Anger Rising
Although it appeared to be a typical shopping excursion, he had no idea he was about to leave the store in such a fit of rage. He wasn’t upset because of the long lines at the checkout register or the crowds in the produce area.It wasn’t the shrieking children or the zombie mothers drowsily pushing their carts in front of him. When he looked inside the wagon, which belonged to a different family, his blood began to boil.
Anger Rising
Making Every Effort Possible
Patrick Gibson was a conscientious worker who did everything he could to support his modest family. He thought that joining the American Army would make life easier.It was obviously difficult for him to leave his family for extended periods of time in order to serve his country, but if his parents taught him anything, it was that nothing great comes free of anything.
Making Every Effort Possible
Doing What He Can
When Patrick eventually found Whitney, the love of his life, he considered himself fortunate, and the happy couple married soon. He swiftly became a parent to a son and a daughter.However, the couple ran into financial difficulties, and with just one working member of the family, they were forced to make do with what they could afford.
Doing What He Can
Feeding A Family
Patrick frequently skipped breakfast in order to stretch his $70 as far as possible, ensuring that his family had adequate food. When you have four mouths to feed, $70 does not go far, and the Gibsons were barely getting by after other household expenses such as diapers, vehicle payments, gas, and hygiene.But Patrick felt everything was OK. He was pleased with what he had. They would figure out a way to make it work.
Feeding A Family
Shopping For Groceries
Patrick went to the local Walmart to acquire some groceries one month when he had some extra money from his paycheck. He methodically strolled the aisles, mentally calculating the best deals and promos.As he examined the brightly red grapes in the produce aisle, he wondered whether he may be able to buy a small treat for the family today. Patrick had no notion that his smile was soon to fade.
Shopping For Groceries
Getting Agitated
He didn’t want to linger at Walmart any longer than required because it was so crowded that day. Children sobbed as their exhausted mothers pushed them aimlessly, while unruly shoppers drove their shopping carts into Patrick’s heels. It was time to depart the location.He pushed his modest bag of groceries to the checkout desk and waited to be assisted, never expecting this simple move would completely ruin his day.
Getting Agitated
Must Be Nice
Patrick regretted seeing the two piled-high carts in front of him as the slow-moving line of customers moved forward. Fresh steaks, butter, bacon, cheese, shrimp, and lobster were among the many products he noticed stacked high in the two carts.”They were about to dump their goods upon the counter when he thought to himself,” Must be fantastic. He had no idea his next step would enrage so many people.
Must Be Nice
Wait A Moment
The couple’s goods had already been packaged and tallied, so the mind-numbing $800 sum on the screen came as no surprise.Patrick was taken aback when the man opened his wallet to make a payment. He cleared the way for an EBT card by moving a stack of $100 bills.
Wait A Moment
Not Any Old Card
For those unfamiliar, an EBT card, also known as an electronic benefits card, is a mechanism that allows state welfare departments to electronically dispense food stamps using a payment card.And this was the mode of payment the man used for all of his expensive purchases. Patrick snatched out his phone again, this time furiously.
Not Any Old Card
No Judgment
Patrick was furious that the couple could pay for their lunch, even though using an EBT card was legal.As he watched, he couldn’t stop thinking about how unfair everything was. So, how exactly is this fair? That was when he made an impossible decision.
No Judgment
Incredulous
Patrick was enraged, but he bit his tongue and took a picture. But wait… perhaps he was too quick to judge, he reasoned, suppressing his rage. After all, he didn’t know the couple’s situation. But what he witnessed next in the Walmart parking lot was going to be the last straw.
Incredulous
Loading It All Up
The couple took their time loading the massive amount of loot into the back of their car, so Patrick had already paid for his three bags of groceries when he saw them in the parking lot. Looking to his right, he noticed them again. He made a huge error by looking at the wrong time.
Loading It All Up
Regrets
Patrick was enraged by the fact that these folks were paying for their goods with food stamps while they had big stacks of cash in their pockets, but he had already accepted what he had witnessed and decided to move on.But that’s when he walked into the parking lot and noticed the car they were driving. It was just too much.
Regrets
Taking To Social Media
The pair, who had spent $800 on groceries, were packing their bounty into a brand-new Hyundai Genesis, which Patrick estimates sells for $15,000 to $20,000 more than his own family’s car. How could they have afforded this automobile while on welfare?
Taking To Social Media
Big Mistake
To Patrick, the fact that the family was driving about in an ostentatious car added insult to injury. For individuals who don’t know much about vehicles, a brand-new Hyundai Genesis is a very decent vehicle.Sure, it’s not a Tesla, but it’s a pretty costly vehicle from a respectable manufacturer, and it’s surely out of reach for someone on poverty. His fury was boiling when he resorted to Facebook to vent his outrage.
Big Mistake
Outrage
He started his Facebook outburst with: “Sorry, but I needed to vent. The graphic on the left represents the amount of groceries, including diapers, that I was able to afford for my family during this pay period…” He went on to say, “wife, son, daughter, and myself, which was paid in cash because I work hard for a living.” The image on the right depicts the purchase in front of me in line.” He did not, however, conclude his rant there.
Outrage
Injustice
“If you can’t tell from the image, there are two full buggies of goods, including steak and other delicious foods. Here’s the kicker. “This purchase was made with food stamps,” Patrick explained.”…Which I wouldn’t have a problem with if I didn’t see the person move their big fold of cash out of the way to get to the ebt card and then load them into the back of a brand new Hyundai Genesis.”
Injustice
Justified?
“That is about 15k-20k more than my car,” Patrick said. Then he began his outburst, stunned.”I just thought I would take the time to tell this person/family that you are very welcome from all of us hard-working/ struggling to buy food Americans that have to foot the bill for your fancy steak feast…”
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Not Fair
Patrick kept going: “…while I skip breakfast and lunch every day so my wife and children have food to eat …because $50-$75 dollars doesn’t go very far.” He concludes his article with a snide comment: “So you enjoy your $800 free grocery purchase.” Needless to say, several Facebook users were equally furious as he was.
Not Fair
Voices Of Dissent
Most comments were encouraging, with many people admitting they had seen similar things, but several Facebook users chastised Patrick for his post, saying he shouldn’t judge a stranger based only on what he’s seen. One individual replied, “Do you really know their back story?” and suggested that the new automobile could have been a gift. But Patrick’s vengeance explained why he felt an injustice had transpired in Walmart that day.
Voices Of Dissent
Backlash
“Do you actually understand their backstory? Do not pass judgment on someone just because you are furious. How can you know whether that person works when their spouse is unable to work due to problems?””…That they only have enough money to pay their expenses and that the new car was a gift? Someone remarked, “How do you know that isn’t true?” But Patrick had the right response.
Backlash
Abusing The System
Patrick was not about to accept that. He knew what he’d seen, and he stood by his words. “Let’s just call it what it is,” he said. “We can all sit around and believe in sunshine and rainbows, saying the old, ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover stuff.””But the reality of it is that so many people are abusing the system that was put in place for struggling families.” Patrick’s response made several valid arguments.
Abusing The System
Escalating
Of course, some people were even less supportive of what Patrick had to say. One woman decided to get personal and aggressive in the comments, calling Patrick “creepy” for photographing someone else’s supermarket basket.She also stated that, for all he knows, that car does not belong to the shopper, and they may have nine children. Unfortunately, we have no means of knowing what the issue really is. But Patrick made another comeback.
Escalating
Struggles
“Well, the odds of that being the case in this situation much like many other situations with food stamps are almost as likely as me being approved for some government assistance because we are struggling…” Patrick responded:”Oh, wait. I forgot. We’ve already been refused, so I’m quite confident the chick isn’t dying, and no one offered her a free car. I am confident that hardworking individuals like myself are giving her a free life.” So, what is the true reason behind Patrick’s outrage?
Struggles
Assistance Denied
His wrath originates from the fact that the state refused him and his family support when they most needed it. Patrick defends and serves all Americans, but he does not qualify for food stamps. It baffles the mind.And now he was well-known for speaking up. But how did he feel about his sudden celebrity on Facebook?
Assistance Denied
Fifteen Minutes Of Fame
On a positive note, Patrick appeared excited when his Facebook post became viral. This screenshot from Facebook provides a glimpse into his state of mind as it occurred in real time.Most people do not receive this type of response, thus Patrick’s special moment must have been refreshing. After everything he’d been through, having so many people behind him must have felt great. But why has the post gained so much attention?
Fifteen Minutes Of Fame
Going Viral
It’s no surprise that Patrick’s post has received a lot of attention. It has received more than 100,000 shares and hundreds of comments on Facebook. There are numerous arguments both for and against his assessment of the pair, who did not appear to require government support. One post about Patrick’s experience brings up an intriguing topic…
Going Viral
A Controversial Issue
“My argument is that a picture speaks a thousand words, and your version is heavily prejudiced. No one needs to praise you or anybody else for working to pay their grocery bill when the majority of families participating in the program are working families striving to make ends meet, just like you,” one man commented. The subject of who should and does qualify for financial aid remains a difficult one. But what if the system is flawed?
A Controversial Issue
Do What Is Right
Regardless, it is never right to take advantage of a welfare system designed to help struggling families.Patrick not only risks his life, time, and energy defending America, but he also has far less time at home to pursue a decent job.
Do What Is Right
Stand Up
If Patrick’s story teaches us anything, it’s that life may be unfair at times. And, quite often, there is little we can do about it; it is simply beyond our control.It is difficult to operate a government, but this does not imply that people should sit quietly by while they believe they have been treated unfairly. It’s always necessary to fight for your rights. However, the pair were unable to defend or explain themselves. Until now.
Stand Up
Defending Themselves
Because Patrick’s tale got so popular, the couple who had upset him saw it online and took to Reddit, a completely anonymous social media channel, to defend themselves.Now we can finally hear their side of the tale. Whether people believe they were in the wrong or not, they can now decide for themselves.
Defending Themselves
The Other Side Of The Story
The 2020 Reddit post, titled “S***w You, Patrick Gibson,” begins: “So, Patrick Gibson, this one’s for you…””Let me begin by stating that my 11-month utilization of the EBT program is not a handout. This is a social service that I paid for and don’t feel bad about using for a short time because there was no other option.”
The Other Side Of The Story
“Not A Handout”
The lengthy, retaliatory post on Reddit continues, and it explains why Patrick had no right to pass judgment simply because he saw a man and his wife using an electronic benefits card to buy groceries. “For more than 30 years, I worked, paid taxes, struggled financially, and did without often,” the anonymous woman continued.
“Not A Handout”
“You’re Welcome!”
“I paid my taxes so that you may go to public schools, drive on public roads, play in public parks, and be protected by police, firefighters, and our troops. For years, YOU benefited from all of my hard work and taxes. So…you are welcome!”The message keeps going: “You don’t approve of my purchase because you think people who struggle don’t deserve what you consider a luxury?”
“You’re Welcome!”
She Doesn’t “Owe” Him An Explanation
When you look at the true tale behind the couple’s purchases, it becomes evident that Patrick may have been out of line. “Not that I owe you an explanation,” the irate woman wrote, “but the two carts of goods you object to are for four people for two months. And the steak I “scammed” the system with?”
She Doesn’t “Owe” Him An Explanation
Out Of Line?
The story goes on to provide further information about the steak that enraged Patrick so much since it was a “luxury.””Well, we have been out of work for many months… all of our reserves were spent… we’ve cut every expense possible… but our son’s birthday was in a couple of days, and we didn’t have a spare dollar to buy him even the cheapest gift.”
The Steak
It turns out that steak is their son’s favorite meal, and it was a special surprise for his birthday. “So, yes, I bought a small steak,” the wife says. “It was his entire birthday so go ahead and shoot me.” If Patrick had read this post right now, he would most likely have felt ashamed. But what about the bundle of cash Patrick saw? Did she offer an explanation?
What About The Wad Of Cash?
This post demonstrates that people should think twice about blasting strangers on the internet before they know the whole picture.”All that cash you saw?” the woman inquired. “Why couldn’t we pay cash for our food?” That cash was for RENT. Are you upset because we use cash to pay our rent? Should we be evicted in order for you to believe we are poor enough to need “your” help?
Okay… What About The Car?
The woman also had an explanation for the couple’s pricey automobile, the “brand-new” Hyundai Genesis, which Patrick had observed them loading groceries into.”As for that ‘new car,’ you think I own?” the woman replied. “Nope, guess again.” At this point, it appears like Patrick didn’t have a leg to stand on.
It Didn’t Belong To Them
“My 9-year-old van is in the driveway in need of repair, which we cannot afford right now,” the Reddit post reads.”My extremely generous neighbor allowed us to do our shopping in their car, which is why we bought so much at once. It may be a long time before we can go shopping again.”
It Didn’t Belong To Them
Finishing Touches
“Essentially, what I’m saying… You do not know me. You do not know my story. You have not walked in my shoes. But you want to judge me? F–you!” “Here’s another consideration, Patrick… as a member of the military, your income comes from MY taxes. You have a job because of me. “You are welcome!” Unfortunately, there is just one remark on the lengthy Reddit post, which was submitted on a subreddit named “Off My Chest.”
Finishing Touches
Only One Response
“Anyway, maybe Patrick and his stay-at-home wife should stop having kids if he literally has to skip meals to feed them,” a Redditor wrote in reaction to the tale and the man’s retaliatory remark. The conversation went on: “He should also apply for EBT benefits since it’s so easy to eat steak and lobster on the government’s dime.”
Only One Response
Public Shaming
Unfortunately, we live in a digital era where shaming people online is widespread and ‘cancel culture’ is prevalent. It’s practically difficult to navigate through our social media feeds without encountering a post about “rude” people. For example, in a recent viral video, an irate “Karen” refuses to wear a mask. With such easy access to cameraphones, it’s incredibly tempting to take a picture of whatever or whoever is bothering you that day. But, should we do it?
Public Shaming
Consequences
While it may feel good to name someone you believe has mistreated you in some manner, there are several reasons why everyone should avoid the desire. For starters, online ‘name and shaming’ and cancel culture may have a significant influence on a person’s or company’ reputation and career, particularly when the’shaming’ was unjustified and only one side of a story is broadcast on social media.
Consequences
Don’t Do it
While public shaming is not a novel concept, the digital age has elevated this behavior to a whole new level. Doxxing, or sharing someone’s private information without their agreement, is another type of public shaming. So, while it may be easy to shame someone online in a heated moment, no one should do so. Not only may it be harmful to the person being shamed, but it can and do become viral, and you, like Patrick, may wind up looking foolish. Some names, locations, and identifying traits have been changed to protect the privacy of persons featured, and are entirely fictitious. Any resemblances to actual events, locations, or people, alive or dead, are purely coincidental.
Don’t Do It