April 22, 2025
By: Jake Thompson

It’s funny how one little thing can set you off. I had never really been the type to lose my temper in public, but I’m not sure what came over me that day at Universal Studios. The whole situation was a blur, but the aftermath still sticks with me.

I was with my significant other at the park, enjoying the sights and sounds, trying to make the most of a day out. We were walking around the Springfield area when we saw a Bart Simpson character hanging out with a small crowd. My partner and I decided to join in for a quick photo. Nothing fancy, just one of those goofy “tourist” moments that you take to make memories.

Now, I’m usually the jokey type, so when I saw Homer Simpson walk by, I thought it’d be funny to say something like, “I’m going to tell your dad!” in a playful tone. No malice, just trying to keep the mood light. But then, out of nowhere, Bart’s character looked at me for a second, then turned and focused solely on my partner. He started taking photos with them—just them—without even acknowledging that I was standing there, waiting for my turn.

I’m not sure what happened in my brain at that moment. It felt like the world slowed down, and my frustration hit me all at once. I had been ignored, made to feel invisible, and I was standing there like a fool, waiting for a picture that wasn’t going to come. So, without thinking, I just flipped the guy off. In front of everyone.

I think it was my first-ever public “crashout” as my friends would call it. Not my finest moment.

When I realized what I had done, I felt this huge rush of regret. But then again, there was a part of me that didn’t really feel sorry. That worker—he should have been more considerate, right? I mean, I was just trying to be part of the fun, but in the end, I was made to feel like an afterthought. So, yeah, I kind of stood by my reaction.

My partner didn’t say much afterward, but we ended up leaving that area and going to another part of the park. Honestly, I wasn’t in the mood for any more character encounters after that.

Looking back, I know I shouldn’t have done it. I shouldn’t have let something so trivial ruin my day, but I guess sometimes, you just snap.

So here I am, trying to make sense of it all, and realizing that maybe I need to work on my patience. But damn, that worker could’ve at least taken a second to acknowledge me.