42 Comments
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Elizabeth Aquino's avatar

I think I met those people at a Dodgers game a while back and had a similar encounter. They drive a Tesla cyber truck.

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Andrea Squiccimara's avatar

I'd love to focus on Georges Niang being cool to your child! He used to play on my Sixers and missed him dearly—he's a noted sweetie pie!

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Julie's avatar

I came here to say thank you for writing so honestly, we need to share and learn from each other. My beloved husband was raised on LI and would in no way be offended. If we can’t laugh at ourselves we are doomed.

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Alison Schramm's avatar

Stereotypes exist for a reason!!! And yes to laughing at ourselves!

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Elizabeth Aquino's avatar

Yes, and there’s something called satire, too.

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Lee Wittenstein's avatar

Rude people, yes. Bad? I posit that you don't have enough data.

The heavy judgement of their appearance and place of residence was pretty tough to read.

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Julie's avatar

Can we just assume goodness here for a minute? Emma is not a stranger on the internet. And we are in Emma's space, her newsletter -- we are here in part because she is a kind, talented, generous human being. This is her "safe space" in a world of judgement. We are all (myself included) so quick to judge and take offense.

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Emma Straub's avatar

Everybody, thank you. It’s true this post was a bit sharper in tone than my newsletter often is, and I appreciate how truly supportive this readership has always been. It’s been a week/month, you know? Trust me when I say these folks were a couple of rudecakes, but also, as I said, I’ve been reading about some really awful human behavior and so was seeing it everywhere. Peace and love! Let’s not fight. There’s too much to do out there. ❤️❤️❤️

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MM's avatar

Can’t we just let our patron saint Emma be a little sassy for one minute of her life?!! It’s her own Substack for fuck’s sake! ❤️❤️

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Robyn's avatar

Oh my goodness, Karen, that’s a lot of tsk tsking for one comment. I think we can assume *a lot* about any parent who allows their child to behave atrociously and with complete lack of regard for others, and then checks the person who tries to check the child’s behavior (but not the child!).

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Anne R.'s avatar

Please do not use the name Karen as a slur. I get that it is the done thing in certain circles, but please know that some people receive it as hurtful.

Since I am digging a hole, I might as well dig deeper. I strongly agree with Lee that Emma’s heavy emphasis on the parent's appearance and place of residence was tough to read.

There is enough chaos and meanness-as-sport in the world right now. We don’t have to add to it.

[Edited to fix typos/grammatical issues.]

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Robyn's avatar

Fair enough. My take is that there are so many truly awful, horrific, nightmarish things happening in this country right now — our slide into authoritarianism, the illegal deportation of American residents, the administration’s determination to resegregate our country, the gutting of federal agencies, attempts to silence our right to free speech, and etc. I have only so much outrage to give, and I’m certainly not going to waste it on policing what a writer chooses to share in their own newsletter.

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Anne R.'s avatar

I agree that there are truly awful things happening and I hate how helpless I am to make them stop. I worry, though, that losing our own humanity will make us easier to manipulate and that it is exactly what they want.

FWIW, I thought Lee’s comment was pretty gentle as a rebuke goes.

Thanks for replying.

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Debra Pettus's avatar

Exactly right Robyn. KUDOS✋

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Kim B's avatar

Good grief, I'm sorry you encountered such awful people in such an intimate manner - your writing about them absolutely crystallizes them in my mind.

Love that the two men working at the place made sure your son had a GOOD special experience !! And go Trae Young!

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David Roberts's avatar

Rude behavior is not insignificant. It is a combination of assumed privilege without the obligations to be role models that we used to expect of those who are privileged.

I saw GlennGary Glen Ross last week, and a man behind us was crunching ice throughout the first act. My wife, brother, and son all heard it.

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The Braver Mom's avatar

Rude behavior is not insignificant. It is a combination of assumed privilege without the obligations to be role models that we used to expect of those who are privileged.

This 👆🏻💯

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Benjamin Dreyer's avatar

Just: Ugh.

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VeryQuietCustard's avatar

I think it's completely appropriate to talk about how burned out and tipped over the edge we feel by the oceans of rudeness, disrespect, and pure meanness we are swimming in as a nation right now - to mix my metaphors.

Cheer for your team! Love bomb them from the seats! But to throw more negativity out in the world to the opposing team - ugh. I nearly got in a fight at a pub during the 4 Nations hockey tournament when Canada played the US. Please, Americans, don't make jokes about Canada being the 51st State because I assure you, it's not funny and many Canadians and Canadian connected folks live amongst you. Also, repeating annexation claims is just plain uncool. Also, while we're at it, can we stop doing the national anthem at international sporting events because, it is NOT GOING WELL THESE DAYS.

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jsc's avatar

One of the things that I love about these newsletters is how honest and "in the moment" they are. I find it so refreshing. I also love the writer's voice, and I wish mine was just as engaging. I've learned a lot about a writer that I did not really know prior to this newsletter, and I hope she (you, Emma) continues on in exactly the same way. Thank you for not being afraid to show us your vulnerabilities, your humanity.

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Steve McCready's avatar

Ugh, what a frustrating experience, but thank you for sharing it, and for these lovely newsletters. I always find them to be an entertaining read that brings a smile to my face.

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mary g.'s avatar

We all make assumptions and judgments. Every single one of us. It's how we get through life! I can't understand anyone feeling the need to tell Emma that she's judgmental. We all are. And here, in her newsletter she's....a writer! Giving us her personal take! I completely "saw" the scene from her description. I was able to visualize the men she described perfectly! Thank God for writers! I found it an absolute delight to read Emma's views here, written with such honesty. I have to say, though--I kept waiting for the fight. It seems Emma's only fight was inside of her own head as she struggled with a really terrible situation. Kudos to Emma for getting through it so gracefully--not everyone would have done so.

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Mary Micallef's avatar

Exactly!! You always delight me, Emma.. you go, girl!! I’m sorry you and your son had to encounter these people. You did right!

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Megan Birch-McMichael's avatar

Emma. Paul and I were just howling at the accuracy of this. (Also, why a Hawks fan??)

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Laura Kim's avatar

I love your writing but I feel like you are making a lot of assumptions and judgements here. We go to a lot of sporting events in the Bay Area (SF) and we hear "Dodgers Suck" all the time. I do not like it. I do not like when Warriors fans cheer when the opposing team misses a free shot. I am in the minority here as literally EVERYONE does it.

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SK's avatar

I do wonder why the people people who apparently hate the Hawks chose to buy seats directly behind the visiting team? Seems to sum up their personalities, based on this interaction. I doubt Emma's assumptions are off-base.

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debo's avatar

Hilarious that you circled the crowd photo. Relatable 🙌

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Nicki Turley's avatar

Poor Joseph is doomed to being a bully (with his parent’s permission).

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