The Ministry of Minor Perfidy

... perfidy: the evil that eats like a meal

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1. Ian 06.06.08 / 11am
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   It’s Kitty Genovese all over again. Douglas Adams had it right in the Hitchhiker’s Guide series when he talked about the SEP (Somebody Else’s Problem) field - you couch something inside it and people tend to look the other way and ignore it.

   My new term: Hartford Apologist. It’s what you are when you absolve yourself of all responsibility in dealing with something you perceive to be Somebody Else’s Problem.

   The asshole on the scooter deserves special recognition for his slowing down and careful circling of the accident scene and avoiding other bystanders while getting his own good look before speeding off the other way.

   According to news reports, the victim suffered head injuries and is paralyzed from the neck down.

   Ian
2. GeekLethal 06.06.08 / 12pm
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   Ian,
   True, and he’s still critical at Hartford Hospital.

   I like your turn of phrase, and believe me the apologists are all over the place today, Ian. Read through some of the comments at the Courant. Many hang their defense of the situation on the fact that, upon reflection, it turned out that 911 was called immediately (contrary to the Chief’s initial assertions). Which is something. My a$$.

   What no one can defend is that not one witness stepped off the gd curb to engage the man. Of course you don’t move him; of course you don’t know the extent of his injuries.

   But you look him in the eye- witnesses stated he was conscious. You ask him his name. You tell him yours. You tell him what happened, because he’s going to be confused. You tell him help is coming, and that he’ll be alright. You tell him not to move, if he’s trying to get up. And you know what, you might be the one to hear his last words- the family might like to know them. Those and probably 100 other small actions that have nothing to do with medical first aid…call them, I dunno, psychological first aid…would’ve been really ok to perform.
3. Patton 06.10.08 / 1am
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   Several times over the past couple of days, I’ve seen the headline on this story, knew what it was about, and couldn’t make myself read it.

   Perhaps that makes me a bleeding heart pussy-boy, but when I read about this event in the “regular news”, my first thought was “what if that happened to my Dad, or to my daughter, and nobody even thought to stop and give them aid and comfort”.

   And then I was reminded of a line from the TV show “Scrubs”, roughly paraphrased: “People are bastard covered bastards, with creamy bastard filling”.

   Fuck Hartford, and everyplace that looks like Hartford. I would bet my last dollar that such a thing would never happen like that here in Houston. And that’s saying something.
4. Patrick Ransom 06.10.08 / 12pm
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   @Patton (bleeding heart pussy-boy): We’d like to think that we are above this kind of behavior in Houston or Texas for that matter but for once I may just have to disagree with you on this. I will preface the following statement with the simple fact that through out all of my travels have I yet to visit a place as southern friendly as Texas — Georgia a close second place. It reminds me of that one Frost Bank commercial that ends in the simple statement “We are a Texas bank — we are from here”. In Texas there is a general undertone of good old southern hospitality (outside of driving on the freeways) but I digress.

   With that being said, you’d think that stopping and assisting a fallen fellow human being would be second nature for most folks. Just like you’d think it’s second nature to greet someone with a kind “Hello” and the basic courtesy of some eye contact. Back when a man’s handshake was his word — and his word was his integrity. I’m not sure exactly when the erosion of our southern ways and basic decency began but I can tell you that I run into more people now preoccupied with themselves and their own life that they would just as soon stare at the ground or pretend they are on a cell phone call just so they don’t have to look you in the eye while passing. I rarely hear the “Yes sir” and “Yes ma’am”, more or less hear a “Thank you”. What we in the South took for granted as common courtesy and plain old decency is now slipping away and becoming a thing of the past. Perhaps it the multi-culturalism and internationalism that has become Houston. Maybe it’s this generation of immigrants or evacuees .. or maybe it’s just the fact that the parents of generation X’ers just haven’t instilled the basic southern moral fabric in their kids.

   So keep your last dollar my friend and put it to good use — perhaps purchasing a RescueAlert dog-like collar that you can press to notify the ambulance to drag you out of the street as your fellow patrons are stepping over you like a pile of fresh doggy goodness.

   What a shame.

   P
5. Patton 06.11.08 / 2am
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   On the other hand, we’ve recently been informed that looking someone in the eye and giving them a polite nod is also a way to get a surprise prostate massage, too.

   So there’s that.
6. Buckethead 06.11.08 / 12pm
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   I am certainly a lot more likely to not make eye contact. At least at rest stops.

   Which conflicts with how I was raised - friendliness and human kindness are more or less standard, still, where I grew up in Ohio. And much more common than that part of the old Confederacy where I now live, Virginia.

   Maybe it’s a legacy of slavery that makes all these southerners rude and unhelpful.
7. Dfens 06.11.08 / 8pm
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   BH, if you live anywhere near DC, you’re not in The South. That part of Virginia is no more part of The South than is the Florida peninsula.
8. Buckethead 06.11.08 / 8pm
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   For some years, I did live close to DC. I currently reside in the Shenandoah valley - some distance from the metro area, and largely unaffected by it. You’re right though, DC is not the south - it’s a bizarre combination of LA, the midwest and new England. Plus, its own special evil.

   But where I live, is the south. Or at least Appalachia.
9. OtherShoe 06.12.08 / 8am
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   Not a shocker at all. About 4 years ago in Boston’s Park Street T station an obviously emotionally disturbed man got off the train (a trolley train for those not familiar with Boston’s clusterfuck train system), fell down, and rolled under it right next to the wheels. In my own selfishness, knowing that the train would not move with him there (if he was seen at all), I asked for assistance from the morning commuters to help the guy up…………………yup, just alot of yuppie stares. C’mon, help me pick him up………nothing…….and finally, a guy in scrubs (!) said “Maybe he wants to lay there.” Unbelieveable -fucker works in healthcare and was willing to let someone lay under a train. Someone finally helped me get the guy out.

   I’m surprised that someone didn’t steal the wallet and shoes from that guy in Hartford.
10. GeekLethal 06.16.08 / 8am
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    OtS:
    Hey your story’s not a shocker for another reason. As Ministry minions know, the lovely and talented Lady Lethal has been in healthcare for…10 years? 11? And was a volunteer before that. She has worked or trained in probably a dozen hospitals and other institutions, and has therefore been orbiting hateful, nasty people the entire time.

    The only career field with more workers who loathe humanity more than healthcare might- MIGHT- be government. And that’s saying something.

    I’d guess that another wholesome citizen who did not help you that day was a flunky on his way to work at Government Center.

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