No scenario. actually happened

What do you think?

[tangor]

Checking out at the local convenience store... got there on foot with an empty back pack (can't drive anymore my distance vision is that bad). Three ahead of me, moving slow. Six behind me, some getting antsy. Finally my turn. Six of brew, pack of cigs. Paid, got change and, before I could even stuff the change in my pocket or the brewskis in the backpack, a young feller said "Sir, can I get a quarter?"

I looked. I had one. I tossed it on the counter. He (looking 19, 6'6" and not of my race, not that that makes all that much difference) asked the clerk for a fruit-flavored cigar.

I said: "You know smoking is not good for you."

At which point he said "Beer and cigarettes no good either."

I said, "I didn't beg for a quarter. Beg for money you will get a comment. And I've been doing these nasty habits for 50 years and KNOW it's not good for me. What's your stupid excuse?"

Packed up and walked out with five pair of hands clapping behind me.

Just irritated me. /vent off

[wyweb]

I'd have told him to get a job and I'll keep my quarter thank you.

Borrowing a quarter for a smoke (which you didn't know at the time) and borrowing a quarter for a half gallon of milk are light years apart in my book.

I would have asked him what he wanted it for first, if I'd had the presence of mind I mean.

I'm all about helping your fellow man but too many of them try to disguise want as need and it can make it difficult to distinguish.

[wyweb]

Furthermore I've never known of anyone who actually smokes a "fruit-flavored cigar."

They bust em up, toss the tobacco and wrap the skin around a couple of choice buds. They're called blunts.

Coming soon to a theater near you.

[tangor]

What the young man had on the counter was a loaf of bread and half-gallon of milk. That was okay with me. It was the "...and a (particular name brand) cigar, too" that induced the comment. It was his entitlement response that ticked me off.

[jdMorgan]

At least he said "Sir" -- That actually surprised me the most. In my book, he gets some credit for that.

Stuck between my own intense dislike for "entitlement responses" and an unwillingness to rush to judgment of my fellow man...

Jim

[kaled]

Personally, I'd have given the guy a lesson in grammar...

"Can I get" is never a valid phrase. When replying to a question such as "What would you like?" the correct response is "May I have...". When begging, the correct question is "Do you have a spare quarter?" or "Can you spare a quarter?" or even "If you don't give me a quarter, I'll kill you." - at least that's grammatical.

I consider using "Can I get" to be a symptom of Scrapie - i.e. those people that use it (and other phrases such as "for free") are the witless owners of diseased sheep's brains.

Kaled.

[live4life]

Best advice and most knowledgeable people after often homeless.

The guy who invented DOS drank himself to death without a penny to his name. Its a #*$!ed up world! I would never judge a beggar for one day I may be in there place

[live4life]

Oh @Kaled ............. their not there.....don't want a lesson in grammar :)

[tangor]

Old sods begging never get coin from me but I will buy them a cup of coffee or a bag of chips, even a bag of burgers... BUT NEVER CASH.

19 year olds on the other hand short on a grocery run or in a soda shop okay, but... their vices?

My vices are bad enough, subsidizing theirs, too is beyond the pale. And did I remark there was no "thank you?"

[live4life]

I think he just gave you some good advice and in all honesty its you who should have said "thank you" first....... You offered an opinion and he offered a better one. Just because sheep follow "five pair of hands clapping" does not make you right. Nor does the fact you gave him some change give you the right to voice your opinion to him in the first place and be offended that he had a better response.

[live4life]

Infact lets take the money aspect out of this conversation.......

I said: "You know smoking is not good for you."

At which point he said "Beer and cigarettes no good either."

Ok normal conversation would end there. Maybe with a smile or a laugh....

Because you gave him a quarter you felt this intitled you to say...

"I didn't beg for a quarter. Beg for money you will get a comment. And I've been doing these nasty habits for 50 years and KNOW it's not good for me. What's your stupid excuse?"

So in actual fact you gave him nothing. You basically believed you had the right to voice a hypocritical opinion over him because he had less money than you.

Sounds like the perfect description of the society we live in !

[tangor]

Odds! boys and girls. Has the world gone upside down? I posted this expecting the pc clueless to come out and, voila! they appear. As for giving "advice" I think a re-read will reveal who gave advice first... and with EXPERIENCE. Raise your hands if you think kids should be smoking. Second raise your hands if you think (legal) addicts of 50 years giving advice against same should be insulted.

No wonder things don't work right anymore. :)

</no rant, merely a comment on how unusual things are these days

Meanwhile, I will never thank anyone taking my money. When was the last time you thanked your GOVERNMENT for taking your money? :) Most folks don't thank their charity of choice for taking money. Pretty sure there are few givers of any kind (monetary or not) who say "Thanks for taking my goodies!"

[live4life]

I posted this expecting the pc clueless to come out and, voila! they appear.

I guess thats a reference to me :)
Maybe we should compare bank accounts, if mine has more money in it than yours then I am right. And you should say "thank you" to me. This appears to be the rules you apply to your social interaction with people you meet - tangor.

[Essex_boy]

I have one better than that, in my local Tescos I overherad a conversation between two shelf stackers, 1) Well I heard you get a £1 an hour pay rise after a year.
2) Nah cant be right cos if Tescos has 10,000 people all here a year then the wags per hour increase by £100,000.

Hmm I thought I know why your stacking shelves.

[live4life]

Tangor I will make a suggestion to you, next time someone is in need of some change you should keep your hands in your pocket. You will find that someone else steps forward willing to help that person without judgement and without voicing hypocritical views on that person.

[edited by: lawman at 2:56 am (utc) on Oct 17, 2010]

[tangor]

if mine has more money in it than yours then I am right

Right about what? I never asked you (or anyone) for money. Do you give yours away? I do---to those who need it and even to some who don't. The "gift" from one who does not have as much to give is greater than the pittance submitted by the uber-wealthy assuaging a guilty conscience. :)

Fortunately I'm not in the latter category. I'll let Bill Gates and live4life do that.

Let's compare charity, education, or community support, not bank accounts. (Do include any personal labor, expertise, or gifts of time) :)

And whether anyone ever says "thank you" for the effort.

Some do, those who appreciate it.

[edited by: tangor at 2:12 am (utc) on Oct 17, 2010]

[live4life]

Fortunately I'm not in the latter category. I'll let Bill Gates and live4life do that.

LOL.... that was funny, I was bluffing my bank account is #*$!ed! :)

[tangor]

Suspect the rest was a bluff, too. :)

[live4life]

Suspect the rest was a bluff, too. :)

Ahh thats very slippery of you............

If someone asks me for some change I'll just give it. Without judgement and without enforcing a hypocritical opinion. I suggest you step aside in future and allow other people to do the same.

[tangor]

I'll let 'em know you're around. :)

Done.