And beside us, and in front of us…
What is it with rude people these days? Are there more folks behaving badly now versus when I grew up or have I lost my patience with rudeness? Since there’s nothing I can do to change other people’s behavior, I realize it’s time to adjust my attitude. Sigh, I get it and promise to appreciate the far-reaching humor people provide. I’ll concentrate on the niceness that exists in the world and every kind person who crosses my path.
Tomorrow. I’ll do it all tomorrow (Yes, Scarlett and fiddledeedee to you, too.). Today, I need to bluster about a bit. Here’s a redheaded opinion that hopes we can learn to be nice to those in front, beside and behind us.
Rant 1:
There are many fast, distracted drivers in Pittsburgh. As friends know, I often pontificate about the fact that my 2008 Rogue has bluetooth. Yet I see folks driving Lexus, Mercedes, Volvos—name the high-end car—holding their phones. What’s up with that? Are they too lazy to connect the bluetooth? It takes all of what, five minutes to log several phone numbers? Maybe I should start a business: Will add your contacts to your car! Oh wait, the newer cars can input your phone book from your smartphone. What a concept.
On our summer road trip I lost count of how many cars newer than mine had bad drivers. The did the cell phone lean (elbow against window, phone held to ear). Or they drank coffee, smoked cigarettes—forgetting they’re driving a deadly weapon 80 mph down the highway.
Rant 2:
The above leads to the lost art of merging. When and how did it suddenly become that the Reverse Yield is accepted as proper driving? I’d write more here, but there’s a blog, pop over and let me know how this works in your city.
Rant 3:
The Red Lodge Home of Champions Rodeo in Montana, held over every Fourth of July, is an iconic piece of Americana. If you’re in the area, it’s hard to resist attending.
We had a pile of family members go this summer and grouped together in two rows. Key word there is “family,” because we choose to go on Family Night given that we had two little kids with us. Sitting behind Alex, Jackie, John, and me were several people who arrived drunk and got drunker as the rodeo went on. They jabbed their knees into our backs, cursed not nice words, and dribbled beer on us. It didn’t matter that at various times each of us told them about their behavior. They were in their own world and didn’t care about the impact they were having on others.
I’ve never understood people who spend money on tickets to an event, then get so blasted that they cannot possibly remember any of it. There was this Keb’ Mo’ blues concert once … but that’s another story.
Rant 4:
The Fourth of July Parade in Red Lodge is another slice of America as it should be that isn’t to be skipped by visitors. It reeks of patriotism, small town pride and the basic joy in being alive in the best, free country in the world.
While there weren’t as many horses this year—no Lipizzans as I had hoped for my husband to see—it was great fun with candy being thrown from a variety of vehicles, including the horses, for the kiddies to catch. It could have, should have, been great.
But there we were, my great niece (6) and nephew (4), polite as could be, picking up the pieces that fell near them. When they could. Because a dad behind us was urging his at least four-years-older boys to run over my kids and grab every piece of candy they could.
It was embarrassing.
The older boy kept hesitating, making me believe he didn’t think this was the best behavior, but his father berated him until he dashed again in front of the little ones.
Did he think there was an award at the end for whose bag was the heaviest? Wouldn’t you hate to see him taking those boys trick or treating?
Rant 5:
A friend was telling me about the soccer league her 14-year-old daughter belongs to. While I certainly accept the value of teaching youths sports (heaven knows I might be more of a joiner today if I’d played/been good at any sports in school), it seems to have gotten obsessive these days. How is a teen supposed to excel at homework, simply be a kid, have family time, and practice/compete in a sport three times a week until nine p.m.? I don’t get it. And the real rant here? The coaches who scream at and chides children as if a national title and millions of dollars were on the line. Lighten up.
The End of My Rude People Rant
Speaking of the need to lighten up—RM, it’s probably time to stop raving about those folks behind us and start sitting with my back against the walls so I can enjoy people a bit more.
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Read: Dealing with Bullies
The unfortunate thing is that the more you complain about bad behavior or simply things that we grew up being told not do because it was wrong, unnatural, it poses a risk to others, and so on…more people come at you because you are being nosy, and just getting in the way of people ‘having fun’, or ‘doing what they love’. These expressions are becoming cheap propaganda now for such things. How many times a Day people die in the streets because of a drunk driver? Or, how much of a negative influence can a drunk individual cursing and swearing in front of your child have? Who can guarantee that despite the proper education that we aspire to leave with our children they won’t be influenced by such people and become like that?
Yes, people should be free to do what they love…but, in the same way that we have laws and regulations in place to avoid all the chaos that would come out of not having them…when it comes to good morals there is also some silent ‘law’ that has been passed down generation after generation, but it has been diluted so much that nowadays it’s really hard to find good gentlemen and honorable ladies who can serve as examples of what good morals and conduct look like.
We have to keep educating our kids to act with respect–I believe we can all still be good to one another. The world doesn’t have to be so selfish.
You make me laugh RoseMary!
I think people are becoming more rude and that as we grow older our eyes open to the sheer boldness of it all. I too cannot abide by selfish and dangerous drivers who put the lives of others at risk by looking at their cell phones, failing to indicate, throwing rubbish out the window and so on.
We are fast becoming a “dog eat dog” society in order to get and do just as we please. I refuse to participate as it goes against my morals and values.
Thanks for brightening up my morning!
Always glad to give you a chuckle, Phoenicia! I once called the police when I was following a very expensive SUV and the driver put the window down and chucked out a huge McDonald’s bag. We were in the city with any number of places he could have thrown it. I was so shocked I took down the license plate and called it in! The officer said that they actually go to the homes of people who do that and give them tickets! I was surprised but thought, Gotcha!
I figure you and I are doing our best to be nice to others and that it has to have a trickle down effect. Right? Gosh I hope so. I know if I am having a cranky day and go out to run errands and I’m purposefully nice to others, I end up getting less cranky. So much better than taking it out on them!
Well said RM and I’m right there with you!
We just have to remember when we’re the behind ones! ha!