I am the biggest bitch in the world.

[rivka]

Rivka: Good morning.
Health Club Clerk: Oh, good for you, you made it in.
Rivka: [silently wonders why this is news]
Health Club Clerk: [takes membership card to scan] I have a friend, she's got multiple sclerosis, and she blah blah blah.
Rivka: Why are you telling me this?
Health Club Clerk: [says more things about her friend with multiple sclerosis]
Rivka: [slightly louder] Why are you telling me this?
Health Club Clerk: Well... what do you have?
Rivka: That's a personal question. That's none of your business.
Health Club Clerk: Oh. But I just...
Rivka: [firmly] It's a very rude question. [walks away]
Health Club Clerk: [calling after her] I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt your feelings!
Rivka: [calling back] You didn't "hurt my feelings," you made me angry.
Health Club Clerk: Ma'am, ma'am, please come here. Please accept my apology.
Rivka: [alarmed] Okay, just... okay, don't cry.
Health Club Clerk: [crying] I am going to cry. I've had a really bad day, and...
Rivka: Look, I'm sorry you've had a bad day, but...
Health Club Clerk: Please, please say you accept my apology.
Rivka: Fine. I accept your apology. Okay.

Sheesh.

Comments

[rivka.livejournal.com]

Yes, absolutely.

[janetmiles.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

So, then, at the con this weekend, while in line for the Masquerade, I chatted with a woman who uses a cane and mentioned her knee replacement, and that she could only walk or stand for so long at a time, and that she was a bit irritated that the hotel was not particularly accessible.

Much later that evening, she came in to a panel that was quite full and stood up against the wall. Since I was near her, I asked if she wanted to sit down (I think my exact phrase was, "May I offer you my seat?"). She answered, "Oh no, I need to stand up now."

In your opinion (and that of anyone else who feels like commenting) was I out of line? Or should I just assume she meant it literally and was more comfortable standing than sitting at that moment?

[rivka.livejournal.com]

I think your manners in this scenario were perfectly correct.

Speaking as someone who also has an artificial joint, I think it is in fact plausible that she really did need to sit down at one point, and stand at another. That's how having an artificial hip has differed from the just-plain-arthritis preceding it - instead of needing to rest all the time, I now need to maintain an arcane mix of rest and movement. Otherwise, my joints get stiff.