A 72 year old man attacked a McDonald's employee
By Katlady2
@Katlady2 (9904)
United States
June 11, 2008 3:07pm CST
I couldn't believe this when I read it! I am so amazed at how people cannot control their tempers these days.
"A 72 year-old Yuba City man grabbed a baseball bat and attacked a McDonald's employee who insulted his wife, police said Tuesday"
According to the article, the man had gone to the counter to ask for a second cup of ice water for his wife. The employee muttered something like "old man" under his breath as he handed the cup to them. The couple had gone out to their car and at the same time the employee had stepped outside to take a break. The wife approached the employee to tell him that he had been very rude. At that point the employee let out a "two word expletive." That's when the husband broke out the baseball bat and hit the employee once with it before the employee could take it away from him. A report did not say whether the employee was injured or not.
Here's the link to the story if you want to check it out:
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/myatt_64979___article.html/foster_old.html
Has anything like this happened lately in your area? Please share your stories.
Hugs to all..........Carryl
7 people like this
27 responses
@Remembering1996 (2219)
• United States
12 Jun 08
I will say that the old man had every right to be upset for he and his wife were disrespected. I think by him useing a bat took it a little to far but it goes to show that you can never underestimate what anyone will do now adays even a man of his age. He should have asked to speak w/ the manager of McDonalds instaed of takeing matters into his own hands. I hope there was no injuries and hope the employee has learned a valuable lesson here where he is in a work related area to have respect for the individual no matter who they are and what age they are. As far as I know nothing like this has happend at any of the local fast food resturants here where I live. They have quite a few incidents at the local bars but what city or town dosn't have that. I have a police scanner that I can hear all the calls that the police have to respond to and nothing has come up on it as dramatic as what I have just read.
3 people like this
@Katlady2 (9904)
• United States
13 Jun 08
I hope the employee learned too, as well as other employees of other businesses. Our elderly are not taking any garbage off of anyone anymore, and they aren't afraid to show it either. I'm with you in thinking the bat was a bit much, but I was still cheering for him.
@twallace (2675)
• United States
11 Jun 08
This goes to show you that you can't say anything you want to people no matter how old they may be. This old man was not having it period. When you work in places like that you have to be careful of who you piss of cause you could get it just like this employee did. Have a ncie one.
3 people like this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
11 Jun 08
Seventy-two old? I have had my husband tell me that we are old because we are over sixty and we are not even lose to seventy and I do not like that (does he expect me to die within a few years?) I would have scolded that employee, tell him to go and write one hundred times, "I will not insult a customer who is over fifty-five.:
Hitting the employee with a baseball bat is a little bit much, but at least the employee will not insult over fifty-fives any more.
@Katlady2 (9904)
• United States
12 Jun 08
My hubby likes to tell me I'm old because I'm one month and one day older than he is....and I'm only 42! Just tell your hubby that he's right there with you, so he better watch his tongue. LOL!
I hope that employee learned his lesson from the situation. But knowing how kids are today, I'm thinking he won't. **sigh**
1 person likes this
@CherylsPearls (1269)
• United States
11 Jun 08
I don't blame the elderly man at all. Younger people seem to have no respect for their elders anymore. I've noticed that a lot more now that my mother is 79. My ex-son-in-law said something like "hateful old man" to my Dad (who was 85). Fortunately for him, my Dad didn't hear it. If he had, I probably would have gotten a baseball bat after the s-i-l!
I think it served the stupid 21 year old right. He can hardly be called a "kid." The elderly are easy targets for insults and injury by this new and unimproved generation. I guess this old man just showed him he wasn't that easy!
2 people like this
@Katlady2 (9904)
• United States
12 Jun 08
I know that if it had been my mom or dad that had been insulted, the "kid" would have been picking himself up off the floor for sure. I think it's great that the elderly are beginning to stand up for themselves, even if the bat was a bit overboard. Thanks so much for the great response.
1 person likes this
@mrsjbelle (1640)
• United States
11 Jun 08
I'll show you old man! BOOM. Lol. I say good for him. Maybe he shouldnt of been mouthy to him. I hope he wasnt hurt. But hey we should all respect our elders.
2 people like this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
12 Jun 08
oNly once on a bus a younger man was harassing the old man
'seated in front of me, and nobody on the whole
damned bus moved to stop the young man so I got up
and stood in the aisle in front of the young man so
he would have had to slug me first in order to hit
the old man again. by this time the bus driver had called'
the police and had stopped the bus. so when a big
beefy cop came up to me I told him I was not going to
let the young man hit the old man again.the officer
helped me back to my seat. I was probably fifty six
at the time and the older man was at least eighty years
old. the police arrested the young man at once and took
him off the bus.
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
11 Jun 08
I can see both sides of the coin on this one. If the stupid kid had kept his foul mouth shut, the man wouldn't have been provoked. Teenagers and young adults are not taught any respect these days, and this poor old guy had just had enough. While I don't cocndone his behaviour, it's heartwarming to know that he cared for his wife so much. Had the kid kept his mouth shut, none of this would have happened.
2 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
19 Jun 08
While I not pro violence I think I can understand this man's feelings. There is no way that person should have behaved the way he did. It's degrading to speak that way to someone else and if the situation had been reversed the same thing probably wold have happened. I hope he hurt the bloke because he needed a lesson thumped into him like a clip over the ear or a kick up the backside!
1 person likes this
@lucky_witch (2707)
• Philippines
19 Jun 08
Well, i think that the employee was been rude and didn't show any respect to the old man and his wife. I don't get it, why a trained fast food employee would act taht way just because an old man asked for another cup of ice water. It is his job to serve his customer. And worse, he did it to an old couple. He should have paid them some respect... not only because they are their customers but also because they are old. Though I could not say that it was his pure mistake because I was not there... but the fact that he was working... he should have a lot of patience for his customers.
1 person likes this
@uiwwitch (892)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Something similar happened to me just last sunday. I was in an accident and I was buying my pain meds for the hospital pharmacy. The staff who assisted me was so rude, arrogant and disrespectful. I had to call her on it and we got into a verbal emcounter. She even had the atrocity to ask me what I wanted form her. Did I want her to smile? Coz she's not a smiley person!
And this is a government employee.....who swore to serve the people with respect and dignity! She was way out of line and I ended up writing a formal letter of complaint.
1 person likes this
@Katlady2 (9904)
• United States
24 Jun 08
Good for you on writing that letter. That person should be reprimanded if not suspended for her behavior. You should have told her yes to the smile and add that you wanted her to pull her head out of a certain orifice and show some respect for a change. That would have gotten her attention. I'm sorry that happened to you hon. Hopefully your letter will get her all straightened out.
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
15 Jun 08
It wasn't going to matter or change the employees views or rudeness.....They just should have walked away...The assault was way out of line...By going back over there, the older couple started it...What a shame!!
1 person likes this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
15 Jun 08
I just read what I wrote, and it sounds like I sided with the employee...I think he was way out of line and should not have said anything....but on the other hand, the older couple should have just left it be....
1 person likes this
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
20 Jun 08
On the one hand I understand this completely. I get angry when mouthed at or muttered about. It'd be even worse if it was aimed at a spouse. However, the elderly gent did assault the man over what he said... a bit excessive in reality.
The only thing similar to that was a report of five people beating up one person. Other than that, there was another story of a mother holding down a 12 year old girl, so that her daughter could pummel the kid. Time to begin Earth evacuation procedures perhaps? -_-
1 person likes this
@Lambchoper (538)
• United States
12 Jun 08
Maybe next time the disrespectful little sh*t won't be so quick to target an old fella.
You reap what you sow and Mr. Mcbrat met Mr. Mcbat.
1 person likes this
@Katlady2 (9904)
• United States
13 Jun 08
I agree with both points of view. Yes, taking a bat to someone for their words is a bit crazy. But then again, he probably DID feel as if he needed a bit of "assistance" with getting the kid to see his point of view. People do need to watch themselves when verbally attacking others, especially our elderly, because they are getting beyond sick and tired of being abused all the time. Thank you both for the great responses.
@Lambchoper (538)
• United States
12 Jun 08
I don't know, maybe the old guy thought he needed a little help. When you treat people bad you run the risk of getting your butt kicked and it turns out that means even from a 72 year old guy with a bat.
I think they were both wrong for the record.
1 person likes this
@metschica25 (5399)
• United States
12 Jun 08
I think it is rude , but taking a bat to someone is a litte crazy .
1 person likes this
@3ddatawiz (38)
• United States
12 Jun 08
Don't you just hate it when a peerson that is suppose to be providing customer service is having a bad day. I guess the Yuba City husband and wife hate it too. :-)
@Katlady2 (9904)
• United States
13 Jun 08
The elderly man was defending his wife, even though it was a bit extreme with the baseball bat. He should have just spoken to the manager instead of reacting with violence. But the employee should have remained kind and polite and kept his big mouth shut. Then the whole thing would not have happened. I think that people need to live by the words "treat others as you would want to be treated." Thanks so much for the response hon.
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
12 Jun 08
I can't believe that someone 72 years old would not know better than that. For one, a person in their right mind would never attack another person like that. He should have gone inside and spoken with the manager. Besides, what is a 72 year old man attacking a 21 year old for? Doesn't he know that is a one-sided battle? And finally, why does this old man have a baseball bat in his car? Does he go around hitting everyone that is rude to him or his wife? That is shocking! But the employee should be reprimanded for disrespecting customers and especially elderly customers. What a crazy story!
1 person likes this
@jczvrse (169)
• United States
12 Jun 08
It is good to see that men still defend their women these days, maybe that was a bit extreme but non the less he defended his wife. A lot of people working in such businesses are rude and do say offensive things they get angry because a customer complains about something and instead of fixing the problem they escalate it. Sometimes to the extreme of spitting on your food or dropping it on the floor, makes you want to shut up and just accept the error they made.
1 person likes this
@metschica25 (5399)
• United States
12 Jun 08
My fiance and me were just talking about this and don't understand why some teen, kids, even adults cant respect your elders. This is something I would never do , because I was taught better. If someone was picking on my gram I would be hurt and defend her , but not go that far . I think the whole bat thing has me thinking too much.
anyway , that is all im gonna say on this post
1 person likes this
@metschica25 (5399)
• United States
12 Jun 08
I am in shock too on how people will act and over such small or dumb things . Yes, it was rude to say that to the older man , but for him to beat him with a basball bat that is just scary. That man sounds like he is off his rocker . Yes, I know it sucks that people can be mean, but that is going too far.
I'm gonna check the story out now.
1 person likes this
