Barefoot: A Facebook Cautionary Tale

Today I started my morning on the computer just like any other. I got my work day situated, checked on email’s, responded to those that needed it, checked for voicemails and then checked in on my Facebook account. The last of these mundane details is where this next story comes in.

Waiting for me when I logged in was a friend request. I looked at the name and didn’t recognize it. I did notice we had mutual friends though and so I checked it out. It was someone I went to school with. I don’t remember ever talking to the guy, but it’s entirely possible that we said something in passing in the hall or something. A “how’s it going?” or “what’s up?”, but nothing more than that.

So I figure ‘what the hey’, he’s from my hometown. I did know OF him, I’ll approve him. Within a couple of minutes my chat window pops up and I have a conversation that I won’t soon forget. Here it is, in it’s entirety, for your viewing enjoyment.

9:24am - Larry - Hey Dusty

9:24am - Dusty - Hey Larry

9:25am - Larry - how are you doing

9:25am - Dusty - Pretty good. How about yourself?

9:25am - Larry - good here too just getting around slowly

9:26am - Dusty - Well, it's still early-ish.

9:26am - Larry - i am  not a morning person LOL

9:26am - Dusty - I'd rather not be but the boss man and kids insist.

9:27am - Larry - tell the kids to go to there room LOL

9:27am - Dusty - They just left there, so I'm going to venture into the "not gonna happen" territory. They're a little too young to follow direction terribly well.

9:27am - Larry - i understand i was just joking

9:28am - Dusty - Yeah, I figured.

9:28am - Larry - do you remember me from school

9:29am - Dusty - I had to check out your facebook profile, but yeah.. after I did that.

9:29am - Larry - i was the only one in a wheelchair so kind of unforgettable LOL

9:29am - Dusty - It DID help, I'll admit that.

9:29am - Larry - LOL

hope i never ran you over

9:30am - Dusty - No. I was never ran over. Even if I were, I'm pretty sure the statute of limitations has passed.

9:31am - Larry - LOL i hope so

your funny

9:32am - Dusty - You don't win "Nicest Guy" in Who's Who at Genesee for being slow on the draw.

9:32am - Larry - thats true

9:33am - Dusty - I sent you a mafia wars request, since I saw you play that.

9:33am - Larry - cool i will accept it i haven't got it yet

9:33am - Dusty - Seems to take it's sweet time sometimes.

9:34am - Larry - yeah

you were a pretty cool guy in school i am  sure you still are

9:35am - Dusty - I don't know how far I'll entertain that idea, but I didn't have any problems with anyone. I got along with everyone and everyone got along with me.

9:35am - Larry - same here

do you still live in genesee

9:36am - Dusty - No. Still in Michigan though. Moved out to Linden.

9:37am - Larry - cool i moved to clio

i baught a house for 12,000 dollars

9:37am - Dusty - Wow. You either got a hell of a deal or a fixer-upper.

9:38am - Larry - a bit of both

9:39am - Dusty - Well, that's awesome. It won't be hard to snap a profit there when you decide it's time to move on.

9:39am - Larry - i know and i live on a main street too

9:40am - Larry - i would ask you something but i don't want to scare you off right away

9:40am - Dusty - Well, I'd rather be scared off right away than later.

9:41am - Larry - are you barefoot?

9:42am - Dusty - Okay, so that's a strange question after all. So what's the deal with that? You take random samplings or something?

9:42am - Larry - no i have always liked mens feet because i can't feel mine

9:43am - Dusty - I'm sure there is some logic to that, but I can't wrap my head around it. I'm going to pass on that question due to my lack of understanding relevance, harmless though it may be.

9:44am - Larry - cool i guess

you weren't one to understand much anyways

9:45am - Dusty - Yeah? -shrugs- Well for some things I'm fine with that label.

9:46am - Larry - bye jerk

9:46am - Dusty - God bless you, Larry.

9:46am - Larry - wish i could say the same for you but i just can't

9:46am - Dusty - No worries. I've been blessed.

9:47am - Larry - you wish

9:47am - Dusty - I don't have to wish. I can hear children playing. I already know.

9:48am - Larry - hope you find someone able bodied to talk to

9:49am - Dusty - I have friends with handicaps as well, that doesn't mean I discuss with them my body parts that they can't feel.

9:51am - Larry - seems like you would be more understanding since i have known you for so long

9:52am - Dusty - This is the first time we've probably ever spoke for more than 5 minutes. Secondly, It's the first time I've spoke with you in 10+ years. Finally, I'm not comfortable with that question. If you respect that, fine. If you don't, you're entitled to your opinion that I'm a jerk.

9:54am - Larry - i have always tried to be friends to everyone

9:56am - Dusty - If me sharing information with you that makes me uncomfortable, for any reason, is a condition of your friendship, then I'm not interested in it.

9:56am - Larry - you sound so stuck up it isn't even funny

if you ever become disabled i will laugh at you

9:58am - Dusty - Well then stop wasting your time, man. If I ever become disabled, I'll hope I'm a good deal more compassionate and understanding than you. Because you on the other hand sound bitter.

9:59am - Larry - i am  far from bitter i just hate stuck up snobs like you

9:59am - Dusty - What's stuck up about not wanting to talk about my feet?

10:00am - Larry - you just are

i think i remember you being a geek in school so that may be why your bitter

10:01am - Dusty - I thought you remembered me being cool? You forgetting who is who?

10:02am - Larry - no you were a geek sorry i mispoke

10:02am - Dusty - I'm about 10 years beyond caring about labels. I could have been a geek, I could have been cool. It's irrelevant now.

10:03am - Larry - i am sure it is stuck up

10:04am - Dusty - More labels. -shrugs- I am  what I am.

10:04am - Larry - sad but true

10:05am - Dusty - You must be bored, huh? You didn't get the conversation you wanted from me and you just want to try and beat me down a little bit before the next Genesee alum hops on that you can talk manicures with? Or is it pedicures. I have no idea.

10:06am - Larry - whatever you say stuck up geek

10:07am - Dusty - Take it easy, Larry. I still wish you much happiness. And healing. I think we need a little healing over here. Don't let the anger consume you, man.

10:08am - Larry - i am  totally fine i just don't like people like you

10:09am - Dusty - I assume you mean stuck up jerks?

10:09am - Larry - yes exactly

10:09am - Dusty - uh huh. Well, take care. I'll save you the experience of my company.

10:11am - Larry - we can talk when you become disabled LOL

10:17am - Dusty - I'll look forward to it?

10:17am - Larry - i took you off my buddy list since i offend you so bad

10:18am - Dusty - You were offended, Larry. I was amused.

10:18am - Larry - how were you amused

10:19am - Dusty - I'm amused that you got so judgmental over my unwillingness to share information with you.

10:20am - Larry - i just think it is so rude because everyone expects me to be so open about my handicap and when i ask one simple question you clam  up

10:21am - Dusty - I don't expect you to talk about your handicap at all. I never once asked you about it. If I had, then I could see your point.

10:21am - Larry - i am  sure you have asked me questions in the past

10:23am - Dusty - I already told you. IF we talked at all at school, it was nothing more than passing in the hallway.

10:24am - Larry - if i can remember correctly we had art classes together

and we talked then

and mr st aubins class together

and we talked then

maybe even choir

10:25am - Dusty - I took one art class and I remember clearly the people I sat around the tables with. And as for Mr. St. Aubin's class. I had him once. In Biology. You weren't in my class. And I never took choir. You obviously have me mistaken for someone else who obviously upset you.

10:25am - Larry - not at all

10:26am - Dusty - Well, you're memory is definitely not serving you now because I don't fit into any of those scenarios you've just listed.

10:27am - Larry - or you just don't want to admit to it

10:28am - Dusty - One of us is very clearly in denial.

10:29am - Larry - not me

it must be the other person

10:31am - Dusty - Are you offended because I never asked about your handicap, is that why you're upset?

10:31am - Larry - no i just think your a jerk

10:32am - Dusty - Do you think you're entitled to know what I'm wearing?

10:32am - Larry - i didn't ask for your whole atire

10:33am - Dusty - Sorry. Do you think you're entitled to know if I'm wearing shoes, socks or not?

10:34am - Larry - it would have been nice till you got all stuck up and snobbish on me

10:35am - Dusty - Just as I never asked you about your handicap because I don't see the relevance. I didn't answer your question about my footwear.

10:36am - Larry - whatever you say stuck up

10:38am - Dusty - But seriously, this has gone on way too long. I'm sorry people want you to be an open book in regards to your handicap and then clam  up on you but I wasn't one of those people. I don't care that you're handicapped. You were just a dude I went to school with. If your life is more comfortable living with the labels you give people, then suit yourself but there is a far better way.

10:39am - Larry - hope you find someone able bodied that you feel comfortable talking to

10:40am - Dusty - I'm perfectly comfortable talking to you. I'm sorry you are only comfortable talking to people who are willing to discuss their feet with you.

10:41am - Larry - you don't seem to comfortable because you have been lecturing me for a half hour now

10:42am - Dusty - I've been defending against your name calling and accusations.

10:42am - Larry - poor baby getting beat up by a handicap guy

10:43am - Dusty - Oh man. Thanks for the laughs, Larry.

10:43am - Larry - anytime

10:45am - Larry – jerk

It almost sounds too ridiculous to be true, doesn’t it? I can assure you that I don’t have the time or inclination to make this stuff up on my own. Just to be sure though, I did save a piece of photo evidence of this conversation.

[ screenshot removed at the request of Larry, who apologized for his part in this exchange. ]

So there you have it. For what it’s worth. I hope you enjoyed the story as much as I found it bizarre. Strange things happen on that danged ‘ol internet, man. Beware those barefoot inquiries.