Slightly OT: At what point do you tell people to (verb) off?
I'm going to go on a hypothetical here. Let's say, for example, you're a fan inside the Big House watching a football game between two teams - let's say, UM and ummm... Purdue. You're sitting in front of a group of guys who have become the poster-children for the (newly coined?) phrase, "Wal-Mart Wolverines" (I'm putting this nicely, my roommate has said they were "the biggest pieces of white trash I've ever seen"). Through the ENTIRE GAME, one or more of these people are purposefully tapping you on the shoulder or poking your hair or something else every 40-90 seconds. They're literally trying to get a rise out of you, for absolutely no reason other than to cause a scene (trolling offline, really?).
This happened to me today. Shortly after Roundtree's TD reception in the second quarter (during the extra point, if I recall correctly), I turned and told him to cut it out. This dude was ready to fight me; I wanted no part of it (I'm 5'9", 130lbs - I have no reason nor desire to fight anybody). I had done nothing at this point to warrant any of the reaction, short of asking him/them to stop touching me. But, he was willing to "wreck me" (his words, not mine). Apparently, my asking him to stop was me "mouthing off."
Now, I'm an exceptionally patient person. I can put up with a lot of horsecrap before hitting a breaking point. But today I wanted nothing more than a sharp metal blade attached to my elbow so I could thrust it deep under his patella, and twist (because it doesn't heal as fast if you twist).
How long is it okay to ignore this kind of thing? Do you say something about it? It's incredibly petty to get an usher over for it, obviously. Even people he was sitting with were telling him to knock it off (after the initial scene, I said nothing to him, short of catching him in the act multiple times during the game).
What the hell does one do in this situation, when one is just trying to enjoy a Saturday in the Big House, win or lose??
November 7th, 2009 at 9:49 PM ^
That ends the discussion pretty quickly.
If you aren't willing to do that, then yeah, either call the usher or make enough of a scene that everyone around will be on your side and make sure the guy knocks that stupid shit off.
November 7th, 2009 at 9:58 PM ^
yelling "HELEN KELLER JOKES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE - SHE WAS A PERSON DAMMIT AND A FINE ONE AT THAT!" works sixty percent of the time, every time
November 7th, 2009 at 10:02 PM ^
I swear to god, I was just in a group of people and some of them were discussing who from history they would want to sit down and have a conversation with. One of the girls said Helen Keller.
November 7th, 2009 at 9:55 PM ^
So he kept doing it? I was in a situation kind of like this once. There were a bunch of kids at a Brewers game throwing popcorn around each other and also at other fans in our area. One of them eventually got an usher who told them to stop. That probably would have been the end of it, but one of the kids started swearing at the usher and started using threats on the woman who got the usher (in front of her young son). The kids got kicked out, and the woman was too upset to watch the rest of the game.
I don't get why some people feel the need to ruin games for the people around them.
November 7th, 2009 at 9:56 PM ^
that chick shoulda grown a pair
/attemptathumorafterhorriblelossomgPURDUEreally?OMGREALLY
November 7th, 2009 at 10:04 PM ^
Actually, it's funny you say that. I was shocked at how little support this woman got from the other fans that were being hassled. Eventually, my brother had to get up and tell the usher that the lady wasn't just making it up (this made the kids really happy with us).
November 7th, 2009 at 9:55 PM ^
boost his ACT score 10 pts from the 8 he scored so he has to do it in the OSU alumni section
November 7th, 2009 at 10:03 PM ^
The behavior you describe is legally considered assault. No one has a right to keep touching you when you tell them to stop.
Furthermore, the University of Michigan no doubt wants to provide an enjoyable experience for their fans, and would no doubt want to be informed about someone who is harrassing other fans so they could remedy the situation. Getting an usher is not "petty".
In a situation like that, the protocol goes thusly:
First incident, turn around and say "Don't touch me."
Second indicent, turn around, point at the guy, and yell "STOP FUCKING POKING ME!!"
Third incident, don't say anything, just get up and go inform a security guard of the situation.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:10 PM ^
legally assault is the perception of possible injury or aggravated battery (redundant phrase ftw i dont feel like hitting backspace omg!)
a thrown punch that misses is assault
tapping is sissy battery/annoyance
law school degree i will never use ftwinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
November 7th, 2009 at 10:13 PM ^
LOL!
Thanks for the clarification.
The jist of my post still stands though, the point being that legally that is not acceptable conduct, let alone from a standpoint of common decency. OP seemed like he was questioning whether he was justified in confronting the guy more strongly and/or calling an usher, and my post was just trying to make it clear to him that it's absolutely justified in that instance.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:16 PM ^
OP seemed like he was questioning whether he was justified in confronting the guy more strongly and/or calling an usherExactly. Thank you.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:06 PM ^
disturbed. You wanted to stick a blade into his patella? I can understand wanting to b-slap him or something but that was way too graphic. Sorry you're a tiny little B but having fantasies about sticking someone is gross. This thread needs to be taken down.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:15 PM ^
does NOT mean I would act on it. Again, like I said - I am a patient person.
It's not a situation I've been in before today. I absolutely hate it when people create scenes at public events, so I didn't create a scene. I'm there for the sole reason to enjoy a football game, as are the people around me (admittedly, this last part is assumed). Creating a scene can potentially ruin the experience of everyone around, especially if something happens and somebody completely uninvolved in the initial event gets involved.
I may be small, but that's no reason to call me a little bitch. Further, if you can't take a little descriptive imagery, you are quite sheltered.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:32 PM ^
to rationalize your reasoning on why you said you wanted to shiv someone who was poking you? Sorry this guy (complete assclown) did this to you. Weapons are for losers, plain and simple.
Hopefully this was a good learning experience for you. It seems as though YOU have been sheltered bc alpha male (idiotic wang inferiority) behavior such as this is everywhere. I find it funny when I see people who believe they are above this because they think that because they are intelligent or well off that this should never happen to them.
My advice is that next time someone gets you out of your comfort zone confront them with a strong demeanor respectfully asking that they stop. It works everytime.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:09 PM ^
Yeah that is kinda sick, plus, doing nothing about a situation like that in real life then running to the internet later to post fantasies of patella stabbing is a pretty passive aggressive way to handle your problems. OP needs to learn to be more assertive.
EDIT: This post was intended to be in reply to MichMike86's post above.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:20 PM ^
The problem with asserting myself is that his reaction was to immediately threaten with physical violence. I won't say I handled the situation well, because I know I did nothing of the sort.
Hindsight is, of course, 20/20.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:27 PM ^
So you'd rather him have stabbed the guy and acted on his thoughts? I think "running to the internet" is just fine when some dumbass is acting like, well, a dumbass.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:41 PM ^
internet to tell his E-friends about it is ok (if you're a girl). Btw, if he was able to sneak a decent blade into the game I think we should all be worried.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:43 PM ^
Not something I would ever, or will ever do. See above notes about not wanting a scene; I won't repeat it again.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:47 PM ^
You just did it there. I won't repeat it again. Way to assert yourself. Excuse me while I go cower in the corner.
November 7th, 2009 at 11:47 PM ^
Oh look it's internet tough guy with golden advice for us all. Love your comment about the OP being "sheltered", so great dude.
November 7th, 2009 at 11:47 PM ^
Oh look it's internet tough guy with golden advice for us all. Love your comment about the OP being "sheltered", so great dude.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:46 PM ^
Hahaha, what?????
How in the world did you get from my post that I think he should have stabbed this guy? ..... You're being sarcastic, right?
November 7th, 2009 at 10:47 PM ^
is "shank."
Geez, kids these days.
November 8th, 2009 at 12:39 AM ^
You have to admit that if he'd actually stabbed the guy the story would have been a hell of a lot more interesting. "Somebody picked on me and I just sat there" isn't much of a yarn.
You could also substitute "stabbing the guy" with "I turned around and just started pissing on him right there in the stands." See what I just did. Both of those stories would be infinitely more entertaining.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:09 PM ^
There was a guy I wanted to punch in the throat at the game today. So called Michigan fan gave up on the team and started booing/clapping sarcastically when we were still up by a touchdown.
Also, a guy after the game walking down the street screaming "FIRE RICH ROD! FIRE RICH ROD! SEND THAT HILLBILLY BACK TO WEST VIRGINIA!"
Assholes. Besides those couple guys though, most of the people I talked to were very grounded and realistic about the team, and were in relatively good spirits even after we fell apart.
You'll never be able to stop them, so you might as well just set an example and be supportive. And not an asshole.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:11 PM ^
endorse throat punching. It's a good way to get your point across in a respectable manner.
November 8th, 2009 at 12:05 AM ^
Absolutely. And when they try to yell at you afterwards, their voice will squeak and they will be embarrassed.
November 8th, 2009 at 9:54 AM ^
There was an idiot across the aisle from me wearing a fire RichRod hat that I verbally sparred with for the entire game (or at least until he left after the failed onside kick). He complained about the team the entire game and clapped whenever we did anything wrong. If Michigan football is such a miserable experience for a person, then that person should stay home and stop bothering the rest of us.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:10 PM ^
Sorry you had to go through that, that really sucks. I am 6'0" and 250 lbs and I don't like to fight either. I guess my size tends to keep me out of situations like that. I think that the usher would have probably been your safest bet but you had 100,000 people around you who would have helped you sit him down if you had jumped up and knocked the crap out him (even if it meant a dong punch like someone mentioned earlier).
November 7th, 2009 at 10:46 PM ^
The only problem with going to the ushers at the Big House is that they are all 95 years old and looking to avoid anything resembling confrontation. Your best bet would be to use your Michigan education to craft the perfect set of words to make the guy feel like a complete ass. This of course, wouldn't work, since words of intelligence or wit have no effect on a mutant like this. So your next best bet is to go with the aforementioned dong-punch. If not, try making him uncomfortable by turning around and rubbing nacho cheese on his lap and telling him "clean your self up you little bitch". At this point, he will throw the first punch. Duck out of the way and his drunk ass will fall down 2 rows. At this point, security will take him out and your entire section will support you while chanting at him to get the f#*@! out. He will be carried out and the entire incident will appear on YouTube.
November 7th, 2009 at 11:51 PM ^
Practical and efficient, +1.
November 8th, 2009 at 2:16 AM ^
You can text 377911 to get security in the stadium if you want some back-up there if you're about to get your ass kicked, or if you can't or don't want him to know you're running to security.
He touches you in a threatening manner, he should be out. Remember, all the fans around you probably hate him too, so by acting, you'll be doing them a favor too.
November 8th, 2009 at 4:11 AM ^
that when I encountered a bear in my back yard, the MGoSentiment was much more supportive and helpful. I think the OP deserves as much, and I volunteer to airlift my local bear to the stadium to sort shit out next time shit kicks off.
November 8th, 2009 at 10:20 AM ^
Usually right after "hello".