Wednesday, November 25, 2009

"It"

So, me and my aide were at the park with one of my dog-walking clients. This lady and her dog come in (we are the only people there) and naturally we start chatting because her dog and my client are playing. She directs all of her conversation to my aide, who says "EVA'S a dog walker and SHE sometimes comes here" etc. Even after this, the woman still referred to me as a boy (to my aide not to me). No big deal. This happens all the time. But then when my aide corrected her on my pronoun, the woman replied (to my aide) "Ohhh, is that what IT is!" My aide looked at me like "oh god, we should have brought the camera." We left shortly after but not before the woman shouted "BYE SWEETIE EVA!!!!!" at me. Some people.

11 comments:

  1. o.m.g. when is it ever okay to refer to another human as "it." that woman has some nerve...

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  2. Ugh. The only time it's OK to refer to a human being as "it" is if the person explicitly says that they prefer that pronoun.

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  3. It???? Seriously? It???? You need a laser blaster!!!!

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  4. Holy hell. That is disgusting. WTF is the matter with people??

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  5. We need to come up with a taxonomy of these insulting encounters. This one had the Interpreter Treatment, Dehumanization, and finally Overly Friendly Diminution for the hat trick.

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  6. Oh good *grief*. *boggles*

    That's, erm. Yes. That's pretty much a bingo of How Not To Behave.

    I second Karen's recommendation... Or at least a concealed supersoaker that also makes a rude noise?

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  7. I'm thinking a silent supersoaker delivering a short sharp shock when bad behavior occurs, just like you do with a dog that's peeing on the carpet.

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  8. Sweetness, I think it's one way or the other. I have one of those "invisible" disabilities - that is the constant agony and bone crushing fatigue that I feel is masterfully hidden from most people. When I had a handicapped spot put on my street (we only have street parking) no driveways, and I could still work then - sometimes I would come home late and have to walk blocks...I would practically be crawling -I got hate mail. Anonymous of course. When I could still garden, if people saw me lifting things, again the mail would come. Even now, 12 years later, that I am on disability, it is hard to see - not as hard...it's taken it's toll, but I still get looks when I park in the handicapped spaces etc. Don't go out much, have a job from home for a couple of hours a day, and I know it isn't the same, but I guess what I'm saying is that people can be jerks with so little provocation. Hope you have people who love you, sounds like you have a sweet dog...don't know what I'd do without a silly yellow cat named Sam. Never a jerk. Be well - Nancy

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  9. OMG that is so wrong, people are so inconsiderate. I have been refered to as an it y a few of my high school peeers but not since then. That is really hard to deal with. I hope that she thought long and hared and realized that she was wrong best of luck take care of your self

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  10. People say the wildest things! I like Karen's taxonomy idea though!

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  11. how about a guy saying "you must be sexually frustrated" when making his acquaintance? this happened my first year of jr. college--i was 18, and he was 40 years old. go figure!

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