Model Citizenship

I came across a “Not So Model” incident today at the local supermarket which I would like to highlight as today’s topic of choice. Now keep in mind this was a Trader Joe’s market, so the checkout aisles were not heavily partitioned like those of traditional supermarkets.

They are more like rows of checkout kiosks with a small conveyor belt and cashier to ring up your purchase. As I got ready to pay for my items, the situation at the checkout aisles was as follows:

As I approach the checkout, I noticed a couple straddling aisles 2 and 3, hesitant to commit to a specific cashier. I proceed to stand in aisle 3, but still maintaining some distance BEHIND the hasty couple. The couple then proceeds to walk over to aisle 1, which looks to have moved further along then the other aisles. Dissatisfied with the line status of aisle 1, the couple then RETURNS to aisle 3, but this time they cut directly in front of me! Now they must have justified this rude behavior in their little brains by the fact that they were 1/2 way in my aisle earlier… but once you commit to another aisle, all bets are off!
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The Stop Sign Intersection in California is a rich source of poor model citizenship; So much so that I have decided to call out the multiple examples of bad behavior that I witness there. Basically, I just can’t take it anymore, so I have decided to make the ‘California Stop Sign’ the theme for today’s curmudgeonly rant. Readers: I call out 5 examples of non-model citizenship. What have I missed?

EXAMPLE 1 – WHO’S ON FIRST (AND WHO GOES FIRST)?
I am a reasonably intelligent guy. I know a little about a lot of things. Some things I get, some things (like quantum mechanics or string theory) I don’t. One thing that is abundantly clear to me is Stop Signs. It comes down to 3 very simple rules, really:

A) The person who stops first goes first
B) If two vehicles stop at the same time, the vehicle on the right goes first
C) Pedestrians change the rules…they have the right of way over all vehicles
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So - I want to start this entry with a simple definition from dictionary.com :

big·ot [big-uht] –(n) a person who is utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief, or opinion.

Well, with the proper definition established, let’s explore a recent comment made by “Civil” rights activist Al Sharpton. While out debating what he has no business debating (politics), Al Sharpton denounced Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s spiritual faith with the following comment:

“As for the one Mormon running for office, those that really believe in God will defeat him anyway, so don’t worry about that. That’s a temporary situation.” (Check the CNN Story)

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A few years ago while traveling in Italy, I came across a VERY UN-model citizen. I was riding a bus with a group of friends on the way to the Vatican, when one of my female friends makes her away across the bus to where I was standing. She mentioned to me that she was uncomfortable standing where she was, and that she’d rather stand on my side of the bus. I thought nothing of it, but once we arrived at our stop, she explained to us the reason for her discomfort.  Apparently the Italian man she was standing next to (in his early 40’s) was repeatedly groping her ass and crotch!!!

Fortunately for the old perv, she didn’t want to say anything to us until AFTER he exited at his stop, for fear of us getting in trouble after laying the smackdown on him. Apparently this is a big problem in many parts of the world. I remember hearing in Japan that it has become such a big problem, that they have implemented “women/girls only” train cars!

Thus, I’m sure we can all agree…pervy old gropers: Not so model citizens.

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