Walking away from a possibly mentally disturbed person.

[Cyrano]

Early yesterday morning, I was in the supermarket and, while passing someone I know who works there, he asked me if I'd mailed in my ballot yet. I told him that I had.

There was a man with a shopping cart a bit behind me whom I hadn't noticed, and he'd overheard that short exchange. Unexpectedly, he said something like, "You people that mail in your ballots are probably liberals." I was dumbstruck. And so was the employee with whom I'd been speaking. I should explain that this guy behind me was a man who may have been in his late 60's or so, and who was trying to puff up his chest as much as possible.

Taking a deep breath, I said something like, "Why would you think that?"

His answer was: "Because most of you vote by mail."

I glanced at my employee friend and both of us were thinking the same thing. "Does this nut have a gun?"

Let me hold up on this encounter for a moment and ask what you would have done. Insult him? Tell him he was a MAGA imbecile? Intentionally slam your cart into his looking for an ugly confrontation?

Both the employee and myself made the same decision. We turned our backs and walked away from him.

There was no further encounter with this nut. But I spent the rest of the day thinking that I should have pushed it further. An action that may not have ended well for anyone. MAGAs have become a disease as dangerous as Covid, or perhaps even as dangerous as a cancer on America.

Would you have walked away?

[Frances]

1. Yes I would have walked away

[cornball 24]

2. YES!!!!

[wryter2000]

3. If I hadn't walked away

I would have run. Some guy in Ohio just killed his neighbor (with a gun) because he thought the neighbor was a democrat. He'd been over before that to accuse him of being a democrat.

[Deuxcents]

21. I heard that today on Thom Hartmann's show

I’m gonna be real careful of these cult nutz..they’re marching to a dangerous drummer

[Sympthsical]

4. I always walk away when the baby looks at me

Because, frankly, it's very strange.

(And with that, have a less anxious afternoon, folks)

[Hassin Bin Sober]

10. I usually smash them over the head with a Krakus ham...

[hlthe2b]

6. I would have said, "a lot of busy people vote by mail" across the political spectrum.

then, "enjoy your day"... and moved on.

I do believe it is important to remember that they have been fed a daily consumption of how "horrible, evil, dangerous" the Dems are on RW media and thus some of these MAGATs MAY be dangerous. So, I am pretty much done with anything resembling confrontation with them.

[Dustlawyer]

66. I would have said that i was working with George Soros, Hilary and JFK, Jr. to cheat!

Our secret weapon is Charles Koch ever since we were able to mind control him with specially outfitted Jewish Space Lasers!

[debm55]

70. I would have tried to the same---killing them with kindness. But from my personal reaction to an

evangelical neighbor, it can be very,very hard. I lost it on her, I am not proud of the fact. Sometimes we are pushed to our limit.

[wnylib]

86. Same here. I usually try to avoid encounters

or interactions with RWers and MAGAs in order to avoid dangerous physical consequences.

But last summer, a young guy who was working on a maintenance project at my apartment building asked me out of the blue if I like Biden. He caught me off guard. We were outdoors and it was a beautiful day. My mind was on other things besides politics.

I said sure, why wouldn't I like our president? He asked then if that meant that I didn't like Trump. I said not especially. He looked me over and said, "Well, you look like a cool person anyway, so I guess you're ok."

I looked him over and said, "Gee, you don't LOOK stupid, but looks can be deceiving."

End of conversation. I was on my way to a store. When I returned he wasn't around. Haven't seen him since.

I would not be so open today.

[ArnoldLayne]

93. Killing people with kindness doesn't work anymore.

[gratuitous]

7. Probably best to just walk away in silence as you did

I've found that asking, "I'm sorry but were you under the impression that someone was fucking talking to you, asswipe" doesn't really lead to a productive outcome.

[Wednesdays]

8. Unusual, talking to an acquaintence in the grocery store about a ballot.

[Cyrano]

14. An employee I've known for years. Unusual???

[Wednesdays]

22. "someone I know who works there"

Sounded to me like an acquaintance.

[wnylib]

88. I have long term "acquaintances" among employees

of stores where I am a regular. Chat about family, weather, and occasionally more serious topics. Not unusual at all. Sometimes it's helpful, like getting advance notice of a sale coming up.

[LuckyCharms]

56. Not unusual at all. When you get to talking to someone you know...

all kinds of subjects can come up.

How have you been?

Been feeling OK?

Been busier than hell, just got back from voting though.

Did you vote yet?

Been a crazy year, hasn't it?

That type of thing. All kinds of subjects can come up in casual conversation.

[KS Toronado]

81. I talk to acquaintances in the grocery store

hardware store, Walmart, doctor's office, paint store, walking the dog, church,
restaurants, etc. wearing a mask. Most friendly people do.

[Buns_of_Fire]

9. Just walking away is a wise move.

There's nothing to be gained by a confrontational approach, and potentially a lot to lose.

[magicarpet]

11. Best to just walk away,..

.... the Orange Fuhrer has the meathead MAGA crowd so brainwashed they can not be trusted to be rational any longer. Besides if he had a hammer and desired to knock some sense into your head he could cause great damage. Best not to provoke the unstable who yearn to - "Own the Libs".

[ailsagirl]

83. My opinion too

If you get into a conversation, things can deteriorate rapidly. It's best not to, remembering that it's impossible to reason with someone like that.

[Ocelot II]

12. Yes, walking away is the sensible thing to do.

Even if the guy wasn't a dangerous lunatic, there's nothing to be gained arguing with people like that.

[Beachnutt]

23. Honestly, I would have shook my head

and laughed at his comment and just ignore the loon.

[SWBTATTReg]

13. Personally, I would have told him that it's none of his damned business, pardon my French. I would

have further said what do you do, go pay all your bills in person? That there's a lot of people that don't have the time or means at that particular point in their lives due to urgent job requirements or sick family members or numerous other reasons why a person can't vote in person. It's simply none of your damn business. Some people are so damn rude.

I think you did fine. You ignored him and his ignorant remark and walked away.

[Elessar Zappa]

15. No, I would've mouthed off at him.

But you have to do what you’re comfortable with.

[vlyons]

16. Yes walk away was the best decision

Anger is poison. Why bother disturbing your peace of mind by engaging in contentious back & forth with someone you don't even know? How you vote and for whom you vote is nobody's business.

[Peacetrain]

17. You did the rational, sensible thing.. I would have assumed the person was carrying a gun also

and just looking for an excuse..

[lpbk2713]

18. Argue with an idiot and he'll bring you down to his level.

Every time.

It's good enough to be fairly assured this clown voted for Trump.
Just walk away trying to control your laughter.

My sympathies to the employee. He no doubt was not allowed to respond.

[Cyrano]

37. My guess is that he alerted store security, but I don't know.

[BlackSkimmer]

98. Alerted store security on what basis?

Because he made a stupid comment?

[bif]

19. I would have told him to go fuck himself!

Just kidding. I would have walked away without engaging with him.

[Ray Bruns]

29. I would have told him to go fuck himself.

[keithbvadu2]

20. Safe! Don't give him the attention.

[3Hotdogs]

24. Ignore...

You. ain’t gonna change his mind on anything.

[Thunderbeast]

25. In these states, the question would be moot:

States That Conduct All Elections by Mail

California
Colorado
Hawaii
Nevada
Oregon
Utah
Vermont (General elections only.)
Washington

[GoCubsGo]

26. I would have told him to mind his own business before walking away.

Overhearing a private conversation of strangers can't always be helped. Butting in uninvited on their conversation is another story.

[tazkcmo]

40. Exactly.

A B conversation, C your way out and piss off.

[Claustrum]

27. Definitely would walk away.

There is no need to engage. And if he is so "annoyed" that he has to engage with you out of the blue, he is too aggressive and could potentially be dangerous.

[sarisataka]

28. I would have been rooted in place

In shock as a stranger just started talking politics without any introduction or prompting. I must shop at the wrong places.

One thing I definitely would not do it turn my back on someone I believe is disturbed; especially if I have reason to suspect that person is armed.

[Kaleva]

30. I'm a big, tall guy. Can't remember the last time another guy got lippy with me

At least not since I was in the Navy over 3 decades ago.

[1WorldHope]

31. It really depends on the day. My mouth is very impulsive.

[brooklynite]

32. Tell him mail in ballots were created by Republicans...

…very popular with seniors.

[2naSalit]

33. Yup.

[Emile]

34. I would had said well, I sure as hell not a stupid republican voting to entertain

tax evading billionaires.

[iscooterliberally]

35. Yes, walking away is the best way to handle this.

There's nothing to win with people like that. You aren't going to convince a person like that of anything. He may have been out looking for a fight. Let him find it elsewhere.

[MustLoveBeagles]

36. You did the right thing

There was nothing further to be gained by engaging further with the nut.

[Arkansas Granny]

38. Yes. You can't reason with someone like that, so walking away is the best move.

[hadEnuf]

39. You are dealing with a potentially unstable and violent lunatic.

Unless you are fully prepared to possibly engage in violence on his level, it is best to walk away (but keep a 3rd on him anyway)

Also, you may want to weigh the benefit of wasting your time on a complete a$$hole.

[bronxiteforever]

41. Totally agree with your decision. You are

not going to make him rational by confronting him. Even if he was a geezer, you just don’t know him and what he is capable of. A good civil nonviolent person would never act the way he did. Live another day to vote in more elections against his ilk.
I would have done the same thing as you but I know these types of encounters are disturbing.

[Kota]

42. I would have said, thats not true. The military votes by mail, most of our politicians have and

still do. Then walked away.

[Midnight Writer]

43. I walk away from those meatheads everyday. I just don't engage.

They still have Trump rallies in my town once a week. A popular local restaurant has a "Trump Shrine" set up. You walk in the door and there is a life-size cardboard cut-out of Trump that greets you at the door. Inside the walls are covered with Trump pictures, MAGA hats, posters, t-shirts, stickers.

I've turned my back on some long-time good friends over this. I used to get in some lively discussions with them, but in the last few years they get very angry, even threatening. I just refuse to engage, and, in fact, actively avoid them

I simply do not need to deal with this bullshit.

[mgardener]

44. I would have said

It is legal to vote by mail in this state.
Anybody can.

[Ponietz]

45. They're beyond the pale

I shun them, and that includes former friends and family.
Can’t reason with bad faith.

[AZLD4Candidate]

46. I would have said NOYFB and walked away, considering the source and not the comment

NOYFB means None of your f-cking business.

[The Jungle 1]

47. I got hit in the head with a log!

Because of political terrorism. You did the right thing. The right has gone nuts.
The police refused to do a thing about it.

[Evolve Dammit]

51. JHC. So sorry. We are de-volving rapidly. When was that?

[panader0]

48. "But I'm just doing what TFG and his whole family did."

They all voted by mail.

[Evolve Dammit]

50. Oh that's good. Better than mine!

[Evolve Dammit]

49. I would have said that mail-in voting is pretty close between libruls and fascists. And did he know?

[LuckyCharms]

52. 95% of the time, I walk away.

4% of the time, with a smile on my face, I insult them in such a way that they do not realize they have been insulted until 5 minutes later.

1% of the time, I get pissed off, and tell them to fuck off.

In conclusion, I almost always walk away. Nothing wrong at all with doing that. You did the right thing.

[randr]

53. I am an American and I vote any damn way I want to that is legal and I am assured my vote counts

[kimbutgar]

54. I would have laughed at him and said 'whatever" sarcastically.

[Baggies]

55. I wouldn't have answered in the first place.

Probably a northern transplant living in South Florida would be my guess. I tend to avoid them regardless.

[Joinfortmill]

57. Yes, but I'm a very cautious woman.

[RobinA]

58. I Would Have

laughed and walked away. They get confused when you laugh.

[Joinfortmill]

60. 👍

[ShazzieB]

74. I'm going to remember that in case this ever happens to me.

Trumpers around here keep a low profile. I know plenty of people in this county voted for him both times, but I have never been confronted by one of them. As a result, I'm not used to having to keep my guard up all the time.

I live in one of the outer counties of a large metro area. The part of the county were I live is very suburban, and that's where most of the population is concentrated. Politics here have gone from bright red to pretty purple since we moved here in the mid 90s

The father out you go from my area, the more rural it gets, and the more red the politics are. I rarely have occasion to venture out that way, so I can't tell you what it's like, but around where I live, you can almost forget the orange asshole exists. I have NEVER seen a hat or even a Trump bumper sticker. There were a few yard signs in 2020, but I haven't seen one since then. And I have literally never been confronted by one of those maroons.

I would therefore be taken by surprise if that ever happened around here, and I'm afraid I might say something snarky without thinking. Laughing sounds like a good thing to keep in mind. It would give me a way to react without saying any words that might make things worse, and would be much more satisfying than merely walking away. 😁

[plimsoll]

59. Right move.

We have vote by mail in Washington, so it isn't really the same issue. Before we had vote by mail, as the norm most absentee ballots where either military or the well heeled.

[Warpy]

61. Depends on whether i was in a hurry

Last edited Tue Nov 8, 2022, 07:13 PM - Edit history (1)

If I wasn't, I'd ask him who told him a silly thing like that.

I've found taking the responsibility off them puts them on the wrong foot. If they try to tell me everybody knows that, I tell them that's not true because I didn't know that and I repeat the question about who told him a silly thing like that.

Eventually they go blank and have to try to reboot and that's when I walk away.

[Innocent Smith]

62. Yes

I've figured out that only bad things can happen when interacting with these sorts of nutcases.

[area51]

63. I would've been tempted to tell him the truth,

that both my parents were republicans, and they always voted by mail after they turned 65, which was their right.

[mercuryblues]

64. snicker, laugh and walk away.

They hate that

[Rebl2]

65. I think

I would have told him you had republican friends that mailed in their ballot. Many republicans have done it for years. I myself will not ever do that as a democrat. Sorry, but I don’t trust the PO to get it there on time any longer.

[niyad]

67. YES!!!! Wisest thing to do.

On the other hand, the temptation to say, "but, you dear man, I am a loyal trump republican", and then walk away.

[Texin]

68. I think you handled the encounter okay. I try not to antagonize anyone now

because one can't assume that another person isn't carrying a gun and wouldn't hesitate to escalate the situation to be able (to feel) justified about using it.

[appleannie1]

69. He was trying to start a confrontation. That is where they get their jollies.

By both of you walking away, your statement was "You are not even worth talking to". That must have left him hurt and confused. You spoke louder by doing that than any words you could have screamed at him.

[Jedi Guy]

71. Yes, walking away was the right call.

He didn't arrive at his position via reason, so you weren't going to get him to change by appealing to reason. There was nothing to be gained by attempting to have a calm, rational discussion because he wasn't there for that. He was looking to "own a librul." Simply disengaging and going about your business robbed him of his fun. Odds are quite good he was very annoyed afterward.

Worst case scenario, of course, is that he turns out to be utterly deranged and takes a swing at you or pulls a gun. That can't be ruled out as a possibility, MAGAts being what they are these days. It's sad how far they, and by extension we as a society, have fallen in a few short years.

[3catwoman3]

72. I would be tempted to say, "I commend you on your perspicacity," but would...

...probably have just walked away.

[ECL213]

73. You could have said...

"Aww, you must be one of those MAGA people who think other people's private lives are somehow your fucking business."

[Vinca]

75. Probably best that you walked away. You never know with these nuts.

[tavernier]

76. I would have said yes.

Twice.

[Grins]

77. Me: "Yes. Just like I did in the Army!"

And…when I was a LT in the army, one of MY DUTIES was elections officer, and the Colonel wanted 100% participation from the Bn!

[Picaro]

78. YES!

you did the right thing. I am, by nature, prone to be confrontational. I would have walked away from that fool.

There was no benefit from a confrontation with someone who is clearly an idiot.

[BlueTexasMan]

79. walk away?

They want a fight, why give'em one? Always the best option in a potential fight, leave. Run if you have to. These idiots have been approaching me and telling me that wearing "that Beto shirt" is dangerous. I mean really, the nerve. Red wave my ass! Severe lack of critical thinking happening in this state. Rick Perry said we didn't need critical thinking. Sad indeed!

[machoneman]

80. From your headline I was sure it was one Donald J. Trump!!!

[TNNurse]

82. I would have walked away as well.

However, I would have wanted to ask if he understood that active military vote by mail and does he think they are all liberals and then I would have walked away.

[Gore1FL]

84. I would have said deep-red UT votes entirely by mail.

I would have also pointed out that mail in votes accounted for more than the margin in Katheryn Harris' totals when she announced George W. Bush winning Florida in 2000.

Are they liberals, too?

[KS Toronado]

85. Had a similar experience about a year ago

Was wearing my Vaccine T-shirt when a young passerby muttered "fucking libtard" to me, so I said
"I'M A REPUBLICAN" rather loudly. Shut he up and looked confused as what to say. If they find out
they're attacking a fellow Fascist, they cool off real quick. Little white lies are OK with these
idiots because they believe in "The Big Lie", two can play this game.

?ssl=1&resize=768%2C768

[ZonkerHarris]

87. "I woke up this morning not giving a fuck about your opinion and Im going to sleep the same way."

[aggiesal]

89. It's hard to argue with stupid, you'll never get anywhere with them. ...

Complete waste of your time. Walk away.

[Paladin]

91. Smart, smart, smart.

My compliments on your handling things so well; I would have done exactly the same. Way too many guns in the hands of way too many lunatics to afford us the luxury of extended arguments, in this sad day and age.

[Talitha]

92. There's no shame in backing away when you see a Skunk... I'd just leave.

[TigressDem]

94. Man in Ohio was shot in his own backyard because his neighbor "thought" he was a Democrat

You made a good decision.


https://www.journal-news.com/news/man-charged-with-murder-in-shooting-death-of-neighbor-outside-butler-county-home/XALOERKDY5C5DEPAGRIWIJUBLY/

[I_UndergroundPanther]

95. I have a feeling

I wont be around for too much longer.
Im open trans, a flaming anti fascist goth/punk/metal looking cat person die hard liberal, can argue the magats to silence,and humiliate the shit out of them,I defend vulnerable people and I am not afraid to die.

And I am poor so I cannot escape to another country ,so I will fight like hell.

[ecstatic]

96. I would have told him as loudly as possible:

I vote by mail because I don't take marching orders from a twice-impeached orange clown. If thinking for myself makes me a LIBERAL, so be it!

Just kidding. You did the right thing. Walk away.

[BlackSkimmer]

97. I never have these encounters in grocery stores. Or any public places.

In all my six decades, it’s never once happened.

But if pigs fly one day, and such an episode occurs to me, yes, I would walk away.