[shezbut]

I went out a week or so ago, to remove litter off a section that I adopted for Epilepsy Awareness. It's out in the country, and there really isn't anywhere to park for that 3 mile stretch. So, I pulled of the small highway and parked on the very side of a strangers long driveway. Out of the way of traffic, and out of the way of an incoming or outgoing vehicle.

As I got out of the car, with my trash bags and gloves, an older man and woman drove by looking at me. I smiled lightly and waved, then I see the man looking at me contemptuously shaking his head, like, "Naughty, naughty." He kept on driving, but I became furious!! WTH kind of thankfulness is that for not at least smile as I go out of my way to pick up all of the trash on that small highway that they live off?!

Would they rather let the sides of roads collect a bunch of bottles, cans, bras, food, trash, etc. rather than share some parking??? F them!! They ought to appreciate me being willing to give a few hours of my time, for the heck of it, to make the area a nicer place. I just don't understand their pissy attitude towards me. I'm out there alone, and work the area myself for the exercise (about 7 miles round-trip) and to be able to enjoy the small difference that I made on a road for the sake of an issue that's important to me.

Recalling the incident immediately brings me back into that moment of fury, and it did take a few hours for it to pass that day. WTH was that man's problem???

Playing the Devil's Advocate. Maybe he didn't know what you were doing. Maybe all he saw what where you parked but didn't know what you were up to. Don't know....just a thought.

[ECHOES]

Yeah, I think he was looking and frowning, wondering "What is that person doing?".
Some folks have a mean kind of look when they are wondering about something they are seeing; I think it's a kind of worried expression, but it can also seem like disapproval.

[AngelWolf3]

I can totally understand why you got so P.O'd, too. People judge so dang quickly and always assume that people are up to no good...(which I am guilty of myself, since I don't trust people easily anymore...) ANyway, maybe too, he thought you were like doing community service for a crime committed or something. Doesn't give him the right to be a jerk though. I am Sorry that you had to deal with that, when you were just trying to do something good.

[shezbut]

Thank you Maranara, Echoes, and Wolfin.

I guess that I over-reacted to that man driving down the road. He made his assumptions, and I made mine. But, I'm STILL ticked off regardless! That probably makes me sound immature and foolish....but it's true. Heck, if I'd worn one of those bright orange vests and been with a couple of other people, maybe it would have made my intentions more obvious. I don't know.

Honestly, I avoid the vest-wearing (as well as other preventative articles) in hopes of becoming a splat! Not actively suicidal, but not preventative either.

Hey shez,

Bras?...erm...lol
I can understand being peeved about that, though. I've gotten some strange looks from old people. (This could be due to the fact that I used to be perma-drunk with my middle finger sticking up but hey)...

Who knows, some old people are cranks. Your feelings are valid. Oh and as an environmental advocate I fully support your efforts.

[shezbut]

Yeah strat ~

I've picked up dirty crisp bras 3 out of 3 times so far. I immediately get paranoid that there's someone along that road raping women, which gets me all worked up! Then again, maybe it's just a couple who keep having a fling on the side of the road. I've got to tell myself to chill out already! LOL..

Thanks for your post.

[i'm trying]

Hey Shez , i think you're allowed to be PO'd , hell whe're all allowed to be PO'd hey , and good on you for getting it out i say - just a thought here tho - maybe venting a bit earlier ( instead of bottling it up for a week or so) could have saved you from some of the stress/ anger inside hope you are feeling calmer about it now, cheers mate

Is there a lesson in there for all of us ?

[shezbut]

"Is there a lesson in there for all of us ?" - i'm trying

Well, I suppose that the lesson would be not to be presumptuous & assume things. Secondly, when one of us is struck by an intense emotion, we should let ourselves feel it, rather than repress & let the emotion intensify...ending in a blow-up towards something/someone else completely unrelated to what we're really upset about.

There was no need for this man to shake his head - he probably didn't know what you were doing so making assumptions like this was just stupid and even if he was aware im sure he wouldn't mind you parking on someones drive way if it meant you could give up your time to litter pick! As they say, what goes around comes around - be glad that you're a decent person doing the best you can, others just can't help themselves! (if ok).

Originally Posted by shezbut

I've picked up dirty crisp bras 3 out of 3 times so far.

Were you holding one while he was driving by? lol...

I agree that we can learn to not make assumptions, we have no power over the assumptions that others make. I find it helpful to make very quirky assumptions to help put things into perspective: maybe he ate some bad shrimp and had severe indigestion, and his wife was lecturing him about his driving because he couldn't concentrate on the road. He drove by you and got a hate on because you're out there walking doing something productive and he was he was stuck in the car with his crotchety wife on his way to see his accountant and had to get to a washroom asap.

[AngelWolf3]

I like that idea; it helps diffuse the situation! I tend to get very angry about things like this too, so I am going to try this the next time someone ticks me off!