How is it that we have become a society where it is okay to be rude for no other reason than you just felt like it? What happened to "a polite society?' My mother (just as mother's from all time) taught me that if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. Nowadays, many folks think it's okay to say whatever is on their mind, "because-they're just keeping it real."
No- it's not real- it's rude. I get frustrated when strangers share whatever is on their mind-regardless of the content or the appropriateness because they feel since it's just their opinion, it's okay to be offensive.
Maybe it's because we as a society are so embedded with a reality tv mentality. One where we say what we want to get a reaction and every conversation has the ability to turn into a cat fight. Or that it is okay to start arguments in public and yell obscenities among the general population.
I know I'm going on a rant, but I witnessed something today that really took me back. I was sitting in a doctor's office waiting room. There were two other people sitting and waiting along with me. An elderly woman walks out of the office area into the waiting room and then out the office door to the parking lot. Five minutes late she comes back in and says to the gentleman waiting, "Is that your big , blue truck parked in front?'
"Yes, is something wrong?"
She then proceeds to start YELLING at this man, she does not know- ending with "Maybe you shouldn't drive such a big a%$ truck, unless you learn how to drive it!" And then slams out the door again.
This man jumped up, clearly embarrassed and heads for the door. The other woman waiting stands up and looks out the window and says "I don't know what her problem is, he's parked evenly between the lines."
The man comes back in, still looking sheepish. He says to the both of us, "These spaces are tight, but I am parked between the lines."
The other woman agrees with him and says- "She's just rude, I wouldn't worry about it."
Now, a couple of things come to mind. We all have been in the situation where we go to get in our car and some nimrod has parked too close and makes it incredibly difficult to get in our car. Yes, it's frustrating. But, is it worth going into a building and calling a person out on it? I can see if the other car is parked unevenly between the space lines or even crooked, but when a vehicle is parked perfectly between the lines, it doesn't constitute a federal offense if it's difficult to get into your car. Annoying, sure. But, walking into a public space and causing a scene, no.
This woman clearly felt entitled to her rant. A decade ago, probably not. Unfortunately in our world today, it's the norm.
Next random thing that really got me going today...the "homeless" people who stand on the corner or at the end of an exit ramp asking for money. I feel for these folks, I really do. I admit sometimes, I am skeptical if they are really homeless or if this is their way to make some extra spending money. Admittedly, I have on occasion passed a couple bucks here and there. However, the guy I saw today ticked me off. He wasn't holding up a homemade cardboard sign. He was holding up a professionally made vinyl sign. If you have the energy and know how to have a "homeless" sign made, have the energy and know how to go get a job.
Okay, I feel slightly better now.
What's been ticking you off lately? Witness to any random acts of rudeness? Share please, it's good for the soul.
