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In reply to the discussion: Why didn't you tell someone when it happened? [View all]ColemanMaskell
(783 posts)This is a slight digression as it deals not with the demeaning of women, but rather demeaning of the elderly. Similar sort of thing though.
The president of a mid-size software company where I used to work was in his sixties probably. He regularly ate lunch in the company cafeteria. It was quite a good cafeteria. A serve-yourself place. So one day he was standing there getting ready to serve himself -- probably some chicken noodle soup, his favorite -- and a young guy (probably a programmer too) told him something abrupt like "Hurry it up, old man". Apparently that programmer, like the one in your story, was shown the exit that very day.
Your story, like this one, reminds me of the adage: As*hol*s are A h*les to everybody. They're worse to people they see as vulnerable, but they're abusive to anyone and everyone if the opportunity arises. The corollary is that people who enjoy abusing women, or children -- or the elderly, foreigners, disabled -- or for that matter animals -- will also abuse anyone else they can get away with abusing.
I can't believe that the prevalence of abuse could be this high in all societies. We've gone very wrong someplace along the line as a society.
Addendum: Forgot to say: I liked your story. Uplifting, inspirational. Shows that progress is possible. Baby steps. Thanks for sharing the upbeat story and sentiments.