Surveillance cameras caught a woman reacting violently when McDonald’s employees offered to remake her incorrect order but refused to refund her for it. She caused thousands of dollars damage to the restaurant and also scared a few children. And so the public watch the video, read the few short paragraphs of story, shake their heads and say things like, “That’s what’s wrong with people today. They feel like they’re entitled to everything. Some people just don’t know how to control their tempers.”
Well, maybe. I have met people who just seem to have a mean streak, who cannot get along with anyone. No matter how much patience someone has with them, no matter how many chances they are given, they never seem to change.
But then again, maybe not. There is so much more to this story that we may never know. What happened to her that morning? Did she just find out her mother died, get laid off at work, and wreck her car, all in the same day? Did her doctor place her on a new medication with disastrous side effects? That kind of an outburst over a mere hamburger (value menu special) is way over the top, so how did she get there?
She will face consequences for her actions, no doubt, but these questions will also need to be asked so that she can receive whatever help she needs. And we who will never know her full story need to resist the temptation to fill in the blanks ourselves, remembering that it’s quite possible that someday it will be you on the surveillance tape. Remember to smile.
Comments
That happens to be the McDonald's down the street from me. It's also very close to the KC Free Health Clinic, and the KC Methadone Clinic. There are two agencies nearby who provide services to the mentally retarded and to persons with severe mental illness. It's very likely (based on some of her gestures) she's got some form of severe mental incapacity. Jail will not rehabilitate her.
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