent of social media, are much quicker to blame everyone else for their problems.
      All we can do is keep trying, and that includes trying to teach others by example. It’s hard sometimes though!

      Liked by 1 person

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  19. Southern by Design
    September 17, 2016 at 5:06 pm

    I have a deaf friend and I get very annoyed for her when people get nasty with her, through no fault of her own. She’s an adult, I don’t know what I’d do if it were my child! You are a good person to have given this lady the benefit of having a bad day. Your child being deaf or no, she was acting poorly to another person! UGH!

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  20. vanbytheriver
    September 17, 2016 at 5:05 pm

    I don’t remember a time when people were so rude, impatient, on edge. I thought it was just here in the US, where folks are taking sides, the rhetoric follows ugly politics. So much rush to judgment, name calling, misunderstanding. It’s in the air, and I’m sorry to hear it is happening everywhere. Deep breaths….note to self.

    Liked by 2 people

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  21. herheadache
    September 17, 2016 at 4:55 pm

    As someone who can’t see, I’m constantly feeling like I am in people’s way out in public. I don’t know how soon before they realize I don’t see them coming. Tough situation to be in in the moment.

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  22. Paul
    September 17, 2016 at 4:52 pm

    Give her shit Linda.

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  23. willowdot21
    September 17, 2016 at 4:48 pm

    I feel so sorry that there are so many ignorant people around . I hate sarcasm, my Dad always says it was the lowest form of whit!.
    We have just had a shit evening due to no fault of ours so know how you feel. Sending you hugs. P.S.. no we shouldn’t judge but we are all human and we do! Hopefully she felt an arse and a heel when she stopped to think!

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  24. Ritu
    September 17, 2016 at 4:22 pm

    This is infuriating… but you’re right… we can’t judge!!!

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