Trying to help our public image

RatRacer · Jun 25, 2006

Went to the B-Y park today. Pavilions 2 and 3 were being used for Grad parties (I felt bad for them- it was raining) so I went to the oldest, #1. Poked around with the Viper because it's waterproof, found 5 old style pulltabs. I filled in my last hole as 2 cars pulled in. I figured they had rented the pavilion, so I started packing up. A lady got out of her car and started complaining to her husband because some of the tables had been moved out into the grass. She was going to call the police about it! I don't think the only officer on duty would come and move 6 tables in the rain. I was just about to offer to help move them when she looks at me and says, with a LOT of attitude, "Excuse me, we RENTED this pavilion!"
Sorry, but some ugly words went through my head.
I didn't say anything, took my bag, and went to the swingset across the yard. Then I thought I should help anyway. I went back over and helped move 3 tables. She said "Thanks" grumpily, and I went back out in the rain. Found some more trash, got soaked, and came home.
I had nothing to do with her being in a nasty mood- the rain, the moved tables, probably some party-planning stress caused it. I figured if I had been mean back, it would make us all look bad. She probably won't remember my helping them, but if I had snapped back, she definitely would! "Those people with their metal detectors, think they own the place, digging giant holes everywhere..."
May not have made our reputations better, but I don't think it make them worse.

RON (PA) · Jun 27, 2006

Rat,

You did the right thing.

. You will be rewarded in the future. Some people naturally have an attitude.

nybuford · Jun 27, 2006

RR... as much as I would like to say "I would have said this or that"... the right thing to do was to be nice and be helpful! Nice job! or... you could have said..."no problem I was just leaving! Now that I have detected all the cement that was under the picnic tables I moved out of the way!"

sorry... HH

Rusted_Iron · Jun 27, 2006

I know how tempting it is to tell someone like that where they can put their picnic tables, but like you, the strategy I've adopted is to be cool, play along and pretend their anger isn't directed at me (even if it is): "Wow, that's terrible that someone moved your tables when you paid for this space, not to mention we have this rain. Here, let me help you with those tables." I found it's hard for people to stay mean to you when you're not being mean back.

I had something like that happen the first day I went to a local shooting range, this older guy came around, another member, and he was just really grouchy about everything. He was kind of being a jerk to me at first, since I was new and he'd never seen me before. You name it, he complained about it: the condition of the benches, the holes in the roof, whatever. So I just acted interested, listened to him go on and on about it, and helped him pick up some trash. (Even though in my case it was different, I was a paying member, just like him). So eventually he became somewhat nice to me, though I could see he was a chronic complainer at heart. Anyway, I could see this work in a situation like yours too.

You did the right thing.

jeff of pa · Jun 28, 2006

Rusted_Iron said:
I know how tempting it is to tell someone like that where they can put their picnic tables, but like you, the strategy I've adopted is to be cool, play along and pretend their anger isn't directed at me (even if it is): "Wow, that's terrible that someone moved your tables when you paid for this space, not to mention we have this rain. Here, let me help you with those tables." I found it's hard for people to stay mean to you when you're not being mean back.

This is How I cope also. R_I

Good Job RR & Congrats on the Finds.
Jeff