Driving is a science lesson. You learn that the shortest time
interval in the universe is the span between the traffic light
turning green and the horn honking by the impatient driver in the
car behind you. For some reason, putting a reasonably polite person
behind a steering wheel often turns them into a boor.
Driving is a science lesson. You learn that the shortest time interval in the universe is the span between the traffic light turning green and the horn honking by the impatient driver in the car behind you. For some reason, putting a reasonably polite person behind a steering wheel often turns them into a boor.
A friend recently suggested the theme for this column and it does appear as if courtesy is a diminishing trait. I define courtesy as being nice to and considerate of others. I’m reasonably polite – regularly saying please and thank you, waiting my turn in line and usually using the horn politely. You can tell exactly what the horn-honker is thinking by how long they hold it. My biggest problem is that I’m an impatient speaker and I often talk right through the conversation of others. It’s a very bad habit and I’m working on it with varying degrees of success.
My friend specifically mentioned thoughtlessness in supermarket checkout lines and he has a point. That’s where the worst problems can be seen. Standing in a long line is sure to raise your blood pressure if you’re in a hurry, but it just gets worse when the person in front of you is inconsiderate by failing to use the waiting time productively. If you’re writing a check, why not start to fill it out while you’re in line? Don’t wait until the last minute to go hunting for your checkbook or wallet.
Another problem is folks who know they forgot something but don’t want to give up their spot. They wait until they reach the cashier and then ask for assistance. The cashier has to send a runner scampering up the aisles to retrieve the overlooked item while everyone waiting, including me, just rolls their eyes and sighs.
If I have a load of stuff, I usually offer to let those with only an item or two move past me – it’s polite and makes sense; they may return the favor someday. I check the eggs when I put them in my cart; that way my line will not have to stop when the cashier finds a broken egg that’s been there all along.
The parking lot can tell you a lot about people. There is nothing like pulling into an apparently empty space only to discover that a shopping already cart occupies it because some lazy person could not take the time to at least put it up on the curb after they were through. It’s also irritating when you’ve been patiently waiting for someone to leave and as soon as they do, another car darts into the empty spot. The offender often pretends they did not see you, but you know they are lying.
Then there are those who go to sit in their cars; they see you waiting for the space, but never signal that they are not leaving. However, none of those problems is as bad as those who use the parking lot for a garbage dump and take every opportunity to drop their coffee cups, wrappers, half-empty bottles and unwanted trash on the blacktop for others to drive over and step in. I guess they believe that they are supporting employment by forcing the store to clean up their mess.
Sometimes the employees are impolite. Why is a phone call from a potential customer more important than the customers standing right in front of you? Let the phone wait. Can we all just be a little more courteous and considerate? Thanks.
Marty Richman is a Hollister resident. His column runs Tuesdays. Reach him at
cw*****@ya***.com
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