It's not about the house.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Doomed. We’re All Doomed.

Abridged from the Scranton, PA, Times-Tribune:

A West Scranton woman could face up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $300 for allegedly shouting profanities at an overflowing toilet while inside her home.”

What?

“‘The toilet was overflowing and leaking down into the kitchen and I was yelling for my daughter to get the mop,’ she said. ‘A guy is yelling, “Shut the f--- up,” and I yelled back, “Mind your own business.”’ ”

Damn straight. You go, girl!

Her next-door neighbor, Patrick Gilman, a city police officer who was off-duty at the time, apparently had enough of her foul mouth and asked her to keep it down, police said. When she didn’t stop, he called the police.”

Screw you, Patrick Gilman! I don’t know why I hate you more: because you’re a nosy neighbor who can’t myob when told; because you can’t understand why a girl might feel the need to curse at her uncooperative crapper; or because you think your position as a cop makes you the boss of everybody, always.

Patrolman Gerald Tallo responded and charged [the woman] with disorderly conduct. The citation accuses the defendant of using obscene language or gestures ‘with intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm ...’”

What?

“‘There was no intent to do anything,’ [the woman] said.”

Damn straight. You go, girl!

An attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union—”

Oh, thank god. A voice of reason.

says: ‘You can’t prosecute somebody for swearing at a cop or a toilet.’”

Well, I’m glad we cleared that up!

“‘We bring one of these cases a year, and sue some police departments because they do not remember that they are not the language police.’”

Yeah! Get ’em! Language police, my ass!

Imagine what would have happened if she’d been dangling participles out that open window…

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

hate those dangling participles and gerunds and infinitives!

Anonymous said...

Wow- if the article had ended badly, I was worried I was going have to duct tape my mouth shut before taking on our next renovation...

Anonymous said...

Cops. COPS! Ugh. They think their badges entitles them to rule over everyone. And if he simply asked if she had a problem, and gee, maam, may he could help her with her loo? Now THAT would have warranted a newspaper article! A cop actually helping a woman in need. Its as bad as citing a driver and tower her car becasue she didn't put the little yellow sticker on the vehicle registration plate. Then not even offering her a ride. She had to ride in the tow truck with the overweight balding glasses thick as coke bottles greaser with the Charles Manson eyes and the swasticka tattoo. I may had rambled on, sorry. Its a pet peeve.

Anonymous said...

And on top of the rant, I can't even spell/type.