Got irrationally angry today

[decemberrain]

You know how at the end of the day they play The Star Spangled Banner? Well I understand everyone is supposed to stop if they are walking and show respect. Well here I am walking across the street and BAM it starts playing so I try and rush across the street so I am not just standing in traffic. This woman YELLS at me "excuse me Miss. you need to stop and pay respect." I told her I was getting out of the street, she said "NO! When that song comes on you STOP where you are and stay there until it's over!" umm I have respect for our past and present military but I'm not standing in the middle of the street until it stops playing. I was LIVID the entire drive home. Irrationally, increasingly angry. I'm still kinda irritated about it.. It would have been different if I had just been walking on the sidewalk and just kept walking but I was in the middle of the road..
Anyway I am aware that I overreacted but it just got under my skin..

[kcd0531]

Dude. I woulda overreacted too. There is respect and there is common sense - and neither should be without the other.

[Smurfette]

I hate when people say things that are not needed. She should mind her own business. I wouldn't have stood in the road either.

[Deleted]

Um, yeah, military members are taught to do exactly what you did -- finish crossing the street, then stop. We aren't even supposed to salute while in cross-walks. So rest assured, you did the right thing, and this lady was being rude to you.

[brandienee]

I didn't even know you were required to stop when you weren't in uniform. That just kind of shows you how much I go onto base.

[letsbeawkward]

I can't believe she said that to you. Who would stop in the middle of the road(on foot)?? She was being ridiculous and you were in no way being disrespectful by getting yourself safely onto the sidewalk.

I would have had some words for her.

[basilosaurus]

Aug 24, 2012 12:37:53 GMT -5 brandienee said:

I didn't even know you were required to stop when you weren't in uniform. That just kind of shows you how much I go onto base.

I used to plan my trips around it just so I could avoid. Of course, 100% of my experience is on overseas bases, and they play both anthems, so it's a PITA.

If I was at the commissary, and I happened to misplan so that it was 4:26 when I was walking out the door, I'd be there shuffling with people inside so that I wouldn't get caught outside, in the cold. And then of course the gate gets backed up b/c it was closed for 7 minutes, and everyone was rushing out of work after the music. PITA, I tell you.

OP, I'd be livid, too. What a thundercunt.

[basilosaurus]

Oh, and brandie, all traffic has to stop, too. I can't tell you how many times I was listening to my own music (the one and only radio station broadcast the music, with a warning, so you couldn't miss it) and was all pissed at people randomly stopping in the road. And then I'd realize what time it was. Oops.

[brandienee]

I knew about the cars. I've had to do that a few times, I don't think I've ever been caught walking outside. If I was, I don't think I would stop, because I just didn't know.

[Deleted]

Aug 24, 2012 19:07:59 GMT -5 brandienee said:

I knew about the cars. I've had to do that a few times, I don't think I've ever been caught walking outside. If I was, I don't think I would stop, because I just didn't know.

Yeah, you're supposed to stop if you're on foot. Civilians should stand respectfully (hand on heart if you wish). Military members in uniform turn towards the music and salute, military members in civilian clothes put hand over their heart. But you definitely SHOULD NOT stop in the middle of the street, because that's just dumb.

[Dory1988]

At 29 there were only a few places you could actually hear it and it definitely wasn't loud enough to hear in your car...or maybe we just never left the house at colors? Anyway, I would have finished crossing the street too.

[decemberrain]

I normally try and make sure I'm in my car or inside if I'm on base when they start but I was getting mushy foods for H after he got his wisdom teeth pulled and I just wasn't paying attention to the time.. I'm glad to know I wasn't half as crazy for getting mad as I thought though that's a relief!

[Deleted]

You know what's really awkward? When you're at the gate and it goes off. I had the "have a nice day" from the guards and then it starts. I felt so awkward. My window was down and everything and I almost felt like I should get out of the car am stand with them.