Incident (or, God Bless the USA)

OK, it's 35 degrees F.
I'm walking in the suburban neighborhood barefoot. Otherwise wearing a leather jacket, long jeans, and a long-sleeve shirt.
A car quietly moves up behind me as I am crossing the road.
The driver, say a 50-something male, queries, "Are you all right? I notice you're not wearing shoes."
I stop and stare at him for a few seconds and, irritated, I say, "Why don't you just move the fuck along!" I start to walk away.
He says, "OK!" and drives away.
As I walk through a local park bordering the neighborhood, a police car stops me (followed by a second, third, and fourth). The officer informs me I was reported by the other citizen and wants to know what happened.
I explain the event and---bottom line---he wants to assure me that I've been questioned because I shouldn't "curse out" another citizen simply for asking about my well-being.
SO: If YOU are stopped and asked about your presence of mind for going barefoot in obviously cold weather, remain civil. Morons appreciate civility.
CASE IN POINT: A woman, running in gym togs, asked me as I was re-entering my house not 15 minutes later, "Aren't you cold? You MUST be cold!" "I'm fine," I responded. "Good! Good for you!" she replied.
See? Morons APPRECIATE civility!
File under: Lessons learned.

 

So in other words a guy stopped to see if you were OK and you acted like a prick.
And somehow that makes him and another incidental lady morons.

 

Most people appreciate when other people don't act like assholes. Morons don't have the market cornered on that.

 

^^^what they said^^^

I think you were out of line being rude to the gentleman who showed concern at you having no shoes in 35 degree weather. Personally I'd be happy that there are people out there looking out for others even if I did feel that the query was intrusive. Choosing to go barefoot doesn't license you to be uncivil to other people; it doesn't bestow membership to a clique that is entitles to behave like a jerk who deems any concern for strangers to be the mark of a moron.

 

Americans believe they have the right to speak up whenever they choose, no matter how intrusive to another party's privacy. And the fact that, based on my admitted use of the word FUCK, they alerted the police, no less, was certainly an intrusion on my privacy. As I said, God Bless the USA.........

 

Not all Americans... perhaps the manner that you were approached has something to do with your reaction but not knowing that I'm left with the sense that you grossly overreacted... you had an opportunity to civilly deflect the concern that you chose to see as intrusive when you chose to walk barefoot in public- albeit privately. You chose another route and escalated the situation unnecessarily.

To be honest I do share personal aggravation when accosted but I see no need to lash out. In the warmer months I walk for exercise and once in a while a motorist will pull over to ask directions... now, I'm not outside as a public service to wayward travelers navigating from deficient information... I'm out to raise and maintain a heart rate for the purpose of keeping fit and stopping to give directions to the courthouse or to the interstate does not fit into that...

...but a motorist who is lost does not see me as someone exercising who desires to be left alone- they see me as an extension of their universe- an opportunity to mitigate their misdirection and with that I have an opportunity to give an impression of what people are like in general. If I lash out and tell them to fuck off, I'm not a walking road map that gives free directions then I've just contributed to the greater problem -- which has nothing to do with them being lost.... it has to do with the general uncivil manner people seem to conduct themselves lately.

I'm a proponent of peace- a concept that isn't limited to national foreign policy... it can be applied to the manner I choose to interact with those around me with whom I would otherwise choose not to deal with. It really says something about me and sets an expectation in the minds of others what to expect from strangers.

When you are out in public- walking barefoot on a suburban street the intrusion into your privacy is marginal. There are far more tactful ways of dispensing with what you see as an intrusion. This is not about your right to be barefoot- it has to do with your manners in general. There's something called "common courtesy" that is as big an oxymoron as "common sense" and for a very similar reason.

 

the fact that the "gentleman" called :bobby::bobby: is a clue that his goal was to harass, not to help.

 

Thank you. A moment of clarity.

 

My angry response was uncivil; addressing the police (4 squad cars) was unnecessary.

 

He saw a guy walking around without shoes on in 35F.
After you inexplicably snapped at him like a fucking rabid dog he probably thought you were either homeless, crazy, on drugs, or some sort of combination of the three.
If his goal was to harass you he'd have called the police without bothering to ask you what was wrong.

 

so, it's just americans?
you acted like a douche bag for no reason.

 

What are YOU on?

 

The only thoughtful response to all this has been from a European.

 

dude, no one here feels sorry for assholes, no matter their country of origin.

 

This is very incorrect... there have been plenty of thoughtful responses here. Just because they are not what you want to read and not endorsing your antisocial behavior which was sufficient to warrant a four cruiser response based on how YOU chose to handle an innocent and well meaning inquiry to your state of being.

YOU escalate the situation with an unwarranted verbal attack on someone who felt concern for you..

Baseline civil behavior should not be dictated by people who go around with chips on their shoulders.

 

:iagree:

 

People need to mind their OWN business. A gesture that wishes to appear well-intended is not entitled to a like response. If I'm going about without shoes on a very cold day....look, gape, gawk, scratch your head....BUT MOVE ON! You, too!

 

Yes it is.
If you believe otherwise then you're trash. Learn to be polite and have some manners.

 

just b/c you are barefoot by choice, does not mean everyone is. you could have been in trouble and the dude was worried about either your safety/his own/or the communities.

get over yourself!

 

Many homeless people freeze to death every winter because they don't have the proper clothing or shelter. They need help sometimes, and making sure someone is ok is not a violation of some sort. Going around in near-freezing temps without shoes is reason for people to be concerned, because you probably look homeless or crazy, and you freaked out when asked about it.

That's what happens if you are going to be so hardcore about your fashion choices that you stand out a mile. Yet you act surprised.

But I suppose it's all about you, isn't it? No big picture here...