I had two recent experiences I think are worth mentioning. Here’s the first:
As I do about every couple of years, last week I strained my back. Typically, my chiropractor can fix me right up. But for reasons I won’t go into here, this time I had to look for a new doctor. I started by doing what a lot of people do and turned to Google Maps to find a chiropractor near where I live.
I found one. The reviews were all positive and, for whatever it’s worth, he had better than 4 and a half stars. His practice provides just about everything I was looking for. So far so good.
Then I looked at his web site. Tucked away in the “about us” section, I found his COVID policy. It says all staff and patients are required to wear masks while in his facility.
Nope.
The State stopped requiring masks in medical facilities months ago. It’s possible that whoever updates his web site just forgot to update the policy. Or it’s possible that he actually does require masks. I’ll never know. Because one demonstrates ignorance and the other indicates a poor attention to detail. I crossed him off my list.
I looked some more and found another chiropractor that also checked my boxes. After my potentially close call with the first one I found, I took a look at his web site. No mention whatsoever of a mask mandate.
So, I decided to give him a try and made an appointment.
I arrived at his office, and after filling out the new patient paperwork, I was taken to an examination room where an early-twenty-something young lady took my blood pressure.
Before she left the room, she turned and asked me if I preferred to be addressed as “sir” or “ma’am”. It’s a good thing she didn’t ask me that before she took my blood pressure. And I’ll tell you this, if that question had been on the new patient form, I would have walked right out the door. Even with a sore back.
I looked at her and said, “I’m going to pretend that I didn’t hear that. And if you ask me again, I’m going to leave.” She seemed hurt and muttered something like, “some people appreciate that.” Not me. She needs to get better at reading the room.
It’s not like there’s any question of whether I’m a man or a woman. There’s no mistaking me for anything other than a 60-something white dude. I do look a bit younger than I actually am so maybe I could be mistaken for a 50-something white dude. But that’s not the point.
The point is, you might be off on my age by a few years, there’s no mistaking me for anything other than a man. I have a full beard, hair on my chest, and I definitely don’t sashay when I walk. By asking that question, she implied that she thought I might be mentally ill, or an idiot.
She didn’t seem to know that she had offended me. Well, she would have offended me if I gave even the smallest shit about what she thinks about me. But I don’t. So she didn’t.
She probably asks everyone that question. But asking someone if they prefer to be called “sir” or “ma’am” isn’t like going into a bar where they card everyone regardless of how obviously twenty-one-or-older they appear.
While someone may be flattered because they think that the bartender thinks they’re in their early 20’s, show me one woman who’s going to appreciate being told that she may be mistaken for a man.
And I wonder how many people actually do appreciate a question like that. Not a lot I suspect. Why is it that these woke assholes are so worried about offending a miniscule number of people, and yet are totally unconcerned about pissing off nearly everyone?
Now, if my new 50-something chiropractor had asked me if I wanted to be called “sir” or “ma’am”, I would have immediately taken out my phone and, right in front of him, started looking for a new chiropractor. Because, like requiring masks, making me state whether I preferred “sir” or “ma’am” would have had me questioning his judgement. And questioning the judgement of your new doctor isn’t a good place to start.
As I get older, I have less patience for dealing with idiots and morons. So, I find myself making decisions based on the goal of limiting my exposure to stupid people.
For example, if I’m buying groceries, I’ll wait in the longer line if it means I can deal with someone NOT wearing a mask. And, if I’m looking for a place of business, I’ll look someplace else if see even a hint of anything that could even remotely be considered woke.
I suspect the vast majority of people feel the exact same way.
Here’s my second recent experience worth mentioning.
I was taking a walk this morning, not too far from my house. I came across a homeless dude lying on the ground. He covered the entire width of the sidewalk. There wasn’t any way around him except for walking on the street in traffic.
As I walked past him, on the street I might add, I noticed he had his pants pulled down to about mid-thigh. Is that still a thing? I realize he might be poor but it’s not difficult to find something you can use to hold your pants up.
I glanced as I walked by to make sure he was still breathing. Hey, I’m not heartless. But I didn’t take too much of a glance either. Because I’ve learned from experience that some of these people are as crazy as a soup sandwich.
A few dozen yards ahead of me was a young woman walking with a tiny dog. Since I was carrying a concealed weapon, and she walked into my “bubble of safety”, I felt obligated to make sure she stayed safe. Even if I hadn’t been armed, I would have offered my help. Because that’s what I was raised to do.
So, as we passed each other, I got her attention, and she removed her earbuds. I made sure she knew the guy was right in her path, told her he seemed harmless enough, and asked her if she wanted me to walk with her until she got past him.
She pointed at her tiny dog and said she’d be OK. After she had gone a few steps, she stopped, turned around, and thanked me for my concern. It didn’t sound to me like she thanked me ironically either. She seemed genuinely pleased that I had made the offer. And then we both walked away.
Well, she did anyway. I stuck around to make sure stayed safe. By that time, the homeless dude had woken up and saw her coming. So, I kept an eye on things. When she got a safe distance past the dude on the sidewalk, I turned and went on my way.
Now, I have no idea who that woman is. She could have been an MMA fighter. Her dog could have been a pint-sized Cujo. She could have been armed. Or all of the above.
She could have been perfectly capable of defending herself. But I didn’t know that. What I did know was that I was capable of defending both of us. So, I did what my momma taught me to do and offered my help.
We’re told by the mainstream media that I was guilty of propagating the stereotype of the defenseless woman. And that by merely offering to walk with her a bit, I was certain to offend her.
But she didn’t scream at me for assuming she couldn’t keep herself safe. She didn’t lecture me on how the Patriarchy is to blame for everything. She politely thanked me for my concern.
Men are being told that merely holding a door open for a woman is sure to be interpreted as an act of aggression against all women everywhere. But that’s simply not true.
Because, contrary to what we’re told to believe, not only isn’t chivalry dead, it’s still appreciated.
