That Really Burns My Biscuits! #2

Ya know what really burns my biscuits?

People who lack common courtesy and/or proper etiquette.

 

Let me give you an example.

The other day while visiting with my friend, Amanda, she was explaining to me how her husband has the ability to deduce people just by the color and type of shirt they are wearing. He uses this ability to help him choose the quickest line at the grocery checkout.

This reminded me of an episode of the Simpsons, Apu takes Marge grocery shopping and Marge is about to go through the “10 items or less” lane. Apu tells her that she won’t get through that line quickly because the elderly man currently checking out is holding up the line by telling his entire life story to the cashier, there is also a few elderly people behind the man who is checking out, and elderly people typically like to talk.

Marge asks which lane Apu suggests and he chooses the longest line. Marge protests because the line is so long, but Apu points out that all of the people in that line are single men. They only have cash and there is no chit chat.

I started giving this some thought. Maybe I should be more observant to such things when I go to checkout at my local grocery store, but the more I thought about it the more frustrated I became, and I expressed my feelings to Amanda.

“See, here is my problem, I shouldn’t have to make these kinds of deductions, because people should be courteous to the people around them. The cashier isn’t interested in hearing about your sister, whom everyone calls “Aunt Sally” and her hour long phone conversation she had with the insurance company about her insulin. And all of these people waiting to checkout so they can get home, or back to work, or wherever it is they are going, definitely don’t care to listen to this hour long story, we don’t go shopping in your living room, so please don’t chitchat in the grocery store!! Ugh!!!”

Amanda chuckled, because she gets me, she totally does. But I said to her “And this is where your husband would tell me I need to eliminate the word “should” from my vocabulary when it comes to these types of situations, because the reason I am feeling so discouraged with humanity is because I expect too much from people, or at the very least, I expect people to treat people with the same amount of respect and courtesy as I would, and that’s not always the case.”

I get his point, I really do, but I still think that people should be aware of their surroundings and courteous to the people around them. And not just in grocery stores, but on the road (ESPECIALLY ON THE ROAD,) at work, and basically everywhere that humans congregate. IT’s CALLED DECENCY!!

So what do you think? Do you agree that humans should be more courteous and aware of the people around them? Or do you stand with my friend’s husband and think Amanda & I need to stop using the word “should” so much?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Love & life lessons,

Kristian