This question came about over a discussion my brother and I had about whether dogs should be on leashes when outside. We both agreed that yes, they should, for several reasons, but that’s not the point.
Let’s use a hypothetical to better illustrate the question. Imagine that there’s a perfume - vanilla, for example - that doesn’t bother you at all (you don’t like nor dislike it), but that is very upsetting to some people, and can even cause some adverse reactions (allergies or something). In this hypothetical, based on the negative effects, you agree that vanilla perfumes should be banned. Currently, however, they are allowed.
You’re walking down the street, and randomly smell someone passing you by and they’re wearing a vanilla perfume.
Would that upset you? Why, or why not?
My answer is yes, without a doubt. Even though the smell itself doesn’t bother me, the fact someone would wear that perfume and not only potentially upset others, but put them in danger, is upsetting.
My brother, however, would say no! He couldn’t explain his reasoning to me.
I know this is a little convoluted, but I hope I got my question across.
Last year on the 4th, I was walking home from the big fireworks show, and I saw a teenager on a scooter, who was briefly crouching down and not being safe. But he came up beside a lady and surprised her, and she swatted at him and tried to push him over, which would have crashed him into several people walking. More than just a startle response, and the kid stopped, looked back, angry - but he was a black teenager and there’s this white lady and her beefy white boyfriend/husband staring him back, so he turns and disappears back into the crowd.
And I’m instantly furious.
“That’s assault,” I told her.
“Mind your own fucking business” she says. Several other people are watching.
Thankfully my husband and her husband pulled us in different directions and the crowd separated us.
But I was so fucking angry, and that lady looked like she had started a fight or three in her life. Her boyfriend looked like he wasn’t happy to be there in that moment.
So yes, but it has to be something serious.