Monday, January 17, 2005

Courtesy 0, Boorish Behavior 2

I am free of all prejudice. I hate everyone equally.
Attributed to W. C. Fields (1880 - 1946), entertainer

The Misanthrope interrupts his political opinions (and why the hell not, it’s a holiday) to ask, is The Misanthrope out of touch? This morning, neighbor-to-the-side (as opposed to neighbor-directly-behind with the tuba player), leaves for work and puts their near dinosaur-sized Labrador which is apparently also part rooster out to wake anyone who might have the day off, god forbid should someone be sick and need to sleep. The Misanthrope has endeared himself again by leaving a phone message for them at 5:45 a.m.

We write our commentary this morning and read the newspapers, then go to the gym. Now, The Misanthrope is working out on the elliptor machine, and people are on the machines on either side. A man prepares to sit on the bike in front of our machine, but first turns off the fan that cools both of us. The Misanthrope asked him nicely to turn it back on, he hesitated, but complainingly gave in and found another bike.

Are we wrong? Where the hell has common courtesy gone? What has gone wrong in society to encourage such behavior? Is it the win at any cost mentality of the corporate and sports world?

No comments: