The reason there are so many rules surrounding the area known as the Public Gardens is to protect the grounds from those who may take advantage and misuse them through plain ignorance or malicious intent. These rules should not be viewed as a personal affront or bureaucratic boondoggle. To put it in the simplest terms, the Public Gardens is not a park—it is a garden for all to enjoy in perpetuity. Its designation literally means that the space is to be treated very differently than a park.

You should not walk on the grass unless you and your children wish to examine the flora, which is permitted. Interacting with the wild ducks is not a problem. It is unwise to feed them because they become accustomed to this behaviour and will not migrate. Its beauty and atmosphere is meant to be enjoyed, but it should not be treated as a mere picnic site to use at your convenience. If you had a pristine garden at your home that you cared deeply about, I doubt that you would take very kindly to complete strangers endlessly traipsing through it and mucking about at their pleasure.

I suggest that you take some time and look into the history of the Public Gardens. The story of its genesis and raison d'être may help change your negative attitude, and teach you to teach your children that the Public Gardens is not a playground but a Victorian oasis in the middle of a modern city. It should be cherished and respected, and its mandate defended by everyone who appreciates the privilege of entering its gates.
—JZ, Historian

I have been doing a bit of work for a fella on his house that he just bought, and became pretty good friends with him. We shoot the shit a lot and discuss what's going on in our lives. He is separated with one 13-year-old girl with his ex. He told me the other day that his ex called Child Protective Services on him, saying that he physically abused her and a few other things (which I believe he didn't do).

Anyways CPS came over and he talked to them, and at the end of the conversation he asked them if they were going to go investigate his ex, as that is where all the problems are occurring: the girl is living with no structure, staying up as late as she wants, watching or listening to whatever she wants, being home alone constantly. All they said was their job was to investigate him and that was it.
He has been having this problem with the system for years, and because he is the father, not the mother, the system automatically shuns him. The system looks to favour the woman, and not even do a proper investigation on what is better for the child instead of, in their own words, "try to keep families together" even if that is doing more harm then good.

Everyone says that there shouldn't be any discrimination or sexism, but ever so sadly we see it in the public system still favouring women automatically and just disregarding the man as a "deadbeat" even when we just want what is best for our child physically, mentally and emotionally. When does the favouritism stop and a fair trial began? How can CPS just completely ignore the best interest of what they are there to do!!!
—BR88

The world doesn't revolve around you, and neither should other passengers. Don't block the aisle with your baby—if I was a mean person I'd toss that thing on the street. The seats flip up not only for wheelchairs but for strollers, too. Get off your lazy ass and be aware of those around you. Tuck that monstrosity to the side and let others pass.
—I'm Going To Start Paper-cutting Mothers With My Bus Pass

Did we really assign a man to interview one of the most important feminist writers of our time? We're better than that, Halifax. What could have been an enlightening, relevant interview was totally cringe-worthy and embarrassing.
—Under Her Eye

This public space is beautiful and useless. There are so many rules (and employees reminding you of them) that it is impossible to enjoy being there. The buses of tourists and the odd local might find it lovely to stroll the pathways for five minutes, but not me. While watching my child experience pure joy in observing a duck and walking on a small patch of grass (yup, just some GRASS), I was told that this was not an area for play and that the family lawn was on the other side of the park (where there are no ducks and only an unshaded small field). I was also told during another visit that you're not allowed to WALK your bike through the park (just in case the busloads of tourists don't have enough path space and may have to step on a few blades of grass).

Just imagine a park in the middle of the city where you can sit on the ground and picnic, play with your family, be encouraged to use alternative transportation (bikes), experience beautiful gardens, and spend some time breathing in the fresh air and feeling better about your day, without the worry of breaking the rules by being comfortable. I bet the benefits would far outweigh any damage to pristine mow jobs. Wouldn't you use that space more?
—Just A Person Trying To Enjoy My City

To the couple who walked out on their bill at a certain downtown sushi restaurant: I was your server and I had to pay for your $45 meal and tip out to the kitchen on it as well. What is wrong with you? Do you enjoy taking advantage of others and causing people stress for no good reason other than to benefit yourselves? That's pretty pathetic if you ask me. I thought we had a nice interaction, but maybe you are just good at hiding what awful people you are. I hope karma comes back to bite you at some point. If you are reading this and want to make things right then drop by the restaurant, apologize and pay for the nice dining experience that you essentially stole from me. And thanks again for ruining the rest of my shift, what you did really threw me off.
—Sad Tuna

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Thursday nights at our favorite dive bar was a fun tradition for our little group. But that's been shattered by a "karaoke killer." No, she's not crushing her "performances" but merely murdering our good time with her multiple visits to the stage and warbling in an irritating monotone. There should be some kind of "one-song only" rule to prevent such annoyances, since it appears her friends and the establishment are enabling her behaviour. We've identified a solution, though: Now we meet at a different bar!
—Drop The Mic… Please

  If I am to respect your one-metre distance, then will you please PLEASE respect mine? If there is a line at a light, WAIT. YOUR. TURN. IN. LINE. If you don’t have a full meter to pass on the right, please don’t try to squeeze by. A cyclist hit my side mirror this morning while doing just this. Rules of the road exist to keep ALL of us safe and secure, so stop fucking it up with stupid fucking behaviour PLEASE!!
—I Drive Too

To the young man at Vegfest with the half manbun: You thought you were the first in line to get the coffee from Just Us!—but you weren't. You actually cut right in front of me. I was in the line much longer than you. When the barista asked who was next, I went ahead and got my coffee. I heard you say "OK" annoyingly as if I had jumped the line. Nope, t'was you all along! Pay attention!
—superstar85ca

Antifa really isn't against fascists, at least no more so than the vast majority of people in western countries whose ancestors fought against them three-quarters of a century ago. Rather they have convinced themselves (and many others) that everyone even remotely similar to the individuals who bullied them or their friends and family members when they were young is a fascist. Why? Because being bullied has driven them insane, and they have an overwhelming need to dehumanize everyone they see as the enemy. It also helps that fascism doesn't exist in this day and age in any significant quantity, and so there are no real fascists to disavow all the people who they have classified as fascists. That said, I would not condone further exasperating the issue by continuing to bully them, nor do I think it is wise to encourage the fulfillment of violent revenge fantasies in individuals suffering from borderline personal disorder, or anyone else's violent revenge fantasies for that matter.
—Infinite Contrast Is Hard On The Mind's Eye