Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?
This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.
Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.
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Notes -
There are two questions here:
1: When are you allowed to mace a hobo? If you're a straight white male in Chicago, probably never. The system sees you as the enemy. You've let on that you are straight and male. If you're white, you're out of luck. If you're black, you get some slack, but not that much if straight, male, and middle-class.
2: When should you mace a hobo? South Side Respectable Nurse is one of us. Only he physically attacks her, and you are capable of defending her, you are morally obligated to do so. "Capable" is doing a lot of work here - bums get in fights all the time, they're plenty quick, and they usually have a weapon. Even your average fit young male is in no condition to fight a bum. If it's two on one (South Side Respectable might not take the initiative, but if you swing she will swing too), and you have a can of mace, you just might have even odds.
I'd try to interpose and steer her away into a separate car, but fighting a bum is a no-win situation that is to be avoided. If the fight cannot be avoided you will probably be seriously injured and face legal consequences, but if it must be done, it must be done.
As to your attraction: South Side Respectable sounds like a much better date than your coworker, to be honest. Your coworker just dunked on you. She doesn't actually care about the homeless guy. You just served her up a risk-free softball that allowed her to pretend to demonstrate that she is more empathetic and intersectional than you, the straight male punching bag of her society.
In reality, if she was in the CTA she would be clinging to the nearest able-bodied straight white male.
Should you see a hobo harassing a wokist, you should remember they're not one of us. You should slink into the background, root for the hobo, and enjoy your kebab.
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