Sarcastic remarks

[yosgof]

This morning I was gliding on a sidewalk. It was that magical hour when people walk their kids to school. The sidewalk was packed so I had to adjust my speed and blend in with the pedestrians and could not just zoom away like I do from time to time when facing obnoxious remarks.

One six year old asked his dad while pointing at me: “Dady, what’s that?”. The father replied in a measured tone of voice, just loud enough for me to “overhear”: “This is a thing for people with too much money”.

Any similar experiences?

- Yossi
http://gallery.photo.net/photo/3365119-lg.jpg

[austin@SOH]

I expect to hear either the laziness or rich remark on almost every glide. I love convincing the person that makes the remark otherwise though. A decent demonstration and some quick facts tends to work well.

Austin Colby (Austin@SOH)
Potomac Segway
339 West Antietam Street
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Phone: (301) 766-0488 Mon-Fri 10am-6pm EST
Fax: (301) 766-0215
http://www.potomacsegway.com

[wwhopper]

I have heard, that is for people who don't want to walk. - Which I quickly tell them that it does not replace walking, it replaces a car.

Will W Hopper
DCSEG Member
SEG America
The Premier Gliding Organization!

[arthurb]

It is sad to hear of those remarks, since so far I have only heard "Thats neat, where can I get one."

As a person with a medical condition that limits long walks, the segway puts me back in touch with the local environment.

I certainly now know each crack bump and missing sections of all the sidewalks around my neighborhood.

My son discovered a "Speed Bump" on a sidewalk where we hadn't been before. He hit it at full speed and it looked like Evil Kenivel as the p-133 launched itself about a foot off the ground. Nothing broke, since the seg landed in the grass and he landed on his butt...

[cmonkey]

As much as I'd like to put my foot into someone's mouth, I usually try to make them put their own feet in instead.

My favorite current response to the lazy/toy remarks is this:

"Excuse me, do you know me? No, then you wouldn't mind if I took off my prosthetic leg and beat you with it?!?"

This comment will usually get me all kinds of apologies when they realize they've made a really stupid remark. If their resopnse is genuine, I'll tell them I was kidding and educate them about the Segway.

So far I've got over 30 snappy comebacks to stupid comments. I've used them all, and the list keeps growing. I hope to hit 50 by the time I get to segfest :)

David S

I love my magic carpet!
Yahoo Group - SEGOC

[Tarkus]

I don't give them the time of day. Just keep gliding.

[Sal]

I'm torn between Tarkus and CMonkey... there is a time for no response, then there is the time for the snappy come-back!

I prefer the make the commenter more uncomfortable method.

-Sal

___________
Do you, LEGO?

Segchatter and Glider since 2003

[Mr_Laurenzano]

I always stop and smile no matter what. As they walk away I ask how much they spent on gas this month? I smile again reach into my pocket and drop a dime. I look down and look them in the eye and say, thats how much I spend. UH BU BYE!!
;)

Segway-
Peace is a oneway street,
Twice as Smart.
www.centralcoastsegwave.com

[unclejay]

This is a symptom of two larger problems - one our fault, the other a cultural fault.

What these peaple are subtly telling us is, 'you are invading my space'.
Has nothing to do with cost or sarcasm.

Its a cultural fault that people are so posessive about their space. It isnt 'their' space, it's taxpayer space. But road rage is a good example of how poorly we deal with taxpayer right of ways.

Its our fault because Segways are large and aggressive-looking. The public feels the same about bicycles but sheer numbers has muted most remarks - but not all. Cyclists still get hassled.

[QuadSquad]

quote:Originally posted by unclejay


Its our fault because Segways are large and aggressive-looking.



Oh My!! :(You poor thing, how do you get the courage to leave your home?:D

[Mr_Laurenzano]

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Go Man Go =====+======++=== Lets stop traffic.

Segway-
Peace is a oneway street,
Twice as Smart.
www.centralcoastsegwave.com

[soloseg]

I live in a area that seems to have lots of joggers. A couple of weeks back, a lady jogger and her pet dog were out for a jog when I just happend to glide past.

She yells out that I'm cheating and not burning up any excess fat cells. She did say this in a friendy bantering way I might add.

At that I do a complete stop, spin around and glide back to where she and her K-9 friend are jogging and pull up beside her and say the following:

You know I do remember the days when I was able to jog, but I now have a defective heart valve, and my physician says that if I want to get out and get some fresh air and sunshine, I need to do so on my Segway.

Have ya seen any of the Southwest Airline commericals (want to get away) clips? I could tell right off she knew she had stuck her foot in her mouth. As I rode off I wished her a healthful day.

[Dragan]

the ones I enjoy the most are the morbibly obese with voices loud enough for someone twice their size who invariably
shout out " you're going to get fat riding that!"
I think my wifes retort to one of those folks was priceless. We were at a trade show, the above described was shouted out
by a slender little thing of about 400 pounds. My wife, all 125 pounds stopped dead, got a look of shock on her face, said
"Oh no, is that whats going to happen to me?" quickly got off the seg and parked it, then walked around in circles quickly. It
took a heartbeat for the heckler to "get it", and I must say, I don't think I've ever seen that shade of crimson on
someones face before. Of course, it didn't help that everyone within 200 feet started to laugh.
Wayne

Segway of Alberta - Calgary
www.mysegway.ca

[singman]

As for the rude parent: "Sorry sir, but this is a poor man's power wheel chair. I couldn't afford the $18,000 dollar version."

As for the rude pedestrian: "It was either this or a wheel chair, which one would you prefer??"

For both of them: "Don't judge me, when you don't know my story!!"

[segwayowner]

I have less of a problem with the sarcastic comment about the segway, and more that the comment came in the middle of Tel Aviv (I assume). Tel Aviv has always been very progressive in terms of technology, and while israelies often speak their mind with no thought of the consequences, this seems uncharacteristic.

DES: Segway owner....
it has a nice ring to it
Dont take a ride, take a G L I D E. . .

GET FIREFOX
Click here (http://www.spreadfirefox.com/?q=affiliates&id=152385&amp) to Take Back the Web

[KSagal]

I read here that most people seem to feel that a medical excuse to ride the segway seems to be above reproach. I agree.

But it seems to have an inordinate place here. I don't know if it is a good idea to talk medical, even if it is just to sway the conversation, then bring it to other issues, if you do not ride for medical reasons.

I have an investment property and am active in the town, and both the 3 family and the town hall are about 2 miles from my home in opposite directions.

I use my machine as a real "Green Machine". I could walk to both places, but I won't. I have ridden my bike but often I do not want to arrive sweaty. And for the investment property, it is like a part time job, always tools or something involved that is difficult with a bike. At the town hall, I have seen few people with briefcases on bikes.




Karl Ian Sagal

Each road you travel should be just a bit better for having had you pass.

[sfrantz]

I'm with KSagal, I'd like to hear more suggested responses for those of us who could walk, but choose to glide. My commute is 2 miles, which I could walk but generally wouldn't. I glide everyday. I haven't had any confrontations, only a few dirty looks. What should I say to those who might criticize me?

-Steve
Portland, OR
(writing this on my new MacBook Pro! Wow!)

[yosgof]

quote:Originally posted by segwayowner

I have less of a problem with the sarcastic comment about the segway, and more that the comment came in the middle of Tel Aviv (I assume). Tel Aviv has always been very progressive in terms of technology, and while israelies often speak their mind with no thought of the consequences, this seems uncharacteristic.

DES: Segway owner....
it has a nice ring to it
Dont take a ride, take a G L I D E. . .

GET FIREFOX
Click here (http://www.spreadfirefox.com/?q=affiliates&id=152385&) to Take Back the Web


Yes it was Tel Aviv and every where there are more than a few "bad apples".

- Yossi
http://gallery.photo.net/photo/3365119-lg.jpg

[cmonkey]

quote:Originally posted by sfrantz

I'm with KSagal, I'd like to hear more suggested responses for those of us who could walk, but choose to glide. My commute is 2 miles, which I could walk but generally wouldn't. I glide everyday. I haven't had any confrontations, only a few dirtly looks. What should I say to those who might criticise me?

-Steve
Portland, OR
(writing this on my new MacBook Pro! Wow!)


Where comments come at me quick, as in passing, I use the short, smartass retorts. For the truly ignorant (those that see the seg as an alternative to walking vs driving), I sometimes take the time to explain that last year I visited a customer 40 times, and didn't have to pay the $8 fee for vendor parking each time I went there! Nothing like doumented proof of savings!

As for folks who feel the need to critical of you, the only person whose opinion you need to worry about is your own. You were astute enough step into the future and purchase a Segway. For those people who want to fault you for that, they're usually from the speech before thought side of the gene pool.

I love my magic carpet!
Yahoo Group - SEGOC

[voiceguy]

I recall someone on the chat mentioning a simple line similar to the below which, even if they don't make sense of it, seems to handle almost any smart-a** "lazy" comment if said with friendly conviction:

"Well, it depends how far ya have to go, and how fast you want to get there..."

They usually back down and say "Oh, ok," or "Oh, I see," even if they don't really get the full concept.

"Every journey of ten thousand feet ... begins with but a single lean forward..."

[gbrandwood]

quote:Originally posted by voiceguy

I recall someone on the chat mentioning a simple line similar to the below which, even if they don't make sense of it, seems to handle almost any smart-a** "lazy" comment if said with friendly conviction:

"Well, it depends how far ya have to go, and how fast you want to get there..."

They usually back down and say "Oh, ok," or "Oh, I see," even if they don't really get the full concept.

"Every journey of ten thousand feet ... begins with but a single lean forward..."

I think that was me! It was a mother pushing her baby in a pram, if I recall correctly. I didn't call the baby lazy!!!!


-

To segue, or not to segue, that is the question.

[inventor]

i just run over them, backup and run over them again ;)

[image]http://www.segwaychat.com/photos/inventor/XT1.jpg[\image]

....for as long as I can STAND....

[KSagal]

I was hoping for a snap with someone under the seg...LOL

Karl Ian Sagal

Each road you travel should be just a bit better for having had you pass.