An incredible post on kijiji has been brought to our attention. Entitled “An open letter to the young lady who was seated in Section V,” it tells the story of a poor fan’s experience with a “young ‘lady’” on Saturday night at Harbour Station.
We’ve posted the letter – which had to have been posted
early Sunday - below in case it gets taken down.
An open letter to the young "lady" who was seated in Section V, Row 1, Seat 6 or 7 at last night's Saint John Sea Dogs hockey game
Dear Young "Lady,"
For the uninitiated when it comes to attending hockey games, it is common courtesy to stay in your seat until there is a stoppage in play. Similarly, moving from the top of the stairs to your seat is also done when there has been a whistle, so as to not disrupt the game experience for the other people who have also paid for tickets to the game.
If you did not know this the first time you interrupted half the row, during the first period, you were certainly aware of it after the usher told you (the first of many occasions, incidentally). In the case that you didn't hear her, I know for a fact that you heard me nicely explain it to you after the second time, because you looked me straight in the face and petulantly declared, "I know."
The third time (during the third period of a tied hockey game, no less), you decided to push by us all -- ignoring yet another person telling you to stay put -- you started up the stairs, turned around, came back down and stood beside me at the end of the aisle. In case that wasn't enough of a disturbance to your fellow spectators, you began yelling, "Ray! Ray! The ticket's in my purse!" because you hadn't thought to wait until the 50/50 draw before sauntering up the stairs to ignore the usher again. So perhaps you'll understand why, when you returned in the middle of play once again, I didn't feel the need to take my eyes off the game, or shift in my seat to let you by.
This afternoon, should you be in the same seats and have the same lack of respect for the people around you, including your boyfriend who looked more than a little embarrassed by your princess routine, you may find my rather long legs blocking the way back to your seat until there is a whistle. Because I am half-Viking, half-Celt, full-Canadian, and this is HOCKEY, you stupid, self-important little airheaded bitch.
And Ray?
You can do better.
Unreal letter. A few things:
- We couldn’t agree more with the idea behind this letter. It’s just dumb to leave/enter your seat during play. Even if you’ve never been to a sporting event before, would you not just clue in after a while what the proper seating etiquette is?
- The last paragraph is awesome.
- This person is pretty much our hero for not moving to let the ‘lady’ get to her seat.
- Poor Ray.
The letter had over 2,700 hits at the time of this post. We’re hoping the “lady” puts a response up.
It's too bad it looks like they took it down, glad you got it!!
ReplyDeleteI loved it right up until he called her a bitch... also probably why it was taken down.
ReplyDeleteBut I agree - Ray can do better, and the "lady" obviously just doesn't care about anyone other than herself.
The only time I tolerate someone getting out of their seats without waiting for a stopage of play is for little kids, 'cause when they 'gotta go', they've gotta go!
Thank you, Station Nation, both for your support and for posting this. I appreciate it. Your timing was perfect, as Kijiji pulled it ten minutes later.
ReplyDeleteJust for the record, I take great pains to never use the word "bitch" lightly nor inappropriately. In this case, it was the best choice to describe the attitude displayed by the young "lady" -- both towards me directly, and to the usher.
There is a certain type of catty attitude that women reserve only for other women (yes, despite many emails I received today addressed to "DUDE!", I am female *grin*), and that is why I chose the term I did. It was the most accurate word available, and likely the only one she would have understood.
Wow...My sister is taking credit for this letter but ummm, she must have really been pissed because as her little sister I can say it takes a lot to piss her off and she never uses the "B" word....lol. WAY TO GO!
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ReplyDeleteI LOVE THIS! I work as a cleaner at H. Station & we do sometimes see a lot of `Princesses` It is too bad that this was taken down. People sometimes don`t realize how dangerous those flying pucks can be during game play. If you get up during play & one of those pucks hits you in the face. That pretty little princess face would totally get ruined and I`m sure `Ray`wouldn`t want that to happen to that little princess. lol. Ray, btw you definately can do better!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Couldn't agree more with your list of four items at the end of the post. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteNicely said, we have the same problem in our section and it is so frustrating to have the hockey game interrupted by some prince or princess or run away kid that does not listen to their parent. Like I stated in the beginning Nicely said. woohoo hats off to you
ReplyDeletemy anus is bleeding
ReplyDeleteLMAO the dumbest crap I've read... don't get up during sporting events... LMFAO
ReplyDeleteLots of people named Anonymous taking credit here :)
ReplyDeleteIt never fails. Anytime someone wants to post something to get a point across, you get the real intelligent posts such as " my anus is bleeding, lmfao the dumbest crap I've ever read", etc. Clearly demonstrating how far the younger people of our society have fallen in regards to manners and common courtesy. Which in fact, is the point I got when I read about our little princess. You see it every day. Whether it is at a sporting event, at the cash register in Walmart, or on the street. It's like these "kids" from the age of 13 right up to 25 or more sometimes, have never been taught how to act in public or towards other people. I'm not sure if it's the music they are listening to, or the new "time out" system of discipline or what is the problem but you don't seem to see it in the older generations.
ReplyDelete@Mark. I guess the older generation just doesn't know how to raise kids ;-)
ReplyDeleteThe world is filled with jerks, despite what decade it is. Glad to hear the writer said something to the offender.
Im all about loving the team, and being an avid sports fan. Maybe the girl was rude, and didnt use proper etiquette. She was in the wrong. However the person who wrote this stoops to their level. So really she/he is no better then the princess. I also think we must remember its just a game. No need to call people names, no need to go make a huge spectacle of it. I think this is petty, and makes the author sound a little anal.
ReplyDeleteI think the writer is the self-important one. And a raging moron.
ReplyDeleteI dont go to games for this reason. There are so many bimbos there for the wrong reason. It is a GD hockey game not a fashion show or a place to pick up. I get so angry when people get up in the middle of the game.
ReplyDeleteGuys, it a game. Nothing more. If you want to watch it without any distraction go get a TV. When you go to a game at harbor station you will have to deal with other people. Get over it. Not everyone in Canada loves hockey, personally I think its a rather pointless sport. although, I do not agree that her behavior was 'appropriate' yet you really have to right to call her a bitch for leaving her seat. I mean, what did you really miss? Someone hitting a piece of hard rubber across the ice? Big 5 second loss.
ReplyDeletePeople like the author of this letter disgust me. Grow up.
i love Hockey sooo keep the stupid Bitch out!!!! lmao.....
ReplyDelete@ anonymous that said my anus is bleeding really grow up! I don't think the writer stooped to the person's level by writing the letter or calling her names. They paid money to see this and should be able to enjoy it and not be rudely interrupted they should be able to kick people out that are not conducting themselves properly rules are in place for a reason. As for saying get a TV and watch hockey I am sure they wouldn't be saying that if it was a concert or show they paid to see and some moron was standing up doing that. Really anonymous they PAID to see the hocky game by their choice because they enjoy watching the game just like you CHOOSE not to pay to see it. no need to be rude because they are upset that someone went to the game who clearly did not want to see it and ruined for everyone else.
ReplyDeleteAny Canadian woman worth her salt knows that 5 seconds in a hockey game can & often do count. I don't like hockey so don't go to the games. I know sitting through til the whistle or whatever watching dudes chase a puck around will drive me mental. However, other people pay good hard earned money to see a live event. They hope and pray that the game IS that exciting IS so close and well played that EVERY second counts. Little kids are exempt because no really wants to see if pee bounces on ice but everyone else can and should practice proper event etiquette. I agree Ray could do better, he could have done better by not bringing Lil Miss Forgot Her Ritalin to the game at all. If all she was interested in was the 50/50 everyone probably would have been happier if you left her on the couch at home with tv bingo and some scratch tickets
ReplyDeleteRemember there are always 2 sides to every story... I am in no way condoning her actions if they were, in fact, acts of boredom and ignorance, but what if she had a medical condition? I, for one, have a condition where I have to go to the restroom at least every 30 mins. I don't go to hockey games but if I did I would get an aisle seat (as I do in the movies). If this is the case then we should all calm down and think how that person must feel to be ridiculed and mocked for something perhaps she couldn't control. I am just opening a discourse here, something to think about. And for those who say "well then she should stay home" is infringing on someones right to live there life beyond a disability. Well that's my alltruistic contribution. My target is hung...fire away avid Seadog Fans lol
ReplyDeleteTo the last anonymous if the woman had a condition she shouldn't have sat in the middle of the first row. I for one know that the box office doesn't mind changing tickets for that reason.
ReplyDelete"wait for a whistle" is a COURTESAY rule and if a person chooses not to follow it, it is their choice. It is also not always a young person who doesn't follow it. I overheard an usher telling a lady in her fifties to wait for one since it was a COURTESAY rule and the woman said she didn't care I'd she blocked anybody's view. I do agree that it should be announced during the first period when more people in the building though. Don't blame the ushers though, I know they try but if the patron doesn't care there is nothing they can do but keep trying besides they can't kick them out over a COURTESAY rule no matter how much people complain.
ReplyDeleteI applaud this post . Wish more people would voice there opinion and wish some people would learn COMMON COURTESY. There is a BIG difference watching a hockey game at home then at a live event. If you cant sit down and follow some common courtesy rules i think they should be the ones staying home.
ReplyDeleteTo the poster of this letter, You are awesome...I attend every home game there is unless I have to work but even then I follow the game through Station Nation...We are there to support our Team to the end, they represent us and our city, I work hard for my paycheck and deal with rudeness on a constant and don't want to deal with idiots at the game, when I go to a game I am there to enjoy it with my family not to have Ignorant people disrupt the game because they see a friend in another area or they want to go get food whatever, there are many whistles throughout a period plus 2 Intermissions that someone can get up at that point and make their way round....I bet if someone had of asked her which team was the SeaDogs she would have been extremely confused....Ray maybe you should consider buying her some attends or depends if you chose to bring her back to a game....Good Luck Ray!
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