I am the guy you hate to have behind you. You know the type big, tall, physically imposing. Always with the angry glare, checking you out, impatiently behind you waiting for his moment. I am sure you know the type. ¨Jeezus Christ, whats his problem?¨ you mutter silently to yourself.
But its all more mundane, my cause of anger even boring. I am the guy stuck behind you at the ¨Rapid Check Out¨ line at the supermarket. I have my fifteen items or less, but you have decided that didn't apply to you. You are "Ms. ForTheChildren". Because your hurrying home its OK for you to roll up in a dump truck at the fast check out line and delay all the rest of us from going home to our families. Right now you have thirty three items and counting. Of course, your ever so sweet. This will only take a minute you say. But its my minutes your taking. You get to decide how you will spend your minutes and my minutes.
You mutter on about having to hurry home to your children, that is why your in this shorter line. I want to ask if its okay to park behind your car as you prepare to back out because I need to sync my laptop with my Ipad. Its just for a few moments. It wont be long. I just need to pay the electric bill, It is all about keeping the lights on after all, its for the children. Also, I have to send some adorable pictures of cats to my mother. I should really email these right away. She is just crazy about about kitty's. I need to keep the old girls spirits up, ya know?.
Or your "Mr. BlockDad" the most popular guy on the neighborhood. A regular Joe, the man who somehow, defying all laws of physics and logic, packed thirteen hyperactive children from the neighborhood into a minivan and then decided to do a negotiation in the Del Taco drive thru on how many slushs, tacos, and churros that need to be ordered. Did I also mention that today burns hotter than Sofia Vergara in a micro bikini? Never mind, as my life slowly drains away on this hot July day, four other cars besides mine are waiting the results of your complex negotiations.
I would never be so rude as not to mention some of your family members. There is the ¨Place Holder¨. This is the guy in front of you in line at the movies that when its his turn to buy tickets at the theater proceeds to wave over his eight giggling friends. All of who are seeing the same movie, but just don't know which one. They all drove together and plan to spend the evening together. They only need to decide which movie. Then each proceeds to buy a single ticket to draw out the process.
Then there is the "Linebacker". You know this one. Your holding the door open at a store, church, building of some sort. Trying to be considerate. In goes your wife or children, or you would like to think they would. Then the Linebacker comes along. Muttering some form of thanks they rush through the door, separating you from you loved ones or party, forcing your family and friends to jump back for fear of being trampled upon. Of course, they are doing it for "the children".
Did you ever notice that these assorted inconsiderate, time wasting louts are truly and totally offended when you point out their behavior? Its never their actions that are the problem. Its your or my reaction to their rudeness that's the real problem. Its as if they are saying, "Wait, you mean you wont allow me to waste your time so I can be first, be inconsiderate of others, and enjoy my life while I trample all over you?". I don't know how many times I have been told literally how rude I am for pointing out their rudeness. Funny enough, even my friends who accompany me would prefer I not stick up or point out the obvious. That it is the barbarians of this world, those who would walk all over you without a second thought, those who don't respond to your kindness or patience, those who actually feed on it, they depend on you and me being nicer, politer, more considerate, which most of us are by nature. They have become so accustomed to it that they now assume its their right to engage in insensitive behavior. To impose on the rest of us because we are to nice to stand up for ourselves or others because we don't want to make a scene.
I am afraid that doesn't work for me. I belong to the old school idea that all transactions carry costs. Let me explain. I love bananas. My favorite fruit. Banana bread, fried bananas, banana pancakes, banana flavored ice cream,etc. Get the idea? But bananas are not free. They cost something. So if the cost is to high, I eat apples. If all fruit costs to much, I just don't eat it. This idea carries over to all activities. Its just not easy to see at first. Lets say I still love bananas, but am allergic to them. I can still eat them, but the additional "price" is a trip to the emergency room. That's the added cost for my transaction of eating bananas. So when the Linebacker, Mr.BlockDad, the Placeholder, or Ms.ForTheChildren try their "I am the center of the world" acts I call them on it. I point it out, "No, your friends go to the end of the line.", "No, you shouldnt bring more than 15 items here.", or "You just stepped on my grandkid you insufferable piece of crap". I make them pay, make them suffer the slings and arrows of their insensitive, impolite acts.Just make them pay for their behavior.
And don't worry about their feelings to much. They have not put a lot of thought in considering your feelings after all.
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