It’s time to implement Project: Aggressively Nice
October 1, 2008
St. Charles County
by Kris Kolk
When I venture out, I just can’t get over rudeness of people.
The latest example (and I have bunches) was when I was recently shopping for a bicycle. A woman was looking at an item in the aisle across from the bikes and had parked her cart and toddler right in front of the display I was trying to see.
I was with someone and we were discussing a particular bike, which was blocked by this woman’s cart. We were pointing behind the cart—obviously handicapped by our position.
So, why, oh why wouldn’t she move her cart? There was room. If her child was not occupying the seat, I would have moved it for her.
I know she definitely saw us, because I made eye contact and smiled (as usual). FYI, no smile was returned. I wondered if I offended her in some way.
Now, you might say that I should have simply asked her to move her cart. This is not the point.
There is a central core problem here. People are so absorbed with their own lives, or their own self value, or something…that they will not acknowledge others. According to my own unscientific studies, it’s getting worse.
This woman was nicely dressed (not like filthy rich or anything) but still…I assume she was from a good home. Her toenails were painted. Her hair looked recently coiffed. While purchasing her image, she neglected a crucial item—manners.
You might say I should get over little things. Do I sound like I’m nitpicking?
But, this isn’t a small thing. If we cannot relate with civility to one another over the little things, how in the world are we going to respect each other during the big things?
At the very least, why didn’t the woman return my smile upon our approach? Isn’t that just basic decency? A kind of informal good will greeting?
It’s not just her. This woman is one of many in the growing ranks seemingly set out to destroy friendliness. OK, maybe they aren’t purposely trying to destroy friendliness. But, they obviously do not consider it an important value.
Honesty warning—OK you’ve been warned
I really think that a lot of people are so into themselves (remember high school?) that they think they have secured an alpha dog position above lowly others. They think of themselves as too cool for school.
All I see are superficial, shallow pretties devoid of the class they think they have.
This is a matter of extreme importance and it simply must be dealt with.
When slimy Plankton was giving super-nice-guy, SpongeBob, lessons in becoming an aggressive person, SpongeBob compromisingly asked, “Well…what about aggressively nice people?”
The time has come to implement Project: Aggressively Nice. Let’s stir up the small talk. Let’s compliment others on whatever we happen to notice. Let’s smile and confront those Stepford zombies with niceties.
Who’s with me?
Copyright 2008 Neighbors About Town