Warning: This is a rant. If you do not like rants, no need to go any further.
That's out of the way, so let's get started.
I stopped by an ice cream stand one of my niece's works at this evening. I parked behind the building by her car. As I was walking up the side of the building, a young man approached me and got into my face, repeatedly stating, "Yes sir, yes sir" over and over again. This guy had on cammo, one boot and one tennis shoe, at least two of his pockets were pulled out of his pants, and he wore a toboggan (in 90 degree heat). I repeatedly had to tell him to get out of my face, and I continued to walk.
I suffer from PTSD. I am a paranoid individual due to various things I've experienced in my life. I do not handle well strangers coming into my space unless I have initiated the conversation. I was very close to putting my hands on this individual tonight. He was taller than me, maybe weighed about my weight. He probably did not have the skills I possess and, had I used force to make my point, I would have hurt him. I also would have been considered the one at fault due to the liberal society we have become. It was obvious that he had something wrong with him, but IMHO you cannot take that for granted anymore because you never know what someone will do or what they are up to.
What upset me moreso was that as I waited in line to place my order, this individual proceeded to behind me and went over to the next window where, apparently, his mother was waiting. This guy looked like an adult, but I suppose he could have been a teenager. My thought was why would this parent allow their impaired child to run around and get into people's faces? To my knowledge I was the only one he approached. I never saw him approach anybody else while I was there.
On my way home I stopped by the grocery store. While trying to locate the Wheat Thins, a guy passed directly behind me and excused himself. The aisle was a little crowded where I was, so I did not have any issue with him passing near me. The guy then turned around and said, "Man, I need a favor from you." This guy then took a deliberate step towards me. He continued, "Listen, I do not need any money, but I need a favor. I'm trying to get two packages of chicken legs, I need you to go buy those for me." Again, this moron gets in my face. "Woah," I said, "You need to back yourself up, now!" He started to apologize and I cut him off, "First, it sounds like to me you are asking for money. Second, I have no money for you. Third, do not approach me again." The dude went on. What was odd, he was carrying a Walmart plastic bag that appeared to have hamburger meat wrapped up in it. We were not in Walmart.
Finally, I go to check out and get behind this lady. This woman is trying to buy nearly $200 in groceries. There were two shopping carts, I presume one had been full and the other partially full. This woman starts playing dumb when the total came up. "I thought it would just be $40. I had no idea it would be that much." Are you kidding me? That's what I'm thinking. "I can get $50 worth of groceries. I got $40 on my food stamps and $10 in cash." Then become the process of un-ringing $150 worth of groceries. Finally, this woman takes a bag out of her pocket. It's her "cash." All in dimes and pennies. She then goes to pay the balance with her SNAP card and there was like five cents on it. At this point I let out an audible gasp and before I realized it, I said out loud, "Lord, help me. This is some crap right here." That was not supposed to come out of my mouth - I only meant to think it.
The woman then looks at me, and says, "Honey, I'm sorry." She turns to the cashier, "I do not know why I do not have any food stamps. I don't know what to do." There are crickets for a second or two, then she continues, "Just put everything back, and give all those coins back to me." She spent another several minutes counting out or dimes and pennies to make sure she had all $10 back. Finally, it was my turn to check-out and go home!
I have witnessed similar situations probably at least a half dozen times over the past year. People checking out, seem shocked they have no food stamp money or shocked that it is $100 for a cart full of groceries, etc. I think people do this stuff deliberately. NOT everybody, but these situations seem odd to me. I have been on SNAP. Around here, your SNAP balance is always on the bottom of your receipt. Also, it is very easy to call the toll-free number and check your balance if unsure. Never once did I go fill up two carts of groceries unless I knew I had the money to cover it. In my experience, I've only ever seen women do this. I think they are doing it on purpose to try to get someone to pay for their groceries. The last time this happened, which was about two months ago, a woman had $70 in groceries. The poor cashier told her to go on, because she would cover it.
What is up with people today?
That is all. Carry on.
That's out of the way, so let's get started.
I stopped by an ice cream stand one of my niece's works at this evening. I parked behind the building by her car. As I was walking up the side of the building, a young man approached me and got into my face, repeatedly stating, "Yes sir, yes sir" over and over again. This guy had on cammo, one boot and one tennis shoe, at least two of his pockets were pulled out of his pants, and he wore a toboggan (in 90 degree heat). I repeatedly had to tell him to get out of my face, and I continued to walk.
I suffer from PTSD. I am a paranoid individual due to various things I've experienced in my life. I do not handle well strangers coming into my space unless I have initiated the conversation. I was very close to putting my hands on this individual tonight. He was taller than me, maybe weighed about my weight. He probably did not have the skills I possess and, had I used force to make my point, I would have hurt him. I also would have been considered the one at fault due to the liberal society we have become. It was obvious that he had something wrong with him, but IMHO you cannot take that for granted anymore because you never know what someone will do or what they are up to.
What upset me moreso was that as I waited in line to place my order, this individual proceeded to behind me and went over to the next window where, apparently, his mother was waiting. This guy looked like an adult, but I suppose he could have been a teenager. My thought was why would this parent allow their impaired child to run around and get into people's faces? To my knowledge I was the only one he approached. I never saw him approach anybody else while I was there.
On my way home I stopped by the grocery store. While trying to locate the Wheat Thins, a guy passed directly behind me and excused himself. The aisle was a little crowded where I was, so I did not have any issue with him passing near me. The guy then turned around and said, "Man, I need a favor from you." This guy then took a deliberate step towards me. He continued, "Listen, I do not need any money, but I need a favor. I'm trying to get two packages of chicken legs, I need you to go buy those for me." Again, this moron gets in my face. "Woah," I said, "You need to back yourself up, now!" He started to apologize and I cut him off, "First, it sounds like to me you are asking for money. Second, I have no money for you. Third, do not approach me again." The dude went on. What was odd, he was carrying a Walmart plastic bag that appeared to have hamburger meat wrapped up in it. We were not in Walmart.
Finally, I go to check out and get behind this lady. This woman is trying to buy nearly $200 in groceries. There were two shopping carts, I presume one had been full and the other partially full. This woman starts playing dumb when the total came up. "I thought it would just be $40. I had no idea it would be that much." Are you kidding me? That's what I'm thinking. "I can get $50 worth of groceries. I got $40 on my food stamps and $10 in cash." Then become the process of un-ringing $150 worth of groceries. Finally, this woman takes a bag out of her pocket. It's her "cash." All in dimes and pennies. She then goes to pay the balance with her SNAP card and there was like five cents on it. At this point I let out an audible gasp and before I realized it, I said out loud, "Lord, help me. This is some crap right here." That was not supposed to come out of my mouth - I only meant to think it.
The woman then looks at me, and says, "Honey, I'm sorry." She turns to the cashier, "I do not know why I do not have any food stamps. I don't know what to do." There are crickets for a second or two, then she continues, "Just put everything back, and give all those coins back to me." She spent another several minutes counting out or dimes and pennies to make sure she had all $10 back. Finally, it was my turn to check-out and go home!
I have witnessed similar situations probably at least a half dozen times over the past year. People checking out, seem shocked they have no food stamp money or shocked that it is $100 for a cart full of groceries, etc. I think people do this stuff deliberately. NOT everybody, but these situations seem odd to me. I have been on SNAP. Around here, your SNAP balance is always on the bottom of your receipt. Also, it is very easy to call the toll-free number and check your balance if unsure. Never once did I go fill up two carts of groceries unless I knew I had the money to cover it. In my experience, I've only ever seen women do this. I think they are doing it on purpose to try to get someone to pay for their groceries. The last time this happened, which was about two months ago, a woman had $70 in groceries. The poor cashier told her to go on, because she would cover it.
What is up with people today?
That is all. Carry on.
There is the truth.
Then there is the right thing to say.
Then there is the right thing to say.