There you tripping through life in your little familiar zone….When someone tears into your bubble insisting on sharing their opinion on what you are doing wrong?

What does it mean when someone is described as ‘opinionated’?

Does it mean he or  she has clear ideas about where he or she stands? 

Does ‘opinininated’ mean a person has a set of evolved values on which to base decisions?

Or, does ‘opinionated’ mean…. when confronted by people making choices unlike your own….you become anxious….and just have to correct this wayward other?

Well, hang on.  Whatever lousy, butt-in-ski thing you’ve done or said when someone didn’t agree with how you thought (felt) something should be handled….your efforts are mere ripples compared to the lady who disagreed with the T-ball coach.

A couple of years ago, at a Little League game in a nearby town, an opinionated mother loudly and frequently complained about the coaching.  She particularly complained that the coach did not play her son as often as she believed he should be played.  The coach did not let the mother’s public complaining alter his game plan.

Of course, she wasn’t complaining…only pointing out what was fair and what the coach was doing wrong.

This lady complained and complained, and when the coach didn’t change, she informed him that he’d regret not listening to her advice…. He’d regret how bull-headed he was being….Well, for some, words are just not enough. 

Disappointed  Baseball Mom returned home….and….Okay…hang on…The woman      beat herself up.  Yep.  She beat herself up, seriously…bruises and cuts aplenty.  Then she convinced her husband to take her to the hospital emergency room where she reported that the coach had come to her home, attacked her, and caused the injuries.

The coach was arrested and taken to jail.  With a woman stumbling into the hospital with multiple, serious injuries, the police and the community were not kind to the accused man.  Disappointed Baseball Mom was a convincing victim…Just the sort cameras love.  The coach is suspended, his job was in jeopardy.  He put out  bucks for a lawyer.  His days and weeks were a mess. 

Gradually, the truth came to light, or at least the story developed two sides.  Amazingly, the case actually went to trial.  Plenty of witnesses showed up clearing up what had actually had occured.  As you might imagine, character witnesses were plentiful for the coach and thin for the Lady Who Beat Herself Up.  Even the husband grew a spine.  Still, the angry lady refused to drop the assault charges. 

Her point, she said, was to make the coach miserable which could best be accomplished if she forced a trial…Even knowing she would lose, she’d have satisfaction…

And you thought you were pushy about complaining until you got your way.  Ha.