Sucky People

Boy, some people just really suck. There's no better way to say it - they just suck. Maybe they can't help themselves - nature versus nurture maybe, but they're out there, and they suck.

While shopping the other day, a kid (mid-twenties, lots of tattoos, ratty clothes, etc - you know the type - I think I'll call him Grunge Bob) came up to us asking for money. He went on about how his debit card had stopped working and he needed the money for his prescription. I actually had no money to give him at that moment, which I told him. But that wasn't good enough for Bob, (hey maybe if you had saved some of your money instead of spending it on tattoos you wouldn't need to be panhandling?) who went off shouting about how there's no holiday spirit to his friend who was accosting people down the sidewalk a bit. Up until that point, I felt bad for Bob, and was considering giving him something when I came out of the store if he was still out there (I know, that's sort of a cop out - "if he was still out there"). But shouting at me about not having holiday spirit, that's just wrong Bob.

But that's not why Bob sucks.. We were inside the store finishing up our purchases and who comes up to the register next to us? Yup, it was Bob. He had collected enough money to pay for his "prescription." He was buying the cheapest pack of cigarettes he could find. And harassing the sales clerk in the process. Is that really your prescription Bob? Nicotine? Who prescribed it, Philip Morris? I think not.

These days, there are people floating around with petitions for various bills, including adding $0.07 to the price of cigarettes - sadly there were none around at the time - it would have felt good to know that I was signing something that would make Bob's life more difficult in the future.

Bob, I'm sorry to say it, but you totally suck. You don't just suck a little, but you actually totally suck. You lied about why you wanted the money (don't get me wrong, I really didn't believe you, but you lied none the less), and then you ranted and raved about my not having any holiday spirit. I have holiday spirit Bob, I just didn't have any money. I suppose what I should have done was said "I'm sorry, I don't have any spare change" but then continued with "but I'm going into the store, so I'll bring you some when I come out." And then, in keeping with your definition of holiday spirit (lying), just blow you off when I come out of the store? Ok Bob, we'll do it that way.

Maybe in a few years, when your lungs are rotting and you're out in front of the store bumming money for another tank of oxygen we'll try things your way and see how they play out...

GB: [cough][wheeze] Can you help me out? My debit card's not working and I need to get my oxygen tank refilled
Me: Sure, I don't have any money on me right now, but let me go inside and make a purchase and then I'll give you something
GB: [hack][sputter] Great, thanks.
[5 minutes later]
GB: Hey, mister, where're you going? You promised to give me something
Me: Oh, yeah, sorry, I lied - that's holiday spirit for you.