Opinion : A Joke is only a Joke when People Laugh

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I've attempted this article several times over the last 10 days. 

Many of you have asked about the apology at the City Council Meeting last night. I will try to both delicately yet as strongly as I can explain what that was all about. 

Following the VMEU (Vinton Municipal Electric Utility) Board meeting last week, I stumbled into a conversation that was happening about the "bad media press coverage" that Vinton had been getting lately. Right away I knew that wasn't a conversation I'd be welcome in. As I turned to leave, I was stopped by a member of the electric board. "If you don't stop it, I'm going to go over there and shoot you!" with a nod toward where I sit to record the meetings. 

The man had been angry for an hour already, upset and yelling at another member of his team, on camera. For most of the meeting, I was appalled as I watched the dogfight in front of me unfold. Men treating another at the meeting as if he were an idiot and becoming angry over points of discussion that had been talked about for months yet never settled as I can recall. 

Entering City Hall I knew the VMEU meeting was going to be dicey. I didn't write about it, because it was that bad. Video of that meeting is here. 

As I stood there being told to stop writing unfavorable news about Vinton or I'd be shot by this angry man, the fight or flight emotions kicked in. I had been here before. I opted for flight. I should have gone straight down the hall to the police department, instead opting for a place to get as far away ASAP, my car. The angry man followed me out. As soon as I realized who was behind me, I began to wonder if he was so angry that he really was going to shoot me right there. Thinking if he did, my life insurance was paid and I was ready to go.  That is not a feeling you ever want to have. I didn't look back. I loaded my camera and tripod in my car as quickly as I could while he attempted a stilted conversation with me about his vacation. Not wanting to anger him further, I tried to lighten the mood with a well wish for his time away and got in my car, still shaking but leaving the lot as quickly as I could. 

For the past 10 days I've had multiple conversations about threats, what a threat is, and if it was "really" a threat. I am baffled by that. How the words "shoot you" cannot be a threat. According to the law, people are allowed to say that and get by with it UNLESS there is a list of other things that happen along with those words. However, you still cannot yell, "Fire!" in a crowded theater.

Men in general, and even those standing there said, "he was joking." A couple of them said that he apologized as soon as he said it, because in general nice people would, but he didn't. This man only apologized after being tipped off that I had gone to the police.

Other men said, "I would have decked him if he would have said that to me! Give him a pass this time, but tell him next time you won't. Say he threatened to just harm you. Maybe you didn't hear the comment in the way that it was made." still pondering how "shoot you" should be heard. The idea that I didn't "hear it right" is called gaslighting. I heard it right. My job is built on hearing things right. 

No one argues that those words were said, it's just the interpretation of them that is being debated.

I think in this day and age, everyone knows using those words would put fear in anyone's heart. It did mine, it's still there. While my head says, "the guy is probably safe" my gut is saying, "but he did threaten to shoot you."

Over the past year and a half, I've dealt with an angry man which resulted in my being hit with his open pickup door, on purpose, and then being told, "it wasn't that bad." I've seen someone I love more than anything be hurt by another man emotionally and physically.

When mere words set me into panic attacks, tears, shaking, scanning crowds and license plates to see if it's safe, it's a sure bet that I feel threatened by the words "shoot you."

However, according to the law, well, it's not a threat because, "people say stupid things."

Just for the record, threatening a member of the press does NOT bring you good coverage either.

I have asked the City Council to remove this man from the VMEU board. He is representing Vinton, he speaks for Vinton. This type of behavior is a liability for Vinton as pointed out to me by more than one lawyer. 

In all of this, I was reminded that our police officers are the best. Many of them expressing concern, trying to help as they could, but again, the law is the law. I get that.

However, there should be other penalties that go along with threatening a woman, a member of the community, a member of the press, or anyone whatever your status. 

I can only report what happened. It is up to the city council to resolve this issue now.

I'll still keep doing my job and hope that they do theirs.