I had to think about this for a minute. I’m pretty sure I would have stuck around, but in my car and at a distance. I might even have left or started to leave, but I probably would have turned back or pulled over somewhere I could see her. I think I would have wanted to make sure nothing else worse happened while waiting, but I sure wouldn’t have wanted to put up with what was coming out of her mouth.
If she had been nice, and no other solution besides waiting for rescue had been found, I probably would have seen about getting her a cup or a bucket or even a stool. I can’t imagine a fix couldn’t have been figured out, though, if she hadn’t been a lunatic. Definitely one to leave behind in the zompocalypse. Leave her babbling in the gutter, I say.
I’d have stayed, but mostly out of self-interest. For all you knew, the bitch might have thrown a rock through your business window or otherwise caused some damage once freed. Waiting for her to leave makes this less likely; plus, you can ask the cop to note her abusive behavior and that you are worried about your property.
I also wouldn’t get within 10 feet of her, and like others noted, I’d pull up a chair and listen to some tunes while waiting for the cops.
Of course, had she been pleasant, I also would have stayed, but I’d be much happier about it.
I probably would have stayed. But I would have done it from my car, parked a hundred feet away with the radio on. I could keep an eye on her for any emergencies without having to put up with her abuse.
Can you imagine this woman’s response if the op had brought out a bucket and said “Hey, if you want, you can pee in here.” Bear in mind that her choice is either pee her pants and maybe some drips in the bucket, which doesn’t help her at all, or pull down her pants in front of somebody she’s shown nothing but loathing for and pee into a bucket. This would be a very, very bad idea.
Of course I can’t say for sure, but I think I would have called 911, then stayed around until the cops got there. If the woman was as bat shit crazy as you describe, I also would have had my radar pinging on high alert for whatever it was she was trying to distract me from. And I wouldn’t have gotten within 10 feet of her. I would have stayed in the business or my car until the cops came. With someone that nuts, I would want to be there when the cops came so I could give a statement. Plus if she went all ape-shit on the cops I would have wanted to see that too. I wouldn’t have just left her there alone no matter how abusive she was. I’ve been in similar situations, and you just let it roll off your back and do what’s right.
I didn’t say the op should have found a bucket, I said I might possibly have done so. Small distinction perhaps, but distinction nonetheless.
I am a woman, which I think makes a difference in the whole peeing in front of a stranger dynamic. Also I have a tiny bladder, so I have perhaps more visceral empathy for that particular aspect of her plight. The op did ask “would you have stayed?” not “what should I have done?”
Plus, me finding and offering the bucket in no way forces her to act. She can decide to keep holding it if she wants, see if I care! I wouldn’t be trying to touch her, or getting within swinging distance if she seems physically dangerous. Also, as I see it, finding and proffering a bucket gets me an immediate out from the whole “What if she wants into the building after she gets free???” thing. Use the bucket, bitch!
Depending on the specifics of her behavior (does she calm down once she knows an emergency crew is on the way?) I probably would get going once the cops arrived. I don’t have an obligation to stick around once I know she’s safe and somebody else’s problem. Not too worried about vandalism at that point either, as police reports will help my insurance company track her down.
I understand being scared and in pain and taking it out on people. So I don’t really hold it against her. I would have felt pretty guilty just leaving her there.
Coming from a former dispatcher, current LEO, the people answering the non-emergency lines and the ones answering 9-1-1 are one and the same. Doesn’t matter what number you dial. You’d be surprised how many people don’t call 9-1-1 for serious, life threatening emergencies because they didn’t want lights and sirens coming to them.
That being said, in my department, her needing to use the restroom wouldn’t have made this an emergency. The fire department might have come and broken her (passenger) window for her. Or we might have. We don’t carry slim jims, and we don’t break into cars. That’s all she’d have gotten.
I don’t get this. You’re stuck. You’re scared, fine. But when salvation presents itself you’re going to curse it? I have a very hard time understanding that. How could you not have some measure of decency, at the minimum, if not gratitude?
She had her arm stuck in her window, not getting chewed on by a rabid bear. Maybe I’ve just gotten myself into more stupid situations than she has (chances are pretty good on that, actually), but that isn’t worthy of a total freak-out and heaping abuse on someone who can help me.
I’m with the OP. Someone is on hand to help. Show a little humility/respect/kindness. The OP didn’t cause her arm to get stuck, why is she verbally abusing him?
Calling 911 would be useless. You can do the same thing yourself. They’re not locksmiths.
I wonder if some kind of lubricant might have helped? (I know what you’re thinking… Get your mind out of the gutter!)
To everyone concerned about giving her a chance to pee, I never thought to go there. She never specified a need to urinate, just that she had to “go to the bathroom”. :eek::eek: The next morning I looked at the parking lot for evidence of broken window (none) or shit (none).
My building has no glass, specifically for security, and an excellent alarm system.
Some of y’all are really overloaded with empathy, or else I’m a replicant.
I would have stayed, but said, “I am trying to help you, now settle down or I go back inside…”
then I would either stay or go back inside as the situation dictates. I would not have left her defenseless on her own, but also don’t have to take the abuse.
