Today after Little Man got home from school, he wanted to get a movie. We took off to our favorite movie renting/buying place, Redbox. It isn't a store, but a little kiosk thing, this one outside of our local McDonalds. There was a couple in front of us. Little Man got up close, and tried to look around the man, so he could see the screen. The man made an annoyed noise, and blocked Little Man so he couldn't see the screen. I was surprised, you don't punch in any personal information, so there isn't much to see. I grabbed Little Man and apologized to the couple, and said that my son was autistic.
It went from bad to worse. Little Man was excited and bobbing up and down. He never touched either of the people, (thank goodness!) but he got too close and they were talking to each other and throwing death looks at me and my son. I finally grabbed him and said something about how SOME people have no patience. The lady got all snotty and said that he was BOTHERING them. I replied that it was a good thing everyone in the world wasn't like them or the world would be a much sadder place. I was soooo angry I could have scratched their eyes out. My mama bear self was just roaring to kill them!
Right after the rude people left, an older gentleman came up behind me, got closer to me than even my son had been to the other couple and said, "I just want to look over your shoulder". It was actually nice, because it helped point out how out of line those other people were.
Dang kiosk though, it wouldn't vend the movie Little Man wanted, so we left, with him in tears to go to another Redbox.
Once more, there were people standing in front of us, getting a movie. Little Man moved close so he could see the screen, I grabbed him, my heart still smarting and my feathers very ruffled, and said, "hey bud, not so close".
The lady in front of me, said, "it's okay, he isn't bothering me". To her surprise and mine, I burst into tears. The nice lady and her husband listened with kindness as I told them why I was crying. The husband said, "your son isn't a problem, he didn't do anything wrong, and those people were not nice. If I had been there, I would have given them a piece of my mind, I have a problem with people acting like that!"
I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness or ablities that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.
William Penn
Thank you nice people at the kiosk, for being the soothing balm for my hurting heart. And rude people? I hope you burn in hell for being mean to my boy.
Friday, May 08, 2009
War and Peace
Posted by
Jo
at
6:20 PM
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20 Kids Who Want To Play:
What horrible mean people!!!! How dare they???????
I'm so glad you to have kind, caring people surrounding you afterwards.
Mean people suck!
Ugh. People. The Normals are really not so normal...
I am often shocked at how rude people can be.
I'm so sorry that you had to deal with those clods. A few jerks always ruin it for everybody.
I'm glad you were able to meet the nice people.
I am loving that second couple. How awesome they were to show you that there are good and kind people out there. The first couple? I hope their movie didn't work ... Karma will get them in time.
what a difficult situation, but i'm glad you got to experience the kindness of strangers in the end
It amazes me STILL that there are people who act like that.
Unbelievable.
Sorry about the kiosk people.
Glad you found someone to put your faith back in human kind.
burn in hell. that did make me laugh a little. :) ha ha
People like this make me so angry!
Oh,Jo, I'm so sorry. That first couple was just AWFUL!! But I'm glad that you found some nice people so quickly. And when Karma does track that first couple down, I hope she's as nice to them as they were to you and your sweet son. ;o)
Thank you so much for that William Penn quote! I am going to memorize it if I can. I hope I never forget that.
Yes, those people suck. It reminds me of the time my mother's best friend took her mother out to lunch at the local McDonald's. Her mother (who has since passed away) had severe dementia and was cheerfully babbling to herself in a language that nobody else could understand. While they were eating, a man came up to my mom's friend and asked her to move, saying that "Your mother is scaring my grandson."
Believe it or not, she got up and moved. (You will have to take my word for it that her mother would not and could not hurt a fly. She weighed no more than 90 pounds and was the cutest little thing!) On her way, though, she said to the man "Yeah, I'll move. But I want you to know one thing: YOUR GRANDSON IS UGLY."
I was so proud of her.
I don't understand why some people act the way they do. I'm sorry your son has to endure that. Thank goodness for the kind people that balance out the others.
~Keri
Wow, Jo. I can't believe how rude those people were. I'm glad you found the nice ones and that they helped you.
I don't understand some people at times.
Darling Jo, I am so sorry that you and our Little Man ran into some idiots. KNOW that mean people like that do not have the same capability of loving others and being happy like the rest of us. They are missing out, every day of this life. Feel pity for them.
I'm glad that the nice couple came along as God's proof that there are many more good people than bad people out there.
Love and a big hug to you,
Laura
It was the damn video store. I can't believe how utterly intolerant people can be, Jo. I was glad to read that all was not lost during this experience. Like Keri said, good to even out the bad is a very, very good thing.
You should never have to apologize for your son, Jo. Screw mean people.
-Francesca
People can be such jerks, sometimes.
Actually unless you left something out, it doesn't sound like they said anything mean or rude. Your kid WAS bothering them - so what if he's autistic? Some people like their personal space, and I don't think anyone really owes it to other people to enjoy their kids, autistic or otherwise. I don't think the problem was their behaviour so much as you being worn out and raw. Not that I blame you, but feeling miserable doesn't make the world owe us any kindness. I should know.
And I know I sound like a total b!tch saying this, but I don't mean it as being rude to you (even though I'm pretty sure it sounds that way). It's just a matter of perspective.
This is why I hate most people. They were jerks to begin with, but to continue after hearing Little Man has autism and simply can't help himself is ridiculous.
You were a lot nicer to him than I would have been. I commend you for that.
Don't let a couple of rude people spoil it for you.
Your son has as much right to be in that store as anyone.
This post brought tears to my eyes. I cannot believe the less than kind attitude/behavior of some people. I firmly believe it will come back and bite them in the butt. If not tomorrow-- some day. Karma sucks like that.
I ditto Lisa "Mean People Suck!"
That last one was from me.
Mongoose,
First, Jo told the First Couple her kid is autistic. Unless the First Couple are completely ignorant, First Couple should be aware that autistic people have sometimes inappropriate social skills (i.e., crowding strangers at a kiosk). They should also be aware that autistic people can't help their symptoms.
At that point, First Couple can CHOOSE to be bothered, or they can do the decent thing, which is to CHOOSE to not be bothered.
Choosing not to be bothered could have resulted in many things, such as letting an autistic kid look at the screen (like the Second Couple), or letting an autistic kid and his mom go ahead of them. That is the decent, kind thing to do.
(By the way, the ability to make these choices? Jo's kid doesn't have that ability.)
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