Cell phone scuffle settled- Senior who stood up to cursing sentenced

Pioneer Press ^ | 12-15-04 | David Hanners

[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?'

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

Perhaps, but I'd like to see the statistics on how many automobile accidents are caused by folks driving while talking on their cell phones.

[LibWhacker]

Outrageous that the old guy was the person charged in this case. By rights, he should've been able to make a citizen's arrest of Taylor for public obscenity and lewdness, and use whatever force was necessary effecting that arrest. But, no! . . . God forbid that free men be allowed to arrest criminals nowadays in the free country that is supposed to serve them.

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

You're the one who started the imaginary scenario with Lil' Jesse pulling a gun. I finished it. Jesse's dead. RIP Lil' Jesse.

[California Patriot]

There may have been a better response, but we weren't there.

My sympathies are completely with the old man. This is an example of civil society, instead of the state, enforcing moral standards. If more of it happened, we'd need fewer laws ... and more important, we'd be a healthier society.

The fact that so many FReepers don't understand this is disappointing. They don't seem to understand that there will always be some form of authority. The question is what form it takes.

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

If I was mayor of the town, I would have proclaimed a day in Mr. Stevenson's honor. And awarded him a medal. Apparently they don't appreciate truly good and upright citizens in the blue states.

[California Patriot]

At a minimum, prosecuting him was an outrageous abuse.

[rcocean]

I agree. I wish I had the guys email or mailing address. I'd sent him my congratulations.

[monday]

"Shoot a 79 year old man because he tried to take your cell phone will land you in prison for a long time."

True. I exaggerated to make a point. What would you do if someone tried to take something of yours? Would you be justified in fighting back?

My point wasn't that the old guy should have been shot for trying to grab the guys cell phone. My point was that it was he who broke the law, and in so doing left himself open to retaliation.

If Tabor had knocked the old guy down, in retaliation for grabbing his cell phone, not many would say he was out of line.

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

This is an example of civil society, instead of the state, enforcing moral standards. If more of it happened, we'd need fewer laws ... and more important, we'd be a healthier society.

Yes! Thank you.

Public shame over immorality was once the norm, but then the 1960s came and we have been careening downhill ever since.

[NittanyLion]

In short, you get the guy off his frustration level with the call by being a bit long winded and getting him to focus his attention on, what they heck does this guy want instead of what is other problem is with his house.

And no doubt this convicted felon who failed to appear for his hearing would've calmed right down and apologized. After all, bullies always respond to rational, logical requests so long as they're phrased in a polite manner...

Telling him to quit cursing or risk having the phone shoved in a very awkward place probably would've yielded a better result.

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

Lil' Jesse 'Punk' Tabor started the whole thing, but you would have seen nothing wrong with him punching Mr. Stevenson?

[LowOiL]

He later had the charge overturned unfortunately.

I hate profanity, whether there is kids around or not. It burn me up, and I tell them about it. If they want to take it futher, I do that too.

[cyborg]

I've ejected customers for filthy cell phone talk. In fact, I threatened to call the police over a young man who dropped F and N bombs. He left pretty quickly *lol*

[rcocean]

Yes, I agree. But Tabor didn't do it, because he knew he was wrong.

I think the old guy was right. We need to learn from the older generation that when someone behaves in a rude obnoxious manner you just don't give in or hope some "authority figure" is going to handle it.

We need to confront the Boors. People have become obsessed with the "the law", to the extend they are paralyzed from taking action to enforce common decency.

To rephrase something my mother used to say - if the they passed a law that you had to jump off cliff - would you do it?

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

Keep a tire thumper behind the bar. When Lil' Jesse Tabor and his loud foul mouth comes in, offer no warning, just have him escorted to the back door and take him out behind the dumpster for some sensitivity training.

[Zack Nguyen]

Taking a dump on the hood of someones car never killed anyone...

Darn it, I know! I keep telling my neighbors that, but they never believe me!

[Modernman]

You have no "right" to sit and carry on like that in a public place. Your "rights" end at the tip of my nose or my eardrums; then, you're mine.

You have no "right" not to be offended by foul language.

[monday]

"This is an example of civil society, instead of the state, enforcing moral standards. If more of it happened, we'd need fewer laws ... and more important, we'd be a healthier society."

I disagree. It happens all the time and almost always ends badly. Who decides what behavior is unacceptable and how much force to use in correcting the offender? Everyone seems to want the right to correct others misbehavior. Enforcers have shot people who rudely cut them off in traffic or flip them off. Is this their right?

A punch in the nose for offensive language falls into this same category of misdirected vigilante justice that isn't acceptable in civilized society.

If you claim the right for you to correct others misbehavior, you must be aware that others will demand the same right for themselves as well?

Most people will not be as judicious as you might be in the enforcement of "moral standards". Indeed. Not everyone shares the same "moral standards".

You would prefer everyone was given the right to enforce their own "moral standards"?

[Zack Nguyen]

Wow - I need one of those!

[Modernman]

There is no right to not be assaulted when you are a bully.

Cell phone guy was a boor, but he was not bullying anyone.

Also, assaulting a sh*t head who is bent on publican humiliating you is not assault. It's defense.

Civilized people respond to words with words. Using violence in response to words you do not like paints you as the bully and the thug.