I was waiting for the train today and there was a girl eating French fries at the station. I’m guessing she was 19 or 20 years old. She was pretty and put together well but her mouth hung open. No amount of makeup and spandex could cover up that dumb insolent look.
She was dripping gobs of ketchup on the ground. Gobs is the right word, too, The ketchup to fry ratio was totally out of proportion. Just didn’t care. Then when she finished, she dropped her napkins on the ground.
Our society doesn’t have a mechanism to deal with this. I could yell at her but I am sure that she would have yelled right back. Should I volunteer to be the chubby middle aged aged guy in a shouting match with the hot young thing over a puddle of ketchup sure to be missed by onlookers? I had no natural rooting constituency who’d be pulling for me in that melee.
“Should I volunteer to be the chubby middle aged aged guy in a shouting match with the hot young thing ”
Heh.
“Freeze! I’m from the Internet..”
HAHAHAHA , Temper, I just about choked on my soda when I read that. I started choking, soda sprayed out onto my monitor.
My tendency is to pause take a moment, if it’s possible, and clean up the mess. Rather than worrying about haranguing strangers into better behavior, which is an unlikely outcome, I try to set an example. If that doesn’t work-well, at least that one little mess is cleaned, and no one will step in a gob of ketchup.
As I get older, I’ve noticed my “disapproving stare” getting more honed and accurate. That’s really the only tool we have. Just make sure your “I am very disappointed in you” doesn’t look like your “i puts the lotion on the skin” face.
I usually ignore others unless who are being stupid or mildly annoying, but this might be an exception.
“Did you have to practice to be an ass who drops food and napkins on the ground, or does being an idiot come naturally to you?”
Confrontation wouldn’t work. I’d go with an icy stare and maybe some oinking.
Next time, take a picture and post it. Naming and shaming is all the rage these days.
On the spectrum of typical disgusting human behavior at a DART train station, this was pretty mild. You’re lucky you didn’t encounter the usual vomit, piss and evil smells.
Hell yeah I would have said something. I’m at the point where I just don’t give a crap what she or any onlookers would have thought. Some shit just needs to be said.
God I hate young folks these days. And I’m only 34. Sigh.
Next time, cough or make a noise, anything to get her to turn and look. take a napkin and very obviously wipe the mess up, preferably while she is watching. Act hurt or otherwise put off… who is she to know if you have RA? If the catching her attention doesn’t work, ask her if Obama would leave that pile of mess. If she looks sheepish, she’ll clean it up. If she snarks, you have an open invitation and can clean it up together.
You’re welcome.