So today after a really long day, and a really long week mind you, (see fuck insects) I head on down to my drivers ed class (late driver).
I was five minutes late to the class when I walked in, when the brown, toady little instructor has the GALL to scream at me in front of the class, when numerous other students slip in past me JUST AS LATE. He asks me my name, I say, “Mary Smith,” over four times to him, and he continues to call me “Mary Jones” out loud in front of the class. The bastard then asks me, “do you have any friends here?” I scanned the class quickly. He interjects, “well you don’t now!” and snorts in his disgusting mucusy little giggle. I had enough so I told him that he was an unprofessional, rude, little man. He then gets to huffing and puffing, sweating, and screaming at me, so I tell him to get some respect for women and a real job while he’s at it. Now comes the worst part – and this is real – he says: “GET OUT BEFORE I SMACK YOUR ASS SO HARD YOU CAN’T HAVE CHILDREN!” I was an inch close to punching him in the face. But I was the better person. I called the authorities. Thanks for making my life you squalid, festering, disgrace to a man if I ever saw one.
—Dino.
This article appears in May 7-13, 2009.
wow… just wow.
Sounds like he had a shitty week too. Probably about to get deservedly worse too. Let us know how this plays out.
My name is neither Mary Smith nor Mary Jones.
Dino– I have to change names. That’s the RULE. Come on.
I know. Just in case – I don’t want people thinking Mary everytime they see Dino. But maybe next time you should insert a silly name like Gothica or Ladymuffins.
Mmmmmm Ladymuffins. You’re turning me on a little Dino 🙂
Excellent. Let’s shag.
I’d be really interested to hear how this pans out… keep us posted?
For sure, Anton. I’ll throw out a social bitch as soon as a hear the fucker’s fate.
and my mom said I’d never meet a nice girl on the internet…
You told him to get some respect for women? What does the fact that you’re a woman have to do with anything? If he said, “Why are you so late, sweet-tits?”, or “Park your fat lady ass over there, Madame Ovary,” I could see why you’d be pissed.
That kind of attitude won’t get you anywhere in life, young lady. Now make me a sandwich.
…props to Tim for editing the bitch (if he did), and/or props to Dino for throwing in fictitious names to keep the story going.
I can’t figure out which happened…but maybe that’s because I’m drinking right now. 😛
Now that’s a legitimate bitch.
the description of the snorting priceless…beeyoootiful bitch
Girl Power!
Oh I must have forgot, that shit won’t get us anywhere in life.
Wow, this shocks me. If I were in your class and heard the instructor say this I would also be filing a complaint with whatever organization you are taking driver training through … what an inappropriate comment!!
un -friggin-believable. does he think hes teaching high school (i know still not acceptable) kids or something. nice to know people stand up to asses like this. good job on that Dino. i hope your weekend gets better.
LOL. You must of looked like a fucking fool. An adult putting on a scene like that, probably in front of a room of 16-17yr olds. Congrats on finally learning (or attempting) to drive though… winner is you! 🙂
Wow You definitely chose the wrong drivers school. Back in 2006 I took driver training, in Antigonish and I thought it was alot of fun and I got trained in a truck and car. Plus my drivers ed teacher lived out in the county near my grandmother so I drove to her house verynight, and got alot of my time in behind the wheel that way.
What’s with the “brown” part?
“What’s with the “brown” part?”
Racism. You’re missing the point though Mole Rat, he told her she had no friends!!!!
I didn’t say ‘brown’ with the intention to deliver a racist remark, instead to paint an idea of what he looked like so I could better illustrate a story for my readers. Phew – I’m not an English major for nothing people. Besides…he was half Italian and Puerto Rican. So sensitive.
I didn’t notice anywhere in my comment that I said his behavior was acceptable.
You can feel free to call me “sensitive,” but nevertheless I’ll ask you to explain exactly how his skin being brown better illustrates the story for us? I mean, obviously it must have some bearing?
Holy fuck.
Did you have to explain your bug-eye to your interviewer?
I’ve heard it said before that people accuse others of being “sensitive” or that they should “lighten up,” in relation to racial issues, when they basically just don’t want to hear or respond to what others have to say. Apparently that’s the case. You had a pretty good bitch here but you kinda spoiled it when you prefaced “toady” with brown. So sorry for pointing it out.
I think Mole Rat needs a hug.
*hug* (no sarcasm intended)
Yeah, I had to tell him. It was a pretty good laugh overall though. He’s going to call me back.
Right, I need a hug. Because I’m oversensitive. Actually, I think you projected a tone of offense onto my original comment (which was a short, simple question, with no inflection), the better to avoid answering it by dismissively accusing me of being sensitive.
Here’s another question: if you were writing a LTWWL about someone, would you list their skin colour along with their desirable attributes? Just to paint the picture?
By the way, in case you couldn’t tell, I have an interest in issues of race and gender discrimination, so as long as I’m a regular here, I’m going to be questioning things I find to smell a little (or a lot) rotten. So get used to it.
“brown” seemed to be used as an adjective there, nothing more.
Please explain why it is offensive in the context given. How is it implying anything other than that the guy was brown? All the negativity is directed at the guys actions, not his ethnicity. There’s no racism or discrimination here.
*Hugs* because I enjoy your comments, Mole Rat. If you require me to further my explanation, then here goes: ”brown” simply happened to precede ”toady” the way I wrote it and it in no way was intended to imply racism. Besides, after years of training to write anayltically and descripively, one usually describes characters for the way they appear. (see Arthur Miller’s ‘The Crucible’) Notice I also included ”sweaty”, ”mucusy”, and ”little”. Not because of my hatred for the man, but because they are simply facts. He was actually sweating, his voice was actually mucusy, and his stature was actually short, (which he commented on in self-loathing humour). Is it my opinion that his skin was brown? Nope. It’s fact. I’m a descriptive person, what can I say. I hope that clarifies things.
I find sometimes its easier to visualize or discribe someone by starting out with the basics. hair, skin, height, weight, eye etc. I don’t do it to be racist just more accurate in my discription. I thought thats what Dino did here too (i could be wrong but don’t think so).So I have to say yes I probably would. I do realize and see some comments that have a racial undertone (or in your face racist).
PS: I’m sure you wouldn’t take issue if I said “the white, toady little instructor.”
damn I took to long to write again and they said it much better then I.
Agreed Dino. When did the colour of someone’s skin become a racial slur? And why is it only offensive when it’s any colour but white?
I think I’m going to start getting personally offended whenever I hear someone being referred to as ‘white’. I have a feeling I’m going to be offended a lot!
While I sympathize with Dino standpoint in her bitch and believe that her rant wasn’t intended to imply racism, I have to side with Mole Rat’s questioning of her intention in using the word ‘brown’. Dino states that brown was merely used as a descriptor, and while I accept that, considering every other word used to describe this man was intended to describe him in a derogatory fashion, ‘brown’ could be interpreted in the same way.
I would like to reiterate that I don’t think anyone is accusing Dino of being intentionally offensive or racist. However, for all those who are quick to defend the use of ‘brown’ to describe someone, whether positively or negatively, I simply ask how often you use the word ‘white’ to preface your descriptions of someone you dislike. It seems to me that no one uses these types of descriptors unless referring to someone who is ‘other’, or when, say, filing a police report.
I think Mole Rat is trying to say that such descriptions are somewhat unnecessary, and could be interpreted to mean something other than intended, so why use them at all?
I don’t consider myself particularly sensitive, but the use of ‘brown’ caused me to momentarily raise my eyebrow as well, and wonder about Dino’s intention. IMO, there are plenty of other colourful(no pun intended) adjectives in the English language, so why use race unless absolutely necessary?
No offense intended, Dino, but since you are an English major, I would think you would enjoy a good debate on the social usage and interpretation of words.
Maybe the real problem is our lack of use of the word “white”. By not using it, and using any other colour descriptor, we are inferring that “normally” someone is white, if they are not white we need to describe what they are. This would mean that someone being white is what normally occurs, or most often, which really isn’t the case anymore.
Sort of like when we have to describe something as wet. I woudn’t normally describe a chair as being dry, because it generally is. However if it happend to be wet, I would definitely note it.
So really, we should use colour descriptors for every person, so as not to infer that most people are one colour.
As a question on that, for anyone here who is not caucasion, when you refer to someone who is your own race, do you describe their race? Or do you note if someone is white, because they are not the same race as you? I certainly notice that most asian people are noted as being such, but we don’t consider that racism.
Dino, I say take me to class and I’ll play your bf. Then I’ll tell the prof that any yelling/screaming he has for you can be addressed to me as well.
What he did to you was a bit harassing.
I think it would be funny to see little-big-man stand up to big-wide-and-nice-goin’.
Bang on PAS. IMO it has to do with which race/ethnicity/religion/skin colour makes up the majority in the given city/province/country/continent/etc.
I’m sure that in Africa (for example) describing someone as ‘black’ isn’t common, but referring to ‘the white guy’ is.
Consider this: When you’re trying to point someone out in a room who happens to be the only black guy in a room full of white people, do you say “the guy with the brown hair”? No. You say “the black guy”. It’s not said to be offensive. It’s just the best way to describe him, given the situation.
Man. I usually don’t get involved in the serious ones…
what is the difference between “must of” and “must have”?
*giggle*
*playing at being a word nazi*
“must of” , in that intended usage, is actually grammatically incorrect, an oft-seen misspelling of the contraction “must’ve”.
“must of” could be used otherwise though, as in, “the virtual air of the bitch board was fouled by the must of Kay’s granny panties”
(sorry, I just couldn’t resist the opportunity to be gross AND a smart-ass)
Basically what Meow and PAS said. Especially the comment on how when you unnecessarily mention a non-white’s race, you’re kind of saying, even if unintentionally, that their race is more worthy of comment than a white person’s would be, and I believe this stems from an unexamined belief or assumption that white is default or “normal”….run-of-the-mill….while people of colour are the exception, somehow some kind of anomaly.
As for referring to someone as white, well, 2 things: how often would you actually do that? no one does, except perhaps in the situation nevermind described….also, someone unnecessarily pointing out my or other whites’ race doesn’t bother me. Yes, it’s racist, but does it really “matter” to someone like me, in my position?
Which brings me to another point I’d like to make, which is that in a non-post-racial society, we’re all racist. Including me. But it occurs on a spectrum. It’s possible to be racist without intending to be racist or thinking of yourself as racist. So maybe instead of saying “shit, I’m an evil racist” think of it as “I’m a racist, but everyone is a racist, and I can learn to be better.”
AS FOR the rest of your bitch, it’s bad to be late, but it sounds like this guy handled it in an entirely unprofessional manner. There are ways to discipline latecomers without going overboard.
Dino, you pay good money to be in that class I’m assuming. This driving school is running a business and it isn’t like high school. That guy works for YOU.
I’d complain to management of the company, tell them you’ve contacted the cops and tell them you want a refund….then take your business elsewhere.
I’m pretty sure once you mention the word “cops” they’ll be pretty cool about handing your $$$ back. Bonus points if you say “I’m looking into my legal options/looking into consulting with a lawyer.”
Advice taken, PK. I’m thinking Professor Ha’s.
My take: Using colour to describe a person is totally fine, and it would be ridiculous to have a blanket ban on it, for the reasons nevermind points out, BUT…
When it is grouped in with negative, or at least unflattering characteristics, that’s a no-go.
You can even use it around negative sentiment, but only if you separate it from the negative word(s).
“that guy is a purple bastard” = bad
“that purple guy is a bastard” = OK
I have to go to bed, so no time to read all the comments but dude, that’s fucking crazy, I would be getting my money back for that course and going elsewhere. You definitely have to keep us posted on that one. Shit.
I agree with Dogma, however if the man was white, there’s an excellent chance I would have preceded ‘toady’ by ‘white’ as well. Especially if he was pasty white.
lol, Dino Jr.
If your last comment is true, then I don’t see how anyone could think you’re racist. I can believe that you made an honest mistake in breaking the guideline I wrote out above, or have just never dissected the point that much.
Now, I will say that if you use ‘white’ the ‘bad’ way (outlined in my last post) now KNOWING about that guideline, that gets you dangerously close to “I can reserve a word that only my particular group can use” territory. You would be temporarily taking ‘white’ from being benign to something worse…something that would likely only be tolerated coming from people in that group…and that shit is annoying and backwards and should be be immediately knocked down by society.
To get a little off-topic, the ‘n-word’, for example, should be in or out for everyone…no RACISM about who can or can’t use it. My recommendation: Just kill it already.
To explain it a little better, I believe many people let in-group words like that slide because they consider them to be under the umbrella of self-deprecation, but I say they should not be there. You are, of course, allowed to make fun of yourself, but that can only truly work on an INDIVIDUAL LEVEL. It is called SELF-deprecation. For it to ever work for a group, FULLY 100% of the people in it would have to be in favour of it.
Can anyone name a single large-group epithet that has CONSENSUS behind it? I didn’t think so.
Well said Dogma. Besides, I’m pasty, and proud. Name of the game is context I suppose.
C’mon, we gotta draw the line somewhere. I say “To Hell with purple people!”
Unless they’re choking…
Then, Help Them!
Um, I took Professor Ha’s. Until that point I’d always thought being bored to tears was just a metaphor. It’s not.
lilac: Foot off the gas, don’t hit the brake.
Dino: You’re thinking of taking Ha’s? The classes are very informative, the instructor’s approachable and will stay after to answer questions, and the info is rock solid. Lessons are really good too. He’ll also tell any idiots yakking to STFU or get out for wasting other student’s valuable time. I got recommended to it by a biker friend, and I was happy with it. Flexible scheduling too.