Inconsiderate behavior
I got a nasty email at work yesterday that was so excessively rude I couldn’t lower myself to respond at all. It’s got me thinking about inconsiderate behavior in general and I wonder if we.re going through an unprecedented time of rudeness — from poor driving and littering to improper tone in conversation, vocal impatience, lack of respect for other’s feelings, etc. I’m thinking of an entire book of rants with whole chapters on email, driving and smoking. And since I’m childless, I’m also the perfect parent, and that could be a good chapter too. The Little Book of Inconsiderate Behavior will include advice from experts with how to deal with these issues in a calm but effective.
That’s funny, Ranald…You and Gordon (http://www.groveproject.org/?p=8) are on opposite sides of the proverbial cheese-adding-machine here!
You are providing a service and finding consumers less than sensitive to your humanness in this (I think), and Gordon is saying that the humans providing services to him — and dehumanized in this particular way (?) — pass on their alienation and indifference.
I think Gordon’s post supports my overall claim. Rudeness and uncaring attitudes abound no matter the forum. Is this a result of alienation brought on by ubiquitous technology? That’s an interesting question, but I would also blame lazy parenting, poor role models, and my favorite whipping boy — Television, the Drug of a Nation, breeding ignorance and feeding radiation. FYI: That’s a lyric from a Disposable Heroes of Hiphopracy song.
Ah…the Disposable Heroes…Love ‘em! Completely agree re: boob toob
Television, yes! But its not just the viewing of T.V. that creates the lazy, mean masses. Its the absence of reading that is the root of all evil. Think about the way you feel when you are reading a great book, the way you connect to certain characters. You begin to feel that character’s pain, his happiness, embarrassment,etc., you empathize with the character. You learn what it feels like to be somebody else, to walk in another man’s shoes. I don’t think we can get as close to feeling what it is like to be another human being except by reading! And, Ranald, to tie this idea into parenting, one can’t possibly be a good parent without being well read. It would be impossible to instill in your child any sense of human decency, of connectivity, unless you, parent, have felt that connection yourself.
I’m sorry, but I must go on. Religion(!), from the word religate–bind up, connect…, actually does very little to bind or connect people. Instead it segregates and isolates people from the world, from their own accountability to others in this world and, I think, it creates a sense of false, moral superiority that breeds apathy. The exact thing religion ought to be fighting!
I do think we are going through a time of insensitivity. But, alas, I try to stay hopeful. If we must learn life’s lessons through the media, then I am at least happy to report that I have seen some meaningful film as of late. Here are the few examples that immediately spring to mind; Blood Diamond, Lost Boys of Darfur, Music From the Inside Out, Surfing For Life.
Be hopeful. When someone is dull and rude try not to get angry. Try, instead, to be honest. Tell that person how his or her actions have affected you. Ranald, write back to that asshole, email bomb-dropper and tell that person (ever so politely) how your day was ruined for worrying about the decrepitude of all humanity.
From one lapsed Catholic to another, I love your take on religion. Lots of wars have been fought for economic reasons but a whole lot have their origins in religious zealotry, and I’m afraid we haven’t learned this fact in 2,000+ years of “civilization” and organized religion.
Re: Email bomb-dropper. I almost wrote back something very nasty, such was my state immediately after. When I had calmed down I composed a super nice but pointed response, then decided not to send it. In the end I was happy to just drop the whole thing (turn the other cheek, as it were).
[…] continue an earlier tirade against inconsiderate behavior, this all-too-common affliction is by no means limited to individuals. Clueless businesses also […]