1. What is your pet peeve?
When people who are supposedly showing support by having a "peaceful protest" when it turns into a violent riot while they are blocking a main roadway or freeway. That's so rude. You can protest all you want, but when people are trying to get to work or daycare or an appointment or going home from work or going to an event, etc... It's not only rude, but stupid and can be very dangerous by the protester/rioters causing havoc and getting violent damaging cars and getting into fights with people. There is a time and a place for protests and blocking the streets and freeways are not one of them.
2. How do you react when it happens?
I get very upset, because some people have obligations to keep, just trying to go to work and not be late or an appointment or an event that they can not miss. I get very upset.
3. How often does it happen?
Actually, quite often. I live in Minneapolis with the whole George Floyd thing back in May of 2020 and you couldn't drive anyways w/o a "peaceful protest" HA! I'll say it like it was.... When "violent riots" where multiple occurrences were happening multiple times a day on just about every street and freeway. The protesters/rioters would become violent if you asked them to move so we could get by. Instead, they banged on our cars with their fists, their feet, hammers or another form of tool and destroy multiple cars and some people were even drug out of their cars as the " peaceful protesters" literally burned their cars in right in front of the innocent car owners who were just trying to get back to their families or going to work or an appointment or an event. The violent riots burned down multiple buildings in multiple areas of Minneapolis and St Paul, MN. It was a very dark time. They also destroyed, graffiti'd, looted multiple stores and pharmacies, used arson to burn down so many businesses and there were even a few people who were murdered. This went on for over 4 days and nights before our Governor finally stepped in a did something. It was so scary and absolutely horrifying watching and living in this unnecessary acts of our evil and incredible violence and damage to 2 cities.
4. Assuming positive intent, why do you think it happens?
Well, in this case and my pet peeve, there was no positive intent. It was a bunch of violent people who thought that they were above the law and what they were doing was the right way to go about it. They were absolutely 100% wrong. Minneapolis and St Paul, MN are still trying to rebuild, which will take years and years and many of the places that were burned down or destroyed too many never reopened and will not open again. It's sad, because they destroyed their 2 cities, their own neighborhoods and made it more difficult for the older population to use the businesses and resources that were close to where they lived and could walk to. Many don't have cars, so now they have to use the bus or an Uber which costs money vs walking for free. It's sad and was just unnecessary.
5. Will assuming positive intent help you cope the next time it happens?
I don't know? I would like to think I woulld, but that who experience was so negative for so many people and myself included. Since then Minneapolis and St Paul, MN has seen a major strike in violent crimes and murders, so these 2 cities haven't done much to create a positive situation, it's only gotten worse. I'm not sure if Minneapolis or St Paul, MN will ever fully recover from that sad, disturbing time in history, just a mere 3+ years ago. I know that for myself, I will be moving out of Minneapolis when my lease is up in 10 months. It just hasn't been the same and it's only gotten worse. Thanks for letting me vent my peet peeve.
