Posted on 12/15/2004 7:24:46 AM PST by Rakkasan1
A retiree who got fed up when a cell-phone user refused to clean up his language in a restaurant in July got three months' probation Tuesday. Unlike many defendants who walk into Ramsey County District Judge Paulette Flynn's courtroom to plead guilty to a crime, 79-year-old Bill W. Stevenson got thumbs-up signs from attorneys and others in the court who identified with his motives, if not his actions. "I felt a lot of sympathy, and they were giving me the thumbs-up when I walked out of the courtroom," Stevenson said after pleading guilty to a single count of disorderly conduct. "I think I could've won my case by going to trial, with a sympathetic jury. I've had over 30 calls and letters and e-mails, and I've not had one negative call. They're all on my side." The bagel bakery imbroglio happened July 15 when Stevenson and another retired 3M engineer, Sten Gerfast, 74, were sitting at a table at Bruegger's in the Sun Ray Shopping Center and going over a design Gerfast had invented. Jesse Russell Tabor, 40, of Minneapolis entered the bakery with his 13-year-old daughter. In an interview after the incident, Tabor said he was talking on his cell phone with a man whose home he was remodeling. Tabor said in the interview he didn't recall cursing while on the phone. Stevenson and Gerfast remember it differently. "He was using the F-word against this guy he was talking to," Stevenson said. "There was an argument on the phone. The third time he walked by our booth where Mr. Gerfast and I were trying to design something, Mr. Gerfast said to me, 'Should I do something about it?' I thought a moment and thought, 'What can you do in a case like this?'
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Yes, but these senior citizens took it too far. Yes, Tabor was completely out of line and I think it was fine for Gerfast to politely ask him to take the conversation outside. But if the man refused, Gerfast should have complained to the management . . . not start wrestling with him over the cell phone. While his motives may have been good, I would be pissed as hell if some old guy tried this on me!
Good for them. I too refuse to sit in a public place and listen to language like that. I've asked many a fellow to tone down his language. Most do so, though every now and then you'll encounter a punk who wants to get a bit feisty.
MM
The guy I quoted was the one that brought age into it. Honestly, I would be pissed as hell if ANYONE tried that with me.
Put on your asbestos suit, but you're right. Let them refuse to serve the jerk or throw him out of the store.
The old guy wasn't charged with assault and sued for $100M for "censorship" by ACLU LOY-ahs.
79 puts him at about WW2 age. They generally don't take things to management.
I doubt that you'd be using foul language in a public place. This idiot (cell phone user) got what he deserved but unfortunately political correctness, which rules our society, will always slam the defender of good while evil goes its own way free and happy.
And the old guy was apparently 'pissed as hell' that the phone talker didn't have any consideration for those around him.
Then maybe a trip in front of a judge a few times will illustrate the need to take things to management.
They don't mind. It beats being shelled in a foxhole.
Cell-phone boy came out the worst on this one.
"79 puts him at about WW2 age. They generally don't take things to management."
yep. today you hold a candlelight vigil at the news station, hold hands in a circle with your lawyers and Congresswoman while singing Kum-by-ya.
In most instances, you would be correct. However, if I did choose to, it's my choice. I don't think it's illegal. Even if it is, not this guy's job to enforce it.
I hate busybodies. The f word never killed anyone.
He had the choice to leave as well.
And it's another person's choice to tell you that you are less than a man for doing so. And you just have to take that and like it.
Okay, I can accept that. And had Gerfast stopped at asking him to stop, there would have been no problem. He instigated a physical altercation. That's where he took it too far.
But, on another note, I'm not sure using profanity makes someone "less than a man". Rude? Yes. A wuss? Nah.
I guess you're right, however I am of the age where you hit first and ask questions later. The idiot politicians have taken all the fun out of life for the do gooders.
Simple solution: get out your cell phone and start walking near him, singing "Jesus Loves Me." If he complains, simply explain that you're singing to your granddaughter.
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