Adults behaving badly.

[apollinav]

Just a short kvetching if you don't mind.

Dear Assholes,

Yes, you know who you are.  If you don't, please allow me to elaborate.  At a children's/family event please note that it is bad form to push five year olds and intimidate children.  (That goes for you Slags too)  Yes, I realize the sniveling ankle-biters are mighty annoying, but acting their age is wholly inappropriate. 

Today I attended the Krewe of Gemini Mardi Gras parade in Shreveport, Louisiana.  It's a Family-oriented event.  While open drinking containers are permitted, flashing boobies for prezzies is not.  It creates an interesting environment where Girl Scout troops line up next to old chain smoking hussies in tight shirts as they both scramble for the same 1cent set of beads.  Note to adults:  Don't scream at the Girl Scouts.  EVER.  Don't cackle when you grab the beads out of their hands.  Don't pull and or tug on small tots to get closer to the parade floats.

It's unacceptable.  And it's a damn good thing I'm unarmed and unwilling to go to jail, because the buttstock of my M-16 can do some serious damage to caked on makeup.

And if you think I'm exaggerating, you should have seen the displays.

I need a margarita.

Comments

[miamadwyn.livejournal.com]

Wow.

That's just... wow.

I think it merits a letter to the editor of the newspaper or such. Too bad you don't have pictures to post on the intertubes.

[apollinav.livejournal.com]

Yeah. And looking at this the next day I realize that all I need was a bus full of Nuns and crippled children to make the cliche complete, but alas, it really did happen. Pics would be great. I took a few of Timo and I with our beads from a disposable camera, but I didn't think to shoot anyone else. I'll post a few when I develop them.

[miamadwyn.livejournal.com]

If pictures were showing up on the internet, people might be shamed into behaving themselves.

That happened in Dallas some years ago when an area with lots of bars and (evidently) not enough toilets had people parking on side streets and urinating in the yards and such. A neighborhood group started posting pictures of the people in the act on the internet. It was quite amusing and effective.

[apollinav.livejournal.com]

Just reading about it second hand makes me giggle, actually I cackle and occasionally snort, but as I pretend to be a delicate flower I'll say 'giggle.'

I'm not certain if they can be shamed. From what I've witnessed they don't appear to have any. Next time I see anything of the like YouTube would be an appropriate response, or find some of the cops doing crowd control - even if they are few and far between.

[miamadwyn.livejournal.com]

Next time, go in uniform.

[apollinav.livejournal.com]

Yep. Totally cackled this time. No sense hiding it.

Sergeant Johnson has asked you slags to leave. I suggest you abide by her wishes. It was not a request.

Sometimes. Not often, but sometimes, I can play Sergeant Johnson. It's rather fun.

[miamadwyn.livejournal.com]

See? Mischief managed.

[apollinav.livejournal.com]

Totally.

BTW - I need to thank you regarding Snuna (though I prefer Lunus) I got an awesome prompt for an awesome person. My only problem will be staying within 5,000 words. But that's a fun challenge.

[miamadwyn.livejournal.com]

Oh, cool! I'm so glad!

I will have the same issue with my prompt--but I need that to keep me short, because I really can't allow myself to go crazy!

[apollinav.livejournal.com]

Sigh. Exactly. Mine will have to be an abridged one-shot. The prompt deserves to be fleshed out into a real fic. But I understand the reasoning for the cap, and I think they scored more writers this way. By limiting it people who wouldn't have otherwise jumped took a chance. I can't wait to see what others have written. I read all the prompts and there's some really great fodder there.

[miamadwyn.livejournal.com]

Exchanges are really wonderful. I think the SS/HG exchange is the lifeblood of our ship, honestly. It brings writers out again who rarely write for the ship anymore, and brings in new writers, and the quality is amazing.

Now other exchanges are cropping up all over the place, but none tempted me until Snuna. I can't wait!

[apollinav.livejournal.com]

I think next go-round I'll be tempted to join it.

I just finished my first Dramione fic for the HP_Spring_Fling and I had to cut it at 10,500 words though it could have easily gone on to 20,000. The funny thing was I kept feeling like somehow I had cheated on SS by writing the pairing. Odd that.

[miamadwyn.livejournal.com]

Well, you feel guilty and you're surprised?!?

I am not sure why giving and receiving prompts works so well, honestly I'm not. But it brings just amazing results.

[beffeysue.livejournal.com]

I am sadly amazed at just how stupid some grown ups can be. Even the excuse of "too much to drink" cannot excuse that kind behavior.
Beth

[apollinav.livejournal.com]

Age and maturity have very little to do with each other. And frankly, around these parts things are very different. Long before I moved here I saw the Adam Sandler Waterboy movie and assumed it was an exaggeration for comedy. I'm continuously reminded of that movie in my daily life. Dead on accurate. Terribly scary. And alcohol never excuses poor behavior.

[persevero.livejournal.com]

Sounds grim. Though the female members of our village scout troop are pretty intimidating! Was discussing this a couple of days ago - why do adults feel entitled to be unacceptably rude to children? The rule should be impeccable courtesy to all, regardless of age, but curb genuine bad behaviour if necessary, even if the children are strangers.

[apollinav.livejournal.com]

You know, I could really imagine the girls giving the old slags a quick kick to the shins, and they ought to have done so, but they were being on their best behavior. I was across the street watching this and other truly bad spectacles, but noticed to my great disappointment that no adult interceded on their behalf. I did however get to watch other mothers yell at each other for better positions in line for their little darlings. That was not much better. *shakes head* They're just cheap beads that get binned the next day. Ruining the event like that lasts longer.

[kosmickway.livejournal.com]

you've fulfilled one of my dreams in life. I'd LOVE to see a Mardi Gras parade. Sorry about the assholes. They're EVERYWHERE!

[apollinav.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it's different in NOLA. Throughout the Ark-La-Tex there are Mardi Gras parades taking place. Finding one isn't too difficult, you may not be too far from one. Something to think about for next year, it would be an affordable roadtrip.

[mayself.livejournal.com]

Goddess, that seems awful. Sometimes adults can be so childish as the children themselves.

[apollinav.livejournal.com]

Many adults don't impress me much. Mixing pretty shiny things in a competition to grab, and alcohol is a recipe for disaster. It's the kids who lose out.

[kierkegaardwife.livejournal.com]

That is undoubtedly the most horrifying thing I've ever heard of. I hope you slapped a bitch or two.

xx

[apollinav.livejournal.com]

I wish I had, playing 'Slapaho' is a great pastime.

[mischievous-t.livejournal.com]

"...because the buttstock of my M-16 can do some serious damage..."

YIKES!

I seriously cannot wrap my head around the gun-wielding soldier and the delicate lady icon being one and the same person. lol.

Just a friendly reminder that today is Monday and I'm looking forward to your update. :))

[lilprincesspam.livejournal.com]

I have almost lost the hope that such things as grown-ups do exist... well I may over react maybe I know 1 or 2... at most... this made meremember a teacher from higschool that got drink in a toad trip with the students... luckly I wasn't there to watch it.

[apollinav.livejournal.com]

Ageing is mandatory, maturity is optional. And people are universally stupid.

[kariosis.livejournal.com]

Holy shit. You have an M-16?

That's hardcore. I love you.

[apollinav.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes I do. It's personal, not gov't issue. It's a dandy weapon, and an excellent rifle. It belongs more to my husband who enjoys shooting (as opposed to hunting) and building weapons for resale. He used to be an armorour.