As I contemplate my upcoming 62nd birthday, I realize that I am more than ever identifying with Walt Kowalski (Gran Torino.) Common courtesy and common sense seem to be two things that have gone by the wayside; for example:
Yes, I have actually told someone to get off my lawn. In my defense, one of my neighbor's kids was driving a car across it, so I think I was justified.
I simply can't stand the sight of guys with their pants hanging off their butts, ball caps turned around backwards, or wearing undershirts (the so-called wife-beaters) as outer wear. I grant that this isn't a courtesy, but as a matter of decency, it is disgusting.
I have seen so many instances of people trying to move over into a lane of traffic, signaling, and yet no one will let them in. Conversely, I have seen people rush ahead to the front of a long line of traffic and then try to edge in, as if they aren't supposed to wait their turn.
I wish the stores that have express lanes (20 items or less, etc) would have some sort of program that once the cashier had rung up 20 items, he or she couldn't ring up anything else. Of course, those who don't respect the rules would just stand there and expect the cashier to ring up another 20 items. I have seen so many people go through these lanes with a full basket of items...and of course the stores don't have the balls to tell them to get out of that line and go to a full service line.
My wife is handicapped, so I am especially sensitive to this one: people who dump shopping carts in handicapped spaces. I can't tell you how many times I've had to stop, remove the cart(s), and then pull in. I don't know if people do this because they are just too lazy to take the carts back in or to one of the designated cart racks, or if they resent someone getting a "better" parking spot. (I would gladly trade our handicapped plates for my wife not to need them.)
I get very annoyed with people who are so busy with their cell phone conversations that they can't take care of the business at hand. I've seen many people at the grocery store, dry cleaners, theater, etc, who are so busy yakking about some inane facet of their lives that they can't pay and move on in a timely manner, while everyone behind them stands and waits.
I have seen people argue over things that just don't matter....or shouldn't, IMO. For example, the other day I was at Wal-Mart, and this woman was giving the cashier holy heck over a coupon or some item that didn't ring up with the 10 cents off she was expecting. I told them both I would gladly pay the 10 cents, or even a dollar, if that would get the issue settled, so I could check out and go.
I could go on and on, which makes me wonder if I am finding more to dislike than I like about this world we live in. Maybe I am just getting older (heck, no maybe about it) but it just seems like the world is becoming a much less civil place. No real news or revelation there...but Walt Kowalski is looking back at me in the mirror more and more every day.
Yes, I have actually told someone to get off my lawn. In my defense, one of my neighbor's kids was driving a car across it, so I think I was justified.
I simply can't stand the sight of guys with their pants hanging off their butts, ball caps turned around backwards, or wearing undershirts (the so-called wife-beaters) as outer wear. I grant that this isn't a courtesy, but as a matter of decency, it is disgusting.
I have seen so many instances of people trying to move over into a lane of traffic, signaling, and yet no one will let them in. Conversely, I have seen people rush ahead to the front of a long line of traffic and then try to edge in, as if they aren't supposed to wait their turn.
I wish the stores that have express lanes (20 items or less, etc) would have some sort of program that once the cashier had rung up 20 items, he or she couldn't ring up anything else. Of course, those who don't respect the rules would just stand there and expect the cashier to ring up another 20 items. I have seen so many people go through these lanes with a full basket of items...and of course the stores don't have the balls to tell them to get out of that line and go to a full service line.
My wife is handicapped, so I am especially sensitive to this one: people who dump shopping carts in handicapped spaces. I can't tell you how many times I've had to stop, remove the cart(s), and then pull in. I don't know if people do this because they are just too lazy to take the carts back in or to one of the designated cart racks, or if they resent someone getting a "better" parking spot. (I would gladly trade our handicapped plates for my wife not to need them.)
I get very annoyed with people who are so busy with their cell phone conversations that they can't take care of the business at hand. I've seen many people at the grocery store, dry cleaners, theater, etc, who are so busy yakking about some inane facet of their lives that they can't pay and move on in a timely manner, while everyone behind them stands and waits.
I have seen people argue over things that just don't matter....or shouldn't, IMO. For example, the other day I was at Wal-Mart, and this woman was giving the cashier holy heck over a coupon or some item that didn't ring up with the 10 cents off she was expecting. I told them both I would gladly pay the 10 cents, or even a dollar, if that would get the issue settled, so I could check out and go.
I could go on and on, which makes me wonder if I am finding more to dislike than I like about this world we live in. Maybe I am just getting older (heck, no maybe about it) but it just seems like the world is becoming a much less civil place. No real news or revelation there...but Walt Kowalski is looking back at me in the mirror more and more every day.
