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Incident at Fred Meyer on Saturday Morning

(50 posts)

Started 2 years ago by Nora Charles
Latest reply from PDaddymom

Nora Charles

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My daughter was at Fred Meyer early yesterday morning...she reports: Apparently someone didn't like the dude standing out in front of the store with clip board getting people to sign his petition - that someone beat the petitioner to a near pulp. Police had just arrived as daughter was arriving...guess it was a slightly grizzly sight. Geeezzzeeee...full moon?

Posted 2 years ago #
great idea

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yikes!

do you know what petition he was asking people to sign?
hopefully it was to join the Ballard Business Appellants.

Posted 2 years ago #
miss julie

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That's scary. Wow.

Posted 2 years ago #
BBO

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GI, geeez why make light of this? The gentlemen was collecting signatures for what I assume was an initiative. He had been asking shoppers if they were register voters....I passed him several times last week.

Posted 2 years ago #
great idea

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I see signature-gatherers there all the time, too.

I was just speculating given the proximity to the current trail terminus.

maybe the assailant was ticked off that he couldn't register to vote?

Posted 2 years ago #
mghart

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I was hit up for a signature on Market St. for an anti-tunnel petition. Maybe he was gathering signatures for that.

What a shame. These people are just out there doing a job...maybe the only job they could find lately. I hope the assailant does some time in jail.

Posted 2 years ago #
angeline

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How awful! I was shopping at Fred Meyer yesterday and gave that guy the brush-off. I'll try to be kinder in the future. I just didn't feel like stopping just then, but mghart is right -- jobs are hard to come by and signature-gathering is hardly a fun one even without rude people and assaults, outside in all weather, bugging people who are not interested in your cause and on your feet all day.

I was there later in the day and noticed Fred Meyer has put up a sign asking anyone with an issue with the signature-gatherers to come to the store management with any concerns.

Posted 2 years ago #
wolfden

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Yes sir, I will sign your petition...with your blood.

Posted 2 years ago #
Nora Bell

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Oh, man. That poor guy. I'd be curious to know what, if any, words were exchanged before the beating. Either way, somebody needs either anger managment or a locked padded room.

Posted 2 years ago #
PDaddymom

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Mghart and Angeline - just FYI - not all signature gatherers are paid. Some are volunteers (the current humane farming initiative for instance: http://yeson1130.com/) who really believe in the issue they are gathering the sigs for. If that is the case here, it makes this situation twice as bad in my opinion.

Posted 2 years ago #
pandabur

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I was wondering what happened. We were leaving FM just as the guy was being handcuffed. The petitioner had a red t-shirt that say Stop the Tunnel. He was a bit older (seemed mostly gray hair) and had a compress on his head but was still standing. There was a firetruck, aid car and two cop cars. We didn't see what happened, just the aftermath.

Posted 2 years ago #
BuddyCianci

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Some signature-takers are annoying. Just saying...

Posted 2 years ago #
Mamasings

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How terrible. If it's the guy I think it is, he's been camped out there several times I've been in with an anti-tunnel petition. I seem to remember that FM has a policy against signature gatherers on their property, but no one seems to have minded too much (until now, that is). Depending on their policy, FM could have a legal issue on their hands, too - If they have a policy and didn't enforce it and someone was beat down on site, who knows what could happen. I know it's not logical, but there you are. Ask me some time about all of the ridiculous law suits FM had to defend against when my dad was their counsel.

Posted 2 years ago #
ballardpilot

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I have a lot of respect for anyone who volunteers to collect signatures for a ballot initiative - even if he's pushing something utterly moronic (e.g. stop the tunnel). That's honest, grass-roots democracy in action, it requires a lot of dedication and should be respected and honored. That's exactly what Washington's easy laws about citizen initiatives were intended for.

If they're a paid signature gatherer, then to hell with them. Paid signature gathering is a corruption of the democratic process.

Whenever I'm approached by someone gathering signatures, before they can get their schpeil out, I stop them and ask if they're getting paid for signatures. If the answer is yes, I'll usually give them a hard time.

Paid signature gathering is a cancel on our political system. Those who engage in it deserve our contempt.

Posted 2 years ago #
oldguybc

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Hey, ever see a petitioner in any other country on earth? Including our neighbors to the north? Just be real glad you live in a country that allows this "annoyance", dip$hit! You have the right to listen or ignore, you have the right to sign or not sign, above all you have the obligation to at least be polite and civil, don't know what started or was involved with that fracas but am disgusted with the outcome. Life is too damn short for that sort of crap!

Posted 2 years ago #
BuddyCianci

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Every once in a while, when the issue interests me, I will ask some questions and sign my name. But more often, I don't care about the petition. I usually say "no thanks" or just walk past the signature-taker(s).

Despite oldguybc's stated conviction, I don't recognize an "obligation" to be polite. Instead, I exercise my right to ignore. Perhaps what he meant to say was we as citizens have an obligation to "not assault petitioners." I would agree to that.

Posted 2 years ago #
ballardpilot

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Of course, assault against anyone is a crime.

Telling some asshat transient (who is here just to collect 2 bucks from every sucker who will sign his petition) to go f*ck himself is not a crime. There's no requirement to be polite to those creeps.

Paid signature gatherers are prostitutes, and are willing participants who help destroy our democracy. Actually, that's an insult to hookers - at least they aren't actively working against the public interest.

Posted 2 years ago #
BallardGMa

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I recently politely declined to sign a petition and the guy followed me, haranguing me about whether or not I was a registered voter. He was, in my opinion, aggressive and inappropriate. At what point do I have a right not to be harassed? Clearly beating someone to a pulp is not okay, just saying neither is harassment.

Posted 2 years ago #
hummingbird

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"asshat transient"? Are you kidding me? You are right that there is no requirement to be polite, nor civil, but live and let live is simply God given. I do not understand all of the vehemence, this lack is what leads to the violence referenced in this subject, be it physical or verbal.

Posted 2 years ago #
Nora Bell

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I've never met a signature gatherer I would call a 'transient.' Basically, if you're looking for a job it's a good option. It's one of the few careers that's constantly hiring. And knowing the signature gatherer is being paid doesn't make me sign anything I wouldn't sign anyway. Not worried about democracy.

Posted 2 years ago #
lyl

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oldguybc for the win!!! Seems like a lot of folks never passed kindergarten. Really? You can't handle a petition gatherer without getting riled up?!?!?! Lordy, you need some perspective folks!!!! I engage or ignore at my whim.

And Nora Bell, you do need to worry about democracy. Look up Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio. and the Koch Brothers. There is a lot to worry about. Look at Clarence Thomas. That not only worries me, it occasionally makes me sick.

Posted 2 years ago #
Mondoman

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BGM - wow, I'd be pissed if a signature gatherer acted like that toward me. Guess I've just been lucky (or have a scary mien).

PS - and just to show how computers can assemble facts without knowledge, Google's dictionary site lists the following two entries as "related" to "mien":
"General Sarmiento"
"pimiento"
It also lists Finnish as a related language because there is an (unrelated) word spelled "mien" in that language.

Posted 2 years ago #
pennygirl

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"And Nora Bell, you do need to worry about democracy. Look up Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio. and the Koch Brothers. There is a lot to worry about. Look at Clarence Thomas. That not only worries me, it occasionally makes me sick."

Lyl...

I don't presume to speak for Nora Bell, but I think she meant that the entire Democratic process wasn't in jeopardy purely because someone is a paid signature gatherer.

Posted 2 years ago #
ballardpilot

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Next time you're accosted by someone in the Ballard Market parking lot, you might ask a few questions and probe a bit. I've chatted with a lot of paid signature gatherers. Many are professionals, living in their RVs (helloo...), moving from state to state, not giving a damn about the issues they are collecting for, and will smugly tell you so.

To me, that's an asshat transient.

Many of the state's current crises stem from these creeps, and the creeps who pay them, to put their own narrow interests above the public interest.

It may not be as obvious as the Koch Brothers and the Citizens United supreme court case, but it's a terrible cancer on the democratic process, and it really harms our community.

Posted 2 years ago #
pennygirl

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"Next time you're accosted by someone in the Ballard Market parking lot, you might ask a few questions and probe a bit. I've chatted with a lot of paid signature gatherers. Many are professionals, living in their RVs (helloo...), moving from state to state, not giving a damn about the issues they are collecting for, and will smugly tell you so.

To me, that's an asshat transient.

Many of the state's current crises stem from these creeps, and the creeps who pay them, to put their own narrow interests above the public interest.

It may not be as obvious as the Koch Brothers and the Citizens United supreme court case, but it's a terrible cancer on the democratic process, and it really harms our community."

Or you could just ignore them if it raises your blood pressure so much.

Posted 2 years ago #
teigyr

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I ignore them but I do have a problem with people getting paid for signatures. I really think it cheapens whatever ideals we have and it turns the process into a bit of a farce. I know it happens everywhere with lobbying, etc., so it goes far deeper than the person standing in front of the grocery store.

I wish I knew how to tell who is a volunteer and who is paid. The volunteers, oddly enough, I would probably want to talk to just to learn why they believe whatever it is should be on the ballot.

Posted 2 years ago #
pennygirl

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Teigyr...

The actual volunteers are usually the ones who come knocking on the door. (The door that most people don't answer or shut in their face)

Sad but true. That is why they pay people to stand outside grocery stores. If more people were prepared to open their doors and actually take 5 minutes to listen, then it might be different.

Posted 2 years ago #
Nora Bell

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PG - You always know how to cut through my rambling. :-)
Put another way, I like the idea of some unemployed person being paid to ask for signatures to get something on a ballot a lot better than some special interest group paying to put a polititian on a ballot.

And whatever your line of thinking beating the cr*p out of someone who you don't agree with is just plain wrong.

Posted 2 years ago #
BuffaloHawk

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I always feel uncomfortable when kids are selling something in front of the store and the parents get over agresive and in your face. I have realized you are there but you don't need to create a public display to make people feel like crap. If I go to the store 3-5 times a week do I really need girl scott cookies every trip

Posted 2 years ago #
PDaddymom

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PG - I have volunteered to gather sigs for an initiative and a referendum. We never went door to door but rather always stood in front of stores/event venues, at fairs, etc. That is also how Washingtonians for Humane Farming 1130 are doing it. And teigyr, in the case of 1130, volunteers will typically be wearing a button identifying themselves as such. Please be nice to them :-)

Posted 2 years ago #
BuffaloHawk

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@PDmom. I have no problem answering the door unlees there are 2 guys wearing a button down shirt with ties on bicycles carrying bibles

Posted 2 years ago #
cdpenne

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Good god! Obama and his ilk are the biggest whores that ever walked the planet but we take out our self righteous indignation on the petty fop culling signatures for less than minimum wage. That's like blaming teachers and NPR for the budget crisis. It is beyond sad that we are so addled and brainwashed, we can't even figure out who's head needs to be chopped off.

Posted 2 years ago #
enatai70

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cdpenne - WINNING!! +1

Posted 2 years ago #
oldguybc

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So, BuffaloHawk... let me get this straight... two guys wearing one button down shirt, and a bike tied up with biblical material? Veeeeery interesting...

Posted 2 years ago #
teigyr

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pdaddymom, I would probably not only be nice but I would probably sign the petition too :)

Posted 2 years ago #
motorrad

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Is it true cdpenne is the opening act for sheen's torpedo of truth tour? Appears to be a good fit. Keep on WINNING!

Ballardpilkot says: "Many of the state's current crises stem from these creeps, and the creeps who pay them, to put their own narrow interests above the public interest. It may not be as obvious as the Koch Brothers and the Citizens United supreme court case, but it's a terrible cancer on the democratic process, and it really harms our community."

Sounds exactly like the 'good Ol boys" fighting the missing link doesn't it!

I hope the person that was assaulted is OK. No one deserves that. Even the most offensive posters here. I may end up changing my mind on that.

Posted 2 years ago #
Cate

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Pdaddymom - Could you give me contact info for the 1130 campaign. Thanks.

Posted 2 years ago #
Samkin

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We had an interesting conversation with a signature gatherer at Trader Joe's tonight; apparently the fight was actually *between* two folks who were both trying to get signatures - one who is there frequently & who had been there all day, and another guy who had just showed up... The guy who had been there apparently didn't take too kindly to the competition...

Posted 2 years ago #
teigyr

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Wow, that is an interesting turn of events. While it's bad, I am glad to see it wasn't a customer beating up on the guy.

Posted 2 years ago #
wolfden

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Does it really matter Teigyr? It's one assh..human beating up another. I was going to say something really wise but no alcohol anywhere.

Posted 2 years ago #
BuddyCianci

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@ motorrad,

Re: "I hope the person that was assaulted is OK. No one deserves that. Even the most offensive posters here. I may end up changing my mind on that."

Every time you post something, your fellow readers are assaulted by your hideous avatar. No one deserves THAT.

Posted 2 years ago #
PDaddymom

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teigyr - oops - I wasn't aiming that "please be nice to them" comment at you! kinda looked that way. sorry! It was meant for the general public. And also pointedly at those on this thread who seem to be ok with harassing people they disagree with....

Cate - here's a link to the website: http://yeson1130.com/

Posted 2 years ago #
teigyr

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pdaddy, no problem! It's a lesson most of us need and I can be crankier than some though I don't harass, I attempt to avoid. I would like to learn more on 1130 though so THAT one I am looking into :)

Posted 2 years ago #
lyl

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I am NOT signing 1130, I never ever sign any petition without thoroughly researching it FIRST and have not signed very many in my life. If in doubt, don't sign. What if I accidently signed an Eymanosity!! At the same time I will occasionally listen to the spiel, I will smile and say no thanks and go on. If they say more I couldn't tell you because I am no longer listening.

And about 1130, I don't need to make laws and more laws, I make my dollars count in supporting farms that produce eggs the way I want them. Demand and they will supply.

Posted 2 years ago #
wolfden

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Every time you post something, your fellow readers are assaulted by your hideous avatar. No one deserves THAT.

Ad-block is your friend. You can just block that one avatar of his. Having said that, I find Motormouth's avatar to be pretty benign.

Posted 2 years ago #
teigyr

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Avatars are avatars. Wolfden, yours still gets to me as I'm adjusting to graveyard and going to bed in the wee hours...you'd think I'd be prepared but no, I smack the computer :)

Posted 2 years ago #
motorrad

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The avatar was used to promote "the Red Speedo Movement". To instigate a way to rally and push for...O.K... extort a dog park on the northeast corner of Golden Gardens. Come on people! Get into your red speedos and let's get organized.

Posted 2 years ago #
racerX

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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Posted 2 years ago #
leeanimal

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Paid signature gatherers are getting more clever. This morning two were riding the bus soliciting signatures from a captive ridership. They were soliciting for No on the Tunnel and "the chicken coop one". His words, not mine.

Posted 2 years ago #
PDaddymom

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leeanimal - thanks for the heads up on the person collecting sigs for "the chicken coop one". I contacted the 1130 office about this and was told that they are using a firm to collect some sigs since they need 300,000 by july (plus an overage to assure they get 300,000 VALID sigs). They were not happy that the person was referring to the initiative the way they did and were going to check into this with the firm they hired. However, the majority of sigs are being collected by volunteers. If it makes a difference to you - and I totally understand this point of view - volunteers can be identified easily, as they will be wearing a large volunteer button.

Posted 2 years ago #