Reply #2: That's not why he's a folk hero, IMO

[MajorChode]

He's a folk hero because like many people who have to deal with the public, he was forced to put on a happy face when dealing with dickheads. He finally reached his breaking point and told everyone off on his way out the door (which a great many people would love to do, but don't have the nerve). Believe it or not, everyone has their breaking point, including you and me. This guy put up with this type of crap for 20 years without breaking. That alone should tell you something. There may have been a lot of things going on in his life both on and off the job that led up to it.

I don't approve of what he did and personally I wouldn't consider him a folk hero, but I don't have to deal with the public as part of my job. I can see why some people might think differently.