Keep calm and race card on

[MystyGlyttyr]

Make sure to read all the following lines from Me in your very best Fluttershy voice, as that's exactly what I sound like right now, for a reason that will be explained in the punchline.

I was in Wal-Mart shopping after work today for supplies that will also be explained in the punchline, and decided to get myself a little treat to pass some time with, so after turning down a new Sims expansion (too expensive), a Captain America body pillow (too much chance of my dad looking at me funny), or a new Avengers action figure (there's never a Tony Stark doll, they're all Iron Man), I decided on a new hardback notebook. I do most of my writing on computer now, but I love notebooks, I always have. So I head to the aisle and there's two black women with what looks like a newborn there, which you'll see why I mention soon.

So I'm standing at the end of the aisle, looking at glitter glue and minding my own business, when I notice the woman carrying the baby coming closer, and I scoot away.

Woman 1 - Parental female.
Woman 2 - The same but different.
Me - Yay.

Woman 1: You see that pretty redheaded lady there, baby, aww. *smiles*

Me: Aw, thank you.

Woman 1: Wanna see the baby?

Me: *quickly scooting back* Oh, no, ma'am, thank you.

Woman 1: *abruptly hostile* Why are you scooching away from me for??

Me: Well I-

Woman 2: *charging over* What, you afraid we diseased or something??

Me: Actually, no-

Woman 1: It's cuz we black, that's why! You scared of us because we black! *suddenly sort of jumps at me with the baby* You even scared of the baby!

Me: *covering face and ducking back fast* Ma'am, please!

Woman 2: Ah ha, look at her run from the black people! What you scared of??

Me: I'm trying to protect your baby!

Woman 1: What you threatening my baby with??

Me: I have the flu! I'm trying to stay away from your baby and you keep pushing her at me!

Woman 1: *suddenly yanking back like I'm on fire* YOU STUPID BITCH! YOU GONNA KILL PEOPLE! YOU STUPID BITCH! *turns and flees, still screaming*

Now go back and read this knowing that I was standing almost fifteen feet away, covering my face with my arm, holding two bottles of flu medicine, while pale, shivering, and sniffling. So yeah. I don't get what that was all about.

But after they all ran screaming, I picked up a very nice red hardback notebook and a new pack of pens to play with while I'm laid up and recovering. I really didn't want to go to the store, but it came on at work and, well, no other options. Stupid flu bug.

[Sandiercy]

You should come to my store, we just got in some Spiderman, Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, and Thor figurines (dammit no Tony Stark though) for Christmas as well as some Lego Star Wars alarm clocks including Boba Fett and Darth Vader.

Geez, some people need a clue bat up the side of their head (figuratively of course ). Never thought I would hear about reverse racism though.

[Kitten in the box]

Wow... Some people trip for no reason. So on the crazy women's behalf:

Thank you for showing concern and well being for my baby. Thank you for choosing not to infect her with the flu virus as it shows consideration and compassion.

That is what those bozos SHOULD have said.

[Bright_Star]

If you have the flu then shouldn't you be at home recovering & taking it easy? Being out in public makes it likely that you'll infect others.

[LillFilly]

If you have the flu then shouldn't you be at home recovering & taking it easy? Being out in public makes it likely that you'll infect others.

She said it came on while she was at work and it looks like she needed some over the counter stuff. She really had no choice if she didn't have anyone who could pick something up for her.

[MoonCat]

I would have backed away because I really don't have any desire to have a baby shoved in my face. I'm one of those weird people who, when someone brings a baby in to work, does NOT rush over and coo at it.

Hope you get over the flu quickly and are feeling better soon!

[AmbrosiaWriter]

I would've backed away because I also don't coo over babies, but I'm secondly terrified of holding them wrong/dropping them. I'd prefer to let mommy hold the bundle and I'll just smile and nod and go "Yes very cute, adorable really... excuse me I need to check out, someone's waiting for me in the car."

Actually, I would've been hard pressed to not pretend to hack and cough in their general direction, but the thought of the baby not deserving such things (also I think flu can be fatal to babies?) would stop me.

[Pixilated]

I'm sorry for that kid. I would've wanted to scream, "I'VE GOT THE FLU!!!" a lot sooner just to get them to back the hell off, but in truth, it didn't sound like you had any opportunity to get a word in edgewise there.

Y*snip* Never thought I would hear about reverse racism though.

I ran into that in high school. I had spent my formative years in schools run by a specific religion, which had rules out the wazoo. Then we moved to another country and now I was attending a public (e.g. non-religious) school. A black girl offered me some gum and with thoughts of detention/strapping (yes, the religious school used that)/etcetera dancing in my head (gum was ABSOLUTELY VERBOTEN in my previous schools) I declined it. She immediately jumped to the conclusion that I wouldn't take the gum because she was black. I was horrified and speechless and couldn't even begin to think what to say to fix things -- in retrospect, probably not much, unless she was willing to listen to my entire life history up to that point.

[RetailWorkhorse]

*Stares*

Heh....

*Twitches*

HehehahhHAHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHAA! Oh, my riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiibs!

[Mystic]

I've been thinking of adopting what the Japanese do and wearing a mask when I'm sick to prevent spreading it to other people. Luckily, I've not been sick in a long while *knock on wood*, but now that I think about it, maybe I will start wearing one just to keep people the hell away from me in stores since they aren't use to seeing things like that.

Think of how fast I'd get through the checkout!

[rapana1]

Ohhh derp. Here I thought there was going to be a joke about horse racing, due to the thread title...
Some girls be trippin...

[Jester]

DJ, break it down!

It's not cause you're black,
Or that you're whacked,
Or even that you're acting like you're on crack.

I'm sick
You prick
And your baby I don't want to afflict.

So step away
Far away
Keep your baby well at bay

I'm sick
You prick
And your baby I don't want to afflict.

I've got the flu.
You want it too?
If not, then I suggest you shoo!

I'm sick
You prick
And your baby I don't want to afflict.

You're not sick yet
So you'd better jet
Or you'll be coughing like a brokedown Vette

I'm sick
You prick
And your baby I don't want to afflict

DJ, take us outta heeerre!!!!

[rapana1]

Awesome. XD

[mharbourgirl]

I would have backed away because I really don't have any desire to have a baby shoved in my face. I'm one of those weird people who, when someone brings a baby in to work, does NOT rush over and coo at it.

Hope you get over the flu quickly and are feeling better soon!

You and me both. Maybe it's from being the oldest of a large family, or being the neighbourhood babysitter for years, but I have less than no interest in being insincerely enthusiastic about your offspring, no matter how cute everyone else tells you they are. I don't want to hold it, touch it, witter over it or even LOOK at it. And it's not that I hate kids, because I don't. I'm just not interested. Rather go get my eyebrows waxed, thanks. Bring your puppy in to work and it's an entirely different story, of course, because puppies make me melt into an irrational puddle of glee.

And besides, babies are host to all kinds of weird smells that I don't ever want to have violate my olfactory senses again, TYVM.

[Pagan]

If you have the flu then shouldn't you be at home recovering & taking it easy? Being out in public makes it likely that you'll infect others.

She said it came on while she was at work and it looks like she needed some over the counter stuff. She really had no choice if she didn't have anyone who could pick something up for her.

Some of us don't have anybody that can go out and get stuff for us. I live alone and I've got a raging throat infection that came on yesterday. While I already had a z-pak at home, I had no throat drops, soup, yogurt, or popsicles. Was I supposed to sit at home and suffer?