Conflict Resolution 101

This past Sunday, in the parking lot of the Stonybrook Kroger Shopping Center, just a mile or so away from where I'm writing this, two vehicles arrived at a 4-way stop at approximately the same time. Hey, it happens every day. Sometimes, as was the case in this instance, both cars will attempt to go at the same time. Usually one or both will stop, and depending on the disposition of the drivers, either apologetic waves or obscene gestures will be exchanged. In the end, however, both will continue on to their scheduled destination.

But no, not this time. This was when the irresistible force of assosity met the immovable object of douchebaggery. Apparently words and threats were exchanged and one of the drivers, a retired police officer, fired seven shots at his antagonist. The victim is in critical condition at a local hospital.

That's right. A guy was shot over WHO GOES FIRST AT A 4-WAY STOP! Both parties had semi-automatic pistols; the debate is whether the human target pointed or waved his gun at the ex-cop. If he did, well....bad idea. One source, however, says the gun was still in its holster.

Either way, I'm of the opinion that firing seven shots in a CROWDED parking lot shows a lack of sound judgment from someone who should know better. Two of the bullets struck a nearby bank. No one was hit, but that's nothing more than dumb luck. I don't know police protocol in this case, but isn't the safety of bystanders taken into account?

But my main concern is how such a mundane occurrence escalates so quickly into extreme violence. A "You go ahead," even a fucking begrudging "You go ahead," would have prevented a damn shootout, but these guys weren't going to back down. They also found it necessary to be heavily armed while shopping for groceries in the suburbs during the light of day. Why? "'Cause it's my right as an Amurikan." Increasingly, this is how we handle minor disputes in our crumbling society. Honestly, I think our civilization is near the end. We're five years away from Roman-style troughs in Las Vegas buffets, so we can keep coming back for more.

Don't believe me? Want more proof? In Miami, a Wendy's manager was shot several times in the arm for some extra packets of chili sauce. Apparently, it's company policy to limit each customer to three chili sauces. Fuck that noise. "Take all the chili sauce you want, gun-waving lunatic."

The Wendy's manager was quoted as saying, "I got shot over chili sauce. I was trying to figure while in the hospital why someone would shoot me over some chili sauce."

I can answer that: Because you live at the endtime, sir. Society is in its bloated, white jumpsuit-wearing Elvis stage, and it won't be long before one of its man-servants finds it dead on the toilet.