Some profound insight, often garnished with random rants, tirades and left-field comments, from a cook turned teacher
Thinking about other people...
Posted 07-22-2008 at 06:35 PM by Jim
This is not so much a rant as it is a commentary. An observation. Or, more accurately, a series of observations. Perhaps diatribe is more apropos. It is welling up, like the steam in a pressure cooker and needs somewhere to go. Now, the lid is off…
To where did consideration go? No, not the ‘r word’. “Yo, you don’t give me no respect… I don’t give you no respect.” Nor is this a polite issue. Considerate: “showing concern for the rights and feelings of others.” Showing concern for others. Take a moment to ponder; there are other people out there? I am not alone? The world does not revolve around me? Somebody has to clean up after me? That is preposterous!
So, dear friends, to what am I referring to? Well, in the last few days, I have jaunted around town as the proverbial free spirit. School is out and, with but a few appointments on the calendar, I have made my way from bookstore to restaurant to mall to here and there. And there is one commonality that has been all but avoidable; I have encountered more inconsideration than would be reasonably believed to be random in nature. Rather, I think it is part of our culture. A dismal part, mind you, but a facet nonetheless. I am not talking sinister intentions. Nor am I talking a sensitivity to every little boo-hoo and batted eye. I am talking about the guy in the car going entirely too fast that cuts you off at the last possible second at the well-advertised merge point. Oh yeah, and he flips you off. Or the lady that nearly runs you down whilst moving through the crosswalk, never mind the 30’ foot sign that indicates “Yield to Pedestrians” then proceeds to roll down her window and yell at you. Or the guy that cuts in front of you at the front door to Panera, opens the door just enough to squeeze his inflated backside through without ever considering (a-ha! There is that word!) holding the door for you. Or the lady on the way out, for whom you hold the door, which cannot spare a breath or whisper of “thanks” as you hold the door for her. Or the young fellow that flicks his cigarette butt on my front sidewalk as he saunters by; that’s okay, though, because as a non-smoker, I indulge in the time I am in the front of my house sweeping up cigarette butts.
I do not endorse Vigilante Consideration Enforcement. Politeness, requisite to being considerate, is taught at home. It is taught at school. It is expected at work. It is expected in every walk of life. Courtesy is not an entitlement. Consideration, however, separates us from the animals. It is “please” and “thank you” that is second nature; part of life and willingly dispensed, without hesitation.
Tomorrow is a new day. I will start with saying thank you to the mailman and offering him a cold bottle of water. I hope he doesn’t leave the empty bottle on my sidewalk.
To where did consideration go? No, not the ‘r word’. “Yo, you don’t give me no respect… I don’t give you no respect.” Nor is this a polite issue. Considerate: “showing concern for the rights and feelings of others.” Showing concern for others. Take a moment to ponder; there are other people out there? I am not alone? The world does not revolve around me? Somebody has to clean up after me? That is preposterous!
So, dear friends, to what am I referring to? Well, in the last few days, I have jaunted around town as the proverbial free spirit. School is out and, with but a few appointments on the calendar, I have made my way from bookstore to restaurant to mall to here and there. And there is one commonality that has been all but avoidable; I have encountered more inconsideration than would be reasonably believed to be random in nature. Rather, I think it is part of our culture. A dismal part, mind you, but a facet nonetheless. I am not talking sinister intentions. Nor am I talking a sensitivity to every little boo-hoo and batted eye. I am talking about the guy in the car going entirely too fast that cuts you off at the last possible second at the well-advertised merge point. Oh yeah, and he flips you off. Or the lady that nearly runs you down whilst moving through the crosswalk, never mind the 30’ foot sign that indicates “Yield to Pedestrians” then proceeds to roll down her window and yell at you. Or the guy that cuts in front of you at the front door to Panera, opens the door just enough to squeeze his inflated backside through without ever considering (a-ha! There is that word!) holding the door for you. Or the lady on the way out, for whom you hold the door, which cannot spare a breath or whisper of “thanks” as you hold the door for her. Or the young fellow that flicks his cigarette butt on my front sidewalk as he saunters by; that’s okay, though, because as a non-smoker, I indulge in the time I am in the front of my house sweeping up cigarette butts.
I do not endorse Vigilante Consideration Enforcement. Politeness, requisite to being considerate, is taught at home. It is taught at school. It is expected at work. It is expected in every walk of life. Courtesy is not an entitlement. Consideration, however, separates us from the animals. It is “please” and “thank you” that is second nature; part of life and willingly dispensed, without hesitation.
Tomorrow is a new day. I will start with saying thank you to the mailman and offering him a cold bottle of water. I hope he doesn’t leave the empty bottle on my sidewalk.
Total Comments 5
Comments
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My mother used to say that the only thing free in life are air and manners and I think she was right. I to have noticed a general decline in people's courtesy towards one another in recent years and I often wonder why this is happening. Part of me feels that much of it is due to how our society is changing especially when it comes to communicating. Instead of communicating with a real live person you are usually sending a text message, email, forum post etc etc. People don't have to interact as much any more they get the cash from an ATM not a teller, they pay their bill on line not at the post office etc etc.
I hope you have a better day. If those people knew you half as well as most of us here do they would treat you like a king.Posted 07-23-2008 at 05:52 PM by Nicko
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Rant on my friend, rant on. We are, in deed, nothing more than clever monkeys if we can not take time to be kind and courteous and it does seem that the coming generations haven’t the slightest notion as to how to treat their fellow human beings. Ah, the youth of Athens.Posted 07-24-2008 at 03:52 PM by izbnso -
And I thought MY expectations were high! I liked your rant, it mirrors mine every time I go out there, you know, out into the world we live in now. No, MY expectations are not high, a little thank you and please, a little courtesy and consideration (your favorite word) should be expected. we can't just leave our homes and barrel-thrugh as if we are alone. We are so proud of being humans, but more and more I think we have reached a point of "de-evolution". I am a woman. I hear other women complain about chivalry, but so, then, why in the world they walk arrogantly through the open door, held by a nice guy? I just have to say, thanks for your post, and if your mail-man is thirsty, give him water in a recyclable cup, that way if he throws it on the street, at least it can be bio-degraded.Posted 07-26-2008 at 06:08 PM by ravenbypoe -
Would you believe I actually did give my mailman a bottle of water. He was so appreciative. And one of my neighbors walked by and said to me "why did you do that? The mail is never on time." It was only about 836-degrees outside and the man is carrying a 70# bag of junk mail. Where did we go wrong?!Quote:if your mail-man is thirsty, give him waterPosted 07-28-2008 at 04:52 PM by Jim -
Geez, you could've taken the words out of my mouth. I find myself asking that question as well..and yes, by all means rant on..someone quite possibly who may need to hear this will see him/herself and make it right.Posted 08-01-2008 at 01:25 PM by Salliem
