[Paragon]

The manager of my local chevron told me of an experience he had this week.

Seems he was at a local restaurant by the Florida Mall. He sat down with his plate and a man came up to him. The man said "I have 89 cents and I am taking half your food. I have my own plate."

When the guy said "say what?" he was told the same thing, then the man reached down and took a bite of his rice.

The chevron manager pointed to the window and told the man in no uncertain terms that he was going thru it if he didn't back the F off. Guy left.

Now the manager wants his CCW, but that's another issue.

I can't help but wonder at the strange phrase. If the cops had to come along, would the man be able to say he offered to pay 89 cents for half the meal, and the victim "accepted" by not refusing flat out? He had his own plate, so he couldn't be accused of taking the diner's plate of food?

Am I even close?

 

[TRX450R_Racer]

That's just plain weird.

 

[daytona]

I think the cops would just tell the guy to move on, not really a crime but more of a nusance thing. How about "heres a buck, get lost".

 

[Glock23-4-Me]

I agree they probably would tell the guy to take a hike.

What is the charge going to be, theft? Thats really petty. I am sure he would not be arrested for it.

Even if you tried to file charges against the guy, I would be willing to bet it would be thrown out.

That makes me want to never visit that store if the guy wants a license to carry a gun because someone took a bite of his rice. Can you imagine if he had a gun, would he have shot the guy or even pulled the firearm on him. Thats pathetic. I am all for defending myself but that is just stupid and my gun would never have entered my mind if someone had done that to me. Personally I think that the clerk is unstable and should not have a license anyway.

 

[Hodawg]

The charge would be First Degree Hybotry. Cuffed and stuffed. Lot's of 'splainin' to do before the judge.

Beers y'all,
Ken

 

[RadTek]

Well, I have to say that's one of the more strange stories I've heard.

I have to imagine that the weirdo was up to more than meets the eye. Possibly setting up your friend for a bigger con but, was unprepared for such an agressive response. Honestly, he was probably trying a spin on begging for food, thinking that taking a bite of the customer's food would result in the customer being so undone about it he'd just hand the guy the whole plate of food resulting in a full, free, meal for Mr. Creepy-pants.:doh

 

[JFWayne]

Possibly setting up your friend for a bigger con but, was unprepared for such an agressive response.

I'm like a starved dog with my food - I'd have probably bit him.

 

[brownie]

EMT's may have been needed had it been my plate. :rolf

I don't think with that kind of verbal warning he could have reached the food fast enough to not have the hand swatted away harshly enough to cause people to notice as I was getting up out of the seat, let alone the language I'd have used or the volume of my voice.

The perp definately would not have been swallowing MY rice at the very least. He may have been choking on it, but it's not have swallowed it.

Brownie

 

[Paragon]

I agree they probably would tell the guy to take a hike.

What is the charge going to be, theft? Thats really petty. I am sure he would not be arrested for it.

Even if you tried to file charges against the guy, I would be willing to bet it would be thrown out.

That makes me want to never visit that store if the guy wants a license to carry a gun because someone took a bite of his rice. Can you imagine if he had a gun, would he have shot the guy or even pulled the firearm on him. Thats pathetic. I am all for defending myself but that is just stupid and my gun would never have entered my mind if someone had done that to me. Personally I think that the clerk is unstable and should not have a license anyway.

I would have felt a bit unnerved by the whole thing myself. Someone tells me he is taking my food and helps himself to something off my plate, and I am not supposed to feel violated? Yeah, I would. I think anger is a natural response.

But he never said he would have like to have shot the guy. It was more expressing his recognition that anything could happen, good and bad. He was a bit surprised that this happened "in a brand new store". This isn't the first conversation we have had about CCW and goblins that roam everywhere.

I have to say, however, that I am glad I am in a "shall issue" state, where someone won't judge me to be unstable based solely on an incident like this. Many of us have had these "come-to-jeebus" situations that cause us to get a CCW finally.

 

[Soverign]

That guy would have been missing a few fingers at least.
My story would have been, I saw a fork coming for me and I protected myself, so there I am real sorry about the holes in him.
There has been times I have got an extra fruit or sandwich from the 7-11 and given it to the local bum when I am feeling generous, but those times are rare.

 

[OLDJEEP813]

When I was in school I was taught to stab anybody in the hand with my fork that tried to touch my food.

 

[Hodawg]

EMT's may have been needed had it been my plate. :rolf


The perp definately would not have been swallowing MY rice at the very least. He may have been choking on it, but it's not have swallowed it.

Brownie

I'm thinking "forced feeding" until the last grain is down his gullet!

Beers,
Ken

 

[brownie]

Very strange situation. But I'm just weird enough to have been curious as long as he wasn't a threat. Probably would have wound up talking to him and tried to find out where he was comming from. Could have wound up throwing him through the window or sharing my plate depending on his circumstances. I'm sure I've been taken advantage of before but never been guilty of turning anyone away who was hungry. I won't give a panhandler any cash but I have sat down across from some hungry people that most wouldn't be seen sitting with and bought thier lunch.

I used to take the wino's hanging in the alleyways of Boston's Chinatown to lunch or dinner -------- they made great CI's when I needed eyes in the area. They understood if they had information I was looking for, they got a free meal and enough money to buy another bottle. :rolf

Brownie

 

[deadeyedick]

In my universe, if you reach for my food you're liable to pull back a stump. :rolf

That was just plain weird.

 

[Hodawg]

Good stuff, there, Gimmie. I, too, have a soft spot for those less fortunate than me. I've never belittled a panhandler, until they get to be abrasive. At that point, humanitarianism goes out the window. When some one threatens me and sticks his fork into MY food, GAME ON. I don't know if this moron has H1N1, HIV, or anything else! Believe me, I've been down on my luck as well. And I empathize with those that are legitimately there, and I'll help them out if I can. But I can spot a professional panhandler a mile away, and he'll get nothing. There's a food court at almost any mall in the nation. This guy, needing or deserving or not, wouldn't stand a chance pulling that stunt with me.

Several years ago, there was a sad sack at a major intersection near my house with a sign that said that he and his dog were starving. I drove past him, then felt a little guilty. I had just lost a good dog and had about 20 cans of dog food with no reason to keep them. As soon as I pulled into the driveway, I gathered up two large grocery bags full of canned goods for the sad sack and dog food for the pooch. I even through in a fairly new manual can opener and some plastic disposable bowls and forks and spoons. I went back to give this moron the stuff I thought he might need. He turned his nose up at every last bit of it, even saying that feeding that "sh***t" to his dog was tantamount to abuse! He didn't want anything I was giving up out of my family's mouth, he only wanted CASH. Needed some ripple or crack I presume.

There are WAY too many legitimate programs around to feed the homeless and the less fortunate for these folks to be intimidating regular folks, and I support many of them. The local shelters, the local food wagons, church charities, the Salvation Army, etc. A man down on his luck has my heart. A man sticking his fork into my plate has my wrath.

Just me,
Ken

 

[Steve48]

Dang! We don't even get any beers?

 

[Hodawg]

Dang! We don't even get any beers?

Oh yeah, I forgot.

Beers y'all, :drinks :thumsup
Ken

 

[goldsamurai26]

As a deputy sheriff most of the panhandlers I searched had more cash on them than I did. They made a good living doing that and had no responsibilities. After that I quit helping them. They have also grossly multiplied where I live because people keep giving them money. :deadhorse

 

[Tic26]

Something like that happened to me once...I was at a fair and some dude walks up to me and starts grabbing my fries....just when I was about to belt him..his sister runs up and says that she is sorry and that he is mentally challenged....

I am glad I did not belt him...I would have felt pretty bad...

 

[MPDC66]

Very strange thing to do on the part of the rice thief. Also very dangerous and in the absence of other or threatening move on his part, I would be inclined to think mental impaired. Still unnerving and honestly can't say what my reaction would be.

If he looked " out of it" in a mentally disabled way, I'd probably give him the plate and ask him where he lived to determine if he had walked away from a home or facility. Without actually seeing him and allowing my senses to judge the situation, I can't say.

I know I have encountered "strange" folks that I didn't consider to be a threat to me AND have encountered aggressive thugs testing my will and resolve to protect myself. I think I can judge the difference.

One, and just my personal opinion, deserves my understanding and the other nothing but firm reaction and possibly very harsh response.

I am also aware there are many mentally deficient people out there whose actions usually result in harm to THEM when , perhaps, a more understanding eye was called for. There but for the grace of God.................

Let me add this, I am not a small guy and don't think I would necessarily be the obvious target for a really pushy con man or thief. I would definitely act differently if I was with my wife or grandkids and felt there was any chance of harm to them AND I have had experience dealing with MO cases (Metal Observation candidates) while serving as a Policeman. My actions will forever be colored by those experiences.