Potential Altercations: How to Handle Them
Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 10:45 pm
I have posted every so often about altercations I have had with closed-minded jerks in the past when I have stepped out (yes, I'm afraid that even here in NY you get one or two of those)
On Friday I had another run-in with some older dude - the guy was in his 50s, (I estimate he was about my height w/o my heels) fairly stocky, greying beard, looking like a Hell's Angel reject.
Anyway, every story is the same. Whenever a random jerk appears at the bar they feel the need to piss off and try to intimidate everyone in their path.
When will people learn?
On this night I was talking to one of my GG friends by the bar and he walked past. The man was already quite drunk, and tried to jump in between my GG friend and I. (I guess he was trying to pick us up)
Anyway, after having heard my voice he had me figured out. He then looked at me and said "I've been in prison for 20 years, and in that time I've been ****ing queens just like you."
I was initially too shocked to try and react immediately. But then again I do have plenty of experience in dealing with jerks, not only due to my skin color but for my CDing as well. I am immune to fear. I fear NO ONE.
I looked him dead in his eye and said to him, "Don't let my appearance fool you. Don't think for one second that I can't kick the **** out of you where you stand." But I was totally calm and collected when I said that. In fact I gave him a smile after I said that!
And he backed off!!
And the SOB walked away.
At any rate, he was not immediately escorted out of the place but for the rest of the night I chose to ignore him - I was just hanging out with my friends and having a good time.
The bottom line is - I've been in so many confrontational situations in my 32 years that I decided that it's best to pick your battles. Now, many times when I hear comments from a jerk I will just slough it off. There's really no sense in getting myself riled up every single time.
Plus I really didn't want to risk messing up my wig...
I just wanted to pass this on ladies: if you have the opportunity to walk away from a jerk and you feel that it's not worth the confrontation, then just do that. Many a night there will be a bunch of loud young kids hanging out in front of Penn Station when I'm heading home at the end of the night and I just ignore the ones who have something to say to me. I know that I have nothing to prove because I FEAR NO ONE. Point a gun at my face and I will NOT wet myself. But at this point I have decided that if I can get out of a fight gracefully then I will do that.
On Friday I had another run-in with some older dude - the guy was in his 50s, (I estimate he was about my height w/o my heels) fairly stocky, greying beard, looking like a Hell's Angel reject.
Anyway, every story is the same. Whenever a random jerk appears at the bar they feel the need to piss off and try to intimidate everyone in their path.
Anyway, after having heard my voice he had me figured out. He then looked at me and said "I've been in prison for 20 years, and in that time I've been ****ing queens just like you."
I was initially too shocked to try and react immediately. But then again I do have plenty of experience in dealing with jerks, not only due to my skin color but for my CDing as well. I am immune to fear. I fear NO ONE.
I looked him dead in his eye and said to him, "Don't let my appearance fool you. Don't think for one second that I can't kick the **** out of you where you stand." But I was totally calm and collected when I said that. In fact I gave him a smile after I said that!
And he backed off!!
At any rate, he was not immediately escorted out of the place but for the rest of the night I chose to ignore him - I was just hanging out with my friends and having a good time.
The bottom line is - I've been in so many confrontational situations in my 32 years that I decided that it's best to pick your battles. Now, many times when I hear comments from a jerk I will just slough it off. There's really no sense in getting myself riled up every single time.
Plus I really didn't want to risk messing up my wig...
I just wanted to pass this on ladies: if you have the opportunity to walk away from a jerk and you feel that it's not worth the confrontation, then just do that. Many a night there will be a bunch of loud young kids hanging out in front of Penn Station when I'm heading home at the end of the night and I just ignore the ones who have something to say to me. I know that I have nothing to prove because I FEAR NO ONE. Point a gun at my face and I will NOT wet myself. But at this point I have decided that if I can get out of a fight gracefully then I will do that.
