The Asshat Thread

[Molly]

From CT (yes, I still go there) regarding the couple and the kid:

The parents were on the Today show today (Friday).
They don't blame the other couple at all. First off, the other couple were looking at the ball and each other and didn't even hear the kid over the noise of the crowd. When they did notice him, they offered him the ball. They actually did! And the parents said, "No", because the kid (3 year old) was going through a phase where he wanted everything his way and they were trying to teach him that he can't have everything he wants. They said they other couple was very friendly and they wish them well. (They are getting married next week, by the way).

But, no, they were glad the other couple did NOT give him the ball, even though they did offer to do so.


Read more: http://interact.stltoday.com/forums/vie ... z1tFX464KB

[jim]

Any adult that really wants a baseball that was tossed into the crowd like that is a [expletive] weirdo loser. I don't care what comes out it still creeps me out they were that happy about it.

[MrCrowesGarden]

What's the alternative? "African Canadian" would be a vile slur.

I just think it's funny that ultra-pc individuals are afraid to say anything other than "African American" and often refer to individuals who are not American as being such... like when ESPN called Lewis Hamilton (British) an African American.

Is it being ultra-PC, or grabbing onto an adjective without much thought when typing for a deadline? That's more like typing a cliche, or trying to figure out standard ways of addressing someone socially. It's sloppy reporting. I don't think it's a source of concern if people are acting in good faith--both the writer and the person described. Of course, that differs from trying to create a quick social bond by throwing out a slur.

FWIW, the AP Stylebook says to use "black."

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

Any adult that really wants a baseball that was tossed into the crowd like that is a [expletive] weirdo loser. I don't care what comes out it still creeps me out they were that happy about it.

And hates America.

[sighyoung]

Any adult that really wants a baseball that was tossed into the crowd like that is a [expletive] weirdo loser. I don't care what comes out it still creeps me out they were that happy about it.

Yeah, I really wouldn't worry about a baseball.

[sighyoung]

What's the alternative? "African Canadian" would be a vile slur.

I just think it's funny that ultra-pc individuals are afraid to say anything other than "African American" and often refer to individuals who are not American as being such... like when ESPN called Lewis Hamilton (British) an African American.

Is it being ultra-PC, or grabbing onto an adjective without much thought when typing for a deadline? That's more like typing a cliche, or trying to figure out standard ways of addressing someone socially. It's sloppy reporting. I don't think it's a source of concern if people are acting in good faith--both the writer and the person described. Of course, that differs from trying to create a quick social bond by throwing out a slur.

FWIW, the AP Stylebook says to use "black."

That makes perfect sense.

[dmarx114]

Common decency in this case being giving three year olds anything they ask for.

It is common decency for adults to give baseballs to kids.

Again, the kid's reaction was irrelevant.

These people are asshats because they thought it was more important to keep a baseball for themselves than it was to give it to a kid.

Why is a random ball handed from a stranger important to the kid?
Going back to the argument that catching the ball is more thrilling than the ball itself, how thrilling is it, even when you are 7, to be handed a ball that someone else caught? And when you are 3, you really have no clue about the value of a baseball tossed into the crowd. You know someone just got something and you didn't, so it is time to cry. Nobody involved in this situation would give 2 [expletive] about that ball in 24 hours, including and especially the 3 year old.

I would think because it makes them feel connected to the players and the game.

The better question is, "why is a random ball important to an adult"?

[Popeye_Card]

Common decency in this case being giving three year olds anything they ask for.

It is common decency for adults to give baseballs to kids.

Again, the kid's reaction was irrelevant.

These people are asshats because they thought it was more important to keep a baseball for themselves than it was to give it to a kid.

Why is a random ball handed from a stranger important to the kid?
Going back to the argument that catching the ball is more thrilling than the ball itself, how thrilling is it, even when you are 7, to be handed a ball that someone else caught? And when you are 3, you really have no clue about the value of a baseball tossed into the crowd. You know someone just got something and you didn't, so it is time to cry. Nobody involved in this situation would give 2 [expletive] about that ball in 24 hours, including and especially the 3 year old.

I would think because it makes them feel connected to the players and the game.

The better question is, "why is a random ball important to an adult"?

They feel connected because a random guy handed them a ball? I doubt that.

Why is it important to an adult? Well if it was a foul ball that he caught, there's a possibility that the adult has been waiting since he was a kid to catch a foul ball. So it probably has some meaning to him as a momento, that he was finally lucky enough to catch one.

I don't think many people have wanted to have a ball handed to them by a stranger, ever since they were a kid.

[heyzeus]

Delmon Young.

[Fat_Bulldog]

Good lord. Give it a [expletive] break. You guys pissing over something so insignificant is tiresome.