Tuesday, March 07, 2006

A rude encounter

One cold and dark evening, as I was walking down the street, a hawker with his pushcart came darting across my way. For an instant, we were at an impasse, and the mutual abhorrence was perceptible. The sidewalk belonged to us, both. There was no reason why any of us should have yielded it to the other. We could’ve remained there indefinitely, forever neither moving an inch east nor west. Well, I had to hurry, so I submitted. But it disturbed me how easily I’d become embroiled in such needlessly uncongenial encounter. Both of us behaved utterly ungraciously, even though it would’ve cost us nothing. It highlighted something - rude human attitude.

Perhaps it was the rush of a chaotic city where the streets are crowded and people are busy. Or maybe it was something to do with the weather. Yes, I bet it was the weather. People are cold and bitter because the weather is such. We seem to waste heat on hate, because we pretty much always know the reaction we’re going to get when we give it. But when we’re nice, half the time we still get hate back. So, why risk it? There’s also the ‘misery loves company’ theory to consider. Nasty weather, a nasty mood, and nasty language all seem to go together. Everybody’s rude for some reason or none at all.

The funny thing about rudeness is that, most people assert total innocence. It’s always someone else’s fault. How many times have you made or seen someone make an obscene gesture at another person while driving a car? And how many times have you or someone you’ve seen use their cell phone in a loud annoying manner in public? And how many times have you or someone you’ve known acted racist? or prejudiced against homosexuals?

Some grins? Never? Yeah, right. The first step in altering the culture of rudeness is to accept it. The rudeness tag passes from one person to the other, and like the flu, it appears to be more common in colder climes.

As for me, next winter Im migrating away to warmer places like Miami or Mumbai.
Posted by Dewdrop :: 11:52 AM :: 31 Scribbles!

Scribble your mind!

---------------------------------------