OK, you asked for it… LOL...
First, before I launch into my reasoning, I want to say that I’ve learned a lot from the people here at C-Brats and in particular from many of those who have posted their comments in this thread. In particular, Dave (Oldgrowth), Joe, and Sneaks have steered this C-Dory newcomer in very helpful directions. My response to the original message was done after thinking about it most of the day; it wasn’t a flip-off posting. I gave it some consideration because didn’t want to create a scene like the one that has ensued. I also didn’t intend to be the guy holding the left lane doing 55 to teach people a lesson; more like I was intending to tap the brakes once to let someone know they were following a bit close.
Perhaps I have a more sensitive awareness of people who are lumped into a group and belittled than other folks. In 1972 I joined the Army during another unpopular war. One day after work, while stationed at Ft. Belvoir, VA, I stopped at the Little Tavern Hamburger joint at the north end of the George Washington Parkway. On my way back to the car five guys and a girl about my age surrounded me screaming ‘baby killer’ and spit on me simply because I was in the uniform. The thing that really got me was that I was also against U.S. involvement in Vietnam, but because I wore the uniform they chose to lump me into a group and chastise me. They didn’t know me. They didn’t know that I shared their concern about the war. I wasn’t so much pissed-off as I was just hurt to the core that anyone would do such a thing without at least finding out about an individual first. Since that day, I've been perhaps a bit sensitive when I hear anyone lump people into a group like the 'joke' about the guy on welfare. Though I’ve been lucky enough to not find myself in need of a public safety net I know a couple of people who have. They worked their asses off to find and get a job after they lost theirs. ‘Jokes’ about people on welfare don’t go over well with them either. None of us appreciate people who abuse the safety net by going through the motions of applying for jobs they have no intention of taking; I’ve seen that too and it pisses me off no end to pay for people who abuse the public’s good will.
So, what I’m saying is that I only intended to give our good C-Brat compatriot, Brent (who, in the scope of the Internet, is almost a neighbor), as well as those who liked the joke, thought it was close to the truth, think I need to lighten up, or that humor is a way to teach people something (I’m not certain, but I doubt there are too many welfare abusers lurking on C-Brats to be taught a lesson), a little tap on the shoulder and say that, in my experience, class associations hurt people. I really didn’t want to be the morality police; hell, I do and say things that my friends call me on; that’s part of life and learning. Was it my place to say something here? Maybe, maybe not. I couldn't help myself. Since I felt a bit of kinship with the folks here I thought I could speak my mind in a way I thought was friendly. That this thread blew up into such a tizzy continues to be a bit of an enigma.
Best to all,
Tom