# Today, I shot the bird at a young child **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 20, 2007, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-shot-the-bird-at-a-young-child/419839 "2007-09-20T04:13:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-shot-the-bird-at-a-young-child/419839/161 "2007-09-21T17:29:19Z")
[QUOTE=levdrakon] They don’t own the hidden away smoking area clearly marked as a smoking area. It was also just an example, I’ve run into other places. You know how there can be a room full of people and the cat will always gravitate towards the quiet one who doesn’t particularly want a cat on his lap? Mommies are like that. They’ll sense there’s someone alone, standing twenty feet away from everyone else, minding his own business, and they’ll immediately haul their kids over there. “Cough, cough. Oh, you’re smoking. Cough, cough. Hold your breath children, the smoking man is trying to kill us.” [/QUOTE] I don’t smoke, but I’ve been given the stink eye by mothers for any number of innocent non-child-having activities before, such as: wanting to pass by in a crowded aisle at the grocery store, holding hands with my fiance in public, and standing in aforementioned hidden smoking area in Animal Kingdom. Og forbid you actually don’t try to drag your sumo stroller down the stairs into the smoking cesspit and lecture smokers about their bad habits while your fat eight year old breathes in smelly sneakers and cigarette smoke! There are good parents out there who can function perfectly normally until someone who’s visibly untethered to children or a spouse or that smoke, and then somehow they have to freak out. **Lobstermobster** , I can understand your frustration, as that’s quite a distance to be overhearing a kid of any age making verbal commentary on your habits. I am quite often known to give dirty looks to people who have kids who are destroying displays in stores while giving them the “oh, they’re so precious!” stargazing looks. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-shot-the-bird-at-a-young-child/419839/162 "2007-09-21T17:44:39Z")
[QUOTE=bigbabysweets2000] Just throw a chicken sangwich at\*\* WordMan\*\*. Sangwich isn’t a misspelling, it’s a Boston thing. [/QUOTE] Well, we all know out here in Cali, it’s a skankwich. **LM** , your artwork made my day. Bonus points for the cute little bow in your hair, although you should really quit smoking because you look waaayyyy underweight in that drawing…you’re actually skinnier than the cig! :eek: 😉 Actually, the really funny thing I’m noticing here is that some posters here are expecting that the self-control of a seven year old child should be automatic while the 23 year old feels that self-control is “exhausting”. Can anybody give me a :rolleyes:? ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-shot-the-bird-at-a-young-child/419839/163 "2007-09-21T17:45:36Z")
lobstermobster, see what you just started. [http://michellemalkinisanidiot.com/?p=111](http://michellemalkinisanidiot.com/?p=111) ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-shot-the-bird-at-a-young-child/419839/164 "2007-09-21T17:47:25Z")
[QUOTE=lobstermobster] are you SERIOUS? the guy touched me in a weird way and tried to get me to accept not only a wrong order but not nearly enough for the money I gave him. I was really not concerned with hurting his feelings! I would have even accepted the skanky chicken sandwich if he had given me five skanky sandwiches bc thats what i paid for. [/QUOTE] Did we lose the receipt between the cashier and the pickup window? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-shot-the-bird-at-a-young-child/419839/165 "2007-09-21T18:06:51Z")
[QUOTE=Yeticus Rex] Well, we all know out here in Cali, it’s a skankwich. [/QUOTE] Technically, a McSkankwich. ---
**Author:** ![lobstermobster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobstermobster/32/10033_2.png) [@lobstermobster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobstermobster)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-shot-the-bird-at-a-young-child/419839/166 "2007-09-21T18:23:09Z")
The thing is, I’m always pretty concious about where I’m smoking. If I’m around children I won’t light up. I don’t smoke in the smoking areas at work because I don’t want my co-workers to know. I just didn’t think anything of it when I was smoking that particular time (see drawing) because they were across the street and they had nothing to do with me. Apparantly all my efforts to be considerate ever have not paid off. I smoke. I like to smoke. But I made that decision for myself and I don’t like making other people espeically children breathe it in. This is what is going through my mind when the child ahole scolded me. And yeah I probably deserve an eyeroll for the dozens of times I’ve chosen to not put the brakes on my reaction. For every time my verbal diarrhea almost got me punched in the face but we are who we are. A lot of people don’t like me. Its always been like that. However the people that do usually appreciate that I’ll say what they are thinking. take it or leave it. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-shot-the-bird-at-a-young-child/419839/167 "2007-09-21T18:26:35Z")
[QUOTE=lobstermobster] The thing is, I’m always pretty concious about where I’m smoking. If I’m around children I won’t light up. I don’t smoke in the smoking areas at work because I don’t want my co-workers to know. I just didn’t think anything of it when I was smoking that particular time (see drawing) because they were across the street and they had nothing to do with me. Apparantly all my efforts to be considerate ever have not paid off. I smoke. I like to smoke. But I made that decision for myself and I don’t like making other people espeically children breathe it in. This is what is going through my mind when the child ahole scolded me. And yeah I probably deserve an eyeroll for the dozens of times I’ve chosen to not put the brakes on my reaction. For every time my verbal diarrhea almost got me punched in the face but we are who we are. A lot of people don’t like me. Its always been like that. However the people that do usually appreciate that I’ll say what they are thinking. take it or leave it. [/QUOTE] FWIW, I do empathize. I never faced that stuff when I was a smoker, but I can see how I would’ve gotten tired of it real fast if I did. The only time I was ever close to harassed about it was when a cop told me to put out my cigarette because I was in a non-smoking area on campus. I ignored him; he had a bunch of unruly Police Academy trainees to corral (who wouldn’t have lasted five minutes in the Air Force, judging from their complete lack of discipline when he went into a criminal justice office for a few minutes and left them outside in formation). Nothing happened. ---
**Author:** ![lobstermobster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobstermobster/32/10033_2.png) [@lobstermobster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobstermobster)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-shot-the-bird-at-a-young-child/419839/168 "2007-09-21T18:28:22Z")
[QUOTE=fetus] No, but then, I don’t find standard use of punctuation exhausting either. YMMV. [/QUOTE] Look, I proofread text all day long some days and I really enjoy writing on this message board stream of consciousness style. The spelling will always be bad the grammar will always be bad so what WILL be exhausting is you being anal annie on me everytime i fuck up. I think we all have made enough typos to know that just because we write poorly on a recreational message board doesn’t mean we dont know how to speak the english good. ---
**Author:** ![lobstermobster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobstermobster/32/10033_2.png) [@lobstermobster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobstermobster)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-shot-the-bird-at-a-young-child/419839/169 "2007-09-21T18:29:48Z")
having a no smoking section of anywhere open air is like having a “no peeing” end of a pool ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-shot-the-bird-at-a-young-child/419839/170 "2007-09-21T18:33:50Z")
[QUOTE=lobstermobster] Look, I proofread text all day long some days and I really enjoy writing on this message board stream of consciousness style. The spelling will always be bad the grammar will always be bad so what WILL be exhausting is you being anal annie on me everytime i fuck up. I think we all have made enough typos to know that just because we write poorly on a recreational message board doesn’t mean we dont know how to speak the english good. [/QUOTE] Whatever gets you off. That Anal Annie stuff sounds pretty hot. > [@lobstermobster](#): > > having a no smoking section of anywhere open air is like having a “no peeing” end of a pool To be fair, I was standing right next to a classroom door, with a class in it, and the area was somewhat enclosed by a walkway. I think the construction people put it there so debris wouldn’t fly at the students, or something. But it was still pretty open, even if it wasn’t open directly upwards and directly forwards from where I was standing. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-shot-the-bird-at-a-young-child/419839/171 "2007-09-21T19:13:19Z")
[QUOTE=lobstermobster] And yeah I probably deserve an eyeroll for the dozens of times I’ve chosen to not put the brakes on my reaction. For every time my verbal diarrhea almost got me punched in the face but we are who we are. A lot of people don’t like me. Its always been like that. However the people that do usually appreciate that I’ll say what they are thinking. take it or leave it. [/QUOTE] So, would you be willing to accept this as a response? [QUOTE=7 year old asian female child] And yeah I probably deserve a bird flipped my way for the dozens of times I’ve chosen to not put the brakes on my reaction. For every time my verbal diarrhea almost got me punched in the face but we are who we are. A lot of people don’t like me. Its always been like that. However the people that do usually appreciate that I’ll say what they are thinking. take it or leave it. [/QUOTE] **LM** , would you be cool with her if she responded to you thusly? Look, just to be clear…this has nothing to do with smoking, just everything to do with self-control. That is why I cut out the first half of your quote…that is immaterial. ---
**Author:** ![lobstermobster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobstermobster/32/10033_2.png) [@lobstermobster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobstermobster)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-shot-the-bird-at-a-young-child/419839/172 "2007-09-21T20:42:44Z")
ugh now i’m bored. this is boring me ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-shot-the-bird-at-a-young-child/419839/173 "2007-09-21T21:44:57Z")
[QUOTE=lobstermobster] I also want to point out that I unlike most people pick up my cigarette butts and throw them away in the garbage can instead of just leaving them on the street/sidewalk. [/QUOTE] I do that too, but I don’t think it’s going to save me when the revolution comes. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-shot-the-bird-at-a-young-child/419839/174 "2007-09-21T22:45:44Z")
[QUOTE=bigbabysweets2000] Just throw a chicken sangwich at\*\* WordMan\*\*. Sangwich isn’t a misspelling, it’s a Boston thing. [/QUOTE] Ouch! 🙂 Well, after the drawing I am torn - very funny. But what you did was still wrong - yes the kid was outta line (I would’ve severely disciplined mine - and have had to _sigh_), and the mom was worse, but two wrongs and all… ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-shot-the-bird-at-a-young-child/419839/175 "2007-09-21T22:57:30Z")
[QUOTE=lobstermobster] having a no smoking section of anywhere open air is like having a “no peeing” end of a pool [/QUOTE] heh, good one. Remember when airplanes had smoking and non-smoking sections?. That were not separated in any way? ---
**Author:** ![lobstermobster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobstermobster/32/10033_2.png) [@lobstermobster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobstermobster)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-shot-the-bird-at-a-young-child/419839/176 "2007-09-22T01:03:33Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] Ouch! 🙂 Well, after the drawing I am torn - very funny. But what you did was still wrong - yes the kid was outta line (I would’ve severely disciplined mine - and have had to _sigh_), and the mom was worse, but two wrongs and all… [/QUOTE] I didn’t expect to win any friends with my art so this is just all working out so well. added bonuses ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-shot-the-bird-at-a-young-child/419839/177 "2007-09-22T17:56:17Z")
[QUOTE=lobstermobster] maybe everyone should just stop being such ASSHOLES!! [/QUOTE] Oh, the irony is sweet. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-shot-the-bird-at-a-young-child/419839/178 "2007-09-22T21:16:03Z")
[QUOTE=lobstermobster] ugh now i’m bored. this is boring me [/QUOTE] You cant leave the thread until you explain [this picture](http://www.flickr.com/photos/lesliek615/176101040/). I demand answers! ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-shot-the-bird-at-a-young-child/419839/179 "2007-09-22T22:34:32Z")
[QUOTE=Autolycus] You cant leave the thread until you explain [this picture](http://www.flickr.com/photos/lesliek615/176101040/). I demand answers! [/QUOTE] I knew there was a second bird shooter on that grassy knoll ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-shot-the-bird-at-a-young-child/419839/180 "2007-09-22T22:42:38Z")
**lobster** , have you ever considered that if you stopped thinking of everyone else as an asshole or potential asshole, and acting accordingly, you might not be in a perpetual state of rage? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-shot-the-bird-at-a-young-child/419839.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-i-shot-the-bird-at-a-young-child/419839.md?page=10)