My "Fuck the System" Moment
So I was pissed off, and instead of taking shit, I took action. Story time:
I parked in my friends' private driveway in their apartment complex. The guy that usually parks in that spot left his car at home during thanksgiving, so I was not taking up anybody's spot, and I was given full permission by my friends, the residents, to leave my car there while I went inside to hang out with them. There were two signs outside the apartment complex, with only the smaller, very much to the side, and way less noticable sign saying that cars parking there without a permit were going to get towed.
Thirty minutes later there was a knock on the door from the girl next door saying that my car was about to get towed. The tow guy had fastened my car up, and was about to take it away, when I rushed outside and told him to please take it off. He then proceeded to tell me that I would have to pay $87.50 to take it off, a fee which I angrily refused to pay because of the ridiculousness and unfairness of the matter. He then told me that he was going to tow my whole car, and that I would have to pay even more.
At that point I told him that there was "no way in hell" I was going to let him do that, and said that I would stand in front of the tow truck before he could take my car away. I said that what was going on was unjust, that I was not going to stand for it, and that I was going to "fight to change the system."
He said he was going to call the cops if I didn't move, and I told him that I would gladly talk to the cop because I thought what was going on was wrong and I wanted to change the unfair practice. When the cop arrived, I politely explained the situation, and, although I ended up having to pay, I established that I am taking it to small claims court.
When I went inside my friends told me that my assertiveness "took balls," and Thea said that I'd make a good lawyer.
They also said that they'd be at my side in court.
I left pissed off at the unfairness and huge dent in my bank account, but also empowered that I had challenged an unfair practive so confidently on my own. I thought that, after that incident, I could stand up to any unfairness in my life, whether personal or as part of a system.
I parked in my friends' private driveway in their apartment complex. The guy that usually parks in that spot left his car at home during thanksgiving, so I was not taking up anybody's spot, and I was given full permission by my friends, the residents, to leave my car there while I went inside to hang out with them. There were two signs outside the apartment complex, with only the smaller, very much to the side, and way less noticable sign saying that cars parking there without a permit were going to get towed.
Thirty minutes later there was a knock on the door from the girl next door saying that my car was about to get towed. The tow guy had fastened my car up, and was about to take it away, when I rushed outside and told him to please take it off. He then proceeded to tell me that I would have to pay $87.50 to take it off, a fee which I angrily refused to pay because of the ridiculousness and unfairness of the matter. He then told me that he was going to tow my whole car, and that I would have to pay even more.
At that point I told him that there was "no way in hell" I was going to let him do that, and said that I would stand in front of the tow truck before he could take my car away. I said that what was going on was unjust, that I was not going to stand for it, and that I was going to "fight to change the system."
He said he was going to call the cops if I didn't move, and I told him that I would gladly talk to the cop because I thought what was going on was wrong and I wanted to change the unfair practice. When the cop arrived, I politely explained the situation, and, although I ended up having to pay, I established that I am taking it to small claims court.
When I went inside my friends told me that my assertiveness "took balls," and Thea said that I'd make a good lawyer.
They also said that they'd be at my side in court.
I left pissed off at the unfairness and huge dent in my bank account, but also empowered that I had challenged an unfair practive so confidently on my own. I thought that, after that incident, I could stand up to any unfairness in my life, whether personal or as part of a system.