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.

I like Walt

If you ever read No Country For Old Men, it clearly makes this beautiful, albeit sad, statement:
This is nothing new, it's you who is changing. I feel the same way, and you have more than 20 years on me. Best of luck to you my friend.

Years ago I read an essay the author opined that all great societies lasted approximately 300 years before they imploded. The citizens of these societies had become too successful and most become fat, lazy, self-indulgent, developed a sense of entitlement, and lost their sense of self-reliance. Does any of this sound familiar?

Well guess what happens in 2076? Sadly I don’t care, any longer, I won’t be around to have to deal with the aftermath.

I turn 79 next month and definitely can relate, the world is certainly a different place and has become so it seems in the last 20 years at an accelerating rate.

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NRA Life 1969
OGCA

GKC, i'm about to turn 63 and have felt like Walt for many years now. on one occasion i have had to go out the door with a shotgun to get some "folks" off my lawn. one of them had just attacked a police officer and he was off chasing him. in all the catagories you mentioned i am 100% agreement. there are many days i wished i lived alone in a cabin by a lake or river in the ozarks. lee

To GKC. I am with you"Walt" All my very best, at 63yrs, Joe "Walt" Kent

Now hold on a second. I'm all in favor of these young men with their pants hanging down. Those pants save many cops from having to do a lot of running. The suspect runs away to avoid arrest, his pants fall down around his ankles, he falls face down on the ground. He is in the right position to cuff, and he is just taken to jail. Sure, they look stupid, and I really don't want to look at someone's butt or dirty underwear, but it is better than having to chase some punk a quarter mile.

You talking about people on cell phones in a check out lane really touches a nerve. I had stopped at a local hardware store and picked up a couple of 4' flourescent bulbs. The guy ahead of me checking out was in the process of writing a check when his cell phone rang. He answered it and started visiting with someone, the cashier just looked astounded and was staring at the dweeb. I was standing there holding a couple awkward 4' bulbs.

I slid the bulbs onto the counter and it happened that the fools half written checkbook slid off the other end. I told the cashier, "you really should move your phone booth."

I consider myself to be fairly easy going, but I don't suffer fools well. Oh by the way, my first name is Walter.

One thing is pretty undeniable and that is that as the human population increases, even if everything else stays the same, the number of total dipsticks inside that population is going to increase as well. So, even if the actual percentages stay the same (and there's lots of evidence showing that society is actually getting dumber rather than smarter, so the dipstick percentage is probably rising within the statistic), there's just going to be more dipsticks out there than there were 25 years ago.

I still believe that people are basically good. However, at the same time, I am willing to admit that there are exceptions out there and some of them are just "all bad". You try to recognize them, separate them from the pack, deal with them as little as possible and have your hand in your pocket on your Bodyguard when you do have to deal with them despite your best efforts.

When I was a Department Store Manager in Canada almost 30 years ago, I had a real winner of a customer one day that I dealt with as abruptly and forcefully as possible without actually hitting him, and he went away (after throwing a hockey stick at me). I was called up into the Store owner's office, and as he closed the door, I saw my job doing out that door when I walked back through it myself.

However, what he said to me was; "We preach that the 'Customer is always right', and ideally that's true. However, one in one thousand people are impossible to deal with, and it's best to get rid of them as quickly as possible and let the guys over at Home Depot deal with them. I saw and heard how you handled that fellow, and I fully approve of your manner. From now on, when that one in one thousand comes in, I'm going to have the staff call you."

I was stunned, but the upshot of this was that everytime I was paged thereafter, it was to deal with a total tubestick. Still, some could be reasoned with, others just had to be set free to deal with the guys and girls over at Home Depot. I would have to add, though, that over a 12 year period that I was in that job, "total tubestick" encounters were not that comman -- although some were quite memorable.

Down here, I've been running my Ice Cream Store for 20 years plus now. I find that if anything, the total fool encounters have been few over the years, but they do come up. I don't find I'm running into more than I did in a Canadian Department Store, although perhaps it would be the same if we considered "per capita customer count" as more people visited that Department Store in a day than visit my Ice Cream Store in a day. Still, I would be hard set to declare that there are more idiots per capita out there today than there were 30 years ago -- although common sense dictates there must be. What I would not disagree with for a moment is that there ARE more idiots out there, but because there's just more people out there.

Try to be positive, if possible, and remember that the idiots squeal the loudest -- and for some reason our current social system seems to want to amplify their squealing even more as if it somehow was something to be proud of. And just keep that Bodyguard handy in your pocket in case I'm wrong, which has been known to happen.

When I retired from corporate America, in a moment of lunacy I bought a dry cleaners. I had people bring in a shirt that they knew was stained, they pointed out the stain, they acknowledged that they had stained it, and wanted to know if I could get it out. I told them I would try, but there were no guarantees. When the stain wouldn't come out, they would then expect me to pay for a new shirt! That wasn't a one time occurrence, either.

I had people call me at home on Sundays, wanting me to let them get their clothes because it was "inconvenient" for them to come during regular hours (my phone number was posted on the door sign for emergencies.) I was willing to do this for someone who had an emergency, but I actually had people call me simply because they just couldn't manage to come in during the hours I was open (6am to 7pm, Monday - Saturday.)

When we found items in the clothes (we checked the pockets carefully before processing the clothes...one ink pen left in a pocket would ruin an entire load of laundry) we would put them in a bag and attach the bag to the clothing. I had husbands (and sometimes wives) scream at me when their spouse came in to pick up the cleaning, and they found some items in the bag that shouldn't have left in their pockets (you'd be amazed at some of the stuff we found.)

I had people bring in clothes with urine and feces in them, and no attempt had been made to clean it out. Vomit too.

After a year of this, and many other things, I sold the cleaners. I really despair at what we are collectively becoming.

GKC, I think I was born a Walt Kowalski. Couldn't agree with you more.

I think most of us gentlemen of our generation / age have a little bit of Walt in us,,,, I like Walt!

I had to laugh at this one...



I've seen so many of these guys walking around with one hand hanging onto their belts to keep their pants from falling down. I can't imagine dressing like that on purpose!

I did have my pants fall down in Wal-Mart...but it sure wasn't on purpose. I've lost a significant amount of weight (I'm still fat, but less so) and I was wearing a pair of pants that were just too big, and even with my belt cinched to the last notch, they were pretty loose. I reached up to get some cans of hominy off the top shelf, and I felt my pants beginning to go. I tried to catch them, and in the process, knocked the cans off the top shelf, which I then tried to grab, and knocked some cans off the next shelf, and so on. There I stood with about a hundred cans on the floor and my pants around my ankles.

Fortunately this was an underwear day...

I'm not yet 40, and I feel exactly as you do. My solution is to just avoid people altogether every chance I get.

You are an optimist my friend, there is no way this country lasts another 50+ years with out a revival, a revolution or both.

Don't give up the ship yet buddy, the rest of us need your insight and experience.

GKC,

What are you missing?

It's all about ME, it's all about ME, let's talk about ME? Have you met me yet? There's someone else alive besides ME? ME,ME, ME, Me dang it. WHAT ABOUT ME!!!!!!!!!!

You are not an angry old man on this issue, it's this country and the entitled losers in it. They've never done anything for others or gone 100% at anything, every one gets a trophy.

If you really want to see and feel the awful changes, live where I live and have children in public grade school..you'd never stop throwing up. Now I have to go...my daughter's second grade class is having a fund raiser for Hugo Chavez's medical bills in Cuba.

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

GKC,

You are right, it happens no later than 62 to most. Some earlier. When Grand Torino came out, my Son called and said "Dad, they made a movie about you." He still thinks I was a consultant.

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Bill
Dis B. Leaf

Thats why I live with the ocean in front of me and the desert at my back. I understand Walt, and I also understand "no country for old men". I ain't fightin it, but I ain't puttin up with it either.
Buck up GKC! It won't last forever

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Halfway and one more step

My oldest daughter sums it up best, " Dad you were born 50 years to late ". I tend to agree with her. When we built our house 8 yrs ago we chose a ten acre wooded lot surrounded by Green Mountain State Forest at the end of a private road, 500 ft driveway.
Deer, bear, turkeys, no people, yup this is the place.

You are not alone, my friend! I have no quarrel with any of your well articulated observations. You'd be welcome in my neighborhood.

I'll be 60 this August, been crotchety for some time. People are actually smarter these days as 1000X more info is available at their fingertips. They just don't know how to actually do anything because they have never done much on their own. Check this clip unless it's against the rules.
Why We Need Common Core: "I choose C." - YouTube Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

GKC, if you start having a hankering to study Hmong and you decide to give your dog away, then you really are becoming Walt

"WALT",,You are my HERO

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NOT SO FAST,, NOT-- SO-- FAST

It sounds just like another day. Damn.

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Dum vivo cano

I'm only 45, and I feel pretty much the same way. The laziness I sometimes see is astounding.

An example: the grocery store parking lot has those cart return stalls. I've seen carts scattered around right next to it. How lazy can you be to not move the cart another 5 ft into the stall?

My 91 year old dad says "A hundred years from now, it won't matter."

I expect it won't matter to me by then, either...

I'm only 43 but on my way to being "Walt".

One thing I can't stand is to hear store employees complain that they haven't had a break or there have been too many customers or they don't get off for another 3 hours.

I tell them, "just quit and give someone who really wants to work a chance"

As a customer I could care less if you haven't had your smoke break yet. Sheesh!

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Wake me when it's over...

We are all Walt.

Another one this morning. Driving on a 4 lane divided highway and come to a stop light. There is an ambulance approaching with lights and siren in the oncoming lane and signals to make a left turn (in front of me). The light turns green, but of course I don't move and wait for the ambulance.

There is a jackwagon in a cement truck behind me who starts honking at me. He has no excuse to claim he didn't see it.

I'm also 62, the more I'm around humans, the more I appreciate my cats.

So that's why all the Citgo stations raised their prices...

I think every generation mistrusts and rejects the values of the next one. My mother did understand the Beattles. Her parents rejected Benny Goodman. Etc.

Interesting. The hero in Gran Torino (where a car shared the starring role) was named Kowalski, just like the hero in Vanishing Point from 1971, where a car (1970 Dodge Challenger R/T) shared the limelight.

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No life story has happy end.

Fixted....

Some years back I had a bumper sticker on my truck, "The More I Know About Women, The More I Love My Truck". It was about 5 feet up as it was on the shell and so very visible to any drivers behind me. Traffic in the commute was usually very heavy (this was NOT in Wyoming...). I figure that several thousand people had the opportunity to reflect on it, half of them women.

It worked for me...

So does that mean you are single?

Someplace there is a gathering of happy pants draggers -- we aren't their fathers. In a room with flowers and knicknacks, is a large group of women happily chattering up a storm -- we aren't their husbands. Because we seldom go to the Mall or even have a Mall, all the cell phone users are happy -- we are at the range.

Society is more stupid today then 25 years ago. People are indecisive or worse, incapable of making a decision. People have no problem solving skills. Something is wrong in their life, but they can't articulate what the problem is, and they certainly can't begin to guess the cause or how to make the repair.

I can tell stories about electrical and plumbing problems after 5:00 PM weekdays or on Saturday and Sunday when no one but the Big Box stores were open. It isn't because we passed 55 years, or 65 years, or 75 years. The stupid people did it to us. We learned and they NEVER will.

Walt Kowalski was too patient, too polite, and an optimist. Let the Revolution begin!

I sure do miss Snuggles ! ! !

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S&WHF 366

I just had my 37th birthday and i feel absolutely no different than you. I can barely stand going to my local walmart because of the impolite and just plain ignorant people that consume that place.

Sent from my SCH-R760 using Tapatalk 2

Part of the problem is most of these 'people' grow up in fatherless households. They've never been taught self-respect, morals, etc. The further problem is, if they've never been taught, they're never going to teach their children, etc. so the problem now is ingrained in our society.

You are becoming Walt. Welcome to the club.

I understand the impact of not having a father present in the home, or even not in the picture at all. I know that single mothers have a harder row to hoe than a couple has (theoretically....some might do better without some deadbeat in the house.) Still, I don't feel inclined to give single mothers a pass for not teaching her children manners, honesty, etc. Those are not the exclusive purvey of fathers to impart, you know?

Could not agree more with the OP and I too am only 61. The stupid factor out there is mind boggling and growing every day and the really scary part is a lot of these folks make babies and vote! I guess that explains a lot... sigh.

True, but these single moms end up having to work or starve. So the kids have no one to 'be there' or to provide the needed discipline. I wouldn't want to be faced with their choices.

I could get into a long debate of how a lot of this has come from high taxes....forcing both parents to work to maintain a lifestyle that formerly was achieved with one parent's income....etc....and schools that have BY DESIGN, dumbed down our kids so that a 'stupid voting block' is created to preserve the power of a particular political party....etc. etc...

LOL, My daughters said the same.

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Memory of Randy Freas-Rimfired

You're a cop and you carry a weapon, correct? Then why on earth would you chase anyone, especially the type of individual I visualize in your description, a quarter mile? Lead (not lead as in a fishing sinker) and squeeze man !

When I was growing up, my parents were not wealthy by any means...both worked. They made it abundantly plain that if I got in trouble at school, or anywhere else for that matter, I was going to be in MORE trouble at home. There was no excuse, debate, or question. It was a given. During the day, I went to school...again, not a question. At night, I did homework. Again, not a question. I had chores to do at home, and if I wanted spending money, I got a job (I did get an allowance until I was old enough to get a job, but I had to earn it...it was not given to me.)

I know a lot of things have changed in the decades since I was a child...and I know that it must be even tougher for a single parent (father or mother) today. I think what is wrong with this country today, though, is in no small measure due to people who have children but don't want to be parents. Anyone can give birth to a child...but only a parent can raise one with love and discipline.

And they wonder why I spend all my time with my dogs. Had a lot to say but think I will leave it at that. When a kids hears how awsome they are from their parents, teachers, coaches and others how do you expect them to grow up. It's all about them. My daughter in law is a teacher and you should hear the stories she tells about the little ones 5 and up. Gets told to - herself by kindergarten kids on a regular bases.


Ted

GKC,
I've also got some Walt in me from time to time.
I believe we all do. One of my mothers favorite sayings,
"This too shall pass". These annoyances may or may not
be here for the long haul but try to look for the good in people
and remain positive. There are still good folks and kids out
there. They are just getting harder to find these days.
I try to instill in my grandchildren the responsibilities of being
honest, loyal, and to live your life with integrity. To treat others
with respect until they give you a reason not to.
The cell phone thing these days really gets in my craw.
I don't know how many times i've watched people who are
being completely inconsiderate or just plain rude while using
them. And every time i see someone with one of those blue
tooth deals behind their ears i just want to walk up and do what
old "Walt" woulda' done and smack it off their head.

Chuck

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They hold no Quarter

This is such an insightful post! So many kids today are reaching adulthood without ever having had the firm guidance only a loving father can provide. We are paying the price for 'modern' social thinking, which holds that men are unimportant and that women can raise children on their own (as long as the taxpayers send money every month).