Thank you for the thoughtful reply. Overall I’d say that’s fair enough. I take issue with the last paragraph, I take stopping a crime, particularly one that’s a matter of life and death, over traditional courtesy but ah well.

Thanks so much for reading!

I defined her rudeness thusly: interrupting people and/or interjecting comments before someone has finished speaking multiple times within the course of a conversation is generally considered rude, at least in the US where I live, but I’ll concede there maybe be cultural/social differences of which I’m unaware.

True, she didn’t insult Flash verbally, but her nonverbal behavior also demonstrates impatience and a lack of consideration for Flash’s nature. She was basically asking—demanding?–him to do something (move faster) that was impossible for him to do.

I certainly don’t think rudeness defines Judy’s whole personality; rather, this scene reveals one of her flaws, which in turn add depths to her character arc.

I’m glad you raised the point about her friendly demeanor, because imo this scene deconstructs the idea that rudeness/impatience only manifests in certain ways (e.g., someone who looks angry and uses a harsh tone of voice). Lots of people throw shade with a smile on their face, for example. Well-meaning folks like Judy make similar mistakes all the time. I know I have!

Re: lives being at stake: True, and part of the effectiveness of that scene is showing us that tension. My understanding is that police and detectives frequently run into obstacles that slow down investigations and that’s an unfortunate part of the job. Given how clever Judy is, I’d expect for her to find a way to speed up the process in other areas where she has direct control as a way to balance the slower part of Flash’s assistance.

And I replied that it was nothing specifically she said, but that it was in her mannerisms, such as her tone of voice and body language.

Aye same to you I’m sure.

I asked at the beginning what, specifically, she said that was rude, or as you just put it, snippy. I have not been told. For whatever it’s worth as somebody with mental disabilities myself I think Judy was not being bossy she was the boss.

Anyhoo, lovely talking to you.

Ditto!

Doesn’t matter, she still got snippy and impatient. And I get the feeling that, again paralleling neurodivergency and other such situations in real life, if she’d gotten forceful it wouldn’t have helped. It just isn’t in their nature to go at the “normal” speed.

*shrugs* First off, again, she did try to conceal it, she was very smiley and perky at first. Second off, again, she’s a policewoman trying to get evidence and she needed it fast. Lives were in danger while they wasted time. She should’ve been even less subtle than she was.

Rudeness isn’t always about saying something hurtful. More often than not, it’s in someone’s mannerisms. I see it quite often with my autistic cousin, whether it be in the form of extreme condescension or impatience. Judy’s frustration and impatience, that she doesn’t try to conceal whatsoever, definitely reflects such behaviour.

Her impatience was pretty darn obvious, I’d say. Impatience with people who do things slower/differently than what we see as “normal” is one of the hallmarks of everyday casual ableism.

‘Tennyrate, unique article, I enjoyed and was left with a warm feeling and something to think about.