Many people stereotype Florida by saying that it's full of old people, but I think we're missing a key demographic - the people who misuse 9-1-1. What? You don't think that's an accurate stereotype? Here are just three (3) examples in only six (6) month's time.
August 2008 - Jacksonville, Florida.
Reginald Peterson entered a Subway Sandwich store (this was previous to their incredible 5-dollar foot long deal) and ordered a sandwich. Apparently it didn't have everything he wanted so he freaked out and called 911. . . twice. The 42-year-old "man" whined and complained to the police and wanted them to come down to the Subway and get them to make his sandwich right. When they got there, the employees had actually locked Peterson out of the store because he was yelling and screaming at the other customers. All efforts by the police to calm him down and explain to him the proper use of 911 failed and he was arrested for placing false 911 calls.
February 2009 - Boynton Beach, Florida.
Jean Fortune, a 66-year-old man, went to Burger King one Saturday morning and ordered a #7 combo meal at the drive-thru. For those of you who don't know, a #7 includes chicken fries, French fries and a drink. Well, when Fortune ordered lemonade, the employees told him that they didn't have any. They offered him a Coke instead. WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?? Fortune raised his voice and started to cause a scene. He then told Burger King that he was going to call the police, to which the employee said "Go ahead." And Fortune called 911. Apparently the 911 operator was not in the mood for this, either. She told Fortune "Sir, come on. I know you don't seriously think that the police need to make Burger King give you food faster. I cannot believe that." and even went on to say "Customer service is not a reason to call 911. 911 is if you're dying. Do you understand that?" It was a Saturday morning - I can't blame the operator at all for this one. Fortune was, unFORTUNEatley (ZING!) charged with abuse of 911 communications.
And finally
March 2009 - Fort Pierce, Florida.
Latreasa Goodman, 27, felt that she was wronged when she wanted chicken nuggets and McDonalds didn't have any to give her. So she ALSO called 911. . . three times. When the police finally arrived Goodman told them, "This is an emergency. If I would have known they didn't have McNuggets, I wouldn't have given my money, and now she wants to give me a McDouble, but I don't want one." Now here's the odd twist about this story: Apparently Goodman ordered a 10-piece McNugget meal and got her change and was THEN informed by the employee that they didn't have any Chicken McNuggets and that they couldn't give her a refund because McDonalds has a "no-cash refund" policy. Then why didn't they tell her this beforehand? Odd? Yes. Reason to call 911? No. Goodman was cited for misuse of 911.
Now I don't know why all these Floridians feel that it is necessary to call 911 at the slightest fast-food order mess-up. Maybe 911 just has a really good marketing system down there and they advertise a lot.
Or maybe that's the only phone number they can remember in this pre-programmed cell phone generation (I mean, how many numbers do YOU know by heart?).
Who knows?
6 comments:
ha ha. The other night I had a dream that I called 911 and I got their answering machine, maybe these kind of stories had something to do with that!
Wow. Just when you think you've heard it all! There are some really stupid people out there.
I heard about this on NPR... of course.
Of course. And I'm going to have to jump on stories pretty quick now before you hear them on your NPR-filled work days!
thank you for correcting the stereotism (is that a word) for florida. NOW I KNOW it's not only full of old people. all this time.. i have been in the dark. :)
Welcome to the light, my child. ;)
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