Sunday, October 20, 2013

Poll Question: Did Diner Write Racial Slur on Check?

Did He Write the N Word?
  
pollcode.com free polls 



Man accused of writing 'none n*****' in the tip line of his check from a black waitress denies writing it and hires a handwriting expert who backs him up

  • Red Lobster waitress Christina Jenkins posted a picture of a check she received last month with 'none n*****' written on the tip line
  • Devin Barnes, the 20-year-old customer she was serving, says he didn't write the racial slur
  • He even hired a forensics expert to evaluate his handwriting who found no connection to the handwriting on the check
  • Mr Barnes is now exploring legal actions to take against the chain

The Red Lobster customer accused of writing 'none n*****' on the tip line of his check is so confident he didn't make the slur that he hired a forensics expert to evaluate his handwriting.
The forensics expert evaluated both 20-year-old Devin Barnes' handwriting and that of his wife and concluded: 'There is evidence to indicate that Devin Barnes did not write the total entry. No significant handwriting characteristic similarities were noted.'
Now Mr Barnes and his wife plan on taking legal action against the chain, after receiving numerous death threats when the photo went viral. 
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Not guilty: Devin Barnes, 20, says he didn't write the n-word on his Red Lobster check and he's got a forensic expert's opinion to back him up
Not guilty: Devin Barnes, 20, says he didn't write the n-word on his Red Lobster check and he's got a forensic expert's opinion to back him up
Bad tipper: Waitress Christina Jenkins served Mr Barnes and his wife last month at the Red Lobster location in Cool Springs, Tennessee and found 'none n*****' written on the tip line after they left
Bad tipper: A forensics expert compared the writing on the total line with a sample of both Mr Barnes and his wife's handwriting and ruled that there were no similarities
Bad tipper: A forensics expert compared the writing on the total line with a sample of both Mr Barnes and his wife's handwriting and ruled that there were no similarities 
'A lot of people on the Internet who I don't know are calling me a racist and I'm thinking people have their own opinion but I know I am not a racist. I don't see color. I have many mixed color friends,' he told WATE.
The photo was posted last month by 19-year-old Red Lobster waitress Christina Jenkins.
'This is what I got as a tip last night...so happy to live in the proud southern states...God Bless America, land of the free and home of the low class racists of Tennessee,' she wrote on her Facebook page.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Miss Jenkins described what happened the afternoon she served Mr Barnes and his wife. 
Miss Jenkins served Mr Barnes and his wife last month at the Red Lobster location in Cool Springs, Tennessee
Miss Jenkins served Mr Barnes and his wife last month at the Red Lobster location in Cool Springs, Tennessee
Trouble customers: Speaking last month with MailOnline, Miss Jenkins described Mr and Mrs Barnes as being very rude when she served them
Trouble customers: Speaking last month with MailOnline, Miss Jenkins described Mr and Mrs Barnes as being very rude when she served them
Apology: Mr Barnes wrote a note saying he was sorry for the incident, but admitted that it wasn't him that wrote 'n*****' on the check
Apology: Mr Barnes wrote a note saying he was sorry for the incident, but admitted that it wasn't him that wrote 'n*****' on the check
'They were extremely rude, but I introduced myself to them and they didn't respond. When I came to take their order they simply told me they wanted their food and to put everything in a to-go box. I offered them dessert but they told me abruptly that they just wanted the check.
'When I went back to the table they had gone and left the receipt and had written in the comments.' 
While Mr Barnes admits that he didn't tip Miss Jenkins, he says it wasn't him that wrote the slur.
He explains that the couple asked for their meal to go after getting a call about a family emergency.
Miss Jenkins said she believes him and posted the picture to make a comment about racism, not to draw attention to herself.
'I know I didn't write it. If he's claiming he didn't write it, I believe him wholeheartedly. I'm just that kind of person. I have nothing against him or his family,' Miss Jenkins said. 
After hearing that Mr Barnes denied writing the n-word on his check, Miss Jenkins said that she believes him wholeheartedly. She says she posted the check on her Facebook to make a statement about racism, not draw attention to herself
After hearing that Mr Barnes denied writing the n-word on his check, Miss Jenkins said that she believes him wholeheartedly. She says she posted the check on her Facebook to make a statement about racism, not draw attention to herself
After hearing that Mr Barnes denied writing the n-word on his check, Miss Jenkins said that she believes him wholeheartedly. She says she posted the check on her Facebook to make a statement about racism, not draw attention to herself
Mr Barnes holds no grudge against Miss Jenkins.
'I'm not mad. I just didn't like what happened. I just wish it didn't come out this way,' Mr Barnes told WSMV.

He does question why the chain didn't investigate the incident more and says he and his wife are looking into legal action.

Mike Bernstein, the spokesman for Red Lobster, said they haven't been contacted by Mr Barnes yet and wouldn't speculate on any possible lawsuit.
'Our employee experience something no one should have to experience and we remain convinced we took the appropriate actions, given the unique circumstances of the situation,' Mr Bernstein said.

In wake of the picture going viral, more than 1,000 people contributed to a fund to raise 10,000 in 'tips' for Miss Jenkins which she says is going towards buying a car, paying for school and helping her church. 
Reward: In wake of the viral photo more than 1,000 people contributed to give Miss Jenkins 10,000 in 'tips' which she says she is using to buy a car, pay for school and help her church
Reward: In wake of the viral photo more than 1,000 people contributed to give Miss Jenkins 10,000 in 'tips' which she says she is using to buy a car, pay for school and help her church


143 comments:

Skeptical said...

If David Barnes is willing to have his handwriting checked, is Ms. Jenkins willing to have her handwriting checked against it also? If she is innocent of writing the message, I think she would be anxious to do so.

sidewalk super said...


Would appear the Tennessee boy is acting out in a politically incorrect way and his victim, being no fool, is taking advantage of all the social media.
Yea, free enterprise!

Anonymous said...

"admitted that it wasn't him that wrote 'n*****' on the check"

Does he? Where?

Anonymous said...

I don't believe him. First, he never issues a plausible denial. He starts with an apology. What was it we suspect about 911 callers who start with an apology? Also, if he got the food to go due to a family emergency, why isn't that mentioned in the statement? If there were a family emergency, and they left quickly after signing the receipt, how could someone else do it? It's on his copy and the one left. Further, he saw "someone" had written the word and called his lawyer, before he knew it was placed on line?

I wonder about his statement "it was not until the next day..." Why not simply "The next day...".

What about the "not now or ever!!!" at the end of the statement?

Buckley

Apple said...

I didn't read a reliable denial from either in this article.

Trigger said...

I I think that the customer of Red Lobster is the victim. He refused to tip the waitress so she got even.

The customer went to a professional to clear this up.
He was not laughing.

I think that Miss Barnes saw an opportunity and went for it. She disparaged the victim and laughed about it. She made hateful sarcastic remarks about the people of Tennessee. She is spiteful.

I know that I will not be eating at the Red Lobster ever again.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Trigger

sidewalk super said...


Red Lobster does not need the publicity this girl is giving them.

Carnival Barker said...

Bullseye, Trigger! Her quotes in the article are all disparaging about how rude he and his wife were even prior to him signing the bill; the only time she says anything favorably is when he says he didn't do it and he is back by a handwriting expert.

My feeling is that she never expected the guy to come forward and she was just planning on suing Red Lobster for racial discrimination, since they have the deepest pockets, and hoping for a quiet settlement, since no restaurant chain is looking to be labeled as racist, especially in the south.

Nic said...

I agree with Trigger, although it was reported that the victim said he didn't do it, he wasn't quoted as he saying he didn't. Just that he wouldn't now or ever. So unless I see the entire quote, I cannot say that he did or didn't issue a reliable denial.

It does sound like a page was ripped from the Oprah Winfrey handbook. (Any publicity is good publicity (for her movie) and in this case it paid of $10k fold).

jmo

Anonymous said...

From the handwriting analysis:

"The questioned entry is of limited overall complexity thereby limiting the comparison process"

"There was insufficient comparability between the two entries to address the issue of common authorship between these entries." (Referring to the "none" and the "Nigger".)

Buckley

GetThem said...

He says "I would like to say...." I think he meant to to be rude and mean. I was hoping I would find out otherwise.

Pak31 said...

I'm torn on this one. With all of the stories I've seen lately where people have made rude comments on receipts, I wouldn't put it past a teen to do something like this for attention. Especially since she didn't receive a tip. On the other hand, most people I know DO fill in an amount on the tip line when filling a receipt out. They either write in a tip amount or put a zero on the line. That doesn't mean everyone does that, it's just my perspective. Was the pen his or the waitresses? If it was his(I doubt)then it's all the same ink. I don't think the N word looks much different from his handwriting but I am no expert. His denial letter and spoken words never truly state the simple fact that he didn't write that. just that he never would. That is odd. Did he take a copy for himself? Or leave both at the table? Too many unanswered questions. Like someone said if his copy had it on there then he wrote it. I would have gone into the restaurant first before going to a handwriting expert. More needs to be known here, like what kind of person he is, were the couple truly rude to her that night? Was it because they didn't want a black waitress OR was there really a family emergency. Why not say sorry, we have and emergency and have to leave. Then give her a couple bucks for the trouble?? He kind of seems tacky. But look at her, she's $10000 richer. I'd feel bad taking all that money.

Carnival Barker said...

@ Pak,

All the credit-card receipts I've seen from restaurants are two separate pieces of paper, they are not a carbon, so the receipt he kept is most likely blank.

Sus said...

Mr. Barnes's letter bothers me...a lot. A few points I noticed:

He begins by apologizing for not being HERE. Why not there? Does he mean he left the letter at his home for someone to pick up? He didn't even bother to deliver it?

The reason he wasn't "here" was that he HAD TO WORK. This seems unnecessary to me. Does he feel someone else doesn't have to work?

Then he says I WANT TO START OUT BY SAYING. Well no. He already started the letter...with the fact that he had to work.

WANT TO does not mean he is able to. He WANTS TO say he IS INNOCENT. Yet, no where does he say he did not right the n-word.

He can't even say what he is innocent of. Simply that he was not raised that way in his HOUSEHOLD. I assume he was raised in a house. The simplest way to say this would have been, "I was not raised that way."

He completly skips the telling of any interaction with the waitress until they get their meal. I feel that is a sensitive time for him.

He adds meal TO GO. More unnecessary info. He says elsewhere there was a family emergency. The waitress says they were rude from the beginning. Could there possibly be another reason they want TO GO?

I noticed, also, this is the first introduction of his wife...when the meal was TO GO. I might ask about her HOUSEHOLD here.

The check WAS BROUGHT to THE TABLE. Passive, rather than the waitress brought the check. And the check didn't go to him, but THE TABLE. Distancing.

Sorry this is so long. I'll put my further thoughts in a second post.

Jen said...

Hi Pak31

I am also a bit torn, I thought the customer was guilty until I read the waitresses account, lol.

As I try to picture this encounter in my mind, it doesn't make any sense.

"They were extremely rude, but I introduced myself to them and they didn't respond. When I came to take their order they simply told me they wanted their food and to put everything in a to-go box. I offered them dessert but they told me abruptly that they just wanted the check.
'When I went back to the table they had gone and left the receipt and had written in the comments."

-She starts by saying they were extremely rude, but then says she introduced herself to them.  If the introduction was the beginning of their encounter, how were they extremely rude before they ever spoke? She claims they didn't respond to her introduction, so what did they do...stare straight ahead? According to her no words have been spoken, but in the next sentence she  says she 'came to take their food order', and they simply told her they wanted THEIR food and to put it  in a to-go box. That doesn't make any sense. They could only take their food and go if it was already prepared, (meaning they had already ordered it) not when they are placing their order. She says she offered them dessert, but they told her they wanted THE CHECK and when she went back to the table they had left THE RECIEPT, and had written the 'comment' (minimizing). So when did she give them the check, swipe their card, and leave the reciept for them to sign? She skips from them asking for the check, to the discovery of the receipt where she claims THEY had written the slur, but immediately claims in her next quote that she believes them if they say they didn't write it. Which is it?

Jen said...

'I know I didn't write it. If he's claiming he didn't write it, I believe him wholeheartedly. I'm just that kind of person. I have nothing against him or his family,' Miss Jenkins said. 


-In her account she claims that the customers were 'extremely rude', and that they had written the 'comments'. To call a racial slur directed at her a 'comment' seems like minimizing language, and in this quote she claims she believes him 'wholeheartedly' if she says he didn't write it. If her account is true, and they were extremely rude the whole time, then why would she wholeheartedly believe that he was innocent. She states that she is 'just that kind of person' (the kind who dismisses what she claims to be reality to believe a stranger who verbally assaulted her?) She also begins by saying, "I know I didn't write it", which leaves the option open for someone else to know different, and ends by saying that she has 'nothing against him or his family'. (This sounds like something that would normally be associated with an apology, as in...'I have nothing against him, I was just in a bad mood'.)

Jen said...

 Miss Jenkins said she believes him and posted the picture to make a comment about racism, not to draw attention to herself

-Again she states that she believes him, and also gives her possible motive, saying she posted the picture 'to make a COMMENT about racism'. She uses the same term to describe the post she wrote on her Facebook, as she did in describing the slur on the receipt...both are a 'comment'. She then states in the negative that her actions were 'not to draw attention to herself', which is clearly dishonest. By posting this on Facebook she was seeking attention, and outrage and comments from others. She got all of these things, PLUS a windfall of cash from her publication of this 'comment'. 

(Also as you look at the receipt notice that the slur is written at a slight angle, while the words 'none', and the signature are straight across. The slur seems to have been added after the fact. Otherwise the customer would have written the word 'none', turned the reciept at an angle to write the slur, and then straightened it to write his signature.)

Sus said...

This part really bugs me...
He says he signed "none" IN the tip line and his name ON the signature line. They are both lines. Why is one IN and the other ON?

IT WASNT UNTIL THE NEXT DAY is noted for deception. It is said in the negative and extra info. It makes me wonder if he knew before the next day.

Somebody wrote the n-word on MY RECEIPT. It was a ticket earlier. It is rather weird that he distanced himself from The ticket when it was brought to the table. Now that it has the nword on it, he brings it close to himself with MY RECEIPT. Is this a slip? I want to know how he discovered it.

At this discovery, WE called MY pastor. Who is WE? Why the switch to WE?

reason said...

I don't believe her one bit. I say she wrote it.

Sus said...

Jen,
Thanks for pointing out the waitress' statements. That is what's so weird. Her statements are sensitive, also.

REK said...

I didn't know what to think at first but now reading the customer's account.. I do think he's guilty.

He state's he is innocent but does not address the allegations against him. Innocent of what? He states he was not raised that way in his household.. (this means nothing to me.. its a distraction, probably due to guilt from what his family would think).

He mentions how he signs.. with change of verbiage with the "in, and on". Also he makes NO indication or denial of not writing the "N" word in the next space. This is the perfect place for the denial as he is explaining what happened in the moment what took place.

"it was not until the next day" (alibi building with the not until)

"discovered" is also an interesting word. I don't know what it could mean but how did he discover this info? it makes it sound like HE is owning the discovery.. you would think what likely happened is the restaurant called him to question him about it.. so it wasn't his discovery exactly.. "I found out" would be a similar phrase but it does not use the same ownership as "i discovered" in my opinion.

the call to the attorney/ pastor.. (attorney is the more important info here since he is trying to hide it by stating pastor first but gives his true intentions next)

Jen said...

A few more things... I also notice that the capital 'N' and lowercase 'r' in the pic of the waitress writing sample look very similar.

While the customers failure to issue a reliable denial bothers me, I find the waitress' immediate dismissal of his guilt more troubling than anything. If she, the 'victim' doesn't assign him the blame, then why should I believe he's guilty?

Anonymous said...

Jen- people can be rude without saying a word. You assume that people can only be rude once a conversation begins. People can look at people rudely, sneer, ignore. So it is possible they were rude before they started talking.

They could only take their food and go if it was already prepared, (meaning they had already ordered it) not when they are placing their order"

It is impossible to tell someone in advance: here's our order, but can you put it in to go boxes? That is possible.

"(This sounds like something that would normally be associated with an apology, as in...'I have nothing against him, I was just in a bad mood'.)"

If she didnt say it, we can't say it for her. Your translation of her statement into a semi-confession because "she was in a bad mood" comes from no where. If you want to see an apology, read Devin's statement. He starts with it.

Buckley

Anonymous said...

Peter I just read this story on DM and was going to this site to ask if you could look at the statements.... I was thrilled when I seen you already have a post about it!!!! Longtime follower thank you

REK said...

A lot of people on the Internet who I don't know are calling me a racist and I'm thinking people have their own opinion but I know I am not a racist. I don't see color. I have many mixed color friends,' he told


this also bothers me.. if someone was wrong about you would you give them the credit of "having their own opinion"? I know if someone had an opinion about me that I knew was inaccurate.. I wouldn't chalk it up to people having their own opinion.. that is like surrendering in my opinion..

hes trying to convince us he has friends of color (supposed to be identifying with the waitress) but thats not what he says..he says he has friends of mixed color, so he is not identifying with the waitress

Anonymous said...

"how did he discover this info? it makes it sound like HE is owning the discovery"

Yes, and notice "we" called "my" pastor who happens...

REK said...

yeah still don't see his denial at all.. He says "I don't approve of the use of that type of talk not now or ever!!!"
Still hasn't denied the specific allegation..still doesn't deny doing it in the past, just not now in the moment or ever in the future..

the word is highly sensitive because he can't just spit out the point to this last statement.. he has to fumble around and all that is said is that he does not approve of it.. this is not a denial.. and alot of extra words "the use of that type of talk"

Anonymous said...

Peter I just read this story on DM and was going to this site to ask if you could look at the statements.... I was thrilled when I seen you already have a post about it!!!! Longtime follower thank you

Anonymous said...

"While the customers failure to issue a reliable denial bothers me, I find the waitress' immediate dismissal of his guilt more troubling than anything. If she, the 'victim' doesn't assign him the blame, then why should I believe he's guilty?"

He doesn't assign her the blame either, so by that logic, why should we believe she's guilty?

And I'm confused. So you find much dishonesty in her statement, but when she says she doesn't believe he did it, you believe her? Jen it seems you are playing both sides of this statement. Using it to imply she's dishonest but at the same time using it to claim that Barnes is obviously innocent. Which is it?

Buckley

Jen said...

Hi Buckley-

Of course people can be rude without speaking, but if you read her account she doesn't reference any rude gestures OR rude words exchanged, yet she claims they were 'extremely rude'. How? Her assertion is that they didn't respond to her introduction, but they clearly did at some point...they ordered food, asked for it in boxes, and requested their check.

She claims that when she 'came to take their order they simply told me they wanted THEIR food, and to put everything in a to-go box'. (She calls it 'their' food, and not 'the' food.) In my opinion, this implys that the food was already ordered, and when she returned to the table they told her they didn't want to eat there, and wanted their food put into to-go boxes. Maybe there was an emergency, or maybe they were just ticked at poor service since the customer admits he wrote 'none' in the tip line.

I wasn't translating her statement, nor implying she was apologizing or in a bad mood. I wrote 'as in', to denote an example of where I would normally expect the statement 'I have nothing against xxx'.

REK said...

My interpretation of the waitress is she is now embarrassed of all the attention she got. yes its true she did seek attention when she put it on facebook.. now with all eyes on her it would be bold and brash to dispute someone's claim.. she also states its "his claim" so shes not giving complete trust to his "claim"

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to hear some analysis from Peter. Miss Jenkins has stated that sometimes she would not receive tips. It would need to be a "perfect storm" when Devin Barnes didn't write anything on the total line for her to have the opportunity to write the slur herself.

Devin's letter was delivered to the news station by his "Pastor/Attorney". He is recently married (before the incident), and was at Red Lobster with his wife. The explanation of a "family emergency" is new to me, before I had heard that they were seated at the table, their drinks were brought to the table, but then they requested that their food should be put in "to-go" boxes.

Certainly if the Barnes' received news of an emergency, their phones would bear that out. The randomness that the waitress just picked out a non-tipper for ridicule also isn't fielded well by Devin Barnes. It is an excellent opportunity to learn more about statement analysis.

Anonymous said...

She has horrible eyes.

REK said...

Another thing I find off putting by the customer is he starts off the letter by stating "please accept my apology" but its pertaining to not being there in person. A person typically works 8 hr days or has weekends off so its not like there isn't any other time.. also the person likely wasn't at work while writing the letter since they are taking the time to write it..

the way he formats the opening statement is a domineering way to apologize..like his hand is being forced. "please accept my apology" is asserting the acceptance onto the reader..rather than saying something like "i hope you accept my apology"

Jen said...

Buckley-

I am not trying to claim Barnes is innocent. I didn't write anything close to that. My post states that I find his statement troubling. His statement is much longer than the waitress' statement, and to be blunt, I don't have time to analyze it in-depth right now..but hopefully I can find time later this evening. I stated that the waitress' immediate dismissal of his guilt stood out the MOST to me, given her entire story focuses on how rude they were, and she plainly states that THEY (customer) wrote the 'comment'.

I'm not following your 'logic' that the customer not assigning blame to her means she's not guilty?? The customer is the accused, and his statement is written to answer the accusation. I wouldn't expect him to assign blame to anyone. If he truly didn't write it, then he has no way of knowing who did. The waitress and supposed victim, is making the accusation, and she states plainly that 'they' (customer) wrote the comment...then immediately does a 180, and wholeheartedly accepts that he didn't write it when he denies it. How do you reconcile that she is so ready to dismiss his guilt.

Either that 10k check erased all of her hurt feelings, and outrage at the racism she experienced, or it never happen to begin with... in which case she is not going to push the issue any further.

Sus said...

The first statement by the waitress to media..."I felt like I had been kicked in the gut."

The statements in this article are more than a month later. She was immediately reprimanded by Red Lobster for violating policy (posting customer info online) and told to play nice.

Anonymous said...

Pak31 said- “On the other hand, most people I know DO fill in an amount on the tip line when filling a receipt out. They either write in a tip amount or put a zero on the line. That doesn't mean everyone does that, it's just my perspective.”



And here we get into assumptions and speculations about the behaviors of others, when we’re not even discussing behavior to start with and have no statistical information to back this up, percentages as to how the average person behaves. Even if you have extensive experience in the restaurant business, this is anecdotal at best and if it in any way shapes your opinion, you are deviating from Statement Analysis. This isn’t “predictive behavior analysis’ based on what you would do or I would do or what five people in a survey did and though I’m picking out your example, I am not picking on you because so m any here do this on the board and include it as part of their speculation into guilt or innocence and it does no credit toward SA which is riddled with enough problems as it is (but which is not without merit(s).

Anonymous said...

Did someone say there's a writing sample from the waitress and that there is a similarity between that sample and the receipt? Which sample belongs to her?

Buckley

Skip said...

I think he's innocent, he couldn't bring himself to write the actual 'n' word; He imbeds 'I am not a racist' in his text.
But what concerns me is why he contacted his attorney/ minister first thing. Why?

S + K Mum said...

'I'm not mad. I just didn't like what happened. I just wish it didn't come out this way,' Mr Barnes told WSMV.

'I just wish it didn't come out this way'. If he didn't write it then how could it come out in any way?
He must be mad otherwise he wouldn't be threatening legal action.

I'm not sure either!

Was Mrs Barnes writing excluded in the experts comparison?

S + K Mum said...

Sorry, just read both handwriting (of Mr & Mrs Barnes) were checked and no similarities.

REK said...

I have studied hand writing analysis briefly along time ago. I know alot of things are looked at such as pressure, slant and the sequence of how the letters are formed.

If you study the customer's writing sample, it appears he wrote the majority of the list of his "goals". Next to a few of them show All done. Under "short term goals" Line 2..it appears to me that the All done!!! might have been completed by someone else, such as his wife. the letters appear to be more feminine. the letters have more of a "swoopiness" to them..especially compared to the apology letter he wrote.

They do however have the same swoopiness as the "N" written in the total field. I wish I could see the rest of it for more comparison.

although an effective analysis could be done on a one word "comment" if there is enough "unique traits" that are consistent.. I am wondering how accurate this analysis is.. it's possible the wife wrote it in after the husband filled the rest out. notice how the husband's handwriting is consistently small.. letters are very close and more constricted.. the "All done" is BIGGER and more flowing.. indicating someone else. same with teh "N" word.. it's big, and flowing

Anonymous said...

REK- agreed though the "All done" in the sample looks quite different from the "Nigger". But what gets me is the "none" that Devin admitted to writing looks different from the sample that's obviously his. The letters in his sample are small and close. The letters in the "none" he wrote are not close to one another as if the person writing it is carefully (but not neatly) thinking about each letter. Though semi-cursive, not hooked at all. Plus the e in "none" and the e in "Nigger" look quite similar to me, same slant, same small mark on the left side of the e.

Buckley

Sus said...

I believe the list of goals is the waitress's.

REK said...

Sus can you explain why you think it's the waitresses?

when i was reading through this I first thought it was hers only because a list of goals seemed like something a woman would do more likely (through my own internal perceptions) however the possibility it is his is just as likely. It does appear there are two different people writing on it though so when they mentioned the husband and wife were both analyzed I thought this was the example then

Sus said...

I am reading the handwriting analysis as inconclusive. It's like the lawyer is saying one thing and the media is hearing another.

"There is evidence to indicate that Devin Barnes did not write the total entry. No significant handwriting characteristics were noted."

This jumps to the conclusion that since no SIGNIFICANT characteristic were noted, that is evidence two people wrote on the ticket. Not necessarily.

A quote from the customer's pastor/attorney "There is no evidence that neither Devon Barbed nor his wife wrote that hideous statement on the line total, which means someone else did."
I can agree with the first part of that. There is no evidence that they didn't write it!

Sus said...

*Barnes

Sus said...

Yes. She is the one one who has court fees for a drunk driving accident. She is in nursing school. Notice the grade goal. She totaled her car and was working to buy a new one. I believe this is her list. No sure about the "All done." My gut feeling is that this picture is to show how she got her car paid off with donations. ..and underhanded accusation.

Anonymous said...

I think she wrote it. And that's why she so readily accepts him saying he didn't.


I don't think she realized the hole she was digging for herself in doing it. But she said "I know I didn't do it" first off and that's a red flag. Second red flag is she doesn't express anger at her "assailant".

HOWEVER -- -there could be a lot of variables here. Maybe she just doesn't want conflict. Or maybe there really was a third party who wrote it. I suspect these customers were super rude to her and she essentially put the slur in their mouth(s) reflecting how she felt they felt about her.

But -- I don't think the guy wrote it.

Anonymous said...

IF the guy wrote it and the girl believed he did she would talk in detail about the time frame between when she left the reciept with them and when she came back for it. She would list options of who might have had access to it or decsribe how nobody else had access to it. but she really doesn't focus on that. I feel sorry for her --- for her poor judgement -- they guy probably deserved something for being so rude -- but this is a wrong she did and should not be collecting money for.

Sus said...

Please excuse all my typos tonight. The comment section is not behaving tonight. :) I am basically typing blind on my phone.

Anonymous said...

Exactly, Sus. They say there is not enough of a sample to tell if "none" and "Nigger" were written by the same person, so how can they match another sample to "Nigger"? They can't. The evidence is that there are no similar characteristics found between two samples, one sample being too short to draw anything definitive from! Plus the receipt was not an original- which they admit reduces the reliability. But it's all there in the letter, ready for starement analysis!

Buckley

Anonymous said...

I think she wrote it. But I think he is racist and she picked up on it, and that's why he can't reliably deny his racism. They are both in the wrong. But she wrote it.

REK said...

also noticed a change in verbiage.. when the waitress brings it, and when he signs it he refers to it as "ticket". then later he refers to it as a receipt

Sus said...

REK,
I pointed that out, also. Not only does is it a ticket, but a ticket passively brought to the table. When it has the n-word written on it, it becomes MY RECEIPT. So weird that he brings it closer to him at that point. A slip?

Anonymous said...

It's late and I haven't read the comments here yet. While he says he hired a "handwriting" forensic specialist, who says there are no similarities, I took one look at the "N"'s and R in the written notes and the receipt, they look the sane to me.

kmn

Jen said...

I have been doing a little research by reading a few more articles on this story, and I also checked out the Facebook page pictured in the news video. A few things...

First, the customer has announced that he is suing Red Lobster AND the waitress personally. He must be pretty confident that his handwriting analysis will hold up in court. In my opinion, he would be trying to sweep this under the rug, and hope it was soon forgotten if he were truly the author...not escalating the situation.

Also, if he had not come foward to defend himself, then nobody would have ever known it was him who was being accused. Sure the FB post went viral, but it's not like his pic was posted with the receipt. He was a faceless entity until he came foward. If he is guilty, then why fan the flames with handwriting experts and lawsuits?

The waitress' facebook page shown on the news video is still active, but a huge chunk of history has been deleted, including the post shown on the video. She only has two posts still visible that refer to 'the incident', as she calls it...one is a link to the news article about her 10k in donated 'tips', and the other is a post stating that due to the increase in articles about "the outcome of the incident" she will no longer be accepting friend requests due to harassment. So basically, it appears she deleted everything negative. (I also find it interesting she refers to the outcome of the incident in her comment, and not the incident itself).

Jen said...

Hi REK-

The writing with the list of goals belongs to the waitress. As Sus mentioned, (and if you check out her FB page) she is the one with court costs due to a DUI, a student, no car until recently, etc. She writes FB posts about being 9mos sober, about her DUI accident and arrest, totaling her car, having to depend on her parents for rides, spending days in jail, etc. She posts a picture of her newly purchaed car (with her 'tip' $) and how much it means.

Jen said...

Hi KMN-

Which note are you comparing, the one directly under the receipt (with the list of goals) is from the waitress.

Jen said...

Hi Buckley-

Check out the customers signature on his letter and on the receipt, they don't look the same either. Usually a persons signature is pretty consistant, if not nearly identical. Confusing!

Jen said...

Hi Buckley-

Check out the customers signature on his letter and on the receipt, they don't look the same either. Usually a persons signature is pretty consistant, if not nearly identical. Confusing!

Colleen said...

The capital N on the receipt and the two Ns in items 10 and 11 on the list (written by the waitress) look extremely similar, in that the second part of the N looks like a U.

I also don't think most people who would write a racial slur would place their signature below it. Especially not someone who is putting in so much time, effort and money trying to exonerate himself.

I think she did it. I hope he wins his lawsuit against her and she has to give him her new car. Yes, that would be justice.

dadgum said...

look at his 'r' at the end of several words on the samples..and the 'r' at the end of the slur..

dadgum said...

looks to my eye that her 'r' is like the slur..not his. Also the 'n', but I don't see an example of capitol 'n' in either sample..

Sus said...

Jen,
The waitress had to take the receipt and comments abt it off her facebook. She broke company policy by posting the customer's personal information and was reprimanded for that by Red Lobster.

Right now I am leaning toward this being the reason some of her statements are hinky. There are sensitive parts, but notice most are about how she feels toward someone who may sue her.

"I KNOW I didn't write it" from the waitress MAY show sensitivity. BUT, have you guys read the comments online? She is being accused in an extremely derogatory manner. I saw a site where people calling themselves "true Christians" called her a ho, a welfare queen and such. The ho word came from a pastor! I'm just saying her statement might come from defense of herself.

In her first statements to media, the waitress talked about how hurt she was. She said reading that felt like a kick in the gut. According to that article her manager saw the receipt at the same time or close after her.

Btw the customer is suing for putting his info online, not defamation of character. He wont have to prve he didn't write it.

I think the customer and/or his wife wrote it on the receipt. His language in interviews and the letter is full of deception.

Now the customer and the waitress seem to be in a battle for who has the most charitable and Christian spirit. "I'm not mad." " I don't blame him." Lol

Jen said...

Hi Dadgum-

Her sample (goals list) has a few sentences at the top that begin with capital 'N'. They are similar to the 'N' of the slur in the rounded 'U' like shape. (Thanks Collen..that is hard to find words to explain, lol)

There is one capital 'N" in the customers letter, when he refers to the 'N' word. It appears more pointed, but since there is only one to compare, it is not as striking to me as the several similar looking N's in the waitress' list.

Jen said...

It also strikes me as unlikely that the customer would use two lowercase 'n' in the word 'none', but then switch to a capital 'N' when writing the slur.

Sus said...

I am no handwriting expert, but as someone who taught handwriting, a few things stand out to me.

The customer wrote the letter with great care...slowly and deliberately.

As examples, he begins his o's from the top, goes down from the left and up the right to meet at the top. On his receipt he doesn't take care to connect the top so it looks like an a. In his letter he connects all tops of o's.

He is pushing the pen hard on the paper in the letter and "finishing off" each letter...no gapes between lines. Not so on the receipt.

He goes over a couple of letters twice to form it "correctly" in the letter.

I have to wonder why he took such care writing the letter.

I also notice from the end of "none" and the end of his name on the receipt, he tends to hold his pen to paper instead of lifting it. This means he ends up with a line running for awhile...like a straight flourish, if that's possible.

The n-word ends the same way. That is actually a cursive r on the end with the line going on awhile.

The waitress doesn't have those lines on the end. She tends to pick up her pen as she writes.

dadgum said...

I wish the 'g' in the slur were not blurred. There are several in each sample..

There is so much that seems off..from the added slur, as it was written sometime after the 'none'.to why it was posted.

The pic near him looks like it might be from the African Kings and Queens series put put by Anheuser Busch in the early 60s. We see them ay auctions and sales now and then both in the South and West.

Sus said...

Just google it. I found a pic of the receipt not whited out. But as I said, he has taken care to form his letters in the letter, even going over a couple twice. Oh, and one was a "g". Hmmm

Anonymous said...

I'm looking at the list of goals. Check the N and the r.

kmn

Anonymous said...

IMO, he didn't write the N word, nor did his wife; she did, cleverly and deliberately creating a monster, thinking she would get away with falsely accusing him, bring favorable attention to herself and collect some money to boot; which so far, she has. Now she wants it all to quickly come to an end, seeing the big mistake she made in being legally and publically challenged by the customer.

So what if he was rude to her; maybe she was rude to them first. So what if he wanted their food boxed to go, or why. Why should these matters even be an issue? The issue is who wrote the N word. He did the right thing in contacting his attorney and hiring a handwriting expert to prove he didn't write the ill-fated word and in fighting back.

He has every right to sue her and Red Lobster, and should. Red Lobster is a good company with highly trained, well-screened employees, only somebody goofed on psychologically testing this one before hiring her. They should fire this little lying trouble-maker ASAP. No telling what she might do next that puts them in another bad situation.

Anonymous said...

The goals list is on her facebook. Here is a better look and you can see her "g" too I think she wrote it

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10201665525376191&set=pb.1121131155.-2207520000.1382349689.&type=3&theater

Here is the receipt not blurred out

http://blackamericaweb.com/165344/red-lobster-patron-devin-barnes-denies-he-wrote-racial-slur-on-receipt/

kmn

Yukari said...

Using kmn´s link:

The "N", "i" "g" and "er" on the receipt correspond to the "N"s, "g" (in "change") and "er" (in "whatever") on the list of goals. I think it is very likely that whoever wrote the list of goals also wrote the N-word on the receipt.

The writing in the letter is difficult to compare as the writer is printing his letters, but his "i"s are straight (unlike the crooked ones in the list of goals and on the recipt), and his "g"s don´t have the same "fishhook" on the lower leg as those on receipt and list of goals, whereas they correspond to his "y"s (makes it more likely that that´s how he is writing the lower legs of letters, he is not trying to change his "g"s). Only the "r" in "Barnes" somewhat corresponds to the "r" in the N-word but not in the signature on the receipt.

Colleen said...

It looks like she's going to have to rewrite "pay off court fees" on her list.

Shelley said...

He wrote it.

He has never said "I did not write the word N... on that receipt".

He says he is innocent. That he does not approve of that... but not that he didnt do it.

I know when I first was learning about SA, I struggled with the denial peice of it.

I was then accused of something a at work that I did not do.

I didnt realize until later when I was reading SA again... that I replied to the accusation with "I did not say anything about that promotion to anyone" and I said this directly and with no qualifiers. I realized then, SA really did make more sense than I realized.

I did not feel the need to ramble on.

There was nothing more that I had to say other than "I did not do it"

And well, needless to say, they belived me with out a doubt. And they later found out who really leaked the information.

But if you are accused, and did not do it, you immediatly want to say "i did not do that".

You don’t go on about how ludicrous or insulting it is. You don’t talk about how you were not raised that way without saying “I did not write that”

You address the accusation and get it dealt with right away. This man has said many things. But never “I did not write that word”

And who cares about handwriting analysts. I can switch and write something my left hand (I am right handed) and while I can write decent, it looks nothing like my handwriting with my right hand. It is not hard to change your writing.

Shelley said...

The other thing I was just looking at.

Now we, can not see the N word to compair, but if you look even at the word "non" that he states he did write, it also does not match the handwriting samples.

I find that to be interesting....


Shelley said...

A thought on the waitress.

Does anyone think that she may have gotten in trouble at work for posting it or that her work, fearful of a lawsuit by the customer since everyone is stating he "denied" it wanted her to clear it all up but accepting that he did not do it?

Maybe she was forced to say what she said. But because she was, she was not be truthful.

Just a thought. I just know that companies will often take the customers word over the employees. Alot have adopted "the customer is always right" mind sets. Even when they are wrong alot.

Just one way to view things.

I still think he did it. But her language is concerning and that could explain why.




REK said...

He also states he "left" the ticket on the table.. Left being a sensitive word..

based on SA I do believe he is lying about something..whether or not it was him who wrote it or his wife he has not denied it

Sus said...

From the WSMV site listed in the article. Quotes from Devon Barbed:

"I'm not going to point the finger at nobody. I know for a fact me and my wife didn't do it."
Echos? Do I hear echos of Justin Dip?
I KNOW FOR A FACT weakens his denial.
DO IT- he cannot bring himself to say exactly what IT is.

"I didn't do this. I just asked my parents 'why is this happening to me?' I mean, I didn't do nothing. Me and my wife were just trying to go out to eat, have a nice time."
I DIDNT DO THIS - closer, but he still cannot bring himself to say exactly what he didn't do.
THIS brings it close to him as if he is claiming it.
I DIDNT DO NOTHING - impossible. He still can't say "I didn't write the n-word." Instead it is nothing.

ME AND MY SIFE WERE JUST TRYING TO GO OUT TO EAT, HAVE A NICE TIME.
I find this interesting. He is insinuating the receipt stopped them from eating out, but that can't be. He supposedly didn't know about it till the next day.

shmi said...

"I offered them dessert but they told me abruptly that they just wanted the check."

If she offered them dessert after they told her they needed their food to go, why? An offering sounds like a freebie. Why would she offer them a free dessert? I think it's because she was rude to them, and gave an offering in apology.

Possibly, an interaction between people who were both having a bad day.

Other employees would be able to say if they were rude or not.

I can't tell who is being honest about the n word. He does not outright deny it, and she is too quick to say she believes him. She says "I know I didn't write it". Does she know who did write it? Did she get help from another waitress or bartender? At my local Red Lobster all the receipts are rung up in the bar. I am leaning toward she had someone write it for her, so she owes someone $$ or they will tell what they know!

Sus said...

Devin Barnes "She was polite. She was cheerful." About the waitress.

rob said...

The only time I have not tipped, is when I have been mistreated, ignored, or treated rudely. I don't complain, I just don't tip, and never go back. But I do write a big 0 with a line thru it, then rewrite the amount on the total line.
I agree with shmi about the dessert, why offer if they have already asked for their food to go?
I, from the beginning, doubted the waitress story, thinking she was miffed about the 'no-tip'.
If I was the innocent party, which ever it may be, I would be challanging the other to a polygraph. You can bet the guilty one would bow out of that.
I would bet you could ask other regular customers, what kind of waitress is she, and get a good read on her, same with the guy.
Once an azzhole, always.

REK said...

I'm thinking it has to do with their wait time.. customer was waiting too long and ended up asking for food to go. she offers them dessert because seh can tell they are displeased. explains why they would be rude to her from the beginning. maybe they saw her attending to other tables and felt she should have attended to them sooner. last time we ate at red lobster we had to wait a long time to get seated it is not quick service there from the times i've went

Anonymous said...

The interesting thing is that he doesn't use a reliable denial in his letter. He also felt the need in his letter to include that he spoke with his pastor "who also happens to be an attorney", which is out of place.

But if you look at their respective handwriting samples, the capital "N" in Toni's letter better matches the N on the receipt versus the guy's N. She also writes kind of half-cursive, he doesn't. Just an observation. Tough call!

Mickey Q said...

It's pretty clear the waitress wrote it. Perhaps the customer was sensitive because he was rude. But he didn't write it.

sidewalk super said...


Red lobster needs to reduce her hours to -0-, and hope she doesn't pull a similar hoked up publicity scam against them.
Yet another opportunist taking advantage of peoples' need to believe the worst that is endemic in today's world.

REK said...

it's not pretty clear to me that the waitress wrote it.. when the customer writes the apology letter and goes through the motions of how he filled out the check, this is the perfect opportunity for him to deny it.. and where you would expect to deny it since he's relaying the moment under this questioning.. so i don't get why he didn't deny it.

Sus said...

I'm with REK. It's not clear to me that the waitress wrote it.

Furthermore, I see nothing to back up your claim besides maybe that's what a black waitress does.

The customer did not issue a reliable denial. He also shows deception in his letter and his interviews.

Devin Barnes said, "...I just wish it didn't come out this way."
He doesn't say he didn't write it. He says he didn't like it's out...on the internet?

I notice also he and his lawyer make plenty of statements about TALKING a certain way. The word was WRITTEN.

Anonymous said...

...it would be funny if after all this a third party, for example the barman, the cashier or another waitress, wrote the n bomb on the receipt and they were too afraid to say so after so much was made out of what could have been a prank or a personal grudge, lol...

as a former waitress, i have to wonder though what she was doing with the receipt...anywhere i waitressed, the receipts were stacked for the owner or manager to go through along with the cash register receipts to tally the amounts....for restaurant/bar office, and for their taxes....we didn't have the receipts in our possession after the transaction as waitresses.

Anonymous said...

He didn't issue a reliable denial! Oh, and I don't know what "handwriting expert" he hired, but the handwriting looks exactly like his signature on the check--look at the way his signature has a combo of very erect letters combined w extreme slanting letters. Then look at the "none n----". It's his handwriting!

Anonymous said...

Actually look at the way he begins words. The "n" in "none" and "n----" have a slight slant to the left.

Anonymous said...

Very odd in his printed letter stating he is not a racist how after he has written a few lines he begins printing his letter "o" as a heart shape!

Anonymous said...

Highly skilled handwriting analysts are used by corporation and by government agencies. I wouldn't listen to wannabbes or those who took classes. Expertise is critical. Highly skilled detectives vs. lower skilled detectives, you have to look at the source.

I prefer to eat at home, you control the quality of your ingredients, and avoid rude people handling your food. As humans we often dislike mean spirited individuals, no crime in that...., whatever their color of skin. Opportunist jump on the "racist" bandwagon. America has become a one way ONLY recognized racist group category. When fact is racist come in all colors, and how to YOU distinguish between not liking a person's personality and it being a racist attitude. Oh, the thought police got that covered!? I think the girl did it - she seized an opportunity. mho

Anonymous said...

If she seized an opportunity, then an opportunity had to exist.

Anonymous said...

Having worked in the food industry when I was younger, I saw some odd things happen. One time I witnessed a group of boys take my tip off a table and replace a paper napkin, that said, "Here is your tip...do NOT eat here".

Is it possible neither of them wrote this? They are both sensitive in language and deceptive. I wonder if he was or has been slightly racist, and I wonder from what she says about them being rude that maybe she felt a little offended?

She should still be fired. Posting another persons personal information on line, because you had a bad day is not acceptable, imo.

Anonymous said...

@Anon 5:13pm, I would guess she did not have the actual receipt, but took a phone picture of it. I thought the same thing as you, that perhaps a 3rd party has done it. I have seen strange things happen working in the food industry during my younger years.

They both make statements that make me shake my head. He sounds defensive and like he is lying. Then you read her statements and she sounds like she schemed this entire thing. /shrugs

Anonymous said...

I think the waitress is lying. Peter, analyze her, please

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

Highly skilled handwriting analysts are used by corporation and by government agencies. I wouldn't listen to wannabbes or those who took classes. Expertise is critical. Highly skilled detectives vs. lower skilled detectives, you have to look at the source.

I prefer to eat at home, you control the quality of your ingredients, and avoid rude people handling your food. As humans we often dislike mean spirited individuals, no crime in that...., whatever their color of skin. Opportunist jump on the "racist" bandwagon. America has become a one way ONLY recognized racist group category. When fact is racist come in all colors, and how to YOU distinguish between not liking a person's personality and it being a racist attitude. Oh, the thought police got that covered!? I think the girl did it - she seized an opportunity. mho

I agree. Thank you for expressing so well what I was thinking.

Stuart said...

I have to go with Jenkins on this one. As many have pointed out, Barnes didn't deny writing it. He brings up his family and religion. He also says that his pastor is a lawyer. That is a thinly veiled threat in what is supposed to be a denial. On the other hand, Jenkins says

"I know I didn't write it"

The implication is that SHE knows it but others might not know it. It isn't the most reliable denial possible, but it doesn't mean that the truth is the exact opposite.

There is a lot of context missing. I wonder if Jenkins got some legal advice. She has nothing to gain and a lot to lose by making direct accusations against Barnes. I suspect that she just wants to take her 10 grand and move on. A lawsuit would be a huge hassle regardless of the facts.

Carnival Barker said...

Putting SA aside for the moment and basing this just on logic, I agree with what Colleen said upthread: Would you really call someone such a horrific slur which is SURE to incite not only her but everyone else who reads it, and then sign your name??

It would be more believable to me if he paid cash and anonymously left such a hateful message, but now she has not only his name but his credit card information too. In this age of no privacy, I don't think you'd leave a trail of breadcrumbs to your wallet and your front door. Most people are only that vicious when they are anonymous.

Stuart said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

I was a waitress for many years. The fact that he wrote "none" speaks volumes about the hostility he was feeling. I have never seen anyone write none.
This man did not issue anything resembling a reliable denial. In fact it is the standard thing we see here where the suspected person dances around the subject without ever saying "I didn't (fill in the blank).
As a former waitress I can tell you not many people have access to these slips (the waitress and the manager) so it is very unlikely a 3rd party did this.
Also, did anyone else wonder why he did not total the bill? Which is something that rarely happens! Perhaps he left the line to write the total blank so someone else could write in "n----". Yeah OK I got a bridge in Brookyln to sell you too if you believe that lol!

Anonymous said...

Sus @ 12:11 AM:

You've seen the "Landover" page, which is a spoof on Christianity. I'm glad to see when the debate goes to statement analysis. Remember, this isn't a blog about handwriting analysis.

Anonymous said...

There are times I order food to go, times I leave a tip, and times I don't. I usually put a line through where the tip goes so that someone else cannot fill in the blank and I always ask for a receipt. Barnes could have wrote "none" so that no one else would write something in the blank tip line.

Is it now a crime to NOT leave a tip? I find the waitress suspect for making a COPY of someone's bill and posting on FB. Why is she not facing prosecution? What gives her the right to share someone's bill history with the world. I don't trust her.

Why is she still working at the restaurant? She is the criminal in question for divulging a customers personal bill. Instead she gets a reward from online donors, because she alleges "racism" was involved in no tip being given, while she violated someone's privacy? Maybe one of you will be labelled a racist next time you fail to leave a tip? This country is messed up.

The couple should sue the restaurant and the arrogant waitress, especially if it is a made up story - privacy issue aside. There are people who see "racism" in every flower, and esp. if they will profit financially. This is an expanding get rich fast scheme, à la Jesse fake reverend Jackson, and Al non-sharp-ton. mo.

Anonymous said...

Remember this isn't a blog on sarcasm.

Anonymous said...

Well said!!!!! This woman's a NASTY
A true true ugly NASTY be_atchhhh!

Anonymous said...

It'll be on Oprah next.

Anonymous said...

*Chuckle*

REK said...

>>she alleges "racism" was involved in no tip being given

that's not the issue. The issue is did he or his wife write the N word on the ticket or did someone esle

Anonymous said...

Have they proven the waitress didn't write the N word? NO.

Call in the handwriting experts at the FBI. Take samples from everyone in the restaurant, her family and friends. The gutless p-c folks won't ask.
The story involves the N word, a restaurant, hmmm. take a play book page from the media-hysteria reporting- drama around the southern belle Paula Deane. Claim a similar story - seek social media attention and cha-ching cha-ching, the $$$ roll in. "There's a sucker born every second," said Mr. Barnum :-)

Sus said...

ibmmuseum,
Spoof page or not, it was free reign to attack someone in a viscous manner. There are many comments out there under news articles along the same line.

My point is that I believe those internet comments, the fact that the waitress was reprimanded by her company, and the fear of being sued could explain the sensitivity in her language.

I also like to stay with SA. Please read my other comments on this post where I used my meager skills on the customer's letter and interview comments.

As far as handwriting, I'm still wondering why the customer took such care in writing (dare I say cover himself ) the letter.

And it bugs the blank out of me that he said he couldn't be HERE rather than there. Supposedly he was HERE writing the letter...wasn't he?

Anonymous said...

Lol! Another case where people are throwing Statement Analysis out the window to push an agenda!
Everyone can see HE DID NOT MAKE A RELIABLE DENIAL! Is everyone forgetting their statement analysis?!
Or does SA get put aside for Rush Limbaugh type agendas that "there is no racism out there folks!"

Anonymous said...

That good ol' boy with the pastor/attorney wouldnt do no kinda racist thing! My lord his pastor is a handwriting expert too! This good ol' boy's got "mixed race" friends-ask them! We got no racism here in the South! LMAO!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm trying to stick to SA too. As far as denials go we have:

Customer: I am innocent (but avoids stating of what) & I don't approve of the use of that type of talk not now or ever!!!"
(NO denial saying I didn't do it)

Waitress: I know I didn't write it.
(denial of specific allegation)

Anonymous said...

Sus- good catch about the "here". I knew it didn't sound right but didn't figure out why

Anonymous said...

"I know I didn't do it." "I know" is to convince who? the public? This sounds hinky. Young man made no reliable denial. Need to know more, the handwriting analysis was it done by a real expert in the field?

Get an FBI handwriting expert, they deal with thieves all the time.

Blacks can be racist. Whites can be racist. Just like any other nationality. I see a copy cat case here. Red lobster best get ready for a lawsuit when employees violate customer's privacy.

Statement Analysis Blog said...

Anonymous said...
Lol! Another case where people are throwing Statement Analysis out the window to push an agenda!
Everyone can see HE DID NOT MAKE A RELIABLE DENIAL! Is everyone forgetting their statement analysis?!
Or does SA get put aside for Rush Limbaugh type agendas that "there is no racism out there folks!"
October 22, 2013 at 11:09 AM

I don't follow your comment.

The subject could have simply said, "I didn't write the N word" but did not. It would have been an easy denial.

In fact, we flag any apology in a statement, no matter the reason, noting its inclusion.

He did not say he didn't write it:

Therefore, we are not permitted to say it for him.

Peter

rob said...

I agree with carnival barker, not many people are going to write a racial slur, then sign their name, and leave it on the table. That doesn't add up. Most racists perfer to operate under the radar screen.
That said, please don't act like the race card is never played for financial compensation. It is generally the only way to resolve a complaint. I tired of seeing it played so often.

Anonymous said...

>>Lol! Another case where people are throwing Statement Analysis out the window to push an agenda!
Everyone can see HE DID NOT MAKE A RELIABLE DENIAL! Is everyone forgetting their statement analysis?!
Or does SA get put aside for Rush Limbaugh type agendas that "there is no racism out there folks!"


I get this comment. They are saying people are leaving behind Statement analysis and trying to analyze the behavior or other aspects of it.

I get that the waitress having a DUI is upsetting. I get that she gets to pay off her court fees and get a car is upsetting, I get that posting someones receipt online is upsetting.

The behavior isn't part of SA. She obviously has the personality type or the thought pattern to post something like this online for attention about the matter. Thats not the point we are addressing here. The point we are addressing is did the man write the N word on the ticket. He has not denied it, and even during his recanting of signing the bill, the expected place for a denial to occur under allegations, he also avoided a denial which says something to me. he also makes some other gaffes that are red flags

Sarah said...

He never says he didn't write it.

Sus said...

This isn't SA, but I feel I have to answer some comments. I feel some of you don't really know what it's like "out there." When people in positions to speak to the public try to explain the racism that is a part of their everyday lives, you pooh pooh them. Racism/prejudice is alive and thriving in the US. There are people who refuse to be served by waitresses of a different color. It happens.

Now, Devin Barnes is 20 years old, newly married, and obviously not the brightest. He said he and his wife "were just trying to go out to eat, have a nice time." Something stopped them because they ordered "to go" instead.

In his letter, he omits all interactions before getting a ticket. Why? Something happened in this time period.

Devin Barnes does say in his letter that he wasn't raised that way in his household. I wonder why he brought that up. Was it a comparison? To his wife, perhaps?

I think Devin Barnes wrote it. He didn't think about anyone seeing it, but the waitress. I think he wrote it in anger because he and his wife couldn't have their nice time out. I have my ideas about why they couldn't, also.

Sarah said...

the waitress also has the emotions in the perfect place, she doesnt sound credible herself.

Anonymous said...

I also find it weird that if an act of racism does occur, people try to mask it as anything but racism. someone above commented about how people want to believe the worst scenario..insinuating that we want to believe this racist act occured. well itsn't it just as bad of a scenario to believe that someone concoted this scenario themselves and then add in the motive to make money..

how would she possibly know when she did this that she would get money out of it. I personally think she just wanted some sympathy/attention from facebook regarding what she went through..similar to the same people who post selfies all the time..

Pisces Dreamer said...

Looking at the list of goals by the waitress, and the unpixelated receipt, I find far more similarities between the waitress's writing and the "N word" written on the receipt than the patron's... specifically in the formation of the "g" letters.

The waitress's list of goals has several samples of an unclosed "g," forming more of a long, drawn-out "s" shape than a closed "g."

The patron's "g"s are all closed.

The waitress's capital "N" samples appear to begin with a straight, vertical line, followed by a rounded "U."

The patron's capital "N" sample appears to be a straight vertical line, followed by a hard "V."

Were I compelled to choose one of these two as the author, based upon handwriting samples alone, my money would be on the waitress.

Anonymous said...

Peter, my comment was directed at the trend in comments that were saying this man is innocent and basing it on an agenda, not statement analysis. Normally, comments on this site stick to the priciples of statement analysis, but in this instance, many
comments were conspicuosly ignoring SA principles.

Anonymous said...

Heriberto Verimontes wanted to beat some 'white ho's' and then left the car with a baseball bat. Prosecutors say that's when he brutally beat exchange student Natasha McShane and her friend Stacy. Trial happening right now. Natasha is unable to speak and paralyzed. We know what racism is about. It is ugly.

Crying "wolf" to gain financially is not uncommon. It's a possibility and it should be investigated. Barnes will bring a lawsuit, in doing so, much will be investigated.

The capital N looks like Ms. Jenkins N.

Anonymous said...

Crying "wolf" to gain financially is not uncommon

How would anyone know they would financially gain from this? i mean really?

Anonymous said...

I live in the North and my boyfriend has been brainwashed by Rush Limbaugh type thinking that claims racism is a thing of the past and blacks are just playing the race card. I said to him while there are instances blacks play the race card I pointed out that his own father who is a landlord who owns apartments in a nice, safer part of the city w better schools won't rent to blacks. I said do you think he is the only landlord that does this? Do you think that might contribute to blacks having a hard time getting of the crappy crime/drug-ridden parts of the city? Point being racism is alive and well.

Anonymous said...

Two words: Twana Brawley

When you are a decent person most people can tell. It's like Martin Luther King said "about the content of your character." Unfortunately, the race baiters forget that part. I have a right not to like someone with bad character and avoid them. Obama would be proud of the "victim lovers." While the same blacks don't like blacks like Al Keyes, he loses his pigmentation cuz they can't benefit from someone like him who says take personal responsibility. Have babies in marriages and keep the family intact.

Obama could unite people but he does the opposite. Seems to have the huge chip on his should says it all, seems to resent his white mother, and possibly for a good reason. I don't know the ins and outs, I have my suspicions about the resentment w/ mom. No body gives Asians anything, they work hard and advance. The opportunities are there, takes effort.

Anonymous said...

Well, blaming victims isnt a good quality either. If you think blacks don't face discrimination, you're wrong.

Anonymous said...

OK, just thinking out loud...

His statement has 14 (!) singular first person pronouns- I, me, or my. It has 2 plural first person pronouns- one our (meal) and one "we" (called my pastor/lawyer).

"I was not raised that way in MY household. When me and my wife got our..."

The only other place the wife is mentioned is in calling the lawyer. While he doesn't issue a reliable denial, he almost avoids spreading the "blame" with plural pronouns. They were sharing this experience- why is she so absent from it?

Her handwriting was tested too. The letter indicates a passive "there is evidence..." Limitations if the "N**** sample are noted. We see his sample, we see the waitresses' sample that many if us have analyzed. So where's a wife sample released to the public?

Buckley

Anonymous said...

Buckley, I wondered about that too--if he wrote the "none" and she said hahaha and grabbed the pen and wrote "n----". I didnt use SA like you did though--good analysis!

Anonymous said...

And when the waitress talks about the incident, she always uses "they" but she says she believes "him" when he says "he didn't write it. I believe him wholeheartedly." Then she mentions not having anything against "him or his family." She doesn't even refer to his wife specifically.

Buckley

Katie said...

Deception and/or sensitivity indicators:

Apologizes at beginning of statement, "I want to start out by saying" sounds almost like "I want to say I am innocent" if he does say he is innocent, we cannot say it for him. But I am not sure if this is exactly the same thing.

"I was not raised that way in my household" is very specific as to where he was not raised (to use that word). It makes me wonder about other households. Also he does not say he does not use that word nor does he say his wife does not use that word or "we" don't use that word.

Now he switches to him and his wife, not just himself. "When me and my wife got our meal to go, the ticket was brought to the table." This is also the passive tense which can indicate sensitivity. Also, it's "the" table, not "our" table which seems like distancing.

I also noticed he switched back to himself and leaves out his wife when he says he signed "none" and his signature.

He said he signed "none" IN the tip line and his name ON the signature line. Not sure if the difference of IN and ON means anything, but I noticed it. Also, he says he SIGNED “none” in the tip line. Writing the tip amount is not really “signing” yet he used that word for the tip amount and his signature. Is he taking ownership by “signing “none” like one does with a signature? Also, a tip is a monetary amount and I usually put in the number 0 if I am not putting the tip on my credit card, yet he chose to “sign” a word “none”. Since he wrote a word, that may fall under Statement Analysis? Signing seems like an act of authority and makes something official. Did he make “none” official by “signing” it under his authority?

"It was not until the next day" indicates sensitivity, I believe, because it is explaining. Also, it is in the negative, which indicates sensitivity "that I discovered somebody wrote the "N" word" on "MY" receipt. He takes ownership of the receipt (not "our receipt" or "the receipt"). Apparently his wife is no longer with him in his mind. Or could it mean something else when he removed her from this part of the situation?

Who is "Somebody"? Could it have been his wife? Or does he know who the somebody is?

Now he uses "we" when "we called my pastor". Does "we" mean him and his wife? If so, this is the 2nd and last time he includes his wife who was there with him at the restaurant which is noted. "At that time" could indicate sensitivity.

"Not now or ever" sounds like "never" which is not a reliable denial.




rob said...

You know, I would really like to have that 'dialog on race' that people like to talk about, but somehow, only one side is allowed to talk, without being called racist for it.
Anyway, my perspective is, that many blacks see anything bad that happens to them as racism, and seem to think that is never rains on any other race.
I am cracker white, bad things happen to me. I don't assign it to racism, or karma, or anything but, something bad happened to me. When the group of black cyclists attacked the Asian in the range rover, what if he had cried, it was racism? It was all because I'm Asian and driving a RR. But what if an Asian group had attacked a black family in a car, WOULD it not have been said? You know it would have.
When Oprah, who is a Billionaire, with a capital 'B' cried racism, OMG, give me a break. And, oh yeah, I have never in my life even seen a 35,000 dollar purse, much less touched one.

Anonymous said...

To Rob - Well said! Thank you for common sense observation.

You know what I love the most, bright people, good people, kind people. I'ill take them in green, yellow, white, purple, black, brown, rainbow colors. The story of the 15 year old foster child Davion, who happens to be black, shows how love is what matters. He asked for a family to take him in as their child. He said he didn't care if they were black, white, or purple. It's really simple as that. Do you carry love in your heart or hate?

Stuart said...

I've been seeing arguments along the lines of "he/she couldn't have done that because that would have been extremely stupid."

People do a lot of stupid things. Even reasonably intelligent people do really stupid things. I imagine that the majority of people behind bars have thought to themselves, "I can't believe I did that. That was extremely stupid."

Stuart said...

Katie,

Smart observation on the "none"
It didn't occur to me to treat that as a statement.

Sus said...

FYI
The waitress did not ask for money from the public. She did not begin a webpage to collect money. As far as I know, no one put up a page asking for donations for her.

Guess who does have TWO pages for support and DONATIONS...the customer, Devin Barnes. He is asking for donations because "court cases cost a lot of money." It's not like he's being sued. So he's asking for money to go after another person on the courts. Unreal.

Anonymous said...

Look at the customers' face in his photo, his expression, his eyes. (Where are you John?)

The guy is innocent of writing the N word. It's not only conveyed in his words but also in his face.

Poor guy. What he had was a hell night at Red Lobster that gives no indication of ending.

Buckley said...

"Please accept my apology for not being here in person, I had to work."

The first sentence is the most important and we take note of apologies. He does not say "I apologize" but asks the unnamed audience (no greeting) to accept his apology. He does take ownership of the apology with "my".

Order: apology, not here, work

"I want to start out by saying I am innocent. I was not raised that way in my household."

"I want to start out by saying" weakens "I am innocent." He has not been proven guilty, so he can say "I am innocent." He did not issue reliable denial "I did not write 'nigger' on the ticket."

Not raised "that way" = distancing

"Raised...In my household"

He refers to the past, how he was raised growing up, I assume. I'd want to ask if his household now shares the same values.

"When me and my wife got our meal to go, the ticket was brought to the table,"

Introduction of wife (note order: me, wife). "Ticket was brought" passive. He avoids mentioning who brought him the ticket. "To the table" He avoids saying to whom the ticket was brought. Very impersonal. Doesn't even say "our" or "my" table.

"I signed “none” in the tip line and my name on the signature line and left my ticket on the table."

"Signed" none. I'd expect "wrote". We sign our name on a receipt instinctively, without much thought. He must have made a conscious decision to leave no tip, but doesn't discuss it. "Left" ticket on table- is there missing information? Here, he takes ownership of the ticket with "my". He signed it so the change from "the" to "my" might be expected.

"It was not until the next day that I discovered somebody wrote the “N” word on my receipt."

We note what is stated in the negative. He doesn't say "the next day, I..." He creates distance with the extra words. He does not state how he discovered it. Did he see it on his copy? Did he see the online "story"? Did someone else see his name and alert him? (If so would we expect this information to be included?) He asserts "somebody" rather than a passive "N was written..." He does not say "I don't know who wrote..."

"At that time, we called my pastor who happens to be an attorney and asked his advice."

"we" called "my" pastor
Here wife is reintroduced. Why does he share making a call when he takes ownership of so much else? He doesn't say "we decided to call..."

Why refer to him as pastor and lawyer? In which capacity was he called? If as lawyer, why does he minimize by adding "who happens to be"?

"advice"- why does he feel the need to get advice? Because of what he did or because of what was done to him (posting of receipt online)? He doesn't clearly make any claim of being wronged or upset about posting of receipt in the letter. He apologizes, he claims innocence.

"I do not approve of that type of talk, not now not ever!!!"

Doesn't refer to "n" word specifically, just "that type of talk". "Not now not ever" avoids reliable denial and lacks commitment to the specific time in question.

Conclusion: He doesn't issue a reliable denial, he doesn't issue any kind of denial for his wife. He wants the reader to believe his upbringing and moral code would preclude such an act. Yet he doesn't specifically mention the act or the person who (allegedly) is the recipient of the act.
There is a lot of distancing and missing information. But is that enough to say he is deceitful?

Coming to definite conclusions is where I'm weak.