# What were you THINKING? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 13, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532 "2023-10-13T19:36:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 227
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/4820 "2025-04-21T19:38:35Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Johanna was the victim. I’m not a victim in any sense. There was no crime, no big deal. I didn’t take offense. My state of mind has been questioned. I’ll tell you exactly what it was: Bemusement plus compassion. I was all, “Huh. Oh well…” I didn’t take offense. I just felt a little sad that things hadn’t gone better and felt compassion for the real victim of society, someone who found it necessary to beg on the street. That was 40 years ago in Cleveland; I was 25, at loose ends, and hustling to find little scraps of work. My bread was from Cleveland’s renowned and locally beloved Aladdin Baking Co. I think my first words on the subject expressed my bemusement accurately. No need to strain to read anything extra between the lines. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/4821 "2025-04-21T19:43:41Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Not a toll both anywhere in the state. There is no cash or card option. I paid at a cash booth as recently as last year. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/4822 "2025-04-21T20:19:20Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > I think my first words on the subject expressed my bemusement accurately. No need to strain to read anything extra between the lines. You have my apologies for stretching the encounter further than reality. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/4823 "2025-04-21T20:27:02Z")
That’s OK. No worries. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/4824 "2025-04-21T20:37:31Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > My friend didn’t want to be anywhere in the neighborhood when someone lashed out. He didn’t want to be the target of lashing out. What he wanted was an uneventful walk on the streets of Manhattan, but there were often homeless folks on his route who would not let that happen. It sucks for both poor people who want to ask for help and the people they ask that a nontrivial fraction of beggars on the streets are crazy and/or violent. There’s not a lot that the sane, nonviolent beggars can do about it. But it sure does scare away a lot of people who might otherwise be moved to give something. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/4825 "2025-04-21T20:44:40Z")
Seems like we need to address the homeless situation. First. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/4826 "2025-04-21T22:41:36Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Here in FL everything is now transponderized. Not a toll both anywhere in the state. There is no cash or card option. If you have a transponder and an account it’s cheap. If they get you via plate reader, it’s expensive Your choice. Sunshine Skyway still has a toll both. ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/4827 "2025-04-22T17:02:32Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Bad day. > Tummy ache. > Bread is stale. > Car needs gas. I’ve had all of those things happen to me. Not one of them caused me to accuse someone of attacking a homeless person because they gave them food. But you do you. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/4828 "2025-04-22T18:12:25Z")
? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/4829 "2025-04-22T20:14:19Z")
I’m fine doing me. In fact I’m expert at it. Neither Czarcasm nor Johanna attacked anyone. Do ya’ll not see the irony in the whole thing? Good grief. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/4830 "2025-04-22T20:23:40Z")
🎶 It’s like rain on your wedding day It’s free bread when you already ate It’s the good advice that you just didn’t take And who would’ve thought? It figures 🎶 ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/4831 "2025-04-22T20:34:50Z")
🎶 It’s like being poliiiiiite… In the Barbecue Pit… 🎶 ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/4832 "2025-04-22T20:45:41Z")
Ya’ll turned a corner to cray-cray town. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/4833 "2025-04-22T21:01:21Z")
[![](https://i.makeagif.com/media/11-01-2020/fwHXDa.gif) ](https://i.makeagif.com/media/11-01-2020/fwHXDa.gif) Welcome to the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/4834 "2025-04-22T21:59:39Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Neither Czarcasm nor Johanna attacked anyone. Czarcasm did claim that Johanna attacked this homeless person by offering them bread. (bolding mine) > [@Czarcasm](#): > > My opinion is that **your attack** on that person might have been uninformed and that, unlike myself, makes for an easy target that cannot answer back. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/4835 "2025-04-22T22:18:33Z")
Oh well. Who really cares, at this point? Anybody got a new topic? This bread is stale. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/4836 "2025-04-22T22:37:37Z")
It’s never too late to make it all about you ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/4837 "2025-04-22T22:44:47Z")
Hey! 😄 ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/4838 "2025-04-22T22:54:12Z")
OK, Saint Cad: The legal system is already like that. I had to go to city court and made a motion to dismiss and the city attorney objected because under some rule, motions had to be in writing 7 days before the heaing. How would I know to even look up the rules let alone where the rules are located. And this was a “dog barking too much” case. I had to use my pre-paid legal consulting to know what to do for the trial in city court because my dog barks) So you got a citation because your dog was disturbing the peace? I don’t know the facts of the case, but I find it unlikely the city would escalate to that unless some neighbors were aggrieved enough to keep complaining. Also, dogs aren’t _supposed_ to bark all the time; that’s a sign that their owner is failing to meet some need of theirs. And then you expect to be able to go into court and just wing it? You know, there are professionals you can hire to handle this sort of thing for you. I am unsympathetic. ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2025, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/4839 "2025-04-23T03:08:16Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > This bread is stale So is your bullshit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=226) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=228)