# I was assaulted yesterday **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 18, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-assaulted-yesterday/609928 "2012-01-18T20:19:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-assaulted-yesterday/609928/41 "2012-01-19T02:57:20Z")
Having read the threads started by **Ambivalid** , and the way he talks about and to people for parking this comes as no surprise. It has been predicted more than once in those threads that something like this WILL happen if he continues with his behaviour - and surprise surprise, here it is happening. What has also been a common factor in the other threads is that it always starts out as \*\*Ambivalid \*\* having been all polite and genial and sunshine n roses - then degenerates into a guy having been at the very least snarky and rude, but more likely rude and antagonistic. If you were to search his posting history, how many parking “disputes” has he been involved in? And didn’t just such a dispute cost him his membership at the previous gym? And here we see it again - some freaking arsehole goes off at Ambivalid with VERBAL abuse, **and is leaving** , when Mr Chip on His Shoulder calls him out and “challenges” him - rather needlessly continuing the confrontation, which ended up being escalated. So while I condemn and abhor what the huge muscle bound freak / morbidly obese lardarse did, I don’t think our resident crusader is entirely innocent in the whole affair. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-assaulted-yesterday/609928/42 "2012-01-19T03:28:30Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > How so? Am I misunderstanding the word cut-curb? We don’t use that term in England, not that I’ve ever heard anyway, so I presume it means when the pavement/sidewalk is, instead of being an inch or two above the surface of the road, ramped down to gradually become level with it, making travelling from road to pavement easier for people in wheelchairs or pushing strollers and people who find it difficult to elevate their legs in certain positions. Parking right on that ramped area would mean that you had a longer drop to get down to the pavement and wouldn’t be stepping onto a flat surface, which isn’t a great idea if you have those mobility problems. If you had to get out of the other side of the vehicle and then come round, your vehicle would be blocking the cut-curb from your use. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-assaulted-yesterday/609928/43 "2012-01-19T03:39:10Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > Am I misunderstanding the word cut-curb? We don’t use that term in England, not that I’ve ever heard anyway, so I presume it means when the pavement/sidewalk is, instead of being an inch or two above the surface of the road, ramped down to gradually become level with it, making travelling from road to pavement easier for people in wheelchairs or pushing strollers and people who find it difficult to elevate their legs in certain positions. > > Parking right on that ramped area would mean that you had a longer drop to get down to the pavement and wouldn’t be stepping onto a flat surface, which isn’t a great idea if you have those mobility problems. If you had to get out of the other side of the vehicle and then come round, your vehicle would be blocking the cut-curb from your use. As I understand the situation, the driver was parked adjacent to the cut-curb, not on top of it. (We don’t generally park on top of curbs in the States, they are usually ~6 inches high.) And it’s not specifically stated, but I assumed that the passenger door where the large man was getting in was positioned adjacent to the cut-curb to ease his entering the vehicle. Which is why I presumed that it was possible that she was purposefully making use of the cut-curb, instead of just thoughtlessly blocking it for no reason. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-assaulted-yesterday/609928/44 "2012-01-19T03:44:54Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Jesus H. Christ. I specifically _declined_ to be regarded as a victim here. I can’t even _talk_ about it without being called a liar with a persecution complex?! Try telling a story where you don’t come across as one and let’s see if we can tell the difference. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-assaulted-yesterday/609928/45 "2012-01-19T03:44:54Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Having read the threads started by **Ambivalid** , and the way he talks about and to people for parking this comes as no surprise. > > It has been predicted more than once in those threads that something like this WILL happen if he continues with his behaviour - and surprise surprise, here it is happening. > > What has also been a common factor in the other threads is that it always starts out as \*\*Ambivalid \*\* having been all polite and genial and sunshine n roses - then degenerates into a guy having been at the very least snarky and rude, but more likely rude and antagonistic. > > If you were to search his posting history, how many parking “disputes” has he been involved in? And didn’t just such a dispute cost him his membership at the previous gym? > > And here we see it again - some freaking arsehole goes off at Ambivalid with VERBAL abuse, **and is leaving** , when Mr Chip on His Shoulder calls him out and “challenges” him - rather needlessly continuing the confrontation, which ended up being escalated. > > So while I condemn and abhor what the huge muscle bound freak / morbidly obese lardarse did, I don’t think our resident crusader is entirely innocent in the whole affair. Yeah, he posts this particular type of “can you believe how incredibly irrational and crazy these people who treated me so badly were?” thread a lot. They all smell fishy, and this is no exception. ---
**Author:** ![Keen\_Tojones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/0ea827/32.png) [@Keen\_Tojones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keen_Tojones)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-assaulted-yesterday/609928/46 "2012-01-19T03:48:03Z")
I’m glad you are okay. I’m new here and I feel as though I just walked up on a mishap. You sound spunky. Good for you. By the way, I’m Keen Tojones. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-assaulted-yesterday/609928/47 "2012-01-19T04:05:00Z")
> [@Cosmic Relief](#): > > Great job there. In the interest of your own convenience, you just taught this jerk that he can hurt people and get away with it if he just snivels and offers some bullshit excuse. I wouldn’t have put it quite so harshly myself, but… yeah. **Lots** of people are extremely sorry that they get caught. Couple that with the fact that he had to talk with his wife before he figured out why you told her you needed her to move the car. Really? The wheelchair didn’t give it away? The guy is chock-full of shit and probably pulls the raging bull/please-don’t-hurt me act all the time to keep his ass out of the sling. He’s got a nice racket going. He totally manipulated you. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-assaulted-yesterday/609928/48 "2012-01-19T04:14:02Z")
> [@Lord\_Ashtar](#): > > Try telling a story where you don’t come across as one and let’s see if we can tell the difference. > [@Mosier](#): > > Yeah, he posts this particular type of “can you believe how incredibly irrational and crazy these people who treated me so badly were?” thread a lot. They all smell fishy, and this is no exception. If you wish to call the OP a liar – or anything else – do so in the Pit. We’re in MPSIMS. Thanks, **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-assaulted-yesterday/609928/49 "2012-01-19T07:26:29Z")
> [@neuroman](#): > > No, the district attorney (prosecutor) has the right to decide whether to press charges. That’s why criminal cases are called “_People of the State of Idaho vs. Smith_,” instead of “_Ambivalid vs. Smith_.” As a practical matter, however, charges will usually not be pursued if the victim doesn’t want to cooperate. Not that I’m arguing with you but the police officers at the scene told me that the decision of whether or not to press charges was up to me. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-assaulted-yesterday/609928/50 "2012-01-19T08:19:08Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Having read the threads started by **Ambivalid** , and the way he talks about and to people for parking this comes as no surprise. > > (snip) > > So while I condemn and abhor what the huge muscle bound freak / morbidly obese lardarse did, I don’t think our resident crusader is entirely innocent in the whole affair. I have to say, a few months ago I’d have agreed with your position more, but recently I’ve been noting in PM’s how much the poster formerly known as **Jamie** has calmed down, and is a much more pleasant individual to deal with and read. I agree the story is weird and doesn’t \*quite \*make sense, which probably does result from storyteller’s bias, but still, unless he actually threw a punch first (which I don’t believe he did), the other guy was out of line. Even if \*\*Ambivalid \*\* had shouted and sworn at big dude’s wife (or big dude thought he had), shoving a guy so hard he falls out of his wheelchair is not an appropriate response. Sorry this happened \*\*Ambivalid \*\*and yeah, I know its your decision but personally I wish you’d gone ahead with pressing the charges too. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-assaulted-yesterday/609928/51 "2012-01-19T09:36:42Z")
> [@](#): > > And he originally claimed that because of his disability (his bad knee), he needed to have his wife park across the cut curb for him to enter the car. Yet this is complete bullshit. When a car pulls up the regular curb and opens the passenger door, there is virtually an even floor directly into the car itself; as the sidewalk is on-level with the doorstep to the car. No big step up or down is required from this point to enter the car, just a lateral movement. And this man proved this fact when he showed that he could get in and out of his wife’s totally fine by pulling right up to the curb itself rather than the cut-curb.[URL=“[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/editpost.php?do=editpost&p=14683273](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/editpost.php?do=editpost&p=14683273)”] I’ve got bad knees (and bad hips, and other bad joints). It’s a heck of a lot easier for me to get out of the car if I can get my feet on ground level, rather than curb level. I’ve had to tell my husband numerous times to stop about a foot or so away from the curb, so that I can get out. If my feet are on curb level, that means that it’s much, much harder for me to stand up. If I were transferring myself to a chair, I imagine that having the chair at curb level would be easier, but since I don’t use a chair or scooter, I don’t know. Now, if my husband is picking me up or dropping me off, he doesn’t park in front of the cut curb, but near it, so that I can walk up or down the ramp. I can only manage low steps, because otherwise I tend to fall, which is, at the very least, embarrassing and painful. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-assaulted-yesterday/609928/52 "2012-01-19T09:42:07Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > And as far as being more patient; it was dark, cold and raining outside and I was waiting for an illegally parked car blocking the cut curb. Why do I need to be patient here? And all I said (I didn’t shout anything, she was right in front of me,she hadn’t drove off yet) was “Ma,am, you know this isn’t the best place to park”. How is this that much different from what you are suggesting? You should be patient because you live within society and sometimes it requires patience, even for assholes. You said what you said _after_ she moved. Needlessly. Your problem: someone parked inconsiderately. Your solution: they move. You already had your solution. Blocking a guy in a wheelchair, they’re already going to _know_ it was a bad place to park. As to the cut curb issue, when people are uncomfortable and put on the defensive, they say any old shit. Truly she probably just didn’t think when she was parking. Now there’s some guy calling them out for it and they’re going to try to defend their actions with nonsense. Again, I’m not defending someone for physically attacking you, and I am definitely not blaming you for what happened. However if there’s a pattern of things that keep occurring to you, when your righteous anger dies down it might be an idea to try to have a dispassionate look at what happened and ask “is there the tiniest possibility I might have contributed to an exacerbation of the situation?” I got assaulted in the street a year ago by three guys who beat me to the ground and kicked my head repeatedly. I was absolutely blameless for the assault, and the guys who attacked me are utter scum - but when I reconsider what led up to it, I could probably behaved in a more defensive manner and avoided being used as a football. It’s the kind of thing that many martial arts teach you. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-assaulted-yesterday/609928/53 "2012-01-19T14:50:55Z")
> [@hermette](#): > > I have to say, a few months ago I’d have agreed with your position more, but recently I’ve been noting in PM’s how much the poster formerly known as **Jamie** has calmed down, and is a much more pleasant individual to deal with and read. Absolutely. And IIRC, he even mentioned here that being told he was being a jerk on those occasions in which he related stories where he had, indeed, been a jerk, had made him took a long look at his 'tude and realize there’s a difference between standing for oneself and getting into people’s faces. FTR, I have seen guys behave in the way he describes his assaulter behaving, so that aspect is perfectly believable to me. If it all got the guy to learn his lesson, hallelujah, one less jerk in the world! ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-assaulted-yesterday/609928/54 "2012-01-19T15:28:04Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > It’s a heck of a lot easier for me to get out of the car if I can get my feet on ground level, rather than curb level. Yep. My mother has knee problems and has the same issues with curbs. It has to do with the height of her hips relative to her knees as she begins to stand. The more her hips are above her knees the easier and less painful it is to stand up or sit down. Getting into or out of a sedan or crossover is easier for her than from a low slung sub-compact. Getting in or out away from the curb or at a curb cut is many times easier than doing so onto the curb. Sometimes I pull up away from the curb for her, but in situations where this may leave me partially blocking a traffic lane, I will pull up to a curb cut if one is available. Now if someone else came along that needed to use the curb cut I would move, immediately if I was just waiting, or as soon as mom was on or off board. However if the person was a snotty prick about it, I’d probably be inclined to give them an earful in return. Not everyone’s disabilities are obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-assaulted-yesterday/609928/55 "2012-01-19T15:32:36Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > If it all got the guy to learn his lesson, hallelujah, one less jerk in the world! Guy learned his lesson alright. Overreact and physically assault someone then grovel and all is forgiven. I’m in the camp that charges should have been pursued. If not by **Ambivalid** , then by the gym on its members behalf. The next victim may not be so lucky and suffer serious injury at the hands of this guy. ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-assaulted-yesterday/609928/56 "2012-01-19T15:38:55Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Having read the threads started by **Ambivalid** , and the way he talks about and to people for parking this comes as no surprise. > > It has been predicted more than once in those threads that something like this WILL happen if he continues with his behaviour - and surprise surprise, here it is happening. > > What has also been a common factor in the other threads is that it always starts out as \*\*Ambivalid \*\* having been all polite and genial and sunshine n roses - then degenerates into a guy having been at the very least snarky and rude, but more likely rude and antagonistic. > > If you were to search his posting history, how many parking “disputes” has he been involved in? And didn’t just such a dispute cost him his membership at the previous gym? > > And here we see it again - some freaking arsehole goes off at Ambivalid with VERBAL abuse, **and is leaving** , when Mr Chip on His Shoulder calls him out and “challenges” him - rather needlessly continuing the confrontation, which ended up being escalated. > > So while I condemn and abhor what the huge muscle bound freak / morbidly obese lardarse did, I don’t think our resident crusader is entirely innocent in the whole affair. Yeah, this is what I was thinking. Given the posting history of the OP in similar situations, his character of “What pray, Brother? Doth thou agrievest me? For thine horseless carriage doth impede my passage to the 24 Hour Fitness. Pray that I might pass with fair praise of thine burliness.” followed by the big, fat villian going completely monkey shit on the peaceful protagonist doesn’t pass the sniff test. So short of calling the OP a liar, methinks there might be a few details either “coloured” or left out. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-assaulted-yesterday/609928/57 "2012-01-19T15:46:46Z")
Gentlemen, please. It’s already been explained that this thread is only for responses of the “you’re my hero!” type. You’ll have to go into another room if you want to discuss what’s going on in this room. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-assaulted-yesterday/609928/58 "2012-01-19T15:52:12Z")
The only part of the story that gives me pause is that the gym did not kick the guy out. I find it sort of odd that a giant guy attacking (unprovoked) some one in a wheelchair, severely enough to chuck him on to the floor, would still be welcomed at the gym. It makes me think that some parts of the story are missing. But even with some parts missing, and even if Jamie called the guy and his wife every name in the book, you still don’t attack someone in a wheelchair. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-assaulted-yesterday/609928/59 "2012-01-19T15:53:52Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Gentlemen, please. It’s already been explained that this thread is only for responses of the “you’re my hero!” type. You’ll have to go into another room if you want to discuss what’s going on in this room. Yes, because the mods have always been accommodating of calling people liars and saying they deserved to be assaulted. And, of course, the supervision level of this thread has nothing to do with the previous threads that have been hijacked by people picking on the OP of this one. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-assaulted-yesterday/609928/60 "2012-01-19T16:09:25Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > The only part of the story that gives me pause is that the gym did not kick the guy out. Doesn’t surprise me at all. Gym employees aren’t bouncers, and getting a typical gym to cancel someone’s membership is unusual, unless you threaten to sue them for something, and they believe you actually might. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-assaulted-yesterday/609928.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-assaulted-yesterday/609928.md?page=4)