Yelled at a train preacher today

[conuly]

On the one hand, it probably didn't help. I'm sure he got a hard on thinking on how "omg persecuted" he was.

On the other hand, at least he went to the other end of the car and stayed there.

"Would you like it if there were Muslims teaching your kids?"

Well, I don't see any Muslims shouting in a train car, do you? I've never seen it! Compared to you, they seem like a dream!

"I have the right to freedom of speech!"

So do I, but you're not letting me use it! I'd like to speak to these children sitting next to me! And I'm not the only person in this car who would like to have a quiet conversation, but some jerks are screaming and storming so nobody can hear themselves think! Freedom of speech my butt! You don't get freedom of screaming, jerk.

Comments

[sovay]

Freedom of speech my butt! You don't get freedom of screaming, jerk.

Amen.

[conuly]

Of course, after I went off at him I had a few people quietly nodding and agreeing with me and on the one hand, support is nice, but on the other... we could get him to at least keep it down to a dull roar if we all joined in together, guys!

[cosmolinguist]

Freedom of speech just means the government can't jail him for it, it doesn't mean freedom from consequences! Good for you for speaking out.

[conuly]

I wish we could get MTA employees to at least enforce noise rules, though. Not just on him, but also on people who play music and watch videos. I don't want to hear your shitty programming. Your kid can watch Dora any time. Knock it off.

[cosmolinguist]

It's an accessibility issue too, the noise is hard on anyone with hearing impairments or any kind of sensory processing issues, or anxiety.

[conuly]

Or migraines, which run in my family. (I mostly dodged them, but my sister and my older niece, Ana, weren't that lucky.)

[cosmolinguist]

I get migraines too; they are no fun at all. My mom does too, and her mom,and my brother was lucky enough to grow out of them as a kid.

[sovay]

we could get him to at least keep it down to a dull roar if we all joined in together, guys!

I hope next time more people aggregate to you, then. (Or there isn't a guy screaming on the train, but at the moment that feels a bit like wishing for the moon.)

[silver_chipmunk]

He gets freedom of speech, but you get freedom of speech to tell him to f- off too. That's how that works.

[kengr]

Many years back (in the 70s?) a friend was near a street preacher when the guy gave him an opening he couldn't resist..

Preacher thunders "There is only one God!"

Friend returns "And Allah be His Name"

Preacher was furious, crowd was amused.

Alas, these days if you tried that, you might get attacked. *sigh*

[conuly]

*giggles*

"There is somebody who died and came back"

"Mithras?"

[conuly]

Fuck yeah.

[archangelbeth]

I am cheering you on!!!

[ironed_orchid]

::grin::

[kengr]

Among *many* others.

and of course, there are the "Jesus was a zombie" folks. Though more careful analysis suggests a different sort of undead.

A friend had an extensive theology of the Great Eternal Frog (GEF for short). GEF was a frog because when you read the sections on what *not* to worship in the Old Testament, amphibians aren't mentioned.

Then there's the bit about having no other gods before Yaweh. So GEF is behind and to one side.

He could go on for an hour expounding this stuff.

[conuly]

Jesus is definitely not a zombie, although all the cannibalism is weird.

[angelofthenorth]

Well done

[silveradept]

Freedom of speech, to me, also always meant freedom to receive consequences from that speech.

And Muslims already are teaching children, preacher. And doing a fine job of it.

[wendelah1]

Practically no one understands the First Amendment.

[springviolets]

i hate that now my first thought is "oh god i hope it didn't get violence."

good on you for not being quiet though!

[conuly]

It was already violent, what with all the LOUD PREACHING. A veritable assault on everybody's ears!

[amaebi]

Not in common discourse, for sure. :/

[elenbarathi.livejournal.com]

[mme-n-b.livejournal.com]

You are awesomely brave. I would not have dared yell at one while herding children. In fact, I probably would not have stayed in the same train car.

[conuly]

Ugh, I *ought* to have just left the car. Been the better person, set a good example, blah blah blah. (Especially as they aren't my kids, nor yet my nieces.) But I got my dander up, and once I do, it doesn't like to set back down.