Thank you
@jjraak
We do have our own unique ways for dealing with obtuse inconsiderate (etc) people.
I had an experience nearly 30 years ago when I was sitting in a waiting room with my first hearing dog for the deaf, among many other people, in a council office. T (my hearing dog for the deaf) was wearing her bright yellow hearing dog jacket and bright yellow lead, all with written hearing dog information on. (She was allowed to be with me the same as a guide dog for the blind).
I was suddenly aware of people looking at me but had no idea why. Then I realised someone on the other side of the counter appeared to be shouting at someone (I couldn't hear someone shouting then, I had no hearing at all). And a person sitting next to me, touched my arm and motioned I should leave, and take the dog. I was completely bewildered.
Then the official on the other side of the counter came charging round at me, still apparently shouting and waving her arms angrily. She charged at me, grabbed my Hearing Dog's lead with one arm and yanked it out of my hand and grabbed my arm with her other other arm and attempted to haul me out of my seat.
I don't think I have ever exploded as much verbally in my life, as I did that day. I was not rude, nor did I use any naughty words. I began something like 'Don't you DARE take my guide dog's lead off me. And don't you DARE pull me out of my seat...'.
I didn't know how to shout (I don't think I have ever shouted in my life up to that point) because I cannot hear my own voice, so I drew on every vibration in my chest to give my voice as much power as I could.
I could see someone behind the counter looking like they were or had pressed a panic button under the counter. I knew I also needed my voice to be powerful so everyone in the large waiting room could hear, customers and staff alike. I think my next words were something like 'This is a Hearing Dog for the Deaf. Read the words on her jacket. I am completely deaf....' At no point was I rude or offensive, but I was very very clear and very very loud. And I said a whole lot more on how she had assaulted me etc etc.
I was half expecting security guards to rush in and throw me out. But at no time was I rude or offensive in my words or actions.
I could see the counter staff had relaxed in their body language out of the corner of my eye. Then suddenly the woman turned into a gibbering wreck, and other counter officials came over and helped/guided her away out of the back.
I think I began shaking and crying then, and so the counter staff saw to me next. So I skipped the queue... But I had lost my voice by then, my throat was so hoarse and I was unable to speak to conduct the business I had gone for. So it was pieces of paper and writing to sort me out, and I got dealt with very quickly.
I asked someone later if I should complain, and they laughed their head off saying no, I did not need to complain because nothing ever came of complaining. No one gets reprimanded or re trained
@jjraak they told me. But me doing what I did that day, the nasty woman to me would never ever forget that day, and would do more good than me having a stiff upper lip and complaining.
So that was a lesson and a half. And since that day, I learnt that my voice can have a power to it. I just need to draw on the power of the vibrations in my chest (I was taught to speak using vibration since I couldn't hear in order to learn to speak).
