Retiree Fights With Man Over Foul Language.

[Johnboy60]

ST. PAUL, Minn. - A 79-year-old retiree who tussled with a man half his age over the man's foul language in a restaurant was sentenced to probation - but outside of that, he's been treated more like a hero than a criminal.

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/cgi-bin/news/newsbrief.plx?id=1103152571&fa=1


Robert

 

[j davis]

wow, i can't believe that guy actually had the nerve to grab the guy's phone. if he wasn't so old he probably would have gotten punched in the face. it's funny how this stevenson guy think he has the right to tell people where to say what.ahhahahaha i'd laugh in his face if he told me to go talk somewhere else.

 

[Vylo]

If they were in a restaurant, perhaps the wise thing to do would have been to tell one of the employees? They could remove him if they felt it was necessary. Otherwise the guy was definetly breaking the law when he grabbed the guys phone.

 

[MichaelFJF]

What about my freedom to enjoy a restaurant without hearing bad language? We have to bend over to make sure no one is offended these days. Well, I'm offended when people swear on cell phones loud enough for me to hear. I applaud the old guy and I hope I have the guts to do the same when I'm 79. M

 

[Western Deity]

Oh well. At least he'll die soon, and that will be one less troublemaker in the world.

 

[Ave Maria]

While I think the older guy should have informed an employee and let them do something about it, I do find it very sad when crimes are applauded.

 

[ForeRunner]

What about my freedom to enjoy a restaurant without hearing bad language?

And what about the freedom from being assaulted? That is a rather large one I would think.

 

[Vylo]

What about my freedom to enjoy a restaurant without hearing bad language?

Tell an employee, there is no need to get violent over it. Especially at age 79. He is lucky he wasn't severely injured or accidently killed.

 

[Ave Maria]

What about my freedom to enjoy a restaurant without hearing bad language? We have to bend over to make sure no one is offended these days. Well, I'm offended when people swear on cell phones loud enough for me to hear. I applaud the old guy and I hope I have the guts to do the same when I'm 79. M

I totally understand your wish to enjoy a meal in a restaurant without being disrupted by such things. I would hope to also experience a peaceful meal. But this older man was wrong in what he did. He should have notified an employee and let them take care of it.

 

[Redneck]

I'm laughing at what happened to the other guy.

 

[MichaelFJF]

Oh well. At least he'll die soon, and that will be one less troublemaker in the world.

I agree. Next time he might run into someone a lot younger and a lot angrier when he decides to spout obscenities in public.M

 

[Redneck]

I agree. Next time he might run into someone a lot younger and a lot angrier when he decides to spout obscenities in public.M

Actually, I think his next run-in is going to be with the law, unless they've already taken him in.

 

[Western Deity]

I agree. Next time he might run into someone a lot younger and a lot angrier when he decides to spout obscenities in public.M

LOL. Nice. I've got to admit, I got told there.

 

[ClaireZ]

While you may not agree with his methods, the old guy, sure has my approval. I also find it offensive to have to listen to foul language in a public place, especially when I am with my children.

There have been several times when I have been at the local store, when I have stopped teenagers, especially young women, and asked them to consider the language they are using. It is after all a public place. I am sure my youngest who is 15 now, has heard about all there is to hear, but he still respects my right and the rights of others, not to listen to vulgar language, both in our home or in public. What he may say among his friends, I am sure would be a totally different story.

It's amazing how many people feel no need for common courtsey or decency in public anymore.

 

[Western Deity]

"my right and the rights of others, not to listen to vulgar language"

Why should you have such a right, and who defines vulgar language? Conservatives?

 

[Sycophant]

"my right and the rights of others, not to listen to vulgar language"

Why should you have such a right, and who defines vulgar language? Conservatives?

Yeah.

See in principle I agree that people shouldn't be excessivly vulgar in public (whatever we might define that as), and I personally temper my language to suit my surroundings.

However, I can't see how someone should have the right not to have to listen to someone else's choice of expression. I mean in some recent other-way examples there were some recent discussions here about Christian protesters arrested at a gay-pride event. Surely the people at the event had the right not to have to listen to the rhetoric of the protesters? And surely I have the right not to have to listen to the agressive street preacher who shouts at people on the main street here?

You have the right not to have to listen in so far as you have the right to walk away. Or more helpfully in this case, as it was in a private property (the restaurant) the guy had the right to complain to the staff and they had the right to ask him to leave.

But the guy in this article has no more right to attack the swearing guy, than I have to attack some annoying street preacher, or the next anti-gay protester I see.

I believe you have freedom of expression, I don't think there is any freedom from expression.

 

[Ave Maria]

Yeah.

See in principle I agree that people shouldn't be excessivly vulgar in public (whatever we might define that as), and I personally temper my language to suit my surroundings.

However, I can't see how someone should have the right not to have to listen to someone else's choice of expression. I mean in some recent other-way examples there were some recent discussions here about Christian protesters arrested at a gay-pride event. Surely the people at the event had the right not to have to listen to the rhetoric of the protesters? And surely I have the right not to have to listen to the agressive street preacher who shouts at people on the main street here?

You have the right not to have to listen in so far as you have the right to walk away. Or more helpfully in this case, as it was in a private property (the restaurant) the guy had the right to complain to the staff and they had the right to ask him to leave.

But the guy in this article has no more right to attack the swearing guy, than I have to attack some annoying street preacher, or the next anti-gay protester I see.

I believe you have freedom of expression, I don't think there is any freedom from expression.

I agree. And wouldn't the saying, "Your rights end where someone else's begin." be applicable here?

 

[ChrisWins]

I totally understand your wish to enjoy a meal in a restaurant without being disrupted by such things. I would hope to also experience a peaceful meal. But this older man was wrong in what he did. He should have notified an employee and let them take care of it.

No matter how irate you get, definitely gotta ask an employee of the joint first. If that should fail for some reason then take matters into your own hands.

Can you imagine what's going to happen when airlines start allowing people to openly use cell phones during flights. Even if someone's not swearing their head off into the phone, it would be bad enough for someone to even be on the phone next to me. It disturbs me so much I don't want to think about it. I'm ALL for personal freedoms from just about everything but when someone else rudely infinges upon your personal space, well, that just ain't right and cell phones allow it to happen often in society today. It's sad. What's sadder is when if you ask someone to cut it out and they don't. No respect.

 

[Sors]

I have a bit of a mouth myself and do at times cuss in public.

To me this is about respect. If you are offending someone and they politely ask you to stop, like this old man apparently did, and you don't have the decency to show some respect and change your behavior temporarily, then you deserve to have your butt whipped.

This has nothing to do with freedom of speech, it does have something to do with respecting your fellow man.

 

[ClaireZ]

"my right and the rights of others, not to listen to vulgar language"

Why should you have such a right, and who defines vulgar language? Conservatives?

There is certain language that is offensive particularly of the 4 letter varitey that I have a right not to have to hear in a public place. Has nothing to do with being a Conservative, which if you have read any of my posts on this board, I could hardly be called. It has to do with decency as described by just about anyone.

If I had gone to see Eddie Murphy in concert, or Lenny Bruce, or George Carlin, I would certainly expect that they would use language that most would deem offensive, but in a public place, especially where there are young children around, like a resturant or store, we do have a right not to have to listen to it. If I politely ask them to stop, they should be polite enough to respect that.