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For your consideration

Musings

November 30, 2011
Carrie Olson , The Daily Freeman Journal

You are standing in line - whether it is at a restaurant, movie theater or coffee shop - and there are a few people ahead of you. You look at the menu and pick out what you need to order, glance at your watch - about to be late to work, an appointment or to watch that movie. And the person ahead of you gets to the counter and says, "Hmm, I have no idea what I want." And instead of letting others go in front of them, they stand and fret - asking the person at the counter to name off the gazillion menu items.

Aggravating. It's the only word for it. Maybe they were gabbing or busy doing something else, but it is a bit inconsiderate to others.

But it's not just that.

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It's out on the road, on a busy highway, where someone decides to hog the left lane, the passing lane, while others are going faster on the right side. The road hog is either oblivious to the fact that they are 10 miles slower than those passing or doing it out of malice, but either way it's unappreciated by others on the road. Same goes for someone passing a vehicle, does not have cruise control or just doesn't want to maintain a constant speed, and becomes slower than the vehicles passed. And those who decide that using their turn signal is just too much work - you drive me insane. Grrr. But rather than flip the bird, you just clench your teeth and drive.

It's becoming common etiquette to think of yourself over everyone else. If it makes you comfortable, why should you care about those surrounding you? Is it a power trip or are you really that oblivious? I would like to know.

Why should you quit smacking your gum? Why shouldn't you be texting in a darkened movie theater? It's your life, not theirs, you say.

Phone manners are out the window, as far as I can see. One of the most "delightful" things is seeing someone at dinner with another, carrying on a conversation, and that phone starts ringing. Who's more important? The person on the phone, that is for sure. They start chattering away, leaving the person across the table in the dark.

It's those people who seem to make everything their business when it's not. If said business applies to you, they will tell you. And are you curious about someone's relationship/job/family/living situation? Realize that maybe they are not comfortable talking about it with you. Stop prying and stop being nosy. Just saying.

And that old phrase "if you have nothing good to say, don't say anything at all"? It's true. It's an insult when someone looks someone over (up and down, just to be more obvious) and says to another, "Look at what they are wearing." Or "Did you hear what they did " Juvenile. If it's that important, say it to yourself.

And the most inconsiderate? Forgetting those easy-to-say words "please" and "thank you." Do you want something? Say "please." If someone gets you food or a drink, say "thank you." If you are given a gift or a compliment, it doesn't take much to utter the two-word phrase.

For your consideration, be a bearable human being. Life is hard already, so don't make it any harder - for yourself or those around you. Be nice, be kind and be considerate.

 
 

 

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