So much for a nice quiet trip to the library

[janradder]

Stopping off at the library today before heading home, I watched a perfectly able-bodied woman with no handicapped tags on her car take the library's lone handicapped spot. She looked around with an angry look on her face to see if anyone noticed, and then marched her able-bodied self into the building. Éiden and I followed after with our books to return, and inside the library I approached her, asking if she had handicapped tags.

"No!" she snapped hostilely.

"Well my wife is handicapped," I said, "and when you park in the--"

"I don't care," she spit out and pushed past me.

I stepped back around in front of her and went on.

"I was saying that my wife is handicapped, and when you park in handicapped parking without tags you're taking a spot away from people like her."

"So what? I'm handicapped!" she lied, as she shoved me aside.

That's when the security guard stepped in. Oh, not to tell her to get her car out of the handicapped spot, but to lecture me about how I shouldn't talk to people about things like that, that I put my hands on the woman (which I didn't), that the woman had to shove me because I got up in her face, that I shouldn't have approached her because she's a woman, and that I "have a problem" because my wife was currently there and didn't need the handicapped spot. When I pointed out how while he was busy lecturing me, the woman parked illegally was busy parking illegally without any repurcussions.

"That's because I have to deal with you," he answered.

Afterwards I talked to one of the librarians on duty (who didn't think I'd done anything wrong in approaching the woman) and she gave me the phone number of the head librarian, telling me he's the one in charge of the security guards.

It's over an hour since the incident and I still feel shaken up and angry. And I know that next time I go to the library, I'm going to feel uncomfortable and nervous, especially when I see that security guard again. I'd like to think that something good might come out of this, like maybe the woman who parked illegally will think twice about it next time because she doesn't want to risk another confrontation, but I really think thats just wishful thinking.

Comments

[cathschaffstump.livejournal.com]

You didn't do anything wrong. I'd write the head librarian. I'd see about getting that guy's job too.

Because I'm ruthless like that. He was WRONG. You'll do the world a favor if that's the way he practices security.

Catherine

[rsheslin.livejournal.com]

I don't know if I'd specifically ask for guard's dismissal, but I definitely second the suggestion of writing to the head librarian (and possibly cc'ing the local paper.) There can be significant impact in receiving an actual letter, which took time and energy to create, plus it separates you (Jan) a bit from direct conflict because you don't have to deliver the reprimand in person.

[janradder.livejournal.com]

I talked with the head librarian who then went to talk to the guard a second time (he'd already talked to him once before just after the incident), but I'm not sure how much good it did. He'll be more aware of the issue in the future, but I still don't think he gets why it would be an issue.

[rsheslin.livejournal.com]

What an incredibly frustrating experience. It sounds like you did what you could and then some. Some people just don't get it.

[janradder.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, the head librarian doesn't supervise the guy. I did go in and talk with him, and he'd talked with the guard who he said will be more aware of the issue in the future, but I think that's about the extent of what can be done.