Answers

I have many stories of strangers that make me angry. I have had gang- bangers come to MY house, I have dealt with rude tourists, and I drive. But I don't know which is worse, the strangers or the people I know. I have so many people that I consider friends who are so WHITE I can't stand it. (See Frank Zappa, Hey?)

-- Anonymous, October 02, 1999

Mean mothers. I hate it when I see mean mothers and I see them all the time. Why can't people treat their children like they are human? It doesn't matter if the kid is misbehaving or not....you don't need to belittle them. They will grow up to be mean people and then we'll just have more mean mothers. Sigh.

-- Anonymous, October 03, 1999

I also hate parents who spank or yell at their kids in public. I feel like calling the cops. I nearly burst into tears because I simply cannot stand it. I think the most awful thing is when your kid sees that and asks you, "Why are they yelling like that at their kid?"

On the other hand, I hate people who look at you like you abuse your child when you are simply telling your child no. No, he can't have a large chocolate bar because you have candy at home and are at the market buying the essentials for the dinner he'll have placed in front of him within 30 minutes. Then said child starts sobbing his head off and sets the National Defense readiness alarms off and DefCon1 is activated! And strangers everywhere look at you in disdain and bitching to each other about that ill-behaved child. Bad parent! Very bad!

I just want to tell those people that think that...

My kid is generally a really nice charming sweet child, with a wide assortment of toys, clothes and foods to choose from in his life, as well as activities, including tickle-wrestles with Mom and Dad who love him dearly, soccer with the *guys* and other stuff like bike rides, etc. When he's hungry and or tired, aliens from space replace my sweet charming child with Satan. This apparently happens all too often, and causes children to act out reprehensibly at supermarkets. Please be forewarned and give Satan lots of space or s/he'll make you sign a contract in blood (or ketchup), wherein you sign all of your present and future lego holdings to Satan. Satan leaves the child's body as soon as the child is in the car of his accompanying adult, which means that an exorcism is not an option. Although said child is often befuddled about why he lost his Gameboy for a week, until reminded of his possession by Satan while in the market.

One more thing I hate...

Perfect strangers who insist on touching your pregnant abdomen because for some reason the very fact that you are obviously pregnant makes your belly public property.

-- Anonymous, October 03, 1999

Strangers who shove and push and yell at people on the subway. I have to take the T to and from work right during rush hour, which is just hell. People who elbow and push and swear and rant instead of just getting on the train drive me nuts. I had to do the trip on crutches, with my leg in a full cast, for eight weeks, and I couldn't believe the way people acted. Big strapping men would throw me out of the way to snag the last seat, and then sit and smirk at me while I tried to keep my balance on the moving train. The little old ladies and very pregnant women were the only people who were nice!

-- Anonymous, October 04, 1999

much like the woman who talked about how having a pregnant belly makes your abdomen public property, having a large tattoo means any stranger can grab the body part that it's on and hold it in front of their face, or ask you to move or remove articles of clothing so they can see it better. people will come up and touch your body without asking! it's really very strange.

-- Anonymous, October 10, 1999