In my past articles I've made mention several times that our species (most of us can be classified as humans) has not reached an evolutionary plain, as of yet, that will allow our current state of sensibility to accept each other unconditionally. Although we haven't obtained that level of acceptance or even tolerance, if you will, I believe in giving credit when due and will concede that we have made some strides, small as they may be, but at least a portion of us are attempting to overcome our hatred.
At the same time I give credit to our race, a recent incident at our local grocery store made all to well a point that as we are succeeding to achieve progress in some areas, we are de-evolving and failing miserably in others. In this particular case, courtesy. That's all. Simple, every day, run of the mill, common courtesy. To be fair, my fellow Observer, I will say that I do not at all expect manners as rigid as Emily Post, but somewhere between that extreme and getting the back of both my heels clipped by someone's shopping cart because they were in such a mad dash to snatch up the last jar of Skippy extra chunky that they didn't happen to notice me selecting my Smuckers seedless strawberry spread without as much as an "excuse me" would be refreshing, suffice to say. I don't know if I could handle an "excuse me, please". I might have to go home and ponder the universe if that ever occurred. And while we're on the subject of shopping carts.... Can someone please explain to me why when two people who missed each other at the church social last Sunday run into each other at the local Stop & Shop later in the week feel the insatiable need to block the end of an aisle with their carts in order to catch up on the gossip of the month? I don't care about Jeremy's vasectomy, Ok? Can't it wait until you get out to the parking lot? And your blocking the Preparation H. Do you mind? Don't you see I'm having an issue here? Are you that insensitive?
When it comes to courtesy or the lack thereof, people have been complaining about it's absence for generations. I remember my grandparents having discussions about it, then my parents making note of it and now I find myself mentioning the phenomenon within the scope of my verbal exchanges with people I associate with. Maybe I'm getting old and becoming one of those fogies I swore I'd never transform into. Anything is possible, I suppose. But as I Observe the examples that present themselves to me, the logic of the explanation of unmannered youth breaks down. Especially when some of the worst offenders that I have come across are collecting social security. Maybe they feel they've earned the right to be rude. That they are getting too old for pleasantries and people should just respect their elders. Now, don't get me wrong . I'm not just singling out the geriatric crowd. I'm fully aware that a lot of younger people seem to have a social handicap when it comes to courtesy, but as adults, we expect it. They're kids... it's what they are and what they do. In most cases I chalk it up to brain development and let it go. However, I have more difficulty giving a bye to a group of people that expect a certain level of politeness but do not return the same in kind.
You could also argue, as some do, that the lack of civility is in direct response to the lack of religion our country is experiencing. The old "family values" argument that is so popular today. Some feel that the diminishing belief in god may be at the root of this problem. I may have given a certain amount of credibility to this argument if not for the fact that I intentionally avoid going to any public facility on Sundays directly after church services are over for fear that I might have to beat the living crap out of some self-righteous moron that just cleansed their soul. I suppose they're working on next week's confession. No sense waiting till the last minute. After all, who needs manners now that god is on your side?
And don't even get me started on Christmas shopping. If you'd ever expect religion to influence our behavior you would think that it would be the time of the year where we extend our wishes of good will and kindness to our fellow man. Uh-huh....Not in the stores I used to shop at we don't. I honestly believe, my loyal reader, that online shopping saved me from a life in prison. Why is it that grown adults with small children or even ones without, for that matter, practically kill each other (or do in some cases) over the latest trends. Hey, I want a Play Station 134 just as much as the next guy and my daughter absolutely has to have a special, limited edition Shopkins pack with a genuine, ultra rare, gold and silver Kookie Cookie, but you won't see me gouging anyone's eyes out or dance on someone's face to get them. I would also like to point out that I would never put myself in a position where that might happen to me. I don't need a Tickle Me Cabbage Patch Elmo that bad.
We can't even count on the personnel who serve us to treat us with proper manners anymore. A few months ago, near closing time at the deli of one of our local stores (that was still open for a good twenty minutes I might add) my wife asked the clerk for some cheese sliced thin. After being told that she didn't want the giant slab sliced cheese in the pre-cut case that he suggested, the clerk asked my wife what "clean" slicer she wanted him to cut her order on. Hmmm... Oh, I don't know.... maybe the one with the least amount of attitude so I don't have to report your smart ass to the store manager. How about that slicer? Is that one good for you? As if it would have made a difference to him or the manager, for that matter. He probably wouldn't have given a flying leap about how one of his clerks treats a customer anyway. Mores the pity.
As I wind this article down I'd like to offer a few helpful insights and points on this shopping topic that may help a few avoid being choked by a fellow customer in the store or at the register.
Since nobody really knows just when they're going to buy the farm, just because your old do not presume that I am going to live longer than you and feel it is acceptable to cut in front of me in the express line with 29 items in your cart. Do it to the wrong person and you may end up being number 30.
No matter what age you are, if you must write a check, fill out your check as much as possible before your order is totaled and bagged. It will make the day go so much smoother for everyone involved. Especially the ones that have a debit card... which seems to be everyone but you.
Make sure you know which of your 17 credit cards are maxed out before you check out. Some idiot in front of me playing approval roulette with the card machine. I've got places to be.... and I'm paying with cash. Makes me want to push my cart into the small of their back.
And even if your paying with cash I'll still have a problem if your paying your tab with loose change. Mr. Pennysaver with a Manson jar is going to count out $39.90 in nickels and dimes. Do us all a favor and hit the Coin Star before you get in line. Yeah, nine cents on the dollar may seem a little steep for counting your change, but it's well worth the price if it saves you a trip to the hospital. Let's call it investing wisely.
And can someone please help me to understand why the person who gets in your way in every aisle of the store is the same one in their car who can't get out of they're own way, much less yours, in the parking lot? Is it just me or does anyone else think they're doing it on purpose?
And speaking of cars, finally, if your behind me on the way to the store, honking your horn, flashing your lights and flipping me off will not persuade me to go faster or get out of your way. In fact, I can pretty much guarantee you will experience exactly the opposite as I do my personal best to make sure you don't make it to your point of destination anywhere remotely near the time you need to be there. So if you want to get where your going within the next year, I suggest your horn remain silent, your lights remain off and keep your finger to yourself. Besides, chances are if I did have a lapse in judgment and let you by, I assure you I'd end up right behind you at the next red light. So why exert the effort? Unless you're just trying to confirm your stupidity. Then by all means, hit the gas and knock yourself out.
Although I have focused on our lack of courtesy at the local market and on the road, the bitter truth is that it is practiced everywhere. It rears it's head at our town meetings, in our schools, workplaces, government, campaigns, elections and at our social gatherings. We have to ask ourselves why we don't treat each there with a certain amount of civility anymore. Are we so self-centered in our own importance that we no longer feel the need to at least acknowledge someone else's presence if not engage others with the cordiality that we all presume we deserve? So again, I ask... Why? I may be wrong but I feel the culprit might be a movement that was intended to enhance our regard of each other as well as attempting to quell our differences. Political correctness. Although well intended, our mistake was in trying to replace simple manners with an all encompassing non-offensive invented language that ultimately aggravated society to the point that a vast amount of us have abandoned both practices. As a side effect of the movement we now fail to distinguish between not being P.C. and just being rude. If we choose not to extend courtesy to another for whatever reason, we can expect no more than the same in return and have no right to be upset when it is not offered. Strictly an Observation. If you'll excuse me, please, I have to drive to the store.
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