I hesitated to share this freeper experience but here it goes

[blonndee]

I was at my usual convenience store this afternoon picking up some beer and ciggies (I know, I know) and this dude comes in pretty much right after me giving me the hairy eyeball. Like, NASTY evil eye. I gave him a WTF look right back, figuring he was just a dick having a bad day and gave the cashier my debit card to pay. So he starts pushing his way in with his $10 bill, "I want ten on pump 3," he says, shoving his way in before everyone else and then dashes back outside to pump his precious gas. I exchange eyerolls with the cashier, complete my transaction, and walk back out to my car. I glance over and see him pumping gas--he looks over and goes, "Nice stickers, you fucking communist."

I was shocked and actually a little scared, and at first I ignored him and just got in my car. As I started to pull out, though, I saw he had a Bush/Cheney sticker on his Jeep!!!!!

Maybe it was a chickenshit thing to do, but as a single woman I really didn't want this guy following me home (I live just a few blocks from the store) but I was pissed and wanted to say something back, so as I was pulling out I rolled down my window and hollered at him, "How's that Bush vote working out for ya? You like paying three dollars a gallon?"

In my rearview mirror I saw him giving me the finger.

Not the most glorious or self-aggrandizing experience (I was kind of a chicken), but it sure did make me feel better.

[jellybeancurse]

1. Good for you!

:thumbsup:

[CrazyOrangeCat]

2. You aren't chicken in the least!

But be careful, these idiots are getting meaner . . .

[Mr_Spock]

3. That'll do just fine

There's only so much you can say to someone who's already adrenaline juiced - gave his tiny little brain something to think about...

[Demobrat]

4. What a big, strong macho man.

I wonder what he would have said to you had you been a 6'4", 300 lb wrestler?

[proud patriot]

5. Well Done

:patriot:

[NaturalHigh]

6. Ten dollars worth of gas.

No wonder the asshole didn't want to wait in line. It would have taken him longer to pay than to pump.

[Catherine Vincent]

7. You're feeling bad because you asked him that?!?!

Oh please! You did more than I would have (I don't like confrontations). I would have loved to tell him a loud F U C K Y O U!!! to his face after calling me a communist but like I said, I don't like confrontations. You did good. And what a cheap ass only putting $10 worth of gas. I thought only people with no money did that? LOL!

[susanna]

8. I should say...

...that discretion is the better part of valor, but you go! Sometimes, they need the truth.

You were kinda careful, you did it driving off while he was still engaged with the gas pump, LOL. :-)

[txindy]

9. Yep, her timing was perfect.

Her response was, too. :applause:

[susanna]

15. Good point...it's all about the timing! n/t

[blonndee]

12. Well, I DID turn off onto a different street than my own!

LOL I took the long way home.

[susanna]

17. Good for you. Keep yourself safe at all costs...

...I really love your comeback to him, though - he probably steamed all the way home. :-)

[RoyGBiv]

10. Not chicken ...

You live in the belly of the beast. I check my door locks when driving through there simply because of my pony tail and bumper stickers.

Best part is, ya know, that he actually had to repress or project his anger at gas prices because his little mind wouldn't let him let you be correct. He'll probably be pissed all day tomorrow.

[blonndee]

16. RoyGBiv, you "get" me (and "them") ... LOL here in Oklahoma, you know how

it is.

Hey, are you going up to the Stillwater protest? We've got a carload heading up there.

[RoyGBiv]

20. I want to, but ...

It's a long, boring story, but I'm kinda fighting for my job at the moment, and trying to get off Saturday morning would endanger that. (Not fighting as in "not gonna have a job" but suffering through a restructuring and trying not to get banished to the deepest recesses of hell in the wake of it.)

I put in a request for the day off, but there's someone else in the office already off that day, so it was denied. Still thinking and trying to haggle someone into working for me.

IOW, not sure yet.

[blonndee]

22. I totally understand. Don't jeopardize your job.

I was just hoping maybe we could meet up and add to our numbers. But we need Okies with jobs more than we need Okies at the little protest!

[RoyGBiv]

26. True, I suppose...

Makes me feel like a coward, though. I wormed my way out of work one weekend to go to Camp Casey. It's just more difficult at the moment. Irritating, too, because it's a friggin' four-hour shift. If I weren't "in charge" it wouldn't be a big deal ... damned responsibility. :-)

Anyway, back to the point, good work on giving the little worm something to think about, even if his mind can't grasp it. It'll eat at him. I've managed to turn almost my entire office either into Bush haters or completely silent Bush lovers (IOW, the Bush lovers finall shut up) with little barbs like that. It made them mad at first, but the deeper this all gets, the more they realize they need some good hip-waders.

[sinkingfeeling]

42. I'm in Arkansas, but have made over 15 trips to OSU. What time is

the protest? I'd love to come, but have an early morning vet appointment. Where is the meet-up?

[blonndee]

50. It's at 8, so it may conflict with your appointment. Too bad.

We could use all the help we can get!

[Mythsaje]

11. You did good...

You should see MY bumperstickers.

Never caught any hell, but I live in a pretty blue place.

[DesertRat]

13. Good for you

I'd probably be too chicken to even say what you did. :yourock:

[Broken_Hero]

14. great

story, and good job. Don't let them get away with anything...:) I admire your actions.:)

[SeattleGirl]

18. You reacted just fine.

I would have felt the same as you -- a bit freaked out, and certainly NOT wanting the guy to know what I lived. And I love what you said to him! Good on you!

[Lost-in-FL]

19. Hehehehe...

Good job!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[blonndee]

21. You guys, you don't get it...I was really kind of scared.

I'm so afraid of confrontation and even in the protests I've been to, I always feel like such a fraud.

Even though I have been hassled at protests and such, I guess I've been lucky not to get much shit from my stickers, which kind of surprises me. So to have someone be like that to my face was unexpected and I felt like I didn't respond in as pithy or brave a way as I could have.

Still, I do feel good about responding at all, just still a little shaken by the whole experience. I told you guys, I'm a chickenshit. =)

[OldLeftieLawyer]

23. You're sane -

that's why you get scared. You'd be nuts not to be afraid of people like that. After all, his behavior was erratic, and he started the "confrontation" by calling you a Communist <snort> simply because of your bumper stickers.

Always be afraid. The fight-or-flight response will keep you safe and alert.

You did good, and I say it again - YOU DID GOOD!

[calmblueocean]

24. What do you wish you'd said?

I thought what you said was pretty sharp. And I totally wouldn't have blamed you for not wanting to engage a hostile Bush wingnut like that, who was obviously spoiling for a fight. They're always most dangerous when they're cornered, and reality makes them feel cornered every day. I wouldn't have been surprised if your story had ended with him taking out a gun and firing on your car.

[blonndee]

33. I don't know...I guess I wish I'd had the balls, so to speak,

to walk over and confront him face to face. But the truth is, I'm too afraid of these freaks who may indeed have a gun, as you said, to do it. Thanks for reminding me that it could have indeed been dangerous, that my reaction wasn't (at least overly) paranoid.

Here in Oklahoma it's not an unreasonable expectation that someone desperate and angry might blow your freaking head off with their concealed weapon or the legal gun they have displayed on their gun rack. But now I'm defending myself here and I digress. The truth is, I'm KIND of proud of myself for saying anything but didn't want to share because it sounded kind of cowardly and fodder for those who want to say that "hippies" are weak and so on. All the other DUer experiences sound so much braver!

[EstimatedProphet]

25. No, you're not. He's the bully.

don't feel bad about defending yourself. That's all you did. HE is the one that tried to get in your face, not the other way around.

Scared is normal. Scared is healthy. Shitheaded bullying is what is wrong.

[Lost-in-FL]

27. Nah, you did perfect!

Even with my big mouth I don't think I would have responded at all. I would probably laugh loudly so he

feel stupid. I'm not the kind that cares about what people think of me. Great job!

Just don't go back to that gas station, at least for a while.

[SeattleGirl]

29. Stop that, blonndee

You are not a chickenshit. Being in a crowd participating in a protest is quite different than being in a public place by yourself while someone acts in a threatening manner toward you. As I said in my post above, I would have done the same thing you did (and hopefully been able to pop off the remark you made to him). In this instance, being "brave" had nothing to do with it -- you acted in a way to protect yourself and your home, and I think that was absolutely the right thing to do. I'm sure you will have plenty more opportunities not so personally threatening to you, to get off something "pithy or brave." :hi:

[MADem]

30. No you aren't a chickenshit. You're sensible. You;re gutsy, with brains

No one likes a crazy nitwit in their face. It's just not a healthy situation. You did just fine, too, considering. Perfect timing, not too much smackback, all brilliantly done. Brava, brava~!

[RoyGBiv]

35. Understandable, but let me tell you ...

Stand up for yourself, but protect yourself. That's exactly what you did.

In these parts of the world, we *need* people like you who are a little scared but who stand up to the oppressor anyway. Being scared is a natural survival instinct. I do in fact know exactly what you're talking about. I have a neighbor who actually throws shit at me if he sees me going to the mail box or out by my truck. Actually hit me once with an empty whiskey bottle ... Kinda funny, though, that he got arrested half an hour later for public intoxication due to an "anonymous" tip about a truck full of drunk idiots driving down Reno. (It's good to have a few cop friends and be nosey enough to know where your enemies hang out. :-))

Anyway ... you did good, and your fear will serve you well, but you are *not* a fraud. If you are, then I am too becuase, as noted above, I'm more worried about my job at the moment than offering needed support at a protest.

[blonndee]

38. Thank you so much...

I have some crazy Bushbot neighbors, but nothing like that!!! I think I'd have to move if THOSE people lived next door. Sheesh.

You give me a little more courage, if that doesn't sound too hokey. =)

[RoyGBiv]

40. Power to the Okies ...

:-)

And, hey, if anyone screws with ya too much, send me a PM. I *do* know people. :-)

[MADem]

28. Hmmmmm. You're a single woman, as you said.

And this asshole is, without an introduction, without knowing you at all, giving you shit???

My, what a brave boy! A jeep-drivin' brave boy, no less~! A manly man, who can stand up to a woman with a sticker, without even knowing if it is, indeed, HER car, or a loaner from a friend or relative~! A real TOUGH GUY!!!

The kindest thing one could say about a fuckwad like that is that he was "ungentlemanly." The truth is closer to the reality that he is a fucking idiot, who is taking out the simple fact that he was suckered by a chickenhawk on a fair flower of our land.

Shame on him. Emily Post shits on his pointed, ignorant little head!!!!!!

[RoyGBiv]

31. LOL!!!

Too much ... mental image ... Emily Post ... taking a dump ...

:rofl:

[poverlay]

32. Bravo, Bravo, Bravo and THANK YOU for your bravery. Stay safe- n/t

[Kenergy]

34. You did good n/t

[bedazzled]

36. i had a similar experience a week or so ago...

the fellow at the pump in front of me had a huge work van covered in NRA and Bush stickers. i didn't say anything to him
(i didn't want to in front of my eight year old son - far as i'm concerned you have to be dangerous, a true nutter, to support bush at this point) but we were laughing at him at the checkout counter.

he ended up putting over $80 of gas in that van. glad i have a corolla.

i think you handled the situation in the best possible manner. the difference is - you have CLASS

[alittlelark]

37. The cashiers at my local station are also Bushbots.

I am in the fortunate position of being a decade younger than either of them (that I speak of, there are 2 others), and having both try to pick up on me in the 90's - w/ my wedding ring on.

We FOUGHT loudly in 2003.... I ignored them in subsequent years. I came in, got what I needed - ALWAYS w/ my sunglasses on.....



Now one has removed the flags (embarrassing garish) from his windows, antennae and bumper, the other (manager) has gotten rid of the flag on his bumper.

I am sure I am not the only reason - I am in Silicon Valley.... my kids school voted 83% for Kerry (Elementary).

But both of them have tried to engage me in conversation. I am not ready to forgive... Perhaps I will be able to someday - I hope 'someday' comes.

[swimmernsecretsea]

39. Don't you dare take it back! I'm proud of you!

That asshole needed a good reminder! Even if he won't learn. Now, I understand your fear, and it sounds like you used a bit of caution. My social training tells me those kind of jerks stand a good chance of becoming bigger jerks when you remind them of their insecurities, but I just can't help it. Your comeback was spot-on!

PS: Just for that, have a refreshing beer and a cool smoke on me!

[flaminbats]

41. whenever a freeper fingers me..I do the same thing n/t

[raccoon]

43. Great response! The prick had it coming. nt

[foreverdem]

44. You did great!

More than I would have done, I hate confrontations too. What you said to him was perfect. You didn't get up in his face, scream and go off on him, there is no good answer he could have come up with.

[lonestarnot]

45. ewww damn I wish I had been there!

:evilgrin: We would have given him a go for his money!

[CornField]

46. Ahhhh... my old stomping grounds are still churning out the hate

To be honest, you are much braver than I am. The only time I've ever been scared someone might wish me bodily harm over my political choices was in Oklahoma. (A flea market owner declared my Kerry-Edwards shirt was "scandalous!")

[giant_robot]

47. Great comeback!

Also, I don't think you have to worry about that freeper following you home. Ten dollars in a jeep isn't going to get him very far.

[JNelson6563]

48. *whip out cell phone*

pretend to dial number while standing in front of freeper asshole, start telling "person" on the phone (who you address as Sergeant) all about the person who is harrassing you. Get a look at their plate and recite it into the phone for the Sergeant.

Watch freeper shit self and flee scene.

Go have a beer and a smoke. :toast:

[AnneD]

49. You did the right thing...

Ten bucks would get him 3 gallons-he could have ran out of gas in YOUR neighborhood driving that jeep. He just doesn't want to admit he FU royaly. Serves the nit wit right.

[Ganja Ninja]

51. Bullseye! He's buying 3 gallons of gas for that 10 bucks.

His Jeep won't go 50 miles on that. And buying gas 10 bucks at a time shows he can't afford much.
You hit the target with that remark. He'll sulk about that every time he buys gas.