Hello My Friends,
Today I had the unique experience of having a very large, older, former resident of the UK, get in my grill about my having a conversation on my cell phone at a local McDonald’s in Oakville.
The chimp in question interrupted my call to a dear friend in NYC to tell me to stop talking, in a very loud voice mind you, and that it was offending him.
I quickly informed my fellow patron that McDonald’s is not a library and that he was in public. He immediately got over torqued, where upon he raised his voice to the point that I had to drop my call and ask for the manager of the shop.
Clearly if I was in violation of the a widely held policy of McDonald’s I would have apologized and moved on. The manager came over and made it clear that I was welcome to use my cell phone in the shop and that the former resident of the UK would have to be on his way.
He then went on to say he had bought his breakfast at the store and all I had bought was a cup of coffee. I had to let him know that before arriving at McDonald’s I had spent $520 getting my car repaired at the MasterMechanic in the plaza plus another $100 at other merchants.
At that point the large, older, former resident of the UK invited me out to settle things up on the sidewalk. I always like when that happens. I countered his offer, as I have many times, by suggesting that he beat me senseless in front of witnesses so that I could have him charged under the criminal code and sue him for damages.
His response was to say is that all I could do is talk. True. I can and have talked my way out of many close calls. But its like I always tell my 6 1/2 year old daughter – use your words and get some adult oversight on the bullies.
If you are offended by people using their cell phones in public maybe you should stay home, there’s lots of it going on!
Make it a great November!
Lou, you rock! Too bad you didn’t get the scene on video.
“You wanna piece of me??!??! Eh???!!!”
Fight ! Fight! Fight!
I would have been chanting for a fight. And would have supplied the popcorn.
Loved the story. Great moral victory. But I would have wanted to see you deck him. Though you’re too be too smart to wrestle with the pleibes.
Hey, Lou, in New York the correct response is to pull out your gun and shoot him.
Hey Lou,
Love your knowledge, great sense of humour and never ending optimism. I pretty well always agree with your way of thinking but hate to tell you, not this time.
Of course I wasn’t there to hear you talking on the cell phone but must admit that I generally hate people who yap away on their cell’s in a loud and annoying manner. I am really not interested in hearing their joys or pains and intimate details of their lifes.
Lou, what a “McNasty” experience!…..congrats on your moral victory!…..this guy should have asked to “supersize” his brain power too, when ordering his big fat greasy burger!
Good morning Lou, I enjoy hearing the personal conversations of people using their cel phones in public, the only thing that I ask is that they use a speaker option as I really miss the other half of the conversation and can at times misunderstand the tone of the call.
It was Morrissey who threatened to beat you up? You should be so lucky!
I googled British Soccer hooligan and his picture came up – also looked a bit like the slab of meat I had to faceoff.
We all have the right to be rude in public. 2 rudes don’t make a pleasant!
Lou I just have to say most polite people keep their direct and phone conversations down to a dull roar in public. You see “in public” is a place that many share it is only polite to not use up too much space (or noise) when sharing that space with others.
The idiot had a point, but he is still just an idiot. And many would consider you a little selfish for not keeping the volume down or simply walking out of range of those who would prefer fewer decibels.
So you are one of these schmuks who think that your conversation in a public place is more important than my right not to hear it.
This is exactly why when this happens around me I raise my voice and get as close to you as possible.
This always works and you will hang up.
dan Oshawa
Dan, u must be an auto worker?
I probably would have told you to keep it down as well, you are pretty annoying!
I fail to see the relevance of referring several times to the the chimp as a former member of the UK.
There’s a fine line in my opinion of what level you talk at. If you’re talking as if someone was sitting across from you then who cares. If you are “yell” talking like so many do then he had a legitimate bitch.
Speaking of… Was in the driver liscence renewal office waiting my turn. Large signs saying “silence for those writing driver exams”. Young bimbo yelling typical bimbo talk loudly. Office workers were chicken to say something. A line up of people looking at her pissed making loud comments, and she still didn’t get it. There is a cellphone etitquette unless it’s noisy place where no one cares.