Ok, here's the deal:
I'm walking through Times Square early in the morning, since I'm somehow early for work. I'm by no means a New Yorker; I live in New Jersey, so i was savoring the experience. Looking around, I'm walking slowly while passing by MTV and such. For a few minutes, the sidewalk is effectively blocked by myself and a bunch of tourists, who are idly walking around and taking pictures.
Handicapped man in a wheelchair (no limbs missing, mind you) is trying to pass around us, since we're walking so damn slow. After several failed attempts to pass around me, he grabs an opportunity to pass by but unfortunately hits his wheel on the back of my shoe. I turn and look down at him as he rolls by me. I think nothing of it, until he looks over at me and says "You walk like an old fvcking man!"
Being out of my element in NYC, I've never really had to deal with people talking to me like that. Unfortunately, I said the first thing that came into my head, which happened to be "What do YOU know about walking?!"
....
Tourists gasped, New Yorkers laughed. The handicapped guy just stops moving, spins his chair around. Spittle is flying from his mouth, he's obviously extremely pissed. His reaction caught me off guard, I just decide to keep walking forward.
Cliff Notes:
- I'm walking through Times Square
- Handicapped/Cripple guy insults me
- I retort with an insult about said handicapped guy
- Laughter ensues, some are shocked
- Friends (in this case, co-workers) think I'm an asshole
Politically correct? Hell no...But was it justifiable?
I'm walking through Times Square early in the morning, since I'm somehow early for work. I'm by no means a New Yorker; I live in New Jersey, so i was savoring the experience. Looking around, I'm walking slowly while passing by MTV and such. For a few minutes, the sidewalk is effectively blocked by myself and a bunch of tourists, who are idly walking around and taking pictures.
Handicapped man in a wheelchair (no limbs missing, mind you) is trying to pass around us, since we're walking so damn slow. After several failed attempts to pass around me, he grabs an opportunity to pass by but unfortunately hits his wheel on the back of my shoe. I turn and look down at him as he rolls by me. I think nothing of it, until he looks over at me and says "You walk like an old fvcking man!"
Being out of my element in NYC, I've never really had to deal with people talking to me like that. Unfortunately, I said the first thing that came into my head, which happened to be "What do YOU know about walking?!"
....
Tourists gasped, New Yorkers laughed. The handicapped guy just stops moving, spins his chair around. Spittle is flying from his mouth, he's obviously extremely pissed. His reaction caught me off guard, I just decide to keep walking forward.
Cliff Notes:
- I'm walking through Times Square
- Handicapped/Cripple guy insults me
- I retort with an insult about said handicapped guy
- Laughter ensues, some are shocked
- Friends (in this case, co-workers) think I'm an asshole
Politically correct? Hell no...But was it justifiable?